I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

Loved this spot and the "weird as sh-t" selection of the day. Very low-key and welcoming vibe --…read moreand good that new businesspeople are exploring south of downtown.

I absolutely loved my experience at delafia! The vibes of this place just drip cool, and…read moreunassuming- I felt like I was back home in Brooklyn coming here! The fascade of the wine bar is hidden so be sure you don't walk by the "barber shop" when you're looking to get in. This bar focuses on natural and biodynamic wines aka my absolute obsession, so I was happier than a pig in mud by the drink selections. The food menu is small, but takes care of business. I recommend a nice tinned fish, giant beans, and the chocolate budino for dessert! The vibes are dark, hip, with an outdoor seating option as well. All in all, a cool destination to check out some fantastic wines.

Really cute coffee shop located in downtown Durham that has ample seating, WiFi, and extended…read morehours. I enjoyed the butterfly pea lemonade and appreciated how many tea options they had. Quick service and nice ambiance. Would come back!

Offering ample places to sit and work as well as an array of coffee/match drinks... whiskey (!) and…read morewine, Oak House seems to have it all, even some fun surprises. Definitely consider their seasonal drinks menu. Last fall I had a really great spiced latte. Most recently I had their espresso tonic, which I'm afraid I can't recommend because it literally tasted like the barista poured a shot of espresso over flat seltzer water. I should have known something was off when I saw the drink color but I ended up not returning it. It must have been a mistake because it was undrinkable. I often stay at hotels in the vicinity and it's the most convenient coffee place for me, so I'm glad to support whenever I'm in town.

Had a few beverages at West End Social with bartenders Corbin & Marcus at WES / WEWB: great spot,…read morecool vibe. I would add that [to me] this seemed to be more of a social place to have beverages of *all* kinds rather than simply a wine bar. There was a high-energy afternoon baby shower on the upper level; everyone knew everyone & the place had a solid old friends energy - give it a try. PS: I'll give 'em some grace, but please be sure to have more Tito's on hand next time ;)

Where is the wine??? Cool atmosphere...lots of spirits available but lackluster wine list.read more

Have you ever walked into a place and felt like it's a place you would make for yourself? That's…read morethe way I felt walking into LouElla's After a long day at work and some evening errands, Jack and I were making our way home, when I decided to check out wine stores that were still open on my route. Louella's came up as one of the few still open after 9 PM. I checked the website, and found that they have not, one, not two, but an entire page of fortified wines and Vermouth! As a cocktail nerd, this place checked boxes I didn't even realize I had! There's half a rack of bitters and other premixes. The atmosphere on this blissfully warm night in September was dimly lit, quietly elegant ambiance music (Think Brian Eno, Volcano Choir, or Bon Iver) From outside, with two large TVs above a bar, you may think it's a typical sports bar. But no one here is drinking beer, they have pizza from down at Hutchin's Garage and various wines out on the tables out front. With real glasses. Like adults. Here in the south in a semi-pandemic semi-lock-down. After picking out three different sweet vermouth to try, I bought a glass of Dolcetto and a pre-boxed cheese/meat tray. Although the cheese was from the cooler, as it set out, it was evidently fairly fresh, because it warmed up testily. Sadly, they close at 10, so I'll have to wrap this up later. Suffice it to say, if you're looking for a place to grab a special bottle to upscale your Negroni, or just can't seem to find Pechaud's bitters anywhere, now you have a place to check out. There is an entire 85% more of the store to explore for me, since I had arrived with a narrow purpose and found it immediately. But you can bet, I'll be back. It's within walking distance of FullSteam, MotorCo, Hutchin's, Cocoa Cinnamon's Old North Durham location. They've only been open for six months, when you don't count COVID time, so give 'em some love, folks! They are the type folks we need to support!

It's a cute spot in a great location with other small businesses. The flight prices were fair and…read morethe pours were nice. My friends and I sat and had wine after brunch at another spot near by. I would definitely return.

A really nice wine bar in downtown Durham to grab a drink before or after a show. The seating can…read morebe a little tight if the bar is packed, which it was when we went a couple of Saturdays ago. The bartender gave some really good recommendations regarding wine selections. You can order either by the glass or bottle. Nice spot, check it out.

Brunello Wine Bar is a cool spot. The staff members are knowledgeable and the selection is unique…read more My husband and I tried a few different pours and enjoyed them all. It is a smaller spot but luckily it was not busy when we visited. If you are in Downtown Durham then check it out.

Five stars for Liberty & Plenty, a true gem that we didn't even plan on visiting. We were headed…read moredown the street to somewhere else, saw the sign, looked at each other and said, "Let's check this out" and I am so glad we followed that impulse because it turned into one of those stops that completely makes your afternoon. What was supposed to be a quick pop in turned into two full hours of socializing, tasting, talking and working our way through a lineup of spirits that dhows just how much care and craft is happening inside this place. I need to say, Stephanie is a darling. She's not a bartender. She's a proper mixologist, the kind of professional who knows her spirits, knows her history, knows how to read a customer, and somehow manages to be both entertaining and deeply knowledgeable at the same time. She walked us through their menu with the kind of confidence that makes you trust every recommendation, and every drink she made had that extra flourish that tells you she actually loves the work. It's rare to find someone who can make you laugh, teach you something, and hand you a drink that's better than what you expected all in the same moment, but she does it effortlessly. Somewhere between the rum and the vodka, we learned that they're gearing up for a big move to Wilson, expanding from two stills to a dozen, which is wild and honestly well deserved because the quality here is already top-tier and the idea of them scaling up that much is exciting. You can feel the ambition from the crew here, the sense that they're on the cusp of something bigger, and it made every sip feel like you're getting in on a story that's about to blow up. That said, I'm begging. Please, please, please, find a way to keep a tasting room in Durham. You're awesome, the vibe is awesome, the people are awesome, and this city needs places like this where you can wander in on a whim and end up staying for two hours because everything feels and tastes just right. Expansion is great, growth is great, Wilson is lucky to have you, but Durham will really miss you if you disappeared completely. Liberty & Plenty is the kind of spot you stumble into once and then start recommending to everyone you know. If you're anywhere nearby, go. And if Stephanie is behind the bar, settle in, because you're in very good hands. [Review 1073 of 2026 - 4782 in North Carolina - 26252 overall]

What a lovely surprise to find this gem tucked away in downtown Durham! I had heard great things…read moreabout their espresso martini, so when we finally visited, we had to try it. And, it truly lived up to the hype. One of the best we've ever had! I also tried two other cocktails made with their house-distilled rum and gin, and both were delicious and perfectly balanced. The seasonal menu is creative and reasonably priced, we were genuinely impressed. The ambiance is charming and cozy despite a bit warm inside (the AC was pretty weak), but quiet and tastefully decorated with velvet couches, exposed walls, vintage touches, and fresh flowers on each table. We had fun flipping through their amazing cocktail book collection on the shelf too. The bartenders were very friendly and offered us focaccia from Ninth Street Bakery to pair with our drinks for free, which was such a thoughtful and tasty addition. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and are so happy to see a micro-distillery thriving in the heart of Durham. Can't wait to return for an official tour and to sample more of their spirits!

In this small, unassuming yet elegant restaurant, lives a true Italian tradition, and food just as…read moreyou would expect in Italy. We had a lovely dinner tonight, our server Rafael was an absolute delight! Every bite was delicious and worth every penny. I highly recommend this amazing establishment. It seems people haven't yet realized its presence. The wine selection was remarkable. We had a lovely orange wine from Calabria. 10/10 don't miss out on this great spot!

Convivio is an authentic Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere and good service. My wife had…read morethe black cod and it was fantastic. I had the risotto with shellfish and was very disappointed. Shellfish meaning popcorn shrimp and clams from a can. Not flavorful and not much protein.

Second time at Vin Rouge; first was brunch, so good we had to try dinner!…read more Started with escargot, shrimp Provençal, blue crab claws and the caramelized onion tart. All were excellent; fresh, perfectly cooked and full of authentic flavor. The tart was exceptionally good: a tall slice, moist and rich, onions sweet and delicious. For mains, two of us had the almandine, both loved it. Ali's right off the skin, perfect cook, wonderful flavors. Husband had the pork chop, said the flavors were all on point, but the chop was just north of tender and the potatoes, cabbage and sauce could have been hotter. We went back for the perfect crème brûlée and decadent chocolate mousse we loved at brunch, and added the lemon tart: on par with the others. Service was excellent, again. Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without hovering. Notably top shelf service for the area.

We've passed by Vin Rouge's store-front, and every time we're more curious to see what they're all…read moreabout. Finally had the chance to stop by and it was incredible! Lovely service team paired with an intimate, romantic dining area. Perfect for a date night or celebration! The hostess and our server were especially welcoming and super friendly. On to the food... Our cocktails were made just right, and our entrees were phenomenal to say the least. Not to mention that apple bread pudding. I did wish it was served warm, but it was still delicious and not the "over-the-top"-type of sweet. We also felt that the escargot was too earthy for our personal liking, but I can see it being someone's. Just not ours, and beggars can't be choosers. All in all, a lovely surprise at Vin Rouge. Next time, I'd love to try brunch and a seat in their beautiful patio!

This is a cute place in Southern Village located on the Square. I had been wanting to check it out…read morefor some time and new when my sister was here visiting we had to investigate. They have a nice table set up inside where you can enjoy a glass of wine with a group or you could sit outside with multiple tables and enjoy the outdoor atmosphere. They have a really nice wine, selection and an area where you can buy light bite snacks type of food. They have a lot of information on all the wines and it seems like it's thriving. They're always planning different activities and special events which is super nice to give back to the community.

Leave the politics off your widow. Especially two years after your hapless candidate got dominated.read more