Very chill and warm environment! The employees are super nice, and the drinks are so good! Bring…read moreyour own cup for money off and to keep the planet clean!

Da Kine's is of the best true third spaces in all of Durham! The staff are all very welcoming and…read moreknowledgeable and the wide variety of drink options ensures that there is something for everyone. Jess and Nick were especially friendly and helpful behind the bar, and they've done a great job fostering a sense of community among all the regulars.

We visited Aaktun on a Sunday morning for brunch. We had made a reservation the week prior and were…read moreseated right away. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous and feels like a trendy spot in Mexico. They have a DJ playing music during brunch time. We were initially concerned it would be too loud and hard to talk over, but it was actually the perfect volume and only enhanced our experience. Food was excellent! We got a breakfast sandwich, loaded tater tots, and poke. All were very fresh and well made - especially the fish dish!

**Update 5/12/2026 - I made a reservation to take my mom to brunch on Sunday at 10:15. When we…read morearrived, the hostess said the reservation had been made for outside. I explained and showed her that I booked standard seating and she said that meant outside, which I thought was strange because I was very careful not to book either option that was clearly labeled outdoor. I told her that we wanted a table inside and she said "I have a table that has a reservation for 11:30, can you be done by then?" I laughed and said "sure" but thought to myself that would be up to them! She asked another hostess to seat us, and after we were seated, we waited about 15 minutes and watched staff walk by our table multiple times and no one came by. The original interactions had already put a bad taste in my mouth, so I called another restaurant downtown and asked how long the wait would be for two. They could seat us in the bar area right away, so we got up and left Aaktun to head there. The first two experiences that I had at Aaktun were great. I'm glad I got to try their food because I won't be back after Sunday's experience.

We had an extremely memorable experience at Alley Twenty Six, in large part to our amazing server,…read moreAnthony! We made a reservation for a Saturday night dinner and he made sure we were well taken care of all night. We started the night with their James Bears award winning cocktails, and every drink we ordered was a hit! Spiced strawberry mule, Sunset Sipper, and the table favorite: Earl Please. The latter two drinks were mocktails and they were still standouts! As for the food, the Alley burger was perfectly cooked: juicy patty paired with truffle cheese and simple toppings that really highlighted the burger itself. And shoestring fries are always a good choice with a delicious burger. Ricotta gnocchi was also very good. As our server Anthony said, let's get this burger nominated!

It's always exciting to go to Alley26, namely for their food. Out of all the options in a block…read moreradius (with the exception of sushi nearby), I will always chose Alley26. Over burgers, over French food, over ramen, over Indian. Why? Because Alley26 serves delectable oysters, succulent burgers, and incredible tin fish. Yes, tin fish. If you haven't seen their extensive menu of fish, you must! While it's not for everyone, it is a tinned fish enthusiasts heaven! I go here to celebrate milestones with a good friend and we always have a mini feast, paired with a glass or two of wine. My favorite time to go is when the weather is comfortable and we can sit in the alley way, it's soooo chic that it feels like you're sitting outdoors at a meal in Italy of France. Service is always on point and I forget the bartenders name that is super knowledgeable and super kind. When I remember, I'll circle back to update this review. If you're thinking about this place, definitely check it out! The only inconvenience though is that I believe is 21+ over, at least at night it is.

Can't wait to try this place again . Every bite was amazing…read more My favorite was definitely the Mongolian beef and the crab fried rice very flavorful filled with aromatics. Perfectly seasoned. The beef was crispy. The waiter checked in frequently to see if we were enjoying the food.

Food: 4 Service: 1…read moreWent in for lunch. Place not busy at all -- maybe 6 small tables of 2 or 3. Server interrupted...and interrupted...and interrupted. Friend ordered the Midnight Clove cocktail and I ordered a G&T with Conniption gin. Server returned to interrupt us and say they were "out of" the Midnight Clove cocktail. Friend ordered something else. Server returned to interrupt us and say they were out of Conniption gin-- which is made literally a mile and a half away. Another server interrupted our conversation to deliver something we hadn't ordered.... They just seemed surprised and completely unprepared to be in business. Food was great, though, especially the soup and the best tofu I've ever had. Bahn mi was served on soft bread a bit like ciabatta --I'd have preferred the more traditional crusty bread.

This is a seat yourself spot with QR codes at the table to order food and drinks. They have few…read moredifferent sections to sit with lots of tables. This was my first time sitting inside since it was such a cold day. Food came out very fast and was good. The Burrito Bowl is a lot of food, and I had plenty for leftovers.

Positives: staff was really nice. There is a lot of seating for big groups. The garden is cozy and…read moresweet on a gorgeous day. Not so positive: parking can be tough, the lot is always packed. I think it is a shared lot because the restaurant was pretty empty during my visit today. i have visited twice now (jan 2026 & may 2026) and i order a decent amount of food for the table to share. Both times, every plate has been room temperature. Thats super disappointing especially since the Korean dishes we ordered are typically served very hot (and in clay pots). It would be fine if my food was even remotely warm, but that hasnt been the case for either of my visits. Our food took a very long time to come out, which would have also been fine had the food came out hot, so i am wondering why it took so long to send out cold food? Also, for some reason there was a strong odor of some sort permeating through the beer hall. I couldnt place what it was but it was not pleasant for me. I feel like i am rarely sensitive to smells but i had to spritz a perfume to mask it. It might've just been a cleaning product or something, not sure. Something to note is that you have to pay for the banchan here. This is typically served with your meals for no additional cost as they are considered 'essential' to your meal. So a charge for them was surprising for me.

Always a thoughtful, tasty and memorable experience. From the warm and inviting atmosphere,…read moreattentive, responsive and respectful customer service, sublime libations and delicious food, Bar Virgile never disappoints.

Bar Virgile is a must-visit in Durham. The drinks were top notch--crafted really well and…read moredefinitely stand out. The burger is easily one of the best in town, cooked perfectly and full of flavor. We also tried a couple appetizers and they were amazing, especially the deviled eggs--honestly some of the best I've ever had. The overall vibe is great too, just a really solid atmosphere to hang out and enjoy a good meal and drinks. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you are in durham

We stopped by to watch the Army-Navy game. Prices were reasonable. Our bartender, Ryan, was…read morefriendly. My nachos were delicious. It is really low-key and gives off a dive bar atmosphere without the smoke. It looks much smaller from the outside it actually is. I also e joyes their selection of local beers/ciders/seltzers. Only Suggestions that I could think of for improvement was the amount of toppings on the nachos. The ratio of toppings was way too large for the amount of chips you got. I had to leave half of my toppings because I ran out of chips. This is super close to our new house though so we will be back for sure.

I came here last night for the first time and I think I found my new hangout spot. This place stays…read moreopen until 2am. Don't be fooled, it looks a lot smaller from the outside but on the inside it is spacious and has it all. Plenty of parking spots right next to the entrance. I sat at the bar and as it was my luck, they had Karaoke . They have pool tables on the main floor with some arcade machines near the stairs, which lead you to the second floor. The second floor has more games including darts. Everything is spaced out great, so no one is on top of you as you are enjoying some games. I ordered some drinks and food. Got the cheese curds and the fried pickles. They were pipping hot and yummy. Got to chat with some of the locals and the bartenders were hilarious. Plenty of options on the beer and drink menu. The prices are super reasonable. May this be why this place was happening last night. Oh, and I got up and sang 2 karaoke songs. One with a regular patron who I just met there. Why not, right? Everyone was having a great time. Definitely will be coming back. Worth checking out!! Karaoke is Thursdays and Saturdays!

Love this place! Great management and great staff! Always get treated like family when I'm there!read more

Great vibes, great food, very chill and comfortable atmosphere. Will definitely be going back…read more Also thanks Fawn for always making me good drinks, definitely check her out when you go.

Not for me. Visited last evening and had pleasant service. The food and flavors were not to my…read moreliking. The salt and pepper shrimp were battered and cooked with the shell remaining. That didn't work for me. The dumplings were ok. The wontons had a flavor not to my liking. Expensive for the experience.

Our daughter brought us here to dine when we came to visit this weekend. She had been telling us…read moreabout this restaurant for sometime. We ordered the tuna, cauliflower, dumplings and warm squash salad to start. For dinner we ordered the steak as the restaurant is known for it and the bento box as I am gf and could not partake in the steak. Everything was just delicious! My favorite is the tuna and the squash salad, the steak is my daughter's and husband's favorite. Highly recommend and of course how could I forget the amazing drinks to start!

Food was fire, service and employees were fire, and the decor was very cute. There was an event…read moregoing on and they were very lovely and friendly to costumers (yes, costumers!) coming in. Saw a spill get cleaned up just as quickly as it happened. Will recommend this place to others and try to stop by next time I'm in the area.

Great small bites. I recommend you trying the Elote dip it was AMAZING and perfect for sharing with…read moretwo or more friends! They have great drink specials for different days of the week! Very speedy service all of their bartenders are very sweet and will fix whatever drink to your liking The vibes are disco balls on the ceiling very open very Miami Beach vibes they have an indoor and an outdoor seating area not only that they have fireplaces. If you get a little too far from their heated porch area! The vibes just don't stop. They have an aesthetic fireplace in side as well as a fake tree in the middle beautiful for taking pictures Their bathrooms are adorable, but you might have to wait a little bit on a busy day. But this is the same problem with every bar. Very glad that they have more than one bathroom.