Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
Brunch is absolutely wonderful. The beignets are dense, but delicious.
40 residents recomanen
Rue Cler
401 E Chapel Hill StBrunch is absolutely wonderful. The beignets are dense, but delicious.
Great outdoor seating and a huge selection of coffee and tea. This is local! No Starbucks can compare to the atmosphere or high quality coffee.
157 residents recomanen
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StGreat outdoor seating and a huge selection of coffee and tea. This is local! No Starbucks can compare to the atmosphere or high quality coffee.
Yummmm. It may not look like much from the outside, but the food is amazing! Local food, straight from farm to table. The menu changes seasonally and we have never had a bad meal. Highly recommend for a dinner; weekend evenings you may want to put in a reservation.
13 residents recomanen
Harvest 18 Restaurant
8128 Renaissance PkwyYummmm. It may not look like much from the outside, but the food is amazing! Local food, straight from farm to table. The menu changes seasonally and we have never had a bad meal. Highly recommend for a dinner; weekend evenings you may want to put in a reservation.
Biscuits and donuts... Try the biscuit with fried chicken or one of their other specialty breakfast biscuits. Make sure to bring your appetite, there is nothing small about these biscuits.
17 residents recomanen
Rise Durham Southpoint
8200 Renaissance PkwyBiscuits and donuts... Try the biscuit with fried chicken or one of their other specialty breakfast biscuits. Make sure to bring your appetite, there is nothing small about these biscuits.
Bakery, but also serves a killer breakfast. Very creative food and drink options. If you aren't in a group, you can sit at the counter and get service a lot quicker.
102 residents recomanen
Monuts
1002 9th StBakery, but also serves a killer breakfast. Very creative food and drink options. If you aren't in a group, you can sit at the counter and get service a lot quicker.
Where the locals go. Classic diner with great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are usually short staffed, so service is generally on the slower side. This is not the place to go when you are in a rush.
10 residents recomanen
Hope Valley Diner
3710 Shannon RdWhere the locals go. Classic diner with great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are usually short staffed, so service is generally on the slower side. This is not the place to go when you are in a rush.
They have awesome burgers and they use local beef. top it off with some fries or fried pickles.
22 residents recomanen
Only Burger
3710 Shannon RdThey have awesome burgers and they use local beef. top it off with some fries or fried pickles.
Solid burgers, and our vegetarian friends love the veggie burgers. I always love getting the pickled vegetables of the day, which are done in house.
88 residents recomanen
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish StSolid burgers, and our vegetarian friends love the veggie burgers. I always love getting the pickled vegetables of the day, which are done in house.
Amazing South American food. This place is especially great for vegetarians and vegans. Get there early! or after 9 pm if you don't want to wait too long. After 9 pm, they sell the remaining empanadas for a discounted price.
50 residents recomanen
Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas
112 W Main StAmazing South American food. This place is especially great for vegetarians and vegans. Get there early! or after 9 pm if you don't want to wait too long. After 9 pm, they sell the remaining empanadas for a discounted price.
This is a great place to stop if you like Mediterranean food. Good price for the al a cart items, and there are so many things to chose from. This is on Franklin Street, which is right next to UNC Chapel Hill.
71 residents recomanen
Mediterranean Deli, Bakery, and Catering
454 W Franklin StThis is a great place to stop if you like Mediterranean food. Good price for the al a cart items, and there are so many things to chose from. This is on Franklin Street, which is right next to UNC Chapel Hill.
Christopher's favorite place to splurge on calories. Walk up and order at the shack, and there are some picnic tables if you want to eat there and drink a beer. Most people take their wings to go. For the spicy lovers, try the Peri Peri sauce.
22 residents recomanen
Heavenly Buffaloes
407 W Franklin StChristopher's favorite place to splurge on calories. Walk up and order at the shack, and there are some picnic tables if you want to eat there and drink a beer. Most people take their wings to go. For the spicy lovers, try the Peri Peri sauce.
Cafe by day, restaurant by night. These guys specialize in bread and pastries, but they crush the brunch scene. Get there early for weekend brunch if you want a chance to get in. Full espresso bar and great set of teas. Dinner is amazing! It is German food for dinner, but they make it classy. There is no dress code (we have gone in jeans), but the ambiance makes it feel like a place for a nice dinner. They also have a seasonal menu with a couple staples like Schnitzel.
128 residents recomanen
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill BlvdCafe by day, restaurant by night. These guys specialize in bread and pastries, but they crush the brunch scene. Get there early for weekend brunch if you want a chance to get in. Full espresso bar and great set of teas. Dinner is amazing! It is German food for dinner, but they make it classy. There is no dress code (we have gone in jeans), but the ambiance makes it feel like a place for a nice dinner. They also have a seasonal menu with a couple staples like Schnitzel.
Hand crafted ice cream anyone? Christopher loves the Vietnamese Coffee flavor.
75 residents recomanen
The Parlour
117 Market StHand crafted ice cream anyone? Christopher loves the Vietnamese Coffee flavor.
Mostly known for it's ice cream and front porch view of farm land. While you may want to drive there, many people road bike all the way out there (note: there is no bike lane). You can also pick up other dairy products like milk from this here, or grab it in the grocery store (it is in the glass container).
43 residents recomanen
Maple View Farm Ice Cream
6900 Rocky Ridge RdMostly known for it's ice cream and front porch view of farm land. While you may want to drive there, many people road bike all the way out there (note: there is no bike lane). You can also pick up other dairy products like milk from this here, or grab it in the grocery store (it is in the glass container).
Drinks & Nightlife
Classy drinks on the rooftop bar. They have a Brown Derby (bourbon and grapefruit juice) that is fabulous! Stop by this historic hotel for a panoramic view of Durham at sunset.
100 residents recomanen
The Durham Hotel
315 E Chapel Hill StClassy drinks on the rooftop bar. They have a Brown Derby (bourbon and grapefruit juice) that is fabulous! Stop by this historic hotel for a panoramic view of Durham at sunset.
Take your drink from the bar and wander around the muliple levels of this hotel art gallery. Be sure to lounge in the old bank vault.
62 residents recomanen
21c Museu Hotel Durham
111 North Corcoran StTake your drink from the bar and wander around the muliple levels of this hotel art gallery. Be sure to lounge in the old bank vault.
Parks & Nature
Tons of trails within 5 minute drive to the house, and can walk to trail heads if you would like. Duke Forest is owned by Duke University for forestry research. The trails are pretty simple, but great for easy hiking and dogs.
40 residents recomanen
Duke Forest
North Carolina 751Tons of trails within 5 minute drive to the house, and can walk to trail heads if you would like. Duke Forest is owned by Duke University for forestry research. The trails are pretty simple, but great for easy hiking and dogs.
Historical buildings and beautiful scenery. Great place for a hike.
215 residents recomanen
Parc Estatal del Riu Eno
6101 Cole Mill RdHistorical buildings and beautiful scenery. Great place for a hike.
We love going on walks in Duke Gardens. While the sun stays out late in the summer, and there aren't tons of students, it is the perfect place for an evening stroll. It features four unique garden sections and something always seems to be in bloom. My favorite is the terraced garden in the spring, but they keep it updated with seasonal flowers and plants. Dogs welcome before 10 am or after 5 pm.
378 residents recomanen
Jardins Sarah P. Duke
420 Anderson StWe love going on walks in Duke Gardens. While the sun stays out late in the summer, and there aren't tons of students, it is the perfect place for an evening stroll. It features four unique garden sections and something always seems to be in bloom. My favorite is the terraced garden in the spring, but they keep it updated with seasonal flowers and plants. Dogs welcome before 10 am or after 5 pm.
Arts & Culture
DPAC is where it's at for live shows, including off Broadway plays, concerts and comedy. Check out their page for events during your stay. https://www.dpacnc.com/events/all
244 residents recomanen
Centre d'Arts Escèniques de Durham
123 Vivian StreetDPAC is where it's at for live shows, including off Broadway plays, concerts and comedy. Check out their page for events during your stay. https://www.dpacnc.com/events/all
Thursday evening 5-9 pm is free entry, even though it is only $5 any other time. They have rotating exhibits and it keeps it interesting.
70 residents recomanen
Nasher Museum of Art
2001 Campus DriveThursday evening 5-9 pm is free entry, even though it is only $5 any other time. They have rotating exhibits and it keeps it interesting.
Every third Friday of the month, Durham art galleries open their doors and entertain. Some spots even have music and snacks. http://downtowndurham.com/thirdfriday/
39 residents recomanen
Durham
Every third Friday of the month, Durham art galleries open their doors and entertain. Some spots even have music and snacks. http://downtowndurham.com/thirdfriday/
Shopping
The Streets at Southpoint
Indoor/Outdoor mall with all the standard shops.
Entertainment & Activities
During the summer (through August) head out to support the Durham Bulls AAA baseball team. Its a great time and tickets start at $8.
220 residents recomanen
Parc Atlètic Durham Bulls
409 Blackwell StDuring the summer (through August) head out to support the Durham Bulls AAA baseball team. Its a great time and tickets start at $8.
Sightseeing
Cute little town about 20 minutes away from the house. Hillsborough was originally the capitol of North Carolina. There is access to a well done walking trail and the three blocks of downtown has lots of art, food, and chocolate! Great for an afternoon stroll. You can also walk around the neighborhoods and view historical classic southern homes, all clearly marked.
43 residents recomanen
Hillsborough
Cute little town about 20 minutes away from the house. Hillsborough was originally the capitol of North Carolina. There is access to a well done walking trail and the three blocks of downtown has lots of art, food, and chocolate! Great for an afternoon stroll. You can also walk around the neighborhoods and view historical classic southern homes, all clearly marked.
Major – Durham bull bronze sculpture
211 W Parrish StThe old tobacco warehouses have new life! Wander around the buildings that are now upscale apartments, shops, and restaurants. Burt's Bees calls this campus home. During the summer there is a live music series, Thursday's usually. Mackenzie loves the water features that run the length of this campus.
116 residents recomanen
Campus del Tabac Americà
300 Blackwell StThe old tobacco warehouses have new life! Wander around the buildings that are now upscale apartments, shops, and restaurants. Burt's Bees calls this campus home. During the summer there is a live music series, Thursday's usually. Mackenzie loves the water features that run the length of this campus.