Guidebook for Durham
Food Scene
Loaf
111 W Parrish StThe best artisan bread in Durham. Plus, Canele pastries.
Can't say enough about the delicious and creative menu "American South meets South America." Half price empanadas after 9 pm. Make sure to try the sandwiches, too.
50 residents recomanen
Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas
112 W Main StCan't say enough about the delicious and creative menu "American South meets South America." Half price empanadas after 9 pm. Make sure to try the sandwiches, too.
Great downtown pizza in a cool upstairs location plus a street-level window serving late-night slices.
20 residents recomanen
Pie Pushers
117A W Main StGreat downtown pizza in a cool upstairs location plus a street-level window serving late-night slices.
Fancy wood-fired pizza at hip communal tables. Some of the best.
105 residents recomanen
Pizzeria Toro
105 E Chapel Hill StFancy wood-fired pizza at hip communal tables. Some of the best.
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StThe quintessential Durham coffee shop
A must-visit for divine donuts and incredible biscuits. Try the potato hash-cake thing, I never would have but once I did I was hooked.
27 residents recomanen
Rise Durham Downtown
401 Foster StA must-visit for divine donuts and incredible biscuits. Try the potato hash-cake thing, I never would have but once I did I was hooked.
Good burgers, but to me it's biggest selling point is the little nook for kids with toys and a play kitchen.
88 residents recomanen
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish StGood burgers, but to me it's biggest selling point is the little nook for kids with toys and a play kitchen.
Tacos, nachos and burritos with unique protein choices, salsa bar, and amazing milkshakes.
67 residents recomanen
NUVOTACO
2512 University DrTacos, nachos and burritos with unique protein choices, salsa bar, and amazing milkshakes.
Big fan of the creative chicken and waffle combos- like fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle with honey-dijion and orange honeycomb butter whaaaaaaat
68 residents recomanen
Dame's Chicken & Waffles
530 Foster StBig fan of the creative chicken and waffle combos- like fried chicken on a sweet potato waffle with honey-dijion and orange honeycomb butter whaaaaaaat
Super donuts and great bagel sandwiches near duke.
*both Rise and Monuts have great donuts. Rise has biscuits and some of their donuts are filled donuts. The flavors are a little on the sweeter, less complicated side. Monuts has bagels and generally no filled donuts. Their flavor combos are a little more sophisticated.
102 residents recomanen
Monuts
1002 9th StSuper donuts and great bagel sandwiches near duke.
*both Rise and Monuts have great donuts. Rise has biscuits and some of their donuts are filled donuts. The flavors are a little on the sweeter, less complicated side. Monuts has bagels and generally no filled donuts. Their flavor combos are a little more sophisticated.
This husband and wife-run store always impresses me. In addition to being a butcher shop, It has a great variety of thoughtful and delicious pastries, plus a few choices of equally thoughtful and delicious sandwiches. On Wednesdays they have Ramen.
30 residents recomanen
Rose's Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets
121 N Gregson StThis husband and wife-run store always impresses me. In addition to being a butcher shop, It has a great variety of thoughtful and delicious pastries, plus a few choices of equally thoughtful and delicious sandwiches. On Wednesdays they have Ramen.
Hole-in-the-wall, upstairs mexican comfort food. Open super late. Feels like college.
28 residents recomanen
Cosmic Cantina
1920 Perry StHole-in-the-wall, upstairs mexican comfort food. Open super late. Feels like college.
Ice cream, serving fantastic scoops of both the stand-bys and unique flavors and vegan options. It started serving out of a pink school bus before moving into this bricks and mortar location.
75 residents recomanen
The Parlour
117 Market StIce cream, serving fantastic scoops of both the stand-bys and unique flavors and vegan options. It started serving out of a pink school bus before moving into this bricks and mortar location.
Arts & Culture
This children's museum is mind-blowing. Theres a train. There are gigantic and beautiful tree houses. There's a barnyard with animals. There's a butterfly house. There's bears, wolves and LEMURS. And that's all just the outside.
203 residents recomanen
Museu de la Vida i la Ciència
433 W Murray AveThis children's museum is mind-blowing. Theres a train. There are gigantic and beautiful tree houses. There's a barnyard with animals. There's a butterfly house. There's bears, wolves and LEMURS. And that's all just the outside.
Another old factory (textile, I think?) converted to artist space and lofts. Certain fridays there are open studios and events. If you're there be sure to walk down the street to the gallery in the little white church called Spectre Arts
Moshi Moshi Golden Belt
807 E Main StAnother old factory (textile, I think?) converted to artist space and lofts. Certain fridays there are open studios and events. If you're there be sure to walk down the street to the gallery in the little white church called Spectre Arts
Small local shows are shown here in this upstairs gallery, usually pretty interesting
10 residents recomanen
The Carrack Modern Art
947 E Main StSmall local shows are shown here in this upstairs gallery, usually pretty interesting
Lots of shows and productions come through here. It's super close to the house, check out the calendar for a great date night!
244 residents recomanen
Centre d'Arts Escèniques de Durham
123 Vivian StreetLots of shows and productions come through here. It's super close to the house, check out the calendar for a great date night!
Parks & Nature
Expansive, well-groomed gardens and trails with fountains, streams and ponds. Great place for a walk or a picnic.
378 residents recomanen
Jardins Sarah P. Duke
420 Anderson StExpansive, well-groomed gardens and trails with fountains, streams and ponds. Great place for a walk or a picnic.
Forest Hills
Little playground with a pavilion and big greenspace, very close to our house.
Burch Avenue Park
816 Burch Avegreat little SHADED, FENCED IN playground with a stage!
little playground with lots of donated ride-on toys for kids to play with
7 residents recomanen
Oval Drive Park
2200 W Club Blvdlittle playground with lots of donated ride-on toys for kids to play with
Large playground with several sections for different ages. There's a three story slide!
Duke Park Playground
Acadia StreetLarge playground with several sections for different ages. There's a three story slide!
Attractive small playground with rocks to climb on and gazebo. Good if you need a playground break while downtown. Careful, the big slide is super fast.
14 residents recomanen
Central Park
Attractive small playground with rocks to climb on and gazebo. Good if you need a playground break while downtown. Careful, the big slide is super fast.
Sightseeing
The American Tobacco Campus used to be a cigarette factory and now houses start-ups, restaurants and more. Walk between the two tobacco campus buildings to see the water-feature, restaurants, green spaces, basketball court, hammocks and more.
116 residents recomanen
Campus del Tabac Americà
300 Blackwell StThe American Tobacco Campus used to be a cigarette factory and now houses start-ups, restaurants and more. Walk between the two tobacco campus buildings to see the water-feature, restaurants, green spaces, basketball court, hammocks and more.
Shopping
Indio
905 W Main StBeautifully curated gifts from textiles, to paper goods, to beauty products to ceramics.
Chet Miller
118 W Parrish Stanother independent shop that's a pleasure to browse after you've stopped at Loaf ;)