Guidebook for Durham

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Guidebook for Durham

Arts & Culture

84-Acre hands-on science center and home of Magic Wings Butterfly House. Good for indoor and outdoor activities.
203 locals recommend
Museum of Life + Science
433 W Murray Ave
203 locals recommend
84-Acre hands-on science center and home of Magic Wings Butterfly House. Good for indoor and outdoor activities.
6 Miles from home
20 locals recommend
Duke East Campus
712 Broad St
20 locals recommend
6 Miles from home
Opened Nov 30, 2008 as the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas at a cost of $48 million. DPAC is currently listed at #3 in Pollstar Magazine’s Top Worldwide Theater Venues.
244 locals recommend
DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian Street
244 locals recommend
Opened Nov 30, 2008 as the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas at a cost of $48 million. DPAC is currently listed at #3 in Pollstar Magazine’s Top Worldwide Theater Venues.
Open since 1926, it offers music and shows, but also two film screens with current flicks and fun retro series. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style and renovated in 2007.
104 locals recommend
Carolina Theatre
309 W Morgan St
104 locals recommend
Open since 1926, it offers music and shows, but also two film screens with current flicks and fun retro series. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style and renovated in 2007.
Duke's art museum and cafe
80 locals recommend
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
2001 Campus Dr
80 locals recommend
Duke's art museum and cafe
It's a hotel with upscale restaurant, but the best part is the FREE contemporary art museum on multiple floors that is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!
62 locals recommend
21c Museum Hotel Durham
111 North Corcoran St
62 locals recommend
It's a hotel with upscale restaurant, but the best part is the FREE contemporary art museum on multiple floors that is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!

Food Scene

Where else can you get a delicious cold treat for $2? This is not a snow cone. It's WAY better! Usually open March-October. Takeout window, no indoor
Pelican's SnoBalls
3217 N Roxboro St
Where else can you get a delicious cold treat for $2? This is not a snow cone. It's WAY better! Usually open March-October. Takeout window, no indoor
Has outdoor patio too.. Best, fresh burgers and vegetarian chili. Has WIFI
88 locals recommend
Bull City Burger and Brewery
107 E Parrish St
88 locals recommend
Has outdoor patio too.. Best, fresh burgers and vegetarian chili. Has WIFI
Amazing coffee shop with beer, coffee, sipping chocolate led by a great local couple
157 locals recommend
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer St
157 locals recommend
Amazing coffee shop with beer, coffee, sipping chocolate led by a great local couple
Fresh baked bread goods, the best around :)
26 locals recommend
Loaf
111 W Parrish St
26 locals recommend
Fresh baked bread goods, the best around :)
Homemade ice cream, exotic flavors along with the traditionals
75 locals recommend
The Parlour
117 Market St
75 locals recommend
Homemade ice cream, exotic flavors along with the traditionals
AMAZING tapas and extensive sherry list
103 locals recommend
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill St
103 locals recommend
AMAZING tapas and extensive sherry list
Popular French restuarant, also has great brunch
40 locals recommend
Rue Cler
401 E Chapel Hill St
40 locals recommend
Popular French restuarant, also has great brunch
Frozen custard... yummy. Takeout window only, there's not an indoors area
Goodberry's Creamery
3906 N Roxboro St
Frozen custard... yummy. Takeout window only, there's not an indoors area
Good food, jazz on some nights. Free WIFI
63 locals recommend
Beyú Caffè
341 W Main St
63 locals recommend
Good food, jazz on some nights. Free WIFI
Our most authentic Chinese, also serves Hong Kong style dim sum. Closed Tuesdays
7 locals recommend
Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
602 Jones Ferry Rd
7 locals recommend
Our most authentic Chinese, also serves Hong Kong style dim sum. Closed Tuesdays
If you're from the north and really need your D & D fix
Dunkin'
2608 Erwin Rd
If you're from the north and really need your D & D fix
Nice diner, no WIFI though.
69 locals recommend
Elmo's Diner
776 9th St
69 locals recommend
Nice diner, no WIFI though.
They do offer kids meals and have WIFI
25 locals recommend
Mad Hatter Cafe + Bakeshop
1802 W Main St
25 locals recommend
They do offer kids meals and have WIFI
Opened Spring 2015
39 locals recommend
Juju Durham
737 9th St
39 locals recommend
Opened Spring 2015
Homemade ramen noodles. Restaurant downstairs with upstairs being the bar and lighter fare.
56 locals recommend
Dashi
415 E Chapel Hill St
56 locals recommend
Homemade ramen noodles. Restaurant downstairs with upstairs being the bar and lighter fare.
Great Italian food in an older stripmall space. Opened 2014
39 locals recommend
Gocciolina
3314 Guess Rd
39 locals recommend
Great Italian food in an older stripmall space. Opened 2014
Opened summer 2015, four miles from our home
Starbucks
4201 N Roxboro St
Opened summer 2015, four miles from our home
Great for breakfast/lunch with housemade yeast and cake donuts, bagels and sandwiches. Closed in the evening.
102 locals recommend
Monuts
1002 9th St
102 locals recommend
Great for breakfast/lunch with housemade yeast and cake donuts, bagels and sandwiches. Closed in the evening.
Wonderful fresh American and Southern dishes, patio area and rooftop eating area (half in the shade even)...
33 locals recommend
GRUB Durham
1200 W Chapel Hill St
33 locals recommend
Wonderful fresh American and Southern dishes, patio area and rooftop eating area (half in the shade even)...
Very nice French restaurant and pretty outdoor seating too
50 locals recommend
Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Rd
50 locals recommend
Very nice French restaurant and pretty outdoor seating too

Drinks & Nightlife

Duke graduate does good by opening own brewery, which is more like a large community room that happens to make beer. Now also serving a small menu. All are welcome…
137 locals recommend
Fullsteam Brewery
726 Rigsbee Ave
137 locals recommend
Duke graduate does good by opening own brewery, which is more like a large community room that happens to make beer. Now also serving a small menu. All are welcome…
Hand crafted cocktails and the nicest bartenders around. Often has Sunday jazz brunch.
72 locals recommend
Alley Twenty Six
320 E Chapel Hill St
72 locals recommend
Hand crafted cocktails and the nicest bartenders around. Often has Sunday jazz brunch.
Brought to us by the owner of Nana's, this is a cozy spot that opened early 2015. Open for lunch and dinner, local ingredients and handcrafted cocktails.
63 locals recommend
Bar Virgile
105 S Mangum St
63 locals recommend
Brought to us by the owner of Nana's, this is a cozy spot that opened early 2015. Open for lunch and dinner, local ingredients and handcrafted cocktails.
Rooftop and lawn seating with picnic tables
112 locals recommend
Ponysaurus Brewing Company
219 Hood St
112 locals recommend
Rooftop and lawn seating with picnic tables
Also has outdoor seating...
35 locals recommend
Bull City Ciderworks
305 S Roxboro St
35 locals recommend
Also has outdoor seating...
Cozy inside bar and a few outside picnic tables
Honeygirl Meadery
105 Hood St
Cozy inside bar and a few outside picnic tables
Cocktail bar open in the evenings, with jazz on Tuesday nights
19 locals recommend
Kingfisher
321 E Chapel Hill St
19 locals recommend
Cocktail bar open in the evenings, with jazz on Tuesday nights
Open in the evenings, closed Mondays. Founded in 2015 by Erin Karcher and Lindsey Andrews, Arcana offers a warm, vibrant art nouveau space—inspired by the Rider Waite tarot deck—welcoming gatherings of old friends and new for cocktails, music, tarot, and community events.
19 locals recommend
Arcana
331 W Main St
19 locals recommend
Open in the evenings, closed Mondays. Founded in 2015 by Erin Karcher and Lindsey Andrews, Arcana offers a warm, vibrant art nouveau space—inspired by the Rider Waite tarot deck—welcoming gatherings of old friends and new for cocktails, music, tarot, and community events.

Essentials

Only one in Durham :) They have a couple of beers on draft and a nice hot bar with tables to sit at too.
199 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
621 Broad St
199 locals recommend
Only one in Durham :) They have a couple of beers on draft and a nice hot bar with tables to sit at too.
If you have a Y membership, this is a large facility to use
9 locals recommend
Downtown Durham YMCA
218 W Morgan St
9 locals recommend
If you have a Y membership, this is a large facility to use
Closest HT
73 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
2107 Hillsborough Rd
73 locals recommend
Closest HT

Sightseeing

Once one of the largest plantations of the pre-Civil War South, now has several buildings still open to visit. Free, Tu-Sa 10a-4p. Tours at the top of every hour, last one at 3p.
10 locals recommend
Stagville State Historic Site
Highway
10 locals recommend
Once one of the largest plantations of the pre-Civil War South, now has several buildings still open to visit. Free, Tu-Sa 10a-4p. Tours at the top of every hour, last one at 3p.
Building completed in 1932, an example of neo-Gothic architecture in the English style. Check their calendar before your visit - http://chapel.duke.edu/contact
45 locals recommend
Duke University Chapel
401 Chapel Dr
45 locals recommend
Building completed in 1932, an example of neo-Gothic architecture in the English style. Check their calendar before your visit - http://chapel.duke.edu/contact

Parks & Nature

388 acres of nature! Great for hiking, walking and picnics. There are also several neat historical structures. http://www.enoriver.org/events-and-activities/outdoor-recreation/paddling/
30 locals recommend
West Point on the Eno
5101 N Roxboro St
30 locals recommend
388 acres of nature! Great for hiking, walking and picnics. There are also several neat historical structures. http://www.enoriver.org/events-and-activities/outdoor-recreation/paddling/
Lovely playground area for big and small
Duke Park Playground
Acadia Street
Lovely playground area for big and small
Founded in 1934 and now considered one of the top 10 public gardens in the United States. Divided into beautiful sections over 55 acres and 5 miles of walkways... any day is a good day to visit!
378 locals recommend
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson St
378 locals recommend
Founded in 1934 and now considered one of the top 10 public gardens in the United States. Divided into beautiful sections over 55 acres and 5 miles of walkways... any day is a good day to visit!
84-acre peninsula with a couple of easy/moderate short trails - http://www.trailsofnc.com/pennys_bend/
Penny's Bend
Old Oxford Road
84-acre peninsula with a couple of easy/moderate short trails - http://www.trailsofnc.com/pennys_bend/
Sandling Beach and Beaverdam both have swimming, and Beaverdam has a few fishing piers. About 20min from the house. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fala/activities.php
43 locals recommend
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
13304 Creedmoor Rd
43 locals recommend
Sandling Beach and Beaverdam both have swimming, and Beaverdam has a few fishing piers. About 20min from the house. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fala/activities.php

Shopping

46 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
5450 New Hope Commons Dr
46 locals recommend