My friend and I came to Annexe after attempting to go to Bar Virgile, which was popping (on a Monday night!). The BV server said that if we didn't want to wait, Annexe was their sister bar downstairs with the same kitchen. While BV's vibes are ~adult, sultry, modern~ Annexe is more ~young, party, fun~ Honestly, we were just hungry and didn't care too much. On Mondays, they have a $12 burger deal that comes with fries and a beer, which is a steal. As a not beer girlie, I appreciated that they allowed me to substitute a house soda. My friend is gluten-free and they allowed substitutions for her meal as well. The burger was good- not the best burger I've had in my life but tasty. Same with the fries. I got the Pistachio Orange house soda, which was interesting and refreshing, albeit a tiny bit heavy on the spices. My biggest qualm was with the wait- it took at least 25 minutes for our drinks (it wasn't super busy like BV) and 1 hour for our food (understandable I suppose with the shared kitchen). Now I was busy yapping with my friend so that wasn't too big of a deal for us, but I feel like it was notable. Service was also maybe a bit too attentive, with multiple attempts to grab our plates before we were fully finished- again not a huge problem for us in the grand scheme of things. Overall, a good option if all you care about is food and BV is too busy, but the vibes are completely different. 7/10 would recommend! read more

Annexe - House Burger, Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Service, drinks and ambiance was a nice vibe after a long day. Bar tenders can literally make everything.

This is a really chill vibe with great food, customer service, and well crafted drinks. Everything about this restaurant was unique and thoughtfully crafted. Highly recommend. read more

Great place for a fun vibe with cool cocktails. The crowd really varies (from college kids to older adults) depending on the night and if there's a DJ or what kind of music they're playing but it's still always fun! It can get busy on the weekends. read more

Annexe - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Had so much fun on Saturday night at the Annexe!! Started out at their amazing bar upstairs. I literally want this bar in my house! There were bottles upon bottles upon bottles at the bar--it literally kept going! Any bottle you want they have! The bartenders were super helpful and kind and I went with an old fashioned. It was a little on the sweeter side than I was expecting, but it was still super smooth and easy to drink. For food I was just going to get some fries, but the bartender convinced me to get the butternut squash and bacon risotto. Omg! Sooo good! Nice hint of sweetness and so much flavor! It was literally a party in my mouth! I would recommend sharing this dish as it is a very generous portion. Once I finished eating I headed downstairs to hear DJ Travis spin. Wow! The music was epic and the dance floor was packed the entire night! It was a great mix of 1980s, 90s, and today! There was a mixed and fun crowd, which was so great to see and everyone was having fun! Only draw back was it was very warm and there was not a lot of circulation. So glad that they kept the water cold and next to the bar, so you could grab as much as you needed. And you definitely needed it! I recommend Annexe for anyone looking for a good drink, dancing, and fun! read more

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Wanted to go for a quick drink somewhere new downtown so decided to give this place a try. I'd already had dinner so my husband and I just went for drinks. The atmosphere is fun, it's cute and small and very eclectic looking. The service was friendly, And the drinks were okay. I ordered the espresso Martini and my husband ordered the Day Bed. He really liked his mine was okay. I didn't stay long because it was so loud. Like screaming loud, despite having music playing. There was one table keeping all the noise but I'm not sure if I blame the table or just the poor sound settings of the building. But it's not your typical speak easy vibes where you can have a relaxing cocktail. We went somewhere else and it was definitely more our speed. I would like to come for the food eventually or maybe just try the main place. read more

Annexe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is an underground bar that comes alive in the evenings and stays open pretty late, with a DJ most nights. They have the cutest cocktails and small bites available for purchase. Haven't tried their food yet but I'm sure I'll be back to get the chance. read more

Annexe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Adjacent and downstairs from Bar Virgile, the Annexe is the classiest waiting area in the Triangle. You can sit down here and wait for your "real" table upstairs, or just enjoy the speakeasy vibe here with the same menu. I'm back for the deviled eggs, and they are just as wonderful as previous visits. Tonight I had a Last Word and a Corpse Reviver #2. Both arrived shaken to perfection by Michael, who made more drinks in the 45 minutes I was there than I could count. I only saw him stumped once, when I asked for the Corpse Reviver. "I've not made that one in a while." Three minutes later, it's sitting in front of me, and seven or eight other couples have also been served. The man is a machine! There is a LOT going on in the background to make sure you're having a nice night out in the city. The team here does an amazing job of making sure you don't see the effort, and only enjoy the fruits of their labor. Thanks, gang! read more

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As another Yelper said, I'm not sure what demographic they are trying to get in but the vibe seemed like an attempt at 20 year olds while the prices were for 35-with-steady-careers. I didn't buy a drink because they were pretty pricey. I did try my friend's Moscow Mule which was so tart (lime) that it made me shudder. The bar was small so it was loud and by 10pm it seems to pick up and get crowded. We didn't stay for DJ because there's no dance floor that I would consider legit. The good thing is even though it was small and packed, I was never hot for a moment. The aesthetic was cool, bathrooms were clean, service was nice too. It's just not for 20-something year olds. I probably wouldn't be back until I'm in my 30s-40s read more

Annexe - Moscow Mule and blue concoction - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Wonderful space to catch up with a friend. They put the craft in craft cocktails. The bartender was wonderful to talk with and we had a lovely evening. Would recommend!! read more

Annexe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My friends and I enjoyed our time here! We thought the price was about right for what we got. My only negative was that I wish the tables were *a little* bigger. Don't go if you hate small tables! I had been to Bar Virgile before, and this is very similar. The two bars are connected (Annexe is downstairs from Bar Virgile). I think they get their food from the same kitchen. The food was good (and better than I expected)! My drinks were both good! All the drinks on the menu look really pretty; the two I got were actually two of the least photogenic on the menu! The other drinks had bigger glasses and more interesting colors. read more

Annexe - Cocktail (gin, saffron) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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If I were still in my 20s I would give this place a 5 star review. However, I am in my mid 30s and can't hang and would give it a 3 stars (so I averaged it together). Annexe is the sister bar to Bar Virgile located just to the left and downstairs. When I say "sister bar" it's like the younger sister who thinks she's way cooler than the upstairs refined Bar Virgile. The interesting thing is, you can get the same great food and cocktails at both- they just have really different vibes. When you walk in, you know from the lights, pink decor, and DJ booth that it's going to be a party. Every time I have been the bartenders have been friendly and very efficient even when it was crowded. I love the drinks-- they are all bright colors and some even come with heart straws! My main complaint (yes, I sound like an old lady) is how loud it is. The space is so small that there really is no "quiet place" where you can sit and hear each other talk. Durham definitely needs more places for dancing (other than Shooters) so I am glad that Annexe is here. read more

I wanted to love it but.... This place confused me. The prices are for that of 30+ but seems like the vibe is supposed to be early 20s? The drinks were good, but two drinks cost over 30 dollars. They were delicious and the bartender was great! Confusingly, they move all the chairs and tables as it gets later and have a DJ. But the DJ played an odd mix of music....it was so loud I couldn't hear anything when I was trying to talk to a friend. I'd probably give it another chance but overall I'm not sure what demographic they're trying to cater to and what the vibe they're going for it. I didn't try the food but I'd go back, just maybe earlier before the weird DJ situation happens. read more

Annexe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We came for dinner on a Thursday. We thought we came when they first opened but there were already a lot of patrons there. Was the opening time on their website incorrect? It was confusing to us because we sat at one of the little tables and tried to order dinner (everything comes from Bar Virgile next door) but were told they only serve food at the bar and at a hightop table (all occupied). The bartender was really nice and said he'd alert us when a spot opened up. We enjoyed our cocktails and finally grabbed seats at the bar. I enjoyed my steak frites and my wife enjoyed her salmon. By then, most of the place had turned over and it was almost empty. It probbly picked up again as the night wore on. The vibe is modern and neon-ish -- I believe they become a dance spot later in the night. read more

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Wow! I've been searching for a great spot for a good cocktail and I've finally found it here in Durham! It's an underground bar next to Bar Virgile (also great food and cocktails) and has all the perfect vibes. The decor is amazing and they play vinyls! I was in heaven and can't wait to make this a regular stop for us when we go out! read more

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My boyfriend and I attempted to have a drink here before a show at the DPAC last week. We stood at the downstairs bar waiting to be acknowledged and seated. The bartenders and wait staff completely ignored us. It was really awkward so we left. There are several other cool bars in the area, I suggest that you try one of them instead of an establishment that doesn't care about their customers. read more

My family and I went last night and we really enjoyed this bar. It was very fun and trendy. You are able to bring your own records to spin on Wednesdays- we loved the music last night. I tried a cocktail with chocolate and espresso in it and it was delicious. The space is a little smaller than I thought so it may be hard to find a seat on the weekends when it's busier. The bathrooms are also very nicely decorated and gave complimentary bubble gum and tampons. The bar also had a jar of blow pop suckers. I loved that because I haven't had those in years! read more

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Best deal in town on a Monday night! Delicious burger, fries, and beer for just $12. Really cool staff and the vibe is great.

Great spot. Discovered last night that you can order the same menu as Bar Virgile. Service is exceptional. Staff are not only very knowledgeable, but also very kind. People rave about the burger, but there's always so many great things on the menu that I end up ordering something different. One day I'll get the burger. read more

Annexe - Bar panther. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We went here on a Friday evening and had an amazing time. The manager Dusty made us feel right at home, and the atmosphere was really fun. Perfect for a girl's night out. The drinks are by far superior to any other bar in Durham. The Jaguar cocktail was absolutely amazing. Will make a special trip back here to order that one again. =). The space is small, but they have a little area with a disco ball that folks can go to dance or watch others dance while you hang by the wall with your drink. The music gets a bit louder after 9:00 which means you have to get closer to your friend/partner to hear each other (which could be a great thing but maybe not so great if it's a first date). Couldn't recommend this place enough. Thanks again Dusty for helping make our night amazing! read more

The best cocktails in Durham, hands down. Inventive recipes, seasonal flavors, and an unpretentious vibe. While there are some other great spots, the drinks at this space were superior to any other place we have visited. We meant to stay for one drink each, but were so excited about the menu, we each had 3 before dinner, oops. 100% recommend! read more

I go here pretty frequently and usually don't know what to expect in terms of crowd and music since they have a new DJ each time it seems (usually amazing or really questionable, both make for a fun time nonetheless) Shout out to Jethro, makes a great Blue Hawaiian. Also my best friend recommends the Jack Rose read more

Visited this downstairs bar since we couldn't get a seat at Virgil. Great drink menu however execution wasn't the best. DJ playing LP's behind the bar had a strange music choice. Waitress took our order 5 mins before we saw her leave for her shift, so had to order again with bartender read more

Annexe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Came for drinks with friends two separate times yesterday and the second time was so unfortunate because the night time bartenders were not as friendly as the day time bartenders. The lady that was serving me was a dirty blond with light wavy hair and glasses and she was rude and standoffish, not sure how you can be in the service Industry with that kind of attitude and energy. I felt a little unwell and asked for water 7 times and she continuously ignored me. Definitely will not come at night anymore without my personal water bottle. Also said she doesn't have change for cash, so with that being said and make sure that you're bringing small bills or just your card. Dj was fun and great the vibe was fun other than the service. read more

Friendly staff. Service was great. Burger was delicious. Nice spot to grab drinks and dinner before heading over to the DPAC read more

Annexe - Cats and Birds - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Really liked this place! It's located right across from Bar Virgile on the inside. The ambience is relaxing and trendy. You can order food from Bar Virgile and have it be brought over to Annexe. My friend and I did this when Bat Virgile was packed. The food was pretty good for the price, but the drinks were my favorite! There was a live DJ on Saturday night. I would definitely be going back to this place again! read more

Best kept speakeasy in downtown. Fun, funky, femme vibe welcoming for everyone. Loved seeing the diversity and community in the space. Will definitely return! PS, the bathrooms are a gem! Pretty sure the tiger wallpaper was Gucci?! read more

Annexe - Bathroom - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Awesome drinks, nice vibe and great bartenders. It is Bar Virgile's sister bar so it's located right down the steps. It's a must try if you haven't been before. read more

We walked past yesterday evening and were pleasantly surprised to find Annex open! Apparently they were only open 10 days before the Covid shutdown. The staff was so nice and friendly. Cocktails were on point, especially the Blue Hawaiian. We only had the deviled eggs, which were very good. We are looking forward to coming back soon for dinner. read more

Annexe - Old Fashioned and Blue Hawaiian. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I have been waiting and anticipating what this place would be like. I would frequently go to Bar Virgile (sister bar) to see if I could get a glimpse. Well that time came where I checked it out. I was pumped to push the Champagne button which I did, right away and someone came up and boom there was my pink drink! I enjoyed the sounds of old school jams on record and turntables. The spot is fun, flirty and funky for sure. Looking forward to going again soon and trying out some cocktails and maybe a little dance under the disco ball. Thank you for lighting up our lives in our community! read more

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This spot is great to hang out and have amazing cocktails. The bartenders are on point, the staff is professional and nice, and the GM Dusty knows how to move about a room and keep the customers happy. Great night overall. This place is definitely needed in Durham and in the scene. read more

I've been here twice now & it is such a great spot for drinks. We went Saturday & due to the large size of our party we went right at opening. We had the place to ourselves for a little while. It was so nice & the drinks were fantastic! read more