If you are looking for an outdoor area to bring your dog and drink a beer, or to watch a soccer game, I would definitely recommend Bull McCabe's. However, note that for international games they don't always turn on the volume and other events (like trivia night) tend to take priority, whereas US soccer games are almost always featured on a big screen. I've eaten here twice. The first time, I ordered a hamburger and suffered extreme food poisoning. Since then, I've avoided eating here and try to recommend other places with beer and burgers when meeting up with friends. The second time I ordered nachos, which were a bit soggy and lacking in toppings. So while I would recommend this place for grabbing a beer and hanging out with friends, I wouldn't recommend eating here (even though the food always appears to look good. Maybe I just had bad luck the two times). read more

Bull McCabe's is a really fun Irish Pub. I think the best thing about Bull McCabe's is the outdoor area. It has a beautiful outdoor space where you can come and sit with your friends during a nice summer night. They also have small games like four in a row that you can play. It has a great atmosphere. The drinks are really good too. They have late night food menu with lots of options as well. I think that Bull McCabe's is a great place to go with your friends to have a few drinks and chill. read more

I've now been to Bull McCabe's three times. Maybe not enough to notice any trends or patterns but my latest visit provided enough hope that I might actually not resist coming back. First visit: Sat inside with a few friends. Cramped, sort of dank and smelly. Ordered a veggie burger which wound up costing something insane like $14 bucks. Burger and service were both fine but not enough to send me running back anytime sooner. Second visit: Sat outside and had a drink with a buddy while some dork chain-smoked all over us. Third visit: Came in for dinner on Friday post-American Tobacco Tower Lighting with a rather indecisive crew. We were seated in the newly-enclosed, toasty outdoor area. I wasn't starving but since it was my eat-whatever-the-heck-I-want cheat day, I ordered the nachos and a Terrapin Wake and Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout. Correction: make that two Terrapin Wake and Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stouts. The nachos were tasty but, nacho purists take note, slathered with chipotle cheddar sauce instead of actual cheese, black beans, beer-braised onions, sour cream, and pico. The highlight of the meal, hands down, was the Wake and Bake. Christ on a cracker, this stuff is epically delicious. If you're going to have more than one, you'll want to call a cab or consider going to dinner with a friendly designated driver. read more

First time here before the Duke game tonight and left very impressed. Buffalo wings were so crispy and the sauce was unreal! Loved the atmosphere and friendly staff. Was skeptical of not having a more formal server but those worries were dissolved by such friendly and prompt service. Also whoever is running the playlist, chef's kiss! Will be back. read more

Bull McCabe has both a great selection of beer and great specials: a wonderful combination. I came here for a friend's birthday. It's relaxed, it's easy to get to the bar, if I recall correctly they have a Bible somewhere in there, and they also have the beer with the astronaut on it. He's an astronaut. On a beer. It's awesome! But seriously. Bull McCabe's = yes. read more

Cool vintage southern atmosphere, great selection of beers, nice service, and surprisingly excellent French fries. The wooden booths are really cool and a great place to hangout with a small group of friends. Tons of seating, so would also work with a large group. My friends were slightly disappointed when their imported beers were served in 10oz glasses (they had ordered assuming this was a pint). Make sure you look closely at the menu because in TINY font it does say which drinks are served only in 10oz (mostly IPA's). The waitress with the short hair and cute style was very sweet and hospitable. read more

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub - Atmosphere - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I have been to Bull McCabe's several times. I like sitting outside on the picnic tables, especially on a nice day. The picnic tables could be sanded down a little bit but overall the outside atmosphere is very relaxed and casual and is a great place to bring kids and dogs. Inside the pub, tends to be pretty busy and loud. Getting an order in at the bar often takes a while with only one or two bartenders back there filling out a bunch of orders at once. Even before the dinner crowd they tend to be coming and going from behind the bar a lot, making it take a while to order. One time I had waited almost 30 minutes to get in an order. There is also not really any drink menu to show what wines, beers, etc. they have (or at least when I asked for one, I was told there was not one). There is mostly pub fair here and the food does tend to come out quickly. The burgers and wings are pretty decent. I have really liked the Mexicali burger (the burger is cooked well and I love that it has some spice to it). read more

I used to like bull mcabes. It was good affordable standard pub fare. I hadn't been there in a couple months, and during an event downtown I insisted we go. The menu looked different which should've been a sign that what we ordered to be...different. Durham has a food value problem. The cost at a lot of places is way more than it should be. The food is often good-mediocre by at a highjacked price, which is why Bull Mcabes was a good option. We ordered nachos for the table, which he expected to be as they were previously. What we got was, and I am not exaggerating, 3 corn tortillas, cut in half, with some nacho ingredients neatly on top. From there the portions seemed smaller, and the club in ordered was really light and basic. It was an unnecessarily fancy version of something that should be a better value. read more

McCabe's has turned into my friends' go-to in Durham, which seems fine since it's an Irish bar and, well, who doesn't like an Irish pub?* It does what it needs to do pretty well -- cheap beer, but some other good options as well. Outdoor seating is nice and as for a great place to stop for a post-brunch beer, this serves the purpose well. They had some EPL footie on when I was there, which is nice to know exists in the Dirty D. I wasn't quite sure anyone in Durham knew about the footie played all around the world, but McCabe's does, and that's a good thing. I'm sure it's more hopping later at night, but with plenty of booths and a good face-to-face seating arrangement in the middle, it seems to have room for lots of people. * - Perhaps English nationals, Northern Irish and quite possibly the Aussies. I don't know any Aussies who don't like Irish pubs, but it's possible. read more

Has a great location and patio seating with plenty of TVs, but the food and beer selection is lacking. Since this is an "Irish Pub" I expected a lot of Irish beers on tap. The only ones I saw were Guinness and some kind of cider. Aside from that, the other beers on tap are all random and not a great selection. There isn't much to choose from on the menu- mostly burgers and sandwiches. I ordered the reuben, which was really good. My only complaint is that the corned beef was so tough and it was pretty messy to eat. It came with beer battered fries, which were SO good. My husband got a build your own burger and said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had. read more

No complaints here, food and service is always consistent, this is definitely one of my go to spots for a drink or a snack. I love their Patty Melt burger and ice cold draft specials! read more

Stopped in after 8pm on a sunday evening and got seated right away outside. Gorgeous night out and loved being able to sit outside. People were playing cornhole which was fun. Service was decent enough. Fries were delish and burger was pretty good too. My husband liked his burger as well. Good beer selection. We will def be back. read more

Awesome place to watch soccer! Would go back again. Staff is nice and friendly. Beer is reasonably priced. Loved it

I stopped in here on a business trip. Checked the reviews on Yelp, and I needed a place to watch my team play football and get fed. Lots of TV's, interesting inside and a great outdoor area. Bartender totally ignored me for over 20 minutes..(really, after about 5 minutes, I started watching my cell phone clock)..whats up with that? Maybe find a guy that is less introverted, and more service oriented. Couldn't get a drink at the bar if I was on fire. No big problem....moved to a table.... Moved to a table, had to flag down a waitress, but eventually was given a menu and a ordered a drink. I asked the waitress if the onion rings were frozen or battered in house....she stated "we batter them here." NO, they do not - just a FYI - they are the same Sysco type frozen o-rings you can get anywhere - pass! I ordered a Beef Brisket sandwich, it was good. The on- tap apple cider was really good. I will probably not go back, as I think I can find a better place to watch a game, and also get better service. read more

I've had trouble finding a a bar to adopt as "mine" within Durham proper. I have "my bar" in Raleigh. I have "my bar" in Chapel Hill. McCabe's is currently the front-runner for "my bar" in Durham after a single visit. Raleigh drinkers might note that it looks like more put-together version of Glenwood South's Hibernian...only lacking a severe overcrowding problem and a more toned down clientele in general. They had plenty to choose from on tap, including a nice selection of IPAs (which you may as well call Irish Pale Ales while you're there, just to enhance the experience...it worked for me). While we enjoyed our drinks, the bartender played a nice selection of 90's alternative rock, whisking us back to our teenage years which - with the help of beer, music, and selective memory - seemed to be totally free of any awkwardness! Name another bar that's done that for you lately. read more

The place has an interesting decor as others have mentioned which would suggest a study one would find in an old home. However, the actually atmosphere is very loud and it is often very crowded. They have a rotating tap, which is nice for trying new things. I've only had the food once. They ran out of veggie burgers, my first choice, so the waitress suggested the quesadilla. It was pretty standard; nothing remarkable, but I will admit it was perfectly cooked. read more

This is an updated review. I still love their dry rub wings especially the salt and pepper wings. Service was wonderful. Super nice. I would recommend this place to everyone! read more

Great beer selection, friendly atmosphere, and just an overall awesome place. They've got a small field in the back with about 15 picnic tables. This was especially nice since they had no more tanned available. We ordered from the bar and were able to go sit outside. Very cool place. Lots of people hanging out outside, some reading, kids running around playing. Def a nice place to go to read more

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub - The back area - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Cozy Irish pub with 15 or so different beers on tap - and usually a bargain bottled beer (e.g. PBR or High Life). The food is good too... ranging from bangors and mash to more traditional pub grub (burgers - which are good too). Another nice feature is that there is side walk seating. read more

Went here a while ago but I remember it being very good. Great food choices and burgers. I had an awesome beer that was a seasonal. Great outdoor area and patio. Laid back and relaxed only downside was for being a Irish pub there was very little Irish food and pub like Irish food which a bit of a disappointment. However, the food was still great. read more

This used to be our go-to place to eat in Durham. After they added an outside patio, they dramatically slimmed down their menu and ditched the Irish food altogether. Now, we have a hard time finding something decent on the menu. They really need to remove "Irish Pub" from their name now since there is very little Irish in this restaurant. Other than our food qualms, the beer selection is really good, and the outside patio is good for people watching and getting some fresh air. Unfortunately, the inside has changed for the worse after the renovations. They lost one of the super cozy booths to make room for a door to the outside, and it seems they've tried to class the joint up, removing the "tacky" tap handles and adding a maitre d'. So, while we now only go here once every 4 months instead of once a week, it's still a decent place to be. read more

Yesterday was my first visit to Bull McCabe's and it will _not_ be my last. I stopped in with a friend for a quick lunch before a meeting downtown and was pleasantly surprised by what a great place it was. We both ordered the caesar salad - mine with fried chicken, my friend had grilled chicken. The salads were enormous and delicious. The atmosphere was pretty cool, with large gothic pendant lamps that look like they were rescued from a church and creaky wooden booths with high backs for privacy. I really enjoyed the music that day too. They played old school funk and soul (Parlaiment, Rick James, etc). It wasn't what I expected at an Irish Pub but it worked! The waiter was friendly and was fairly quick getting our order to us. I definitely want to go back (when I'm not in a hurry) to sample the burgers and have a beer! read more

Had lunch there on Sunday 8/12/12. Not bad, not great. Nothing Irish on the menu. Closest was fish & chips. Fish was good, Fries were not. They were the new fangled fries that have no potato in them just crispy crunch. I like fries that you can tell were made from a potato. Have no Idea what all the rage is about the crispy crunchy fries and why any restaurant would serve these imitations. Beer was good. 15 to 20 Imports and Micros on tap. I had a couple of Highland Gaelic ales that saved the day. This bar has some character with the old wooded booths and concrete floor. The floor looks like many a patron has bellied up to the bar and found themselves on the floor. Looks like it's a great place on Friday and Saturday nights. It just gives you that feeling. I'll try it for the nightlife next time and see if I can find Bull Durham. read more

door guy said, "the cover is your best dance move". plus points they play some old school rap and hiphop. plus points service is fast. wings are pretty good. sit in a church pew under church lamps while sipping on your alcoholic beverage. weird, but plus points. it always looks busy on the outside, but the inside is not so much. over all it's your basic bar with unexpectedly good throwback music. read more

The perfect combination of a neighborhood pub and surprisingly good food. I drop in for a random beer no matter the season. With the best outdoor space in town the spring and fall are unbeatable. It is the go-to bar for any significant soccer match, especially the US National Team. (And the men's team too, LOL). Also a great place for a full-on meal with friends when you want good beer and food that will fill you up. Just an awesome vibe to this place. read more

Love Bull's. Fantastic staff. Great little neighborhood bar that is good for lunch, after work, dinner and late night.

We were looking for a quick bite to eat before the Bull's game. Had several kids with us ranging from 3 to 14 and saw this inviting restaurant with a large fenced in green space and a kids menu. As one would expect, the younger kids played in the grass before the food came. We were approached by several staff members throughout our dining experience telling us that kids weren't allowed to play outside as they may disturb other dining guests. However, dogs are allowed. Besides this, food was ok, and staff was rude. Would not recommend! read more

I'm giving this establishment 5 stars due to the food, drinks & also the staff. The bartender (don't know his name, sorry) was great. It was a busy Saturday night and he was able to keep up with our drinks very urgently and also was super fun and just seemed to bean all - around great guy. The drinks were great. We ordered Irish breakfasts & Irish car bombs which were great. The biggest surprise was the FOOD! Wow. We got an order of the tots to split and not even kidding, they were the best tator tots we've ever eaten in our lives. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture but take my word for it! Next time you're in Durham, head to this place! You will not regret it. read more

Usual pub atmosphere. A little farther away from campus so it's not overwhelmed by the college kids. Still have the usually lin specials. Had to turn down the cheap domestics but then again... They have a few munchies to eat with your beer. Seating at the booth had surprisingly decent wait service. Impressive for a pub. Good local. Walking distance from downtown stuff, cheaper alternative to the fancier drinking spots down the street. read more

This place is terrible. We waited for over 20 minutes for anyone to take our drink order. (And the place was not crowded.) Then, we ordered the only appetizer on the menu to share and they are out of it. How is it possible to be out of nachos? I really wanted to like this place because I love Irish Pubs. read more

This was my second time at Bull McCabe's. It's a decent place to get a good meal and beer. The staff is friendly and very attentive. I had the make your own veggie burger. It was ok; will order something else next time. They had a great beer selection which I was happy about. Strange food selection for an Irish Pub. read more

Great bar with a laid back atmosphere. I decided to try this bar out after being tired of Alley26's overpriced drinks & rude staff, and I'm glad I did! Great bartender. I'll definitely be back read more

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub - Chicken tenders - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Great place to take kids and have a beer while they play in the lawn. They even had face painting one time. Parking across the street.

My brother and sister were both in town due to the illness of our father. We just needed to get away from the hospital for a bit and really weren't sure what we wanted so we just drove. We ended up downtown and just parked and walked, searching for a place for a late lunch. Unfortunately, several places close up at 2:30 until dinner so we were starting to feel somewhat discouraged. Then we got to the end of the street and spotted Bull McCabes. There was lunch! We sat inside as it was pretty hot that day but they do have plenty of outside seating. Interesting decor...old church feel with some soccer fan thrown in! Our waitress was great and I wish I remembered her name. She gave us very honest opinions when we asked about the different beers they had and was quick to bring us samples of what we wanted to try. We all found something we liked and then started on the menu. My sister had the angus sliders, my brother, the mac and cheese and slaw, and I got the open face blt. My blt was topped with a fried egg. Need I say more??? The food was great, drinks were great, and the service was great! I would definately go back! read more

See all

Disclaimer: I love Bull McCabe's because my husband hosts trivia there on Wednesday nights at 9 (y'all should go. He's really good). But before he ever hosted there, I ate their chicken thigh confit sandwich and fell in love. I don't really drink, so I really appreciate a pub with restaurant-quality food. Confit basically means "fried in its own fat", which kind of sounds gross until you ponder on it (or take a bite) and realize that nothing could ever be more delicious. There's also a cool vibe inside with old shelves full of library books, TVs to watch the game, and what might be downtown Durham's best patio seating (nothing like hearing a train go by as you sip your beer. HASHTAG DURHAM). Friendly staff, great food and late-night trivia - these guys know how to get on my good side. read more

Great bar pub-style food that is reasonably priced along with plenty of beer options. Highly recommend for individuals, families and groups lunch or dinner! read more

Stopped here for drinks before an event at the Carolina Theater. Great outdoor seating, covered and uncovered. Perfect walking distance for pre-show drinks read more

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great place to hang out with friend due to lots of outdoor seating. We frequent often for happy hour in Friday's with my husbands coworkers. A lot of people bring kids to run around the outdoor fenced in area as well. The food is your general bar food and several beer selections as well. It is a fun place to hang out! read more

The outside space is awesome but the inside ALWAYS smells of stale beer and musk. I'm hesitant to ever go inside, even to order...from the mediocre beer list. Maybe one stout? Mostly Pale Aless of some variety - which I understand are the "it" beer at the moment, but come on, cater to a wider audience. The food is your standard bar food. read more

I went to Bull McCabe's for a late dinner and it was a great choice. I loved the environment, service, and the food. It was especially nice to sit outside because the weather was perfect. I ordered the Reuben with fries. The order came out really quickly and the food was super hot. The fries were some of the best I've had. Definitely recommend trying the fries. The Reuben was also amazing. The cut of meat and the way it was cooked was great. The serving size was very filling. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. She checked back multiple times. The areas I saw were clean. The menu also had a variety of things to choose from. I will definitely be going back to Bull McCabe's and I recommend it to anyone looking for a place to relax. read more

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub - The Reuben - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all