My friend and I came to Annexe after attempting to go to Bar Virgile, which was popping (on a…read moreMonday 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!

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

Great small bites. I recommend you trying the Elote dip it was AMAZING and perfect for sharing with…read moretwo or more friends! They have great drink specials for different days of the week! Very speedy service all of their bartenders are very sweet and will fix whatever drink to your liking The vibes are disco balls on the ceiling very open very Miami Beach vibes they have an indoor and an outdoor seating area not only that they have fireplaces. If you get a little too far from their heated porch area! The vibes just don't stop. They have an aesthetic fireplace in side as well as a fake tree in the middle beautiful for taking pictures Their bathrooms are adorable, but you might have to wait a little bit on a busy day. But this is the same problem with every bar. Very glad that they have more than one bathroom.

Stopped by the Velvet Hippo while out in downtown Durham. When you arrive parking can be a bit…read moretricky in this area as you'll need to find street parking or park in a nearby lot. When you walk in you'll need to either take the elevator or stairs up to the third floor. Once inside the bar you'll feel like you've been transported to an upscale, tropical bar. To order you'll need to walk up to the bar to place your order. I ordered the Hot Girl Summer (Olmeca Altos Reposado, fresh watermelon, Gran Gala orange liqueur, house-made habanero syrup, lime, salt half rim) which was so good. I also ordered a cheetahs do it in the dark (Astral Añejo tequila, Licor 43, Caffè Borghetti liqueur, espresso, orange twist) which was also excellent. I'd recommend walking out to the rooftop if it isn't too hot. There are several tables and the views of the city are nice. Definitely will come back to the velvet hippo next time I'm in Durham.

Best cocktails ever !!! I will be back!! Wish we had this in Mebane :) The manhattan was perfectread more

Came here for lunch on a Sunday. Did a flight and had some lunch. The staff were nice. Not many…read morepeople in there. Nice location and nice bar. Plenty of seating. The apple flavor whiskey was not good. Too syrupy and the peach flavor is insanely sweet; may be good in a mixed drink. The sweet potato was good. I could sip that easily. For food I had deviled eggs and brisket nachos. The deviled eggs weren't that good. The nachos tasted good and a nice portion. Though it's not bad, it also wasn't good. Glad I tried it off my list, but won't be back.

Grabbed a drink here recently and had an OK time…read more First, parking was easy in a nearby garage. My wife and I came at opening so the bar was completely empty initially, but it filled up by the time we left. There was a pretty impressive array of comfortable seats, although they looked a little dusty to me. When we chose our initial seats, the bartender came over, apologized, and told us that the chairs we had chosen were only for parties of 3 or 4 :) Kind of strange but whatever. We chose a different set of chairs and ordered our beverages. Honestly, it took a very long time to get our drinks. They were pretty well made but were also extremely expensive (all of the cocktails were around $17 to $19). Other than the delay, the bartender was nice and did a pretty good job throughout our time there. The venue also served food but we didn't partake this time. Overall, not a terrible experience or anything, but the high prices and slow service make me a little hesitant to return.

This cozy bar & lounge set between the American Tobacco Campus and the DPAC is a great place to…read moreunwind and chill. Got a show coming up? You can come here for a pre-show drink. There is waiter service at the lounge tables. I enjoy the bar service: plenty of seats and friendly bartenders. Old Bull Apartments residents have it best. They can hang out here, steps from their homes.

Kingfisher is the cutest cocktail lounge located in downtown Durham. I struggled to find it at…read morefirst, but it's down the stairs. The service was great, drinks were delicious, and the aesthetic make for a great night! Also, the music was enjoyable and at the perfect volume. I will definitely be back!

GRATUITY ALERT I go to Kingfisher on occasion for the…read moreatmosphere. The drinks are very very innovative, which makes it disappointing every time that the drinks are always watered down. Way too much ice in rocks glasses and not much of the drink ourself. Watered down, over shaken martinis. **However, the real issue is the mandatory 20% gratuity. ** After the bartender forgot to make my drink, then waiting 20 minutes for the check, I noticed that in the details, my one cocktail had a mandatory 20% tip. When I pointed it out, I was informed by the bartender that I didn't have to add an additional tip in top of that, but "it would be appreciated" Are you kidding me?!?! I thought I bought a $15 drink. But it was really $18. And then they expect another tip, taking this to a whopping **$22 before taxes.** I won't be back - and with so many cocktail bars in Durham that don't stealth charge you, I don't need to.

If I could give this place 100 stars, I would! From the…read moreoutside, you would never guess what awaits inside. It looks like a small neighborhood spot, but the moment you walk through the doors, you're immediately welcomed by a charming bakery counter filled with fresh pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Then, as you make your way to the restaurant in the back, the entire experience transforms into something truly special. The ambiance is absolutely stunning--warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed. I honestly spent half the meal just taking it all in because every detail was beautiful. Now, let's talk about the food... phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe it. Everything was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Our brunch came out surprisingly fast without sacrificing quality, and every bite was bursting with flavor. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy making sure guests had a great experience. You could tell there was pride in both the food and the hospitality. If you're anywhere near Durham, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're stopping in for coffee and a pastry, grabbing a sandwich, or sitting down for brunch, you won't be disappointed. I'll definitely be back, and this has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Five stars isn't enough--this place deserves 100.

I have frequently gone here as it's my favorite place to grab curry mussels. With that being said I…read morecame here today to celebrate my girls birthday and it was one to remember for all the wrong reasons. 3/4 of us ordered the same exact meal and I never received my dish. By the time I was able to waive down the waiter , the table was finished eating and they brought out my meal 25-30 min after the fact. I was hopeful that management would own the mistake, but when my bill came nothing was comped. I had to raise my concern with a waitress and she got a manager. Frankly I am disappointed all around by the experience. "Worse birthday ever" was stated a few times by the birthday girl so idk if I'll be coming back. If I'm going to spend $200 on a meal I at least want to eat.

I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

Cute quaint spot. Looks like nothing from the outside but cozy on the inside. Fun drinks and decent…read morevibe, but typically not too busy. Service is a good. Prices are maybe a bit on the higher side, but as to be expected based on quality.

Great spot. Loved it. I had a Whiskey paloma and it was solid. Next I had a paper airplane. It's a…read morereally good vibe and all of the drinks were crafted very much at a higher level. I was at the owners were there so have some time I have a conversation with them and they were super nice and friendly. Let us walk around the entire shop and answer all questions and total some history. It's a college vibe but not an undergrad vibe if that makes any sense. You may see some grass students or whatever the case may be, but you wouldn't find a bunch of 19-year-olds piled up in this kind of spot. It used to be small apparently but they expanded it out to a back room and an attic kind of situation. It seems like a attic kickback kind of spot. Really homish or something you will find in a living room. It made it on the top list of speakeasies on Yelp so I had to check it out while I was in the area. I would 100% recommend.

LGBTQ ‍ FRIENDLY…read more They have small bites, though I wasn't interested in them! I was star struck after reading their creative cocktail menu! I had a Sazerac and my friend had a high passion or something like that! These drinks were worth the price had me feeling really good and tasted very good! I should've taken pictures of the drinks, but they were really good. I just drank them. The mood lighting, sets the vibe for pictures and close interactions They host burlesque shows, dance classes, talent shows and so much more events. Follow them on Instagram!!! Also, their bathrooms are very clean!!! Right next to viceroy Indian food

Drinks are unique and the events are amazing! The collage craft night was so fun and Arcana is…read morereally great community space for LGBTQ+. It's so rare to have a dedicated lesbian bar, even in a place like SF. To find that in Durham was such a pleasant surprise

We were in Durham for the weekend and stopped in for a beer. It turned out to be three hours and I…read moredon't remember the uber ride back to the hotel. In between though we had a good time. The stairs are nuts, the staff was friendly, the bathrooms were clean and the drinks were affordable.

Multiple times me and my friends have come in I've been disrespected by their multiple staff…read more After asking simple questions. ***Be careful if the downstairs bar has two white bartenders it's a white bar night. They will turn their noses up at you for asking simple questions like when their upstairs bar is supposed to open. And that's if you can get their attention. (they're not really a busy bar.) they are ignoring you. And they say they are a "restaurant" but the food is inconsistent. You never know what they have, if they have anything at all. Really a place for people who like to do nose powder *sniff*. Used to be a safe place for LGBTQ. It seems like they only open the kitchen for certain people. But show up when you search up food downtown... They keep it dark I guess to help hide with the sexual harassment happening on the dance floor. I watched their own karaoke host to be groped. And nobody did anything. Also had a friend drugged without consent here... Not only that sometimes they charge you after you leave make sure to take a picture of the receipt after you close your tab! They like to make random charges like Apple I've sent other friends there to try and have a good time and they have all told me that they're never going back to Durham after going there... Durham has good spots. This is just isn't one.