9 Best Restaurants In Downtown Durham

Do you currently live in or are planning to visit Durham and are on the hunt for the best downtown restaurant? We've got you covered! Follow along to read about the restaurants we deem to be the best in Downtown Durham!

We are a real estate company that loves food, so read on to learn more about Raleigh Realty's picks for the top restaurants in Downtown Durham.

Downtown Durham is less than one square mile, but it is filled with many restaurants that satisfy your cravings. Downtown Durham also has plenty of shops, boutiques, breweries, industrialized areas, entertainment, and more. In this guide, we will focus specifically on the Downtown area's restaurants.

To help grow and expand Downtown Durham, DDI was formed. DDI stands for Downtown Durham, Inc., and is a 501(c) 6 organization formed in 1993 to serve as a catalyst for downtown revitalization. The mission of DDI is to "enhance the environment, economy, and vitality of downtown Durham while preserving and enriching its distinctive culture and a strong sense of community.". Since the formation of DDI in 1963, Downtown Durham has grown from 160 residents to more than 4,500, adding more than 300 new businesses and supporting the growth of restaurants, retail, and housing.

Now, let's get into what you're here for ... the best restaurants in Downtown Durham!

Alley Twenty Six

Alley Twenty Six is a popular local cocktail bar and restaurant located in Downtown Durham. They serve upscale food and cocktail pairings in a relaxed setting. Alley Twenty Six has been featured in the News & Observer, The Local Palate, Travel and Leisure, Our State North Carolina, and Vogue! Something fun and unique that Alley Twenty SIx offers is online virtual cocktail classes! These classes are perfect for corporate building experiences or wedding party activities.

The drink menu at Alley Twenty Six consists of various cocktails, wines, beers, whiskeys, and more. The famous Alley Cocktail is Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, Cynar, Luxardo Maraschino, Dry Vermouth, and Celery Bitters.

Alley Twenty Six also serves a delicious brunch. The brunch menu includes small plates and large plates. Some small plates are Beignets, oysters, and their delightful yogurt parfait. Large plate options include french toast, sandwiches, grits, and much more! A popular meal is The Fat Elvis, NinthSt Bakery Challah, Fried Banana, Bacon, Nutella, Peanut Butter Sauce, and Powdered Sugar.

Alley Twenty Six is loved by all customers. If you dine there and enjoy the cocktails, you can purchase the syrups and ingredients to recreate your favorite drink at home!

Location: 320 East Chapel Hill St

Cocktail Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 4 PM to 12 AM

Friday & Saturday: 4 PM to 2 AM

Sunday: 4 PM to 10 PM

Dining Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday: 4 PM to 10 PM

Friday & Saturday: 4 PM to 11 AM

Brunch on Sunday: 10:30 AM to 2 PM

Clouds Brewery

If you enjoy the scene and atmosphere of breweries but also enjoy good food, CLouds Brewery is perfect for you! They serve a German-inspired menu with 50 taps consisting of 30 of their own and 20 guest taps. To make it even more fun, they are home to the 10-tap self-pour wall!

Weekly specials:

Tuesday: $4 All NC Draft Beer

Wednesday: 1/2 Priced Wine

Thursday: Trivia @ 7:30 PM; $4 Select Drafts; $5 Bartenders Choice

Friday: $4 Clouds ROtating Draft; $5 Bartenders Choice

Saturday: BRUNCH; $5 Bartenders Choice; $15 Mimosa Carafes; $7 Blonde Bloodys; $15 Select Cloud Pitchers

Sunday: BRUNCH; $15 Mimosa Carafes; $7 Blonde Bloodys; $15 Select Clouds Pitchers

The drink menu at Clouds includes beer, seltzers & ciders, wine, cocktails, cans-to-go, and non-alcoholic options. The food menu contains apps, salads, handhelds, sides, entrees, desserts, and their brunch menu. App options are calamari, a giant pretzel, wings, fried pickles, nachos, and more! Entree options are short ribs, a burrito bowl, a London broil, blackened chicken pasta, etc.

Brunch at Clouds is a fan favorite. It is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 3 PM. Along with $15 mimosa carafes, they also serve delicious food! Some items on the menu are avocado toast, chicken and waffles, steak and cheese omelets, banana foster french toast, and more options that will satisfy your brunch cravings.

The Durham location can also host events of up to 250 people with their open, rustic warehouse vibe. The private dining room can hold up to 45 people and has multiple TVs with private surround sound. The cocktail area holds up to 50 people, and they have an outdoor patio to enjoy the summer and spring evenings.

Location: 905 W Main St #22

106 Main

If you've been looking for somewhere to enjoy a girl's night, date night, or simply a delicious drink, check out 106 Main in Downtown Durham! They have been in the area since 2013 and quickly became a popular location. They have an extensive beer and liquor list that will surely quench your thirst! Their experienced bartenders have created a list of delicious drinks and will have you returning for more!

Their drink menu includes Lagers, Stouts/Porters, IPAs, Whites/Wheat, Amber/Brown Ales, Goose, Ciders & Hard Selterz, Gluten/Block/Munich Dunkel/Lager, wine, and more! Select craft beers at $4, top-selling worldwide beers are $2, a bottle of wine for $13, and a board of $3 beers! You can also mix and match beverages to create your own six-pack!

Location: 106 E Main St

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 4 PM - 12 AM

Friday & Saturday: 4 PM - 2 PM

Sunday: 12 PM - 12 AM

Durham Food Hall

The Durham Food Hall is popular among residents and visitors because it has all your favorites in one spot. With all of the different selections, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

The vendors at the Durham Food Hall are Everything Bagels, Ex-Vota, Little Barb's Bakery, Locals Seafood Restaurant and Market, Marcos 530, and Napoli Pizzeria & Gelateria.

You can enjoy locally sourced gourmet bagels, avant-garde sandwiches, and bagel burgers at Everything Bagels. A popular menu item is the Breakfast Burger, two Joyce farms grass-fed Angus beef patties, Ashe county mild hoop cheddar, pickled charred red onion, arugula, and fried egg mayo.

Little Barb's Bakery is great for those craving something sweet. Desserts and sweets include pop tarts, cookies, bread, cheesecake bites, cheesecake bars, cake, cakesicles, tartlets, brownies, cinnamon rolls, granola bars, shooter cups, and cannoli shells.

Marcos 530 is for true pasta lovers! They serve both Italian and Asian food that everyone loves and raves about. Menu items include pasta, dumplings, ramen, noodles, and salads. To make it even more fun, you can create your own pasta!

For drink options at the Durham Food Hall, you have the Auctioneer Bar, Riggs Lounge, The Auctioneer Wine Club, and Liturgy Beverage.

All of the restaurants in the Durham food hall are delicious and unique. You can also use the space to gather for a private party, meeting, or anything you choose in one of the mezzanine's 2000+ square feet of event space.

Location: 530 Foster St, Suite 1

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 6:30 AM - 9 PM

Friday: 6:30 AM - 10 PM

Saturday: 7 AM - 10 PM

Sunday: 7 AM - 9 PM

Cugino Forno

Cugino Forno translates to cousin oven, but it means so much more to the owners and cousins. They have set out on a mission to create a safe place at their tables to enjoy their Neapolitan-style pizza. The cousins are from a small town in Turkey where food plays an important part in their culture in the way it is prepared, served, and shared with their loved ones. They traveled far and spent years researching Neapolitan-style pizza to open their first location in Greensboro, NC. From there, their success skyrocketed, and they opened many locations, including Downtown Durham.

Their menu consists of traditional Neapolitan-style pizza, salads, pastries, and gelato. One favorite pizza is the Pomodoro, Fresh Cherry Vesuvian Tomato, Bufala Mozzarella, basil, and garlic. The dessert options are cannolis, macarons, cake, and gelato. They also have a few beer options along with wine!

Location: 800 Taylor St, Suite 9

Hours:

Every Day: 11 AM - 9 PM

Bar Virgile

Bar Virgile is easily one of the best restaurants in downtown Durham. At Bar Virgile, they specialize in craft and classic cocktails and an ever-changing dinner and small plates menu. They take pride in their friendly and knowledgeable staff, as well as their bustling atmosphere and thoughtful offerings.

Bar Virgile has one of the largest spirits selections in the Triangle area. They serve various whiskeys, gin, rum, agave, and more! For dinner, they serve small plates and entrees. Small plates include Brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, kale salad, charcuterie boards, etc. Entree options include roasted chicken, hanger steak Frites, wild mushroom risotto, pappardelle bolognese, and much more!

Location: 105 S Mangum St.

Hours:

Monday - Saturday: 5 PM - 12 AM

The kitchen always closes at 10 PM.

Rue Cler

Rue Cler is a lovely Parisian restaurant in Downtown Durham that is a fan favorite. Executive chef Todd Whitney created a menu inspired by french tradition and seasonal, local products. Rue Cler has been open since 2006 and is housed in a building that dates back to the 1920s and has been a landmark in Downtown Durham.

Location: 401 E. Chapel Hill St

Hours:

Monday: CLOSED

Tuesday - Saturday: 5 PM - 9 PM

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar

At Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar, they believe in sourcing locally, paying a living wage, and giving back to the Durham community. They serve smaller plates such as cheddar drop biscuits, plum deviled eggs, crispy Brussels sprouts, gnocchi with butternut and mushroom, etc. Large plates include grilled sweet potato steak, cast iron manhattan steak, shrimp and grits, and east coastal market fish.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar also served delicious desserts! The desserts on the menu are peppermint creme brulee, banana pudding, vegan chocolate cake, Emma's cake, and smores tart. The vegan chocolate cake is made with coconut pecan sorbet, candied pecans, and pecan butter. You can also order custom cakes for special occasions, birthdays, weddings, etc.!

One of the favorite cocktails served at Plums Southern Kitchen & Bar is the pomegranate mule which is Tito's, lime, ginger beer, pomegranate, and orange blossom water.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar is an excellent place for a date night, girls' night, or if you're celebrating a special occasion. Over the years in business, it has become loved by the community and customers.

Cucciolo Osteria

Do you love Italian food? Be sure to check out Cucciolo Osteria next time you are in Downtown Durham! The restaurant is owned by cousins Jimmy and Julian Kim and offers modern Italian cuisine with a twist. Cucciolo Osteria in Durham is the sister restaurant to the original in Seoul, Korea. Their menu is small and rotating, with the main focus on pasta.

The goal is to "serve simple and delicious Italian food only using the highest quality ingredients in an upscale, yet friendly and casual environment.".

The menu consists of Cicchetti, Bruscchette, antipasti, prime, and secondi. Meals on the prime menu include linguine alla carbonara, truffle tajarin, white ragu tajarin, spicy vodka tomato cream rigatoni, and more! Antipasti options are creamed mushrooms, filet mignon beef carpaccio, roasted beet salad, and burrata.

The food and drink options at Cucciolo Osteria are divine, and you should try it out! You can also enjoy the restaurant for private events. The private dining room can comfortably accommodate 40 guests.

Location: 601 W Main St., Suite C

Hours:

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday: 5 PM - 9 PM

Tuesday: CLOSED

Friday & Saturday: 5 PM - 10 PM

Best Restaurants in Downtown Durham - Final Thoughts

While we've only listed a few, Downtown Durham is full of excellent restaurants (and Downtown Raleigh is too). The restaurants we discussed are delicious, affordable, and offer a warm and welcoming environment. Most restaurants in Downtown Durham are close to entertainment and provide space for private events and parties. We recommend these restaurants to anyone living in or planning to visit Durham, NC!

If you found our list helpful, share it with family and friends so everyone can enjoy these top-notch restaurants.

If you're interested in real estate in the area, feel free to contact us or visit our website to connect with an agent.

Check out our other guides to Durham, NC: best restaurants, best coffee shops, best neighborhoods, and real estate trends.