Durham getaway: 41 things to do in the Bull City

The big picture: You’ll often hear people refer to Durham as the “Bull City” because of its roots as a banking and tobacco town. But over the years, it has evolved into a bustling center for healthcare and research, tech start-ups and the arts. It’s also home to North Carolina Central University and Duke University.

Here’s how to spend the weekend in Durham — from hotel recommendations to the best places to eat, just two and a half hours north of Charlotte.

PLAN AHEAD

Seasonal & annual events are some of the best times to explore Durham’s art, music, history and cuisine. Here’s a list of some of their more popular events to put on your radar when you’re planning your next trip.

• Winter to Spring: Kwanzaa Celebration, Hayti Heritage Film Festival and Bull City Food & Beer Experience.
• Spring to Summer: Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival, American Dance Festival and Beaver Queen Pageant. 
• Summer to Fall: Festival for the Eno, OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival, Black Wall Street: Homecoming, CenterFest Arts Festival and Pride: Durham. 
• Fall to Winter: Blacktoberfest, Durham Art Walk Holiday Market, NC Comicon & Comiquest Film Festival and Christmas by Candlelight at Duke Homestead.

GETTING AROUND

Downtown Durham is very walkable. The city is also part of the Triangle Area so it’s a short drive to nearby towns like Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Center City has a lot of hotels, restaurants and shops so you could park your car and leave it all weekend. Just north of downtown is a more bar and brewery-heavy area.

Other stops worthy of a visit include Duke University’s West Campus which is about a 10-minute drive from downtown and Southpoint Mall, just 15 minutes from downtown.

STAY

Whether you’re looking for budget or bougie hotels, Durham has options. The Durham is a boutique mid-century modern hotel located conveniently downtown. And, as an added bonus, it has a rooftop restaurant and bar with breath-taking views of Durham.

Here are more options, ranked by cost:

$: An Airbnb near downtown. Check out this Tiny Farmhouse going for $101/night. Sleeps two guests.

$$: Unscripted Hotel and Aloft Durham Downtown are great choices if you want to be right in the middle of the action. Unscripted has a rooftop pool and overlooks the city center. Aloft is conveniently located right next to the Durham Performing Arts Center and across the street from the American Tobacco Campus.

$$$: 21c Museum Hotel and The Durham Hotel are on the higher end but are still very hip, modern and approachable.

$$$$: Depending on the feel you’re going for, Duke has two on-campus hotels — there’s the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club which has a more classic and formal atmosphere. And its more contemporary younger brother the JB Duke.

FOOD + DRINK

We hope you brought your appetite because the food scene is Durham’s bread and butter. It’s regularly recognized as one of the foodiest towns in the South. Many in Durham’s diverse restaurant scene value sourcing ingredients locally.

Restaurants

Beyu Caffè: A cafe downtown that serves breakfast all day. They’re primarily known for their coffee which you can find at any one of their four locations. (341 W Main St.)

True Flavors Diner: A popular brunch spot with items like loaded buttermilk biscuits and french toast in a relaxed diner setting. They’re really busy on the weekends so you should plan to get there early. (5410 Highway 55)

It’s a Southern Thing: A traditional southern restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere with staple brunch dishes including their smothered and covered biscuits, chicken and waffle skewers and shrimp and grits. (605 W Main St)

Ekhaya: A newer restaurant from the same owners behind the local favorite Zweli’s which is the first Zimbabwean restaurant in the country. Ekhaya has a modern vibe and serves Bantu-fusion tapas on the American Tobacco Campus. (406 Blackwell St.)

Little Bull: A Mexican comfort food restaurant from James Beard nominated chef, Oscar Diaz, who also is the head chef of Cortez in Raleigh. (810 N Mangum St)

M Sushi: This restaurant located next to the Durham Hotel serves some of the most authentic sushi in town as most of their seasonal seafood comes directly from Japan and Korea. If you end up loving this then you’ll want to try each one of their restaurants located in the Triangle. (311 Holland St)

Shonuff Seafood (carry-out only): This takeout-only restaurant arguably serves some of the best fried and boiled seafood options in the area. They’re primarily known for their seasoned crab combo boils. For something fried, try the salmon bites, catfish or shrimp platters. (1104 Broad St.)

Kales Kitchen: This pop-up spot is often known for its “heavy plates” of Southern comfort-style food. They post their menu on Instagram and people line up around the storefront to get their hands on a plate. (2504 Fayetteville St.)  

Leroy’s Tacos: Located in an outdoor food court called Boxyard RTP, you’ll find a 90’s nostalgia spot serving its popular birria tacos that were originally on the menu of its sister restaurant, Lawrence Barbecue’s —but got so popular, a new spot opened with the tacos in mind. (900 Park Offices Dr.)

Monuts: A favorite among locals for their rotating gourmet donut flavors, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and coffee. It gets busy on the weekends so get there early to beat the rush. (1002 Ninth St.)

Rue Cler: This charming Parisian restaurant located in the downtown loop is a popular brunch spot. Now offering French classics to-go. (401 E. Chapel Hill St.)

Heavenly Buffalo: Heavenly Buffalo, more commonly known as “Heav Buff,” is the bright orange shack that makes gamedays so much better. Their wings come bone-in, boneless and vegan with a variety of sauces and heat levels. Plus, you can add a dry rub to your fries. (1807 W Markham Ave.)

Bull City Burger and Brewery: This is the go-to spot for a burger in Durham. There are also house-made veggie burgers and even a “secret burger,” but you didn’t hear it from me. (107 E. Parrish St. #105)

Foster’s Market: Foster’s is essentially a ranch-style café that serves breakfast and lunch items with a gourmet local food market attached. You can order takeout or dine outside on the patio, but seating fills up quickly (especially with capacity restrictions), so I’d recommend going during non-peak hours. (2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.)

Pie Pushers: Have you ever heard of Durham-style pizza? Well now you have, and that’s exactly what Pie Pushers specializes in — hand-tossed thin-crust pizza made with local ingredients. (117A W Main St.)

Dame’s Chicken and Waffles: Dame’s is the no-brainer spot to get your chicken and waffle fix. These aren’t your typical Belgian waffles — flavors include the classic, sweet potato, gingerbread, organic blueberry and ‘the vegan’. And you’ll definitely want to try one of the “Shmears” which is their house-made flavored butter. (530 Foster Ste. #130)

Pompieri Pizza: Located right next to Bull City Burger, Pompieri serves up Neapolitan-style pizza plus daily specials. You can place an order for carryout or dine outside on the patio. (102 City Hall Plaza)

Cosmic Cantina: Cosmic’s caters to burrito lovers and night owls alike. They’re open until 2am and serve up some of the best Mexican fare in town. Who said burritos couldn’t be a midnight snack? (1920 Perry St.)

Parizade: For a more upscale dining experience this Durham staple offers exceptional Mediterranean fare and expansive patio dining. (2200 W Main St.)

Mad Hatter’s Cafe: Baked goods and all-day breakfast items served in a casual setting. Their creme cheese brownie is a popular choice. (1802 W Main St.)

Bars + breweries

The Slush: A popular year-round slushie bar located Downtown with 16 alcoholic drink options topped with candy. Slush also serves non-alcoholic slushies topped with candy so you can take kids who want a sugar fix. (321 W Main St)

Hi-Wire Brewing: Hi-Wire’s drink selection includes 24 taps with Hi-Wire beers, as well as wine, local cider, and guest taps from neighboring breweries. Plus, they host several fun themed events like disc golf night and puzzle group night. (800 Taylor St.)

Durty Bull Brewing Company: Known for having an extensive sour beer program, Durty Bull prides itself in using bourbon and wine barrels to craft sours as well as other unconventional brews. (206 Broadway St. #104)

Fullsteam Brewery: Fullsteam regularly partners with local farms to source their ingredients, helping them achieve what they describe as “distinctively Southern beer.” There’s something on tap for everyone, even the beer novice like myself. (726 Rigsbee Ave.)

Motorco: A music hall where you can enjoy a drink and catch performances from local artists. (723 Rigsbee Ave.)

The Roof at The Durham Hotel: Who doesn’t love a good rooftop? Not only does The Roof at The Durham Hotel have unbeatable 360-degree views of downtown, but you’ll also find seasonal craft cocktails, a thoughtfully curated beer list, and a collection of wine. During the colder months, The Roof is enclosed and fully heated. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, go with The Durham, which is a blend of cognac, rum, 10-year tawny port, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters. (315 E Chapel Hill St.)

EXPLORE

Durham is one of those cities that sneaks up on you. And by that, I mean it has everything you didn’t know you needed. It’s quaint but there’s still plenty to do.

Here are 15 things to do to add to your itinerary.

Go rock climbing at OC Aerial. This indoor adventure park and climbing gym offers plenty of physical activities including ziplining, rock climbing, a high-rise agility course, and two large slides. 

Stroll through Sarah P. Duke Gardens. You’ll find 55 acres of serene gardens that can be appreciated all year long. 

Visit the Museum of Life & Science. There are several exhibits including aerospace, Carolina wildlife, a Dinosaur trail and an insectarium. Their butterfly house holds up to 50 butterflies from around the world. 

Build household items at Nailed It DIY Studio Durham. You’ll learn how to create hand-built wood décor for your home.

Play games at Boxcar Bar + Arcade. This is a gamer’s paradise with several options to choose from including arcade, air hockey, pinball, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and foosball to name a few.   

Check out Bright Black Creators Studio + Scent Showroom. You can shop and create your own candle from Bright Black which has partnered with several organizations including the WNBA and the NBA to share positive narratives about the Black community

Hike along the Eno River State Park. There are 6-13 miles worth of trails to get your steps in. Plus, there are some incredible views of the river.

Visit the iconic Bull statue downtown. The bull’s name is Major and he’s hard to miss. They say if you rub and pat Major you’ll be granted good fortune.

Take a gallery tour at the 21c Museum Hotel. This former bank building houses a full collection of rotating modern art exhibits and it’s free to the public. (111 North Corcoran St.)

Grab some ice cream at The Parlour. Just a stone’s throw away from the bull statue. Flavors are inspired by seasonal ingredients as well as childhood favorites. There are even non-dairy and vegan options. (117 Market St.)

Check out the American Tobacco Campus. The architecture speaks to its history as a former tobacco factory. The American Tobacco Campus is like Durham’s version of Camp North End — it’s a revitalized, mixed-use facility that has restaurants, retail and office space. But a few landmarks include the iconic Lucky Strike smoke stack and water tower. (300 Blackwell St. #104)

• Fun fact: Burt’s Bees is headquartered out of the American Tobacco Campus.

Catch a game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The season starts in May and there are a couple of games where The Bulls will go head-to-head with the Charlotte Knights. (409 Blackwell St.)

Visit the Duke Lemur Center. The Duke Lemur Center (DLC) is the largest lemur sanctuary and research center in the world. (3705 Erwin Road)

Catch a performance at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC). Show updates can be found on the DPAC website. (123 Vivian St.)

Explore the shops on Ninth Street. You’ll find a little bit of everything on Ninth Street: bookstores, gift shops, and diners to name a few.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in March 2021 and last updated October 2023.