Durham is known for its food and bar scene. With multiple James Beard Award nominees and winners, Durham is the perfect place to have a date night with loved ones or friends. Whether you’re looking for dinner and show, coffee and a hike, or drinks and an adventure, these curated itineraries will help get you off the couch and out on the town! Bring a loved one, a friend, or take yourself out for a special time in Bull City.
The Broadway Classic
Right in the center of downtown Durham, DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) is the largest performing arts center in the Carolinas and hosts a variety of Broadway touring shows each year. With reasonable pricing and fantastic views at any level, taking in a show at DPAC is a memorable and enjoyable experience. Grab tickets to one of the upcoming shows, plan to park at the American Tobacco campus parking deck ahead of time and walk down W Pettigrew to dinner at Mateo Bar de Tapas (reservations required). Mateo’s sharable tapas dinner is a perfect choice before taking in a show at DPAC. You can sample several delicious dishes such as the gambas al ajillo, tortilla española, albondigas, or my favorite dish there, mata y pimenta gelatina, without feeling too stuffed to sit in a seat for the next few hours. Tapas and tap dancing! What a treat!
Coming to DPAC: Elf the Musical 11/29-12/4, Come From Away 1/18-1/22, Cats 1/31-2/5, The Book of Mormon 2/14-2/19, Jagged Little Pill 2/28-3/5, Les Miserables 4/4-4/9 and many more!
The Hip Night Out
Durham has been known to have some unseasonably warm days in November and December, prompting us Durhamites to soak up one last day outside before heading indoors for most of the cold and dreary January-March season. IF we get one of those magical gifts before 2023 rolls around, throw on on your best ripped jean jacket, grab your Blundstones, and enjoy the outdoor garden patio behind Kingfisher and Queeny’s. Order at the bar at Queeny’s before heading outside to grab a drink from the wait staff for Kingfisher. Queeny’s will bring your food out to the back and you can enjoy the best of three worlds: delicious local food, amazing cocktails, and unseasonably warm weather (or put this night on the backburner for spring). Make sure you order the fried pickles with any of the other delicious entrees as Queeny’s, you won’t be disappointed! Kingfisher boasts “ground-to-glass drinks showcasing the present and past seasons of Durham and the South” and everything they make is fantastic. If you’re not one for a tipple, ask the wait staff for a dealer’s choice mocktail- something citrusy- and you’ll be in non-alcoholic heaven. Enjoy your evening among the artfully potted plants, cafe lights, and the sounds of downtown Durham. Park at the 100 Orange St. Garage and head toward the Durham Hotel - enter to the right of the hotel. Feel like a true hip Durhamite and tip well! The service industry deserves it after the past few years :)
The Chic Naturalist
Do you enjoy fancy breakfast foods and the great outdoors? If so, plan a special morning to enjoy the brunchtime delights of the Washington Duke Inn. Known for its beautifully manicured grounds, stately golf course views and luxury accommodations, the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is an unrivaled destination among hotels in Durham. Make a reservation for Saturday or Sunday (11:30-2:00) and treat yourself to southern classics like chicken and waffles or eggs benedict in the beautiful and stately Fairview Dining Room. After indulging, head over to the Al Buehler Trail for a three mile loop around the golf course. The entrance to the loop is just down Cameron Blvd from the Inn or you can park in the public lot at 3301 Cameron Blvd. Take in the beauty of the course and the surrounding naturescape while you walk off maple syrup and mimosas!
The Puzzler
For those that love food AND an experience, this date night will surely hit the spot. Bull City Escape is Durham’s own exhilarating and interactive experience designed to test your wits! With five different mysteries to solve of varying degrees of difficulty, being locked in a room for an hour has never been more fun! You and your group are tasked with solving a series of puzzles and riddles before the time runs out (and no, you’re not truly locked in, so no need to panic if you get claustrophobic). I have personally solved Lunar Lockdown and let me tell you that I honestly wasn’t confident we’d figure it out before the timer buzzed. The whole hour flew by and the puzzles were fun, creative and challenging! With ticket prices at about $30, you can enjoy an inexpensive dinner after at Cosmic Cantina. Beloved by college students as the perfect after party stop, Cosmic Cantina serves up organic Mexican eats plus beer & margaritas served in casual, cozy digs. Everything they serve is tasty, but I am partial to the deluxe chicken burrito. Grab a seat inside or out on the deck and recount your triumph (or failure) at Bull City Escape. If you’re craving something sweet after, Pincho Loco is below the restaurant and enjoying a cone on the way back to the car would be the perfect way to end the night.
