Retail and recreation on the rocks just outside Raleigh
Bailey Cullen Photography
1Villa 19 Boutique – CARY From Dubai to your door comes Ashley Hendricks’ brand-new boutique boasting stylish resortwear and neutral essentials—perfect for elevating your everyday with a capsule wardrobe or taking your next vacay to a chic new level. Inspired by the successful businesswomen surrounding her, the fashionista strikes the perfect balance between luxe statements and bold staples via a collection that screams “effortlessly elegant” but whispers “totally affordable” (think: majority of styles under $125). The boutique prides itself in putting timelessness before trendiness, with lasting pieces that effortlessly transition between the seasons—plus shoes and accessories to finish your look. Catch you at the villa?! villanineteen.com
Brianca Williamson
2 Primrose Bar & Lounge – DURHAM Ditch your usual watering hole for this floral-filled lounge, where mixology is more than just a passion—it’s an art. From the Instagrammable floral wall and quirky paintings to the colorful wallpaper, it’s giving “garden party meets gallery”—with no shortage of selfie spots or cheeky ’tails to sip on. Becky With the Good Pear brings the heat with her spicy tequila-mezcal blend, while Midnight Confessions’ serves an espresso ’tini twist that promises to keep the convo going. Whether propped at the bar or in one of the cozy seating areas, drinking outside the box never felt so good. primrosedurham.com
iSmash
3 iSmash – WAKE FOREST Unleash your inner artist (or annihilator!) at the fast-growing rage room and splatter-paint experience crushing entertainment expectations—literally. Set in The Factory, local franchisee Aaron Wright provides an experience designed to suit any and all stress-relieving, milestone-celebrating, team-building or new adventure-seeking whims. Whether in search of a printer to smash or a canvas to splash, the space redefines quality time for families, friends, corporate teams and anyone in between. Smash, splatter, repeat. ismashusa.com
Sidetrack Bar & Lounge
4 Sidetrack Bar & Lounge – CHAPEL HILL All aboard your cozy neighborhood bar! Decked out with nostalgic board games and retro ’70s decor, this gem feels homier than your grandma’s living room. Taking the name for the nearby railroad lines, Amy and Rod Anderson invite the community to unwind with bottled classics, rotating local brews, staple cocktails (think mojitos, orange crushes and spritzes), weekly trivia and live music every weekend. Hungry? BYO food or catch the occasional food truck posted up outside. Whether you’re stopping in to see a familiar face, grab a round or play a lively card game, odds are you’re on the right track (wink, wink). @sidetrack__lounge
Yasmin Ali
5 La Recette Pâtisserie – DURHAM What started in a cozy apartment kitchen has blossomed into the Bull City’s go-to bakery for churning French, Algerian and Middle Eastern classics into craveworthy treats. From flaky pistachio croissants to savory shakshuka Danishes to inventive takes on baklava cheesecake—and even Algerian street-style stuffed pizza—this charming patisserie delivers serious flavor with every bite. Grab a seasonal latte, settle in and savor Durham’s sweet side. larecettepatisserie.com
Hear us out: Gas station sushi slaps. (Don’t knock it till you try it!) Rules were meant to be broken, and the Han-Dee Hugo’s-housed unorthodox seafood joint feat. fresh fare is breaking all the normalities on a massive scale—in the best way. With seasoned chef Wanchalerm Owattragool at the helm producing infinite flavor combos, the unassuming spot is poised to roll out your horizons via the likes of such unique ingredients as Cajun-pepper salmon, coconut shrimp, Japanese pickles, Maine lobster and VooDoo sauce. Essentially, the sushi’s totally gas (!). @akami.sushibar
Time flies when you’re having fun—read: drinking beer with your buds. Belly up to this just-bowed brother/sister-owned biz brewing up community and atomically slurpworthy sips (hey, handcrafted beer, craveable cocktails and boutique wine selects!). Flaunting a full-service kitchen and taproom, the Warehouse District-based outpost also showcases an elevated menu created by chef David Lopez. Pro tip: Try the Brooklyn chopped cheese sammy or the chef’s grandmother’s beef and cheese empanadas—aka *chef’s kiss.* Consider all our boxes ticked! @atomicclockbrewing
Love is in the air, and—spoiler alert—it smells like coffee. Combining family and business, this globally infused hot spot blends Colombian and French/Algerian cultures together to create a raw concept consistently brewing up good vibes. Java drinkers, grab your fave latte or branch out with a fruity or flowery homemade syrup; then fill your belly to the brim with fresh salads, morning bowls and scratchmade focaccia sandwiches promising an Instaworthy bite. Beyond the sips and sups, browse bundles of blooms and gifts (think punny mugs and incense holders)—all positioning this quaint cafe to be quite the pit stop. Mugs and kisses! @milos_europeancafe
Sultry Prohibition vibes found via Sean Umstead and Michelle Vanderwalker’s moody eccentric basement hideout. Take it back to the 1920s with live smooth jazz on Tuesdays (ya like jazz?!) and artful “ground-to-glass” libations incorporating perhaps unfamiliar ingredients like maitake mushrooms, parsnips, brown butter and toasted coconut tea, to name just a few. And if you’re coming for the unconventional yet gorge bevs, you might as well stay for the delish chef-inspired snacks—think deviled dip, chicharrones and charcuterie from sister resto Queeny’s. Consider us o-fish-ially impressed. @kingfisherdurham
Choo, choo! The flavor train has reached the (Thai) station—and we’re totally on board. Bangin’ out all the classics with a twist, this inclusive international locale posted up in an old boxcar is giving quintessential adventure eating. On the next-level Far East menu, you’ll find authentic Thai cuisine (think multiple curries, stir-fried dishes, salads and noodle soups), plus all the Thai fare you know and love (pad thai, fried rice and papaya salad—NTM a classic coconut ice cream feat. sticky rice). No confusion on these fusions. Aroi maak! @thaistation_carrboro_nc
Top Raleigh mixologists making guest appearances in Durham throughout April
A select few of our 2022 Best Bars Awards winners (plus a couple of other popular Raleigh watering holes!) are making a special guest appearance in Durham throughout the month of April—and you’re gonna wanna get a sip of the action.
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and JB Duke Hotel, both located on Duke University’s campus, have teamed up to host the Be Our Guest Bartender Series, in which top mixologists from the area share signature drinks with the hotels’ guests every Wednesday at the Inn’s Bull Durham Bar and every Thursday at JB Duke Hotel’s Lobby Lounge.
“We are thrilled to offer hotel guests and Durham community residents alike a unique experience to enjoy masterfully crafted limited-edition cocktails in our tranquil, timeless bar spaces,” says Daniel Lotz, area director of operations for the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and JB Duke Hotel, and hotel manager at the Inn. “The Be Our Guest Bartender Series is designed to celebrate the vibrant food, beverage and hospitality offerings available throughout the Triangle while shining a spotlight on the mixologists elevating the local bar scene and the causes that are most important to them.” Um, we’ll drink to that.
Can’t make those exact dates? You can still get your fill of each bartender’s specialty concoctions at the hotel bars the week following their on-site visits. … And to top it all off, 10% of proceeds from the specialty drink menus will be donated to each bartender’s local nonprofit of choice. Who doesn’t love drinking for a good cause? Cheers!
