Fear not, dessert lovers, Afters Dessert Bar only took a short hiatus to move into an even bigger space at Brightleaf Square this winter. With an ever-growing, seasonally-inspired menu containing both sweet and savory treats (including gluten-free options), Afters is a great downtown stop for satisfying your sweet tooth. For morning pastries, enjoy muffins and scones, or pick up a scratch made cookie cream pie or chocolate as an afternoon treat or after a meal (get it?).
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Hours:
Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
My mom and I were in Durham for my 21st birthday and decided to grab some scones before our candle-making class. We’re from a small town, so scones were new to us—but wow, we were blown away. We tried the cheddar and herb, apple cinnamon, and brown sugar ham scones, plus the special of the day, and every single one was incredible. We even went back for more! The cookies were just as amazing—soft, rich, and unforgettable. I go to NC Central, so I’ll definitely be a regular once the semester starts. Thank you for an amazing experience!
CH Deniz
Jun 3, 2025
5
Had a gluten free Cacio and Pepe scone, heated up. It was amazing. Highly recommend the gf desserts too.
Randy Bassett
Apr 20, 2025
5
The guy who makes these desserts is a genius when it comes to flavor and texture combinations. I lack the culinary vocabulary to properly articulate how good everything is but I've loved everything I've tried here.
Lila Rieber
Apr 8, 2025
4
The prices are very good for downtown Durham, but the cookies were just okay, nothing special. Very sweet.
Hannah Bassett
Mar 17, 2025
5
Everything here is amazing. I recently got a scone and a Boston cream pie. The flavors were incredible. I think the Boston cream pie was a special for Pi day but I really hope they have it again.
Rebecca Pettigrew
Mar 8, 2025
5
Very nice place for delicious desserts!! They have very good scones, muffins, cookies, and mini cakes. The thunks are so good!
Dorothy Lou Bailey
Feb 22, 2025
5
Super cute and delicious pastry and dessert spot. Everything we tried was excellent and we even got a gourmet dog treat for our pup. :)
Scott Arkin
Feb 13, 2025
5
Afters has amazing desserts! If you love chocolate, this is your place! They put a fun spin on things like cookie cake by the slice, “thunks”, and more too.
