A year-round gathering spot with unbeatable panoramic downtown views, plus a seasonal food and drink menu. The mid-century modern rooftop overlooks downtown. Come for the sunset views but stay for craft cocktails, snacks made with local ingredients and unique community events. Reservations for tables are only accepted for parties of 10 or more. Otherwise, grab seats first-come, first-served or mingle on the open-air terrace. Nice weather is prime time for private events, so check The Durham’s social accounts for any closures. Otherwise, heaters and enclosures make it a year-round fave spot. You won’t find a dining patio from a higher vantage point than this one. As if all this wasn’t enough, you can also come here to enjoy live music from local acts year-round.
Critiques: there was a pizza box in the fridge when we checked in. Our view was of a sky light (legit couldn’t see the sky unless you looked up with your face against the window). Rags from house keeping were left in our room.
Glows: Try every and all F&B options. Drinks on roof are super reasonable and obviously a great view. Coffee and brunch in the lobby was amazing, both food and drinks. The coffee for the room schtick was fine. Location was perfect!
If it’s your jam try the yoga on the roof, was a nice little add on to end the stay.
Ron
Apr 14, 2025
5
Loved this hotel. We stayed for the night on our way to Savannah. Isaac at the front desk was super helpful, and the door man was super friendly. I'd definitely stay here again. Lots of walkable restaurants and bars. The city parking lot is a one minute walk.
I have one complaint, and it's the shower. The pressure is awful. Hard to get to temperature. Otherwise the bathroom is great. Clean, well stocked, and high quality soaps.
Nicole McIntyre
Mar 18, 2025
5
Recently visited with friends for a Mardi Gras jazz event and headed to the rooftop. It was a windy evening, but the venue provided blankets, which was a nice touch.
We initially sat at a table before realizing that all food and drink orders had to be placed at the bar. However, the wait wasn’t bad, and the food came out quickly.
I appreciated that they offered spirit-free options and really enjoyed the Zesty Ginger Spritzer. The chicken creature salad was huge—but thankfully, I managed to finish it all!
Overall, a great experience with good food, drinks, and atmosphere. I’d definitely come back!
Kelsie
Mar 15, 2025
5
Loved my stay! Room was clean, staff was friendly, there are a ton of amenities and very walkable for food options. I personally loved the fresh ground coffee delivered by request every morning! I highly recommend
Ben Pittard
Mar 6, 2025
3
It was fine, but with dynamic pricing I ended up paying closer to $400 for one night, over twice what the regular rate seems to be.
I also ordered a bottle of rose to be ready for us upon check-in because it was a date night, and when I arrived there was nothing in the room. I had to call the front desk to have them bring it up so that was kind of annoying and set the first impression of our trip.
For the extra cost, there weren't enough amenities. One small thing of Burt's Bee's hand salve and that was it. No complimentary food. Some lukewarm complimentary drip coffee that they didn't keep filled in the lobby the next morning. They'll bring you fresh beans in the morning, but you have to make it yourself with the drip machine in the room. No happy hour (or specials) a drink ticket or two for the rooftop bar. Nada.
If I had paid something closer to the regular rate of $200 I probably would have had a much better experience and be a lot more forgiving, but if you're going to charge someone nearly $400 for one night, it's incumbent on you to ensure you're providing that value, and it wasn't there. I'd get more for less in Nashville, Charleston, etc.
Great location though. If you can book for $200 or less, go for it, but don't pay more $300 because it's not going to provide that experience.
If the business's answer to this review is that they charged more for Valentine's day then they could at least leave a flower in the room or a turndown chocolate or something and make things feel a little special at least! Smh.
Olutoyosi Coker (Toyosi)
Jan 18, 2025
5
First time staying at The Durham this past weekend, and our experience was great! From being greeted at the door to the cleanliness of the rooms, everything exceeded expectations. In addition, the entire staff were friendly and management was very accommodating when we unexpectedly had to make a last minute modification to our reservation. We highly recommend booking your next stay in Durham here and will definitely be back!
Vincent R.
Jan 3, 2025
5
Very friendly service (we wanted to see a room before booking and they allowed it without hesitation). Rooms spacious and very (!) quiet. Great rooftop bar. Best location in Durham. Overall good vibes. Highly recommended.
David Berry
Dec 29, 2024
5
Such a lovely experience at The Durham. My wife and I had never been there, but we thought it would be fun to get a night out for her birthday, so we booked a Saturday night stay there. It was super pleasant! The room was very spacious! The place was super quiet, and the security of the hotel felt very safe (FOBs needed to get almost anywhere). We didn't do any room service or the restaurant/bar, but we though the whole experience of what we did get was really nice. Would DEFINITELY go back again!
S Jackson
Dec 24, 2024
5
Had breakfast here on Christmas Eve with fam…and we were welcomed with great customer service! Awesome servers and the food was amazing. I ordered the Full Durham breakfast. It was a great choice and had a variety of everything. The server, Isaiah, had superb customer service and checked on us regularly. I will definitely be back and tell my family and friends about this gem located in downtown Durham.
Michelle Blohm
Oct 26, 2024
3
Complimentary coffee in the lobby was empty, and the room-delivered beans didn't brew correctly in the little in-room pot, so we're off to Starbucks this morning as we check out. It's the one thing that we didn't want to do this morning. The staff was exceptional, though. The room showed age and wear. Elevator carpeting was stained.
Daniel Midgette
Oct 13, 2024
5
Great location, comfortable room with space (suite in our case). Hotel has parking for a fee right across the road at an affordable price. The kitchen has amazing food that is in-line with their hotel star rating.
Ronald Baxter
Sep 26, 2024
5
Durham Hotel Breakfast and Brunch: A Delightful Experience
The Durham Hotel has once again proven itself as a culinary haven, not just for its acclaimed dinner service but also for its equally impressive breakfast and brunch offerings.
From the moment I stepped into the bright and airy dining area, I was greeted by a warm and welcoming staff. Their attentiveness and genuine hospitality set the tone for a lovely meal.
My order was simple, eggs and toast, but even the most basic dishes were elevated here. The eggs were perfectly cooked to my preference, and the toast was a testament to freshness - crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. It was evident that the kitchen used high-quality ingredients, and the attention to detail was clear.
While I opted for a classic breakfast, I couldn't help but notice the unique menu items being enjoyed by other patrons. The menu boasted a creative array of options, from savory to sweet, catering to a range of palates.
Overall, my breakfast experience at The Durham Hotel was outstanding. The combination of exceptional customer service, fresh and well-prepared food, and a menu that tantalizes with its originality makes this a must-visit for anyone seeking a memorable morning meal in Durham.
Moira Todd
Sep 11, 2024
5
The service was above and beyond. Not only did Rebecca print a document for my workshop, she made sure it was correct for me! The food and drinks at the restaurant were also great (real restaurant quality, not typical "hotel" food). The room was spacious, clean, and lovely. Recommend!
Lucy Barber
Sep 3, 2024
5
I stayed at The Durham Hotel during my wedding weekend, and the experience was truly outstanding. I rented the penthouse suite, which was the perfect space for getting ready on the big day. The suite was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate my 4-person hair and makeup crew, as well as 15 women who were getting their hair and makeup done throughout the day. The attached patio was a fantastic bonus—we ordered a catering spread through The Durham's catering menu, and McKenzie Ramsey did an amazing job setting it up beautifully on the patio for everyone to enjoy.
A special shoutout to Ariel Swan, who kindly gave me a tour of the penthouse suite before the wedding date. Their assistance was invaluable in helping me feel confident that everything would go smoothly. The Durham Hotel was also wonderful in providing a 10-room block for our guests, even though we didn’t have any large events planned there for the weekend.
Unloading all my things at the hotel was a breeze, thanks to their convenient drive-up spot at the front. The doorman was incredibly kind, helping me lug everything up to the suite. The front desk staff was equally accommodating, handing out welcome boxes to all our guests staying in the hotel.
We also did our first look photos in the hotel lobby, and they turned out gorgeous! The mid-century vibe of the hotel added a unique charm to our photos. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Durham—it was the perfect spot for all of us to get ready before the wedding ceremony. I highly recommend The Durham Hotel for anyone looking for a stylish, convenient, and welcoming place to stay in downtown Durham.
Daddy Biggs
Aug 15, 2024
5
I had an absolutely wonderful experience here. It was little things like high quality carpet and comforter in the rooms and great atmosphere and music mix in the bar and restaurant areas. The rooftop bar is an absolute gem with phenomenal food and drinks.
Tamar Beridze
Aug 10, 2024
5
As a local, I love staycations, and The Durham Hotel never disappoints. Every time I stay here, the experience is consistently exceptional. The hotel truly offers an all-in-one experience for entertainment, dining, and relaxation. The service is always top-notch, and I frequently visit for brunch, which is fantastic. Their weekend rooftop yoga is a personal favorite of mine. The hotel hosts a variety of events, from jazz nights to stargazing, and although I haven't tried them all yet, I absolutely love the vibe and offerings at The Durham Hotel
Jennifer Baker
Jul 26, 2024
4
Here on a work retreat and while the bathroom is very spacious--I do wish they had bathtubs--and the bed comfy, I found a dirty diaper under my curtain when I drew them the next morning--luckily it was not totally awful smelling, but this was surprising to be missed in such a compact space. Additionally on Tuesday and Wednesday nights a loud buzzing/construction-type sound was nearby and I saw a van where power-washing was happening around 10pm. While it ended due to storms on Tuesday, on Wednesday this went on until 12am. I called the front desk and they seemed to not know what this was and informed me this would go late into the night. But I was assured on Tuesday that this wouldn't happen on Wednesday and that was not the case. Ultimately, because staff was unaware how this noise affects guests and goes late into the night nothing could be done but suggest I move rooms late at night or get airplugs. I understand that there's but so much that can be done without awareness or coordination, but this seems odd to me not to know how much this noise would impact guests and in what areas of the hotels this does. Even a colleague mentioned hearing the noise, but it didn't seem to impede them as much since my location was more directly impacted. Additionally, I think the roof-top could have more coordination. My friend and I, both Black women, sat at a table top at the roof not receiving any service until I asked the server, who hadn't acknowledged us at all, if we could order. She said since we were at a tabletop we had to go inside and order at the bar. While we have no problem with this, you can see how the optics of seeing a group at tables nearby getting served and attended to immediately while being ignored is confusing but also worrying when no one said anything until we waited 10 minutes and then asked. If table-tops are bar only this should be clearly labeled or a server could say so upon seating.
Overall, this is a lovely hotel with very friendly staff that I encountered and clean and modern in style. However, various things added up to an experience that has me wonder about whether I'd recommend this space.
Angela Garrett
Jun 27, 2024
4
This redone hotel had decent rooms. They were of adequate size. A little noisy but the ac drained it out. Only a few floors with a roof top bar. Not open on Sundays. The lady at the front desk was kind, but the restaurant could use some work. The location is good depending on where you want to be. Absolutely can walk to many places.
