Hottest New Restaurants in Durham – Spring 2024 Update

Spring brings a noticeable shift in energy and excitement, and that extends to our local dining and restaurant scene. As a local restaurant blogger for the past decade, I always look forward to the wave of openings that happens this time of year. I’m especially excited to see old favorites moving into new spaces, the expansion of both local and regional/national establishments and the addition of interactive sports bars. I have found new morning sweet spots, more Mexican and Thai meals I love downtown, and bars that bring a whole new vibe. Stay up to date with the latest new restaurants in Durham.

New & Forthcoming Openings

Zweli’s Kitchen

905 W. Main St., Ste. 19C

Zweli’s has been on the move this year—from opening a brand-new Zimbabwean restaurant in American Tobacco (Zweli’s Ekhaya, which appeared on Yelp's "Top 25 Hot & New Black-Owned Restaurants to Celebrate and Support," earlier this year) to moving their flagship restaurant from a strip mall off 15-501 to the center of Durham as part of Brightleaf Square’s revitalized foodie transformation. If you’ve missed Zweli’s classic dishes during their move, you will be thrilled to get your hands on more Piri Piri chicken, vegetarian samosas, braised oxtails, and their addictive dovi peanut sauce that brings simple sides like collards and rice to the next level.

Fonda Lupita

905 W. Main St., Ste. 21A

Also coming to life in Brightleaf Square is a second location for popular Sanford, NC Mexican restaurant, Fonda Lupita. For those who’ve visited the original location, you know how lucky we are to have this gem now a short drive or walk away! In 2021, the Sanford spot appeared on Eater’s “11 Best New Restaurants” list, and it’s easy to see why. Fonda Lupita is the real deal—homemade Mexican food in a welcoming and modern, yet unpretentious atmosphere. Traditional Mexican recipes include stews, gorditas and slow-cooked birria beef alongside tacos and burritos rolled in fresh homemade corn tortillas.

ThaiAngle

200 N. Mangum St., Ste. 101

What used to be a popular downtown Mexican restaurant (Dos Perros) has taken on new life as ThaiAngle, serving rich and masterful Thai dishes. Of course, you’ll find your favorites like panang curry, spicy beef, drunken noodles and fried rice, but you’ll also be delighted to try their Chef’s choice entrees and seafood dishes utilizing traditional cooking methods and flavors. The interior is warmly decorated with art from the family’s homeland, and large windows overlook the buzz of downtown.

Flying Bull Beer Co.

300 Morris St., Ste. 103

This local craft beer and cocktail bar and kitchen just celebrated the grand opening of its second location, this one in downtown Durham on Morris St. The new spot features a full-service bar, a view of their in-house brewery and outdoor seating. During the day, order elevated snacks from the “Bull Bites” menu and, in the evening, enjoy inventive Mediterranean-American dishes. You will still find the original location of Flying Bull on Ninth Street.

Kiichi Ramen Izakaya

730 Ninth St.

A dedicated ramen shop and izakaya is a welcome addition to Ninth Street. This cozy, local joint has a vibrantly decorated dining room and bar where you can pull up a stool for a filling meal with some sake, Japanese soda or tea. Kiichi’s kitchen specializes in Japanese staples like hibachi bento boxes, snacks such as fried squid, gyoza, chicken karrage and a variety of ramen, including tonkotsu, shoyu, curry and seafood.

Box’d Café

4300 Garrett Rd., Ste. A

An adorable little café tucked in a plaza off Garrett Rd., Box’d offers all your favorite breakfast classics like bagel sandwiches, omelets, waffles – traditional and stuffed, smoothies, lattes and more. You can stop by or order from online food delivery services like DoorDash and GrubHub.

Melina’s Fresh Pasta Il Laboratorio

3101 Guess Rd., Unit E

At Il Laboratorio, pasta enthusiasts can get hands-on instruction from Melina’s Fresh Pasta owner, Carmella Alvaro herself. While not a restaurant, it provides a fun, behind-the-scene experience where you’ll learn how to make all your favorites, from spaghetti to fettuccine, gnocchi and ravioli, using traditional pasta-making tools from Italy. Group classes are available and all participants receive a recipe e-book after the class. The best part: eating your creations at the end!

Clean Eatz

5320 McFarland Dr., Unit 110

Clean Eatz has 17 spots throughout North Carolina and aims to help people achieve their healthy lifestyle goals. They are breaking into the Bull City, offering healthy food and meal prep options for busy professionals, families and people on the go. They specialize in a rotating variety of portion-controlled, nutritionally balanced weekly meal plans, frozen meals you can easily take and heat up at home and fresh-made items from the café like smoothies and wraps.

HERitage Wines

5107 NC-55, Ste. 102

HERitage is a new wine brand with a mission to help include Black women and people of color in wine spaces through education, exposure, access and community. Along with a private wine label, HERitage offers a monthly membership, wine-inspired apparel and events like intimate wine tastings and paint and sip classes.

Atomic Clock Brewing Co.

501 Washington St., Ste. A

A local brother and sister have teamed up to open a taproom and full-service kitchen in Durham’s warehouse district, with a nearby 20-barrel brewhouse. Their beverage program will include 20+ hand-crafted beers across a range of styles, rotating craft cocktails showcasing local distilleries and a boutique wine selection, coupled with a rotating menu of food intended to enhance beverage pairings.

Topgolf

4901 Topgolf Way

Conveniently situated between Durham and Raleigh, the newest location for this restaurant/bar/entertainment venue promises to be a hole in one. With three different levels, there is plenty of room for groups and crowds looking to have a good time in their 100 climate-controlled outdoor hitting bays, each with their own HDTV, on the rooftop terrace with fire pits, or inside with a cocktail and bar bites watching the 28-foot video wall. This is Topgolf’s third location in the state, with the first two North Carolina locations in Charlotte.

Lutra Bakeshop – pop ups

Pick up at Queeny’s and Cocoa Cinnamon Hillsborough St.

In preparation for their upcoming brick and mortar shop, Lutra Bakeshop has been holding Sunday morning pop ups out of Queeny’s takeout window in downtown Durham, and preorder pickups from Cocoa Cinnamon on Hillsborough Road on Fridays. If you can’t decide between a sweet or a savory bun, why not order one of each? They also have giant chocolate chip cookies and soft pretzels on Sundays. Flavors rotate weekly—snag your favorite before they sell out!

Big Bad Breakfast

2608 Erwin Rd.

Later this month, a new breakfast joint will take over the space previously occupied by Another Broken Egg Café near Duke Hospital. This is the first North Carolina location for James Beard award-winning chef John Currence’s popular breakfast brand, known for its scratch-made menu with biscuits, French toast, skillets, omelets and even lunch items like po’boys and smash burgers. Of course, they’ll be serving fresh OJ and cocktails along with the breakfast and lunch menus.

Backyard BBQ Pit – reopened

5122 NC-55

After undergoing major renovations for eight months, this popular Black-owned Durham barbecue restaurant is back in action! From brand new equipment to floors, walls, ceilings and bathrooms, it received a complete overhaul, but one thing stayed the same—the comfort food Backyard BBQ’s been serving for the past 18 years. They have been anxiously waiting to get back on the grill to dish out your favorite pork chops, ribs, oxtails, pot pie and sides like stewed collards, mac and cheese, slaw and hushpuppies.

Durham Beer Garden

812 N. Mangum St.

Baozi steamed buns food truck, which was parked in a lot next to Little Bull restaurant this past year, has remodeled and refreshed the building on the premises and transformed it into a brand-new beer garden hangout complete with a spacious outdoor deck, event space and large indoor bar with plenty of televisions to keep an eye on your favorite games. Plus, beer on tap and to-go.

Missy Lane’s Assembly Room

310 E. Main St., Ste. 100

Missy Lane's is a social club and bar for music lovers aiming to expand the audience for jazz and improvised music. With club membership, you get early access to tickets, preferred seating, invitations to members-only nights and personalized hospitality concierge. It’s a space for people to socialize and build community over good food and drinks and they partner with women and minority-owned small businesses for musical entertainment, bar and food services, and even yoga.

More to Come at American Tobacco Campus…

So many gems have recently opened in the American Tobacco Campus, and it’s not over yet! This spring, visitors can look forward to drinks for all ages from milkshakes to beer with a side of golf.

Milkshake Factory

359 Blackwell St, Ste. 120

Pennsylvania-based milkshake maker, Milkshake Factory, is about the shake up something sweet at American Tobacco. This will be the first North Carolina franchise for this popular house made ice cream, handspun milkshake and chocolate maker. Favorite flavors include chocolate dipped strawberry, campfire s’mores and bananas foster. The perfect treat to help cool off this summer!

State of Golf

318 Blackwell St.

State of Golf is a multisport simulator bar where guests can play immersive games of virtual golf on some of the top courses in the world! There will also be 30 other dynamic simulations for sports like soccer, baseball and basketball. The venue will also feature a full-service bar with a curated beer and wine selection and golf-inspired craft cocktails. Food can be brought in from outside or obtained from local food vendor partners. What more does your group need for a good time?

Ment Beverage

312 Blackwell St.

Earlier this year, Honeygirl Meadery said goodbye to its Hood Street spot with plans to expand operations as Ment Beverage Co. with a new location at the American Tobacco Campus. This new tasting room and production facility will allow this popular mead maker to offer an even wider array of products including mead, cider, locally brewed beer, distilled spirits and nonalcoholic sparkling beverages. The new space will have two bars with indoor and outdoor patio seating. Enjoy beverages on site or a walkabout as part of the Bullpen social district.

Other Recent Openings

19Fifty-One

800 Taylor St., Ste. 9-152

Named after the year the Ethiopian government sent troops to aid South Korea during the Korean War, this collaboration between the owner of Goorsha Ethiopian restaurant and the Korean family that owned Kaffeinate coffee house is an homage to friendship and resilience. This modern cafe in Golden Belt is a perfect spot to enjoy a great cup of coffee, cocktails, sandwiches and bites that bring Ethiopian and Korean flavors into everyday American food, like mango-berbere and ginger-sesame wings.

Beyu RDU 

Terminal 1 and 2 at RDU Airport

RDU’s airport food lineup has been getting all kinds of upgrades, including the addition of Beyu Caffé, serving soulful eats and aromatic coffee. With an original location holding steady for many years in downtown Durham, residents and visitors will appreciate the chance to unwind in this familiar café before a flight. Along with a full coffee, tea, and smoothie menu, the café offers baked goods, snacks, grab-and-go sandwiches and salads.

Bull City Confectionaries

1912 E. NC-54

Bull City Confectionaries grew from a small side passion to a full-fledged business for owner, Nasira Abdur-Razzaq, who started baking her delicious mini bundt cakes for friends, family, and her twin daughters’ school during the holidays eight years ago. A week later, she received her first large order for 100 mini bundts and knew she could take her bakes to the next level. While customers could order for delivery or pick up, the company hasn’t had a brick-and-mortar location until now. This year, Bull City Confectionaries opened a physical location for customers to come in, order cakes, and enjoy on site. Each cake is hand-crafted and magically moist while also dense and flavorful. Flavors include French toast cake with bacon, red velvet, strawberry, and lemon blueberry.

Canastas Chicken

5318 New Hope Commons Dr., Ste. 104

Durham is now home to this Virginia-based Peruvian chicken restaurant’s first North Carolina location. This new fast-casual spot specializes in fresh, all-natural ingredients, bringing traditional Peruvian recipes like polla a la brasa to your plate. They also feature accessible Tex-Mex items like Canastas burgers, burritos and tacos, along with various kinds of ceviche.

Cheeni

202 Corcoran St., Ste. 100

Cheeni, the highly anticipated expansion of Cheeni Indian Food Emporium — a popular Indian restaurant and café in Raleigh run by James Beard Award semifinalist Preeti Waas—is now open in the heart of downtown Durham. It’s wonderful to see another local Triangle chef taking over this stunning space, formerly home to Jack Tar Diner. The menu at Cheeni is regional, homestyle, serving food like masala fries, dosa waffles, Indian kabab rolls, and rice bowls from Preeti’s childhood and her family’s food memories, highlighting the regions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. Cheeni will eventually include a cocktail program and separate bar called Bar Beej in the adjoining space once occupied by The Colonel’s Daughter. For now, enjoy the personal service in the gorgeous, homey space.

Chibanga’s Neighborhood Market

506 N. Mangum St., #103

More than your average convenience store, Chibanga’s is locally owned and carries local goods as well, like Mad Popper’s popcorn, Carolina Kettle Chips, and Everlou Coffee. You can also count on them to carry classic variety store must-haves, such as beer (including locals like Ponysaurus and Fullsteam), wine, soda, chips, cookies, and soon, local veggies and frozen meat from a local farm, and frozen hatch burritos from Gocciolina. They are also dog-friendly and always open to suggestions about what you’d like to see added to their shelves.

Congress Social Bar

471 S. Driver St.

East Durham is becoming an exciting hub for Black-owned businesses. The owner of Rofhiwa Book Café purchased a building blocks away, where they opened a beautiful bar and breakfast shop, Congress Social Bar. This spot is a neighborhood hangout, both morning and night, where you can enjoy casual drinks and live music.

DSSOLVR

630 Rigsbee Ave.

Asheville-based DSSOLVR brewery has brought its funky vibes to downtown Durham. The brewery specializes in everything from lagers to English Ales to IPAs and funky wood-fermented varieties. DSSOLVR embraces the strange, building a brand that’s fun, unconventional, inclusive and out of this world. They host events like trivia, chili cookoffs, festivals and beer releases each month.

Durham Food Hall

Updates | 530 Foster St., Ste. 1

Mango Indian Grill, run by the owners of CholaNad restaurant in Chapel Hill, Priya and Mathi Pothiyappan. Now you can get platters of dosa, tikka or channa masala, mango curry, or saag paneer over rice with two sides and naan for a filling lunch or dinner in downtown Durham.

Corner Yaki Here, you’ll find a menu of Asian-inspired dishes made with North Carolina ingredients, such as bao buns with roasted pork belly or Fox Farm and Forage mushrooms; dumplings with braised Firsthand Foods short ribs or Joyce Farms ground chicken, and bowls with teriyaki chicken or tofu.

Milklab specializes in organic boba milk tea and has two other locations in Durham. They offer a long list of beautiful and delicious drinks, including rose milk tea, Thai milk tea, matcha latte milk cap, strawberry milk cap, and fruit teas with mango, kiwi, and yuzu.

Ekhaya

406 Blackwell St., Ste. 100

Zweli and Leonardo Williams put Zimbabwean food on the map, earning recognition and accolades both locally and nationally for their flavorful food at Zweli’s Kitchen, which is currently in the process of relocating to Brightleaf Square. Their new restaurant, Ekhaya, at American Tobacco Campus, brings more amazing African eats to the area with Bantu-fusion small and large plates. Chef Zweli’s creative culinary twists, like traditional Boerewors sausage and sadza make a delightful pairing with a refreshing cocktail such as their African 75 made with Conniption Kinship Gin and frozen fruit.

Isaac’s Bagels

1003 W. Chapel Hill St.

This bagel pop-up started three years ago as a pandemic pivot and became so popular it earned itself a permanent spot in the Bull City breakfast scene. When the brick-and-mortar opened, a line formed down the street, so it’s safe to say people are excited to be eating Issacs’s on the regular. It’s easy to see why, with fully loaded bagels in classic flavors and more adventurous kinds like fiery Szechuan chili, scratch made whipped cream cheese, along with breakfast sandwiches that will continue to expand on the menu, and opened-faced sandwiches with toppings like lox, tomatoes, ricotta and jam.

It's a Southern Thing (Ellis Crossing)

1051 Yunus Rd., Ste. 110

Speaking of expansions, this locally owned Southern restaurant with roots in downtown’s West Village opened a new location in Research Triangle Park's growing Ellis Crossing area. It’s a Southern Thing is known for generous portions of comfort food, classics with a modern twist, like crab dip, catfish sandwiches, mac & cheese, bacon and beef meatloaf and shrimp & grits. Its full bar offers creative cocktails and classic spirits, and the brunch menu is just as filling—the perfect atmosphere for sharing mimosas with your pals.

Kale’s Kitchen

2504 Fayetteville St.

Kale’s Kitchen is doing something right—this business specializes in catering, meal prep, and cooking classes, and anytime their pop-up restaurant opens, a long line weaves through the lobby and out the door! To stay in the know, follow them on social media where they announce when their pop-up will be open for walk-in service and what you’ll find on the menu. Expect hearty Southern plates with options like baked turkey wings, pot roast, salmon, shrimp; sides like mac and cheese, yams, green beans, and desserts like strawberry crunch cake.

Lakewood Social

1920 Chapel Hill Rd.

A Lakewood spot got another exciting revamp this month from Chef Joel Schroeter who previously ran Old North Meats out of the Durham Food Hall. Lakewood Social provides the ultimate space for the Durham community to unwind and relax, with a large indoor/outdoor communal space, featuring a temperature-controlled patio, spacious lawn area, and a menu focused on draft beer, wine and approachable cocktails with a complementary food program focused on small bites, sandwiches and shareables that will satisfy the cravings of fans of the Food Hall location.

Leroy's Tacos

900 Park Offices Dr.

Based on their popular status at Boxyard RTP, it’s clear the folks behind Lawrence Barbecue know a thing or two about smoked meats. After receiving a huge response from the local foodie community for their birria tacos, owner Jake Wood decided to go all-in and open up Leroy’s Tacos right next door, offering signature smoked brisket birria and quesabirria tacos, carne asada, and carnitas on the regular. This new concept has all the fun vibes in a nostalgic 90s-themed atmosphere.

Liberty & Plenty Distillery

609 Foster St., Ste. B

This woman-owned craft distillery opened its first Durham location in a beautiful industrial-style building overlooking the historic Durham Athletic Park. Their cocktail menu presents a unique take on the classic expressions of vodka, gins, rums and whiskies – with seasonal ingredients and the signature spirits produced on-site, giving them innovative twists. In this rustic and relaxing atmosphere, you’ll find live music, special tasting events and an outdoor patio.

Little Bull

810 N. Mangum St.

Chef Oscar Diaz refined his cooking skills at Alizé, a Michelin-starred French restaurant in Las Vegas, before making his mark in Raleigh at Jose and Sons and Cortez Seafood + Cocktail. Eager to bring his unique fusion of Mexican/American cuisine to Durham, he opened Little Bull in the former Jetplane Coffee space. It now boasts a homey bar serving seasonal cocktails, interesting dishes cooked over live fire, and a sleek, cozy outdoor patio that creates the perfect ambiance for a place that aims to offer diners something special.

Lonerider Distillery & Taproom

708 Ramseur St.

Lonerider’s unconventional taproom and distillery is the brainchild of owners Sumit Vohra and Chris Mielke, who wondered what would happen if a craft brewery expanded into the “Wild West” of the spirits market. With award-winning cask-aged bourbons and spirits at a spacious indoor/outdoor distillery taproom in the heart of Durham, it definitely seems to be working.

Lula & Sadie's

2022 Chapel Hill Rd.

What started out serving soulful Southern dishes at the Durham Food Hall is now operating a full-fledged restaurant and bar in the Lakewood neighborhood. For brunch, lunch and dinner, Lula and Sadie’s offers modern, seasonal twists on classics like chicken and dumplings, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, “Louisiana” red beans and rice, and chicken and red velvet waffles. It’s great to see this historic eatery, which features a small rooftop patio, return to life led by local chef Harry Monds. Stay tuned for what they plan to offer in the adjacent space with a focus on takeout and delivery.

Meyer's Fine Food & Good Times Food Truck

Mobile Food Truck

Jewish-Southern fare—this is food truck cuisine we haven’t seen before, including loaded latkes, stuffed hushpuppies, Jewish burritos, bologna burgers and waffle dogs. Meyer’s mobile truck will open in August during Saturdays at Saxapahaw summer series, followed by Northgate Park’s Food Truck Rodeo. The truck is the prequel to local chef Joe Schwartz’s larger concept Max Jr.’s, a sausage bar and biergarten coming to Brightleaf Square fall 2023.

Mike D’s BBQ Smokehouse & Retail

455 S. Driver St.

Congress Social Bar shares a magical courtyard between old brick buildings with Mike D’s BBQ Smokehouse and Retail, where you can grab platters of his award-winning smoked BBQ and sides, spices and rubs Wednesday-Sunday.

Nanas (Re-opening)

2514 University Dr.

The wait is finally over! New owner Matt Kelly has reopened Durham’s iconic Nana’s restaurant, rebranded as Nanas, on December 12, 2023. The redesigned ambiance and updated menu will be a pleasing combination for both old and new Nanas fans, with a warm bar and dining room inspired by Durham’s history and nature and the comfort of a grandmother’s home. The menu stays true to the original restaurant’s embrace of modern takes on French/Italian dishes using ingredients from the Piedmont and coastal NC, such as chicken liver mousse, oysters, oxtail, shrimp risotto, and wood-grilled entrees like aged NY strip and whole NC fish. Garden & Gun got a first look at Nanas and shared gorgeous photos and more background in this article.

Night School Bar

719 N. Mangum St.

It’s not your typical bar, and that’s what makes Night School so intriguing. Founder Lindsey Andrews is committed to democratizing education and wants to provide curious and creative types with a place to socialize and drink with purpose. Night School is a faculty collective that offers evening classes in the arts and humanities on a sliding-scale donation basis. Instructors are trained in literature, art, music, philosophy, and history, as well as race and gender studies and class analysis. For each “term,” you can find approximately a dozen offerings that include classes organized around exploring a specific topic, such as writing workshops, theory seminars and reading groups.

Nikos

905 W. Main St., Unit 21B

It’s nice to see local restaurants reviving vacant spaces in Brightleaf Square, including Nikos, the latest to open by Giorgio’s Hospitality Group. This lively Mediterranean eatery includes a cozy patio nestled along the historic brick street. It pays homage to Giorgio Bakatsia’s history here—a revival of one of his former restaurants, Niko’s Greek Taverna, which was in this area many years ago. Delicious small meze and larger plates embracing ancient flavors from Greece and its surrounding regions are perfect for sharing around a table with friends.

Pistachio Ice Cream

2708 Chapel Hill Rd.

If you’re tired of the same old ice cream flavors, plan your next visit to a new shop in town, Pistachio, which specializes in aromatic and savory Persian/middle Eastern ice cream flavors like ginger rosewater, lavender, mango, saffron pistachio and sour cherry. You can order scoops or ice cream sandwiches on light wafer cookies to enjoy in the fenced-in garden. They also serve coffee and tea. Friendly staff is happy to allow you to sample or answer any questions to help you find the perfect scoop.

Playa Bowls

744B Ninth St.

Playa Bowls is a popular acai bowl and smoothie franchise that flourished on the Jersey Shore and now has a presence on Ninth Street. With a laid-back beach vibe, these storefronts are committed to serving healthy ingredients to every community and choosing sustainable practices. The menu features acai bowl staples, including the option to customize your own, fruity smoothies, as well as seasonal specials. During winter, try the North Pole Acai Bowl topped with mint and crushed peppermint, a gingerbread smoothie, or a peppermint mocha sweet cream cold brew.

Proximity Brewing Company

491 S. Driver St.

In the growing South Driver Street section of East Durham, a sleek new brewery has opened. Durham's first Black-owned brewery, Proximity serves IPAs featuring North Carolina ingredients and collaborations with Durham and breweries, including a signature West Coast IPA brewed in collaboration with Fullsteam Brewery and with East Durham’s Epiphany Malt. They’ll feature their own menu of canned beverages, including guest beers from other NC breweries.

Saffron Indian Café

2608 Erwin Rd., Ste. 132

Chef Gamer Rawat expanded his North Indian-style cooking from an original location in Cary to Durham. Some of his must-try dishes include GSR butter chicken, dal bukhara, malai kofta, nawabi shish kabab and beef biryani. Their vegetarian and vegan options, equally delightful, include vegetable korma, chickpea masala, dal bukhara and paneer tikka masala. Wash it down with a classic mango lassi or masala chai. Saffron’s American/Indian fusion breakfast is one of the most unique and exciting offerings—available every day from 6 a.m. - 11 a.m., it offers a unique twist on traditional breakfast favorites like masala omelets, cinnamon cardamom pancakes, and chai French toast.

Seraphine

324 Blackwell St., Ste. 402

Louisiana-style cuisine was a missing niche in downtown Durham until the recent arrival of Seraphine, brought to us by brothers and managing partners at NanaSteak, Brad and Graham Weddington. A hip New Orleans vibe runs throughout the space, formerly Tyler’s Taproom, and includes a cozy patio with ironwork details in the heart of American Tobacco Campus. The mouth-watering menu features raw and broiled oysters; gumbo with tasso ham, andouille, chicken and okra; crawfish and shrimp croquettes, and of course, beignets for dessert.

Szechuan Mansion Hotpot

746 Ninth St.

Attention hotpot fans: A Cary favorite has expanded, opening a second location close to Duke. A warm and welcoming interior features rows of hotpot tables where you can share an interactive dining experience with a group or on a date—each person dips and cooks their own thinly sliced meat, chopped vegetables and seafood in a delicious, seasoned broth. This location also has a few tables outside. And for even more filling and flavorful Szechuan dishes, check out their take-out menu with appetizers, soups, spicy dry and boiled pots and traditional Szechuan desserts.

The Common Market

1821 Green St.

This successful Charlotte-based deli, bar and bottle shop has brought its funky charm to the Bull City. The Common Market in Durham is a split-level, food hall-type setting with the ground floor dedicated to an all-day bodega-style deli, local coffee shop Mid Bloom Coffee and beloved Durham ice cream maker, The Parlour Junior! The basement level boasts a bar and bottle shop with craft beer and wine, and the main market area sells snacks and small giftable items. An open-concept dining area with windows that open to the outside makes this Ninth Street spot a fun hangout for families for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Torero's Mexican Restaurant

604 Fernway Dr.

Torero's Mexican Restaurant, a beloved, family-friendly Durham staple for authentic Mexican cuisine since 1993, reopened in the Warehouse District/West Village apartment building following a move from its original location on the corner of Main and Duke Street in the Brightleaf area. You’ll have to visit often to make your way through their huge menu with equally large portions.

Twisted Ladder

8 Davis Dr.

This bright, airy, casual, counter-service café is new to Research Triangle Park (RTP), and features handcrafted bowls, salads, sandwiches, toasts, smoothies and sweet treats. It’s a perfect location for business lunch meetings, catching up with a friend, or grabbing a happy hour beer before heading home.

The Velvet Hippo

119 Orange St.

On weekends, you don’t have to leave Fido behind when visiting this new neighborhood bar downtown. The Velvet Hippo, an homage to the owner’s love of dogs, offers a breezy rooftop oasis with a view, glistening signature cocktails, boozy slushes, draft IPAs, small bites and fun events like karaoke. “Yappy Hours” are Saturday and Sunday, 12-6 p.m. Since dogs are not permitted indoors, they get their very own VIP staircase. Star treatment for all!

Urban Noodle

4104 Surles Ct., #4

Ramen has become a growing trend for good reason – nothing beats the comfort of a filling bowl of noodles swimming in a rich, creamy broth. Even in a fast-casual setting, Urban Noodle leaves a lasting impression thanks to the attention to special ingredients like the bone broth in the Tonkotsu ramen made from the chef’s family recipe, and the fact that they sear the pork belly on each order, adding just the right amount of char. You will also find an array of Asian-fusion items on the starters menu, like well-portioned steamed buns and kimchi fries. Their convenient location on NC Hwy 54 makes it an easy stop for those in RTP or commuting from Raleigh.

Weldon Mills Distillery

300 E. Main St., Ste. 001

For fans of fine whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin and other spirits, Weldon Mills Distillery is a welcome addition to downtown Durham. With two original mill house locations in Weldon, NC, this distillery has a knack for merging old-world character and charm with modern-day vibes, including offering upscale cocktails, live events with music, and private guided tastings where patrons can explore the distilling process and learn the nuances of the spirits.

YonderLust Cafe

109 N. Gregson St.

Adventure enthusiasts and healthy eaters now have a perfect spot to hang out around Brightleaf Square. Yonderlust Café, which recently opened in a restored building along Gregson St., offers healthy salads, smoothies, juices, pressed sandwiches, Strong Arm Bakery products, tea and Joe Van Gogh coffee. The best part is that the remainder of the space is dedicated to selling outdoor gear and clothing, so you can shop while you sip.

If you’re anything like me, you have been waiting for this time of year so you can get out more and add these new spots to your next restaurant or bar crawl around town! It’s time to look towards longer days and warmer nights and enjoy Durham’s newly opened restaurants and bars.