Lin’s Durham guidebook
Neighborhoods
OWD is where our Airbnb (and our home!) is located. This is the second most walkable neighborhood in Durham and easy to get to everything one might need - groceries, restaurants, shops, and coffee!
This neighborhood was primarily homes for the millworkers that worked in Erwin Mill (now repurposed into apartments and office space), right off 9th Street. Now it is a vibrant, mixed income community with lots of active commercial activity.
Old West Durham
OWD is where our Airbnb (and our home!) is located. This is the second most walkable neighborhood in Durham and easy to get to everything one might need - groceries, restaurants, shops, and coffee!
This neighborhood was primarily homes for the millworkers that worked in Erwin Mill (now repurposed into apartments and office space), right off 9th Street. Now it is a vibrant, mixed income community with lots of active commercial activity.
Watts Hillandale is just north of our neighborhood, on the other side of Club Blvd. It is a quiet residential area tucked a little further back from the commercial district on 9th. Oval Park is lovely for small kids as lots of families will leave wheeled toys there for the neighborhood kids to play with.
Watts Hospital-Hillandale
Watts Hillandale is just north of our neighborhood, on the other side of Club Blvd. It is a quiet residential area tucked a little further back from the commercial district on 9th. Oval Park is lovely for small kids as lots of families will leave wheeled toys there for the neighborhood kids to play with.
Food scene
Easy walking distance from our house - great breakfast options for eating in or bringing back! Tip: there is often a line because it’s a popular spot. If you'd like to eat in the restaurant, you can hop up to the bar any time seats are open (no need to stand in line) and order from there.
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Monuts
1002 9th StEasy walking distance from our house - great breakfast options for eating in or bringing back! Tip: there is often a line because it’s a popular spot. If you'd like to eat in the restaurant, you can hop up to the bar any time seats are open (no need to stand in line) and order from there.
Another easy walk from our Airbnb, Deeluxe has a selection of chicken sandwiches, fried seafood baskets, and salads (as well as burgers and vegetarian options) with daily lunch specials. The highlight is the sauce bar to go with whatever you order, although some of our friends with kids swear by their soft serve ice cream.
DeeLuxe Chicken
1116 Broad StAnother easy walk from our Airbnb, Deeluxe has a selection of chicken sandwiches, fried seafood baskets, and salads (as well as burgers and vegetarian options) with daily lunch specials. The highlight is the sauce bar to go with whatever you order, although some of our friends with kids swear by their soft serve ice cream.
One of three outposts of the Cocoa Cinnamon family, this location is also walking distance and has a good selection of locally-baked pastries to go with their coffee / tea selections and reliable wi-fi.
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Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StOne of three outposts of the Cocoa Cinnamon family, this location is also walking distance and has a good selection of locally-baked pastries to go with their coffee / tea selections and reliable wi-fi.
With a changing daily menu of fish brought from the coast, Ricky Moore has been getting a lot of attention nationally since opening his first seafood stand several years ago. The original location is within walking distance of downtown and there is a second sit-down option in the Forest Hills neighborhood.
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Saltbox Seafood Joint
608 N Mangum StWith a changing daily menu of fish brought from the coast, Ricky Moore has been getting a lot of attention nationally since opening his first seafood stand several years ago. The original location is within walking distance of downtown and there is a second sit-down option in the Forest Hills neighborhood.
The Durham outpost of The Pit in Old North Durham features pit-cooked pork barbecue, although their other options (including the bbq soy nuggets) are also good! Also, don't make a mistake Lin made during her PhD and go to the original location in Raleigh - they're about 40 minutes away from each other.
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The Pit Durham
321 W Geer StThe Durham outpost of The Pit in Old North Durham features pit-cooked pork barbecue, although their other options (including the bbq soy nuggets) are also good! Also, don't make a mistake Lin made during her PhD and go to the original location in Raleigh - they're about 40 minutes away from each other.
The latest of Michael Lee's restaurants (all excellent, including M Sushi, M Kokko, and M Tempura) and running on a first-come, first-served basis, M Pocha specializes in casual, Asian street food. This tiny hole in the wall is best for couples and small groups.
M Pocha
101 E Chapel Hill StThe latest of Michael Lee's restaurants (all excellent, including M Sushi, M Kokko, and M Tempura) and running on a first-come, first-served basis, M Pocha specializes in casual, Asian street food. This tiny hole in the wall is best for couples and small groups.
This bar across from The Durham hotel serves great cocktails along with a small side menu.
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Alley Twenty Six
320 E Chapel Hill StThis bar across from The Durham hotel serves great cocktails along with a small side menu.
This brewery features the best craft beers in/from Durham and is the nicest place to sit outside and have a drink on a sunny day. A rotating series of food trucks are present on site each evening and on weekend days.
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Ponysaurus Brewing Company
219 Hood StThis brewery features the best craft beers in/from Durham and is the nicest place to sit outside and have a drink on a sunny day. A rotating series of food trucks are present on site each evening and on weekend days.
9th Street is Duke’s “campus town” and also the center of neighborhood commerce. Lots of great little restaurants, shops, and service providers here on 9th and also one street over on Broad Street. If you need groceries, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods are both here. This district is a few short blocks from the house.
9th Street District
728 9th St9th Street is Duke’s “campus town” and also the center of neighborhood commerce. Lots of great little restaurants, shops, and service providers here on 9th and also one street over on Broad Street. If you need groceries, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods are both here. This district is a few short blocks from the house.
The Durham outpost of this Asheville, NC, based brewery features their set of rotating taps, lawn and indoor floor games and several sets of tables to socialize and/or watch a game on their big-screen in the Golden Belt development east of downtown. Several galleries and art spaces are within the same complex if you visit during opening hours.
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Hi-Wire Brewing - Durham
800 Taylor StThe Durham outpost of this Asheville, NC, based brewery features their set of rotating taps, lawn and indoor floor games and several sets of tables to socialize and/or watch a game on their big-screen in the Golden Belt development east of downtown. Several galleries and art spaces are within the same complex if you visit during opening hours.
Sightseeing
The Duke Gardens are a great spot to take a break during your visit. The walk through the Asiatic Arboretum and the bird viewing spot in the Garden of Native Plants are our favorite spots! The cover of our guidebook was taken in spring 2019 at the Gardens.
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Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson StThe Duke Gardens are a great spot to take a break during your visit. The walk through the Asiatic Arboretum and the bird viewing spot in the Garden of Native Plants are our favorite spots! The cover of our guidebook was taken in spring 2019 at the Gardens.
The focal sightseeing point of most Duke campus visits, the Chapel (designed in the 1930s by Julian Abele, a prominent Philadelphian architect and the first African-American accepted into UPenn's Department of Architecture) is open for visitors every day aside from during weddings and religious services. There should be pamphlets at the entrance of the church that give more information about its history. The Chapel's distinctive facade is made of multicolored grey stone quarried in nearby Hillsborough (13 miles away).
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Duke University Chapel
401 Chapel DriveThe focal sightseeing point of most Duke campus visits, the Chapel (designed in the 1930s by Julian Abele, a prominent Philadelphian architect and the first African-American accepted into UPenn's Department of Architecture) is open for visitors every day aside from during weddings and religious services. There should be pamphlets at the entrance of the church that give more information about its history. The Chapel's distinctive facade is made of multicolored grey stone quarried in nearby Hillsborough (13 miles away).
Duke University’s art museum, the Nasher is set in the woods just outside the main body of campus and has a series of rotating shows in addition to selections from the permanent collection on display. The cafe within the Museum is very good!
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Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
2001 Campus DrDuke University’s art museum, the Nasher is set in the woods just outside the main body of campus and has a series of rotating shows in addition to selections from the permanent collection on display. The cafe within the Museum is very good!
The 21c was modified from a local bank (originally designed by the same firm that did the Empire State Building) into this hotel and public contemporary art gallery. You can wander the 2nd floor gallery at any time (including with a drink during bar/restaurant hours), and there is a docent-guided tour every Friday at 5 pm. It sits in the center of downtown.
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21c Museum Hotel Durham
111 North Corcoran StThe 21c was modified from a local bank (originally designed by the same firm that did the Empire State Building) into this hotel and public contemporary art gallery. You can wander the 2nd floor gallery at any time (including with a drink during bar/restaurant hours), and there is a docent-guided tour every Friday at 5 pm. It sits in the center of downtown.
Filled with running/walking trails near our Airbnb, this area will allow you to get out and exercise if you'd like a trail option. The Al Buehler trail is the most popular loop, but other trails on the other side of highway 751 offer less crowded options.
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Duke Forest
North Carolina 751Filled with running/walking trails near our Airbnb, this area will allow you to get out and exercise if you'd like a trail option. The Al Buehler trail is the most popular loop, but other trails on the other side of highway 751 offer less crowded options.
For a longer day hike option, the Eno River State Park has multiple options, including the Quarry Trail (where you can swim), Bobbit's Hole (swimming or fishing, if you have a permit), and Cabe Lands Trail, amongst others. An easy 10 minute drive to multiple trailheads from our Airbnb.
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Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill RoadFor a longer day hike option, the Eno River State Park has multiple options, including the Quarry Trail (where you can swim), Bobbit's Hole (swimming or fishing, if you have a permit), and Cabe Lands Trail, amongst others. An easy 10 minute drive to multiple trailheads from our Airbnb.
Shopping
Come visit this fun bookstore on 9th Street, owned by someone who lives in the neighborhood. Support local!
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The Regulator Bookshop
720 9th StCome visit this fun bookstore on 9th Street, owned by someone who lives in the neighborhood. Support local!
This is where I’ve had my hair cut for years - conveniently walking distance from the house! Ask for Kelsey Nethercott - she’s fantastic and really works with your hair texture. If you’ve got an event, book a blow dry and you’ll look 100%!
Hot Headz
1106 Broad StreetThis is where I’ve had my hair cut for years - conveniently walking distance from the house! Ask for Kelsey Nethercott - she’s fantastic and really works with your hair texture. If you’ve got an event, book a blow dry and you’ll look 100%!