Visiting Durham

I agree with what you said about Bull City and Sam's. Both Sam's are amazing stores, probably the best in the state, maybe the South! That might be a stretch, but they have about everything you could imagine and the prices are really good too. I have been stopping there when I go to Durham for work, which is often, for many years and have never been let down. The only downside is the beer community in Durham is so robust, it's often hard to secure those rare beast's. But, they usually have them, sometimes you just have to be lucky.

Next time you are there I would suggest you seek out Only Burger, they have an alright selection of cooler beers, nothing on draft, but the burgers are much better in my opinion. That of course is referring to their brick and mortar place. They started as a food truck outfit, and still have one to the best of my knowledge.

 

those are some great spots!! Some of the best Durham has to offer.

 

Yep...don't tell anyone. We like to have people think we're hill billiy red necks. I'm glad y'all had a good time let me know next time you come down for a visit I'll have a beer with ya.

 

I go 4X/year so won't duplicate comments above - other than to say Durham is so much cooler than it used to be, edgy trendy and will continue. The additive places would be Social Taproom and Lounge right across from The Federal for good beers and Watts Grocery (upscalish restaurant) for great food and good craft drafts

 

There are some great food in Durham not mentioned in this thread. Wimpy's is a stand that makes great burgers & fries. There's not sit down opportunity and they're breakfast/lunch only, so be sure they're open before heading out.
Tacos: La Vaquita - both the Chapel Hill Road and Hillsborough Road locations. Super Taqueria and La Superior, both located on Roxboro Road. Toledo Carniceria & Taqueria on Highway 54 in RTP.Superior Taco, and Azteca Grill on Chapel Hill Road.
Rose's Meat & Sweets: these guys do some crazy good butchery & sausage making, plus their sweet side is just as good. They make the best meringues I've had outside of France. Downtown and well-worth checking out.

Another point in Sam's favor is turnover. I recently bought a bottle of Lagunitas Hop Stoopid from them and it was a lot better than I'd had before. I buy that beer often, but it must have been really fresh because the hops really popped with citrus. I do wish I could get half pints there, since I often would like to have more than one taste during a shopping spree.

 

QFT about Sam's. My parents live in Durham and I buy and ship back home several hundred dollars worth of beer every time I visit.

Thanks for this thread, headed down for Christmas and some new (to me) places to check out.