Best of Durham 2023
Best of Durham 2023 winners
*All results listed in alphabetical order.
** The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
The Best of Durham is a reflection of our community’s collective voice, a resounding chorus of recommendations and testimonials that illuminate the outstanding establishments and individuals that shape our city. Each winner represents a testament to Durham's vibrant tapestry, from the top restaurants and bars to the finest local cultural experiences and services.
Join us in celebrating the best in dining, entertainment, shopping, services and more. Consider this page your go-to guide for all things Durham. Whether you're a local or just visiting, you're sure to find something to suit your interests and preferences. So sit back, relax and explore the best of Durham!
DINING
Overall Restaurant
COPA
M Sushi
NanaSteak
Viceroy
New Restaurant
Krill
Mezcalito
QueenBurger
Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen
Burger
Burger Bach
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Only Burger
QueenBurger
Fries
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Burger Bach
The Federal
QueenBurger
Sandwiches
Eastcut Sandwich Bar
Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery
Parker & Otis
Toast
Breakfast/Brunch
Elmo’s Diner
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Monuts
Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails
Coffee Shop
Bean Traders
Cocoa Cinnamon
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Joe Van Gogh
Dessert/Pastries
Dulce Cafe
Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Biergarten
Loaf
Sweets by Shayda
Place for a Date Night
Alley Twenty Six
COPA
Mateo Bar de Tapas
M Sushi
Vin Rouge
Place for Late Night
Alley Twenty Six
Annexe
Cosmic Cantina
Kingfisher
Queeny’s
Barbecue
Backyard BBQ Pit
Moe’s Original BBQ
The Original Q Shack
Picnic
Place for Vegetarians
Earth to Us
Goorsha
Happy + Hale
Pure Soul
The Refectory Café
Seafood
Locals Seafood
M Sushi
Nantucket Grill
Saltbox Seafood Joint
Mexican Food
Cosmic Cantina
Mezcalito
NuvoTaco
Taqueria La Vaquita
Asian Food
Juju
M Sushi
Namu
Thai Cafe
Sushi
M Sushi
Sake Bomb Asian Bistro
Shiki Sushi Asian Bistro
Sushi Love
Indian Food
Indian Monsoon Restaurant & Bar
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Sitar Indian Cuisine
Viceroy
Latin/Caribbean Food
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Boricua Soul
COPA
Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas
Greek/Mediterranean Food
Bleu Olive
Mediterranean Grill & Grocery
Neomonde Mediterranean
Parizade
Italian Food
Cucciolo Osteria
Gocciolina
Mothers & Sons Trattoria
Pulcinella’s Italian Restaurant
Pizza
Hutchins Garage
Pizzeria Toro
Pompieri Pizza
Randy’s Pizza
Wings
Chicken Bee
The Dankery
Heavenly Buffaloes
M Kokko
Place to Buy Frozen Treats
Locopops
The Parlour
Pincho Loco Ice Cream
Two Roosters Ice Cream
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Elmo’s Diner
Makus Empanadas
Pompieri Pizza
Food Truck
Bulkogi Korean BBQ
Chirba Chirba Dumpling
El Jefecito
The Latin Effect
Chef
Roberto Copa Matos, COPA
Juan DiGiulio, Succotash Southern & Creole
Kitchen
Matthew Kelly, Mateo Bar de Tapas
and Vin Rouge
Shawn Holland, Sophisticated Catering
and Event Planning
Chetan Vartak, Viceroy
Restaurant Catering
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Foster’s Market
Pure Soul
Saladelia Cafe & Catering
Full-Service Catering
Indulge Catering
The Pit Durham Event Venue
Sage & Swift Gourmet Catering
Southern Harvest Hospitality Group
White Clover Catering
Cocktails
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
COPA
Kingfisher
Craft Alcoholic Beverages
Bull City Ciderworks
Durham Distillery
Honeygirl Meadery
Mystic Farm & Distillery
Wine Shop
Hope Valley Wine & Beverage
LouElla Wine, Beer & Beverage
Total Wine & More
Wine Authorities
Wine Selection at a Restaurant
Mateo Bar de Tapas
NanaSteak
The Refectory Café
Vin Rouge
Brewery
Fullsteam Brewery
Flying Bull Beer Company
Hi-Wire Brewing
Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Beer Shop
Beer Study
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps
The Glass Jug Beer Lab
Sam’s Bottle Shop
Draft Beer Selection
Beer Study
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps
Growler Grlz
Tobacco Wood Brewing Company
Artisan Food Product
Cilantro Artisan Foods
Durham Toffee
Little Waves Coffee Roasters
Isaac’s Bagels
Melina’s Fresh Pasta
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Dance Studio
All In Dance Academy
Davis Dance Company
Empower Dance Studio
Fred Astaire Dance Studio
Venue for Community Theater
Carolina Theatre
The Fruit
Hayti Heritage Center
Walltown Children’s Theatre
Venue for Live Music (Large)
Boxyard RTP
Carolina Theatre
Durham Central Park
Durham Performing Arts Center
Venue for Live Music (Small)
The Blue Note Grill
Beyu Caffé
Motorco Music Hall
The Pinhook
Art Gallery
21c Museum Hotel
Durham Arts Council
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Steven Ray Miller Gallery and Frame Shop
Museum
21c Museum Hotel
Museum of Durham History
Museum of Life and Science
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Event Space
The Cookery
The Cotton Room
The Fruit
Museum of Life and Science
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Group Outing
Duke Lemur Center
Durham Bulls
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Urban Axes
RETAIL
Gift Store
Mill & Meadow
Parker & Otis
Smitten Boutique
Vaguely Reminiscent
Jewelry Store
Fink’s Jewelers
Hamilton Hill Jewelry
Jewelsmith
Light Years
Clothing Store
Mode Consignment Boutique
Rumors
Smitten Boutique
Vert & Vogue
Thrift Store
Durham Rescue Mission Thrift Store
Mode Consignment Boutique
Pennies for Change Thrift Boutique
TROSA Thrift Store
Home Furnishings & Accessories
Indio
Once & Again Consignment Gallery
TROSA Thrift Store
Vintage Home South
Durham-Made Product
Bright Black
Conniption Gin
Durham Toffee
Lo & Behold
HOME & GARDEN
Real Estate Agent
Lisa Ellis, Lisa Ellis & Company, Real Estate by Design
Carl Johnson, Carl Johnson Real Estate at Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston
Theresa Olson, Real Estate by Design
Emily Jo Roberts, Inhabit Real Estate
Real Estate Company
Inhabit Real Estate
Nest Realty
Real Estate by Design
West & Woodall Real Estate
Commercial Builder
BridgePoint General Contracting
CT Wilson Construction
The Daniele Company
Gateway Building Company
Residential Builder
BuildSense
Cadence Construction
CoCreations Construction & Design
Grau Building Company
Architect
BuildSense
Ellen Cassilly Architects
Grant Group Architecture
Linton Architects
SoliDeo Design Studio
Kitchen Designer
CoCreations Construction & Design
CQC Home
The Kitchen Specialist
Linda Dickerson Interiors
Little Corner Construction
Interior Design
Four Over One Design
Linda Dickerson Interiors
LK Design
Max Hugo Interior Design
True Design
Landscaper
Carolina Garden Company
For Garden’s Sake
Lawns by Carlito
TROSA Lawn Care
Landscape Architect & Designer
Carolina Garden Company
John Hykes, Design Bank
For Garden’s Sake
TMTLA Associates
Cleaning Services
Lucie’s Home Services
Natural Zen Cleaning
Rosa’s Cleaning Service
Spotless Clean and Carpet Care
Roofer
Alpine Roofing
Baker Roofing Company
Cole Roofing & Construction
Gonzalez Painters & Contractors
Painter
Atlantic Coast Painting
Gonzalez Painters & Contractors
Hansell Painting Co.
Zarazua Painting
HVAC Repair
Air Innovations Heating & Cooling LLC
Alternative Aire
Hays Heating and Air Conditioning
JD Service Now
Electrician
Braco Electric Company
JD Service Now
Power Tech Electrical Services
Storage Facility
Ample Storage
Brassfield Self Storage
Public Storage
TROSA Moving and Storage
Moving Company
Miracle Movers
TROSA Moving and Storage
Truckin’ Movers
Two Men and a Truck
Florist
Blossom and Bone Florals
Floral Dimensions
Ninth Street Flowers
Pine State Flowers
Neighborhood
Garrett Farms
Northgate Park
Trinity Park
Woodcroft
SERVICES
New Business
Auroraflow
Salon Lofts – Downtown
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps
Durham Cat Company
Veterinarian
Eno Animal Hospital
Park Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care
Southpoint Animal Hospital
Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital
Pet Boarding
The Barkmore House
Camp Bow Wow – North Durham
GoDog Durham
Park Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care
Pet Sitting
Barbie & Company Pet Services
Bull City Pet Sitting
Dickinson Animal Services
Kate’s Critter Care
Car Wash
Autorific Express Car Wash
Bull City Car Wash
Edge Express Car Wash
The RipTide Car Wash
Spiffy
Audiologist
Better Hearing Rehabilitation Center
Duke Otolaryngology & Duke Speech
Pathology and Audiology Clinic
Hearing Health Care Services
North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat
Optometrist/Ophthalmologist
Academy Eye Associates
Duke Eye Center
Dr. Tonica Johnson, Eye Physicians
& Surgeons of Durham
Rosenstein Vision Center
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon
Duke Aesthetic Center
Duke Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Gunn Plastic Surgery Center
Jelic Center
Dermatologist
Dr. Garrett S. Bressler
Regional Dermatology of Durham
Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates
Triangle Dermatology Associates
Chiropractor
Bella Vita Chiropractic
Chiropractic Partners
University Chiropractic
Dr. Latisha Wright, Lifetime Chiropractic
Accountant
Anthony F. Armento, CPA, PC
Balentine & Borg, PLLC
Bridget A. Ryan, CPA, PLLC
Thomas, Judy & Tucker, PA
Financial Advisor
Bryan L. Piccirillo, Edward Jones
Bryan Wylie, Northwestern Mutual
Kuhn Advisors
Tamra K. Ellis, Edward Jones
Bank
Coastal Credit Union
M&F Bank
State Employees’ Credit Union
Truist
Child Care
KIN Childcare
Kreative Kidz NC
Primrose School at Hope Valley Farms
Sprouting Scholars Preschool
Summer Camp
Camp Riverlea
Forge Fencing
Museum of Life and Science
Schoolhouse of Wonder
Place to Get in Shape
The 360 Approach
Arrichion Hot Yoga + Circuit Training
The BodyGames Center
Neighborhood Barre Durham
Yoga/Pilates/ Barre Center
The 360 Approach
Arrichion Hot Yoga + Circuit Training
The BodyGames Center
Neighborhood Barre Durham
Sports Club
Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club
Triangle Curling Club
Triangle Rock Club
United Thai Boxing & MMA
Spa
Auroraflow
Bella Trio Salon & Spa
Fluffy Tiger Massage
Fuzion Professional Massage Therapy
Hair Salon
Ego Barber Lounge
Fuss & Bother
Posh The Salon
Rock Paper Scissors Salon
Nail Salon
Bliss Nail Bar
La Vie Nail Spa
Lee Spa Nails
Posh Nail Spa
Professional Photographer
Carolyn Scott Photography
Fifty Two Hundred Photo
Morgan Crutchfield Photography
Ripptowne Photography
Tangmo Choi Photography
Videographer
Big Dog Little Bed Productions
Fifty Two Hundred Photo
Little Light Creative
Mark Maya Films + Photography
Event Planner
Enchanting Events & Designs
Sabrina Seymore Events
Socialite Events
Virtue Events
Hotel/Bed-and-Breakfast
21c Museum Hotel
The Durham Hotel
Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Lawyer
Ellis Family Law
Hopler, Wilms & Hanna, PLLC
Lockamy Law Firm
Patrick Law, PLLC
Travel Company
AAA
Angela Murphy, Key to the World Travel
Upcoming Events
Duke Football Radio Show and Tailgate Dinner at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance (Presented by the Durham Savoyards, Ltd.)
