The Best of Durham 2026 winners were announced in the June/July issue of Durham Magazine on June 1.
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. Winners are published in the June/July issue of Durham Magazine.
Are you a Durham business owner? Check out our resources below for free graphics and marketing tips to promote your business. Advertising does not guarantee a spot as a winner.
Best of Durham Resources
Best of Durham 2026 Winners
*All results listed in alphabetical order.
** The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Dining
New Restaurant
Dino’s Pizza
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium (RTP)
Hatch Burritos
Tataco
Overall Restaurant
Little Bull
Nanas
Seraphine
Vin Rouge
Burger
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Only Burger
Fries
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Bull City Burger and Brewery
The Federal
Sandwiches
Eastcut Sandwich Bar
Foster’s Market
Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery
Parker and Otis
Breakfast/Brunch
Elmo’s Diner
Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant
Monuts
Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails
Coffee Shop
Bean Traders
Cocoa Cinnamon
Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant
Joe Van Gogh
Dessert/Pastries
Dulce Cafe
Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant
Little Barb’s Bakery
Nantucket Grill
Place for a Date Night
Nanas
Nerra
Primrose Bar & Lounge
Seraphine
Vin Rouge
Place for a Late Night
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Queeny’s
The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge
Steak
Metro 8 Steakhouse
NanaSteak
Vin Rouge
Nanas
Barbecue
Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue
Byrd’s BBQ
Restaurant & Catering
The Original Q Shack
Picnic Barbecue
Place for Vegetarians
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Foster’s Market
Goorsha
Pure Soul
Seafood
M Sushi
Nerra
Saltbox Seafood Joint
Seraphine
Mexican Food
Cosmic Cantina
Fonda Lupita
Little Bull
Mezcalito
Taqueria La Vaquita
Asian Food
Juju
M Sushi
Shanghai Restaurant
Thaiangle Restaurant
Sushi
Koi Sushi & Hibachi
M Sushi
Shiki Sushi Asian Bistro
Sushi Love
Indian Food
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar
Viceroy
Latin/Caribbean Food
Aaktun
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
Boricua Soul
Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas
Greek/Mediterranean Food
Bleu Olive Mediterranean Bistro
Neomonde Mediterranean
Nikos
Parizade
Italian Food
Cucciolo Osteria
Gocciolina
Mothers & Sons Trattoria
Pizzeria Toro
Pizza
Emmy Squared
Hutchins Garage
Pizzeria Toro
Randy’s Pizza
Wings
Bralie’s Sports Bar & Grill
Chicken Bee
The Chicken Hut
Heavenly Buffaloes
Frozen Treats
Andia’s Ice Cream
Goodberry's Frozen Custard
LocoPops
The Parlour
Two Roosters Ice Cream
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Bull City Burger
and Brewery
Elmo’s Diner
Lakewood Social
Mellow Mushroom
Food Truck
Bulkogi Korean BBQ
Chirba Chirba Dumpling
El Sazón de Mi Huasteca
Gussy’s
Chef
Oscar Diaz, Aaktun,
Adios! by Oscar Diaz, Little Bull & Tataco
Matt Kelly, Nanas
Alexis Lawson, Nerra
David Lopez,
Atomic Clock Brewing Co.
Restaurant Catering
Alpaca Peruvian
Charcoal Chicken
Byrd’s BBQ
Restaurant & Catering
Hope Valley Diner and Catering Company
The Original Q Shack
Saladelia Cafe & Catering
Full-Service Catering
Beth El Catering
Sophisticated Catering and Event Planning
Washington Duke Inn
& Golf Club
White Clover Catering
Mocktails
Alley Twenty Six
Arcana Durham
Da Kine’s Kava
The Velvet Hippo
Bar & Lounge
Cocktails
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Primrose Bar & Lounge
The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge
Craft Alcoholic Beverages
Bull City Ciderworks
Durham Distillery
Ment Beverage Co.
Mystic Farm & Distillery
Wine Shop
Hope Valley Wine & Beverage
LouElla Wine, Beer & Beverage
Wine Authorities
The Wine Feed
Wine Selection at a Bar or Restaurant
Delafia
Killer Queen Wine Bar
Vin Rouge
The Wine Feed
Brewery
Atomic Clock Brewing Co.
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Hi-Wire Brewing
Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Retail Beer Selection
Beer Study
Crafts & Drafts NC
The Glass Jug Beer Lab – RTP
Total Wine & More
Draft Beer Selection
Beer Study
DSSOLVR
Durham Beer Garden
Growler Grlz
Artisan Food Product
Alley Twenty Six syrups
Bean Traders Coffee
Isaac’s Bagels
LocoPops
Retail
Car Dealership
Hendrick Chevrolet Buick GMC Southpoint
Hendrick Subaru Southpoint
Johnson Lexus of Durham at Southpoint
Mark Jacobson Toyota
Gift Store
The Borough Gifts & Home
Casa Bella Market
Indio
Parker and Otis
Jewelry Store
Fink’s Jewelers
Hamilton Hill Jewelry
Jewelsmith
John David Jewelers
Light Years
Clothing Store
Mode Consignment
Rumors
Smitten Boutique
Tigress
Thrift/Consignment Store – Clothing
Mode Consignment
Pennies for Change Thrift Boutique
Scrap Thrift
TROSA Thrift Store
Thrift/Consignment Store – Home Goods
Always Home Furniture Consignment
Durham-Chapel Hill Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Scrap Thrift
TROSA Thrift Store
Home Furnishings
Always Home Furniture Consignment
Capital Discount Furniture
Patina
TROSA Thrift Store
Home Accessories
Casa Bella Market
Chet Miller
Indio
TROSA Thrift Store
Vintage Home South
Hemp/Cannabis Store
Oak City Hemp
Plant Mama’s Holistic Dispensary
Redhead Hemp
Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary
Durham-Made Product
Bright Black
Burt’s Bees
Fillaree
Lo & Behold Naturals
Home & Garden
Real Estate Agent
Lisa Ellis, Real Estate by Design
Carl Johnson, Carl Johnson Real Estate
Dara Shain, Inhabit Real Estate
Susan Ungerleider, RED Collective
Tye Williams, Nest Realty
Real Estate Company
Inhabit Real Estate
Nest Realty
Real Estate by Design
RED Collective
Commercial Builder
AG Builders Inc.
CT Wilson Construction
Gateway Building Company
SGS Contracting
Southway Builders
Residential Builder
Dove Creek Contracting
Grau Building Company
Ironwood Custom Remodels
Maven Construction
Architect
BuildSense
Ellen Cassilly Architects
Grant Group Architecture
Linton Architects
Meadows Architecture
Mint Architecture + Design
Kitchen Design
CoCreations Construction & Design
CQC Home
The Kitchen Specialist
Little Corner Construction
Little Mangum Studio
Interior Design
12th State Design Co.
Little Mangum Studio
LK Design
True Design
Flooring Services
Accent Custom Floors
Best Tile Durham
Frazee Carpet & Flooring
Santi Hardwood Floors
Landscaper
Bombadil Landscaping/Design
For Garden’s Sake
Kiefer Landscaping Inc.
Lawns by Carlito
Old North State Landscape Development
Landscape Architect & Designer
For Garden’s Sake
Garden Environments
ISG
Old North State Landscape Development
Roofer
Accurate Renovation
Alpine Roofing
Baker Roofing Company
Pickard Roofing Company
Painting Company
Brush Up Painting
Gonzalez Painters & Contractors Inc.
Hansell Painting Co.
Zarazua Painting
HVAC Repair
Alternative Aire
Brown Brothers Plumbing and Heating Company
Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
Talley’s Heating and Air
Electrician
B. Smith’s Electric LLC
Bryant-Durham Services
Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
Vaughan Electric Co. Inc.
Plumber
Acme Plumbing Co.
Brown Brothers Plumbing and Heating Company
Greene Hunt Inc.
Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
Cleaning Services
Ana’s Cleaning Services
Carpe Diem Cleaning
Lucie’s Home Services
You’ve Got Maids of Durham
Storage Facility
Ample Storage Center
Brassfield Self Storage
Public Storage
TROSA Moving and Storage
Truckin’ Movers
Moving Company
RCS Commercial Moving & Warehousing
TROSA Moving and Storage
Truckin’ Movers
Two Men and a Truck
Florist
Bluebird Meadows
Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary
Floral Dimensions
Ninth Street Flowers
Neighborhood
Garrett Farms
Hope Valley
Trinity Park
Watts Hospital-Hillandale
Woodcroft
Services
New Business
Gameday Men’s Health
Nanny Goat
Primrose Bar & Lounge
Steelo Salon
Veterinarian
Bahama Road Veterinary Hospital
Cornwallis Road Animal Hospital
Park Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care
Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital
Pet Boarding
Camp Bow Wow – North Durham
Creature Comforts Inn
Eno Animal Hospital
GoDog Durham
Park Veterinary Hospital & Urgent Care
Pet Grooming
Elliotte’s Pet Spa & Salon Inc.
Eno Animal Hospital
Livy’s Lavish Self Wash & Grooming
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Pet Sitting
Bull City Pet Care
Durham Cat Company
Kate’s Critter Care
Paula’s Pawsome Pets
Pet Training
All Dogs Durham
Always Pawsitive Dog Training
Pawsitive Empowerment
Whole Dog Institute
Car Wash
Autobell Car Wash
Bull City Car Wash
The RipTide Car Wash
Zips Car Wash
Auto Repair
Champion Tire & Automotive
Clayton’s Car Care
Neal’s Garage
Wasp Automotive
Insurance Agent/Firm
Allstate
Chuck Barham IV, State Farm
Herring & Bickers Insurance Agency
Debbie Leonard, State Farm
North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Group
Bank
Coastal Credit Union
M&F Bank
State Employees’ Credit Union
Truist
Accountant
Anthony F. Armento, CPA, PC
Balentine & Borg, PLLC
Thomas, Judy & Tucker, PA
WTB and Associates Inc.
Financial Advisor/Investment Firm
Fidelity Investments
Kuhn Advisors
Morgan Stanley
Sycamore Financial Planning
Lawyer – Civil Litigation
The Banks Law Firm, PA
Kennon Craver, PLLC
Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Carlos E. Mahoney, Mahoney Law
Lawyer – Criminal Defense
Jerry B. Clayton, Clayton and Myrick, PLLC
Cole Williams Law
Frasier & Griffin, PLLC
The Law Office of Julian M. Hall
Lawyer – Civil Litigation
The Banks Law Firm, PA
Kennon Craver, PLLC
Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Carlos E. Mahoney, Mahoney Law
Lawyer – Criminal Defense
Jerry B. Clayton, Clayton and Myrick, PLLC
Cole Williams Law
Frasier & Griffin, PLLC
The Law Office of Julian M. Hall
Lawyer – Family Law
Tymus Beverly, PLLC
Jill E Burton & Associates
Ellis Family Law
NicholsonPham Law
Lawyer – Estate Planning
Dori J. Dixon, Southpoint Estate Planning
Ellis Family Law
NicholsonPham Law
McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson & Hinkle, PLLC
Walker Lambe, PLLC
Lawyer – Personal Injury
Bentley Law Offices, PA
Frasier & Griffin, PLLC
The Law Offices of Harding and Andrade
The Law Office of James E. Rogers, PA
Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, PA
Carlos E. Mahoney, Mahoney Law
Music Instruction
Bull City Music School
Harmony Music Studios
High Strung Violins & Guitars
Notasium
Child Care
Growing Legacy Early Learning Center
Kidz Kamp Drop In Care
Little Hikers Preschool
Primary Colors Early Learning Center
Summer Camp
Barriskill Dance Theatre School
Camp Riverlea
Major Minors
Schoolhouse of Wonder
Hotel/Bed-and-Breakfast
21c Museum Hotel
The Durham Hotel
Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Event Planner
Bull City Blossom Events
Events by Rebs
Imagery Events
Washington Duke Inn Events
Event Rental Company
American Party Rentals
Hamer’s Props & Party
Marsh’s Rentals
Triangle Party Rentals
Professional Photographer
Carolyn Scott Photography
Fifty Two Hundred Photo
Nikia Williams Photography
RTP.Studio/Kevin Seifert
Videographer
Big Dog Little Bed Productions
Fifty Two Hundred Photo
NS Media Group
Wil Weldon
Tattoo Shop
Creative Tattoo Service
Dogstar Tattoo Company
Kings Avenue Tattoo
Welcome Tattoo
Health & Wellness
Fitness Facility
The BodyGames Center
Burn Boot Camp South Durham
Duke Health & Fitness Center
Revel
Sports Club
Bull City Run Club
Durham Queer Sports
Forge Fencing
Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club
United Thai Boxing & MMA
Yoga/Pilates/ Barre Center
InsideOut Body Therapies
Neighborhood Barre – Durham
Recess Yoga Studio
Virge Yoga
Yoga Off East
Hair Salon
Steelo Salon
Rock Paper Scissors
Willow Hair Studio
Posh The Salon
Wavelengths Salon
Nail Salon
Bliss Nail Bar
B.Jordyn Nails
The Haven Beauty
Posh Nail Spa
Spa
Beem Light Sauna Durham
Bella Trio Salon & Spa
The Retreat
Sauna House
Dermatologist
Dr. Garrett S. Bressler
Dr. Brooke Jackson,
Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates
Dr. Payvand Kamrani,
Aesthetic Solutions
Dr. Jeffrey Scales,
North Carolina Center for Dermatology
Acupuncturist
Julie Barefoot, Duke Integrative Medicine Center
Dancing Qi Acupuncture
Dr. Christi De Larco, Piedmont Acupuncture Healthcare
Ping Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic
Janet Shaffer, Duke Integrative Medicine Center
Massage Therapy
Auroraflow
Bloodstone Spa & Shoppe
Durham Community Bodywork
Fuzion Professional Massage Therapy
The Retreat
Therapist
Insight Counseling Center, PLLC
Mathews Counseling
Therapy Smarts
Waypoint Counseling & Maternal Wellness
Audiologist
Better Hearing Rehabilitation Center
Duke Otolaryngology
Hearing Health Care Services
North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat
Chiropractor
Bella Vita Chiropractic
Ignite Wellness Chiropractic Center
Dr. David Martin,
Precision Chiropractic
Dr. Tamika Sims,
Functional Restoration Chiropractic
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon
Aesthetic Solutions
Gunn Plastic Surgery Center
Dr. Jeffrey S. Jelic, Jelic Center
Dr. Julie Ann Woodward, Duke Aesthetic Center
Optometrist/Ophthalmologist
Academy Eye Associates
Duke Eye Center
Dr. Tonica Johnson,
Eye Physicians & Surgeons of Durham
Rosenstein Vision Center
General Dentistry
Bull City Smiles
Bull City Dental
Croasdaile Dental Arts
Desiree T. Palmer, DMD, PA & Associates
Sunrise Dental of Durham
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Jeffrey S. Jelic, Jelic Center
Dr. Debra M. Sacco, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Dr. Adam D. Serlo, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Dr. Brian Vandersea, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Orthodontist
Dr. Gavin Heymann, Smith & Heymann Orthodontics
King Orthodontics
Dr. Gina Lee, North Durham Orthodontics
Dr. J. Dempsey Smith, Smith & Heymann Orthodontics
Endodontist
Dr. Linda G. Levin, Levin Endodontics
Dr. A.K. Bobby Mallik
Dr. Roger A. McDougal, McDougal Endodontics
Ritter Endodontics
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Erica A. Brecher, Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Robert T. Christensen, Durham Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Dr. Jenny Citineni, Smile First Dental
Dr. Amy C. Davidian, Southpoint Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Martha Ann Keels, Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry
Prosthodontist
Dr. Geoffrey R. Cunningham, Durham Prosthodontics
Dr. R. Kyle Gazdeck, Durham Prosthodontics
Dr. Mark S. Scurria, Triangle Restoration Dentistry
Tar Heel Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
Periodontist
Dr. Ellie Bash
Dr. Arnold Todd McClain
Periodontics and Dental Implants of North Carolina
Dr. Samantha Robles
Tar Heel Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
Arts & Entertainment
Dance Studio
Barriskill Dance Theatre School
Davis Dance Company
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Ninth Street Dance
Venue for Community Theater
Carolina Theatre
Hayti Heritage Center
Mettlesome
Reynolds Industries Theater, Duke University
Venue for Live Music (Large)
American Tobacco Campus Amphitheater
Carolina Theatre
Durham Central Park
Durham Performing Arts Center
Venue for Live Music (Small)
The Blue Note Grill
The Fruit
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
Museum of Durham History
Museum of Life and Science
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
North Carolina Central University Art Museum
Event Space
Carolina Theatre
The Cookery
Durham Central Park
Museum of Life and Science
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Group Outing
Crafts & Drafts NC
Durham Bulls
Durham Farmers Market
Durham Performing Arts Center
Frog Hollow Outdoors
Family Outing
Durham Bulls
Eno River State Park
Museum of Life and Science
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Xtreme Park Adventures
Festival
American Dance Festival
Beaver Queen Pageant
CenterFest
Festival for the Eno