The Garden Apartment Guide
Groceries
A quick list of local grocery stores and markets in the immediate area.
You don't have to be a member. Amazing wine selection, and good prepared food options.
52 locals recommend
Durham Co-op Market
1111 W Chapel Hill StYou don't have to be a member. Amazing wine selection, and good prepared food options.
Greenway trail leads straight to it! Closest grocery store to the apartment, 0.9 miles.
73 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
2107 Hillsborough RdGreenway trail leads straight to it! Closest grocery store to the apartment, 0.9 miles.
Harris Teeter
2107 Hillsborough RdLocated in the heart of 9th Street, open 24 hrs.
Parkers beware: it's always crazy here! Every Tuesday night is pizza and pints, with $2 cheese or pepperoni slices, and $3 pints all day! Directly across the street from East Campus.
199 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
621 Broad StParkers beware: it's always crazy here! Every Tuesday night is pizza and pints, with $2 cheese or pepperoni slices, and $3 pints all day! Directly across the street from East Campus.
A Durham institution! Vendors include local creameries (Boxcarr, Celebrity Dairy, Chapel Hill Creamery), myriad farms (Harland Creek is my fave), Mead and Cider purveyors, fresh flowers, and delicious local and organic meats, poultry, and eggs (be sure to check out Fickle Creek Farm for odd cuts). Open Wednesday from 3pm-6pm and Saturday mornings from 8am-noon.
106 locals recommend
Durham Farmers' Market
501 Foster StA Durham institution! Vendors include local creameries (Boxcarr, Celebrity Dairy, Chapel Hill Creamery), myriad farms (Harland Creek is my fave), Mead and Cider purveyors, fresh flowers, and delicious local and organic meats, poultry, and eggs (be sure to check out Fickle Creek Farm for odd cuts). Open Wednesday from 3pm-6pm and Saturday mornings from 8am-noon.
Eats
Durham is known for its amazing restaurants! Here are just a couple of my personal favorites, from fancy pants to delivery and, of course, tacos.
Federal
914 W Main StCozy gastropub with ambiance and delicious beers on tap.
Right up Guess Road in an unassuming strip mall is an amazing Italian place! Make a reservation; it's a small dining room and they fill up quickly.
39 locals recommend
Gocciolina
3314 Guess RdRight up Guess Road in an unassuming strip mall is an amazing Italian place! Make a reservation; it's a small dining room and they fill up quickly.
Downtown favorite with fresh pasta and inspired dishes. Amazing wine list and an enviable selection of amaro.
31 locals recommend
Mothers & Sons Trattoria
107 W Chapel Hill StDowntown favorite with fresh pasta and inspired dishes. Amazing wine list and an enviable selection of amaro.
UH-MAZING tapas! Grab a seat at the bar for the real experience.
103 locals recommend
Mateo Bar de Tapas
109 W Chapel Hill StUH-MAZING tapas! Grab a seat at the bar for the real experience.
Unpretentious bar with delicious burgers, sandwiches, and tots. Late night wings from Heavenly Buffaloes, too. Great for watching the game--but if you don't like the Philadelphia Eagles, watch out!
21 locals recommend
Dain's Place
754 9th StUnpretentious bar with delicious burgers, sandwiches, and tots. Late night wings from Heavenly Buffaloes, too. Great for watching the game--but if you don't like the Philadelphia Eagles, watch out!
Good for quick eats before a show at Motorco, but people also love the patio and beergarden area in the spring/fall/summer for group hangs. Highly recommend the banh mi and udon salad.
20 locals recommend
Parts & Labor
723 Rigsbee AvenueGood for quick eats before a show at Motorco, but people also love the patio and beergarden area in the spring/fall/summer for group hangs. Highly recommend the banh mi and udon salad.
If you want delivery, Randy's is the jam. Their pizza is NYC style and delicious. Good calzones too.
14 locals recommend
Randy's Pizza
4810 Hope Valley RdIf you want delivery, Randy's is the jam. Their pizza is NYC style and delicious. Good calzones too.
Absolutely to die for French food. Try the creamed spinach. Amazing for brunch, too!
50 locals recommend
Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough RdAbsolutely to die for French food. Try the creamed spinach. Amazing for brunch, too!
Look for the giant cow on the roof! Tacos are great here, and tortas too. Check out the refrescos...delicious horchata and tamarind drinks.
21 locals recommend
Taqueria La Vaquita
2700 Chapel Hill RdLook for the giant cow on the roof! Tacos are great here, and tortas too. Check out the refrescos...delicious horchata and tamarind drinks.
Guanajuato
2103 N Roxboro StBEST TACOS. Salsa bar. Nuff said.
The Parlour
117 Market StReally really good ice cream. Try the Vietnamese Coffee.
Bars
Wine bars, breweries, and holes in the wall.
Where the locals hang out. Not much on the inside, but friendly bartenders and a great patio out back. They've got Fernet!
15 locals recommend
Accordion Club
316 W Geer StWhere the locals hang out. Not much on the inside, but friendly bartenders and a great patio out back. They've got Fernet!
An old friend--a literature professor--opened this underground bar a couple of years back. They have creative and delicious cocktails, and definitely sport a more date-y vibe. Tarot readings on most nights. All female staff, inclusive, LGBTQIA friendly.
19 locals recommend
Arcana
331 W Main StAn old friend--a literature professor--opened this underground bar a couple of years back. They have creative and delicious cocktails, and definitely sport a more date-y vibe. Tarot readings on most nights. All female staff, inclusive, LGBTQIA friendly.
Alley Twenty Six
320 E Chapel Hill StClassic cocktails made meticulously and well.
The food is fine, but the rooftop bar at the Durham Hotel is spectacular! Great drinks, awesome views.
18 locals recommend
It's a Southern thing
605 West Main StreetThe food is fine, but the rooftop bar at the Durham Hotel is spectacular! Great drinks, awesome views.
A Durham institution. Great brews, grilling and chilling areas for families, food trucks...the whole shebang.
112 locals recommend
Ponysaurus Brewing Company
219 Hood StA Durham institution. Great brews, grilling and chilling areas for families, food trucks...the whole shebang.
Great little wine bar. Fantastic selection, and more to take home!
10 locals recommend
LouElla Wine Beer & Beverage
316 W Geer StGreat little wine bar. Fantastic selection, and more to take home!
Super cozy wine bar with an incredibly knowledgeable bartender! Amazing collection of orange wine.
9 locals recommend
Bar Brunello
123 E Main StSuper cozy wine bar with an incredibly knowledgeable bartender! Amazing collection of orange wine.
Kingfisher
321 E Chapel Hill StThis basement bar is tropical and wonderful. The drinks are inspired!
Shopping
Do-dads, books, and records galore!
Parker and Otis
324 Blackwell StPerfect spot for buying a quick gift or a hilarious card.
Same owner as Parker & Otis, but a squeee-inch higher end. If you love design and buying stuff for your house, this will be your jam.
Chet Miller
118 W Parrish StSame owner as Parker & Otis, but a squeee-inch higher end. If you love design and buying stuff for your house, this will be your jam.
Fantastic kid's store from the owner of Parker & Otis and Chet Miller, located in the 9th Street district.
Tiny
770 9th StFantastic kid's store from the owner of Parker & Otis and Chet Miller, located in the 9th Street district.
There's nothing in the world better than a good book shop, and this is a good book shop.
7 locals recommend
Letters Bookshop
116 W Main StThere's nothing in the world better than a good book shop, and this is a good book shop.
Durham's oldest bookstore. The friendly staff is happy to order whatever you want that they don't have. Great periodicals and journals section, too.
21 locals recommend
The Regulator Bookshop
720 9th StDurham's oldest bookstore. The friendly staff is happy to order whatever you want that they don't have. Great periodicals and journals section, too.
HUGE used bookstore hidden between an auto repair shop and a take out wings joint. Worth it.
Books Do Furnish a Room
1809 W Markham AveHUGE used bookstore hidden between an auto repair shop and a take out wings joint. Worth it.
If you like buying older or hard-to-find soul classics, this place might be dangerous for you. I personally have to limit my visits.
Carolina Soul Records
117 E Main StIf you like buying older or hard-to-find soul classics, this place might be dangerous for you. I personally have to limit my visits.
Chaz's Bull City Records
124 Hillsborough RdThe best independent record store in town. Chaz is awesome.
Gorgeous clothes by sustainable and eco-conscious designers, hand selected by an impossibly stylish husband and wife team.
10 locals recommend
Vert & Vogue
353 W Main StGorgeous clothes by sustainable and eco-conscious designers, hand selected by an impossibly stylish husband and wife team.
The ZEN Succulent
123 Market StBeautiful plants and gifts for your hipster friend.
Coffee
Walking distance from the Garden Apartment, just up Broad Street. All of the materials used at JVG are recyclable or compostable, and their beans are sustainably and ethically harvested.
43 locals recommend
Joe Van Gogh Durham
1104 Broad StWalking distance from the Garden Apartment, just up Broad Street. All of the materials used at JVG are recyclable or compostable, and their beans are sustainably and ethically harvested.
The first Cocoa Cinnamon, and still my favorite. Great outdoor patio, inventive drinks.
157 locals recommend
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StThe first Cocoa Cinnamon, and still my favorite. Great outdoor patio, inventive drinks.
This installation of Cocoa Cinnamon has more seating and fresh Churros!
157 locals recommend
Cocoa Cinnamon
420 W Geer StThis installation of Cocoa Cinnamon has more seating and fresh Churros!
Fantastic outdoor space for kids and families. Delicious coffee start-up from beautiful locals/parents.
Nolia Family Coffee
1004 Morning Glory AveFantastic outdoor space for kids and families. Delicious coffee start-up from beautiful locals/parents.
Outdoors
Great hikes along the Eno River and the old Cole Mill dam site.
13 locals recommend
Eno River State Park
6101 Cole Mill RoadGreat hikes along the Eno River and the old Cole Mill dam site.
You'll need to drive to this one, but one of my favorite hikes with fantastic views from the top.
37 locals recommend
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
625 Virginia Cates RdYou'll need to drive to this one, but one of my favorite hikes with fantastic views from the top.
Tons of great hikes in Duke Forest. I'm a big fan of the Piney Mountain Trail (check the AllTrails app for info and directions).
40 locals recommend
Duke Forest
North Carolina 751Tons of great hikes in Duke Forest. I'm a big fan of the Piney Mountain Trail (check the AllTrails app for info and directions).
Beautiful spot for walking, observing, picnicking, and smelling the flowers.
378 locals recommend
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson StBeautiful spot for walking, observing, picnicking, and smelling the flowers.
Great local playground within walking distance of the Garden Apartment, and tennis courts too!
7 locals recommend
Oval Drive Park
2200 W Club BlvdGreat local playground within walking distance of the Garden Apartment, and tennis courts too!