INDY’s Best of the Triangle 2025: Durham County Winners

Triangle residents know the sight well: stars bearing the INDY logo lining walls, windows and websites of local businesses. For two decades, readers have identified their favorite restaurants, bookstores, dentists, elected officials and more in our annual INDY Best of the Triangle readers’ choice awards. 

In this section, you’ll find the winners for Durham County — a round-up of so many of the people, places, and organizations that make the Bull City special. Whether you’re deciding where to eat dinner, where to see art, or where to take your car for a tune-up, our readers’ top picks have you covered. We hope you’ll spend some time perusing them all.

Thanks to everyone who nominated their favorites and congratulations to all of the finalists, who will receive our coveted star decal and a poster to display. Wake County winners were announced back in April and next up we’ll share your picks for Orange and Chatham Counties. And stay tuned for a special print edition in December rounding up the Best of the Best across the Triangle.

Best Alcoholic Cocktails 

The Velvet Hippo

Runners up: Alley Twenty Six, Kingfisher

Best Bagel 

Isaac’s Bagels

Runners up: Monuts, Everything Bagels

Best Bakery 

Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant

Runners up: Loaf, Ninth Street Bakery

Best Barbecue 

Q Shack

Runners up: Picnic, QueDogs

Best Beer Retail Store 

Beer Study

Runners up: Durham Beer Garden, Growler Grlz

Best Biscuits 

RISE

Runners up: Monuts, Bojangles

Best Brewery (brewed locally)

Ponysaurus

Runners up: Fullsteam, Durty Bull

Best Brunch Restaurant 

Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant

Runners up: Vin Rouge, Grub

Best Hot Dog

QueDogs

Runners up: Kings, Alley Twenty Six, Dain’s Place

Best Burger 

Bull City Burger

Runners up: Queen Burger, Alley Twenty Six

Best Catering 

Dames Chicken & Waffles

Runners up: Succotash, Isaac’s Bagels

Best Cheap Eats 

Cosmic Cantina

Runners up: Queeny’s, Dain’s Place

Best Chinese Restaurant 

Shanghai

Runners up: Happy China, Hong Kong

Best Coffee Shop 

Cocoa Cinnamon

Runners up: Joe Van Gogh, Bean Traders

Best Desserts 

The Parlour

Runners up: Guglhupf, Sweets by Shayda

Best Draft Selection 

Beer Study

Runners up: Growler Grlz, DSSOLVR

Best Ethnic Grocery Store 

Li Ming’s

Runners up: Compare Foods, Al Taiba

Best Food Truck 

Chirba Chirba

Runners up: Lao Lao Food Truck, Gussy’s Food Truck

Best Indian Restaurant 

Viceroy

Runners up: Cheeni, Anjappar Chettinad Indian

Best Italian Restaurant 

Gocciolina

Runners up: Mother and Son’s, Cucciolo Osteria

Best Japanese Restaurant 

M Sushi

Runners up: Dashi, M Tempura

Best Late Night Meal (past 10 p.m.)

Queeny’s

Runners up: Cosmic Cantina, Alley Twenty Six

Best Mexican Restaurant 

Mezcalito

Runners up: La Vaquita, Fonda Lupita

Best Neighborhood Bar 

The Velvet Hippo

Runners up: Growler Grlz, Queeny’s

Best New Restaurant (within 12 months)

QueDogs

Runners up: Aaktun Coffee – Restaurant and Bar, Anjappar Chettinad Indian

Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks (not coffee)

The Velvet Hippo

Runners up: Alley Twenty Six, Da Kine’s Kava

Best Pizza 

Pizzeria Toro

Runners up: Hutchins Garage, Tomato Jake’s

Best Wine Retail Store 

Wine Authorities

Runners up: LouElla Wine Beer & Beverage, Hope Valley Wine

Best Seafood 

SaltBox Seafood Joint

Runners up: M Sushi, Locals Seafood

Best Small Plates/Tapas 

Mateo

Runners up: Juju Durham, Little Bull

Best Southern Food 

Succotash

Runners up: It’s a Southern Thing, Grub

Best Sushi 

M Sushi

Runners up: Shiki Sushi, Sake Bomb

Best Thai Restaurant 

Thai Cafe

Runners up: Thaiangle, Thai on Main

Best Vegetarian Eatery 

Pure Soul

Runners up: Viceroy, Banu Vegan

Best Wine List 

LouElla Wine Bar

Runners up: Killer Queen, Delafia

Best Wings 

Heavenly Buffaloes

Runners up: The House Restaurant, Tomato Jake’s Pizzeria

Best Wedding/Event Venue 

Museum of Life and Science

Runners-up: Duke Chapel, Bay 7

Best Alcohol-Free Venue 

Durham Farmer’s Market

Runners-up: The Scrap Exchange Gallery, Duke Chapel

Best Arboretum or Garden

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Best Bike Trail 

American Tobacco

Runner-up: Ellerbee Creek

Best Co-Working Space 

Durham County Main Library

Runners-up: Cocoa Cinnamon Lakewood, American Underground

Best Dance Venue 

The Fruit

Runners-up: The Velvet Hippo, Pinhook

Best Golf Course 

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Runners-up: Hillandale, Treyburn CC

Best Park 

West Point on the Eno

Runners-up: Durham Central Park, Duke Park

Best Hotel 

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Runners-up: Durham Hotel, 21c Museum Hotel

Best Hotel Lounge 

Rooftop at Durham Hotel

Runners-up: Washington Duke Inn, Unscripted

Best Karaoke Place/Event 

Pinhook

Runners-up: Ruby’s, The House Restaurant

Best Place to Take a First Date

Duke Gardens

Runners-up: The Velvet Hippo, Growler Grlz

Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner 

Duke Gardens

Runners-up: Durham Bulls Game, The Velvet Hippo

Best Place to People Watch 

Durham Farmers Market

Runners-up: Downtown Durham, American Tobacco Campus

Best Sports Bar 

Bull McCabe’s

Runners-up: The Boot Room, Durham Beer Garden

Best Summer Camp 

Schoolhouse of Wonder

Runners-up: Carolina Friends School, Piedmont Wildlife Center

Best Trivia Bar/Event 

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull

Runners-up: Tomato Jake’s, Growler Grlz

Best Preschool/Early Education Program 

Schoolhouse of Wonder

Runners-up: Carolina Friends School, First Environments Early Learning Center

Best Chef 

Carrie Schleiffer – Alley Twenty Six

Runners-up: Ricky Moore – Saltbox Seafood Joint, Oscar Diaz – Little Bull et al

Best DJ 

DJ Ayo VIP

Runners-up: DJ RNB, Jorden the DJ

Best Draft-Slinger

Tom Fisher – Queenys

Runners-up: Bear Bennett – Growler Grlz, Heather Atkins – DSSOLVR

Best Local Activist Group 

Bike Durham

Runners-up: NC Triangle Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Durham Association of Educators

Best Non-Profit 

TROSA

Runners-up: Independent Animal Rescue, Hope Animal Rescue

Best Kids Non-Profit 

Emily K Center (Emily Krzyzewski Center)

Runners-up: Schoolhouse of Wonder, Piedmont Wildlife Center

Best Reason to Love Durham County

Community

Runners-up: Diversity, Nida Allam

Best Local Band

Sylvan Esso

Runners-up: Bangzz, Zealotrous

Best Local Influencer

Naomi Dix

Runners-up: Bull City Political Nerd, Lynn MagikCraft Swain

Best Politician 

Nida Allam

Runners-up: Mayor Leo Williams, Nate Baker

Best Reason to Leave Durham County

Housing prices

Runners-up: to vote in a swing electoral district, Crime

Best Use of Public Money 

Durham Public Schools

Runners-up: HEART Program, Durham County Library

Biggest Waste of Public Money 

Charter Schools & Private School Tuition Vouchers from the GA

Runners-up: Sheriff’s Training Facility, Tesla Charging Stations

Best Barber Shop

Rock Paper Scissors

Runners-up: Great clips (homestead), Dennis Best Mens Hair Salon

Best Childcare

Schoolhouse of Wonder

Runners-up: Bright Horizons RTP, KIN Childcare

Best Chiropractic Practice

Carolina Pain & Performance

Runners-up: Precision Chiropractic – Dr. David Martin, Complete Chiropractic Sports & Wellness

Best Dental Practice

Durham Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Runners-up: Bull City Smiles, Sunrise Dental  Renaissance Parkway

Best Dermatological Practice

Triangle Dermatology

Runners-up: Duke Dermatology, Regional Dermatology

Best Gym

Duke Health and Fitness Center

Runners-up: YMCA Lakewood, Courage Fitness Durham

Best Hair Salon

Rock Paper Scissors

Runners-up: H2O Hair Salon And Spa, Culture Hair Studio

Best Holistic Medicine

Duke Integrative Medicine

Runners-up: Magiccraft Bull City Magic, Meridian Health Solutions

Best Massage Therapist

Hayley at Auroraflow

Runners-up: Michael Barriskill- Mindful Massage, Graham Wolfson Bull City Pilates and Massage

Best Pediatric Practice

Duke Pediatric Primary Care

Runners-up: Regional Pediatrics, UNC Pediatrics at Southpoint

Best Physical Therapy Practice

Bull City Physical Therapy

Runners-up: The Obstacle Doc, Bull City PT 

Best Spa

Blue Water Spa Brier Creek

Runners-up: Auroraflow, H2O Hair Salon And Spa

Best Dog Veterinary Practice

Eno Animal Hospital

Runners-up: Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital, Southpoint Animal Hospital

Best Cat Veterinarian

Eno Animal Hospital

Runners-up: Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital, Southpoint Veterinary Hospital

Best Women’s Health Practice

Chapel Hill OBGYN

Runners-up: Durham Women’s Clinic, Waypoint Counseling & Maternal Wellness

Best Yoga Studio

Blue Point

Runners-up: Virge Yoga, The Yoga District

Best Attorney 

Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

Runners-up: Payne Family Law & Mediation- PA, Nicholson Pham

Best Auto Mechanic 

Wasp Automotive

Runners-up: Massey Brothers Automotive, Lonnie’s University Auto Center

Best CBD/Head Shop 

MagikCraft Bull City Magic

Runners-up: Carolina Hemp Hut, Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary

Best Clothing Consignment 

Rumors

Runners-up: Scrap Thrift, Plato’s Closet

Best Dance Studio 

Ninth Street Dance

Runners-up: Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Davis Dance Company

Best Dog Boarding 

Eno Animal Hospital

Runners-up: Camp Bow Wow, The Pet Wagon

Best Dog Grooming 

Elliotte’s Pet Spa

Runners-up: Eno Animal Hospital, Woof Gang

Best Dog Training 

Pawsitive Empowerment

Runners-up: Whole Dog Institute, Coneflower Canines

Best Dog Walking 

Kate’s Critter Care

Best Dog Sitting

Go Dog

Runners-up: Kate’s Critter Care, Bull City Pet Sitter

Best Electrician 

Dynamic Electric (Sarah Fulcher)

Runners-up: Streamline Services, Obsidian Electric LLC

Best Florist

Ninth Street Flowers

Runners-up: Bowerbird Flowers, Covenant Creations Flowers

Best Game Store

Atomic Empire

Runner-up: Guildhall Games

Best HVAC Company 

Alternative Aire

Runners-up: Streamline Services, Comfort Monster Heating & Air

Best Insurance Company 

Mike Embree Insurance Agency

Best Jeweler/Jewelry Store 

Jewelsmith

Runners-up: Hamilton Hill, John David Jewelers

Best Landscaper 

TROSA Lawn Care

Runners-up: Agape Lawn Co., Bland Landscaping

Best Local Bookstore 

Regulator Bookshop

Runners-up: Golden Fig Books, Letters Co-op

Best Men’s Cothing Store

Scrap Thrift

Runners-up: Jos A Bank, Ascend Collection

Best New Business (within 12 months)

Aaktun Coffee – Restaurant and Bar

Runners-up: Daughters Coffee and Books, Club Era

Best Painters 

Zarazua Painting

Runners-up: Hansell Painting, Brush Up Painting

Best Real Estate Company 

Inhabit Real Estate

Runners-up: Fathom Realty, Jason Dalton & Associates

Best Realtor (individual’s name) 

Dara Shain

Runners-up: Marie Brockenbrough, Jarrett Jost

Best Place to Buy Locally Made Crafts/Art 

Durham Farmers Craft Market

Runners-up: Cecy’s, The Artisan Market at 305

Best Vintage Store 

TROSA Thrift Store

Runners-up: Gibson Girl, Durham Vintage Collective

Best Women’s Clothing Store

Scrap Thrift

Runners-up: Vert & Vogue, Rose & Lee

Best Art Gallery (art for sale)

Durham Art Guild

Runners-up: 5 Points Gallery, The Artisan Market at 305

Best Art Museum 

Nasher Museum of Art

Runners-up: 21 C, Historic Tuba Collection

Best Science/History Museum 

Museum of Life and Science

Runners-up: Museum of Durham History, Vincent and Ethel Simonetti Historic Tuba Collection

Best Comedy Club/Event 

Mettlesome

Runners-up: Durty Bull, The Monti

Best Theatre Company 

Durham Regional Theatre

Runners-up: Bulldog Ensemble Theater, Redbird Theatre Company

Best Music Festival

Festival for the Eno

Runners-up: Biscuits and Banjos, Slingshot

Best Drag Show/Event 

Vivica C. Coxx Music Bingo at The Velvet Hippo

Runners-up: Club Era House Cast, Cult Your Nights

Best Electronic Concert Venue 

The Fruit

Runners-up: Motorco, Rubies at Five Points

Best Unplugged Concert Venue 

Pinhook

Runners-up: The Fruit, Sharp 9

Best Film Theatre Venue/Event 

Carolina Theatre

Runners-up: Carolina Theatre-Full Frame Film Festival, Shadowbox Studio

Best Local/Regional Podcast 

Embodied

Runners-up: Artist Soapbox, Scene on Radio

Best Mural

Pauli Murray

Runners-up: DSSOLVR, Celebrate by Michael Brown (108 E. Main St.)

Best Radio Station 

WUNC

Runners-up: WXDU, That Station