Another year, another round of winners in the INDY’s much-imitated, never-replicated Best of the Triangle contest, where you tell us who’s the best of the best in our beloved region.
While Best of the Triangle has been running for two decades now, astute readers and INDY fans will notice that we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of presenting all winners in all categories, ranging from restaurants, bars, and yoga studios to hair salons, museums, and preschools, all at once, we’re running individual contests and presenting winners in different categories one county at a time—Wake, Durham, and Orange—now, we’re on Durham.
This year’s list of Durham winners, as voted by our readers, is a wonderful reflection of the community in Durham County and all that it has to offer. You could make a perfect local day—or several—out of dining at the restaurants, touring the parks and museums, and shopping at all the stores for which our readers cast their ballots. There’s so much else to do, too: catch a show, a play, or a movie at one of Durham’s premier venues, drop in at a bookstore, or support a local nonprofit.
Thank you for nominating and voting for all of your favorites! Congratulations to all of the finalists in Durham who will receive our coveted star decal to display in their windows. Winners will also receive a poster to display in their shop.
Look forward to learning our Orange County winners soon, and we’ll be celebrating all of our winners in all three counties in our special-edition paper in December.
Contributors: Lena Geller, Justin Laidlaw, Chase Pellegrini de Paur, Matthew Junkroski, Avery Sloan, Jane Porter
Best alcoholic cocktails
Runners-up: The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge, Kingfisher Durham
Best Bakery
Guglhupf Artisan Bakery and Restaurant
There’s a special ingredient that defines Guglhupf: memories of lovingly made food from south Germany. Since 1998, Guglhupf’s iconic bakery has brought in customers flocking to scratch-made baked goods. Try classics like the focaccia or the gugfruit tart, or try something new in the seasonal scones. Regardless of what you enjoy, we guarantee that even the most picky of eaters can find a nice spot to sit and enjoy Guglhupf’s fresh coffee. Whether you plan to stop in for a quick bite, or you need to get some work done, Guglhupf’s tranquil atmosphere and delicious food will be motivation enough to get out of bed in the morning. —MJ
Runners-up: Lutra Cafe and Bakery, Loaf
Best Catering
Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken
You know that feeling when you show up to an event having skipped dinner, but then you take a look at the buffet and wonder if the catered food will actually be edible? But then, your eyes widen and your mouth waters as you spot the Alpaca logo and smell the delicious pollo a la brasa–style chicken and finger-lickin’ sides, which wash away all your worries. With massive portion sizes and reasonable prices, there’s always plenty of food to go around. Alpaca is the ultimate event-worthy comfort food. —JL
Runners-up: Neomonde Mediterranean Durham, Full Street Wings Cafe
Best cheap eats
Climb the stairway to burrito heaven at Cosmic Cantina and venture into an intergalactic food experience that Durhamites have enjoyed for decades. Even after all these years, Cosmic promises a simple menu and good vibes, and it’s still one of the few restaurants where friendly drunkards and hangry nighthawks can find refuge after last call. —JL
Runners-up: Elmo’s Diner, Heavenly Buffaloes
Best Desserts
Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets
Runners-up: Guglhupf Artisan Bakery and Restaurant, Dulce Cafe
Best Ethnic Grocery Store
Runners-up: Compare Foods Durham, Al-Taiba Halal Market
Best Food Truck
If you answered the question posed on Chirba Chirba Dumpling’s website— “Were you born ready to eat dumplings right now?”—with “Yes!” then this is likely the food truck for you. Chirba Chirba—directly translating to “eat eat” in Mandarin—is appropriately named for a food truck that sells dumplings. The truck itself moves around the Triangle, with a calendar on its website. If using the truck tracker is too difficult, the truck itself is also bright yellow, making it hard to miss. Owner Nate Adams spent 14 years in Taiwan before founding Chirba Chirba and, according to its website, Chirba Chirba prides itself on using quality ingredients in an authentic Chinese style. —AS
Runners-up: Bulkogi Food Truck, Alsies Ice Cream Truck
Best Italian Restaurant
Runners-up: Mothers & Sons Trattoria, Cucciolo Osteria
Best Mexican Restaurant
Runners-up: NuvoTaco, Monterrey Mexican Grill, Michoacán Mexican Restaurant
Best Neighborhood Bar
Runners-up: Queeny’s, Growler Grlz, The Glass Jug Beer Lab
Best New Restaurant
Little Bull
Runners-up: Seraphine, Cheeni
Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks
It’s hard to imagine a better spot than the Velvet Hippo for going on a first date, having a night out with friends, or cradling a drink while gazing out over the rooftops of Durham. The over-the-top fauna theme transports patrons to a vacation in the heart of the Bull City, while menus for cocktails, small bites, and nonalcoholic options keep the vibes high. —CP
Runners-up: Alley Twenty Six, Kingfisher Durham
Best Small Plates/Tapas
As a non-denizen of Durham, it’s always a treat to check out the Bull City’s vibrant food scene. Too bad my family and I can’t seem to branch out much, because we inevitably return to our favorite Durham dining spot: Mateo. Then there’s the next challenge: narrowing down what to order from a long list of tapas and más tapas. A few stalwarts: the datiles—dates stuffed with goat cheese and serrano ham—is a sweet-savory combo that borders on dessert; the almejas, calamares fritos, and gambas al ajillo are perfect for the seafood lover; and the ensalada and remolacha provide a light touch alongside more filling fare. Or go and be adventurous: octopus, roasted bone marrow, squid, and head-on shrimp are also all on the menu. —JP
Runners-up: Little Bull, Juju Asian Tapas + Bar
Best Southern Food
Dining in at Lula & Sadie’s is lovely (particularly on Sunday mornings, during jazz brunch), but if you’re in a to-go kind of mood, here’s our recommendation: get to the restaurant an hour before sundown. Order the Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich (there are vegetarian and vegan options!) and get a lavender lemonade to drink while you wait. After you’ve secured the sandwich, go pick up some milk somewhere (this is because the sandwich is very spicy and you’ll need it, but it’s also a tribute to Lula & Sadie’s owner Harry Monds, who last month told the INDY that he “literally drink[s] a gallon” of milk “every two days”) and go to your scenic spot of choice. Eat the sandwich. Drink the milk. See God. —LG
Runners-up: Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar, Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen
Best Wine Retail Store
Runners-up: LouElla Wine Beer & Beverage, Hope Valley Wine & Beverage
Best Arboretum or Garden
Sarah P. Duke Gardens has 55 acres of specialized gardens, with attractions that include a carnivorous plant collection, terrace gardens, a pond-viewing shelter, and much more, seeing more than 600,000 visitors a year. With its location on Duke University’s campus that hosts camps and programs for young kids as well as events such as weddings, the Duke Gardens are a space for people of all ages. With both the natural cycle of nature on display and the celebratory cycle of major life events taking place, one could consider this a modern-day Garden of Eden—but with fewer apples and much less trickery. —AS
Runners-up: Beber Sculpture Garden
Best Golf Course
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Runners-up: Hillandale Golf Course, Croasdaile Country Club
Best Hotel Lounge
“Durham’s living room,” as it has been described, is like the bar in Cheers; all the staff remember your name, and seeing a familiar face is basically guaranteed. The music—often a blend of jazz standards, lo-fi beats, and classic oldies—is rarely suffocating but distinguished enough to perk your ears up and make you whip out the Shazam app. Grab a drink or a bite to eat and make yourself at home! —JL
Runners-up: 21c Museum Hotel Durham, Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Best Preschool/Early Education Program
Carolina Friends Durham Early School
Runners-up: Indigo Montessori School, First Environments Early Learning Center
Best Trivia Bar/Event
Runners-up: Hammered Trivia at Gizmo Brew Works, Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull
Best Chef
Carrie Shleiffer
Runners-up: Matt Kelly, Ricky Moore
Best DJ
Jorden the DJ
Runners-up: DJ Wicked, Fifi Hi-fi
Best Draft-Slinger
Tom Fisher at Queeny’s
Runners-up: Lauren Luke at The Glass Jug, Lindsey Helm at Growler Grlz
Best Kids NonProfit
Across the Triangle, there are few places more enthralling for kiddos than Durham’s Museum of Life and Science. Explore Apollo-era space artifacts or immerse yourself in the butterfly house. Meet black bears, lemurs, and resident red wolves. Tinker, take a train ride, or sound off in the Sound Garden. Open all day, seven days a week, it’s always a reliable option for parents who want to get their kids out of the house and give them something engaging. And because the Museum of Life and Science is a nonprofit, your support ensures that it will be enjoyed by generations of kids to come. —JP
Runners-up: Book Harvest, Schoolhouse of Wonder
Best Local Activist Group
Runners-up: People’s Alliance in Durham, Duke Graduate Students Union
Best Mixologist
Leslie Matista at The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge
Runners-up: Shannon Healy at Alley Twenty Six, Richard Marin at Kingfisher Durham
Best Politician
Nida Allam
Runners-up: Leonardo Williams, Nate Baker
Best Reason to Leave DURHAM County
NC Legislature
In North Carolina’s constitution, the legislature reigns supreme. From Tricia Cotham’s post-election party switch (which gave Republicans a supermajority to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto on a restrictive abortion law) to House Speaker Tim Moore’s case before the Supreme Court (in which he argued that the legislature should be allowed to gerrymander however the hell it wants without oversight from federal or state courts), the GOP-led General Assembly is a compelling reason to get out of the state. That said, there are a million reasons to stick around Durham—including hope for a better future. —CP
Runners-up: Gentrification, Construction/Traffic
Best Reason to Love DURHAM County
Diversity
Runners-up: Culture, People
Best Use of Public Money
Durham Public Schools
Runners-up: Affordable housing, Durham County Library
Biggest Waste of Public Money
Tax Breaks for New Apartments that are not affordable
Runners-up: ShotSpotter, Parking
Best Childcare
Runners-up: Camelot Academy’s Nature Start School, Giggles and Smiles Playschool/Childcare
Best Chiropractic Practice
Runners-up: Bull City Family Chiropractic, Chiopractic Partners of Durham
Best Dental Practice
Durham Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
Runners-up: Sunrise Dental, Independence Park Dental Arts
Best Dermatological Practice
Regional Dermatology of Durham
Runners-up: Durham Dermatology Associates, Duke Pediatric Dermatology Patterson Place
Best Holistic Medicine
Duke Integrative Medicine Center
Runners-up: Bionic Health, Meridian Health Solutions
Best Massage Therapist
Kim Turk at Duke Health & Fitness Center and Duke Integrative Medicine
Runners-up: Hayley Ware at Auroraflow, Heidi Barg at Bella Trio Salon+Spa
Best Veterinary Practice
Runners-up: Park Veterinary Hospital and Urgent Care, Urban Tails Veterinary Hospital
Best Clothing Consignment
Pennies For Change Thrift Boutique
Runners-up: Rumors Durham, MODE Consignment Boutique, Plato’s Closet
Best Dance Studio
Runners-up: American Dance Festival Scripps Studios, Fred Astaire Dance Studio
Best Dog Boarding
Runners-up: Eno Animal Hospital, Page Point Animal Hospital and Pet Resort
Best Dog Grooming
Runners-up: Eno Animal Hospital, Livy’s Lavish Self Wash & Grooming
Best HVAC Company
Runners-up: Maynor Service Company, Comfort First Heating/Cooling
Best Insurance Company
Runner-up: Debbie Leonard at State Farm, The Sorgi Insurance Agency
Best Local Bookstore
In a world of constant change, the Regulator Bookshop is one of several comforting stalwarts of continuity on Ninth Street. Founded nearly 50 years ago by lefty young folks, the Regulator comes from the same progressive seeds as the INDY. Through the decades, the shop has hosted speakers from Margaret Atwood to Al Gore and continues to draw in both longtime Durhamites and out-of-town strollers taking their first walk down Ninth Street. —CP
Runners-up: Golden Fig Books, Letters Bookshop
Best New Business
Runners-up: Durham Beer Garden, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room
Best Place to Buy Locally Made Art
Runners-up: Cecy’s Gallery & Studios, The Artisan Market at 305
Best Vintage Store
TROSA Thrift Store and Donation Center
Runners-up: Gibson Girl Vintage, Dolly’s Vintage
Best Art Museum
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Whether it’s your first trip or your fifth, there’s always something new to find in the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. The Nasher focuses on contemporary art and prioritizes works by historically underrepresented artists who may traditionally be excluded from the art world through a vast non-Eurocentric collection you won’t see anywhere else. But beyond the Nasher’s incredible permanent collection, it has curated and presented countless exhibitions, some of which have traveled worldwide. Alongside a diverse collection and rotating exhibitions, the Nasher features programming throughout the year, ranging from regular events such as family days to unique ones such as dance exhibits or gallery talks. There are few other museums that offer as much as the Nasher does, all for free. You might as well take that next Nasher trip soon. Who knows what they’ll have in store? —MJ
Runners-up: 21c Museum Hotel Durham, The Durham Art Guild
Best Drag Show/Event
The House of Coxx is called “Durham’s local drag family” for a reason. For over 10 years, the House of Coxx has helped Durham’s drag community flourish with programming including traditional themed drag shows, comedy nights, and trivia nights—though this only scratches the surface of what the House of Coxx offers. Between beautiful outfits and spectacular performances, you won’t regret attending one of the House of Coxx events. Vivica C. Coxx, creator and mother of the House of Coxx, strives to create drag events for everyone to enjoy, from the young to the old. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, the queens and kings of the House of Coxx will put on a performance you aren’t soon to forget. —MJ
Runners-up: The Pinhook, The Pink Triangle
Best Film Theatre Venue/Event
Built in 1926, the Carolina Theatre is a historic building that has adapted to the calls of a modern time. The theater balances showings of blockbuster movie releases with local cultural events such as the Full Frame Festival. Theater visitors should get there early and spend a few minutes walking through the lobby’s exhibit on the Carolina Theatre’s own history, including the protests against segregation in the 1960 that happened outside its famous box office. —CP
Runners-up: Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Hayti Heritage Center
Best Local/Regional Podcast
Around the time Due South launched last fall, Jeff Tiberii, who cohosts the daily WUNC show with Leoneda Inge, told the INDY that the show would be “reliable, not predictable.” “We’re trying to zag a little bit,” Tiberii said, “and we want people to zig.” Due South’s win in this Best Of category (after just eight months of being on the air) suggests that the people have, indeed, zigged. Veteran reporters Tiberii and Inge make it easy: whether they’re augmenting a top-of-the-hour news item with regional context or spotlighting Southern arts and culture, their stories always feel timely, thorough, and fresh. —LG
Runners-up: Embodied, Criminal, Discover Durham
Best science/history Museum
Runners-up: Museum of Durham History, Bennett Place
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