Alley Twenty Six

This is a very nice lounge featuring true craft cocktails. They have a huge array of house-​made syrups, juices, infusions, and other potions. I’d love to get behind their bar and just play and experiment for a while. They rotate the menu fairly regularly, so don’t get addicted to any single cocktail because it may not be on the menu next time you go (sniff, Corpse Reviver #26). It’s possible they’d make one for you if you asked, but I haven’t tried. On a recent visit, I enjoyed the Mexican Herbalist, made with jalapeño-​hibiscus tequila and the Jeune Approaches, made with rum, fruit, and bitters. Drinks range from about $ 10 to $ 13. They really do focus on their mixology, so the snack menu is extremely limited. They have as good a bar program as Bar Virgile (maybe a bit better), but at BV you have their tasty food options. I like that this is another vintage building downtown that’s been reclaimed and repurposed, but the design is a little upscale-​generic and doesn’t have the distinctive, enveloping ambience you can find at other downtown hooch houses such as Bar Lusconi, BV, and Arcana.
They mix a darn fine cocktail, though.

Worth it for a nice date or special evening, but for me, not a regular hangout. Cocktails are well made, but at almost-​big city prices, I’d love a vibey atmosphere to go with them, and unfortunately, it’s pretty run-​of-​the-​mill. If you catch the live jazz (on Friday nights maybe?), it makes for a cool place to drift into a haze with your drink — you know, the nights where the conversation isn’t as important as the fact that you are, indeed, out and with people you love.
I find they do cold weather cocktails much better than warm, making this a cozy winter spot for me. If it’s warm out, I’d go for The Durham or Bar Virgile.
Pairs especially well with dinner across the street at Rue Cler.

Took 30 minutes to get a drink. On a slow night. Asking what the deal was I was greeted with a puzzled look and attitude. Get your service straight. You can do better. All you do is serve drinks, serve them well.

I tend to be a wine or bourbon drinker. This place inspires me to drink cocktails.

Great ambiance, and good drinks. Live music was nice here on a Friday night. Cool spot to hang out, especially when it’s not too packed (seems rare).

Great place for delicious upscale cocktails. The bartenders take their time perfecting your drink for you. It has a fancy dim lit inside area with an alley outside with tables for seating. Some of the best mixology drinks in the area by far!

This feels like a very fancy bar, and it is. I brought my out of town friend here because he said, «I want a fancy drink.» He ordered something off the menu, I think it was fruity. I ordered my go-​to beverage of choice, a French 75. (I’m not going to lie, I started drinking it after I read it in the Grub Street food diary of a magazine editor. My fave food diary is the fashion editor Anne slowey who eats nothing but vitamins for breakfast, and that chick from What Not to Wear that eats a handful of almonds for lunch because she’s on the paleo diet). Anyway, it was almost served to me without the requisite lemon peel garnish, but another bartender intervened and quickly added it before it was placed before me. I wouldn’t have complained either way, but it shows you how attentive to their guests they are.
We also ordered the pimento cheese and crackers, which is also served with a pepper jelly. Both are apparently house made, and I recommend schmearing both on one piece of bread — a little sweet, a little spicy, very nice. I asked, and the bread is apparently from loaf.

We stopped in last night and had a few cocktails and the pickle plate. The cocktails were nice (especially the Mexican herbalist) but the pickle plate really stole the show. Our plate had pickled green apple, green beans, cherries, peaches, egg, and bread and butter style cucumbers, they were all awesome but I could probably eat those pickled green apple slices forever with all things.
Go here! Eat pickles!

When it comes to cocktails, I am a traditionalist. Give me a gin and tonic, an Old Fashioned or a Rye Whiskey — neat.
When it comes to cocktails, this place is on point and competes with some of the best in Philly and DC.
The only thing keeping this from being a 5-​star review is the absurdly slow service. I get that craft cocktails are an art but pouring water isn’t. Waiting 5 minutes after asking for a refill of tap water is just silly.
Also, the vibe got a little bro-​y after 8 on a Thursday but I suppose that can’t be helped.

Definitely check out this place! We happened upon it accidently (it’s in an alley after all) and are so glad we did! We landed a table outside before dinner had all got amazing cocktails. The server was very knowledgeable and very helpful in helping us each decide what we wanted. The inside décor seemed very nice as well! Definitely plan on checking this place out again!

Checked out the Alley while on a recent food tour of Durham. Didn’t try much, but what we did was excellent. Partook in the pimento cheese and crackers with pepper jelly, as well as an off-​menu house gin and tonic. Pimento cheese was on point, «crackers» (aka toasted baguettes) provided crunch, and the pepper jelly added mild zip rounding the local favorite. Gin and tonic was perfectly crafted by our friendly and talented mixologist. Laid back, low-​key, pre-​prohibition style cocktail bar boasting artisan cheeses, cured meats, small shareable plates, and plenty of wine, beer, and adult beverages extremely complimentary of this somewhat hidden gem in downtown Durham. Highly recommended.

One of the great hidden places in Durham. It’s a relatively small lounge area with great relaxing atmosphere (low lighting) serving small eats/​plates and specialty cocktails. The bartenders were very attentive and made great drinks. We also ordered a mix plate of prosciutto, gouda cheese, and chicken liver mousse served with toasted baguette. The food was great and since the place doesn’t have a full-​sized kitchen, the bartenders slice the cured meats and cheeses behind the bar. It was nice to see them prepare the plate in front of you.
It’s a good place to visit if you want a relaxed/​peaceful night to unwind and chat with friends. They do have couches near the entrance and a few tables if you want to sit with a group. If you are a fan of special cocktails and don’t mind the price (cocktails are $ 10+) at a relaxed atmosphere, Alley Twenty Six is a great place to visit.

Look if you come to Durham from any major city… you come here. Craft cocktails with some nifty foodie treats. This place combats the hardcore suburban feel of research triangle. The people are real and service is excellent! Prices are about $ 10, not bad.
Mmmm…Mexican Herbalist!

It was ok. Drink wasn’t as balanced as it could have been. It was a sunday, so it could have just been on the slow side…

On a cold Thursday night, a group of three girls met up here for cocktails. After choosing a table and being waited on everything seemed to be going well. It was a slow evening and Alley Twenty Six seemed to have plenty of staff on hand, however our experience was not so. In a tiny bar like this, with low lighting, $ 10-​$ 15 cocktails, five or so canned beers and maybe a handful more wines in stock, you’d think the service would set it apart, but alas we were neglected and perhaps even shunned? One of our small plates never came and we had to re-​order it at the bar, water glasses weren’t provided until requested, and second ordered were never asked for. While the initial encounter of a server seemed to indicate that we would be waited on, our countless trips to the bar told us otherwise. For a low-​key Thursday night from 7−9pm, it was an unfortunate experience and once I won’t be rushing back for.
I ordered two cocktails, a bourbon spiced apple hot tottie and the Green Isaac’s Special (gin, coconut water, lime juice, sugar & Angostura bitters). The Green Isaac’s Special was definitely the highlight between the two, although I couldn’t help thinking, «I think I could make this at home», which immediately leaves a disappointed feeling in my stomach, especially when you’re paying over $ 10 a drink. My take on Alley Twenty Six is seat at the bar if you want to be waited on regularly, come in the summer when you can enjoy the ALLEY in the back, and don’t stare at the odd furniture/​couches and cushions for too long, there is a reason the place had low lighting.

Interesting cocktail menu and ingredients, but the drinks are always prepared a bit too strong for my taste and overwhelm any of the cool flavor notes that I could get from the ingredients list of that drink.
The meat and cheese plates are excellent and curated very well.

Having checked out this place a couple times now, I feel like I know it well enough to leave a review. I really like the atmosphere at Alley 26 and what they have done with the space. Initially it feels a little tight when you walk in, but as you go towards the back, it’s nice seeing the larger open area with tables along the wall for seating.
The drinks are delicious, and while some over others are a little pricey, they are very chic with a sophisticated fell. I loved the Vieux Carré which has both rum and cognac — legit, strong, manly and oh so good. The giant ice cube, hence the name, is pretty unique. I also had the Officer’s Pub, served with fizzed egg whites, was also super good — tasty, with just the right amount of lemon tart, and not too sweet. I highly recommend those two cocktails!
The service was fairly fast and the bartenders seemed pretty amicable as well. It can get pretty busy in there, and therefore a bit muggy. With the crowd that builds up in there, the ventilation system could be improved a bit. But otherwise, great bar for the area and really helps drive the night scene in Downtown Durham.

I’m visiting home an my girlfriend says, let’s meet for a cocktail. This is where you go, because, you’re not going out to get smashed. Just one, perhaps two.
Alley Twenty Six has some beautifully balanced and presented cocktails. Perfect for accenting a social event. These are fancy cocktails for fancy money, in some comfy sofas!
Don’t come here looking for some named cocktail or that whiskey that is usually «top shelf,» because you’ll probably be disappointed. Do come with an open mind knowing the bartender likely designed the drinks and took a moment to share that with you.
Pretentious? Maybe, but you can eat a Krispy Kreme or go to Monuts. It’s all in the ingredients.

This is a really cute lounge/​bar in downtown Durham. It definitely has the speakeasy vibe in terms the drinks offered on their menu (but its not a speakeasy). I liked the selection of drinks– you can be adventurous with some of their signature cocktails or just enjoy a simple glass of wine or beer. The inside ambiance is very relaxing and dimly lit. It’s a good place to hang out if you want a low key night to unwind and chat with friends. They have seating at the bar or some comfy couches near the entrance if you want to sit with a group. Our server was really attentive and checked in with us often. One of my friends found that the cocktail she ordered was a bit too strong and he was happy to take it back to the bartender to adjust to her tastes or get her a new drink. Really nice! I can’t wait to come back.

Cute little venue. The interior doesn’t quite stack up to Whiskey, but the outside is super cute. I love the little alley with the tiny tables and tea-​lights.
I ordered «Felina»: Byrrh grand quinquina, fresh grapefruit, mescal, Zucca amaro, and angostura.
It was delightful. Smoky and refreshing all at once.
Although, I enjoyed my drink, I think I would pick Whiskey over Alley 26 if I happen to be downtown Durham.
But I sure wouldn’t kick it outa bed either…