Alley Twenty Six

"If hot toddies are up your alley (pun intended), this is the spot to be. Last season owner Shannon Healy featured five toddies on the winter menu and plans to do something similar this year. Toddy flavors change regularly, so check Instagram to see what’s being poured, but the Persimmon Pudding hot toddy, a decadent cocktail made with persimmon syrup and topped with heavy cream, will be a regular all cozy season. Want to try to make any of the restaurant’s cocktails at home? The staff will print any recipe so patrons can try to recreate drinks at home." - Elliott Harrell

"Mixologist Shannon Healy teamed up with chef Carrie Schleiffer for a craft cocktail and food combination that is as unique as it is tasty. Healy’s cocktails are legendary and rotate seasonally, while Schleiffer’s menu includes blistered shisitos, cornmeal-fried oysters, and crispy pork belly. The famous Alley burger (a half-pound patty, truffle cheddar, bourbon bacon jam, chipotle aioli, and arugula) is always available, and those in the know ask for it to be foie’d (a generous chunk of foie gras stuffed right in the middle). A selfie with a burger and a cocktail in the actual alley is a downtown Durham bucket list item." - Matt Lardie

"For cocktail lovers, this is a great place to stop in for something special. Alley 26 has a local focus, sourcing as much as possible from farmers in the Piedmont region in North Carolina. Stop in during colder months and cozy up their bar, or enjoy their alley patio when it’s warm. Our favorite? The Hurricane." - WillowTree Durham

"Alley Twenty Six, a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Bar in America, added a Sunday brunch to its schedule, complete with signature cocktails. Pillowy beignets, an Alley breakfast plate (eggs, choice of meat, toast, and home fries), and eggs Benedict are some of the offerings. The Jersey roll (Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese) is a nod to chef Carrie Scheiffer’s New Jersey roots, and the Fat Elvis (fried banana, bacon, Nutella, and peanut butter sauce on challah) is truly decadent." - Matt Lardie

"Durham’s Alley Twenty Six was a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for best bar in the United States, and with a list of innovative cocktails from owner Shannon Healy paired with a menu of shareable small and large plates from chef Carrie Schleiffer, it's easy to see why. Tucked away at candlelit tables, diners can mix and match dishes to pair with cocktails for the perfect date night, or go big with one of the Bull City’s most talked-about burgers, the Alley burger (add foie gras for a decadent evening out)." - Matt Lardie