Rose L.
Yelp
Durham has become the new hot spot for little bars opening up and trying to attract the late night crowd. 106 Main is one of these spots and lucky for them it's survived so far. A bar spot located directly on Main Street, you can't miss the Christmas lights in the window, one block from The Pinhook, 106 attracts a grungy group of regulars. We walked in on a Saturday evening about 7pm and were kindly greeted and noted all of two other people at the bar (during our stint, a total of six people besides us arrived). A little bar on the left side of the building is well lit and gives off a classy cocktail vibe compared to the dark couches, tables and chairs that surround the rest of the space with a huge tv centerpiece and scream grunge/sports bar. Two bartenders were staffing on the night we came in. While the taller was friendly and fairly personable, the shorter of the two was off-putting and even cut me off during a conversation we were having. Not a very hospitable move for a new bar.
With many cocktails to choose from ranging from $10-$11, I chose a the Negroni: a gin, vermouth, bitters and campari. It was very heavy on the campari and I wouldn't order it again (I am curious about the coffee martini!). I thought the balance between the drink prices, the style of the drinks and the feel of the bar didn't really vibe together. I was also surprised to discover that 106 Main doesn't have any beers on tap. Overall, I think 106 Main has a little ways to go to discover their identity.