Aaktun Coffee, Restaurant and Bar

The food at Aaktun is phenomenal—I’ve been three times now and every dish has been outstanding. That said, the music (especially with the live DJ thats been there at every dinner) is consistently way too loud. It makes it hard to have a conversation and even caused our server to miss part of our order this last visit. I’d love to keep coming back, but I really hope they reconsider the volume during dinner hours so the full experience can match the quality of the food.

This vibrant restaurant and bar offers an unforgettable experience — and it’s even a coffee shop! The eclectic atmosphere feels like you’ve been transported to a chic resort in Tulum, Mexico, with its stylish decor and lively vibe. The menu is bold and adventurous, blending a variety of spices and flavors that take your taste buds on a journey. The cocktails are just as exciting — creative combinations that deliver a burst of unexpected yet delightful flavors, all served in unique, eye-catching glasses that add to the fun. Our dinner was flawless; we sampled as much as we could and loved every bite. The ceviche was absolutely divine — fresh, zesty, and perfectly paired with crispy, golden plantain chips. Honestly, I could have made a meal out of just that! The Brussels sprouts were packed with flavor, and the Babette Saltado was an explosion of savory goodness. Don’t skip dessert — the churros were perfectly crisp, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and absolutely worth saving room for. Whether you’re planning a date night, a casual evening out with friends, or just want to enjoy a lively dining experience, I can’t recommend this spot enough!

Delicious food and great service! Everything was fresh and flavorful. Our server was really attentive and polite as well. The lunch atmosphere was so cool and full of light. It's a trendy restaurant, but it wasn't too loud or sterile. I especially liked the Mama Fresa, which had the perfect amount of sweetness. There is a counter for just cafe drinks and snacks out front and a parking lot in the back that fills up quickly. Looking forward to going back and trying the other dishes.

This place is superb! Like an oasis in your backyard! The food is delicious, the vibes are always vibing, staff is consistently kind and professional and attentive…there’s nothing not to love about Aaktun! I’ve gone from 3 dinners a week here to lunches, to brunch and now it’s my go-to morning coffee spot! I reco their fish tacos, pan de bono pastry in the cafe, and ALL the lattes. Come for the food, stay for the playlist! Keep up the great work guys! 🌴✨🪩

I visited here with a friend for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. The decor and ambience were lively - there was a DJ playing some upbeat music. I couldn't have a conversation with my friend because of the music so we asked if we could sit outside. They were very kind and accommodating, and they found us a spot outside. Despite being busy, we received attentive service and great recommendations the entire time. We shared the Pan Y Butter, and I had the Tropical Passion mocktail, and the Shrooms Sando Combo sandwich with avocado and a side of tater tots. I was indifferent to the Pan Y Butter (no pic), but the drink was a great sweet/tart blend, and the sandwich was flavorful, fluffy, creamy, thick, and delicious. Overall a great experience. Would love to come back to try other things on the menu.

Cool great vibe! We sat in the little “cave” in the back. Although it was very nice to have an intimate seating for our party I noticed that whatever conversations were happening directly across from us we could definitely hear in hi-def lol. Would definitely come back for the drinks! Drinks 10/10 from coffee to cocktails. Bloody Mary was questionable maybe too much seasoning? Food depends on what you get. I think the concepts are great, there’s potential, but the execution on some dishes are lacking some flavor. Papaya salad was interesting. The carrots gave it some earthy flavor but not as pickled as we would’ve liked it. Hamachi Tataki 6/10 although good flavors, only had like 4 pieces for $22. Coco Ceviche 7/10 - could use more citrus Romaine Salad 6/10, although the flavor was good it just wasn’t enough for the romaine halves we got. Wish we had more Jerk chicken 6/10 didnt taste much jerk flavor. We did think it was very juicy. But felt it was just a rotisserie chicken. Our friend got the OG burger and said it was the best burger she got.

Now that I’ve had both the food and the coffee, I can say it’s a 5/5 for both! The atmosphere is great, the staff has been friendly, and the food is delicious! It’s definitely becoming a new favorite for me. I got a caramel latte with oat milk in the photos. I was the egg & beef patty breakfast sandwich in the other photo. The tropical cocktail is delicious (and sweet) as well.

We arrived around 1 pm on a Tuesday for lunch. We LOVED the atmosphere/interior design, feeling like a quick trip to the tropics of Mexico or PR. Loved the music. Loved our iced coffee drinks. Loved the pan y butter (tho overpriced). Snapper tacos were delicious and generously portioned. Chicken skewers were also delicious, tender, juicy, and flavorful. Both dishes were beautifully plated, especially the chicken. Servers were attentive and knowledgeable. Kitchen seemed a little slow, forgivable as it was kind of an "off" time. The atmosphere and ambience made it totally worth our time!

Outstanding ambiance to this place! The booths are such an awesome design which provide a measure of privacy and yet with decent acoustics to be able to hear your party talk. This place had a live DJ while we were there, music wasn't too loud where you couldn't carry on a conversation. Our server was chill and not pushy or rushing us to order. The food itself was top notch. It was flavorful with a nice presentation, decent portion size for the cost. Overall this place is up there for a date night or another special occasion.

PLEASE GO for the dinner experience. Every single thing on the menu was sooooo good. My cousin and I got the whole menu and just tried everything. Even the grilled romaine, which I was a little hesitant about, was SO good. Same with the ceviche, skewers, brussel sprouts and omg the main courses were AMAZING! One was steak (similar flavoring as brussel sprouts) then the other was salmon, shrimp, calamari in a coconut curry. A BOMB 10/10!!! Service was wonderful. It became a little bit of a joke bc I asked for the cocktail of the week and they were out, then I wanted prosecco and somehow they were out? But she took everything in stride bc the bar did seem unusually backed up. Wish I got the servers name bc she was great. The ambiance is soooo cute! Pictures included:) Almost perfect overall experience.

I visited Aaktun on a Saturday evening with some friends and had a great experience overall. The only downside was the parking. The lot next to the restaurant and nearby street parking were completely full, so I had to pay for parking at a nearby lot. Once inside, the atmosphere was beautiful--very well-designed with a Tulum-inspired, modern resort feel. Aaktun is a restaurant and bar with a separate coffee shop area (though I didn't try the coffee this time). Our server was friendly, attentive, and gave helpful recommendations. I ordered the Encocado del Mar, and it was fantastic. The salmon was perfectly cooked--moist and flaky with crispy skin--and served with a rich coconut tomato sauce. The dish also came with shrimp, calamari, collard greens, and rice, and everything was flavorful and well-portioned. Aside from the parking situation, I'd highly recommend Aaktun and definitely plan to come back--probably on a less busy night to avoid the crowds!

Excited that I finally got to try Aaktun! This is such a wonderful new addition to Durham's coffee shop / cafe scene. The front of the building is the coffee shop which is relatively small, but there's more seating in the back which is the sit-down restaurant. I got the Cafe de Olla Latte hot (traditional latte with Mexican coffee in a clay pot, cinnamon, and piloncillo), it was delicious! Also got the Vegetarian Totchos (fluffy scrambled eggs, tater tots, Portabello mushrooms, hot sauce)- so tasty & large portion size. There's a parking lot next to the restaurant, street parking, or on Ramseur & Newnan. Great spot to study, super aesthetic ambiance, fast service. 10/10 would recommend!

Visited again for dinner on a Friday and were able to get an outside table without a reservation! Food was excellent and service was quick and attentive.

Popped in late Friday morning. Grabbed the OG totchos and a cup of coffee. Totchos was ok. The sauce they slathered on was too much and overwhelmed everything else and left the whole pile soggy. Hot sauce was decent, avocado was good. Coffee was ok but not good enough to be $4. Staff was very nice.

The vibes are immaculate. This place is seriously so cool. It's giving tropical. It's giving Caribbean. It's giving brunch lounge. When you first walk in you'll see the tiny cafe but when you walk in to your left and down the hall you're greeted by an absolutely stunning dining room with live music (at least on 5pm on a Sunday anyway). They do all day brunch and I believe it's just on the weekends along with the dj show who was so much fun and freaking hilarious begging people to make requests. You could tell he was bored but still having a good time and interacting with the crowd every like, 20 mins telling people to make requests. "Total request live people!" For my follow millenials, IYKYK. Our server was a sweetie and the drinks were pricey but gorgeous. They also have an option to buy beers for the kitchen for $7 which is a great idea. Seems like a fun place to work. Highly recommend the bread and butter and the green curry mussels. My friend also had the grilled salad and vegetarian lomo saltado both of which she said were excellent. I ordered the pork belly which is skippable. The flavors were on point but the meat under the fat was on the dry side which I feel like shouldn't happen considering it's such a fatty piece of meat! So yeah, the veg and seafood dishes are great but skip the land animals haha. This place is perfect for brunch, dinner with a girlfriend, a baby shower in the outdoor area, or a cool date night. Being here just makes you feel happy. Def go for the atmosphere because it is a 10/10 in that regard.

I really enjoyed dining here. It's a little cryptic to find because you have to go through the cafe even in the evening when the cafe is closed. The ambiance is very modern and nature forward. It's great for pictures and capturing aesthetics. The customer service was good. Our waiter was knowledgeable and social. The food was delicious and creative. I enjoyed every dish. The ingredients were fresh and really did deliver a tropical feel. The plantain crisp on the bottom of the crab salad was the only thing I didn't love because it was in between soft and crunchy. I think that's the intention so it was just a preference. I'd 100% eat here again and recommend it to a friend.

Let me start out with saying we came on a Thursday night, and we had a 6:45 reservation. The space was very beautiful and well appointed with a beautiful bar. The food was good but I feel was overpriced for the quality. The service started off good and quickly became nonexistent, as the night went on the place became very busy and the wait staff couldn't keep up. We never even got one of our dishes but we said forget it bc it took so long to get the rest of the food we didn't want to wait any longer. The cocktails were very good and I think it would be a good spot for small plates and drinks with friends, if you can get a reservation, because you won't be able to just walk in and get a table without a considerable wait. I don't think I would recommend this place over several others that are far better for the price point.

What we loved most about this spot was the ambiance--hidden behind the coffee bar is a spacious, well-decorated area (complete with a dance floor on weekends!). The cozy decor, combined with large leafy plants (Oscar-style), created a warm and elegant atmosphere. The orange and green color scheme was surprisingly tasteful. We were seated as a group celebrating a friend's birthday, and the acoustics of the space made it easy to hear conversations across the table--a thoughtful design touch! Unfortunately, the food didn't impress us as much. While everything was tasty, the steep prices raised our expectations, and the dishes didn't quite deliver. The $19 burger was underwhelming (and nothing special or creative about it), the $40 steak lacked seasoning, and the $23 ceviche tasted almost identical to what's served at Mezcalito (not surprising)--except that it was maybe 1/4 the portion for the same price. Another thing about this place was the service was extremely slow when we were there. Our server was friendly and gave us a heads-up about the wait, but our dinner stretched from 7 PM past 10 PM due to long gaps between courses and the check. If you're considering this place for a first date, be careful because waiting this long could be so awkward if the chemistry is off! Though, would be a nice place for an intimate date night or relaxing dinner with close friends!! Overall, it's a beautiful space with great ambiance (5/5), but given the price(2/5), food quality (4/5), and slow service(2/5), it's not at the top of my list for a return visit.

I have been here for the cafe offerings but not the brunch/lunch options. I heard this place fully opened up over the past year here in Durham and had to give it a try. Overall it was good but definitely can be better. We specifically wanted the sandos and tots. We started off with the bread and butter and have to say that was a table favorite. Then got the vegetarian totchos and we liked how everything came together in this one (especially the sauce). Finally got the shrooms sando and although it was good it was very oily which we were not a fan of. Also we were expecting more to the sandwich from a spicy and/or flavor perspective which was missing. We also got coffee from there and I will say that was great. Atmosphere inside is great and really feels like you are stepping into a restaurant in another country. Staff was efficient and friendly. I will say our waiter took our dishes before we were finished with it and we didn't even have a chance to respond so be prepared. Prices for the sandos and tots are good but if you go for their main meals be prepared to pay a lot more. Parking is sparse so come a little early to find parking. Overall, I think this is a good cafe and would come back for the cafe offers. Unsure about the dinner options but may give it a try in the future for a special occasion.

Came for cocktails and stayed for live music! We were lucky to encounter their Cinco de Mayo celebration. Such a fun place with knowledgeable wait staff to give great recommendations on drink menu!

Amazing dinner! Can't wait to come here again! Came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. Made a 5 pm reservation. We were seated promptly by a friendly and very attentive staff. Ordered a few items from the menu and all were amazing! Service was emasculate. It seemed like we had multiple people attending to our needs and making sure everything was okay. But our main server showed extreme knowledge of the menu and gave great recommendations based on our food preferences/allergies. The space and ambiance is amazing. Such a pretty and upscale looking location and seating. Spacious and welcoming. Great music, semi loud but still able to hear conversation. Gives a party vibe.

Ambiance and the service a 10 out of 10 The food is good We made reservations because they are super busy on the weekends

This is a review for the coffeeshop not the sit down restaurant space: Consistently great coffee with high-quality, homemade-feeling sweeteners. The Barista does not cut corners in the presentation of the coffee no matter how busy it gets. It's the perfect spot for a quick breakfast--whether you're in the mood for a sandwich or a burrito, you can't go wrong. And definitely don't skip the side of tots. Outside seating is always blissful and their plant selection creates a warm ambiance.

This place is beautiful inside- I love the pink velvet seats and plants! The service was great- I was there with friends for a brunch and we didn't feel rushed at all. The waves latte I got was delicious, and there were many other drinks I would have loved to try, including mocktails. The food was good too- we all tried the tochos (breakfast nachos with tater tots)- and the portions were huge and very flavorful! I will definitely be back.

Ambiance - 5/5 (set apart) Quality and quantity of portions - 5/5 Service - 5/5. Came here as a party of 6 on a Sunday afternoon, and this spot did not disappoint! They recently opened and the space is BEAUTIFUL with greenery. The staff were super gracious, accommodating, and friendly. We had a baby with us and they immediately accommodated with tables and spacing. The food was so visually appealing and delicious! Our favorites (out of the park dishes) were the pan y butter and lomo soltado. They were bursting with flavors and perfectly cooked. We also got the Huli Huli Chicken Skewers, jerk chicken, Og burger, and Supreme Tochtos. We also got a handful of drinks. Everything was so delicious and aesthetically pleasing.

This place was amazing- I already want to go back! Ambiance was so cute, service was quick and great, and the food was out of this world! This breakfast sandwich in the challah bread was to die for!!!!

I haven't had their dinner yet but oh my goodness their breakfast sandwiches are absolutely amazing. I've had their classic blt sandwich that has this amazing sauce on it and I've had their chorizo breakfast sandwich and my lord they are good. I also had their Rosemary Brown Sugar Tea Latte that was perfect!

aaktun was a nice surprise!! i found it via ig ad, and we went for brunch. vibes are veryyyy cute, very ig worthy. i thought it would be more chill but it's very hype and almost clubby feeling LOL. food was pretty good, a little pricy for the portion sizes.. but everything was very flavorful and saucy. (the grits were super saucy, which i loved, but my boyfriend did not.)

SCREAMING BECAUSE THIS PLACE WAS FANTASTIC! As you walk in, you're greeted by a small cozy chic cafe that has an array of coffees, teas, and warm beverages with a small sitting area. Perfect for a quick drink or a morning meeting. Then around the corner down the ramp, is the vibrant speakeasy-esque dining room. The decor and set up was so appealing. The pink velvet booths were very quaint and comfortable. I ordered the Huli Huli chicken skewers, 10/10 well marinated and juicy. My friend ordered the tochos breakfast bowl which was hardy yet delicious! And the drinks.. very well crafted and worth the buy! I love this place and highly recommend!

Aaktun is a must-try for Durham brunch afficionados. My boyfriend and I had our lives changed today by the cafe's bacon egg and cheese. Light, fluffy eggs and crispy bacon are packed in a brioche roll and topped with a generous drizzle of Aaktun's special sauce. It's the definition of a hearty, buttery, indulgent sandwich. I would come back for that alone, but the coffee was also pretty good. I ordered an iced horchata latte and my boyfriend got a brown sugar marshmallow iced latte. Both were prepared quickly. I will note that Aaktun is not an ideal work environment (at least not on weekends). The music is loud and the hustle and bustle of the dining area make it a better place to socialize than to lock in.

Fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, good service, and reasonable prices. I would add real shrimp to the papaya salad for more protein. The scrambled eggs are the best ever!

Dropped in during their soft open and it was fun! The space is big, at the entrance you'll find a coffee bar but head to the left and you'll enter a tropical paradise and their main dining room. The space is very organic, curvaceous and a bit sexy. The main bar with white-red top and curves is beautiful. Plants are spread out throughout the dining room giving a jungle feel to the space. Menu is Latino-Asian, some killer items are the rolls with chili butter along with the shrimp toast (fried bao buns, shrimp-chive paste). The tiki cocktails are a ton of fun, featuring fruity flavors in a cool receptacle. My Conch Out was served in a large, ceramic conch, lovely. Overall I'm impressed with Aaktun is trying to do: coffee bar, cool space, dinner with tropical vibes. And from what I gather, they will be hosting live music coming soon! So enjoy the latest concept from Chef Oscar Diaz (Little Bull) Durham. I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised...

We came for brunch after seeing this place on Instagram. We just returned from a trip to Playa Del Carmen and Tulum, Mexico a couple of months ago. Having said that, this place really catches that Yucatán/Aztec/Mayan vibe you get when you visit that part of Mexico. Our server was friendly and so was the rest of the staff. It was our first time so she took her time to explain the menu to us. The food we got was really tasty although the portions seemed a bit small for the price. However, the flavor was great and you can tell that every detail has been thought out. We will probably be back again.

Very nice space and amazing dishes! I highly recommend the ceviche de coco and curried mussels. It's also a popular spot, so make sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

Walking into the place can be slightly disorienting. When you first walk in you are at the coffee counter where there are no tables. You just have to proceed to the Left where you are greeted by a beautiful bar, staff, plants and music! I went here as a part of my "trying new restaurants in Durham" adventures with my favorite person to do it with, Yah. The food was ridiculously and almost ethereally delicious (I know, a bit much). The cerviche that had the leche de tigre in it to offset the tartness, was delectable. The grilled chicken kabobs were sooooo succulent and charbroilled tasting! Thouroughly enjoyed the salmon dish and my friend had the beef dish. The services was great as well, our server Jazzy was energetic and knowledgeable, we were approached by the manager several times during the courses of our meals. He seemed very "amable y agradable". The ambiance was lively. Great music in the background. The drinks were beautiful and tasty. Their version of an Old Fashion is right on point. I really want to go back soon to get the pork belly.

Excellent coffee, service and atmosphere. The entire staff was also very friendly. Our server for coffee Sha was amazingly helpful and friendly explaining the menu. It's was our first visit and Sha's 1st day and my wife and I would have never known it was her 1st day, she was awesome. Our signature lattes were amazing. We did takeout, but also visited the dining room which had a great atmosphere. Ashley and Hadley were very friendly explaining the menu. We will definitely visit Alton again on our next visit to Durham NC.

Such a great vibe! We have been here 6 years and have been looking for a great spot for Sunday brunch. This is it! Service from greetings to ordering to attention was spot on. Food was great. Also loved they have lots of breakfast/brunch items but also full lunch items. We will be back! For those wanting intimate and quiet though inside may not be for you but they do have a great outdoors. DJ was great and playing very chill vibe playlist. Very pretty ambiance even the bathrooms.

I arrived at the restaurant on my birthday, just as they were opening. There's a charming little coffee shop in front, with a hallway off to the side leading to the actual restaurant in the back. We were the first customers, but the place quickly filled up. I enjoyed the decor - it had a low-key and fun ambiance. Our waiter was exceptional. He patiently explained the menu and was attentive throughout the evening. The food was outstanding. We ordered a couple of appetizers and main courses, and the portions were generous. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and the flavors were amazing. No doubt I will be back.

Aaktun has a fun atmosphere similar to its neighbor Mezcalito. We also heard they had fun drink options like their neighbor so stopped by for a drink and appetizer. We had the muli muli chicken skewers which were appropriate appetizer portions and seasoned well. For drinks we got the double barrell which came in a fun glass and a raspberry lemonade both were great and the double barrel can come as a mocktail if you want.

Came here for brunch and it was so cute! I love the decor and ambiance. Would recommend the hot cocoa too. The portion size is huge and very filling. I'm not sure if it's my favorite brunch spot and so will have to come back to try the dinner menu

Once again! Amazing experience! Service, food, overall experience---a WIN! Officially in my top 5!!!

Aaktun means "cave" in Mayan (which the waitress did know and she put up with my other nerdy questions because the service is great) and it definitely feels like a cave (but a beautiful one). I was not expecting for the restaurant to be so large and the ambiance for dinner is definitely intimate/romantic. All of the food that I tried was amazing with a great blend of different styles and flavors. The cocktails were also very good but very expensive for what you get. It's hard to not compare Aaktun to it's sister restaurant, Mezcalito, next door which also has great food and very large cocktails. Both are great but have very different vibes. Mezcalito is where you go with all your friends and family to celebrate a birthday; Aaktun is where you go to celebrate your anniversary. I have heard people rave about their coffee and breakfast sandwich so those are on my list to try as well.

I loved this restaurant! Parking was a challenge but aside from that I loved this dining experience. The restaurant felt like you were stepping into a whole new place and I absolutely love the design, the furniture, the music, and the vibes. The food was delicious. We enjoyed the ceviche. Chicken skewers, short rib, and ENCODADO DEL MAR. Everything was beautifully plated, well cooked, and full of flavor. Service was great, they were attentive without being too much. The drinks were strong but tasty as well. I did feel like the seating was a little close in the restaurant and it was very lively so that could be a challenge for others.

Some of the coolest cocktails I've had with really unique flavors. Not a great place for vegetarians as menu is very limited however the bread is phenomenal and worth going for a drink and app. Beautiful space and staff were quick and attentive.

Super fun, trendy Tulum inspired restaurant with delightful (though pricey) tiki drinks - including mocktails. Totally diff vibe (and price point) than Mezcalito next door. Delicious huge portions. The flavors are spot on. Some of my faves are the mussels, Brussels, bread (I know, weird but it's so good), pork belly, and ceviche (so flavorful and fresh). Honestly, everything here is delightful. They have super cute "cove" like / both seating - great for a party of 5+ - feels like a special occasion. Great decor. Call me old but my only complaint is that it's super loud - hard to hear and have a convo.

Went to Aaktun for brunch at the recommendation of a friend, and I can't lie, I was blown away. Starting with an immaculate vibe - the immediate entrance is a cozy, small coffee bar with some casual seating, but walk around the corner you're greeted with an expansive and gorgeous dining area. The food was great. Fluffy eggs, hearty portions, and delicious lattes. It's rare that a place that looks so good actually has good food too, and Aaktun does not disappoint. Service was just ok, but didn't detract from the experience. I would come back again anytime.

This place is a whole vibe. Pink couches, plants, and just so much style. I went for brunch with a group of girls. We walked in and saw the coffee area which I must come back and check out. We walked to the back and were sat quickly. The seats are close to each other but the vibe makes it so cozy. We ordered drinks. All were top notch, complex flavors and amazing garnishes. We ordered the pan y butter -warm bread with a yummy butter! For brunch one got the Papaya Salad, two friends got the poke and I got spicy chicken sando. Here's the thing everything was delicious. Plates cleaned! I don't have a standout but overall it was a good meal, excellent service, and tasty food. Only issue! No hooks in the wonderful single stall bathrooms. Such an easy fix that would go a long way!

My friend and I came here for breakfast. The barista was so sweet and the coffee was great, easy 5/5 to that part of the dining in experience, but sadly things just went down hill from there. The food took a while to come out, and when it finally did come out, my order was missing half of the ingredients that it was supposed to come with (no avocado and no hot sauce). When I asked the waiter about the missing ingredients, she initially said that if I wanted avocado I should have asked for it when I ordered - but after I pointed out to her that it clearly states on the menu that the item I ordered (OG tochos) comes with avocado - she was apologetic and brought some out on the side. That whole encounter left a bad impression, and on top of that the food itself was not great. Even with the missing ingredients, I found the OG tochos very greasy. Maybe the option that came with mushrooms would have be been a better choice to help counteract some of the fattiness from the eggs, tater tots, and avocado, but I can't say for sure. Because of all this, I'd rate the food, service, and overall experience like a 2 or 2.5/5. Another note, while I did love the ambiance of the back seating room, the only drinking water was located in the front room at the coffee bar, so I kept having to go back and forth between the two rooms to get more water when I ran out, which was at least 4 times. I'd recommend either providing bigger water cups or just putting water & cups in the back room as well.

We had read about this new coffee bar/tiki bar and stopped in on a Saturday morning for cofee and breakfast. We enjoyed the owner's other establishment nearby (Little Bull) and were looking forward to checking it out. We had a Mexican hot chocolate and a nice coffee drink, plus an egg sandwich and OG tochos (tater tots covered with egg, avocado and hot sauce). Everything was made to order and delicious. We even spotted some cake and pastries. What really blew our minds was when we stepped into the back bar to take a look. Wow, it looks like you are transported to a hip resort bar in Mexico. Their dinner menu looked awesome and we'll definitely need to come back.

Yummy coffee!! I had the Pantera Brown Espresso. It was delicious. Lovely ambiance! Will definitely return.

This place has amazing egg Japanese-style sandwiches. It is Mexican-Japanese fusion cafe with an attached restaurant. The drinks are superb. I had an iced latte. The espresso is mild and not overly bitter. There is no place in Durham to get this kind of breakfast sandwich. The cafe side is a bit small with limited seating but tastefully decorated with a lot of plants. Their syrups for the lattes looked homemade. The servers were friendly.

Bit of a crap shoot, since as of 6/28/2025 they still do not have their menu on their web site. Luckily the food was pretty good. We had chicken skewers, steak and (rather fatty) short ribs. The wine list is small, but the Cotes du Rhone was good. The restaurant is attractively decorated, but VERY NOISY. Things quieted down slightly, and they were taking walk-ins, by 8:30 on a Friday night.

Let me just say that everything was phenomenal! The atmosphere was to die for, the food was absolutely amazing, and the service started a tad rocky but they made up for it. Definitely recommend this place. It's so refreshing to see this in the area. And there's a dj!

I have been to this restaurant for dinner two times and brunch once and I have loved every single time. The atmosphere of the restaurant gives a tropical soothing element with an element of trendy vibes. Sunday brunch had live music and the DJ was amazing, played a lot of Latin music. The staff is very friendly and super helpful when it came to trying to decide what dish to get. If the staff, music, and look of the restaurant did not entice you, then I know the food will. OH MY GOD the food! The food is soo good! My favorite appetizer is the Tostones with crab salad, the plate brings 3, but the size of them make it so that they can each be cut into two. For the main dish I have had the Encocado Del Mar and Sancocho, both were wonderful and full of flavor. The Encocado Del Mar has a large piece of salmon, jumbo shrimp, and calamari in a coconut sauce with rice and collard greens. To complete the meal, I always get the voodoo vibes drink which has mezcal. Overall, this place is absolutely wonderful, and I hope that it remains a staple in the Durham food scene.

I went after seeing Les Mis and I'm so happy I did. I didn't get to eat at the restaurant part, but the cafe is great. They have great coffees and other drinks and some amazing deserts. My favorite is the golden mai latte with caramel and biscoff. My server was super nice and the whole place looked so pretty. Only complaint is that there isn't that much parking.

Our experience at Aaktun was bittersweet. After being recommended by friends to visit Chef Diaz' newest restaurant, we were treated with great service at reception and at the bar. The music took us a bit off, since it sounded more like a club vibe, rather than fine dining (the DJ booth near the entrance didn't help convincing us otherwise). We ordered the Bavette saltado and the Jerk Half chicken. The chicken itself was really good and moist, but the plate would've benefitted of having an additional side to contrast with the textures. The saltado was a bit disappointing, as it seemed overpriced for a neutral-tasting steak and bland tasting white rice and fried yucca. Had the rice had more flavor, and the yucca set on the side of the dish with a dressing, it would've received higher praise. It is definitely not a $40 dish, however. The drinks were good, especially the rum-flavored ones. Following the club-like observation, it reminded me a bit of Wonderland, which is not necessarily a good comparison for what Aaktun is trying to aspire to look and be. Finally, for desert we had the goat cheese cheesecake. It was delicious, with a great contrast between the tartness and the sweet flavors from the cheese and the fruit. Overall, Aaktun has potential to be a great spot for regulars in the area, but it needs to revise on what exactly it wants to be, as well as reconsider the pricing of some of their dishes, either by elevating the dish further or bringing the price down.

I ordered the seafood tacos and they were delicious. My margarita was pretty good as well. The customer service was the star. Food portions are not proportionate to the cost in my opinion. For $22 I received four small tacos. They were good but could've come with a small Ramekin of rice or beans to be more filling. We sat in an alcove. It gave a cave/indigenous vibe.