Alley Twenty Six
Bar · Durham ·
Craft cocktails, charcuterie, and award-winning burgers in a swanky setting
Craft cocktails, charcuterie, and award-winning burgers in a swanky setting
"A cocktail-forward bar celebrated for 'farm-to-sip' drinks that emphasize seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and meticulous craft in both cocktails and small plates." - Regan Stephens
"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, an upscale craft cocktail bar, is also home to a delicious food menu, including the standout Alley Burger. And after more than four years, it still remains one of the most popular items on the menu. Think of a combo of eight ounces of house-ground burger with black truffle cheddar cheese, bourbon bacon jam, chipotle aioli, and arugula, housed between a potato bun, with the option to jazz it up with foie gras, a fried egg, or bacon. A four-ounce version aptly named the Alley Burger Jr. also exists. Best for: Cocktails and al fresco dining" - Elliott Harrell
"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