The Waiting Room

I wanted to enjoy this place more than I did. It was busy but not full, yet I stood at the host stand for about five minutes without acknowledgment. When someone finally came over, I was told that since I was alone I should sit at the bar, even after saying I preferred a table. The seats at the bar were slightly too low for how high the bar was. Once seated, I waited a while to have my drink order taken, and people who sat down after me were served first, which was frustrating. The upside: their espresso martini was genuinely delicious. Drink prices weren’t listed on the menu, and one cocktail plus a reasonable tip came out to $22, which felt steep for the experience. I like finding new spots near DPAC, but this one missed the mark for me, and I don’t plan on returning.

The drinks were a hit, the service and the food were a bit of a miss. We came at 6 pm on a Saturday before our show at DPAC and were seated at the bar fairly quickly. The bar seats are a bit low which is a little odd but fine. We ordered some of the specialty drinks and some food. The drinks came pretty quickly and were delicious. The cheese plate we ordered was still missing after 40 minutes so we asked about it. And that was the first the bartender had even noticed that we hadn't gotten our food even though everyone around us had gotten their food a while ago (side note: they ran out of sliders by 6:10 pm which seems like poor planning). Granted it was busy but part of service is noticing when things are amiss and we had empty serving wear stacked in front of us with no food for a while. But after we asked, he checked with the kitchen and apparently they had given our cheese plate to someone else. He asked if we had time to wait for them to create another plate which we did (barely) and he went to help them make it. The plate was fine, nothing special and definitely not worth the extended wait. And while we got an explanation of why the food was delayed, we didn't really get an apology or an offer to take some cost off the menu because of their mixup. If you go, stick with the drinks and skip the food.

This is a really cute place with a great vibe. The food was fresh and delicious. Please note they have more of a small plates menu. I could tell the server was new, but she provided good service. If you are even in the area, it's worth stopping by. This place is located across the street from the DPAC.

A great place for a pre or post show drink when going to DPAC (unless you go on Sunday because they're closed that day). Great vibes and the cocktails are incredible, with a rotating menu every few months so you get to try new drinks frequently! They've expanded their food menu but it's still usually more small plates but anything we've ever gotten have been great. Charcuterie boards there are usually really nice! Limited seating and when they're busy it can sometimes take a while to get orders put in, but for the most part everything there runs smoothly. I enjoy sitting at the bar so that I can watch them make the drinks, especially the smoked cocktails! And their themed menus and special events are a lot of fun! We recently went to their Grinch pop-up and it was super cute!

A gem on the Tobacco Campus! This spot exudes quaint speakeasy vibes, making it the perfect hideaway for a memorable evening. We were a group of six and found a cozy corner with couches and window seats to settle into, providing a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The service was absolutely phenomenal! Nick stood out with his exceptional knowledge, expertly guiding us through the menu and ensuring we had a fantastic experience. This is a must-visit establishment for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Whether you’re stopping by for a casual evening or looking for a unique place to impress friends, this hidden gem won’t disappoint! Next time we are in Durham, we will be stopping in. Cheers 🥂

The Waiting Room was amazing! The space was cozy and inviting. Great for couples or small groups. Stop in and have a cocktail before or after dinner. Have a snack or enjoy a delicious small dessert. The chairs were super comfy and Nick greeted us pretty much as soon as we sat. We had several drinks including the Spicy Carrot, Rosemary Fig Sour, the Travel Agent, an espresso martini, and my personal favorite Your Buddy. They were all fantastic, creative twists and well balanced. We also tried the deviled eggs and the hummus. Best deviled eggs I’ve ever had and the hummus was delicious too. We’ll definitely be back soon.

Awesome and chill atmosphere in a good vibes low key cocktail bar lounge. Assortment of food options such as charcuterie as well. Loved the lighting and seating arrangements. Great for small groups of up to 4 people to chill out and drink. Convenient location if you can park at the ATC parking garages. Delicious cocktails. Highly recommend this place for a early night out to hangout with your SO or catch up with an old friend.

My husband and I dropped by on Wednesday night - cocktails, food and service were pretty good! Removing one star because of extremely strong bleach smell throughout the whole bar. It was unexpected and definitely ruining the vibe. At the same time hopefully it will be easy to fix (and switch to some milder products), we will give it another chance in the nearest future

This cozy bar & lounge set between the American Tobacco Campus and the DPAC is a great place to unwind and chill. Got a show coming up? You can come here for a pre-show drink. There is waiter service at the lounge tables. I enjoy the bar service: plenty of seats and friendly bartenders. Old Bull Apartments residents have it best. They can hang out here, steps from their homes.

I was very excited to try this place based on so many wonderful yelp reviews and I am thrilled to say that you were all absolutely correct. We LOVED our visit to The Waiting Room. I took off early and came here early on a Wednesday night with my aunt (we were going to try another restaurant on Tobacco Road later that evening for dinner.) This is a very definite speakeasy vibe here...the art deco decor is amazing. My eyes were thrilled before we even sat down. We had our pick of places since we got there right as they opened. Our waitress came over and was so pleasant and extremely knowledgeable. I cannot wait to bring my uncle back to enjoy some new bourbons. I started with a Wake Up Holland and my aunt had a chocolate martini (not on the menu but the bartender understood the assignment!) Wake Up Holland is 100% worth the hype. I LOVED IT. But since I was worried about the caffiene, I tried The Smoking Jacket next. It wasn't really my favorite...it tasted like a campfire which I know some people enjoy but it wasn't my jam. The waitress was very astute and mentioned that they could make the Wake Up Holland in decaf and I rejoiced!!! And ended the evening with that. The service, ambiance, and drinks were all stellar and I cannot wait to return to this establishment!

Great cocktail bar across from DPAC where you can while away time in an enjoyable manner with awesome drinks and tasty small plates. Coffee drink lovers, the Wake Up Holland is a must-try! Especially wonderful for people like me who shouldn't do caffeine, as they will do a decaf version. The Smoking Jacket is another great one if you like smoked bourbon drinks, which my guy is a fan of. I also was a fan of their wines which is not a large selection, but a very nice one, with some good choices that you don't often see on a bar list. Deviled eggs fans, tell me these aren't some of the best you've ever had! We were informed that the menu was changing the week after we were there, but that the eggs will remain or there would be major protests in Durham. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at The Waiting Room. There are bar seats, plus other assorted styles of seating.

Amazing cocktails great atmosphere. It gives a little hole in the wall kind of feeling. Overall amazing

We stopped in at The Waiting Room to wait for traffic to clear after attending a show at the DPac. It was the Oaxaca Mule and a glass of rose for me and the Wake Up Holland and Miss Grey's Tea Time for my husband. The drinks and service were both really good. They serve snacks and desserts so will need to try those next.

This was a cool spot to grab drinks after dinner. They had a lot of good choices on the menu.

At first, I was genuinely impressed with this place. The vibe was on point--great ambiance, welcoming decor, and the drinks and food (small plate) we initially ordered was delicious. It really felt like the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a good time with my boyfriend. Unfortunately, the experience took a sharp turn due to the service. Our waitress, after bringing out our first round, struck up a conversation with someone who wasn't even ordering--just randoly chatting. She acknowledged knowing my boyfriend and me but continued chatting with that person for an extended period, even as it was clear we were waiting for her attention. It was disappointing, to say the least. The energy and mood I was enjoying completely shifted. I lost my thirst and appetite, didn't feel like ordering anything else, and it honestly disrupted what had been a great experience. It also impacted her tip--service is a big part of the vibeing experience. As much as I enjoyed the drinks, food, and setting at the beginning, that interaction left a sour taste. I don't think I'll be returning.

We had a great time at The Waiting Room, a relatively-new cocktail bar and lounge on the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham. The Waiting Room opened in December 2022 as a place for folks to get drinks before or after going to a nearby restaurant, the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), the Carolina Theatre, etc. Hence, the business name. That's what we did. We came here after having dinner at Pizzeria Toro (highly recommended, by the way) and beer at Pour Taproom. The Waiting Room was the perfect nightcap for us. I liked the late closing time: 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. We were here well past midnight. It was busy when we arrived on a Saturday around 9:30pm. We got the last open table. The vibe was that of a speakeasy. Low-key, kind of swanky, but not pretentious at all. I liked that it wasn't loud. The staff was welcoming and friendly, and service was excellent -- just one of several things to love about this place. We tried a third of the cocktails on the menu. Here's what we had: Signature * Old Bull ($14) - Conniption gin, Vida mezcal, pineapple juice, lemon juice, agave simple, orange bitters * Wake Up Holland ($14) - Ketel One Oranje, Kahlua, espresso, Baileys salted caramel whip * The Smoking Jacket ($14) - Old Forester 4-year bourbon, dry vermouth, campari, triple sec, lapsang-souchong-infused creme de cacao * Miss Grey's Tea Time ($14) - Lady Grey-infused Conniption gin, lemon juice, agave simple Seasonal * Shut Up & Drink It ($15) - 21 Seeds Cucumber Jalapeno tequila, lime juice, lemon juice, agave, smoked pineapple juice All of the drinks were outstanding. They were definitely among the best we've had in the Triangle. Flavorful, balanced, creative, well-executed, and high-quality. My wife's favorite drink was Wake Up Holland because she loves a good espresso martini and The Waiting Room put their own spin on that classic drink. The spin being the whipped cream and orange zest (the latter wasn't mentioned in the menu description above). My favorite drink was The Smoking Jacket. It was a smoked old fashioned, but not just any smoked old fashioned. It was the best smoked old fashioned I've had to date. The smoker was locally-made by Oak & Iron. There was a strong smokiness in every sip and it was great, not overpowering. The drink itself was among the most complex old fashioneds I've had. Miss Grey's Tea Time is ideal for people who love tea. It's like a hard Arnold Palmer, but fancy and in cocktail form. The Waiting Room also serves beer, wine, champagne, and non-alcoholic beverages including coffee. Additionally, they offer food -- small plates and sweets/desserts. Tables next to us ordered the Deviled Eggs ($12) and Strawberry Shortcake ($12) and they looked good. It's table service here so you don't have to go to the bar to order drinks. Our servers were very attentive. I recommend this place. Note on parking: The Waiting Room doesn't have dedicated parking. One place I suggest parking is the City of Durham's Corcoran Street Garage at 110 E Corcoran St. It costs $2.25 per hour to park in that garage, Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm. Otherwise, it's free. Most hours The Waiting Room is open is outside of the enforced-parking hours.

Sophisticated whisky bar in Durham. Comfortable seating and soft lighting make for a relaxed experience, add expertly crafted cocktails and you have the perfect evening. The staff are very helpful figuring out what you like and what to order.

A very cozy hidden gem, great for drinks after a show at DPAC! Our waitress was incredibly sweet and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed. The cocktails were well crafted, with great attention to detail and high-quality ingredients.

Love this place. So unique and fun! Really big too. The bartenders make up some interesting drinks.

Why does it take me so incredibly long to visit highly recommended places? I know I will love it! That's exactly what happened with The Waiting Room. My friend asked me weekly to come visit this bar with her for literal months! I finally said yes and made a visit yesterday. The Waiting Room is exactly what I love in a bar! The modern decor mixed with original brick walls, cozy and vibrant chairs, Edison lightbulbs, window seats, and textured wallpaper, give you a sense of comfort and familiarity. The Waiting Room feels exclusive without the membership, though it is 21+. The menu is small but mighty. It's the perfect place to stop by for a quick drink or meet friends and chill for awhile. Whatever journey you're on, The Waiting Room is a great place to visit along the way. I ordered quite a bit: The Spicy Carrot, Wake Up Holland (my favorite), and the Smoking Jacket. I also tried my friend's Pixie Dust drink. We also shared the Deviled Eggs and Thai Chili Blueberry Trifle. Each cocktail was crafted beautifully and all were unique, allowing me taste new flavor combinations I have never tried before. The Deviled Eggs were perfectly made and delectable, I was left craving more. The Thai Chili Blueberry Trifle was outstanding. It had the perfect textures and a wonderful combination of sweet and spicy. The Waiting Room isn't just a speakeasy, it's a flavorful experience.

So so cute. Awesome place to grab some drinks. We had 3 of the fall pear drinks because they were so good! My only complaint is that the bar stools are too short for the bar, but that's not enough to remove a star. They have plenty of beautiful couches to make up for it. Also, the bathrooms are gorgeous. The bartenders were also so friendly and nice!

We had walked by this place several times on our way to shows at DPAC and even tried going one Sunday but they were closed. We finally walked over from downtown on a Saturday in Durham just about the time the show at DPAC was starting. It was full when we stepped in but practically emptied out when theatergoers left. It slowly filled up again during our visit. We enjoyed a boozy hot chocolate, a In Fashioned cocktail, and some deviled eggs with furikake (delicious!). They also had other light bites but we had eaten dinner earlier. We had a nice chat with our server who I think is actually one of the owners. It was the holiday season so the decor was festive, and the vibe was energetic and fun but not too loud. We'll be back.

The location is perfect for a before or after show drink at the DPAC. We swung by after the show and we're seated immediately with waters in hand less than 30 seconds after sitting down. The seats are all comfortable and draped in velvet, so beware if velvet isn't your thing, but I loved it. I had the Holland 75 and it was delicious. I can't wait to go back again.

This was well worth the wait. Finally a BAR in Durham that is built for people to drink and socialize. This is ideal for coming here for a good time or a long time ....or BOTH. This feels like the place where you want to go and everyone knows your name. The place when you want a drink while you and friends decide what your next move is. The place where customers become friends, friends become family and you're on a first name basis with the staff. Come by and enjoy a casual environment with five star drinks....psst Order the Old Bull... and have a great time that you will talk about and remember in anticipation of coming back. Don't walk run...I promise you will thank me later. PS: The owners a true gems. You will absolutely love them!!! Ready, Set......and Gooooooo see them!!!!

What a great place for a late night cocktail. Be sure and take a stroll through downtown and stop by. The place seems to clear out at 11 PM. Plenty of room for you and and your friends afterward. Hand mixed cocktails of all sorts. Local and historic and brand new stuff.

This speakeasy bar is awesome! We stopped in to get a drink before seeing a show at DPAC which was directly across the street. The vibe in the place was so cool, comfortable and thoughtfully decorated in a Grinch theme for Christmas. The chairs at the bar were so comfortable, and the staff were so friendly and engaging. The drink menu had custom Grinch themed drinks and were absolutely terrific! I definitely recommend stopping by before going to a show/or after...or even just for a night cap.

Just had a fantastic time a The Waiting Room owner showed us some fantastic drinks and really opened up about the best drinks for my particular pallet.

I love the concept of the Waiting Room to have a middle ground for socializing when in American Tobacco (especially now that Tyler's is gone). The ambiance is slightly elevated the times I have been (but those have almost been exclusively before DPAC shows so people tend to be dressed up more). The drinks, like many cocktails in tiny Durham cocktail bars, are expensive but very well made. I've only tried a bit of the menu but was also impressed by the food. The standout so far as been the wonderful staff who are lovely to make conversation with and will do their best to give any and all recommendations. It is a fairly small space so it does get a bit crowded before DPAC shows. Definitely a great addition to American Tobacco.

The food was unique and delicious, the cocktails made by friendly folks and from tasty specialty ingredients and the atmosphere was sublime.

Small, quaint and welcoming. All staff are truly friends and the bar accommodates everyone. Service is great and the food is fresh and tasty. Pairs well with your drinks. Definitely a good spot to hangout before or after the DPAC shows. I will definitely return and recommend to others.

We came here on a weeknight and it was a great place for conversation. The background noise was at a good, manageable level. It wasn't too crowded- we were able to grab some chairs and find seats. The cocktails are interesting as well. The service was fine; they brought us water and then came back to take our orders after we had a chance to look.

We loved this place. The drinks were fantastic! And our server checked in with us multiple times. I think we had the best seats in a quiet corner. Super cozy!

I spend New Years Eve here and it was everything I expected and more. Great chill crowd with amazing cocktails. Music was mellow but at times just got you in the mood to dance. Friendly staff and the owners are extremely friendly. Can't say enough good things about this place.

I've quickly fallen in love with this place on the first visit. The location is mellow but not hidden and the atmosphere is comfortably classy. I tried the deviled eggs which are top tier and packed full of flavor. The flat bread had such a satisfying bite to it every time, I recommend both dishes. Our bartender, Spencer, was super friendly and the entire staff in general had wonderful vibes. My boyfriend and I were well taken care of here and look forward to coming back!

Fantastic bartenders. Delicious drinks. Perfect ambiance. The perfect bar. A definite place to visit when in Durham. Enjoy.

Great atmosphere, wonderful staff, and fantastic drinks! Making a stop here on your way to see a show at the DPAC is a must.

Opening night after seeing Tina at DPAC. Spicy and Carrot know how to mix an amazing drink (get the namesake). Great vibe, too. Should have taken a pic before devouring everything.