5 Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Downtown, Durham NC
Updated 11 October 2026 · 14 restaurants in Downtown, Durham NC considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This list covers Downtown Durham restaurants that list outdoor seating on Google. It is meant for anyone who wants to eat outside without guessing which spots fit, whether for a weekend brunch, a casual pizza night or a longer dinner. The places are ranked by Google rating, weighted by how many reviews each one has, so a high score backed by many reviews ranks above a high score based on a handful. Fourteen qualifying businesses were considered. Hours and price ranges are shown as Google lists them and may change.
#1
Nikos
★ 4.7 (992 Google reviews)Greek restaurant$30–90 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Greek restaurant in BrightLeaf Square at 905 W Main St, listed with outdoor seating, dine-in and takeaway. Google lists great cocktails, great dessert and a great wine list, and the price range is $30 to $90. Reviewers mention warm hospitality, the flaming saganaki and halloumi boats, and a busy dining room where one party waited about 45 minutes without a reservation. The entrance and seating are listed as wheelchair accessible.
Best for: Dinner with wine or cocktails outdoors
- Address
- BrightLeaf Square, 905 W Main St Unit 21B, Durham, NC 27701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 5–10 pm; Mon 5–9 pm; Sat 11 am–3 pm, 5–10 pm; Sun 11 am–3 pm, 5–9 pm; Thu 5–9 pm; Tue Closed; Wed 5–9 pm
#2
Hutchins Garage
★ 4.7 (866 Google reviews)Pizza restaurant$10–20 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Pizza restaurant at 402 W Geer St with outdoor seating, dine-in, takeaway and delivery. Google lists late-night food and vegan options, and the price range is $10 to $20. The restaurant opens Saturday and Sunday around 11:30 am. Reviewers mention the hot honey pizza, the portobello and kale pies and quick service. One reviewer had mixed feelings about ordering by QR code at the table, and another found the grandma pie uneven.
Best for: Casual pizza with a quick turnaround
- Address
- 402 W Geer St, Durham, NC 27701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 4–10 pm; Mon Closed; Sat 11:30 am–10 pm; Sun 11:30 am–9 pm; Thu 4–9 pm; Tue 4–9 pm; Wed 4–9 pm
#3
Mezcalito Durham Grill & Tequila Bar
★ 4.6 (3,337 Google reviews)Mexican restaurant$20–30 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Mexican restaurant at 706 Ramseur St with outdoor seating, delivery and dine-in. It opens daily at 11 am, with late hours on Friday and Saturday until 2 am. Google lists a great beer selection, great cocktails, happy-hour drinks and a $20 to $30 price range. Reviewers mention attentive servers, fresh chips with a house seasoning, dishes described as elevated, and live music outside. Several say the dining room gets very loud and crowded at busy times.
Best for: Margaritas and late Mexican-American dinners
- Address
- 706 Ramseur St, Durham, NC 27701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 11 am–2 am; Mon 11 am–10 pm; Sat 11 am–2 am; Sun 11 am–10 pm; Thu 11 am–10:30 pm; Tue 11 am–10 pm; Wed 11 am–10 pm
#4
Parker and Otis
★ 4.6 (981 Google reviews)Cafe$10–20 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Cafe at 324 Blackwell St Bay 4 that Google lists as women-owned. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm and closed Sunday and Monday. Attributes include outdoor seating, great coffee, great tea selection, breakfast, lunch and good for working on a laptop. The price range is $10 to $20. Reviewers mention large, generously filled sandwiches, a shop that also sells books, candles and home goods, and one visit where a sandwich arrived without bacon.
Best for: Big sandwiches, coffee and a browse
- Address
- 324 Blackwell St Bay 4, Durham, NC 27701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 8 am–6 pm; Mon Closed; Sat 8 am–6 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 8 am–6 pm; Tue 8 am–6 pm; Wed 8 am–6 pm
#5
Timber Pizza Co. Durham
★ 4.7 (140 Google reviews)Pizza restaurant$10–20 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Pizza restaurant at 501 Washington St with outdoor seating, table service, a bar on site and delivery. Hours run Monday to Thursday from 4 to 9 pm, with longer hours Friday to Sunday. Google lists kerbside pickup, a casual feel and beer and wine, and the price range is $10 to $20. Reviewers mention a thin crust, fresh basil, flavorful ingredients, friendly staff, and a meal eaten outside on a sunny day.
Best for: Thin-crust pizza with a patio meal
- Address
- 501 Washington St, Durham, NC 27701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 11:30 am–10 pm; Mon 4–9 pm; Sat 11:30 am–10 pm; Sun 11:30 am–9 pm; Thu 4–9 pm; Tue 4–9 pm; Wed 4–9 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 14 restaurants in Downtown, Durham NC with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then listed on Google as “Outdoor seating”, then by rating. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 11 October 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- Nikos and Mezcalito Durham Grill & Tequila Bar take reservations, useful on weekend evenings.
- For an early start, Parker and Otis opens at 8 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated restaurant on this list?
Nikos ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 992 reviews. Hutchins Garage is second at 4.7 from 866 reviews.
Which restaurants in Downtown, Durham NC are open late?
Mezcalito Durham Grill & Tequila Bar stays open until 2 am.
How much does it cost at these restaurants?
Google lists these price ranges per person: Nikos $30–90; Hutchins Garage $10–20; Mezcalito Durham Grill & Tequila Bar $20–30; Parker and Otis $10–20; Timber Pizza Co. Durham $10–20.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for Nikos, Hutchins Garage, Mezcalito Durham Grill & Tequila Bar, Parker and Otis and Timber Pizza Co. Durham.
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