Beyu Caffé is the perfect spot to grab coffee and brunch. With four locations in downtown, Boxyard, and at Duke University, the casual chain also sells roasted coffee blends often hosts live music events. The cafe serves such creative coffee options like Carver’s Peanut Butter, made with espresso and peanut butter, and Runaway Latte, made with espresso and sweet praline syrup.

While North Carolina is known for its barbecue, in Durham, the quintessential North Carolina food is surprisingly waffles. But those at Dame’s Chicken and Waffles are not the same as what you’ll find over in Cali. Options for the waffle flour include the classic, sweet potato, gingerbread, and oatmeal-vegan. Waffles can be topped by “Shmears” (butters) like Strawberry Creme and drizzles like Calypso. The restaurant also serves a traditional American breakfast and other house specialties.

Bull City Laughs make learning about Durham’s history a lot of fun. That’s because their tours include two things that appeal to most people: comedy and great food stops along the way. Years ago, I took one of their city tours, and it was amazing.

I love spending time at Meat & Graze. Located in Boxyard, it’s a speciality catering company that crafts the most beautiful charcuterie boards using artisan cheese, fruit, dips, honey, breads, crackers, meats, and more. The company offers what it calls “cheeseperiences” as well as private workshops and cheese-centric catering.