Weekend in Durham ...
 

does anyone have any good ideas re staying near Duke University and also good restaurant choices ... food quality and service superceed cost

Thanks

Is the Magnolia Grill still there? I remember making the trip from Fayetteville a couple of times in '96 for dinner. Worth the drive and then some.

It's a really ancient cathedral city, good shopping, beautiful old cathedral and castle to look around. Historic old streets.. Not far by train from York, which is also lovely.. think the university at Durham is campus, (but very well respected), so not sure where it is in the city, but I'm sure tourist information would be able to help you out..

You did mean Durham UK didn't you? Cos you didn't specify and not all of us automatically assume you mean US - after all, my Durham came first ;)

:D ^

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=Navy]My bad ... I did mean North Carolina, but after your suggestions think the original, UK version might be more fun!

There's not much "luxurious" in Durham, from what I can tell. I stayed at the Hilton last time I was through, which was just a plain ol' 3* Hilton. Got it on Priceline for $40ish; it was about 5 minutes from campus.

Someone I know goes to Durham... I think he is graduating from his Law studies...

Best thing about Durham is that it is close to Chapel Hill. Head over there if you have the time.

This is exellent advice. ^ :D

Magnolia Grill and Nana's, both in Durham, are very good restaurants.

My thoughts exactly, but it's been a while since I attended Duke, so my information is a bit dated.

Well known and loved in the area is Bullock's Bar-B-Que, but I think many of the recommendations in the DiningBuzz thread on Bar-B-Que restaurants would surpass it.

Last time I was there, the Washington-Duke Inn (and golf course) rented what were described as pretty nice rooms, virtually on the Duke (West) Campus. Don't know about its restaurant.

There is (or was) a pretty well known steakhouse not too far out of town. I don't remember the name, but it was established by someone who was falsely imprisoned using his settlement proceeds after he was released(someone local probably will be able to ID it based on that description).

Don't know if it will do any good, but try searching the South and DiningBuzz fora for Durham and Chapel Hill.