Arcana Bar and Lounge

Wonderful and unique... a great hidden oasis in Downtown Dirtytown.A very different vibe early than late but both are great...

I've been to Arcana a few times now and the vibes are so good! They always have a really great selection of signature cocktails and their espresso martini is among the best I've had in a while. It's a small-ish space so great for a more intimate hang, but they do occasionally have big parties here like goth prom. You can also get your tarot read here, which is really fun! My only complaint is that there really isn't any outdoor space at all to take a breather or a smoke break, but other than that, this is a super cute great little bar and I will definitely be back.

I had been here years ago while volunteering for a local event but had actually never drank here until recently. It is a woman-owned LGBTQ+ friendly bar with an antique southern feel. They have tarot card readers and live entertainment on weekend nights. We enjoyed our cocktails and noticed they even have absinthe offered on sugar cubes. Gotta try that sometime. We enjoyed the musical act and the overall artsy but relaxed basement surroundings. There are so many bars in Durham now and this place has found a nice niche. The entrance is a little hard to find since it's in the back of a building on Main Street and facing a rear parking lot. You also have to walk down some stairs.

My friends and I came here last night for some drinks. The place was packed and initially all the tables were full, but we were able to grab one eventually. The atmosphere in the bar was kind of mystical from the lighting and decor to the tarot reading going on, which was super unique! It felt a bit like I was in another world. The cocktails were great. I loved the April Fools, which ended up being my favorite drink of the night. I tried sips of my friends drinks, and they were all pretty tasty. The drinks and ambiance were on point, however the bartenders could've been a bit more friendly/welcoming. It was pretty busy so I get that they were probably more focused on getting the drinks out. Overall I found this to be a unique bar with amazing cocktails. I will come back for sure!

Really love this cozy queer-friend spaceBut, it is expensive ($17 for a cocktail in Durham). And the space itself just not accessible to folks with mobility issues (stairs to a basement) or the immunocompromised. There is zero ventilation here with a low ceiling, and on crowded nights it is shoulder to shoulder - it is moist and sticky. A couple of stand-alone air filters would help, but they don't even have fans. And it is incredibly loud. This all wouldn't be a big issue if there was an outside area, but there is no where to get a break from the crowd and noise. I like the idea of the event nights that they have there, but the space just isn't conducive to it, so I tend to go occasionally during down nights instead

Lowkey cringe vibe. Upon walking in, I realized at the tender of 22 that nobody within my vicinity was less that 35 years old. This is not a problem, it is just not ideal for me. Namaste

What an amazing warm atmosphere here in Durham. The drinks are delicious and staff are so friendly and kind. Even if you aren't familiar, do yourself a favor go and order a Hierophant! They also have amazing shows and music so you can't go wrong any night of the week.

One of my favorite bars in Durham. It's a place you can bring someone you want to impress, very much speakeasy meets classy dive vibes. There are always lots of unique events going on. From figure drawing to live music, you're sure to find an event of interest. The cocktails are excellent, unique and high quality. Plus, the entrance is a little hard to find, but that makes it feel like even more of a hidden gem!

I had to help my disabled friend, who has two prosthetic legs, down the basement stairs and the staff incorrectly assumed we were intoxicated because she had trouble with their stairs. We ordered one drink from the bartender with a cold reception. I didn't think this was too odd, since it was a Saturday night and they were busy. My disabled friend was wearing a dress and it was clear she had bilateral prosthetics. We sat down and had our one drink and I asked for another for us and the owner told us we were cut off for being too intoxicated. We had ONE drink. I promptly paid the tab and escorted my friend back up the stairs. I asked to speak with the owner who repeatedly insisted I was the problem without any reason instead of owning up to their mistake. We literally had done nothing but sit there for 20 minutes listening to the live music. We had one overpriced, watered down cocktail drink each. Drunk you say? Own up to your mistake. You saw my friend stumbling and didn't see her prosthetic legs on your uneven stairs or floor.Ableist and disgusting. Do not ever patronize this establishment.

Best queer bar in Durham. Amazing cocktails, good vibes. Highly recommend. The service is phenomenal.