Alley Twenty Six in Durham
The Triangle’s Best Specialty Cocktails
Alley Twenty Six is a craft cocktail bar and restaurant located in the up-and-coming downtown area of Durham. In my first meeting with Joseph Gailes, representing the owner, Shannon Healy, I could sense the passion he has for being a master at his craft, elevating the experience their customers have with delicious, made from scratch, gastro pub dishes and the perfectly created cocktail to pair.
As you know, we have a passion for promoting local businesses. I discovered Joseph at an event showcasing North Carolina Specialty Products. Alley Twenty Six stood above the crowd by offering 20 different house made tonics which are foundational for crafting their delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They remind me of my trip to Europe where tonics are mixed with sparkling water for a refreshing drink any time of the day. They sell 9 of their syrups (tonics) online and the rest can be found at their restaurant. If you’ve had their drinks at the restaurant, you’ll want to take home one or two or all of their syrups in the hope of recreating something delicious at home. Mixology-at-Home videos with alcoholic and non-alcoholic recipes can be found here.
During COVID, the team pulled together to find a way to survive the threat to the small business. While others were just closing up shop, ATS asked the town to approve the alley space next to the building so the long lines leading to the makeshift “food truck” window could serve people meals, and groceries.
Covid was a rough time for many businesses, especially restaurants but at Alley Twenty Six, everyone pulled together to make the best out of a tough situation. This grit and passion is what entrepreneurs are made of- think about it, isn’t the personality of a community really built on the people who build it? Joseph shared as he reflected on that time, “I'm just happy to be working for a company that tries to do the right thing…”
The drink menu at Alley Twenty Six is impressive but the best part is their cocktails. They don’t have premixes - they make everything themselves. They even use their own ingredients for their frozen machine drinks. Margaritas, daiquiris, pina coladas, and mai tais - it’s like an island vacation right here in Durham. I would recommend the Tropic Like It’s Hot cocktail. It has an amazing blend of scotches with spices that pair well with the mango, coconut cream, pineapple, orange, and citrus. These fantastic Island drinks are a part of their summertime "Islands in the Alley" pop-up. Make sure to check it out this summer…
Alley Twenty Six is the first bar in NC to ever be nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award that recognizes top culinary professionals in the US and it’s not hard to see why. They were nominated for the Outstanding Bar Program category.
Their syrups are winners all on their own but when you add the delicious selection of brunch and dinner menu items, you’ve hit the jackpot. Everything is made at an elevated level - even their burgers that are made with a chuck and brisket mix with house made chipotle aioli, bacon jam, fresh arugula and black truffle cheddar - all on a soft potato bun.
Whether you’re looking for a new dinner option or a fantastic brunch spot, you can find both at Alley Twenty Six. Joseph highly recommended The Fat Elvis that is made with ninth St bakery challah, fried banana, bacon, Nutella, peanut butter sauce, and powdered sugar. For a dinner starter, I’ve heard great things about the Chef’s Board where the chef selects 3 types of cured meat & 3 kinds of cheese and pairs it with Dijon, house-made jelly, and loaf baguette.
Educating their staff on the ingredients is a top priority. The servers are equipped to convey what is special about the food and beverage being served. Sourcing local ingredients is a key component to the quality of their offerings.
Interesting fact: All of the alleys in Durham are numbered, which is where Alley Twenty Six gets its name. Go Visit Alley Twenty Six soon! Make it a date night and tell them we sent you! It’s a great way to show them A Little Local Love.
Directions to Alley Twenty Six
Phone: 984-439-2278
Address: 320 E. Chapel Hill Street Durham, NC 27701
We love Alley Twenty Six’s concept and their syrups which is why we include them in our client gift bags. We Live and Love Local!
* All Photos Property of Alley Twenty Six in Durham