Here are the best Triangle bars, restaurants to watch Duke vs. UNC in the Final Four
Duke and UNC is a rivalry seemingly out of superlatives. Greatest, finest, blue-est.
Yet Saturday could be one of the biggest chapters in this storied rivalry, as the Tar Heels and Blue Devils meet for the first time in the NCAA tournament, each playing for a shot at a national title, no less sweet as it comes at the expense of the other.
When Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill released table reservations for Saturday’s game, they were snatched up in 45 seconds, said owner Scott Maitland, whose Franklin Street bar has become an epicenter for Tar Heel fandom. Its location at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets means it’s the point where UNC students rush the street. Maitland said TOPO will offer walk-in space at the bar throughout the day, but can’t keep up with demand.
“It’s kind of a sad thing for us,” Maitland said. “The demand is overwhelming. We have 300 person capacity so we’re going to disappoint thousands of people no matter what.”
With the retirement of former UNC coach Roy Williams at the end of last season and the impending retirement of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, Maitland said this rivalry had reached a pivot point. With this ultimate showdown on college basketball’s biggest stage, he said he’s confident the passion will live on.
“This is setting the stage for the continuation of this incredible rivalry,” Maitland said. “One chapter is coming to a close but it seems like the next storyline is already being written....Godzilla needs King Kong. Ali needed Frazier.”
Sometimes the same history happens in many places at once. On Saturday, a basketball game will connect Chapel Hill and Durham and New Orleans. Beyond the thousands witnessing the game in person, there will be countless more packed around TVs and projector screens, as sports bars offer an extension of the arena itself, a space reserved just for fans to scream and cry together.
“I think one thing that COVID taught us definitively is interaction with people is what makes sports special,” Maitland said. “Any place where there’s a television will be showing this game.”
Here are some of the best bars and restaurants to watch Duke vs. UNC Saturday night.
Chapel Hill
100 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-929-8676 or thetopofthehill.com
Over the last two decades, this bar has evolved into the beating heart of UNC fandom in Chapel Hill. When students rush Franklin Street, TOPO is the front row. Reserved tables are gone, but standing room is still possible if this is the place you want to be.
175 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-537-8230 or fourcornersgrille.com
How many bars are named after an offense? The tables at this UNC favorite went fast in a lottery earlier in the week, but will still offer standing space at the bar on Saturday. Plan to get there early.
▪ Pantana Bob’s
305 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill. 919-942-7575.
Not on Franklin Street, but still a destination for UNC fans, Pantana Bob’s has a sprawling patio sure to be packed for the game.
112 1/2 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-942-7939 or hesnotherenc.com
The oldest bar in Chapel Hill is famous for its iconic blue plastic cups and has been a favorite for generations of UNC students.
508 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-968-4671 or italianpizzeria3.com
The dining room of this beloved pizzeria is a shrine to UNC sports of all kinds and there’s not a friendlier seat on Franklin Street. This could be the kind of moment that makes it on the wall forever.
601 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-869-7090 or franklinmotors.net
A newcomer to Franklin Street, this beer garden is offering no reserved seating for its outdoor patio.
307 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-537-8958 or lunarotisserie.com
With one of the Triangle’s great patios, Luna will have the game on all the screens and with a 8:49 p.m. tipoff, is staying open later than usual. Reservations are still up for grabs and there will be plenty of outdoor seating around the restaurant’s biggest screen.
300 E. Main St., Suite C., Carrboro. 919-391-6788 or vecinobrewing.com
Reservations went fast at this fun Carrboro brewery, but a quarter of the space will be set aside for walk-ins starting at 7 pm.
107 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-903-9566 or supdogs.com
People camped out on Franklin Street this week to snag reservations at this popular bar and hot dog joint, so Sup Dogs could be the toughest ticket in town.
Durham
427 W. Main St., Durham. 919-682-3061 or bullmccabesirishpub.com
This downtown Durham bar is a destination for its large outdoor yard. The games will be shown on a large projector screen and nearly a dozen TVs indoors and out.
219 Hood St., Durham. 919-584-4265 or ponysaurusbrewing.com
Famous for its beer garden, this Durham brewery will have the game on a large outdoor projector, dozens of picnic tables and offer beers by the pitcher.
754 Ninth St., Durham. 919-416-8800 or dainsplace.bar
This Ninth Street favorite is famous for tater tots and burgers and is an all-season standout for best sports bars in the Triangle.
1900 W. Markham Ave., Durham. 919-286-7665 or thetaverndurham.com
Located about a block from Duke’s East Campus, this Duke bar can handle upwards of 500 folks for Saturday’s game. There are no reservations and no cover charges, and with an indoor balcony, plenty of great views of TV screens.
904 W. Main St., Durham. 919-682-0228 or devinesdurham.com
This legendary Duke bar has been open since the 1970s and has seen every one of the Blue Devils’ five national championships. Beyond the old school dining room, there’s a comfortable patio and there may be no more fitting spot to watch another moment in history.
280 S. Mangum St., Suite 100, Durham. 919-804-0764 or tobaccoroadsportscafe.com
Why not watch the game in a bar named for the greatest rivalry in sports? Tobacco Road offers plenty of room at all times and some of the largest screens in the Triangle.
905 W. Main St., Suite 22, Durham. 919-251-8096 or cloudsbrewing.com
For years, the top Duke bar in Durham was Satisfaction before it closed in 2018. Now the cavernous Clouds continues to make Brightleaf Square a destination for sports fans, boasting a dozen TVs in every direction and a giant list of draft beers.
347 W. Main St., Suite B., Durham. 919-381-4349 or rubiesnc.com
Primarily an upstairs lounge and music venue, this new Durham bar in the heart of downtown has a great set up for the game, including a 120’ projector screen.
2501 University Drive, Suite 4, Durham. 984-219-7538 or beerstudy.com
This duo of bars in Durham’s Rockwood shopping center is mostly known with the Triangle’s soccer-loving crowd, but with a giant roll-up window and huge projector screen, it’s a great setting for Saturday’s game. Look for one of the top tap lists and The Boot Room’s never-ending list of sandwiches.
Raleigh
105 Oberlin Road, Raleigh. 919-755-9589 or playersretreat.com
Though its an iconic N.C. State bar, the Players Retreat remains one of the Triangle’s top sports bars, no matter the sport or the teams. No matter who wins, schadenfreude is a certainty for State fans.
2235 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh. 919-755-3880 or sammystapgrill.com
Located deep in Wolfpack country, Sammy’s isn’t exactly neutral ground, but there are TVs in every direction and a great porch.
500 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. 919-835-2222 or carolinaalehouse.com
For an immersive Duke-Carolina experience, this Glenwood giant offers the most TV screens per capita than anywhere in the Triangle.
