The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge

"Chill rooftop bar during the day and more club-type vibe at night. Queer and woman owned bar. Also amazing vegan crab cake and of course great cocktails. We took a few wedding photos here and stopped for a drink with the photographer which was one of the best parts of the day."

"Went for the first time last Thursday then ended up going back Friday! Only had cocktails but they were creative and lovely. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant was gorgeous and such a vibe. Bartenders overall seem friendly, minus one female bartender that seemed snappy and impatient. Otherwise, we love this place and will be back!"

"Great drinks and the perfect mix of nice but easy to eat bar apps. It had a good vibe and we were able to have a good conversation even though it was packed! Great rooftop area as well!"

"Simply my favorite recent addition to the Durham bar and dining scene … really delicious and fun cocktails, great service and a sassy and classy atmosphere. The two level roof deck (covered and uncovered with effective heaters) is one of the best in the city. Food is good, though a tad pricey for what you get. Wish I lived closer!"

"BEST. ROOFTOP. IN. DURHAM! I am bringing EVERYONE and their mom to this beautiful, delightful Gem 2 blocks away from my downtown home. It is July 2023 And they are currently in the middle of a soft opening. I cannot wait for the grand opening this Saturday. I will start with saying as the parent of a teenager I am okay with this place not being for anybody under 21. I do not want to have drinks and mingle with my friends and other peoples kids. They do allow pets but I would definitely check the hours on that. The drinks so far on the limited menu were absolutely fantastic. There's very few places where I can find bourbon that has a sweet touch to it without too much bitters and they did it right with their old fashioned. The food selection is also limited right now until the grand opening but that crab cake slapped so hard! Kudos to the chef because she is absolutely amazing. The view is fantastic, I will say as a person who absolutely hates bugs and is not from North Carolina there wasn't a single fly in my face while I was eating. The owner and the bartenders are so personable and are okay with my immense amount of conversation. I LOVE this bar."