Speakeasy - Durham

Visited Alley Twenty Six for first time. 8 of us in the party. Food was good...shrimp sandwich was the winner. Burgers were good, too. Menu is rather basic...biggest ticket item was steak and frites or mussels. Adult cocktails were tasty though weak! Service was mediocre. Attn definitely needed to pre-bus!! Too many empty hands walking in and out of kitchen door. May return for small bites.

I came to Alley Twenty Six on a Tuesday evening and was able to find parking in the parking structure located near the restaurant. Street parking is also an option if available. I sat at the bar and placed my order. The bartender that I engaged with the most was nice. I didn't have much interaction with the other bartender. The restaurant had a welcoming feel. My food came out quickly. I got the alley jr. burger with fries and an order of the Nashville hot cauliflower. My French fries were hot and tasty. The burger was really good and I loved the topping combinations, and the cauliflower was flavorful. It was not too spicy. I would definitely come back again!

Great service, pretty/low-key place, food was just okay, drinks were good. It was a dimly lit great for a date night. Also. Located in a central area to other walkable bars restaurants

There is such a fun Tiki bar vibe here. The only thing missing is Martin Denny Exotica playing in the background. They've changed the menu since we were last here. And we are really glad about that. When we first found them, they were changing it up regularly. After everything opened back up, that didn't happen for a while. Now, it has. The cocktails have ALWAYS been spectacular. They make a lot of their own syrups and tonics. (Some of which you can purchase to take home with you. My husband LOVES their tonic. . The whiskey selections are impressive. The wine and beer lists are very good, too. But, it is a bar, so.... Cocktails are more interesting. They have full sized entrees. But, there are a lot of small plates that are great for sharing, too. The whole back of the menu is for Tinned Seafood from all over the world. (I was skeptical. The smoked trout was delicious. Service is excellent. They tag team everything. They don't rush you but they don't make you wait for ages either. It's obvious that you are welcome to linger as long as you care to. That said, it's a good idea to make a reservation. You can sit at the bar. But, they were jumping even on a Tuesday evening. It gets loud. But, sitting next to each other, we were able to have a conversation without screaming,

If you're ever in Charlottesville do yourself a favor and visit The Alley Light. Their cocktails are perfectly crafted their food is delicious. PS, make reservations. Hidden behind an alley and large wooden door is this eclectic speakeasy. You're guided up the stairs to this beautiful old building with large bay windows and antique wood everywhere. The small plates pair nicely with all of the cocktails but the drinks are the star of the show. Try something new and let your bartender use their skills and get creative. Trust me, it'll be a new favorite spot!