Bar Lusconi

A little farewell tribute to Lusconi before they sadly close their doors in a few weeks… I long ago fell in love with sister location Peccadillo (in Carrboro — also closing). The bartenders made you feel like regulars on your first visit, and they could mix a killer cocktail to boot. It was a quirky spot, somewhat hidden, the staff sporting lab coats and mixing booze like mad scientists with a glassware collection of beakers and flasks. They would occasionally have something experimental and special on offer, like foie gras or hot cider.
A lot of things I loved about Peccadillo made their way to Durham in Bar Lusconi as well. It’s an unassuming space, with a refined, uncommon selection of drinks. Due to limited square footage, Lusconi foregoes hard drinks in favor of interesting — and often — rare beers and wines (it was here that my husband discovered his latest fave beverage, kombucha ale). I personally love their selection of cheese and chocolate, and will miss it terribly! This simple spot was always serving up something new, and a top choice of mine for pre– or post-​dinner dates. Thanks for bringing so much goodness to the Triangle, Tim, and good fortune in your next endeavor!

Very sad to hear that this spot is shutting it’s door for good. What can you say about the limited space other than ‘it is what it is,’ but what really stands out here is the service. The servers, I would almost call them attendees, are ON POINT. They make excellent suggestions, always after briefly asking about your interests in wine and beer. What’s more, I remember walking in after several months had passed without a visit, and being remembered not just by face, but by my wine preference. Say it ain’t so!

I love this place and almost want it to stay secret (so you’re welcome). This place is super fun, kind of hard to find though and almost feels like a speak-​easy. If you’re a wine drinker, don’t even pick out a wine on the menu, the staff is very knowledgeable. We just told our waitress what type of wines we like and she had us sample some wines until we found on we liked. The beer list looked sophisticated too (mostly beers from Europe), but we just stuck with wine.
We came here for an after dinner drink, and it was perfect!

Stopped by last night for a drink. We really, really liked the atmosphere, we had the (alcoholic) ginger beer and it was pretty awesome. The menu seemed to have a good selection of wine and beer (but no liquor, FYI). Our server was great, very attentive and it was a nice, chill place for a few drinks, we didn’t check out the outside patio but we definitely will in the future!

I almost feel like I shouldn’t write a review yet, because I’ve only been once and I went early and was actually the only person in there, but the place is so cool I can’t imagine it rating any lower.
It’s a little narrow storefront almost directly across from 106 Main – just look for the 117 in the window. The bartender told me they’ll be getting a sign soon. Anyway, this is a long, narrow space that has a four-​seat bar at the back, round tables for four along the right side, and a stand-​up bar on the left side. The beer and wine offerings are on chalkboards on the walls. It’s not a huge list, but it’s diverse and very interesting. Had a couple of glasses of an excellent, rich French white. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the Durham food and bar scene. The space is just the right mix of hip and old-​school, with low lighting and rough brick walls. It has a great feel and would probably be just as cool if it were crammed full. A great option for the downtown bar scene, since it’s more wine-​centric and most of the other options are either beer– or cocktail-​centric. It’s definitely going into the rotation.

Although pricy, Bar Lusconi screams of intimacy, romance and maturity. Let the handing lightbulbs draw you into the long alley space and grab a seat at the main bar, side bar seats or one of the tables. The is a wine bar, while they do have a handful of bottled beers (pricy like everything else, you’ll be paying $ 7 for a bottled Victory Dirt Wolf IPA), you must order a glass of wine. Even if you’re not a wine connoisseurs, the helpful and knowledgeable staff will make recommendations and suggestions based on your pallet.
Bar Lusconi has wine by the bottle or the glass. Options by the glass change regularly, although expect to pay at minimum $ 40 for a bottle and $ 10 for a glass (prices aren’t listed for glasses, only bottles). But the wine is fabulous, I will be honest and admit that my wine experience most revolves around stocking my pantry with bottles from Trader Joe’s, but boy the Cava I had a Lusconi was unlike anything you can buy at a grocery store (I know I’m not the most knowledgeable wine drinker, please no shame!) So if you enjoy wine with the ladies or want to go on a fancy or romantic date, impress them with Bar Lusconi. While your pocket book may suffer after two drinks, you won’t be disappointed with the pour size, the service and especially the the wine! While I didn’t try any of the food, they also have a small food menu that I’ll be checking out next time. Bar Lusconi seems like the perfect option for my next ladies night!

I’m almost sorry that I love this place so much.
Please.Don’t.Change
+ AMBIENCE —
I walked in and literally thought I was in the lower Haight of San Francisco… not the hippy kind but the bare bones, stark, let your imagination fill this beautiful, narrow, historic, dimly-​lit space.
Minimalist perfection and a setting that suits all of the quieter, more civil, generations (i.e. don’t come here if you are under 25).
+ LIBATION —
Ample selection and a knowledgeable staff that doesn’t hide behind pretense of unnecessarily fluffy wine lingo. They’re people like you and they know what they like.
+ LOCATION —
It’s right at the quieter end of Main St. Slide in away from the crowds and enjoy a quiet moment or a personal conversation in quieter climes.
If you’re looking for something genuine and docile, please take a look.
But don’t bring too, too many people, it kills the vibe.

Totally understated and chic in a Berlin sort of way. Intimate and rustic great wines and tappets (smaller than Tapas) like cheese, chorizo, chocolate. THE best place for conversation or falling in love. Lovely small setting not too many seats and tables but just enough to make one feel like Durham is on it’s way to becoming the new Hamburg of the South. The waiters were very suave and so nice. I think I’m moving back to Durham. I lived there for years and it was as dull as Brangelina, now it’s chaud/​froid. So come hang out if you’re cool and understated. No sqeaky baby voiced bitches or DUH boys.

I never would’ve known this place was here, if not for word of mouth. It isn’t deliberately hidden, but it keeps a low profile, and if you aren’t paying attention it’s easy to walk right past it without noticing what it is.
The effort to stay under the radar made me worry a little bit that this place would have a snooty «too hip for you» attitude, which fortunately couldn’t be further from the truth. Inside, it’s low key but still full of character. With only a handful of tables and a tiny bar area, I could see how the space might get a little tight if it were busy, but on a laid back Tuesday night it was intimate and cozy.
The bartender was super friendly and welcoming, and he clearly knew his stuff. He made spot-​on recommendations to my friend and I based on our wine preferences. Overall, I didn’t think the prices were bad for the wine and beer. The cheese and charcuterie plates were a little more than I would probably pay for a snack, but they seemed on par with similar establishments.
It was an outstanding experience, and I will definitely be back.

The Duchesse is now $ 13 for a 12-​oz bottle. To put this into perspective, you can purchase a 25 oz bottle at Whole Foods for $ 13. I still like this place, the staff are friendly, and boy are the prices are rich.
I need to ask for a raise at work!

We met some friends here for drinks and I loved it! It’s got such a great vibe – intimate, low-​key. It’s almost hard to find because there isn’t a large sign advertising it’s location. When we first arrived, we weren’t sure we were in the right place, but I’m glad we were.
The service is excellent. The owner was great – he stopped by our table to chat with us when we got there and gave some recommendations for drinks based on what we said we liked + disliked. My boyfriend got an amazing pear cider that was delicious! When I mentioned I was interested in a cheese platter, he sent their cheese pro (I’m sure there’s a real name for that – I have no idea what) who described the different cheeses and asked me what kinds I liked, so I got a customized cheese plate. Loved the personalized service and atmosphere – definitely some place I’ll be checking out again.

Downtown Durham is never given the chance by most people from the other areas in the triangle, and here is a great example. This bar is small and full of everything Raleigh is lacking, character. I will be going back very very soon. Plus the suggested tempranillo was great !

This place has a great atmosphere. The wine and appetizer choices are great. There isn’t a set wine list, but bottles the owner has chosen. I love going here!

Good wine and at a reasonable price but the music is too loud for the small space. I think they have an outside table which seems to be very nice. Will come back some other time to check it out. By the way, love the name lol.

What a great find! No sign (which makes me feel empowered for finding it), great atmosphere (someone understands the importance of mood lighting), and a top notch beer/​wine selection. Really enjoyed the off-​the-​beaten path wine list, and Tim (the owner) was able to make great recommendations and a solid job of describing what we were having. (100% Carignono — who knew?) And you don’t have to worry about ordering by the glass, because it won’t have been sitting around for days. Nibbles were a great accompaniment (a small selection of meats and cheese, very nicely curated.) French bread from Weaver Street (my mom is french, so I’m a bit of a bread snob — this was good.) When I return, if it stays consistent, they will for sure get 5 stars.

Best. Wine bar. Ever. Owner described wine perfectly, sampled wine with us, and poured glasses. No wait. No hassle. It felt like having a fabulous glass of wine at a friend’s house… Cozy & intimate. Other waiter took our picture and noted that one if us was low on wine for the pic. He filled her glass a bit just for the sake of a good picture :) they’ve got forever friends/​customers now!

We checked out Bar Lusconi last Tuesday (you don’t drink on Tuesdays? Are you living? Actually… we don’t normally either.) The bar was empty except for our party of 2, another party of 2, and two bartenders. I don’t know if this is the case on busier nights (i.e. normal drinking nights), but we got a ton of recommendations and great conversation from the bartenders. They paired beer (for me) and red wine (for sigfig) to match the cheeses and meats we wanted on our charcuterie plate. We stayed for maybe 90 minutes or so, nursing a single drink and relishing in the great cheese selections. Reasonably priced for the quality you are getting (which is not PBR. its classy). It’s location to DPAC, the stadium, and some great restaurants makes it a nice stop before other activities in your evening. Definitely recommend.

Five Points has been in desperate need of some more bars since so many food options have opened up in the area. And I can’t think of a better addition than Bar Lusconi. It fills a void by offering high-​end wine and beer and catering to an older crowd.
I didn’t know much about Bar Lusconi before going in (take their almost-​blank webpage as an example of how hard information is to come by:
), other than it has the same ownership as the Peccadillo in Carrboro/​Chapel Hill. It is a long and narrow space with four-​person tables and a long ledge against one of the walls. The small bar (only seats four at a time) is in the very back. The lighting was low – but not so low that it was dark or you had trouble seeing. There were about twenty candles scattered across the room, which added some warmth without harsh overhead lighting. The walls were not decorated, going along with the hidden spot feeling.
I was pleasantly surprised that it isn’t a mirror image of Peccadillo. Instead of opening up two of the same bars, the owners did a great job of transferring some of the same things but making Bar Lusconi unique. First, the biggest difference: the bar only serves beer and wine – no cocktails,. The similarities: serve a limited menu of meats/​cheeses, friendly staff who really get to know patrons, the bar is very discreet – e.g. you have to know where it is to find it (although it isn’t hidden, it just isn’t clearly marked).
I would highly recommend this bar as a wonderful to grab a drink with a friend to have a conversation. Prices are high, but in line with similar places (e.g. Whiskey, Alley 26, the nicer wine/​cocktail bars in Raleigh).

This place is a good demonstration of how the owner and staff make all of the difference. The space is small and quaint which adds a lot of charm. Similar to their sister bar (Peccadillo), the place is inconspicuous which undoubtedly adds to the «cool factor». They focus on beer and wine and they do it really well.
My wife and I first met their main bartender/​manager Dean at Peccadillo in Chapel Hill and got along with him very well. We were excited to hear that they were opening new business in Durham. We’ve been a couple of times so far and have had a mix of beer and wine and they were top-​notch. Dean and the owner do their research and they find the most interesting and best tasting products. With the expert advice from the staff, we are never disappointed.
The space does fill up quickly because it is long and narrow but if you’re patient you’ll get a seat at one of the larger tables. Because of the small size, it does get a little loud. I do wish that the music wasn’t so loud but maybe that’s just me being an old man :) They have a little outdoor patio and they are adding more outdoor seating which will make this place even better.
Overall, nice bar and good place for trying new drinks and becoming a little more sophisticated.

Tim & Dean have done it again. Bar Lusconi is everything I had hoped for and more. The bar has an intimate feel (dimly lit, cozy space, candles on the tables) complete with gorgeous wood tables.
Just like Peccadillo, they have a wine list full of unique and tasty wines that you can’t (and shouldn’t) pass up. This is a place where I generally let all my preconceived wine notions go and let Tim & Dean tell me what I want. For the record, they’ve never let me down. ;)
In addition to wines, they offer beers and food including charcuterie, pâté, olives, cheese, bread, & chocolate. They mentioned that they’ll be getting an in-​house chef soon too!
To top off all the good wine and food, Bar Lusconi is a mere 3 minute walk to my apartment, which if you’re familiar with these bartenders, this is a huge win!