SoDu We Have Favorites 2026

South Durham NC Readers Pick Their 2026 Favorites

From restaurants and coffee shops to parks, schools, nonprofits, and neighborhood gathering places, Southpoint Access readers chose the people and places they love most.

Wes Platt

Wes Platt

— 4 min read
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South Durham NC Readers Pick Their 2026 Favorites
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Questions and answers that hopefully help illuminate how our new Southpoint Access pet obituaries section works!
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Hey, neighbors!

You voted. You shared. You helped shine a light on the places, people, and organizations that make South Durham feel like home.

Today, I'm excited to share the winners of SoDu We Have Favorites 2026, our reader-picked celebration of local restaurants, coffee shops, schools, parks, services, nonprofits, neighborhood favorites, and community gathering places.

This project only works because readers like you take the time to participate. Every vote represents a recommendation from one neighbor to another. That matters. In a place as busy and fast-changing as South Durham, it helps to know where people actually go, who they trust, what they love, and what they want others to discover.

This year’s winners include:

Food & Drink

Share Your Recipes for the SoDu We Enjoy Food Cookbook
Help me build a living cookbook for Durham-area kitchens!
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Family, Schools & Kids

Help Grow Southpoint Access: Forward to a Friend!
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Health, Wellness & Personal Care

Community Life

Support Local News | Subscription, Donation, or Sponsorship
This work is free to read because neighbors deserve to stay informed. But good local journalism takes time, energy, and funding - and through June 10, your support will also help RootEd in DPS through a revenue-sharing partnership.
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Shopping, Entertainment & Services

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who voted.

Southpoint Access exists to help South Durham see itself more clearly — the schools, businesses, nonprofits, neighbors, events, debates, and everyday places that shape life here. Projects like this are a reminder that local news isn't just about problems. It's also about connection, appreciation, and civic memory.

I'll be turning these results into a small printed guide for South Durham, so neighbors can keep, share, and discover these favorites throughout the year.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for voting. Thanks for helping build something local.

Best,

Wes Platt
Southpoint Access
Neighborhood News Guy

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