Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileArcana Bar and Lounge
Durham, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Arcana Bar and Lounge runs a two-track cocktail menu: Seasonal & Signature originals developed by the crew, and a Classics & Twists page of six named drinks with full ingredient lists. The Black Manhattan, Vesper, Gemini Rising, Sazerac, Waterlily, and Mule sit at $13–$16. Wine is a three-bottle, $12-each set of white, sparkling, and red. Beer adds two $8 drafts and seven bottles and cans spanning domestic, import, craft, and cider.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Black Manhattan, a $15 mix of rye whiskey, amaro averna, and orange bitters. The Sazerac at $13 combines whiskey, absinthe, and bitters, and the Gemini Rising at $15 takes dry gin or bourbon with cocchi rosa and cynar. For a lighter pour, the Vesper at $13 uses vodka, gin, dolin blanc, and a lemon twist.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who want recognizable classics with published ingredients alongside a small rotating selection of original cocktails. The beer list covers domestic, import, craft, and cider, so groups with mixed preferences can find something without leaving the cocktail menu behind.
- When should I go?
- A reasonable stop for a first drink of the evening or a nightcap, with cocktail and beer lists that suit both a single round and a longer conversation.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Classics & Twists cocktails run $13–$16, with the Black Manhattan and Gemini Rising at $15 and the Vesper and Sazerac at $13. Wine is $12 a glass across all three bottles. Draft beer is $8, and bottles and cans are $5–$6.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The menu separates Seasonal & Signature originals from Classics & Twists, giving the bar two distinct cocktail tracks. The Classics & Twists page publishes full ingredient lists for six drinks, and the wine list keeps a white, a sparkling, and a red at one $12 price.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Six Classics & Twists cocktails carry full ingredient lists and $13–$16 prices, with a separate Seasonal & Signature section for crew-developed originals. Reviewers call the drinks simple and easy to enjoy at reasonable prices, though one describes them as only so-so. The structure gives clear choice between familiar builds and house originals.
Menu strengths
- — Six named Classics & Twists cocktails with full ingredient lists and $13–$16 pricing
- — Seasonal & Signature originals separated from Classics & Twists on the menu
Standout selections
- — Black Manhattan: rye whiskey, amaro averna, orange bitters, $15
- — Gemini Rising: dry gin or bourbon, cocchi rosa, cynar, $15
Pricing: $13–$16
Wine
Three wines by name and price: Las Brisas Sauvignon Blanc, Lamberti Prosecco, and Illuminati Montepulciano, all $12. The list covers a white, a sparkling, and a red at a uniform price point, and the menu overview calls the beer, wine, and snacks selection small but tasty.
Menu strengths
- — White, sparkling, and red at a uniform $12 price
- — Menu overview describes the beer, wine, and snacks selection as small but tasty
Standout selections
- — Lamberti Prosecco at $12; Illuminati Montepulciano at $12
Pricing: $12 per glass
Beer
Two $8 drafts, Wise Man rotating IPA and a rotating seasonal, plus seven bottles and cans from $5–$6. The selection spans domestic, import, craft, and cider, giving the list more range than the wine side and a clear lower-price entry point.
Menu strengths
- — Selection spans draft, domestic, import, craft, and cider
- — Draft beers at $8, bottles and cans at $5–$6
Standout selections
- — Wise Man rotating IPA on draft, $8; Allagash White Ale, bottle or can, $6
- — Stem Chili Guava Cider, bottle or can, $6
Pricing: Draft $8; bottles and cans $5–$6
Nonalcoholic
The menu overview lists a Non-Alcoholic section described as inventive cocktails without the booze, organized alongside the Seasonal & Signature, Classics & Twists, and Beer, Wine, & Snacks sections.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail section described on the menu overview
Standout selections
- — Menu overview lists a Non-Alcoholic section described as inventive cocktails without the booze.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.