21c Museum Hotel Durham

10/10

Exceptional

14 Mar 2026

John

Fun area

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Mar 2026

karen

The NICEST people ever. From the valet to the front desk to restaurant staff, the most helpful and friendly people. The art is amazing and a tour of the vault is a must. Easy walk to the DPAC.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2026

W. Lee

I love staying at this hotel when I am in Durham. The staff is very friendly and professional. The property is unique, clean and well maintained. And I always enjoy taking a walk through the art gallery.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2026

Kerri

Staff was very kind and accommodating.

Friends

2/10

Poor

02 Mar 2026

Marquita

Heat didn’t work switched rooms and didn’t work there it was 12 degrees I would have loved to be warm beds are very uncomfortable staff is amazing tho

4/10

Poor

01 Mar 2026

Valarie

Upon arrival the AC in the room was not working. The room had a musky odor. Our room was next to the elevator so we heard that all night. Our coffee pot did not work, they offered to send someone up but at that point I decided it was not worth wasting my time waiting and went out and bought coffee. They could have at least offered to send some up from the restaurant. This place looked very appealing on paper but unfortunately the execution was not there.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2026

Leah

Everyone was so personal and appreciative of the patronage here. It was a wonderful hotel for exploring the Durham downtown and Duke University. Quaint, easy to navigate, and welcoming. Excellent lodging with art display and also convenient to DPAC.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

28 Feb 2026

Jennifer

Night lights weren’t working properly. I asked a housekeeper to pass the message on but no one fixed it.

Business

8/10

Excellent

24 Feb 2026

Jamie

Lovely staff and great location. Room was super dark. Maybe I’m just getting old.

Self

8/10

Excellent

24 Feb 2026

Samantha

Staff was very nice despite there being a late check in (room wasn't available at check-in time) and the restaraunt is top notch, loved the cuisine and wait staff there. I do think some of the rooms need to be updated and the lighting was a bit dim, but with the museum and other amenities attached, it's not a bad hotel stay. But definitely could use those improvements above.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

23 Feb 2026

Tammy

The room had no AC and we were not made aware. I called down and they stated they would bring a fan. No one ever brought a fan. I called again and we were moved to an another room which did have AC. They did give me a discount but it was not much. I do appreciate the effort though. No parking nearby an very confusing to actually find the hotel once you are inside.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2026

Kerry

Really friendly, helpful staff. The room was so great and quiet, even next to the elevators.

8/10

Excellent

19 Feb 2026

Sharron

Noting really stood out about the hotel; however, the bellmen were great!!!!!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

18 Feb 2026

Nicholas

The accommodations appeared somewhat antiquated. While the customer service was commendable, the early check-in fee was not ideal. Overall, the experience of exploring the diverse exhibits within the hotel's museum was positive.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2026

MARSHA

Everyone was very friendly. We did notice a bad oder in the bath later that night. We threw a towel over the drain in the floor and that seeme d to help. We very much enjoyed the restaurant and we stopped in for a nightcap after the concert and the bartender was great. Just a suggestion - in such a lovely rstaurant - the waiters would look better in some type of uniform - white shirt and black pants. They were all very good at their job - they just would have presented better in a better dress code. just a thought......

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

12 Feb 2026

Patricia

The room was very cold. We were told it was hard to heat old buildings. A space heater was brought up that helped.
The tub was very slippery. We both almost fell

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Feb 2026

Ned

Room was very clean and spacious wish the light bulbs in the overhead light were a little brighter . Really enjoyed the hotel and the bar and restaurant downstairs. Definitely will be back.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Jan 2026

Chanelle

Aside from the heater barely working in the rooms in the middle of winter, it was a nice stay. We moved once and both rooms on both floors had poor heating it was uncomfortable. However, the staff were always professional and friendly. The 4 stars are for them

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jan 2026

Farhad

Good service. Clean

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2026

Lynn

This hotel is our favorite pet-friendly hotel in downtown Durham. During this last visit, I had inadvertently double booked myself a room directly with the hotel and on Expedia. The check-in host was so kind to cancel the room booked directly with the hotel without penalties. I certainly was not expecting that and figured I'd be paying for two rooms due to my oversight. Thank you 21c hotel. That made my day, and I will certainly return.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

31 Dec 2025

Judi

Restaurant didn’t open, smelled like weed/vaping, hard to find people to help us, strangely empty and never saw other guests or workers, staff responsive to get our car or bring extra towels, dinner at restaurant was excellent

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Dec 2025

Jan

Excellent staff! While this property is known for its art and design, it also has an excellent staff. Every staff member has been very friendly and accommodating on each of our stays.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

18 Dec 2025

Lauren

Amazing staff, comfortable rooms, best shower, convenient location.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Dec 2025

Charles

Good hotel

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Dec 2025

David

Historical Feel

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Nov 2025

maurice

The food options are good, but extremely limited. The museum on the premises is very cool. The staff are extremely nice. The only minor complaint is the room could've been cleaner, and updated televisions and phones wouldn't be a bad idea, and room service would be absolutely amazing!

Business

6/10

Pleasant

22 Nov 2025

Philip

The staff was very welcoming and professional. The location was great in terms of navigating downtown. Howeve the room was just average. It took a significant amount of time for the water to warm in the shower. I realize this. An be an issue in older buildings, so a heads up would have been helpful so we could have avoided cold showers. As an older individual having brighter
lighting in the room would also be beneficial.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2025

Tiffany

Staff was very courteous

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

19 Nov 2025

Lisa H

Overall good hotel and friendly staff. Building and rooms show some age but that is part of the charm. Enjoyable stay.

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

15 Nov 2025

Jacquelyn

We arrived at 3pm after a 4 1/2 hour drive and was told it would be an hour but our room wasn’t ready until 5; yet the staff felt comfortable with checking everyone else in even though they arrived well after me. We were given an “upgrade” but the room’s lights didn’t work and the musty odor was atrocious!

Racial inequality at its best! I’LL NEVER STAY THERE AGAIN!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

14 Nov 2025

Alan

solid place. friendly staff but a bit slow to respond.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2025

Chelsea

Clean room, gorgeous galleries, great restaurant, wonderful staff

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2025

Jeremy

Staff was very

10/10

Exceptional

25 Oct 2025

Pete

Great loved it

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2025

Darrell

Lovely in every way. Great eco friendly hotel.

Business Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Oct 2025

Amanda

A staple in Durham, NC

Room was clean. Location is excellent to DPAC, Durham Bulls and downtown.

It’s walking distance to The Novus Apartments and to the Bodega.

The smoothie shop Juice Keys is next door and it’s my absolute favorite!

I love the art gallery that’s on the second floor. It’s open 24/7 and allows you to walk and enjoy art.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

20 Oct 2025

De'Shauna

Very nice

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2025

Nathan

Unique hotel with great amenities, and a rotating art gallery. Within easy walking distance of multiple excellent restaurants and DPAC.

2/10

Poor

17 Oct 2025

Lew

Avoid the rooms near the noisy elevators.
The place is not staffed properly after midnight - front desk was not there at all, and it took 30 minutes for me to get my car out of valet so I could get to the airport. Is this chain bankrupt, because the service indicates that.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

17 Oct 2025

Lew

This place is dirty. This place is not safe. The front desk and valet are not staffed properly after midnight. It was difficult to find somebody to get my car so I could catch a plane to the airport. Stay away from rooms near the elevators - they are noisy.
Terribly value for the money.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 Oct 2025

Angelena

Good stay for work.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Oct 2025

Ryan

If you enjoy art you will LOVE this hotel museum. Feels like spending the night in a small gallery.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2025

Mike

Great staff and convenient location for us

8/10

Excellent

10 Oct 2025

Julia

Disappointed in the ambience of the hotel for the.

The room was clean! Love the shampoo/conditioner/lotions. Liked the Nespresso machine but it was tricky to work even with directions (more pods are needed also - my daughter chose medium roast & I was stuck with Dark Roast which was way too strong).
When we arrived, my room was extremely hot. I let the front desk know & they said they’d send “engineering” to fix. My daughter and I turned the air down to 65 degrees and left for four hours. Came back and the room was still stifling hot. I called front desk again and they assured me it had been fixed. We went to bed very hot and woke up in the middle of the night freezing.
Staff was very kind. The hotel seems to be under some level of construction or is just run down. For the price we paid, I would assume it would be a pristine hotel. The location of the hotel is ideal.
Valet parking is your only option and VERY pricey.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2025

Jakob

Nice spot

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2025

Elizabeth

I absolutely love this hotel. It’s a gem in NC and I love how passionate and friendly the staff are…

Business Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

03 Oct 2025

KATHERINE

Stay was great other than a rude bar tender. Walkable, clean, check in staff kind and helpful.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

30 Sep 2025

Christopher

Not bad the hotel is cool and in a ok location but the pictures are not a representation of every room like the bathrooms/shower does not light up purple like how it shows in the pictures

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2025

Mary

The hotel is in a very good location. Staff was excellent. I loved the art on display. It was an interesting touch. We will definitely stay there again.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

29 Sep 2025

Ryan

Very walkable to shops and restaurants in downtown Durham. The walls seemed incredibly thin and we could easily hear other guests conversations. Self-parking is limited to street parking, which is free on the weekends but is limited to two hours on weekdays. Room was clean

6/10

Pleasant

29 Sep 2025

Kenyatta

Nice concept and hotel. However, the pillows felt like concrete. I'm not sure what changes they are making, but there's much more potential to be realized.

Furthermore, the restaurant was closed upon my arrival (8:30 pm on a Sunday evening). I had to search for a meal.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

28 Sep 2025

Lynn

Very impressed and it's in an amazing location. They also allowed our two large dogs to stay (for a fee) so that was the reason we chose 21c.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

28 Sep 2025

Kathleen

Elevators are very slow - and confusing; room was comfortable but very dark - not enough lights. Shower was great.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2025

Marie

The museum was fun to explore within the hotel. We also received complimentary bourbon which was a plus! Valet was easy and convenient.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Aug 2025

Edith

The art collection was incredible.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2025

Angela

Great location, close to everything. Love the museum. Sauna and steam room were a big plus!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2025

Natosha

Enjoyed my stay.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

17 Aug 2025

Regina

Cute hotel and very friendly staff. Furniture is outdated though and rooms have a loud wind-like and popping sound going through the vent.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

14 Aug 2025

Bindu

Overall our stay was good. I just wish the housekeeping/maintenance paid attestation to what was not working in the room. One table lamp and the safe did not work; the lighting in the room was very low, soft such that getting dressed, putting on makeup etc. felt like we were doing it in the dark

The restaurant staff was great but the cook seemed to be having issues - he was not willing to prepare listed menu items and when the food did, the quality of the food was not the best. We only had one breakfast meal there and that was more than enough.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Aug 2025

Nathan

Great stay in downtown

Leisure Pet

10/10

Exceptional

11 Aug 2025

Alysia

Likes: Staff was great! Art work on several floors, nice decor, roomy, comfy bed and great cocktails! Dislikes? NONE. Would def stay again!
Look out for the pink penguins!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Aug 2025

Alexander

A Little Taste of Something New

Not just a place to stay. The Museum Hotel in Durham brings you in. This old bank building with strict exterior and vast spaces holds a wealth of fantastic art.

The bar was a perfect place to destress while awaiting test results and Sharri made exceptional expressions of a Martini and an Old Fashioned that hit to the heart of doing something simple with care.

The art exhibit was extraordinary in the power that was communicated. Coming from Cuban ancestry, I associated deeply with the wealth of Cuban themes in the art.

Business Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2025

Cathy And Dwight

Staff was welcoming and always smiling. Location was perfect for us getting to the Durham Bulls baseball stadium. The only negative thing was mandatory valet parking.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jul 2025

Kody

While short, my stay was excellent. Beautiful room, wonderful restaurant. Overall very satisfied with my stay!

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2025

Erin

Unique Hotel

This hotel is unique with an art museum inside the hotel. As you walk down the halls, you enjoy paintings, sculptures as well as small exhibits. The room was comfortable and had everything you need for a nice stay. We loved the reusable water bottles waiting for us in the room. The restaurant, The Counting House, has a small dinner menu, but everything we had was delicious. This old bank building is charming and has some of the original features of the bank including the large vault in the basement. There was a sauna and a steam room, a small fitness room with enough free weights and exercise bands to get a decent workout. It was a hot summer weekend so I would have loved a pool, but other than that, everything was great!
We used the municipal garage down the block instead of the valet parking. There are nice coffee shops, restaurants and bakeries all within a few blocks of the hotel. I highly recommend this hotel for an evening at the Carolina Theater.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2025

Thomas

It was convenient to the Flying Home swing dance at the Durham Armory. Museum had quality art. The open bank vault in the basement was interesting. Valet parking was efficiently run. I recommend a $5 tip. Counting House restaurant was very nice. Their biscuit was more like an English muffin, but not a great one. Everything else was excellent.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jul 2025

Cara

The concept is super cool (two floors of a 24/7 art museum?!), the rooms were spacious and managed to be both updated but kept their art deco charm. The front desk folk were incredibly helpful and informative--I couldn't have asked for more during my super short stay.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2025

Gina

Fantastic Location!

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2025

Austin

Staff was fantastic and loved the gallery. The room was not as nice as I expected with a few things not working - nothing critical. I would stay here again.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jul 2025

Claire

Amazing - must go again!

This was one of the best experiences in a hotel, and I have traveled around the globe. The staff here was absolutely phenomenal, and the manager at the front desk was absolutely lovely, caring, accommodating, and kind. From the housekeeping staff to the valet it was absolutely amazing. The restaurant staff is something to be desired, but hopefully they will learn in time because they all seemed new, but we’re absolutely lovely even though they didn’t know much about the menu. That’s just me being brutally honest. The room was absolutely clean and comfortable, and the best of all was that it was quiet. Everything about the hotel was chic and cool and I couldn’t have wished for better for my short stay to visit my friend in Raleigh.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jul 2025

Patricia

Not nice!!

We didn’t feel safe in the area. The restaurant is very mediocre, specially the restaurant.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Jul 2025

Yvette

The front desk staff were accommodating as the first room we stayed in was changed due to noisy elevator. The valet team was awesome; gave us lots of smiles and tips on where to eat. We did not have enough time to enjoy all of the museum but what we did see was very interesting. The service in the bar area was just blah! As restaurant staff was not so welcoming (espresso machine broken) however brunch the day we were leaving was great so kodos to the Chef.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2025

Joyce T

The location is excellent as so many great restaurants and cafes are within walking distance. The staff is friendly and so helpful! I would highly recommend this hotel.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2025

Roy

Wonderful room, great museum, awesome bar...

Business Partner

6/10

Pleasant

01 Jul 2025

Kim

Museum was wonderful. Food was inconsistent most days just okay, to

8/10

Excellent

19 Jun 2025

David

Classy with a hard bed

Very nice place - well kept - very clean and modern. Art museum running through three floors was a very nice addition to the experience. Bed, however, was rock hard. I’m sure everyone has their individual preference but I’ll have to stay somewhere else in the future just for that reason. Excellent neighborhood and great restaurants all around.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2025

michael

Very enjoyable stay. Great location and staff.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jun 2025

Cheryl

The air conditioning and elevators were not fully operational. Also in terms of food, consider adding non-pork (such as turkey) meat options for breakfast.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jun 2025

Peter

Rooms were clean, great bed! Not very pratical for business travel, no workspace in the room I had. Going more for the funky look than functionality. In a very quiet and safe area.

Business

8/10

Excellent

05 Jun 2025

Holly

Although my overall stay was very nice, I was surprised by a few items in my room considering the price I paid. Those include a very noticeable and rather suspicious stain on one of the couches, a glass shower door that gave off a loud, sharp sound when opened each time, and a suspicious hole in the side of the mirror as if it had been penetrated by a ping pong ball size rock. Otherwise the museum style exhibit throughout the property was lovely. I understand exhibits are in a rotation with other 21c properies. I would probably return if ever in the area again.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

03 Jun 2025

Laura

O

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

01 Jun 2025

Bohan

Good hotel overall but they gave be a double when I booked a king bed and after I went back to tell them, they blamed it on the Expedia system and couldn’t give me the room I booked. One of the staff said to leave my contact info at the front desk and they would talk to the manager but no one at the front desk took my contact information.

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2025

Tracy

Lovely backdrop of incredible art. The staff were friendly but clueless when it came to recommendations for outdoor eating and other questions asked about the area. They were very courteous about not knowing, but it would've been helpful to have suggestions. The young lady that checked me in was very helpful throughout my stay . I usually say the Marriott when in Durham, but I would give 21C another try.

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

25 May 2025

Kim

Parking was pricing considering other properties offered much lower parking fees. Dining was nice. It was good to actually have a breakfast in the morning and not a muffin. Rooms were okay, although the bed was not very comfortable. Overall it’s just okay.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2025

Kirsti

Great location and great place to stay

Amazing staff and managers! It was such a fun art gallery combined with a very comfy room. The location is also awesome! You can walk to a ton of good restaurants and be sure to check out The Parlour if you want a scoop of ice cream.

Business

6/10

Pleasant

14 May 2025

Kimberly

Well it is a good hotel, but we were there for 3 days and they never cleaned our room. Despite seeing housekeeping cart on our hall, they never cleaned. We ran out of toilet paper & towels & had to ask for them. Valet parking is very slow. Says it takes 20 minutes, but we waited for 20 minutes for someone just to show up one morning. We opted to park in street our last night so that we wouldn’t have to wait so long for our car to head to airport. They were working on broken elevators on our floor and the men began clanging and drilling & making noise at 7:30. Overall our stay wasn’t pleasant.

Business Family

6/10

Pleasant

14 May 2025

Will

Hotel is in an old bank has some character but also has poorly running elevators and check in on the second floor

8/10

Excellent

13 May 2025

Verified traveler

Still feels like an old dentist's office

Pros: Great location, friendly staff, bar and restaurant on site, comfortable beds.
Cons: unfortunately, the conversion of this old office building into a hotel is incomplete - a broken elevator, chipped old floors, terrible lighting in the guest rooms, a suspicious odor in the bar area - it feels like an incomplete remodel. The broken elevator meant that floors 7-15 were all relying on one old elevator. This was quite inconvenient. The art takes the place of comfortable public spaces to meet up with your group, so even that potentially appealing detail turned out to be a negative overall.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

10 May 2025

Anthony

I felt like the room was way overpriced! I also felt that the lighting in the room was a lot to be desired. The way the buttons worked, either all the lights were on or all the lights were off. That was the most unusual thing I’ve ever seen in our room, and I travel quite a bit! I also felt my throne was very small with little or no sitting space.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

05 May 2025

Verified traveler

A cool experience, but a mediocre hotel.

Like the neighboring Durham and Unscripted boutique hotels, 21C is a cool experience with unique amenities and a fun vibe.

Also like the Durham and Unscripted, 21C struggles with the basics: Cozy Bed, Cold AC (or heat if that’s your thing),

The room was clean, quiet, and looked great.

Bathroom could do with a better showerhead.

The AC fan never seemed to turn on no matter what, so the room was a too warm.

The mattress was hard and lumpy.

Self

4/10

Poor

05 May 2025

Sarah

Buildings smells. Towels smell very dirty. Water filters in the filling stations were expired. AC in first room didn’t work and had to move. Elevators are also dirty.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2025

Michelle

The sraff was amazing. Will stay again

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2025

Anthony

Great Location

Business Family

2/10

Poor

26 Apr 2025

Otis

The staff at this location were very friendly and very nice. The only complaint I have is for $450 for a room. You think the room would be just a little better. There was a stain on the carpet. There was no hot water. We called down up front and still didn’t get any hot water went to the concert five hours later still no hot water and we had a room next to something that was humming the whole night the shower head in our bathroom need to be changed out all did was leak water so basically the room was quite disappointing, but we may be back. We like the location because it’s close to the Dpac.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Apr 2025

Jacqueline

Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly. I enjoyed my stay and would definitely stay again!

Business Self

2/10

Poor

20 Apr 2025

James

Never Stay at 21C again.

NO HOT WATER— during entire stay.
Dirty, run down place.

Horrible hotel experience.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

19 Apr 2025

Daniel

The hotel is in fair condition and room was clean. Downside is the room AC which didn’t work properly and room was a bit musty. We had to swap rooms in order to get a less musty experience. For some reason we didn’t have hot water running at all in the evening nor in the morning…not to bad since the weather was hot, but this is not a 3 star hotel should miss in any circumstances. I recommend other hotels near by for weekend stays/visits.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

14 Apr 2025

Benjamin

Staff were all very helpful, but the air conditioning in our room didn’t work. They moved us to another room. The art work in the hotel is a definite plus. The hotel is a moderate walk to several restaurants.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2025

nancy

The art!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2025

Elsy Arely

The staff from valet, front desk, house keeping, maintenance, and restaurant were friendly and polite, made our experience lovely!