Durham’s downtown has undergone a renaissance, with new hotels and restaurants springing up throughout what is now a bustling and lively area of commerce and fun. The Unscripted Durham sits at the center of it all, a walkable, charming accommodation choice whether you’re coming to the city for business or leisure.

When I arrived at the Unscripted Durham Hotel for my stay, it was easy to see this property boasts a ton of character. The blue-and-white façade sticks out among the more “normal” buildings around it and reflects the hotel’s past life as the Jack Tar Motor Lodge. That, however, was in the mid-1900s and, since then, the building experienced several lives and a period of vacancy before its rebirth courtesy of two individuals with ties to the town and the Dream Hotel Group. They used the space for the unveiling of the new Unscripted brand, and the Durham location sets the standard for this international, design-driven hotel brand moving forward.

The property has 74 guestrooms, all with a retro-mod style mixed with modern touches. The Studio, or lobby lounge, features both vintage-style couches and graffiti art on the walls, while guestrooms offer vibrant 1960s-esque wallpaper and ultra-modern bathrooms.

My guestroom was a studio king room on the second floor. The building is only four stories and the third- and fourth-floor rooms open out onto the hotel’s pool deck rather than an interior hallway.

My guestroom was a spacious “L” shape, with a supporting beam in the center of the sitting area. It was explained to me these unique guestroom shapes are necessary due to the property’s past life, but I hardly thought of it as negative; instead, it just means each room is a little different, with its own character.

The studio king rooms have loads of storage, a work area, sitting area with couch, a king-sized bed and a spacious restroom with a separate soaking tub and shower. The vanity offers lots of counter space, an appreciated touch. Windows all around the top of my room’s two exterior walls let in lots of natural light. There was more than enough space for one person, and I could see it being perfect for two or even three travelers.

The hotel’s common spaces include a 24/7 fitness center conveniently located right off the lobby. The staff assures me it is generally quite free. The Studio is designed with socialization and mingling in mind, so you can feel comfortable working on your laptop there during the day, and also have a drink in the evening. A DJ makes an appearance on certain nights of the week.

The coffee-turned-cocktail bar, christened allday, is just off the lobby as well and, as I was pleased to find out during my stay, the bar menu features a delicious Old Fashioned. There’s a limited all-day menu, with light options, but there are also several other restaurants within the same building, so you’re never more than a few steps away from a great meal or drink just about any hour of the day.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fresh, fun hotel in the perfect Durham location, look no further than the Unscripted Durham Hotel.

Unscripted Durham

202 N. Corcoran St.
Durham, NC 27701
tel 984 329 9500