The Boat Club & Tomahawk Steakhouse

You'll spot this sprawling venue from miles away, perched right on the Wear with those floor-to-ceiling windows catching every glint of light off the water. The space feels like someone took a yacht club and crossed it with a proper steakhouse – all polished wood, nautical touches, and enough room to swing several cats across its multiple floors and outdoor terraces. The cocktail menu runs deeper than you'd expect from a steakhouse, and they know their way around a proper Old Fashioned or Negroni. Yes, the tomahawk steaks are the headline act, but the bar stands perfectly well on its own merits. Those cathedral views don't hurt either, especially when you've snagged one of the riverside tables as the sun sets over Durham's medieval skyline.