The Atomic Fern

Visited for the first time last night and loved it! Wouldn’t call it a dive bar, it’s actually got an uncluttered, open vibe, no pretentious Hipsters and NO TV’s!!!
There’s a comfy sofa, chairs and ottomans up front, a few tall tables, a row of spacious booths and seats at the bar. Plenty of board and cards games available to borrow, and the staff and other patrons were all super friendly.
Great selection of brews and spirits, wish they offered a few draft beers but not at all a deal-​breaker. Looking forward to going back.

Very relaxing dive bar to chill or play some board games with friends. I’ve been coming here for a while and will keep coming back. I used to go to other bars until those fell victim to keeping up with hipster trends. It’s a perfect place for that first date, date night without the kids, hanging out with friends or a solo outing. It doesn’t have its own food beyond some snacks but you call in to your local favourites to deliver. Often you will see Heavenly Buffalos, Lilly’s, Jimmy Johns, Randy’s, and Fines delivered.

Cool place, no membership fee like others said. A bunch of unique cocktails and relatively cheap beer. Really nice inside and looks/​smells new.

$ 3 membership fee with no guests and yet I have seen multiple people get out of this rule with bigger groups. Not only do I think they went about the Social club law ALL wrong with the no guest thing, it also seems unfair and inconsistent to only hold some people and not others to the same rule. My group of 3 ended up paying $ 3 each to sit at a bar only to discover there are no beers on tap leaving us to pick from a selection of boring and overpriced bottles. If they were going for a dive bar feel, they fail for the cost and lack of environment. I think they really tried hard to be quirky and fun, but the environment they created is just silent and awkward. I tried to come back and see if things were improving but every time I have found the bar just so lacking everything I think it is trying to be. Unfortunately, this is a big miss in a great city full of great bars. I do not recommend unless you are in a big group anyway and have someone good at getting the bartender to turn the other way on the membership fee. I can see it being good for groups who want to just hear each other and not be bothered by others or by background music. However, there are much cheaper more creative environments to do so in!

I was eagerly anticipating Atomic Fern’s opening, checking the space daily during my walk to work. After visiting, I’m pretty disappointed and have to give it a while before I return. No draft beers, only bottle.
The $ 3 membership fee (no guests) is too damn high, the beers were served just below room temperature, and the one person behind the bar seemed like she was both swamped by 3 people and DGAF about you being there. The seating isn’t ideal for small groups as it’s mostly large booths or a large table.
I’m really surprised by the reviews quoting Atomic Fern’s motto for being affordable, I think there’s many more affordable bars in downtown Durham. It rubs me the wrong way when a bar tries to make money from their membership fees. The fact the $ 3 membership fee doesn’t allow guests means any out-​of-​town friends have to cough up most of a beer price for a card they’ll never use again. Plus, they don’t have even a spreadsheet of the card so enjoy coughing up another $ 3 if you misplace a 3“x2″ piece of paper. To be honest, one of the reasons I won’t be visiting soon is I already lost the stupid membership card.
My husband & I spent $ 16 for two barely chilled 12-​oz beers at Atomic Fern, that’s ridiculously pricey. I can walk down the street to 106 E. Main and get a $ 5 bottle of Founder’s Breakfast Stout. Now that’s a good deal and I didn’t have to cough up $ 6 in membership fees just so we have the privilege of enjoying it.
The seating situation is more of a pet peeve than a serious issue. Many times I explore bars by myself or maybe another person. I hate the feeling of taking up a huge booth just by myself when seating is limited. However, it’s unavoidable with the kind of large booths and large tables at Atomic Fern unless you just stand. When I just spent $ 16 on two beers, I want to sit down and sip that sucker real slow because I feel like such a fool.
In the words of Kevin Sorbo: DISAPPOINTED!

This is a great new bar in downtown Durham. Down to earth, unpretentious, and cheap. And finally, a bar without TVs and that doesn’t play music so loud you can’t hear anyone! It also has some cards and boardgames that you can play. When you walk in you may find yourself wondering, «what’s up with all the clothespins?» I won’t ruin the suspense. You’ll have to go yourself and find out :)

Nice Saturday afternoon spot to drop in for a drink… Plays some pretty good tunes too.

Great low-​key bar — friendly staff, great service, great drinks. Unpretentious and you can actually hear the people you’re talking to, assuming you’re into that kind of thing.

Atomic Fern says this one their website «Our goal at the Atomic Fern is simple: we want to provide a comfortable place for you and your comrades to stop in and have a good time with each other without having to take out a loan to pay your tab. «
In that I think they succeeded. Every bar opening up recently around downtown (Alley 26, Bar Lusconi, Bar Virgile) has sought to be more of an upscale lounge. Atomic Fern gives a nice counter point to that which is needed around downtown.
It is a fairly small bare bones space. There are stools along the bar and a handful of booths. Unfortunately there are no taps and a smallish beer selection but it seems they are actively working on diversifying that. When I came in they had just added Bells Two Hearted and it’s price point was $ 4 for a 16oz can (not a special, just the price). That is fantastic and my group was certainly happy. If they keep beers of that caliber on hand and priced that low I’m sold.
Well drinks are $ 6 ($ 5 neat) which is a little more expensive than I would have guessed but it seemed their well liquor selection is actually pretty good so that makes sense.
Fancy cocktails/​top shelf liquor will range from $ 6-​$ 9 which is certainly great and a better deal than you will find at any other bar around downtown. i can’t remember if I had ever had an old fashioned that cheap.
Atomic Fern is just a simple bar, no frills or special attractions. While I don’t know if I would come out of my way to go here, if I was downtown and wanted to stop somewhere for a drink, I’d certainly head here.

Hadn’t heard anything about Atomic Fern until I stumbled across them this afternoon on Carpe Durham. I read the words «dive bar» and «downtown Durham» and was immediately intrigued.
Though not a dive bar by any means, Atomic Fern is definitely the cheapest, potentially lowest key option on Main Street. Most beers are four bucks though you can break the bank and go up to six. Nothing on tap but a small list of bottles and cans. Four bucks for a tall boy of PBR or four bucks for a tall boy of Lonerider. Take your pick.
I enjoyed the décor, lack of TVs, and the general vibe but I’ve definitely never been to a bar that doesn’t have Jameson or any other Irish whiskey on hand. Sort of a weird kink in the system but I’m hopeful this will be worked out.