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Durham has a pretty good bar scene, and you can definitely make more than a few fun evenings out of it.
There are several areas of concentrated nightlife. In no particular order:
Five Points (aka Chapel Hill St and Main): Bull McCabes, the Republic, Whiskey, Beyu (check the schedule, only open late some of the time), and The Pinhook (not really at five points, but a few blocks away).
Brightleaf: Alivia's, Satisifactions, Devines, 1013 W Main, James Joyce, The Fed, the Casbah
9th Street: The Tavern, Charlie's, Dain's Place, Siren's Lounge (around the corner), and a few more
Foster/Geer: I'd say this is the next big hot spot. Fullsteam is at Geer and Rigsbee, with Motorco across the street, and a new beer garden is opening up at Foster and Geer in February or so.
American Tobacco: Tyler's, Tobacco Road, Cuban Revolution
If you want to mostly avoid undergraduates, I'd recommend sticking near Five points.