15 Best Coffee Shops in Raleigh NC

Searching for the very best coffee shops in Raleigh NC? Whether you need to get some work done, want a cute spot for a casual date, or you’re in search of the city’s best latte art, you’ll find it here. This detailed guide highlights all the best Raleigh coffee shops, with 15 options city-wide.

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There’s a lot to love about Raleigh: the abundance of trees and open green spaces (it’s nicknamed “City of Oaks” for a reason!), its college town feel, the mild climate, Southern charm and hospitality, and the incredible brewery and foodie scenes. 

That includes coffee shops in Raleigh, and the coffee culture here is just as diverse and dynamic as the city itself.

Need a quiet cafe to work from and take Zoom calls? Looking for a solid offering of vegan options? An Instagrammable place? Want the best desserts or pourover in town? Somewhere you can have both a cup of coffee and cocktails? Check, check, check, check, and check.

As the capital of North Carolina, its second biggest city, and home to the state’s largest university, Raleigh coffee shops cater to every imaginable whim and coffee lovers of all types. 

But with so many options, where do you start?

We’ve got you covered. From coffee shops in downtown Raleigh specifically to the best for working and those with a full menu or beer, here are the best coffee shops in Raleigh NC. 

3 Best Coffee Shops in Raleigh NC Overall

This city has no shortage of excellent cafes, but here are a few top picks for folks looking for a quick recommendation. 

1. Sir Walter Coffee

• Location: 145 E. Davie St., northwest corner of Davie & Blount (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday; 7:00 am – 8:00 pm Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday; 7:00 am – 10:00 pm Friday & Saturday
• Don’t miss: Cold brew (on draft) and Humphrey Gilbert cocktail (alcoholic)

Sir Walter Coffee‘s slogan, “Coffee-Craft-Comfort” tells you everything you need to know. Delicious coffee, craft coffee cocktails (a literal mouthful — ha!), and a comfy, everyone-is-welcome vibe. They roast and sell their own beans, have a full bar, and offer a nice selection of light food items.

Inside, the cafe is spacious and sleek, with pops of cheerful orange and gray. There’s a wide variety of seating: typical low-slung tables, high-top bar seats (including at the actual bar), high-back booths, and lounge sofas. You’ll find outdoor tables on the patio, too.

Because of all the choices, SWC is one of the best coffee shops to work in Raleigh.

The perpetually busy shop sits on a bustling corner, but many people just grab and go. You get that quintessential background noise, but you also don’t have to worry about snagging a good table.

2. Jubala

• Location: Three shops, with the main one in North Raleigh (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday-Friday; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
• Don’t miss: Literally any latte and a biscuit

Among even the very best coffee shops in Raleigh NC, Jubala stands out as a local treasure with a unique hometown touch. Born from the passion of a Raleigh native who grew up across the street from its first shop (North Raleigh), Jubala has become a community hub with three locations.

It’s also become a haven for coffee purists. Jubala has local favorite Black and White roast its coffee beans weekly and every morning, employees taste-test the espresso for consistency. Precision is key, with every shot weighed and ground to order.

Jubala is a go-to for breakfast, too, offering an impressive menu centered around wildly popular from-scratch biscuits and waffles that come with endless toppings.

3. 321 Coffee 

• Location: 615 Hillsborough St. downtown, (get directions) – plus a location inside the State Farmers Market 
• Hours: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday-Friday; 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
• Don’t miss: Nitro cold brew and cinnamon rolls (but they sell out early!)

Not only does 321 Coffee serve excellent drinks and goodies, but it has an incredible mission. The shop hires individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These folks do everything from take customer orders to whip up lattes and roast coffee beans. 

The name “321” is a nod to Down syndrome, which is the result of someone having 3 copies of the 21st chromosome. You may also notice the company’s branding incorporates the double helix and other elements of DNA. 

In addition to all this, though, 321 Coffee’s Hillsborough Street location is in a great, vibrant part of town and it’s a great coffee shop for working or studying. There’s also a nice patio with cornhole, and you can buy bags of roasted-in-house coffee to bring home.

And if you need more convincing that this is one of the best coffee shops in Raleigh NC, 321 was also founded by NC State alumni. Go Pack!

Best Coffee Shops in Downtown Raleigh

The bustling streets and hidden corners of downtown are the heartbeat of Raleigh’s caffeine culture.

4. The Morning Times

• Location: 10 E. Hargett St., between Fayetteville & Wilmington (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday-Thursday; 7:00 am – 8:00 pm Friday & Saturday
• Don’t miss: Drip coffee (really—it’s good and rich) and breakfast grits

If you want to work from a coffee shop in Raleigh and you’re downtown, it’s hard to beat The Morning Times. Head upstairs, where you’ll find tons of seating and outlets, plus a studious but hip vibe with exposed brick walls covered in works from local artists.

If you can, grab a seat near the window. This is close to all the government buildings, and there’s constant foot traffic outside, making for excellent people watching.

The Morning Times does breakfast food really well, so it’s a perfect spot to set up shop for a few hours. Standouts include the house-made bagel and biscuits, breakfast grits, and, when they have it, “morning mac.”

Downstairs, this Raleigh coffee shop operates as grab-and-go, with just a handful of seats. Service is super fast and efficient, so keep it in mind for mornings when you need something quick. 

5. 42 & Lawrence

• Location: 134 E. Martin St., on the corner of Martin & Blount (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 5:30 pm Sunday-Thursday; 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Friday & Saturday
• Don’t miss: A latte with house-made syrup

42 & Lawrence sits on the edge of historic Moore Square, one of the city’s original public green spaces (it was established in 1792!). The location offers a tranquil retreat in the heart of downtown.

It’s also convenient to pop in for a drink after shopping at Moore Square Market (May-October) or putting your favorite running shoes to good use in the park.

The sleek, modern shop has a European feel, with a large bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, and bowler hat lighting fixtures. Its vibe, location, and the beer and wine served alongside espresso make this coffee shop in Raleigh one of the best places for a date. It’s also an excellent cafe to work from.

6. Sosta Cafe

• Location: 130 E. Davie St. #1806, in the Red Hat building (get directions)
• Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday-Friday (closed weekends)
• Don’t miss: Vanilla latte and the Guido sandwich

Sosta Cafe is downtown Raleigh’s best-kept secret—a true “restful break” for those in the know.

Tucked just across from perpetually-busy Sir Walter Coffee, this hidden gem’s chill vibe is the perfect tranquil break from the downtown hustle and bustle. The name says it all, and locals flock to Sosta for a serene atmosphere that feels like a Parisian cafe on a quiet street.

Sosta’s vibe and coffee are excellent, but even more so, it’s a vegan-friendly haven with several excellent plant-based menu options. The real showstoppers are the sandwiches—vegan or not, they’re the stuff of local legend. Dramatic, we know, but also accurate.

7. Black & White Coffee at Videri Chocolate Factory

• Location: 327 W. Davie St., in the Warehouse District (get directions)
• Hours: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday-Friday; 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday; 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday
• Don’t miss: Mocha and a chocolate sampler

How many coffee shops in Raleigh NC can say they share space with a literal chocolate factory? Black & White has two other Raleigh-area cafes, but this one’s unique location makes it the clear standout. 

Chocolate is obviously a big deal here, but the shop also carries Tepuy donuts and delicious pastries from local favorite Strong Arm Baking. 

Even considering all that, the real reason you come to Black & White is for the coffee. The company roasts its own right onsite, a few days a week. And they must be on to something, because Food and Wine named Black & White the best coffee roaster in the state in 2022.

Inside, the shop is both modern and rustic (which seems to be a very Raleigh thing). Out back, there’s an awesome shaded patio with several tables and chairs, plus colorful paintings on the ground.

Best Coffee Shops to Work in Raleigh

For those seeking the perfect blend of productivity and caffeine, these Raleigh coffee shops are havens for remote work and creative thinking.

8. The Optimist

• Location: 1000 Brookside Dr., Suite 109 – East Mordecai neighborhood, just north of downtown (get directions) 
• Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday-Saturday; 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday
• Don’t miss: The Stacey, a honey-cinnamon-vanilla latte

Opened in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, it’s hard to imagine a better name for a Raleigh coffee shop than The Optimist.

It’s inviting and chill, yet highly Instagrammable, too. There are plants literally everywhere, both inside and on the back patio, which is also dog-friendly. For those who are super into plants, the cafe even hosts a monthly plant swap. 

Cheeky, well-placed signs (like “This place sucks”) indicate that The Optimist Raleigh doesn’t take itself too seriously. Frequent live music and a nice selection of board games further prove this point. However, it’s also one of the best coffee shops in Raleigh for working (sit by the plant wall!).

The best thing about The Optimist, though, is its commitment to the local community. It sources local ingredients and products as much as possible, and partners with other local businesses. For example, the shop’s coffee is from Black & White and the English muffins come from Michael’s.

9. Idle Hour Coffee

• Location: 1818 Oberlin Rd. #103, Oberlin/West Raleigh (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday-Thursday; 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Friday & Saturday; 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday
• Don’t miss: Iced Vietnamese coffee and matcha cheesecake

Certainly one of the cutest, most Instagrammable coffee shops in Raleigh NC, it’s hard not to fall in love with Idle Hour. Although it’s a newer addition, opened in 2020, Idle Hour quickly made a name for itself. 

In particular, people come for the desserts. Yes, there’s amazing coffee and the ambiance is great, but these desserts…they’re both incredible and incredibly pretty. Almost too pretty too eat! Almost.

The menu is Vietnamese-inspired, and some of the most popular options include matcha cheesecake and Tepuy sourdough donuts, which have a tremendous local following.

For getting some work done, you have choices for where to sit. There’s bar seating at the counter and against the window overlooking the street, tables and chairs (inside and out), and the ever-popular teal velvet sofa. 

10. Cup A Joe

• Location: 3100 Hillsborough St., West Raleigh/NC State (get directions)
• Hours: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm seven days a week
• Don’t miss: Baileys Irish Cream Cold Brew, black and white cake

Cup A Joe is a quintessential college town coffee shop, literal steps from the North Carolina State University campus. You’ll see a mix of students, professors, and everyone else, and the NC State radio station (WolfBytes Radio) is always on. 

The shop has an old-school feel, with a Pac-Man arcade game, mismatched chairs and tables, and interesting murals covering the walls. 

One thing that sets Cup A Joe apart from other Raleigh coffee shops is that it roasts its own coffee beans in-house. In fact, the distinct smell of coffee wafts up and down Hillsborough Street! For ready-to-drink coffee, don’t miss the daily specials (Thursday Mocha Madness, for example).

11. Iris Coffee Lab

• Location: 725 Tucker St., ground level of The Devon apartments downtown (get directions)
• Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm seven days a week (kitchen hours 9:00 am – 2:00 pm)
• Don’t miss: Rosemary latte or Blue Matcha latte and a (Benchwarmers) Hotshot Bagel

A bright, airy, minimalist-industrial space decked out with colorful artwork and live plants, Iris Coffee Lab is one of the best coffee shops in Raleigh for remote workers. On any given day, you’ll find a handful of regulars treating this as their office.

As “lab” in its name implies, coffee here is serious business.

The friendly staff constantly experiments with new flavor combos (house-made cherry-marzipan syrup, anyone?) and techniques, and every ingredient is precisely measured and weighed on every order. This may be the best Raleigh coffee shop for purists, as well as adventurous foodies.

Other Excellent Coffee Shops in Raleigh NC

Just want some great coffee, or looking for a Raleigh coffee shop that isn’t downtown? The City of Oaks has plenty of great all-around options!

12. Common Grounds Coffee House & Desserts

• Location: 219 N. Salem St. Ste. 101, Apex (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Sunday-Thursday; 7:00 am – 8:00 pm Friday & Saturday
• Don’t miss: Blueberry swirl cheesecake or a scoop of gelato and any specialty coffee drinks

The coffee game is strong at ultra dog-friendly Common Grounds Coffee House & Desserts, set apart by an arsenal of unique flavored syrups. Want your latte to taste like toasted marshmallows, with a hint of lavender or praline? Done. 

The real MVPs, though, are the desserts. Common Grounds takes the cake, literally, among the best coffee shops in Raleigh NC because they bake all sorts of delectable goodies in-house. 

And the “mug wall?” It’s basically a Pinterest-worthy coffee mug museum, spanning one entire wall of this Raleigh coffee shop. Yes, they’re all for sale, along with other adorable artisan goods. 

Common Grounds’ vibe is amped up by frequent live music and fun seasonal events, making it ideal for a casual meeting or to meet a friend. Be warned, though—it’s rarely quiet.

13. Sola Coffee Cafe

• Location: 7705 Lead Mine Rd., North Raleigh / The Triangle (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday; closed Sundays
• Don’t miss: Jeanne Capp and any avocado toast

Think of Sola Coffee Cafe as the local darling of coffee shops in Raleigh. The shop has a cult-like following, largely based on its breakfast sammies, specialty toasts, and irresistible mini donuts.

Yes, the line often snakes through the shop and even out the door on weekends, but it’s worth the wait. 

Beyond the delicious food, Sola has a pet-friendly patio with outdoor seating options and is home to the iconic “I Believe in Raleigh” mural. If you swing by on a weekend, you may catch some live music. 

It’s important to note that Sola turns off the free wi-fi between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm during the week, and all day on Saturdays. This is presumably to turn tables over more quickly, but it’s a bit of a bummer — and means Sola definitely isn’t suitable for remote work.

14. The Third Place

• Location: 1811 Glenwood Ave., Five Points (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm seven days a week
• Don’t miss: Red Tea Latte

Looking for an all-around great coffee shop in Raleigh? One where you can work, study, enjoy a coffee date, or catch up with a friend, and where you’ll feel like a local from the first visit? Here it is.

Five Points’ The Third Place Coffee Shop is the perfect blend of warm, inviting, and eclectic. Local art, glass lanterns, vintage treasures (many of them for sale), and colorful furniture make up the interior, while there’s dog-friendly seating on the outdoor patio.

Fun fact: The owner of The Third Place, David Benson, is also the artist who designed the famous Raleigh acorn (the same one that gets dropped every New Years’ Eve!).

15. Lucky Tree

• Location: 3801 Hillsborough St., near Meredith College & NC State (get directions)
• Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday-Thursday; 7:00 am – 8:00 pm Friday; 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
• Don’t miss: Honeysuckle latte

It’s all about good vibes and art at Lucky Tree, inspired by the twin owners’ childhood treehouse. This boho spot is not only one of the best coffee shops in Raleigh, but it also sells lots of artwork and other goods from local makers. 

Everything on the menu is made from scratch and wheat-free, and there’s a surprising amount of variety. For example, the Hippie Latte includes ground maca root and Lucky Tree hand-presses its orange juice and lemonade to order. There are several rotating vegan options, too.

Another thing that makes this such a great Raleigh coffee shop is Free the Mic. Lucky Tree hosts this totally free event on the second and fourth Mondays of every month.

The shop also has plentiful street parking, and is a great place to work or study.

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