For richer or pour over, Raleigh’s coffee shops are what keep us going in the morning. Our City ranks among the top coffee cities in America thanks to factors like cafes per capita and the price of beans.
The City of Oaks has no shortage of masterful baristas, aromatic roasts, and foamy lattes. But if you’re having trouble deciding on a spot, gather some brews clues with our guide to 30+ of the best coffee shops in Raleigh.
Pro tip: If you need to refine your order, review the different kinds of coffee before stepping up to the counter.
Roasts to boast
Benelux Coffee, 402 Oberlin Rd., Ste 118 | Go for the Raleigh-roasted beans and Belgian waffles. Bonus: This shop was recognized by the Guinness World Records team for its World’s Largest Coffee Bean Mural.
Black & White Coffee Roasters, 327 W. Davie St. | Located inside Videri Chocolate Factory, this roaster was founded in 2017 and its beans are used at many Raleigh shops.
Cup A Joe, 3100 Hillsborough St. | For the past 30 years, this coffee company has been roasting beans in-house. Pro tip: Wednesdays are “Wired” featuring tons of caffeinated deals.
Pine State Coffee, 1614 Automotive Way | Open since 2019, this cafe is located inside of Runologie and serves on-site roasted coffee.
On-the-go joe
Bad Cat Coffee Co., Morgan Street Food Hall, 411 W. Morgan St. | This cat-themed cafe offers crepes, bagels, and fun caffeinated drinks.
Crema, 421 Fayetteville St. | This cafe has been caffeinating City Plaza for over 10 years — pair your morning coffee with a breakfast Reuben.
New World Cafe, 4112 Pleasant Valley Rd., Ste. 124, Raleigh | Order an acai bowl with your Counter Culture or Black & White Coffee.
Pink Wink Coffee, 415 S Salisbury St. | Pink White Coffee by day, Ruby Deluxe by night, this outdoor coffee bar is open on Saturdays and Sundays brewing Pine State Coffee.
Plenty of outlets and internet connection
BREW Coffee Bar, 2310 Bale St., Ste. 106 | Bring some friends to co-work with in this relaxed environment — BREW is also known for its hot chocolate, cortados, nitro cold brew, and drip coffees.
Deja Brew Coffee House, 5001 Falls of Neuse Rd. | A nice quiet place to get some work done, this North Raleigh cafe offers specialty drinks like the iced red velvet latte and pastries.
Fiction Coffee, 4509 Creedmoor Rd., Ste. 104 | This is the perfect WFH escape, complete with a conference room for meetings, plenty of outlets, and a rotating seasonal menu to keep you fueled.
Global Village Organic Coffee, 2428 Hillsborough St. | Serving organic coffee and tea, plus syrups made completely in-house, this spot has been a Raleigh staple for over 20 years.
Sir Walter Coffee, 145 E. Davie St. | This downtown barista bar features creative seasonal coffee drinks and craft cocktails. Plus, there is plenty of seating inside and on their outdoor patio.
Perfect for a date
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, 1141 Falls River Ave., Ste. 124 | Between the madras filter coffee and cozy atmosphere, it’s easy to swoon over this Indian cafe.
Idle Hour Coffee Roasters, 1818 Oberlin Rd. St. 103 | The epitome of cool — drink your in-house roasted coffee and snack on delicate treats under the disco ball at this funky Oberlin spot.
Lucettegrace, 235 S. Salisbury St. | This cafe is reminiscent of an authentic French patisserie and features beverages like café au lait. Pro tip: Order a lunch box with your brew.
Morning Times, 10 E. Hargett St. | Order a house-made bagel and iced coffee before heading to the upstairs art gallery and sitting area — or, snag a spot on the streetery.
Purr Cup Cafe, 210 Prospect Ave | Make a reservation for the cat lounge to meet and cuddle adoptable floofs or sip on your coffee in the cafe. The menu is 100% vegan.
Best bites
Black Ivory Cafe, 3080 Wake Forest Rd. | Located inside of Shaba Shabu, this sushi-area-turned-coffee-shop sells coffee roasted by Larry’s Coffee, boba, and Asian breakfast.
Hereghty Heavenly Delicious, 2603 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 123 | Grab a fresh baked croissant or scone to enjoy with your Joe Van Gogh coffee.
Iris Coffee Lab, 725 Tucker St. | This hip hangout features seasonal lattes like bourbon + butterscotch. Plus, they recently launched a yummy food menu featuring Union Special Bread.
Smooth Joe Coffee, 5321 Tin Roof Way | This newer coffee house roasts its own beans and has breakfast, lunch, and pastry options.
Sola Coffee Cafe, 7705 Lead Mine Rd. | This family-owned cozy neighborhood cafe has served Durham-made Counter Culture Coffee and fresh food in Raleigh since 2012. Pro tip: Snap a pic with the “I believe in Raleigh” mural on the back of the building.
Sosta Cafe, 130 E. Davie St., Ste. 1806 | Serving French vibes, quality coffee, and tasty this downtown spot uses Full Bloom Coffee Roasters.
Specialty drinks
Heirloom Brewshop, 219 S. West St. | This aesthetically-pleasing, Asian-inspired coffee shop’s beans originate from South America and Africa.
Jubala Coffee, multiple locations | Serving modernistic vibes, the coffee used in their specialized beverages is roasted by Black & White Coffee Roasters. Plus, take home a 64 oz batch iced coffee to make your mornings a little easier.
La Horchateria, 2261 New Hope Church Rd. | Nosh on traditional Latin drinks + sweets with an American twist like the oatchata and tres leches lattes.
NoRa Cafe, 12333 Strickland Rd., Ste. 100-102 | Enjoy a specialty latte like the chocolate turtle in this warm, inviting space. The shop uses Carrboro Coffee Roasters’ beans.
42 & Lawrence, 134 E. Martin St. | Founded in 2016, this downtown cafe offers specialty caffeinated drinks like cinnamon toast crunch and lavender cloud cold brew.
Where to write your novel
Blackbird Books & Coffee, 323 Blake St. | Sisters-in-law Hannah and Bre Brunswick built this safe space in City Market for folks to explore new reads, drink specialty coffee, and mingle through events.
Lucky Tree, 3801 Hillsborough St. | Founded in 2015 by twin sisters Amanda and Ashley, this coffee bar is inspired by the sisters’ neighborhood treehouse... step inside and you’ll see why.
The Third Place, 1811 Glenwood Ave. | Established in 1994, this coffee shop is owned by David Benson — the artist that designed the acorn for the New Year’s Eve acorn drop. The shop is fueled by Larry’s Coffee.
The Optimist, 1000 Brookside Dr., Ste. 109 | This “local haunt” isn’t so spooky — the Optimist supports other local businesses by offering Black & White Coffee, Blue Ox Bakery, and more local goodies. Pro tip: Make sure to say “hi” to the shop’s resident skeletons.
