A list of my top places to go in Raleigh and surrounding area for the best coffee, food, atmosphere, and work environment
Raleigh is a dream city for caffeine addicts and self-proclaimed coffee connoisseurs. With what seems like an unlimited amount of cafes, it is impossible to get bored. Even as a Raleigh native I still haven’t come close to trying all of the amazing coffee shops this city has to offer. However, I have visited quite a few over the years and today I have compiled a list of my go-to coffee shops in the area for drinks, food, baked goods, and remote work.
The Optimist
📍 1000 Brookside Dr STE 109 + 4509 Creedmoor Rd Suite 104 🕓 Mon-Sat: 7am-6pm | Sun: 8am-6pm 💻 https://www.theoptimistraleigh.com/
The Optimist’s first location opened in May of 2020 during the height of the pandemic and quickly became a neighborhood favorite amongst the Oakwood + Mordecai residents. With an art deco inspired interior, spacious outdoor patio, and life size skeletons to keep you company its unique atmosphere can be described as cool and inviting. Be sure to keep an eye on their socials as they host local musicians frequently!
Just last month their second location (The OpTWOmist) opened up next to Crabtree Valley Mall! With it’s bright natural lighting, mixed seating options, and large furnished terrace this place is great for remote working, studying, and casual coffee hang outs.
My usual order here is a hot mocha with oat milk and if I’m looking for something to eat their sandwich “The Easy”, a capri on sourdough, is to die for. The menu also includes a generous selection of coffee flavors, teas, beer + wine, and seasonal beverages. The Optimist partners with many well known locals including Black + White Coffee Roasters, Trophy Brewing Co., and Blue Ox Bakery.
Idle Hour
📍 1818 Oberlin Rd #103 🕓 Mon-Thur: 7am-5pm | Fri-Sat: 7am-6pm | Sun: 8am-6pm
Another coffee shop that started during the pandemic, Idle Hour Coffee opened their doors in August of 2020. It’s location is a walkable distance for those who are located in the Five Points and The Village District neighborhoods. As an avid plant lover I may be biased however I think it is safe to say that this cutesy cafe has one of the best outdoor seating areas by far. During the warmer months you can find yourself sipping coffee and eating pastries surrounded by lush greenery. The interior is very trendy and offers many comfortable seating options to sip, chat, and or work.
Idle hour is known for their popular Vietnamese coffee, as well as the many baked goods and novelty pastries they have to offer. Their Tepuy donuts are a fan favorite. My usual order here is an iced matcha with oat milk and two pumps of vanilla + a plain cream cheese bagel.
Black & White Coffee Roasters
📍 Rolesville - 6320 Rogers Rd + Raleigh - 327 W Davie St + Wake Forest - 314 Brooks St 🕓 Rolesville - Mon-Sat: 7am-4pm | Sun: 7am-11pm Wake Forest - Mon-Sat: 7am-6pm | Sun: Closed Raleigh - Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm | Sat: 9am-6pm | Sun: 11am-5pm 💻 https://www.blackwhiteroasters.com/
Founded in 2017 by two US and World barista champions, Kyle and Lem. Black & White currently has three locations – Wake Forest, Rolesville, and downtown Raleigh – and will soon be opening a fourth this coming spring in the RDU airport. But you won’t just be finding their coffee here in North Carolina as B&W is carried in over 190+ coffee shops world wide!
Their year-round roast selection consists of: The Natural, The Classic, The Original, The Traditional, and Sugarcane Decaf. Aside from their main five, Black & White also offers a revolving collection of small batch roasts from small farms around the world.
Iris Coffee Lab
📍 725 Tucker St 🕓 Sun-Mon: 8am-5pm 🖥 https://www.iriscoffeelab.com/
Following the unintentional theme of coffee shops that opened during the pandemic (did not realize there were so many), Iris Coffee Lab opened to the public in September of 2020. Its modern design and chill atmosphere combined with being located between Hillsborough and Peace Street makes this place a hot spot for students and remote workers.
Iris Coffee Lab serves Black & White Coffee Roasters and offers all of your standard coffee options alongside many homemade vegan + gluten free syrups. Their blue matcha is also hit amongst many of my friends. My typical order here is a hot mocha with oat milk and a salmon bagel.
Heirloom – Coffee, Tea, Kitchen
📍 219 S West St 🕓 Wed-Sun: 8am-4pm, 5pm-9pm | Mon-Tue: 8am-6pm 🖥 https://www.heirloombrewshop.com/
Fun fact: it took me 17 years to finally try an iced coffee. That iced coffee was ordered at Heirloom and to this day it is the only place in the Raleigh area I go to for an iced mocha with oat milk.
Heirloom is an Asian-inspired specialty coffee shop, tea house, and kitchen. They are located right across from the Union Station in the warehouse district making it a great place to stop by on your morning commute, grab a bite to eat in between shopping, and to do remote work.
Upon entering you will be greeted by large selection of teas, bottles of sake, coffee equipment, and merch for sale. Their iconic pink espresso machine and the gorgeous woodwork that lines their ceiling are two things you cannot miss. Heirloom offers all of your standard coffee options along with a selection of teas, sake, wine, beer, and cocktails!
