These new-ish additions to Raleigh’s coffee scene each have their own vibe — plus delicious lattes, pour-overs, tea and more!
by Catherine Currin

Raleigh’s caffeine scene offers something for every palate and preference — and as the city grows, new cafes have popped up to serve their neighborhoods, each with a personality of its own. Little Native Coffee on S. Person Street is one of those spots. Co-owners Ashley and Cory Strickland signed a lease on their tiny space at the height of the pandemic and finally opened earlier this year. “It was worth the wait,” says Ashley. “We hope we’ve created a coffee experience and aesthetic space that embodies an intentional pause and reflective moment in your busy daily routine.” No, we’re not abandoning the beloved coffee spots that paved the way (like Cup A Joe, Morning Times, Sola Coffee and 42 and Lawrence, among others), but it’s nice to have more options when you’re looking to shake up the remote-work routine or meet up with a friend. Here are some newish spots to check out.

321 Coffee

321 Coffee’s mission is to use its coffee shops to bridge the employment gap for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing career opportunities to this typically underemployed population. Lindsay Wrege, along with Michael Evans, launched the brand in 2017 and opened its first location at the State Farmers Market in 2019. That was followed by a stand-alone cafe on Hillsborough Street in 2022 and a third location, on NC State’s Centennial Campus, this September. Coffee beans from 321 can now be purchased at local Whole Foods Markets, and each bag features an uplifting message and story of an employee. You can even bring the 321 coffee cart to your next corporate event! Market Shoppes at NC Farmers Market, 1209 Agriculture Street; 615 Hillsborough Street or NC State Centennial Campus, 930 Main Campus Drive; 321coffee.com

Drift Raleigh 

With locations in Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington and Ocean Isle Beach, Drift recently expanded inland, adding two locations in the Triangle that capture the same sunny, seafoam-schemed ambiance as its coastal outposts. The cafe concept offers a full brunch and lunch menu, plus coffee, wine and cocktails. Its menu has healthy drinks like the Super Green, a blend of veggies, ginger, mango and coconut water, or heartier options like the breakfast burrito or Nutella French Toast. Michael Powell, a co-owner along with his brother, Ben, recommends the Biscoff Stack: buttermilk pancakes with Biscoff spread and cookie crumbles. (For something on the savory side, he recommends the Crispy Potato Brekkie.) “We are committed to modern wellness as our mission and an integral part of our daily lives,” says Michael. “We’re excited to bring that essence to Raleigh.” 3510 Wade Avenue; driftcoffee.kitchen

Iris Coffee Lab

Coffee aficionados will be right at home at Iris Coffee Lab. Located on Tucker Street, just off Glenwood South, the minimalist coffee shop hosts a variety of community-oriented events, including tastings and brewing classes. Their menu includes rotating specialty coffees from both local roasters and all over the world, so even a pour-over can offer a different flavor profile from one day to the next. If you want something fancier than classic coffee, consider the crowd-favorite Cherry Marzipan Latte. There’s also a full-service breakfast and lunch menu featuring Union Special Bread. 725 Tucker Street; iriscoffeelab.com

Idle Hour Coffee

Idle Hour Coffee in Five Points is often buzzing with business meetings and catch-ups with old friends. Inside, you’ll find a melange of casual booths and tables; outside, bright-yellow bistro tables create an inviting city-cafe feel. Idle Hour makes a point to feature local businesses like Tepuy Donuts (make sure to order ahead!) and showcases work from rotating artists on its walls. Try one of the house-made syrups, like Lavender Honey or Pistachio, or the chai from Tin Roof Teas in your next latte. 1818 Oberlin Road; idle-hour-coffee.square.site

The Left Hook Coffee

After two years of pop-ups in downtown Raleigh, The Left Hook Coffee found a permanent home inside Gussie’s on W. Morgan Street in February, where it offers an eclectic, welcoming atmosphere to enjoy a coffee or breakfast sandwich. The coffee bar is finished in wood paneling and topped with plants, and a woodsy mural adorns the walls. They roast their own coffee weekly and pride themselves on being small but mighty. “We may be the smallest coffee bar in town,” says owner and operator Kristin Kulik. “Smallest space, team and roasting program. But we try to do a lot with a little by making as much as we can in-house and roasting fresh coffee in small, controlled batches.” Keeping with the small theme, Kulik says the menu’s signature item is the Baby Boy Latte (B.B.L.), an iced latte with a double shot of espresso and Left Hook’s house-made Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup. 927 W. Morgan Street; thelefthookcoffee.com

Little Native

A quaint oasis off the bustle of S. Person Street, Little Native Coffee wants Raleighites to remember its roots. “Since this space is one of the few original — native — buildings left in the area, it felt like the perfect opportunity to play up nature and build a brand around the nuanced ‘little native’ things we often take for granted,” says Ashley Stickland. The tiny shop is outfitted in dark hues and leather benches, with exposed brick and copious plants adding to the ambiance (there’s also a casual outdoor seating area). While they make their own syrups in-house (try the Salted Honey!), Ashley sources pastries from Crummy Hunters and features local coffee roasters. “There are so many incredible coffee roasters and we love to explore them all. Right now, we’re brewing Larry’s Coffee and Black & White,” Ashley says. “We hope the space we’ve created inspires a deeper meaning in the discussions you’re having and the work you’re doing while here!” 426 S. Person Street; drinklittlenative.com 

Pine State Coffee

Within its shared space with fitness outfitter Runologie, Pine State Coffee is a great place to work solo or make a new friend at one of its community tables. They also have an expansive covered patio scattered with barstools and patio tables. Pine State offers some pastry options daily, but be on the lookout for frequent pop-ups to grab a heartier breakfast. Prefer to drink your coffee at home? Pine State roasts its own beans and sells them wholesale across town, plus in store and for local delivery.
1614 Automotive Way; pinestatecoffee.com 

This article originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of WALTER magazine.