These artisan coffee spots in Raleigh offer quality beans, fresh pastries and inviting atmospheres to satisfy all tastes.
Here in Raleigh, we’ve got a bunch of great local roasters — Counter Culture, Larry’s and Back & White, among them — plus skilled baristas that, taken together, give our town a coffee scene that rivals much bigger cities like Seattle and New York. And as Raleigh has grown, locally-owned cafes have been popping up to serve different neighborhoods, offering coffee and espresso drinks for every palate, preference and philosophy. Whether you’re looking for a place to take a business meeting, a location to work on the computer for the day or a spot to pop in for a latte before a weekend walk, Raleigh’s got it all. We’ve been to coffee shops all over town to figure out which spots offer the best blend of great coffee and a cool ambiance — here are our favorites.
321 Coffee
Founded by an NC State grad, 321’s mission is to use its shops to bridge the employment gap for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing career opportunities while simultaneously serving delicious brews.
Various locations; 321coffee.com
42 & Lawrence
Just off Moore Square, 42 & Lawrence — an offshoot of local roaster Larry’s Coffee — specializes in unique coffee, lattes, tea and seasonal beverages.
134 E. Martin Street; 42lawrence.com
Black & White
Scents of Videri chocolate waft through the air at this Warehouse District locale with a private courtyard. They have a solid coffee and pastry program, with beans roasted in Raleigh.
327 W. Davie Street; blackwhiteroasters.com
Boulted Bread
A small neighborhood bakery with national acclaim that typically sells out of its pastries by the afternoon, Boulted offers great coffee alongside breads made from heirloom grains, milled in-house in an airy industrial atmosphere (try the Everything Croissants or the Morning Buns!).
328 Dupont Circle; boultedbread.com
Cup A Joe
A go-to coffee spot for NC State students, professors and anyone else nearby, this longtime shop offers tons of roasts, a friendly staff and plenty of seating to post up with a laptop in a no-frills atmopshere. 3100 Hillsborough Street; cupajoe.com
Drift Coffee & Kitchen
Newer to the Triangle is Wilmington-bred spot Drift, which offers a breezy, surf-inspired vibe plus a solid menu. For fans of a light breakfast go for the acai or yogurt bowls, but their breakfast burrito isn’t one to skip. The location near Ridge Road is the first in our area, with another one in the works in RTP.
3510 Wade Avenue; driftcoffee.kitchen
Heirloom
A Warehouse District favorite, Heirloom is a destination for its airy design scheme, Asian-influenced coffees and teas and a selection of muffins and scones from rotating local bakeries.
219 S. West Street; heirloom-raleigh.com
Idle Hour Coffee
This inviting, city-style cafe in the Five Points/Hayes Barton area features bright-yellow bistro tables, food from local businesses like Tepuy Donuts and work from rotating artists on its walls.
1818 Oberlin Road; idle-hour-coffee.square.site
Iris Coffee Lab
Coffee aficionados love this minimalist coffee shop near Glenwood Avenue, which serves rotating specialty coffees as well as a full-service breakfast and lunch menu.
725 Tucker Street; iriscoffeelab.com
Jubala Coffee
Known for its delicious sandwiches and biscuits, Jubala has three airy, modern locations that serve quality espresso, coffee and tea. Also, don’t miss their rich, jumbo chocolate chip cookie.
Various locations; jubalacoffee.com
La Farm Bakery
With a new Raleigh location of this popular Cary spot, La Farm serves artisanal breads, breakfast and bakery items galore alongside its coffees, all with French influences.
122 Glenwood Avenue; lafarmbakery.com
lucettegrace
This French-style patisserie has a mouthwatering selection of macarons and sweets, along with a full range of options for coffee and tea drinks.
235 S. Salisbury Street; lucettegrace.com
Little Native Coffee Co.
An oasis off bustling Person Street, Little Native is outfitted in dark hues and leather benches, with shaded seating outside. Ask for one of their in-house syrups (and check out the secret tea house, too!).
426 S. Person Street; drinklittlenative.com
Lucky Tree Café & Makers Market
Find great brews and a DIY ethos inside this quintessential college coffee spot across from Meredith College, with a smaller, second location in Moore Square. 3801 Hillsborough Street, Suite 137; luckytreeraleigh.com
The Optimist
At The Optimist, you’ll find a full range of coffee, tea beverages, and pastries, along with signature beverages in a spot that’s always bustling with WFH-mers.
1000 Brookside Drive, Suite 109; theoptimistraleigh.com
Paul & Jack
A classic European bakery with a good espresso program and a small seating space.
911 N. West Street, Suite 107; instagram.com/paulandjack_nc
Pine State Coffee
This quirky spot just off Capital Boulevard is a favorite for the running and biking crew. Make a new friend at one of its community tables!
1614 Automotive Way; pinestatecoffee.com
PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails
This European-influenced coffeehouse provides an assortment of made-from-scratch crepes served all day, in addition to their coffee and baked goods sourced locally.
400 Hillsborough Street, Suite 108; pressccc.com
Sir Walter Coffee + Kitchen
At Sir Walter you’ll find the full range of coffee and espresso drinks, a full menu of breakfast toasts, a bagel bar and a waffle bar, to stay or to go. Now with two locations to serve the downtown business crew (and it turns into a bar in the afternoon).
555 Fayetteville Street, Suite 110 and 145 E. Davie Street; sirwaltercoffee.com
Sola Coffee Cafe
A sweet family-run spot in North Raleigh that in addition to their coffee and breakfast program has fresh lunch options and an always cheerful staff. In honor of the late co-owner Jeanne Luther, the cafe also hosts the popular and impactful Sola Hot Mini 5K to raise funds for ALS.
7705 Lead Mine Road; solacoffee.com; solacoffee.com
Union Special Bread
Union Special offers decadent pastries and breads, unique breakfast creations and great drip coffee, teas and espresso drinks in Gateway Plaza.
2409 Crabtree Blvd, #102; unionspecialbread.com
Yellow Dog Bread Co.
This sunny, family-owned bakery in the Person Street corridor has fresh breads, fun coffee drinks and classic cafe seating inside and out to enjoy its goods.
219 E. Franklin Street; yellowdogbread.com
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2025 OUR TOWN publication of WALTER magazine. It was published online on October 28, 2025.
