I’m really serious about this latte life I lead. I LOVE coffee, probably a little too much. So for my first round-up post of my favorite spots in Raleigh, it’s only fitting that it be centered around coffee!
This post details my favorite spots in Raleigh for coffee and cafe/breakfast type food. I’m listing places you can get a great latte and a pastry. If they are more geared toward breakfast or brunch food, I’ll be writing a separate list for that! This is not an all-encompassing list and it’s based solely on my humble opinion. I’m always trying new places and I’ll keep this updated as I go! So don’t take this list as the Bible of all things coffee. It’s just a good place to start!
Jubala Coffee
2100 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Jubala has one of the best biscuits I’ve ever had. It’s a slightly sweet drop biscuit that goes perfect with any salty breakfast biscuit toppings. My favorite thing to order is a bacon, egg, and pimento cheese biscuit. KILLER! Then they use Counter Culture Espresso and their Almond Latte is so addicting I don’t even want to admit to you how many I’ve had. I am a weekly customer here and I regret nothing. They have two locations – one on NC State’s campus near downtown Raleigh, and one in North Raleigh in Lafayette Village.
Yellow Dog Bread Co.
219 E Franklin St, Raleigh, NC 27604
Obsessed would be an understatement. I don’t even know how to communicate my love for Yellow Dog. The best pastries, killer lattes, bread for taking home and cooking ~all the things~, and they even make cakes and pies for each season you can order or pick from the case. They use espresso from a company in Richmond, VA called Lamplighter Coffee Roasters and it is legit. Think croissants, pecan sticky buns, cookies galore, home made seasonal poptarts, foccacia lunch slices… yes, yes, and yes! Yellow Dog also has some of the friendliest staff in all of Raleigh. They are located near Historic Oakwood off Person Street.
Layered Croissanterie
911 N West St Suite 107, Raleigh, NC 27603
Layered Croissanterie is near the Glenwood South area of Raleigh and has some serious fine patisserie skills. You won’t find any half-ass pastries here – they put the *most* effort into their flaky zerts’. (As Tom from Parks & Rec would say) They also serve a full espresso bar with Counter Culture coffee. They rotate flavors seasonally, so this was their Bananas Foster croissant which is no longer. Good thing they have at least 10 other drool-worthy phenomenal ones!
Videri Chocolate Factory/B&W Roasters
327 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Videri is a super cool place because not only are they a delicious renowned choclatier, they also have a functioning cafe inside where you can get the BEST mocha latte ever! They teamed up with Black and White Roasters out of Wake Forest, NC to serve lattes to the public. While you’re there you can purchase some of their amazing bonbons, or any of their other chocolate products. The pastries offered here are from another local bakery, Union Special Bread. And let me tell you, the double chocolate croissant is breakfast goals. Run, don’t walk to their Downtown Raleigh location!
Heirloom Brewshop
219 S West St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Heirloom Brewshop was recently named one of Bon Appetit’s best new restaurants in the US in 2019! Here’s the link to the article: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/50-nominees-best-new-restaurants-2019
Personally, I love their five spice and brown sugar latte (unique, right?!) and their mochi donuts. The cafe is located at the bottom of the Dillon building in Downtown Raleigh and the space is so dreamy. This would be a perfect place for a date or daytime meeting. They also serve heartier food and alcohol!
These pictures are not mine, mine were accidentally deleted! These are my best friend and fellow bloggers’ pics, Alyssa – www.alyssainthecity.com; instagram @aly_inthecity
Morning Times
10 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Right in the downtown Raleigh core, Morning Times is the OG coffee shop with all kinds of delicious lattes and hearty breakfast food as well. They have chicken biscuits, pancakes, and a famous corned beef hash. Not to mention all of these tempting pastries at the counter! I love their maple cinnamon latte, but you probably can’t go wrong with anything there! They get pretty busy on the weekends so get there early!
Joe Van Gogh
3109 Poplarwood Ct STE 115, Raleigh, NC 27604
Joe Van Gogh has several locations around the Triangle and they just opened a new small location in an office park in Raleigh. They roast their own coffee and espresso which they sell to the public online or in one of their shops. I actually use their espresso at home in my latte machine and it is so delicious. It fills the house with the best smell! They have pastries made in-house and also offer some other pastries from local bakers, like Strong Arm Baking in Wake Forest, NC.
Sola Cafe
7705 Lead Mine Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
Sola is tucked away in North Raleigh and they have quite the expansive menu! They have some really awesome breakfast toasts like the avocado one above. They also have mini donuts that they will whip up fresh for you! These were birthday cake flavor, but they have cinnamon sugar ones and I believe they also add new flavors seasonally! They lattes are some of the best in Raleigh as well. I love that they have later hours than most coffee shops if you want a non-alcoholic night cap.
BONUS in Durham:
Monuts
1002 9th St, Durham, NC 27705
Monuts is in Durham and totally worth the Saturday morning drive if you don’t live there. They have super creative donuts, they serve Counter Culture Espresso, and they have some killer hearty breakfast sandwich items. Donuts like blueberry basil and key lime pie? sign me up. I loved their mocha and the donuts were delicious.
