I fell in love with Thousand Hills the moment I walked in. The decor is so beautiful and there are…read moreso many comfy places to sit as well as tables inside and outside. It's located alongside the leasing office for the apartment complex. The service is great. There were two young ladies working and they were both friendly. I arrived around 4:30 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and ordered a muffin and a decaf latte since it was so late (for me to drink caffeine). The cranberry lemon muffin was absolutely perfect, so much flavor, so fresh & moist. The Salted Brown Butter Latte was the best. From the first sip to the last drop, I loved it. I sat on a small section of a very comfortable couch with pillows and all. I later sat out front on one of the benches. They also have a patio seating out back. I can't wait to go back to Thousand Hills!!

Thousand Hills Coffee is nested in a busy apartment complex. There's plenty of free parking…read moreavailable, though not all immediately by the entrance of the coffee shop. We went on a Saturday afternoon which probably did not help the cause, but there were only a couple of tables available, which luckily we snagged one. I opted for the maple brown sugar latte. I really liked the flavor of the brown sugar itself, though I wished the espresso notes would have cut through more. My preference is for stronger, more acidic tasting espresso though. Glad I was able to check this coffee shop out since it was on my list, but not sure it's one I will rush back to.

Always enjoy a new to us coffee shop when traveling. Iris is a great little place. Interior is…read moremostly white which provides great light even on a rainy day. They have outside seating on the sidewalk as well which makes it fun to people watch. You have to come down stairs to enter, which was not a problem for us, but made me wonder about those who might have trouble. Is there another entrance? The service was great. Super friendly and quick. Had the cortado as it is my go to drink when trying a new spot. The beans are more on the fruity side .... I prefer chocolate or vanilla note beans. But it was lovely and hit the spot. Served in a glass which I love!

Incredible coffee, and I loved the aesthetic! I got the strawberry creme latte (hot version), and…read moreit was fantastic! My partner got the iced version--which was somehow even better than the warm version. I don't like my coffee drinks too sweet, and they struck exactly the right balance. It tasted like there was real strawberry (and not just a super-sweet syrup). Unlike many coffee shops, they gave us a number to bring to our table, so we didn't need to stand around and wait for our coffee to be ready. Instead, they brought it to our table for us. This was such a nice touch! There's a good amount of seating inside, but we sat outside since it was such a nice day. Can't wait to go back & try an iced americano or drip coffee to try out some of their different roasts.

Stopped in for an afternoon cappuccino with low-fat milk (there were several options offered), and…read morereally enjoyed the yummy capp and the atmosphere!

Who doesn't enjoy visiting a local cafe while supporting a great cause?…read more Esteamed coffee is a non-profit coffee shop in downtown Cary. They provide meaningful jobs and social opportunities for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The cafe sells coffee, tea, pastries, and locally crafted gifts. They have seasonal offerings, nearby parking, restrooms, and indoor and outdoor seating. Leashed dogs are allowed on the outdoor patio. We visited on a weekend morning. The cottage was bright, welcoming, and bustling. As we waited in line, an employee greeted us, presented the menu, and answered our questions. The walls around us were adorned in beautiful paintings. The line moved at a steady rate and soon we were enjoying our drinks and pastries at an indoor table. Overall, we had a positive experience here and recommend this cafe to others!

I finally checked out Drift Cafe and it's definitely one of those spots that feels like a mini…read moreescape in the middle of Raleigh. The space is super light, airy, and gives off that laid-back coastal vibe that makes you want to stay a while. The menu leans into that "wellness but still indulgent" balance. everything I tasted was fresh and thoughtfully made. The coffee was a standout too, smooth and not overly sweet, which I personally loved. A lot of people come here for the breakfast burritos, pancakes, and specialty lattes, so it's a solid brunch option if you want something a little elevated from the usual rotation. Service was friendly and pretty quick, even when it got busy, which I appreciated. It does get packed, especially on weekends, so just be ready for a bit of a wait.

Super cute place with plenty of parking options and gender neutral bathrooms. 10am on a Friday and…read moreit was packed. Conveniently with one table open. Drinks: I ordered a matcha latte, iced with oat milk. I knew it was a mistake as I watched them make it and the match came out of a squeeze bottle. My mom ordered hot black coffee, claiming it tasted burnt and was undrinkable. Mains: I ordered the strawberries & cream pancakes which came with three extremely tiny pancakes, that tasted like whole wheat. The "fresh jam" was overly sugared and had a smoothie like consistency. For $16 I was hungry and disappointed. My mom ordered the grain and egg bowl, wait it was underwhelming. Shocked there are so many positive reviews.

On travel for work and wanted a place outside my hotel that i could do some work and this place fit…read morethe bill. Staff were very warm and welcoming; easy to have conversations with. I got a hot americano first which was fantastic; i use this as a base measure for how well a shop pulls shots without having to completely sacrifice the drink if its subpar. I then grabbed an espresso which was perfectly balanced and easily drinkable; no need for sugar to offset bitterness; appropriate temperature; served in warmed ceramic shot glass. I also grabbed a baked good which was also great, i wouldve preferred it warmed up, although admittedly, they probably could have if id asked. There is a large amount of outdoor seating but inside seating is limited as well as outlets for work. Luckily it wasnt busy when i arrived and was able to find a spot to get setup. Will absolutely be coming back and recommending this place to others.

The perfect coffee roaster might actually exist -- and it might be Black & White Coffee Roasters in…read moredowntown Raleigh. I'm a big fan of lighter-roasted, funky, expressive coffees, and Black & White absolutely delivers. Their roasting style leans into vibrant, fruit-forward profiles, and they do it with confidence. The downtown Raleigh location is fantastic too. It's right in the middle of everything, making it a great stop for a date night, meeting up with friends, or just dropping in for a quick but exceptional cup. Their seasonal menu was small but mighty -- just a couple of options -- but the kind where every drink looks so good you wish they'd never rotate them off the menu. I started with the orange cardamom flat white, and it was perfect in every way. Beautifully presented and incredibly balanced. The espresso, milk, orange, and cardamom all complemented each other without any one flavor taking over. It was nuanced, aromatic, and just a joy to drink. For my second drink, I ordered a Rodrigo Sanchez pour-over, a co-fermented Colombian coffee labeled with passion fruit notes. It was everything I want from a pour-over -- bright, juicy, and expressive, with the kind of sweet stone fruit and berry notes that make light-roasted coffee so exciting. Black & White continues to prove why they're one of the most respected specialty roasters around. If you love adventurous coffee with huge flavor and careful execution, this place is an absolute must-visit.

A Truly Artisanal Bakery…read more I rarely leave reviews on yelp anymore, but this bakery is so impressive, it inspired me to type this down. I'm from the Bay Area and loved going to all kinds of bakery when I travel. I did not have much expectations when I came to Raleigh. I tried Paul and Jack and couple other bakeries, they were all good, but not impressive. The first thing I noticed was their Mill Room, and second I noticed that they have 100 score on hygiene. Not that I care about the score that much but still impressive. Then We got a bunch of pastries, the shortbread was the first one we tried and wow, it was so simple yet so flavorful, truly malted tasting shortbread, it has so much depth in taste. Then I had a had a ham and cheese croissant, it was on the salty side but I kept eating it when I'm not even hungry. The true winner though, is the plain croissant I got which traveled with me for 72 hours back home. I got it out of my bag, slightly flattened by all my stuff, I expect it to taste flat and meh. I put it in the oven for 6 minutes and it turned out to be the best croissant I've had. It was flaky, soft and soo flavorful. Now I cannot stop thinking about it. Lastly, I want to say that with so many pop ups, new bakeries coming up in different cities, often times we were chasing that unique flavors, that special toppings on croissants, but Boulted Bread stayed true to bread, and perfected the craft without focusing on "exotic" or "special" flavors. I truly respect this.

The same ownership as Benchwarmer Bagels. They really know bread. I got here at almost closing…read moretime, and I wish that I had come earlier because almost everything was sold out. I got: 1. A bialy (bee-AH-lee) is a traditional Polish-Jewish bread roll, similar to a bagel but with key differences: it is baked, not boiled, has a dimpled center filled with onion bits and poppy seeds, and is generally softer and less dense. Originating in Białystok, Poland, these rolls are traditionally served plain or toasted with toppings like butter or schmear. 2. Rye shortbread. Not too sweet. Just perfection! 3. Bran biscotti. I like the idea of a high-fiber bran biscotti over a refined flour one. 4. Buchi Tepache. I got the mango-pineapple flavor. This is a local NC brand. It's a mildly fermented drink that originated in Mexico. I got the ingredients from their website (drinkbuchi.com): Organic Tibicos (Water, Organic Fair Trade Certified™* Cane Sugar, Organic Kefir Culture), Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Mango Puree, Organic Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Organic Whole Lemon Puree, Organic Mango Natural Flavor, Organic Pineapple Natural Flavor, Organic Monk Fruit Extract. 5. The baguette. Unlike a refined flour white bread baguette at La Farm Bakery, this one is made of a red wheat flour. Turkey Red flour is an heirloom, organic hard red winter wheat brought to Kansas in 1873 by Mennonite immigrants. Prized for its rich, nutty flavor and superior baking qualities, it is often used for artisan bread, sourdough, and pasta due to its unique, sometimes more digestible, gluten profile. It is commonly stone-ground and available from local Kansas millers. 6. The star of the show was the Everything Croissant. Like the Everything Bagel but soft and buttery. Topped with all the sesame seeds and seasonings with a cream cheese interior. So good! I do plan on returning!

I was in the area and decided to finally go to Brew, as I rarely am in downtown Cary! I'm so glad I…read moredid. It took some time to find parking as the surrounding parking lots were full, but I found street parking around the corner. The ambiance is warm and cozy. Brew and the Cary Theater share common space, so you can enter from either entrance. The service is awesome, I was waited on right away and the barista was helpful with suggestions. I ordered a cookie butter latte and an oatmeal raisin cookie w/ walnuts. Both were absolutely delicious, a great combo. When I finished my latte, I dipped my cookie in the cup to get the last of the foam...so good. The baked goods are from Ninth Street Bakery in Durham. How amazing local supporting local. I sat at the bar area. I loved that there were hooks underneath for your belongings, you don't see that everywhere. They have the high top areas, along with a few tables and chairs. I'm so glad I was able to finally experience Brew, looking forward to going back.

Came for a Sunday stop with a friend…read more Just a note because it's in the downtown area it's extremely hard to find parking and most of it is street parking (with some construction nearby). Overall, the little coffee shop is cute and has a little bit of outdoor seating which I liked but is expensive for being so mid in my opinion. I ended up paying almost $7 for a blueberry latte. Overall, my latte tasted like a regular latte, even though it did have a seasonal blueberry syrup added to it. I know that blueberry is very light in flavor compared to coffee so I asked for more than the allotted amount of syrup and their response was that they had a certain amount added to of syrups added. So I said ok thinking they would take that into consideration but when I got my coffee, guess the amount they added didn't matter because it tasted the same as a latte regular. Unfortunately, at the end of my coffee (like the last 20%) had what I assume to be bits of berry in it? The texture made me toss the remaining amount. With the high prices and the location right on a busy street / no parking I probably wouldn't be back but I did enjoy being about to sit outside under an umbrella and the service was nice / fast. All the stars would go to the servers and overall cleanliness honestly.

Chapel of Bones is where I wanted to hang out in my 20s so it is great I have it now!…read more Their goth prom has been a blast, we have seen so many DJs they're always fun! Whether it is dancing, hanging out or just mingling it is such a great time.. I love that they don't just have alcohol, their coffee is so good! They do have a draft NA beer which is very difficult to find so that is awesome! The employees I have interacted with have all been great with making recommendations or letting me know what they have! If you are looking for a fun time check out their website to see what events they have coming up!

Mocha was good. Not bitter. Hot chocolate could have been stronger with more chocolate…read more Tried this place on a whim as I just wanted some non-Starbucks coffee yumminess. When we pulled up, I truly thought we were at a biker bar or something. lol but my adventure side said "try it". So we did. Definitely a very uniquely decorated place for sure. Would have made my church-going mama blush. lol Service was friendly and prompt. Can't say we would return as it's not "my cup of tea" kindly place lol, but I encourage others to try.