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Drift Cafe

4.1 (108 reviews)
Open 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Waitlist - Drift Cafe

Live Current wait: 24 - 39 mins

Drift Cafe Photos

DRIFT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Drift Cafe

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Inside
Jessica C.

I ordered a chicken Caesar salad to go during lunch since this is close to my office. The ordering process online was quick and easy, and I didn't have to wait very long once I arrived. The quality of the ingredients were very good and everything tasted delicious. I think the croutons and dressing were made in-house. I will say the portion size was a bit small for a $17 salad. Overall, a great option for quality food when you're in the area.

Crispy potato breakfast
Vraj P.

I've driven by this place and have been meaning to try it. I got the crispy potato breakfast and subbed the bacon for mushrooms. Overall really liked the dish. The mushrooms did have slightly too much oil for me but great flavor overall. The potato's are great too and liked the aioli with it. The "magic" is really just a cortado but it was a pretty good one! Plenty of parking outside. Prices definitely on the higher end but I would say it's pretty filling. Great staff and very helpful too. Overall I really liked this place. I think I would come back to try their coffee options and other things for sure if I'm in the area around breakfast.

Blue Cloud Iced Matcha
Audrey P.

Had the Blue Cloud Iced Matcha and as someone who doesn't usually like matcha, the server convinced me to try it, and I'm so glad I did. The burrito bowl was delicious, and after the first bite I told myself, I'm coming back and ordering this same dish it's so good.

Crispy Potato Brekkie with added mushrooms
Ashley B.

Came by for brunch during the week not expecting it to be busy, but since Christmas was last week, we should have known this place was going to be packed. The interior is super cute and airy, but they do need a better system for people waiting to be seated. Even so, we were seated within 10 minutes and got our food within 30. Our server was quick to our table and friendly. Our food was delicious, as always! And when we come back I already know what I want to try next :p 8/10 - if they had more space for a waiting area, or a better system, this place would be perfect!

Iced vanilla latte with oat milk
Lindsey B.

Best latte I have ever had in my entire life. No notes. I dropped in for a quick coffee and left with my life changed forever. I got an iced vanilla latte with oat milk. It was smooth, creamy, perfectly sweet, and oh so delicious! The service was fast - I was in and out in under five minutes. I would like to experience the sit-down aspect of this restaurant as the inside was so cute! The servers were kind and quick. If you're thinking about stopping in- do it!! Your life can be changed too!

Scrambled toast (sourdough)
Doris J.

Cute cute cute! Loved this quaint and sweet cafe! It is a sit down place with great service! I ordered a cappuccino and scrambled toast! Service makes a world of a difference! See pics!

Iris R.

Drift Cafe is legit! First visit and I am impressed. Our waitress was friendly and offered menu suggestions, which led me to order a latte and a blueberry poppyseed muffin. The muffin was soft, moist and full of blueberries. It was by far one of the best muffins that I've had in a while. The latte was smooth and creamy. It was just the right amount of sweet when paired with the muffin. I can't wait to visit the new location in Chapel Hill.

Tricia T.

Came for brunch with girlfriends and had a great time! I used the waitlist option on Yelp, which was so simple and easy to do. We were seated in less than 20 minutes. The cafe is very bright and airy. Erik was our server and he was excellent! He answered all of our questions thoughtfully and really added to our vibes every time he stopped by the table. I loved the blue cloud latte, so creamy and comforting. The aperol spritz was a little too bitter for me but my friend enjoyed it very much. The avocado toast was delicious, as well as the Caesar salad wrap. Their fries are golden and crunchy to perfection! A little pricey for the brunch we had but I enjoyed my time and the atmosphere.

Roberto Y.

Good place for breakfast. All our food was good and flavorful, no issues. There is a good selection of items. The place is nice and service was efficient.

Crispy potato brekkie
Allison W.

Went for brunch with a friend. We both got the crispy potato brekkie. It was so good and enough food. The sauce was amazing. There was plenty of parking in the lot and lots of seating. Very cute brunch spot. We got seated right away and our server was very kind and checked on us often.

Blue Cloud Latte
Samantha R.

Stopped at this cute cafe before my hair appointment in the Ridgewood Shopping Center. There's optional indoor/outdoor seating or simply take your order to-go. I opted for a to-go Blue Cloud Latte but I sat for a bit. The Blue Cloud Latte is a butterfly pea flower tea with oat milk, steamed coconut foam and a sprinkle of ginger on top. The tea was both aesthetically beautiful and delicious. Sweet but not too sweet and the ginger at the nose really wakes you up! Service was quick, friendly and there's plenty of parking out front. Definitely check out the menu for food, I spotted some Biscoff pancakes that look amazing.

Salted coconut oat coldie
Lauren H.

Had a lovely experience at Drift. The staff was incredibly sweet and welcoming. I ordered the salted coconut oat coldie, which was so good, highly recommend! I also got the chicken Caesar wrap and it was packed full, which I love, and came with crispy fries and a really tasty dill ranch (I think it was dill). Also tried the Blue Cloud Latte, which was really cute and aesthetic. It had a coconut ish flavor, it wasn't totally my thing, but still worth it for how fun it looked. My husband had the caramel latte and liked it, though he was hoping for a little more caramel flavor. I was planning to work while I was there and they were so sweet and told me to pull two tables together for more space. Super thoughtful. The space is modern and cozy with plants hanging from the ceiling, cute booths, and fun, light music. Overall, loved the vibe, the food, and the people. Highly recommend if you're looking for a spot that's both chill and yummy.

Alauna A.

It's a busy Saturday morning with tons of people here, but since there were only two of us, we didn't have to wait. Our waitress was sweet but not very attentive. She greeted us, took our drink orders, brought our food, and then we didn't see her again for about half an hour until it was time for the check. The food, though, was absolutely delicious. I got the breakfast burrito in a bowl instead of a tortilla, and for my drink, I tried the Salted Coconut Oat Coldie, which was really good. I enjoyed the food.

Vanilla lattes with oat milk (left) and caramel latte (right)

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1 month ago

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25 days ago

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2 months ago

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29 days ago

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Michael P.

Yay! Please come back. We are looking forward to serve you again!

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4 months ago

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Michael P.

Thanks for visiting, and for the feeback!

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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Michael P.

Thanks, Doris! Welcome back

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6 months ago

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Michael P.

Thanks, Elizabeth! We hope to see you. We will work on the service.

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

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Michael P.

Glad you had a great time. We look forward to hosting you!

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4 months ago

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Michael P.

Glad you had a great time. Thanks, Roberto!

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9 months ago

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10 months ago

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6 days ago

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Michael P.

Thanks for the review! Glad that Ellie was great.

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6 months ago

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7 months ago

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8 months ago

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4 months ago

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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Thanks for visiting, Chelsi. We hope to see you soon!

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10 months ago

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11 months ago

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Thanks for visiting us. Welcome back

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1 year ago

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Thanks for visiting. We hope to see you soon!

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2 years ago

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4 months ago

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Thanks, Kate! We value you taking the time to visit. Welcome back!

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1 year ago

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Iris Coffee Lab - Blue Matcha Latte

Iris Coffee Lab

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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.

Where to begin with iris coffee lab? The ordering experience was streamlined, and there was ample…read moreindoor and outdoor seating. Unfortunately, this is probably because the chairs were the equivalent of sitting on a guitar pick. The rest of the decor similarly resembled a mid-century modern insane asylum. All this is child's play compared to the drinks. I was hoping they would redeem the experience. I was rooting for you, iris coffee lab. The matcha left me wanting more. I couldn't taste even a whisper of matcha flavoring, and the price was laughable for a glass of green milk. When my flat white arrived, I felt that twinkle return to my eye. Sadly, about 3 sips later, as I neared the end of my beverage I was shocked to discover a texture component I was not expecting. After a lot of contemplation, I have decided I am not a fan of coffee grounds swirling around my mouth. The customers are hip and trendy, the employees exceedingly friendly and speedy, the drinks bespoke and innovative, but I think we need to cut out the frills and go back to the basics. Why play 3D chess when you've yet to master tic tac toe? I think the experience was net neutral, but for how steep the pricing is, I feel it's my duty to let the world know what they're getting into.

Benelux Café - Strawberry pancakes

Benelux Café

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Black and White Coffee - A few more seats to the left in the picture

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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.

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Drift Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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