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    Idle Hour Coffee

    4.0 (143 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Idle Hour Coffee Photos

    IDLE HOUR COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Idle Hour Coffee

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    Lauren H.

    Really cute spot. The coffee was good. We tried the Fruit Loop latte special and we liked it. Staff was super nice and the vibe was great. They have some outdoor seating. Didn't try the food this time but it looked really good so I'd come back for that.

    Monica M.

    Not to sound judgy but it would be great if they could get our 2 drink order right. I ordered chai latte and a Vietnamese coffee. The chai latte came out quickly but they forgot about my Vietnamese coffee. I went up after 10 mins to see if it was ready. They had forgotten and then said they would get right on it but proceeded to serve about 7 customers after me and give them their drinks before finally getting mine after my friend had to go up to them again to ask for it. The barista was not apologetic at all and the male barista that took our order was probably a little... high. I'll have to pass on this place in future. Drinks are fine. Service not so much.

    Key lime pie & Jasmine honey latte
    Yolanda Y.

    This coffee shop has the most charming storefront, surrounded by greenery and blooming florals in the spring and summer, really looks like something out of a storybook (matching its fairytale theme!). Inside, the vibe is warm, cozy, and inviting, with real plants at every table and friendly staff at the front. For drinks and food, they offer some fun, creative syrup flavors for latte, though I find the coffee itself decent but not especially memorable. Matcha latte pretty good. Their desserts are beautiful and delicate, but very sweet. For ambience, this is one of my absolute favorite places in Raleigh to get work done! There are individual booths with outlets, round tables that are perfect for group work, and velvet couches near the front with great Zoom backgrounds. The music is soft, the space never feels crowded, and the people tend to be courteous and quiet. Great "get productive" coffee shop, not to mention it has a free parking lot at the back!

    Avocado toast and iced maple bourbon latte
    Elisa A.

    Had such an amazing experience here! Came after seeing a barista who works here on TikTok, and brought my friend with me. The desserts are not only pretty, but delicious as well! The drinks were awesome, and the customer service was fantastic! Definitely recommend!

    Ferrero Rocher  Raspberry cheesecake
    Valerie H.

    Aesthetically, this café is definitely my vibe--small, charming, and decorated like a cozy country café. It seems like a nice spot to grab a coffee, a light snack, and get some remote work done. Unfortunately, the experience didn't quite live up to the hype. I came specifically for the mushroom and orange pastries that are all over their social media, but both were sold out. I decided to try two other options instead, and honestly, I wish I hadn't. The raspberry cheesecake pastry had a hard, rubbery texture that made me question its freshness--it tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge too long. I only managed a couple of bites before tossing it. The cookies and cream option was a bit better, but still disappointing. The cherry flavor was barely there, and overall it was overly sweet with no real depth or complexity. Ironically, the best part of my visit was the drinks--and those were just a sparkling water and an orange Fanta. Cute place, but unfortunately, the food didn't deliver and The service was ok at best.

    Case
    Amanda K.

    This place is to die for-- so so cute! I got a vanilla matcha and it was wonderful. I also got a breakfast sandwich on an English muffin which was pretty good. The main reason I came was for the mousse. The mushroom was strawberry cheesecake flavored and the apple was apple (I know, shocking). I thought the flavors were good and the presentation was amazing. I wasn't a huge fan just because of the texture. Obviously to hold its shape it's going to have to be more on the gelatinous side, but I didn't think that through. So no hate whatsoever, it was just not my favorite texture. I'll definitely come back to try some of their other treats though!

    Peppermint white mocha matcha with oat milk.
    Lauren T.

    The Granny Smith apple cheesecakes are adorable and incredibly delicious. The service was friendly, the barista recommended a peppermint white mocha matcha that was phenomenal. If you aren't sure what to order, ask the barista. You will not be disappointed.

    Shanelle Y.

    I met up with some friends here to read/study. Initially, I was impressed by the variety of food and drink options offered, but was disappointed that they only had regular milk & oat milk since I usually prefer almond milk. I ordered a vanilla latte with oat milk since that was the only dairy free milk option, and it was actually pretty good! I didn't order any food, but the desserts/cakes that were on display looked super cute and delicious. Although the coffee was good, it was very hard for me to focus, read, and study here because of the loud music playing and the multicolored lights reflecting off of the disco ball that was hanging from the ceiling. I think this would be a nice place to hangout and talk, but personally I would not recommend coming here to read/study/work without headphones (& maybe sunglasses lol) or if you are easily distracted.

    Donuts and Matcha Latte
    Katharine B.

    I love the ambience of this coffee shop. They have a plush velvety sofa, a great plant collection and delicious coffee and teas. I had the matcha latte (yum) and hot chocolate. They serve the delectable donuts from Tepuy so we had to pick up a few to try. The staff is really friendly and so are the patrons. Thank you to the kind lady that helped with the door as I left with my arms full of donuts and drinks! I can't wait to go back. There is also ample parking in the back.

    Black Coffee and a Raspberry Glazed Donut
    Thomas D.

    This coffee shop feels like it was made to comfort me specifically. They roast their own coffee, and it is really delicious. I get a basic black coffee and it hits the spot every time. It has notes of complexity which set it apart from your typical cup, but at the same time it is welcoming and robust in that typical diner sense. On top of that, they sell Tepuy Donuts most days and I LOVE these donuts. They're the only donut I know that can satisfy my cravings with just one donut. If you haven't had one and you're a donut lover, these are a must try. On top of that the inside is nice and spacious with a lot of seating for a coffee shop. I like that they have some booths to sit in, on top of the handful of tables. Give this place a try if you haven't!

    Yummier than it looks - English muffin with jelly and cream cheese. Loved the spotted mug too.
    Charlotte B.

    I've been wanting to go to Idle Hour Coffee for so long! My main objective was to get my hands on a Tepuy donut. I'm not a donut person but these donuts look amazing (I definitely haven't been looking at pictures of them for weeks until I could go). So I finally made my way there as it's a good 30 minute drive for me, and no donuts on this day! So sad! I was told just some fluke thing happened and they just didn't have any. Such is life. I opted for an English muffin with cream cheese and jelly. It was really good, and probably saved me a few calories from donuts. It was warm and not like a store bought English muffin. To drink I got a drip coffee and it too did not disappoint. The interior is minimalist, bright and airy. The dessert case had beautiful mini cakes that I'll definitely try another time. But I still want a Tepuy donut! Go here; it's a lovely neighborhood coffee shop. Parking was a little tight but that because it's a popular place. Didn't have to wait long for my coffee and food though.

    Peppermint chocolate banana bread
    Annabelle P.

    We went during the holiday season and the place was decorated beautifully! The food was delicious and the service was quick! Highly recommend! They also had lots of gluten-free options which is great!

    Lauren B.

    A great Raleigh find! The desserts are excellent and the avocado toast was amazing. A must try.

    Pumpkin cheesecake

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    3 years ago

    GF biscotti and coffee breads. Best Lavender Honey syrup. Quick staff. Nice outdoor street sitting. Excellent cozy neighborhood vibe.

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    Page 2 of 4

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    We headed here because we had eaten dinner downtown and wanted to take advantage of all the great…read moreplaces we could. Although the space is tiny, the desserts and cocktails more than make up for the line out front, and the noisy nature of downtown locations! There were 4 of us and we enjoyed the strawberry pretzel pie, derby pie, ice cream, coffee, and old fashioned. First of all, AMAZING cocktails- and an epic list of whiskeys, bourbons, and scotches. They've also got some custom beverages that you cannot find else. Super thumbs up for originality of cocktails, creative menu presentation, and speed of service! The derby pie was good- but I like mine with a denser filling. My friend enjoyed her strawberry pretzel pie, and the fact that not many places offer this on their menu. But, she said it was not as good as homemade. The gents in our party RAVED about how great Bittersweet's old fashioned drinks were! They said that these were definitely in the top three beverages they had ever had! This hole in the wall had a bridal party, some goth appearing folks, and suits too. In short, no matter what you like to drink, what you enjoy eating for dessert, you will find it here!

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    Lucky Tree - coffee ice!

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    Iris Coffee Lab - Blue Matcha Latte

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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.

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    Iris Coffee Lab - Atmosphere

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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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    Idle Hour Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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