The caramel soy latte is the best I've had since I moved South nearly three years ago. It was frothy and flavorful! It is too hot to sit outdoors,but with the comfortably used and eclectic comfy chairs and plenty of electrical outlets inside, it's pleasant to while away the time indoors. This is slightly off the busy beaten path of downtown Carrboro, but an easy ten minute walk from Weaver Market. It's a little quieter and friendlier than the downtown cafe I tried. read more

The coffee is terrible. Not only the drip coffee, but yes, the espresso. The baristas are not trained properly in pulling espresso or steaming milk. The pastry I bought was stale. My friend got a tea that was not to her liking. The staff was not friendly or personable and didn't seem to like their job, I will never go to this place again. read more

Love this cafe because it is a great place to relax, or to get some work done reading, tutoring or using a laptop. There is free Internet access, but also lots to play with, including board games, a pool table and Foosball. Seating indoors and outside. Nice touches as well, like good art on display, graphic novels, and even a fish tank. The friendly, hip staff sticks to drip coffee and French press, but there are wines, pastries and other things to choose from at the front counter. In the back is a boutique with tobacco products, skateboards and incense. Great Carrboro place! read more

I really like Looking Glass; it's my go-to cafe when I need to crank out some work in the afternoon and evening. When it's warm, it's a great place to go to relax, have a coffee or glass of wine with friends, get some work done, hang out with the dog, etc. When it's chilly, it's really pleasant inside even when it's packed. I've been to an art showing there for my sister, which was well-done, and she has great things to say about the owner, who was quite helpful for the planning and setup of the show. I have always had good experiences with the staff - they have always been friendly and helpful, with the sole exception of the surly little dude working there tonight who needs to CHEER UP. He must be thinking he works at a coffee shop down the street. ;) I wouldn't ding the place because of his dearth of customer care skills, because I'm pretty sure he doesn't fit in with such a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere. read more

I love this place, its much easiar to get a decent table to study and work. The coffee and tea are really good. They serve some pre-prepared food that is good for what it is and the environment is fun and colorful. I like the table that faces the fishtank, very relaxing. read more

I really enjoy spending time at Looking Glass when I can. Their coffee is really good, and they have some really delicious teas. They have a really good set up with indoor and outdoor seating - there's always someplace to sit, even when it's busy - and I like the atmosphere and feel comfortable there. The teas are good to split with a friend since they come in a little tea pot and are a little pricey. read more

I originally tried this place out as a replacement for Open Eye (you can read a review over there, too), and my first visit was on a bad day (my bad day, not theirs), so every little thing bugged me. A friend persuaded me to try it again, and I'm glad I did: it's been pretty good dozens of times since. The coffee is good, there's lots of room, the baristas seem fairly friendly (the improvement I was seeking when I ditched Open Eye), and the bathrooms are in reasonably good shape... could be nicer. I still prefer sitting out at Weaver on a nice day, but as far as indoor coffee places go, I'm pretty happy with the place. The wireless is the same as Open Eye (Town of Carrboro wireless). read more

I am moving to North Carolina after finishing up grad school in Seattle. In my field extended interviews, taking place over a couple of day are common, so I was in desperate need of a place to work from while camping out for a week or so while interviewing in a couple of labs. I tried all of the highest rated places in and around Chapel Hill, ie Jesse's, Open Eye, etc, and found this to be my favorite. It maybe my "refined" Seattle palette but while they were all a little better than Starbucks none of them had superlative milk based drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, mochas). I found that Looking Glass and Open Eye were the best and variance in quality between the two was less than the variance between baristas at the same store. I liked the roast at Looking Glass better, best seen in espresso or americanos. I heard all about the low cost of living in the Triangle Area but that doesn't extend to coffee. In Seattle, I was used to paying between $3.00 and $3.75 for a 12oz latte or mocha but here in Chapel Hill the prices seem to average $4.00 and greater. Looking Glass is no exception and shock to an out of towner. I have said that the price is average and the coffee is above average but nothing to write home about, why did I choose this coffee shop to camp at most days. The space was fantastic. It was open and uncramped with a huge number power outlets available on the wall. I able to come, drink coffee and run computationally intensive simulations because I had AC power. There is a lot of art on the walls, a pool table (that wasn't used in the morning when I was there). It is winter time but there are also large outdoor seating areas with shade. I chose this coffee shop because it was comfortable. Open Eye was too crowded for me and getting AC was hit and miss. One significant knock on Looking Glass was the wifi. It is an open network so you shouldn't transmit any sensitive information over the wifi unless you have a VPN. read more

Anytime my husband and I are trying to get out of the house, this place is a go to for coffee and/or study time. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Almost every seat has its own power outlet! Also, the space is large (indoors and outdoors) so you never have to worry about finding a spot! read more

I've been here a couple of times to do some work, and I really want to like it. It's very comfortable with lots of tables, and the vibe is much more relaxed and less hectic than Open Eye. It's even closer to my house! But unfortunately, I still find myself choosing this coffee shop less often because: 1) It smells. I'm not sure if it's from the shop at the back, as others have mentioned, because it's not overpowering. But its to the point where it smells nasty coming in from outside, and I have to tell myself that I will get used to it once I work for a while. Tthe place really really needs to get aired out. 2) The coffee (lattes) aren't so great - they're ok, but I like the ones at Weaver Street and Open Eye better. Overall, if they somehow managed to air it out then I would be here a lot more often. read more

My favorite coffee shop in the area! Very pleasant area to work (I am a graduate student) with nice tables and seating. I also find the independent coffee shop vibe quite charming read more

Pro: BEST cappuccino ever!! Better than open eye, jessee's, weaver st, whole foods, and definitely Starbuck's Cons: I wish the outdoor seating area was not a haven for smokers! Looks like they use Cigarette Butt Mulch. Is it universal that baristas act like they are in a bad mood?!! read more

This is far above and beyond Open Eye. So what if people smoke outside. If you don't like to be around smoke, stay inside or stay at home. The staff is friendly, the coffee is decent and the atmosphere perfect for studying or chilling with friends. read more

Really like this place. So promising from many standpoints: great coffee, nice atmosphere for studying and visiting, parking and easy access to Carrboro. But this was all nearly wrecked for me the other day by the fact that they allow/encourage smoking on their nice front porch! Yuck! You do not expect this in restaurants and coffee shops these days, and the porch is so lovely and inviting. I didn't realize that it was the smokers' haven until after I got settled, when I was disgusted to find that three people were smoking around me. This practice, especially right at the front entrance, could sink the place before it really gets going, and that would be a real shame, as this is way nicer than, for instance, Open Eye. read more

Despite being a large place, I always have a hard time finding a place to sit. I suppose that's good for them, but means I only stop in when I'm going to be taking it away. Their large to-go cups are medium sized anywhere else, so I've kinda stopped going. Still, if none of that bothers you, this is not a bad place. The staff is friendly and helpful. I've never had anything that didn't taste good, and it is prepared as quickly as you'd expect. read more

Nice little place. Within walking distance of much of Carrboro, it's a cute spot to grab a smoothie, cuppa tea, Italiian soda. Lotsa plugins for the laptop, comfy chairs just to hang out in. Lots of outdoor seating on a nice day, and a fun hammock to chillax in. The music can be a little annoying sometimes, and the staff can seem a little rude, and I don't see too much point in the head-shop in back, but overall a worthy addition to Carrboro. read more

The best coffee in chapel hill period love the outdoor seating expresso amazing daily visit is a must

A fun hangout-yes you will probably run into smokers outside, but I haven't noticed any odd smells in the place itself. They do now have an array of espresso drinks. I had the macchiato and it was delightful read more

I'm not a frequenter of coffee shops and I don't drink caffeinated beverages often so I don't have many standards when I go to one. But I do have one: lots of outlets. And Looking Glass met this specification with flying colors. If you want some tasty drinks and plan for a long night of studying, this is the place! There were at least two outlets at almost all the tables. I thoroughly enjoyed my spice chia as well! read more

I regularly dream about their mochas. Great place to enjoy some tasty coffee and do work. It gets pretty crowded during the school year and best of luck finding a spot after 11:00am if it's anywhere near exam time at unc. Never had their food but the sandwiches always smell tasty! read more

A place for unc students to hangout and a place for resident to chill. Fabulous spacious coffee shop with outdoor seating.

I'm glad I stumbled across this place. It's definitely very Carrboro-a hipster hang out which has great food and drink. I tried a pastry which was perfection, and the Jabberwocky, two shots of espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate. Make sure to have them leave room for cream and sugar, as it needs a little more sweetness. It was a nice break from Starbucks, and it's always nice to support local business. While the food was on par, I knocked the stars down one due to the employees not being friendly. I know everyone has bad days though, so that won't deter me from going back! read more

great quality espresso from carboro roasters. chai latte is awesome, a lot of cinnamon. mocha is more chocolatty. read more

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This place is spacious and has a lot of tables- but the menu seems a bit limited to me.. And I feel that they are understaffed. It doesn't feel very clean to me- in the summer, even the inside has a lot of fruit flies which was annoying. Nonetheless, not a bad place to do work if you're looking for a coffee shop in Carrboro.. read more

Love this place! Great coffee, a lot of seating, delicious bagels and cream cheese. On a nice day you can sit outside. Two large rooms for inside working. Wine and beer also available as well as delicious pannini sandwiches. read more

Great place to get work done and just hang out with friends. Food and coffee selection is great, and there's beer for the evening events.

Pros- Coffee and tea is well done, plenty of sitting (inside and out), stylish, it has real food (sandwiches), lots of power outlets, free wifi, relaxed atmosphere. Cons- Hipsters that work there can be rude, slower than average, annoying music. read more

I really like Looking Glass (soooo much better than Open Eye). All of the baristas are super friendly and helpful. I like their coffee. At Open Eye there are several rooms. One has games and a pool table, one is just the normal room where they have tables and music playing, and the third is kind of like a quiet room which is nice if you need to get work done. They also have a nice patio area and serve paninis for lunch which are good. The one complaint I have is that they seem to have a minor problem with bugs. I've seen some small bugs flying around me when I've been there but it's not a huge deal. read more

Friendly staff, great coffee, plenty of space for seating and taking care of business. Seriously, is there nothing bad to say about this place? read more

I love this place. They make a fabulous mocha. The hours listed here are wrong though. They're open Mon-Thurs from 7:30am-11pm, Fri & Sat from 7:30am-10pm, and Sun from 8am-10pm. :) read more

The Chai Tea latte I got here was really good! I've been trying to find a local place with parking that I can sit down in and get some work done. The staff seems pretty chill and I want to order a pastry next time I come in. They've got a ton of seating and outlets so I definitely think I'll be back. read more

Good place to go for coffee with friends. Pretty outdoor seating area on nice days. Limited parking.

Perfect place to get some work done, read a book, or talk with friends. Good sandwiches and drink selection. Way better than other coffee shops in the area. The outside seating is a really great addition for a warm day. read more

I much prefer Looking Glass to the other cafe options. Better light, better food, more outlets.

I really want to like you, Looking Glass. You're close to my place and your coffee is pretty good. I just can't get past your surly staff and questionable sanitation. Ditto on the fly comment below. read more

One of the best coffee shop environments in the area. Lots of indoor and outdoor space for groups. And you can get your own personal pot of tea for just $3! read more

Having spent some time in cafes around town, Looking Glass is a nice departure from the traditional cafe set-up. Above all, Looking Glass has a relaxed and friendly ambiance-a great place to study (reliable wireless internet) and socialize as well as to have a drink in the evening. They have an open set-up with nice natural light and a great outdoor seating area. They stick to drip coffee and french press, and they have a good offering of single origins from CCC to justify the decision. While I like my espresso, I like it more that people who want twenty ounce mochas will not come here and bother me. The art is generally good, and the boutique selection is great and seems to be expanding. They have a very decent pool table, as well. I think they could benefit from having more specialty drink offerings, ie cafe au laits, hot chocolates-etc. Their beer selection is good, some good offerings from Bells and Brooklyn breweries in particular. Wine selection is slim, but well-chosen. This is a great neighborhood cafe, they don't bother with any corporate affectations-and thank god for that. The staff and owners seem to have their hearts in the right place, I hope LG will be here for a long time to come. read more

I hate this coffee shop. I live very near, and I want to like it since it's so convenient, but every time I give Looking Glass another chance, I once again walk out of there with a frown on my face. Arrogant, super-slow baristas who seem to be on Quaaludes. Never a greeting or thank-you for your business, just sullen judgmental glares. I wouldn't care if only they would pick up their feet and move a tiny bit faster. This morning, the barista stood at the toaster and waited for a bagel to ever-so-slowly toast -- her back to the customers -- when all I wanted was a brewed coffee! Multi-tasking? Can't be done. My friend who was waiting patiently for me outside with her dog asked, "What happened?! You were in there so long!" I replied that Looking Glass was just being Looking Glass. She asked me not to write a review since, "they seem to be losing customers and might close." Yeah. read more

The drinks are abundant and interesting. The seating is plentiful. The loud new age-y music is bizarre and the clientele seem to favor very loud conversations; both of these aspects are great for people watching, but are not so great when trying to get work done. read more

I went into Looking Glass Cafe for the first time yesterday. I like the way the place looks- very casual, laid back. The person who greeted me did not smile once. I asked for a coffee, and gave a dollar tip. No thank you given . She walked away immediately to the back, there were only a few customers. I asked around to see where to get coffee lids etc. I had also asked about the menu (which looks great!) and had asked what her favorite thing on the menu was. She said, "I'm sick of it all b/c it's all I eat". Service with a smile and enthusiasm I'd give the Cafe a 1/5, the coffee was good and the menu looks reasonably priced and I have friends that like the sandwiches a lot. Maybe they were just having a grumpy morning but back in the day when I worked in restaurants, you always aimed to serve, up sell, smile and hope you have repeat customers. They could benefit with reading "Gung Ho!" or something, ah well, I may return for a sandwich and see if the attitude is a lot better, like hellos and goodbyes for example- read more