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    Narrative Coffee Company

    4.4 (21 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Narrative Coffee Company Photos

    NARRATIVE COFFEE COMPANY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Narrative Coffee Company

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    Front counter
    Markie'Sha J.

    This was my first time visiting this space, and it is definitely one of the most coffee shops that I've been to in the area. I had a buttery fresh warm croissant. The employee was extremely welcoming and the working space had a great temperament. There was music playing, but it was at the perfect volume to where it was not a disturbance and still created a comfortable working space.

    Gingerbread Latte
    Phillip N.

    Stopped in before the Durham Christmas Parade to grab a coffee to enjoy while watching the parade! I got an iced gingerbread latte. It was really tasty and festive for the holiday time. The shop was super busy because of the parade, but the barista's were super efficient and friendly! The shop is cute so I'd love to go back and enjoy the space while sipping on coffee! I'll definitely be back!

    Petal & spice w/almond milk. Front view of the building.
    Emebet E.

    Determined to find a black owned coffee shop this morning I made a pitstop at both locations! Important to check their schedule for Raleigh (Tuesday-thurs). Found my way to Durham and found their sweet brick and mortar. For barely 10 am on a Friday, they were busy. I ordered a seasonal Petal and Spice with almond milk-- delicious. The vibes immaculate & the service fantastic! Thanks so much!

    Yolanda Y.

    Excited to try this relatively new spot in downtown Durham! I sampled a few drinks--they have quite a few seasonal options, overall good quality, though I noticed that the lattes all had a pretty similar taste. I think (as somebody who enjoys a favored, sweet drink) the syrups could be more distinct, since the coffee flavor tended to dominate. Their cold brew was solid. Service was quick, and the space has a nice, quiet work vibe. Though being so close to Google means it can get crowded at certain times of day. Even tho their coffee is not my favorite, I have found it to be a great place to grab a morning coffee and sit outside by the fountain to read or catch up with a friend.

    Classy interior and drink offering. Visited this location on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon and it was busy, but service was fast. There are restrooms available (customers only) and additional seating options in an atrium connected to the coffee shop. Loved the matcha latte with Madagascar vanilla syrup and classic black cold brew.

    Staci H.

    I didn't go for food. Just for coffee. But the service was nice and the ambiance was my fave. Modern and relaxed. Which I loved the most.

    Ordering counter
    Glenn G.

    We missed the previous coffee business in this spot (321 Cofee, which employed special needs workers) and were happy to see another coffee shop take its place. We stopped in on a Saturday morning after our weekly trip to the farmers market, ordered two coffee drinks, and drank them at the bar facing outside. Drinks were good, staff were friendly, and the vibe was relaxed and uncluttered. I'm sure we'll be back.

    Berry white iced matcha latte
    Andrea A.

    Narrative is the latest addition to Durham's vibrant coffee shop scene! I got the iced Berry White matcha latte, which was not on the menu but the barista mentioned it when I asked about seasonal specials. It was delicious- good amount of strawberry and matcha flavor, the white chocolate was harder to distinguish though. There's nearby free parking on weekends and weekdays after 7pm; according to their website, Narrative also validates parking up to 1hr. Service was fast & friendly, ambiance is nice- very modern-looking. 10/10 would recommend!

    Pumpkin muffin
    Hayley P.

    I stopped by here for a meeting on a Friday morning. I've been hearing good things and had been wanting to try them! It shares space with a large building but the coffee shop itself is cozy with some seating. It has big windows so it lets in a lot of natural light, which is so lovely. I was told by our barista that one of the favorites on the menu was the cookie butter oat milk latte, and it most definitely lived up to the hype. Not too sweet and the oat milk balanced on the bitter of the coffee and sweetness of the syrup. If you stop by here, I definitely recommend this drink. I also grabbed a pumpkin muffin, which was large and tasty. The staff was so kind and got our drinks and pastries out quickly. I also want to give a shout out to their owner/manager. I input the wrong info when requesting an e-receipt so had to call later to ask them to send to me. Rod was able to find and send the e-receipt to me. Big thanks for that extra effort!

    Counter area

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    6 days ago

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    2 days ago

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    10 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Very cute coffee shop! Well located! However the lattes we got were not the best. The milk frothing was subpar...

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Was really excited about this place but was hugely disappointed. Paid over $8 for what tasted like hot milk and a cramped atmosphere.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Rodrick L.

    Rodrick L.

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    7 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Ask the Community - Narrative Coffee Company

    Review Highlights - Narrative Coffee Company

    So glad that they have a brick and mortar now!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Aaktun Coffee & Bar - Bacon egg and cheese

    Aaktun Coffee & Bar

    4.4(158 reviews)
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    We visited Aaktun on a Sunday morning for brunch. We had made a reservation the week prior and were…read moreseated right away. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous and feels like a trendy spot in Mexico. They have a DJ playing music during brunch time. We were initially concerned it would be too loud and hard to talk over, but it was actually the perfect volume and only enhanced our experience. Food was excellent! We got a breakfast sandwich, loaded tater tots, and poke. All were very fresh and well made - especially the fish dish!

    **Update 5/12/2026 - I made a reservation to take my mom to brunch on Sunday at 10:15. When we…read morearrived, the hostess said the reservation had been made for outside. I explained and showed her that I booked standard seating and she said that meant outside, which I thought was strange because I was very careful not to book either option that was clearly labeled outdoor. I told her that we wanted a table inside and she said "I have a table that has a reservation for 11:30, can you be done by then?" I laughed and said "sure" but thought to myself that would be up to them! She asked another hostess to seat us, and after we were seated, we waited about 15 minutes and watched staff walk by our table multiple times and no one came by. The original interactions had already put a bad taste in my mouth, so I called another restaurant downtown and asked how long the wait would be for two. They could seat us in the bar area right away, so we got up and left Aaktun to head there. The first two experiences that I had at Aaktun were great. I'm glad I got to try their food because I won't be back after Sunday's experience.

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    Aaktun Coffee & Bar - Iced autumn blaze latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny

    Iced autumn blaze latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny

    Aaktun Coffee & Bar - Iced dulce de leche latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny

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    Foster Street Coffee - Breakfast burrito

    Foster Street Coffee

    4.3(121 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    A long-time favorite of mine here in Durham, particularly for anyone wanting a place to study. They…read morehave a ton of tables, free coffee refills, and lots of outlets. The lighting is good, the music is at an appropriate volume, and the seating is comfortable (particularly in the back room). During the weekends and on holidays they can be quite full (particularly during the school year), but generally speaking I can usually find a seat here. Baristas are friendly and competent. They are well-staffed, and even when there is a long line things come out quickly! There is also free parking available in the parking garage around the corner, which is certainly a bonus. My go-to here is simply an iced americano or coffee, but their seasonal drinks are also delicious. Can't recommend enough!

    It's time for "second coffee" and my office for the morning, landing at Foster Street at around…read more8:30 am. Parking wasn't easy since I can't fit into a parking deck but a metered space opened up and I was able to jam into there. Warmly welcomed and my cortado was ready before I'd even finished plugging in the laptop. Strong coffee that had a deep flavor and I'd already had breakfast so I was able to resist the pastries. An hour in, another cup of drip was all I needed while I did the Internet thing. Foster Street is conducive to laptop but it did get a bit loud in there with the talking, the music and the sound of the espresso machine. But if you can handle all of that, it's ideal. I stayed about two hours this morning. [Review 943 of 2025 - 4346 in North Carolina - 24498 overall]

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    Foster Street Coffee - Order counter

    Order counter

    Foster Street Coffee - Mocha latte and chocolate croissant

    Mocha latte and chocolate croissant

    Foster Street Coffee - Modern open seating

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    Modern open seating

    Yonderlust

    Yonderlust

    4.8(17 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    It took me more than a year of coming here to write a review for Yonderlust, mostly because I'm…read moresurprised by how much this place grew on me. Yonderlust is more than just a coffee shop--it's one of those spaces where you can easily spend an entire afternoon without realizing how much time has passed. It's a fantastic study and work spot: a mix of table sizes, plenty of outlets, and a relatively quiet, calm environment that makes it easy to settle in. It has solid coffee: Drinks here are consistently pretty good. I usually go for their Campfire Latte (a signature for a reason) or whatever seasonal syrup they're featuring, and their matcha latte is reliable too. It has actual, warm food: simple but satisfying sandwiches with enough variety to make for a perfect study snack or light lunch. I am often disappointed when coffee shops only offer cold pastries. It has entertainment: I love taking a quick study break to browse the shop's outdoor gear and clothing; it honestly feels a little like being transported to the West Coast for a moment (give me some Oregan vibes!). Service has always been quick and friendly. I wouldn't say any single thing here is the best in Durham--but together, it is special! There are many days when I find myself craving a few cozy hours at Yonderlust, followed by a quick dessert next door at Rose's.

    Bottom line: Pretty nice coffee shop cafe adjacent to/sharing space with an apparel shop. Crowded…read moreeven on a Sunday. Clean inviting atmosphere, I enjoyed my hot skim latte here. The Deets: I had brunch with some friends that live in Durham and after the meal, they directed me to stop into Yonderlust for a coffee beverage stop instead of having one at the restaurant. We stopped by and ducked into the cafe side...I say cafe side as 2/3 of the space there is an outfitters/apparel shop and the other part houses the coffee shop/cafe. The cafe side (as well as the apparel shop) is very nicely done inside, very appealing and clean. The coffee seating area was packed, it appears to be a great place to stop and sit/work a spell even on a Sunday. Ordering moved through fairly quickly and I put in my request for a hot skim latte to the very nice and positive person at the register. The wait was not long before my beverage was completed, and your beverage/name are both called out to pick up when it's ready. I did manage to find one lone chair to sit and drink my tasty beverage while my friends did some shopping in the apparel side. I enjoyed my latte, I'd most definitely stop in again when in the area.

    Photos
    Yonderlust - Order and pickup counter, Dec 2025.

    Order and pickup counter, Dec 2025.

    Yonderlust
    Yonderlust - Iced black sesame oat latte - lifewithhanny

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    Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery - Banana pudding shortie - lifewithhanny

    Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery

    4.6(53 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    The cutest little coffee shop!! There's been a buzz brewing about this spot so we had to get out…read moreand check it out. Not a lot of parking out front so they allow parking next door at Kings gr but they kept a line of folks. Yes it moved, don't worry. Fresh pastry variety was quite impressive. The goodies were: Vietnamese coffee donut & creamsicle donut from Red Start bakery. An apple pop tart, & blueberry cheese danish also caught my eye. Yes I got them all. There was more but a guy gotta have limits. But I'll just they were mmm mmm good. I'll have to get the donuts again. There is limited seating, and a children's play area which was so cool. I'm hard pressed to not get my jolt of Java so I got a cortado with a drizzle of caramel for a little sweetness. LOVED the flavor, would've loved it if a little hotter. My son-in-law got the Mexican Coke, vanilla espresso. It was cold and amazing as per him. My wife's latte also needed to be hotter. I'll cut the barista a break as she was a one woman show.

    Omie's is a small hidden gem in Durham. This place has the best truly espresso/coffee forward…read moredrinks in the triangle. You can tell the quality of the drink and beans Omie's is high quality as soon as you taste it. I absolutely loved their fun and creative seasonal menu. I ordered the pumpkin pie brown butter latte, and it was so tasty. Normally, I have to ask coffee shops to reduce the sugar, but this drink was perfectly balanced. In addition, Omie's sells baked goods to complement your drink. There was a selection of tasty treats to pick from. One of my friends got a HUGE cookie, which looked absolutely delicious. As a fair heads up, parking and inside seating areas are limited. However, Omie's has done the most to maximize the space to make it a cozy place to sit. Pro tip- there is a little more seating to the left of the bathrooms, and there are several comfy spots interspersed throughout. Come for the good coffee, good vibes, and lovely service staff. I definitely know that I will be back!

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    Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery - Green Beans - Before roasting

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    Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery - Outside

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    Narrative Coffee Company - coffee - Updated May 2026

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