This place was great - because it's on a college campus, it managed to somehow be high energy and…read morechill at the same time. It sort of gave Panera + local cafe vibes - I enjoyed it. I ordered the cinnamon glaze waffle + hot Almond Latte with oat milk and they were both delicious. The waffle is a total dessert - sweet and coated in sugar crystals YUMMM. Oh, and to make it even better, the each little cell of the waffle was filled with the glaze so each bite was perfection. The latte was also SOOO good - smooth & beautifully presented. The staff were friendly and welcoming - even though they were busy, the vibe was great between the staff and when the staff was engaging with the customers. I know the 2 staff members I spoke with were wonderful and kind. The outdoor seating did offer a great view of the bell tower, road and foot traffic. It was lovely and relaxing.

Wonderful team behind the bar. I always enjoy their warm biscuit and the apple butter. It's made…read morefrom scratch. This place is always bustling with college students, faculty, staff and locals. It's inviting while allowing private work on a shared large table.

Lucky Tree is one of the best places in Raleigh to grab a cup of coffee, enjoy a pastry, and truly…read morerelax. With bar-top seating, couches, tables, and chairs, it offers a welcoming environment to work, study, or find a bit of end-of-day calm. This place also holds personal nostalgia for me. I recently released my book Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name -- Letters from Me to Her, a collection written for a woman I love living in Raleigh, and I was able to write some of those love letters and poems right here in this lovely café. Lucky Tree regularly hosts open mic nights for musicians and poetry-focused events, and the owners are deeply involved in the local arts scene. Through these events, I've met artists, authors, and incredible people--and I've even shared my own work from my above mentioned book here. Overall, this is a truly unique and beautiful shop. The food is always fresh, the staff is vibrant, polite, and genuinely helpful, and the atmosphere shifts naturally from lively to quiet and relaxing depending on the events taking place. Top-tier shop and easily one of my favorite coffee spots in Raleigh. And yes--the coffee is really good.

I decided to try this out for a quick coffee stop while in town for a conference. The service was…read morefriendly and quick! I tried the breakfast bagel bites, which were soft and warm. I loved the cheese on top! I was not a huge fan of the flavor the almond flour gave them but it was not overpowering. I would probably get them again! They had a lot of options as far as specialty lattes but I am glad I went with the Vanilla Maple. I was worried that the maple flavor would be too much but it complimented the vanilla well. The inside was VERY well decorated, and I would've loved to stay and do a little computer work! I could see myself coming by and sitting down for a quick brunch, meeting up with friends, or staying for a work session.

Delicious pastry shop specializing in rich, filling croissaints like chocolate ganache, pistachio…read moreraspberry, and other seasonal flavors. A huge variety, including savory too. The croissant itself is flaky and very buttery! They also do a bunch of other baked goods, like honey cake (seems like there is a dash of Eastern European flair in some of the desserts they make) and cheesecake! Lots of varieties of cheesecake actually. I had the baklava cheesecake and it was delicious. The baklava base tasted like a very high quality baklava, and the cheesecake for that one was on the softer side and very rich and creamy, with a yummy sour cream tang.

A bakery I havnt tried yet? Sure why not…read more There is a select varieties of coffee and pastries here. Bakery has indoor and outdoor seatings. Staff is informative and quick to service. I came here just for the Bombolonis. I was so excited to try this. It wasnt as fresh cause I came in late. The bomboloni didnt taste what I expected to be. The donut is a bit stale. I tried the strawberry vanilla, guava and creme brulee. It was okay. Ill come early next time and try again.

This was place was AMAZING. The parking was so convenient with parallel spots and a parking deck…read moreright next to it. And the interior was just so cute, I couldn't get enough of it. The server was super friendly and was well informed on what is on the menu. And the wait wasn't too long, especially with ordering a meal. I got the salmon bowl with rice, and trust I will be back to get it. The flavors were amazing and the rice was cooked just right.

I went to bloom for an early dinner. I was not alone in finding this place a true coffee shop where…read morenearly everyone had a laptop out, so I felt at home to work as well. The decor is nice. Minimalist but chic. Clean. Not too loud or noisy. You can get service at your table. Everyone was nice. It's not totally like a traditional waitstaff, as they don't come by as often, but still helpful and around when I needed something. The cocktails were good - I had the honey bourbon smash. It was well made. So much so I had two! For food, these are shareable small plates. Morning truly felt like a meal. The food came out fast and was hot/fresh. I had the crab claws, crispy shrimp and dumplings. The crab claws were delicious. Lots of them too. Served with bread I didn't use. The crispy shrimp were nice large shrimp and a spicy sauce with rice. I ended up using the rice with the crab claw sauce. And the dumplings were ok but I didn't eat many of them. They were my least favorite. I would come back to enjoy coffee and breakfast, but doubt I come back for dinner.

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.

I try a new coffee shop every Saturday and today it was Benelux…read more There isn't a lot of street parking, but there is an underground garage behind it, which is so convenient. It's located next to Village District. I was greeted immediately by a nice young man. I asked for his hot food suggestion, and of course he suggested the waffles! I ordered a waffle with fresh bananas and Nutella...every bite was absolutely delicious. I also ordered a lavender latte and loved it. They sell scones from a local vendor and I had a gluten free orange cranberry scone which was also delicious. Benelux is spacious and has plenty of seating. Tables, high tops and even a couple of comfortable love seats.

This is great coffee shop with a good, family friendly a diverse vibe…read more Benelux offers a good variety of coffee drinks and delicious pastries. We ordered lattes and other pastries, and they were all delicious. I met the new owners when I stopped by, and they shared their new plans for upgrades and improvements. They own other coffee shops in Colombia, so I'm guessing those improvements will be good. It is located in a shopping plaza centrally located. If you are not from the area, the GPS will take you straight to it. There is a parking lot for the entire shopping plaza with free parking. If you like to work in coffee shops, this one gets a bit busy and noisy at times. Keep that in mind. The staff was friendly and helpful. The space is comfortable and common areas are clean. Overall, 100% recommended.

I've been to this cafe a few times and it's always a great time. Everyone working there is friendly…read moreand always happy. The drinks are TOO good to sip. I've only had their teas and lemonades. I plan to try their lattes one day. They even have boba drinks now! I would say my favorite is the peach palmer or their watermelon lemonade. The drinks are refreshing and not too sweet. Their pastries are really good as well. I've had their strawberries and crème rice Krispy treat and their brownie. Taste very fresh. They also have gluten free pastries. When you're in Raleigh stop by and indulge in a different adult beverage or not! (You have the option to get non-infused drinks)

There on a Saturday first time being there. I think the only bad thing about my experience was the…read moreparking or maybe it was because I think they had an open mic that day, but it was a good experience. The cashier was very attentive the Red Velvet Cupcake was delicious, my drink was yummy anddd left us feeling niccccce

This downtown Raleigh stop really came through when I was craving a breakfast sandwich!!! LOL…read more The staff was very friendly. Service was prompt. It's a small space but there's plenty of outdoor seating (and I believe there is additional indoor seating next door). Loved my bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Added a nice fruit salad too. Just love the vibe of this part of downtown Raleigh!

Morning Times is one of my favorite stops near the bus station--perfect whether you're heading out…read moreof town or just starting your day. Their grab-and-go breakfast burritos are consistently fresh, filling, and flavorful, and the coffee is exactly what you want in the morning: smooth, rich, and dependable. And the scones? Truly some of the best I've had this side of the pond--tender, just the right amount of sweetness, and always a treat with a hot cup of coffee. I also love the seating options. The indoor counter stools are great for a quick, cozy moment to yourself, and the outdoor streetside seating is perfect for people-watching with a cup of coffee in hand or to grab one and share with a neighbor in need at the nearby station. It's an easy, welcoming spot with great food and a relaxed atmosphere--highly recommend if you're anywhere nearby and need a good start to your day. It's also affordable so that buying another for a stranger is always the right thing to do.

A fun concept bar of cocktails + desserts! We sat at the bar and received great service. Make sure…read moreto take the time to read the whole menu because there are some very unique offerings! We also learned the menu is updated seasonally, so it was a perfect pairing to the beautiful spring weather

Bittersweet was pretty bittersweet... we came for desserts for a friend's birthday and there was…read moreabout a twenty minute line outside. We were super excited to try these drinks and desserts and were surprised by the lack of flavor in everything. The presentation looked really appetizing but the cupcake was dry, the pecan pie was more like a chocolate with pecans on top and the ice cream sandwich looked cool but tasted like stale popcorn. The drink was okay also. I will say that the vibe was chill and has a really nice date atmosphere.

The coffee was good, I ordered a dry cappuccino. The service was quick. The atmosphere was my…read morefavorite part, real cozy.

This coffee was delicious! The barista helped me bunch and was so nice! Will definitely come back…read moreto try the food!