If you're looking for great coffee in Winston-Salem on a more quiet, bright/chill atmosphere, then i'd recommend Sayso Coffee. They're located between downtown and Old Salem and fun fact: Sayso serves Black and White Coffee, which is based in Raleigh, NC! I occasionally visit this spot and the times that I've been here never disappoints. The barista has always been welcoming and helpful. What I like about Sayso is that they make their own syrups, which is a bonus for me! They even create special drinks for every season as well. I tried the Jasmine Flash Brew for their Spring '26 menu and it was great! They also carry some local baked goods from Bobby Boy Bakeshop, too. read more

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Sayso Coffee is one of our favorite spots, especially because they do matcha so well, it's always smooth, creamy, and perfectly balanced, never bitter or overly sweet. Being right across from Old Salem, it's location is perfect after a morning walk through the misty history (see what I did there?) Parking on the street is free and usually easy and stress-free (so is their wi-fi). I order the matcha (with almond milk) every time and it's consistently excellent, whether hot or iced. My boyfriend tried the iced Moravian Sugar Cake Latte, and it was absolutely life changing! I am begging the owner to keep this one on the menu year round! Smooth and full of rich cinnamon-sugar flavor that felt both indulgent and comforting. The drinks are always carefully made, beautifully presented with art on the foam and taste just as good as they look. The barista said the flavored syrups are made in house. With great flavors, a welcoming vibe, and consistently high quality, Sayso Coffee has become a place we keep coming back to again and again. The interior is unassuming and not "girly froo-froo" as my son named some other coffee shops. There is a large, open section of seating attached to the coffee bar in which the sunlight pouring in the windows makes you want to sit longer and feel the warm-belly cozy from your coffee. You could definitely have a first date, mom meetup, Sunday book club, card game group, or homework sess. Cool, non-vocal jazz is usually playing and live plants inside are always listening to the happy conversations. I have seen some bakery items also, probably need to get there early for the best selection. I'm always curious of the naming of small businesses. Apparently the term "Say So" implies confidence, self-expression, and speaking up about what you like, which fits well with choosing your favorite drink or having your own taste and style. Love it read more

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Service was fast, friendly, and the drinks are so yummy! I got an iced pistachio latte and it was delicious. They used their house made syrup! Will be back. read more

Sayso Coffee - Iced pistachio latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

The barista was so nice and the coffee and pastries were delicious! There was a lot of seating area inside and tons of table for working. I loved this cafe! read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Was looking for a good remote working friendly coffee shop and this place is perfect! The barista was very kind and quickly made my drink. I got the peppermint mocha from their seasonal menu and it was delicious. I will definitely be back! read more

Sayso Coffee - Peppermint mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

A stop at Sayso was a lovely way to break up my morning walk. Ambience is bright, clean, minimalist, boho and invites lingering. There's a variety of seating including a sofa, comfy chairs, and tables for two, four and more. The curated coffee menu offers your mainstays then there is a seasonal menu that leans more toward flights of fancy. Friendly service. I ordered an almond milk latte, which was so rich and frothy, and a morning bun. The bun, made by Bobby Boy Bakeshop, was dense but not heavy with cinnamon running through it and a layer of crunchy sugar on top. Paired great with the latte. read more

A solid cup of joe and the atmosphere is very welcoming with kind staff. A great place for a quiet studying session or to meet for a nice 1on 1 meet up. read more

I recently had the pleasure of visiting them, and I can't say enough good things about it! From the moment you step inside, the minimalist and artsy vibe invites you to relax and unwind. I ordered their cortado, and it was simply perfect--rich, smooth, and definitely one of the best I've had in a while. To accompany my coffee, I tried their danish with miso, mushrooms, and scallions. Wow! The flavors were absolutely fantastic, and it's something I could eat every read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I've visited this coffee shop twice.The coffee itself is good, but similar to what I can find elsewhere. I was hoping for something that made this spot stand out, but I didn't quite find that. It's not a bad spot by any means, its cute! (Parking right in front of the building if your lucky! )and I'm sure others enjoy it! But It just doesn't quite click for me, I guess personally I didn't quite get a welcoming vibe as I have in other places, though that could just be my experience. read more

Sayso Coffee - Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hidden gem! If you're heading toward downtown and want coffee and a tasty treat this is your spot. Easy to get to and right off the highway. And they have Bobby Boy items! You can avoid the crowds at their locations and get your goodies here. Plus they have plenty of comfy work areas with lots of room to spread out. read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Their drinks are delicious but a bit over priced. The staff is nice and helpful! The vibe on the inside is that of a classic coffee shop, good to do work in or hang out with friends! read more

What a great spot for coffee! Modern & bright, friendly staff, great corner location at the edge of old Salem. They carry some pastries that looked delicious! Will be back for sure! read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I've been here a few times since moving to WS, and have had multiple good + bad experiences with the shop. Unfortunately, some of the baristas who work here are unfriendly- Today, the barista who took my order seemed to be having a rough morning + was pretty short with me. I understand that + brushed it off... Everyone has bad days. However, when different customers came into the shop, I noticed that he was much nicer to them... It was like he turned into an entirely different person- Not to be selfish, but I wish the same kindness had been extended towards me as well :( ...Now to the coffees. The espresso here is extremely light, and tastes very watered down. I'm sure some prefer their coffee to be made that way, but it is not my personal preference. I enjoy more of a dark roast. Additionally, the latte I ordered seemed to be pure milk... very little coffee. Lastly, I ordered an americano with oat milk. Instead of pouring the oat milk into the coffee himself, the barista just set the coffee in front of me with the container of milk and left without saying a word. Honestly, I like being able to pour my own milk because then I can control the amount, but the shop wasn't busy at all- I don't understand why he didn't say anything to me. A simple, "Here you go..." would have been fine. However, like I said, I have been here before + highly recommend the matcha! The overall ambiance/ energy in the shop is lovely as well, but that certainly has a lot more to do with the customers, rather than the service. For the high prices, I would expect higher quality drinks + more willingness to be kind. I won't be returning :( read more

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This is the cutest little coffee shop. I found them on the Odeko app, which helps you to place mobile orders from local coffee shops to increase their patronage. I placed my order on the app en route for an Oatmilk Latte. It didn't seem to come up on the system ahead of time, so when I arrived, they made it on the spot. The barista was prompt but focused on producing a quality latte, which certainly delivered. The latte had the most perfect latte art on top with a creamy, velvety texture. The oat milk tasted like it was made in-house. Creamy, nutty and with a great depth of flavor but not overly sweetened. The inside had a beautiful minimalist aesthetic and seemed like the perfect place for studying, reading or just relaxing. There was a gorgeous array of freshly baked pastries and a little merch corner with some cool stuff. Overall, I highly recommend this place and will return in the future. read more

Sayso Coffee - Oatmilk Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

My new office is connected to Sayso and to say I am excited is an understatement. The lavender matcha is a staple for me but I'm excited to get to try their seasonal drinks and to stay fueled by Sayso on work days. The people are so kind and I love the space too. It will be so nice to be able to pop in when I have a break. read more

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Barista was so nice! Tried the orange blossom latte and it was delicious. Lots of seating. Complicated parking! read more

Sayso Coffee - Storefront - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The internet at the house was not the best and we both had plenty of work to do, so we headed downtown Winston-Salem! In an effort to spread the love and try new things, we found Sayso! We both ordered a Chai. Next time we will ask for it to be hotter. It was warm, but not hot. The gentleman helping us was genuinely kind! His positive attitude is reason enough to visit Sayso! The space is great for visiting with friends. There are not many places to plug in, so arrive with a full charge just in case! read more

Sayso Coffee - Chai made by the kindest man in town! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I really enjoyed this cafe, but there were a few things that didn't entirely work for me. First, the good stuff: - beautiful space to come hang out - tasty pastries and baked goodies - kind and helpful staff - free Wi-Fi - good place to work The modern factory vibe of the interior is a style I really like. The gentleman who helped me today was pretty friendly and my drink was really tasty. The things I didn't care for: - it's very loud (not a good place for virtual work meetings) - the drink size to cost ratio The noise can be a positive and a negative. The positive is that it's all so loud that it just blends into white noise and makes for a great solo work environment. The negative is that it would be almost impossible to have a virtual meeting in there because it's so noisy. The drink size to cost ratio was a bit disappointing - I got the Mounds drink. It was AMAZING, but it was $6 + tax and tip and maybe 8oz. Again, the drink was amazing but it was so very small for the price I paid. read more

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I consider myself a Winston-Salem coffee shop hopper so of course I've been to say so Coffee. They have a cool vibe, great coffee, friendly staff and. Different styles of seating throughout. There were people working on their laptops at small tables with mismatched chairs and there were people at barstools drinking coffee and they also had people sitting on long picnic Style communal benches enjoying each other over a cup of Joe. The barista's and staff were also friendly knowledgeable and courteous. I ordered my go to at coffee shops: an oat milk mocha latte with three shakes of cinnamon powder. The coffee was rich and smooth, and the chocolate was not too sweet at all. The mocha latte had a rich chocolatey flavor, but it didn't overpower the great taste of the smooth espresso. For some reason when I went, they said they only sold pastries on Fridays, but that was years ago so I'm sure they sell them every day now. I highly recommend say so Coffee! read more

This is my second time going to Sayso (first time was at the previous location). So from the drinks perspective, this time there were more options I had the seasonal drink/ strawberry matcha and my sister had the chai tea. I have an obsession with matcha so I know good tea when I taste it. This one was ok, it was not as strong as I like it. The matcha tasted more watered down and not enough strawberry flavor. Generally the ratio has to be more than just a hint of strawberry for the drink. The chai tea was disappointing kind of watered down. I'm giving the coffee shop a 4/5 because of these reasons. As for the ambiance?! 1000/10!! I love the clean aesthetic with warm elements like the warm toned couches and plants. The new venue is great however I do miss the option to sit outside. The bathroom is SO thoughtful and beautiful as well. Service was not surprisingly super sweet and attentive! As the baristas always are. read more

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Likely due to the recent location change, the outside signage is just about non-existent, but Sayso is easy to find. Just look for the # 15 on the window. This is in a great spot that is convenient to downtown WS and Salem College / Old Salem. I love the minimalistic setup inside. It's clean and uncluttered, which (at least for me) is restful and made it easy to focus. There was always music playing at the right volume as well. Overall, the atmosphere is peaceful and inviting. The shop is split into two levels, the lower side where the ordering, drink production, merch, seating and restroom are located. The upper side is all seating area. Both have great sun exposure and feels very open and light. The coffee setup is also very minimal as well, but it doesn't diminish the quality at all. I had a chai and an americano, both were great. I've not had the brand of coffee beans used here before, but the americano had what I would describe as a 'bright' tone which I enjoy better than the burnt or muddy overtones that I seem to get at most coffee shops. Lastly, the staff are friendly and are knowledgeable! I wish I lived closer so I could be a more frequent customer. read more

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Another quaint but real coffee shop in Winston that knows coffee! Spacious and great for those WFH folks and meet up with friends or just wanna get you a cup by yourself . Few seats and tables outdoors too. They know a bit about coffee I'd say from our server when we ordered. Small basic menu but has the solid stuff you always order. Some seasonal specials. Little section of baked goods . Probably low the day we went as it was a holiday technically. Bobby Boys bake shop supplies them . So there ya go! You know you'll get a great croissant! We had the chocolate croissant and as always it never disappoints. My cappuccino was full on strong and made with almond milk . Nice and frothy. My friend ordered a drink I'd never seen before. Flash brew . Their alternate to cold brew. Not as acidic as cold brew he told us but she liked it . Said it wasn't like cold brew but still good . It's a nice minimalistic space but serves its purpose. Nice to see it busy. read more

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Such a cute and quaint corner coffee shop in downtown Winston Salem. Met a coworker here a couple months back as it's her fav spot and I really enjoyed it. It's definitely worth visiting and could easily become a fav! read more

Simple, elegant, delicious coffee. Sayso is one of the best, if not the best, coffee shops in the triad. From their beans, to the desserts, to the time and care that the baristas put into each drink, everything is top notch. I love all of their options but their recent fall drinks are a must try. I recently got the pear chai latte and as someone who doesn't usually like seasonal drinks, I was pleasantly surprised. Knowing that everyone at Sayso crafts their coffee like they would a cocktail, I could only assume even their drinks with flavors would be balanced and this one was! Next time you stop in, snag one of their savory pastries for an additional treat! read more

Omg. Love this little coffee shop. Perfect!!! And the pastries - get one!!! Great vibe! read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Really really good coffee here. They use great beans with good flavor and the barista knows how to pull shots. By far the best flat white I've had in the Tri-Cities read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Sayso is my go to coffee spot on my way to work. Quick, delicious espresso. The space is beautiful, big, light and airy. They feature local artist work you can purchase. The best vibes. read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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I love the space at vibe at Sayso. I am always looking for a place to work and Sayso will now be on my rotation. The barista was nice. The coffee was really good. I got the orange blossom drink and it was tasty and beautiful. They don't have food on in the weekdays but starting in July they will. read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The new location in Brookstown is beautiful! I ordered a honey latte with almond milk, and it was perfect. This is such a nice space to come settle down for a cup of coffee and get some work done. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Finally made it to @saysocoffee. Love the warm sunny atmosphere. Very clean and visually soothing. The owners are very sweet and friendly. This was my second stop on my mission to find the best Cortado in town. This Cortado here was good. Smooth and silky, just a little bitter, but still very good. I give it a 7/10 Parking around the corner, not far at all. read more

A lot of space to hang out. Nice staff and very clean environment. My cortado was excellent. Whole, oat and almond milk. No 2% or skim. read more

Sayso Coffee - Cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I recently visited Sayso coffee for a study session. The tables are lacking, the coffee was good and the barista was great. I don't know that I would revisit though. Although it is a bright coffee shop with lots of natural lighting read more

I am so sad I forgot to photograph my lovely cortado, AND this place was so good I'll be back! Met a friend for some coffee this morning and I was struck by how much light was in this place! The decor was also clean and bright; it was a Thursday morning around 10 so not very busy inside, but a steady flow of people through the shop. My cortado was well made and a lovely balance of creamy and bitter: SaySo is also dog friendly, as my friend brought her pooch. I'll definitely be back and add a photo next time: I was so caffeine deprived at the moment I was right to sipping! read more

We stopped in for Sayso's soft opening at their new location. It's bright, clean, and minimal. They've kept the same menu, but now have their own beautiful space. The staff is friendly and cheerful. My almond milk latte was delicious and lovely to look at. They have much more seating now and also have some merch available for sale. It's easy to see why this is a neighborhood favorite. read more

Sayso Coffee - Almond milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

The scone was perfect. The pour over coffee was amazing. The staff made certain I was happy due to a momentary issue with their grinder. The shop is clean with a bright and minimalist aesthetician. Plenty of seating and within walking distance of historic downtown. read more

Awesome cute little coffee shop. Fast, friendly service and a great cowork space- light, bright, white and clean! They host a Saturday AM run club which is a lot of fun too. read more

Next on my winston coffee tour was Sayso. I have passed by a few times and had a couple of other choices but the reviews led me here. Location: It is in the downtown area but, outside of the hustle and bustle. There is a lot across the street that looks like it is used for Sayso customers. Vibes: I instantly liked the atmosphere. The inside is very craftsman/sheek and while the shop isn't huge they have done an excellent job in making it very spacious. I really enjoyed the bar and stools along the big open windows to enjoy my coffee. It also looks like a great place to work. I wanted to also mention I enjoyed the selection of music they had and that it was at a perfect volume to enjoy yet not be distracting. Coffee: They do get their beans from a local roaster and have good options as well as milk substitutions to make a nice cup of your favorite style. I chose the drip option this time and enjoyed it. I am curious of their espresso and would like to try that next time. I didn't notice any snacks or food options and I also didn't ask so, not sure if this is offered but, they did have a nice selection of bottled wine and individual beers. Customer service: fantastic! I enjoyed my experience as a customer and the barista was very friendly. After mentioning it was my first time he immediately welcomed me and offered a punch card (I like that they offer this). He made some suggestions to try that I will go for next time. I definitely will be back! read more

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I have been here twice in one week primarily due to the niche that it fills in Winston. The drinks I have had are more of the 4.5 realm. I finally tried coffee lemonade-you should try it at least once! However, the flavors may benefit from mixing as opposed to layering? The next visit I tried a cortado. It was served in a paper cup even though I saw non-paper options amongst other customers. The coffee art was appreciated. You can sit inside or in the "back yard" with a vegetable garden surrounding you. Note that limited seats have backs if that is a concern. There was a great soundtrack with chill electronic music playing inside during my first visit which I highly enjoyed. read more

Sayso Coffee - Coffee Lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Good coffee option near Old Salem being our first visit to the area. Within walking distance to Old Salem. Service was friendly and fast as it wasn't too busy. Modern vibe inside with WiFi and tables to work. read more

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2/4/23 Sitting in the new location of Sayso Coffee just outside of Old Salem across from the coffeepot landmark. Enjoying a mocha and matcha lemon curd hand pie. The lemon curd was made from scratch. The cookies are peanut butter cacao nib cookies. The buttercream on the cake is a meringue buttercream. It's light and not as sweet/rich as a regular buttercream. Perfect for my preference. Their cakes are always so beautifully decorated! The mocha isn't too rich either. Smooth espresso blend and chocolate syrup. Staff and owners are always friendly! The menu is simple for now. Should be adding to their list of handcrafted flavors later this year I believe. As well moving the coffee bar to the upper level and adding a kitchen. read more

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