So I'm absolutely in love with Bean Flower- not only do they have the best drink and unique Asian…read moredessert menu, they also have the cutest arrangement of stickers, art, pottery, and other knock knacks from local Asian-owned small businesses in the area. Love the vibes when you come in- it's a very hang-out friendly, sit-down and talk, can sit around and read with some background noise kind of vibe. They do have I think 1-2 small tables in the back! Really love the staff here, they gave really great recs and are so incredibly personable. I'm not kidding when I say that Bean Flower is constantly on my mind. It was Lunar New Year time around when me and my friend came! They gave us the CUTEST red envelopes with our order with a Bean Flower sticker. Absolutely in love- y'all come get your boba and desserts! We got their Thai tea and assam milk tea this time- I'm definitely coming back for their desserts to try next time too! I wish I had more money to buy all the art they had as well.

Went back with my family and tried a few other things, still an 8.5/10 would recommend (service &…read moreambiance are ofc chef's kiss): - Matcha Milk Tea with Ube Syrup and Boba: Ube was more distinguishable prior to mixing up the drink, but the matcha itself was tasty and that perfect vibrant green. - Viet Chai with Boba: Too strong for me, but my sister liked it! All the spices were interesting though, and the boba was nicely chewy. - Dou Hua (Chinese homemade silken tofu pudding in brown sugar ginger syrup): Not too sweet, clear ginger taste, fun texture.

Highly recommend the cardamom churros with chocolate sauce! They also have some fun seasonal…read morechurros; currently they have an orange hibiscus flavor that is delightful. They even have a cinnamon churro that has a sugar replacement if you're sugar free! Service was quick and it's a nice ambiance for hanging out with people. The location is perfect if you're in the mood to go thrifting (the Scrap Exchange and Scrap Thrift are across the street!).

This cafe with churros and chocolate-based creations has a menu that offers about as much variety…read moreas one can within that limited ambit. A small order of churros is four, which is still a lot for one person. They come covered in flavor and sugar and dipping sauces are extra. I got a holiday-themed sugar coating with cinnamon and some other spices. It was nicely aromatic, and the churros were freshly made in plain sight. Ordering a drinking chocolate got me a fairly strong and straightforward beverage. I might have been better served adding some extra flavors for the chocolate or getting some dipping sauce for the churros might have been a good idea but would have been overkill for me on this occasion. The location has communal indoor seating which was quite crowded, as well as several outdoor tables in a suburban part of town.

Awesome place Good coffee... much better than you know who…read more Met owner, very nice. I had drip coffee, 2 shots... good

I've seen a couple rough reviews on the Vietnamese coffee here so I'll echo them. Pretty watered…read moredown and not much flavor. Wasn't sure if it was just that drink so I went back a couple days later and got a banana latte and was underwhelmed by the lack of espresso and syrup flavor. Drinks were watery across my 3 experiences. Service was great, baristas were nice and offered many recommendations.

Absolute 10/10 experience…read more Not one team member seemed rushed, even with a crowd, and genuinely looked like they enjoyed being there. That set the tone and made this place stand out from other establishments. It's clear this restaurant is run with real care and integrity, and that attitude flows from the top down. Well done. The food was exceptional, truly not an exaggeration. Our group is notoriously picky, and not a single plate was pushed aside. You can tell there's real attention to detail in both the food and bakery items. Thank you, Sean and the entire team, for your above‑and‑beyond service, delicious food, and warm, welcoming ambiance. We can't wait to come back on our next visit.

The line is always long and it moves relatively quickly. Love sitting outside. Great ambiance. This…read moreplace runs like a well-oiled machine. This was my third time there. I always want the fish sandwich but they don't have the fish I want (picky! ). My son got the chicken sandwich which was really great. The bun was so fresh. My FIL got the Benedict. It was huge. Fruit cups all around. Huge chunks of pineapple. My son and I got the lemonade spritz. It was too sweet me but my son enjoyed both of ours.

I have mixed feelings about JVG. I really enjoy their small shops, which are nice spots to work and…read morecatch up on email while having a good coffee or espresso and a sandwich. Overall, the espresso drinks I've had have been consistent. Nothing extraordinary, but good. Their breakfast sandwiches and burritos are quite tasty and are always on my short list for ordering. Between a coffee and a modest burrito, you're looking at $13. (Welcome to 2025, right?) My main issue is their regular coffee. I've tried their cold brew, American over ice, and others, but no matter what I do, I can't get a good cup of coffee that's bold rather than medium or light. I've ordered something I'd enjoy three times, but for some reason, it's never tasted great, and I end up not finishing it. That's a problem when I'm paying $4 per coffee. So, if you prefer dark or bold coffee, I wouldn't recommend this chain or this location. Bean Trader does a better job. Overall, it's a solid shop and seems to be a local favorite, but for those of us craving a very dark brew, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

I've only ever been to the Joe Van Gogh location on Broad Street, and I was excited to try this…read moreone. The entrance was pretty hard to find; it is actually at the back of the building, but if you drive all the way around you should see it. It was very quiet when I came in on a Wednesday morning and I was able to get a lot of work done. I was a little sad that they charged extra for nondairy milk here because they don't at the other location, but I suppose $.25 isn't bad considering other places charge a dollar. Aside from that, no complaints! The baristas were super friendly and my drink was ready in no time.

English: TL;DR: Beautiful atmosphere, fantastic coffee and…read morefood, thoughtful modern Latin flavors, amazing breakfast/dinner spot, and Fernando, the manager, is awesome. We've been to Aaktun in Durham multiple times for both breakfast and dinner, and it's honestly become one of our favorite spots. I'm Peruvian and grew up with Peruvian cuisine, so seeing lomo saltado -- a classic Peruvian dish -- on the menu immediately made me happy. Having also grown up in Mexico and lived in places like Miami, I really appreciate what they're doing with the menu: a modern, delicious take on Latin flavors that feels creative without losing what makes those cuisines special. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful. You walk in thinking it's a stylish little coffee shop, then head toward the back and the whole place opens up -- gorgeous bar, tropical touches, cozy alcove seating, really cool vibe. One time we went with friends for a special dining experience they were offering, and it was excellent. The food, drinks, and whole experience were made even better by Fernando, the manager, who has always been incredibly warm, helpful, and accommodating. Highly recommend Aaktun for breakfast or dinner. Still haven't made it there for lunch somehow, but at this point we'd be shocked if it wasn't great too. Spanish: TL;DR: Lugar precioso, café y comida excelentes, sabores latinos con un toque moderno muy bien logrado, y Fernando, el gerente, es increíble. Ya hemos ido varias veces a Aaktun en Durham para desayuno y cena, y sinceramente se ha vuelto uno de nuestros lugares favoritos. Soy peruano y crecí con la cocina peruana, así que ver lomo saltado -- un plato clásico peruano -- en el menú me hizo muy feliz. Además, habiendo crecido en México y vivido en lugares como Miami, me encanta reconocer cómo integran sabores latinos con una propuesta moderna y de fusión. Se siente creativa, diferente y sobre todo riquísima. La atmósfera además es espectacular. Entras pensando que es una cafetería bonita y acogedora, pero luego caminas hacia atrás y el lugar se abre por completo: un bar hermoso, detalles tropicales, mesas tipo alcove... una vibra buenísima. Una vez fuimos con unos amigos para una experiencia especial de cena que estaban ofreciendo y la pasamos increíble. La comida, las bebidas y toda la experiencia fueron aún mejores gracias a Fernando, el gerente, que siempre ha sido súper amable, atento y servicial. Recomendamos muchísimo Aaktun para desayuno o cena. Todavía no hemos ido para almorzar, pero honestamente nos sorprendería mucho que no estuviera igual de bueno.

"Part Dos - Mostly great, with a few exceptions"…read more Food temp is major in my book. While many of the food options were hot, several were not, and I believe that impacted the overall dining experience. We ordered classic breakfast and jerk chicken lunch options. For drinks: Cappuccino and Mango Refreshers. The good: (1) Fried rice - which accompanied the jerk chicken (served hot). While simple, the slightly earthy and bitter (in the best way possible) from the braised/steamed baby bok choy perfectly accompanied the earthy mushroom, and complex soy inspired fried rice. So good - this could be a vegan or meat side entree unto itself - IMO. (2) Scrambled Eggs - If you enjoy large curds of gently scrambled eggs - this is for you. While we enjoyed the remaining options for portion size and flavor, we did note that the temperature was cool to mid - which impacted overall flavor. Jerk Chicken: we understand this is a jerk inspired interpretation. With that being said, the most interesting flavor was limited to the crispy skin. Perhaps the chicken was immersed in a salt brine and basted with a jerk flavoring? We loved the white (perhaps mayo based sauce), and accompanied pickled red onion. But baby, the food temp. Yucca fries - if you're unfamiliar - are the baby of a green plantain and white potatoes. While good, they were not hot. Maybe could have benefited from a unique sauce? Food service good. But the biggest miss was the cheese hash browns and Mango Refresher. Hash brown (cheese) room temp, and tough - Mango Refresher - too tart and not worth the cost. As far as ambience: Customers were Hip, sexy, multi ethnic , and included old and young. We loved our waiter. Overall, a little disappointing especially considering we loved our first coffee breakfast visit so much. Not sure if it was an off day or we just prefer other menu options. However, we'd definitely visit again! Brunch/lunch: 4.2

Cute little coffee shop in Durham! Quick service and lots of pastries. I got a chai and cold brew…read moreto go with and both were excellent!

Enjoyed stopping by in November and tried the spiced latte, which was delicious and a perfect fall…read moretreat. They had a nice selection of baked goods - the croissant was large and had a nice flavor/was flaky, but was a bit dry. The lemon scone was soft and delicious though! They have limited seating inside and more seating outside. Staff were welcoming and our drinks were prepared quickly.

Very cute new coffee shop! They have a small lot and plentiful Brightleaf parking across the street…read more(although you do have to pay for that lot, and they aren't able to validate since they aren't technically part of Brightleaf). I got an iced decaf americano with vanilla, which was delicious and came in a glass since they knew I was sticking around. They have a lot of seating and the whole place feels bright, airy, open and clean. They also have a cute store on the left hand side of the space that sells outdoor clothing, shoes and gear. A welcome addition to the area!

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.