I fell in love with Thousand Hills the moment I walked in. The decor is so beautiful and there are…read moreso many comfy places to sit as well as tables inside and outside. It's located alongside the leasing office for the apartment complex. The service is great. There were two young ladies working and they were both friendly. I arrived around 4:30 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and ordered a muffin and a decaf latte since it was so late (for me to drink caffeine). The cranberry lemon muffin was absolutely perfect, so much flavor, so fresh & moist. The Salted Brown Butter Latte was the best. From the first sip to the last drop, I loved it. I sat on a small section of a very comfortable couch with pillows and all. I later sat out front on one of the benches. They also have a patio seating out back. I can't wait to go back to Thousand Hills!!

Another week, another morning drive to RDU to drop off my better half. We share a car, and with her…read morejob having her out of town about half the time, I've gotten pretty good at finding little adventures on the drive home. This particular morning, I knew I wanted to stop by Trader Joe's afterward, but they weren't open yet. So I pulled up the map looking for a coffee shop where I could get a little coworking done. Thousand Hills Coffee popped up, and it had been on my "need to try" list for a while. I also shot my buddy KH a quick text to see if he wanted to join me and catch up on our latest ultra running training shenanigans. Thankfully, he was game. I rolled in around 8:30 a.m. and managed to grab a decent parking spot. Worth mentioning because the coffee shop shares parking with the apartment complex next door, so I imagine spaces can disappear quickly. KW arrived a few minutes before me and had to park a bit farther away. Walking inside, I immediately liked the vibe. It feels modern but still cozy, almost like someone's really well-designed living room. There are several distinct seating areas, plenty of soft chairs, a long community table, and even bar seating overlooking the baristas. It struck a nice balance between coffee shop and comfortable workspace. Since I'd already knocked out my morning run, I was ready for a little breakfast. KH and I both ordered the cheese, Danish. It looked huge in the display case, though it shrank a bit once it made it onto the plate. That said, it was really flavorful and definitely worth ordering. I also grabbed a regular drip coffee, which was excellent. My timing was amusing because they had just finished the last pot and were brewing a fresh one, but honestly, getting a fresh cup probably worked out for the best. We grabbed chairs next to the long community table instead at the table since the morning sun was already heating things up. We spent a while catching up, talking running, races, and all the usual endurance athlete nonsense. After KH headed out, I relocated to the long table that was in the shade and spent another hour or so catching up on emails and getting a little work done. It turned out to be a great co-working spot with plenty of room to spread out without feeling like you were taking up space. One last shoutout to the staff, who were genuinely friendly and welcoming throughout my visit. Good coffee is one thing, but great people always make the experience better. Overall, I came away impressed. Somehow, they've been open for about two years, and I'm honestly not sure how they managed to stay off my radar for so long. Safe to say they'll be making it into my regular rotation whenever I need a good cup of coffee and a comfortable place to get some work done.

I was in the area and decided to finally go to Brew, as I rarely am in downtown Cary! I'm so glad I…read moredid. It took some time to find parking as the surrounding parking lots were full, but I found street parking around the corner. The ambiance is warm and cozy. Brew and the Cary Theater share common space, so you can enter from either entrance. The service is awesome, I was waited on right away and the barista was helpful with suggestions. I ordered a cookie butter latte and an oatmeal raisin cookie w/ walnuts. Both were absolutely delicious, a great combo. When I finished my latte, I dipped my cookie in the cup to get the last of the foam...so good. The baked goods are from Ninth Street Bakery in Durham. How amazing local supporting local. I sat at the bar area. I loved that there were hooks underneath for your belongings, you don't see that everywhere. They have the high top areas, along with a few tables and chairs. I'm so glad I was able to finally experience Brew, looking forward to going back.

Came for a Sunday stop with a friend…read more Just a note because it's in the downtown area it's extremely hard to find parking and most of it is street parking (with some construction nearby). Overall, the little coffee shop is cute and has a little bit of outdoor seating which I liked but is expensive for being so mid in my opinion. I ended up paying almost $7 for a blueberry latte. Overall, my latte tasted like a regular latte, even though it did have a seasonal blueberry syrup added to it. I know that blueberry is very light in flavor compared to coffee so I asked for more than the allotted amount of syrup and their response was that they had a certain amount added to of syrups added. So I said ok thinking they would take that into consideration but when I got my coffee, guess the amount they added didn't matter because it tasted the same as a latte regular. Unfortunately, at the end of my coffee (like the last 20%) had what I assume to be bits of berry in it? The texture made me toss the remaining amount. With the high prices and the location right on a busy street / no parking I probably wouldn't be back but I did enjoy being about to sit outside under an umbrella and the service was nice / fast. All the stars would go to the servers and overall cleanliness honestly.

Stopped in for an afternoon cappuccino with low-fat milk (there were several options offered), and…read morereally enjoyed the yummy capp and the atmosphere!

Who doesn't enjoy visiting a local cafe while supporting a great cause?…read more Esteamed coffee is a non-profit coffee shop in downtown Cary. They provide meaningful jobs and social opportunities for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The cafe sells coffee, tea, pastries, and locally crafted gifts. They have seasonal offerings, nearby parking, restrooms, and indoor and outdoor seating. Leashed dogs are allowed on the outdoor patio. We visited on a weekend morning. The cottage was bright, welcoming, and bustling. As we waited in line, an employee greeted us, presented the menu, and answered our questions. The walls around us were adorned in beautiful paintings. The line moved at a steady rate and soon we were enjoying our drinks and pastries at an indoor table. Overall, we had a positive experience here and recommend this cafe to others!

Stopped by Coffee Studio in Cary for lunch and had such a great experience! I ordered the Santa Fe…read moresalad with grilled chicken, and everything tasted incredibly fresh. The vegetables were crisp, the chicken was perfectly cooked, and the spicy ranch dressing tied everything together with just the right amount of kick. I also enjoyed a delicious coffee (and my fiancé had a regular hot coffee) which made for the perfect lunch pairing. The café has a welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, and quality food that goes beyond just coffee. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. If you're looking for a fresh, satisfying lunch in Cary, this is a great spot!

Cute addition to Cary park. The drinks are always taste great and consistent…read more Aside from tea and coffee, they offer salads and sandwiches. Great place to work from home, they also have space in the back with more seating. Overall quick service.

Great place with a cozy café vibe. Plenty of seating, making it perfect for studying or getting…read morework done while enjoying your favorite coffee. They offer a nice variety of drinks, from mochas to espressos, along with a breakfast menu. I tried the cappuccino and loved its smooth, refreshing taste. Service is fast. Looking forward to coming back to try the matcha mocha soon!

Made a second visit here for the matcha iced latte. The staff seemed welcoming and pleasant even…read moreoffered my pup a treat. I enjoyed the match ice latte. Very good and the right amount of earthy and sweet flavor. The tone changed when an acquaintance showed up with his big dog. The staff instructed us we must keep dogs outside. This approach was only was taken when the bigger dog came in. I encourage the team here to be mindful of potential biases and apply policies consistently for all.

I use to like cha house! I always got one of their matcha drinks but yesterday's matcha was not…read moregood! I asked for more matcha since my drink had zero matcha flavor and they gave me more but even with that it seem like the matcha that day was off.... so they offered me another drink instead. The staff was super helpful but now I will be hesitant on ordering anything matcha as it seems the matcha quality is not the same as it use to be. I would not recommend the matcha here but their other drinks or food are good to try.

Service is great! Drinks were delicious. We got the Mango Milktea with boba and mango jelly, and…read moreDirty Tiger milktea. We also ordered popcorn chicken and the tofu snack.

Cozy neighborhood café-bakery with a sprawling chalkboard menu and a pastry case that's hard to…read morewalk past. I went savory: a chicken salad croissant (flaky, generously filled, with a side of bow-tie pasta salad and a creamy poppyseed slaw) and a pressed caprese-style panini with tomato, mozzarella, and basil grilled to a deep golden crisp. Both solid, satisfying lunches. On the drinks, the cold brew made with Joe Van Gogh beans was great--smooth and well-balanced. The iced café au lait was acceptable, nothing memorable but it did the job. The bakery case alone is worth a stop: cannoli, cranberry almond muffins, strawberry streusel coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and a rack of croissants. Friendly counter service and a comfortable spot whether you're grabbing a quick bite or lingering with a coffee. Worth a return visit. Prices are very reasonable.

Chanticleer is a hidden gem in Cary! I don't know why it's taken me so long to discover it…read more The staff are all super friendly and welcoming. They helped me navigate my coffee order and executed it to perfection. They also answered all of my gluten free questions and took extra precautions for my allergy. The egg white and cheese sandwich with turkey bacon was great. Pro tip: Order it with a double portion of egg white for added protein. I also got an iced cafe latte with caramel. You can get a punch card for every coffee and get one free on your tenth purchase. They have a great pastry selection. I got an almond croissant to go for my mom on a recommendation from a friend that said it's a can't miss! (I can't try it due to my allergy but it looks amazing) The ambiance has a cute cafe with plenty of seating.

This was such a fun place to get milk tea! I did feel like my rose milk Tea was a little bit…read morewatery, but my fiancé really loved his fruit tea. The prices are reasonable, and they have lots of options for customization, so I would definitely come back to try new things.

Milk Lab is always a treat, it's nice how they are popping up all over the place. I like how their…read moremenu isn't enormous, which leave you in menu paralysis mode. You can get bubble tea, cookies, cakes, floats, rolled cream, etc. There is something for everyone here. What I love most about this place: They use in-house ice cream base with organic milk, where lots of places just use powder. Toppings are unlimited - what a refresher, because so many other places nickel and dime you. For that reason, anytime I see a Milk Lab, I know what I'm getting since they are true to their standards.