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    Sweet Donkey Coffee

    4.5 (333 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Sweet Donkey Coffee Photos

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    SWEET DONKEY COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Sweet Donkey Coffee

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    This was my first time here and i definitely will be back. I had a classic macchiato and it was delicious, as well as a Nutella brownie that was equally tasty. There was a decent amount of people at the cafe but it wasn't crowded as the inside is a decent size, plus there's outdoor seating. Didn't take more than maybe 2 minutes for my drink to come out. Would recommend

    Whitney W.

    Came in for the first time today to get some coffee, and wow what a place. Feels like home, great pumpkin spice iced latte. Gorgeous house and the food looks amazing! They have a huge outdoor space, and apparently an upstairs too. They also stay open til 7 some evening and have beer. Great spot!

    Outdoor
    Keyin L.

    Great cute coffee spot! I got the berry ice tea and friends got the purple haze and iced coffee. All were good. There is outdoor seating as well!

    Chai
    John B.

    This is a very nice looking house which has abundant free parking and plenty of indoor and outdoor space if you want to sit around, which I did not do on my initial visit but would certainly like to. Food options were limited, but my parfait, which came out of the refrigerator with blueberries but received an extra helping of strawberries at the counter, did provide me with the sustenance I needed. Their chai was syrupy and heavy on cinnamon. Tasty but nothing special. Four stars for the fare and a fifth for ambiance, as far as I'm concerned.

    A little donkey can be found inside.
    Manuel M.

    In the heart of the Historic Old Southwest neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia, there is a beautiful Old Victorian house that has been converted to a lovely little quaint Coffee Shop named Sweet Donkey Coffee. This morning I went to visit it as soon as it opened at 6:00am. It was still dark outside when I arrived and extremely cold outside, but the old mansion converted to Sweet Donkey Coffee looked very majestic surrounded by bright light bulbs all around. When I entered the red brick building, I found that the renovation had turned out amazingly extraordinary. The original well polished hardwood floors gave character to the place that was painted with dark tone blue paint and the walls full of modern oil paintings all around. The furniture were simple yet elegant and the white framed windows gave it an air of distinction. And what amazed me most is that at that early time of the morning the Coffee Shop was full of customers all around. There where two ladies who seemed like good friends seated in a table next to a window. An older man drinking coffee and reading something from his cellphone. A young man was seated in a small table with his laptop taking advantage of the Free Wi-Fi. A lady who seemed like a loyal customer was at another table who when she found out it was my first time there, she spoke highly of the place to me and in particular about their wonderful Waffles, one of which she was eating and allowed me to photograph to include with this review. The coffee and food station was behind a wonderfully designed counter surrounded with bakery items to accompany your cup of coffee or tea. A young woman behind the counter greeted me with a warm and friendly smile. I ordered a House Made Breakfast Sandwich, with a White Chocolate Raspberry Muffin made in the house, and to drink a large Cafe Mocha. When I paid with my credit card I joined their Club and earned a point. Then I took my order to a small table next to their Christmas Tree. Everything tasted amazingly good. From the Cafe Mocha that had a beautiful design on top, to the breakfast sandwich that was heated with a pressed iron toaster, to the Muffin that was so soft and fresh. As I was eating other customers arrived and put in their orders and waited to be called to pick the orders up. A father and son picked their order and sat in a table on the other side of the Christmas Tree. Other friend couples and single customers ordered and sat down. You would never imagine it was so early in the morning but the incredible atmosphere of the place attracted people of all ages, family and friends, to share quality time there, drinking a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, accompanied by a fresh bakery items. What a wonderful place. I highly recommend this place to all. Come by yourself or with family and friends. You will feel so comfortable surrounded by this beautiful renovated historic house, and welcomed by the friendly baristas behind the counter. Once you come here once, you immediately would want to return.

    Outside
    Sarah W.

    An adorable little coffee shop in a converted home. I loved the big front patio as well as the cozy seating in the various rooms inside. The PB seasonal latte was absolutely delicious. I wish I could go here every day!

    Great Food Sweet Donkeys !

    Always enjoyed to have brunch at Sweet Donkeys. People making food and drink are always nice and atmosphere is clean and bright. Waffles are always hot and straight from griddle to you. Carmel Hot Latte is the best I have ever tasted! Always hot and delicious. We ate our food upstairs. Plenty of rooms and space to enjoy your food and drink. Great place in Cristal Springs when wanting great Coffees and foods.

    Amy J.

    Love!!! We were staying in Roanoke and our favorite thing to do in Vacation is to find small coffee shops. This was the one we picked and we loved it. I had the orange silk latte iced. It was the perfect pick me up for our drive up further into the Mountains. It looks like it used to be a house which I love when places restore and rehab. Definitely reminds me of 'home'

    Hot chocolate, Orange Silk Latte
    Lauren F.

    Such a great little nook for studying, conversation, and even holding meetings! Personally love this place when warm out, as they have an abundance of picnic tables and sofas outside, & also a place in which they hold many concerts for locals and neighbors! Feels like a community staple. I like their rotating flavors, but some of the uniques remain throughout the year (like orange silk, cinnamon bun, and spicy maple!). This is the only shop to feel like an authentic maple latte. Such a charm for all ages!

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    1 year ago

    Very delicious coffee and cappuccinos. I've tried several of their pastries so good. I've had both very good service and lackluster service.

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    9 months ago

    We go there every weekend. Much more atmosphere than its competitors. Lots of folks on laptops and tablets. Cozy and quaint.

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    11 months ago

    Staying in area and found the Sweet Donkey great food great coffee and great staff = fantastic visit

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    5 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Always a staple to my weekly routine! Been coming here for a long time now and it never misses!

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    1 year ago

    Delicious coffee and breakfast- quiche and waffle a hit! Highly recommend with great service and ambience like home.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Sweet Donkey Coffee

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    Cello Coffee House & Cafe

    Cello Coffee House & Cafe

    4.4
    (58 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Unfortunately, very disappointing coffee and chai. The beverages felt watered down and not like how…read moreyou would normally expect from a cafe. The syrups weren't mixed in, and the straws were too flimsy to mix it in. My chai was too sweet for me and wasn't something I really wanted to finish. My boyfriend alternated between my drink and his own which he said was more balanced. Service was quick.

    This cafe is a small location but a prominent one in Roanoke's downtown. It was open when not a ton…read moreof things were, and had an impressive menu including numerous vegetarian and vegan options. Sometimes it's the simple things in life, though, and rather than go for a more complex platter when I found that you could get a bagel with falafel in it, I found my breakfast. There is a za'atar bagel available, which adds an extra flavor note to what was a compelling and filling breakfast. Their display of desserts was sufficiently impressive (and several of these were labeled vegan as well) that I decided to sample a baklava labeled as the Burma flavor. I couldn't figure out what the sweet pistachio mix had to do with Myanmar, but whatever was in there was good. I did not get a beverage in part because I didn't read the whole menu; maybe I missed out. Regardless, the food they offered was great for vegetarian diets, substantial, and delicious, and you'd struggle to find better in this part of the country or in most other parts of the country.

    Photos
    A group of customers eating at the window counter.
    A group of customers eating at the window counter.
    A fork holding a piece of the Chicken Shawerma Platter.
    A fork holding a piece of the Chicken Shawerma Platter.
    Close-up of a fork holding a Baklava.

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    Close-up of a fork holding a Baklava.
    Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

    Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

    3.3
    (69 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Starkey Mill Mountain: Thank you so much for a great morning; every morning. I have been coming for…read moreyears and despite my mood you guys ( Jay, Kelsey and Brooke) are always ALWAYS a friendly face. Also you know my and my husband's (his is more bougie) orders.

    For some time now I have been driving by this coffee & tea shop, and today I decided to take the…read moreroad less traveled, Starkey Road, and pay this place a visit. And what I found completely amazed me, and exceeded my highest of expectations. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, near Tanglewood Mall, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. The Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea on Starkey Road in Roanoke, VA, is a former bank that was converted into a coffee shop by Blake Construction, a company that also handles many of their projects. This location opened in 2012, after the original downtown Roanoke store was established in 1990 by founder Dave Johnson. The Starkey Road location featured a unique renovation, including turning the old vault into a walk-in cooler and adding a drive-up window.  When I entered the Coffee Shop today, I was attracted by its magical cozy ambiance and by the fine lines and curves of its renovation architectural design. Known for its artisanal coffee blends and curated tea selections, I was also impressed with their menu, that besides freshly baked pastries, also included a nice egg variety plates for breakfast and creative sandwiches for lunch. The place offered a cozy retreat for coffee enthusiasts. College students could take advantage of their Free WiFi to research and write their reports using their laptops. Friends could meet there to spend quality time talking to each other. Entrepreneurs could use the place to brainstorm business ideas over a cup of savory coffee. Art enthusiasts could view the artists display works, and even purchase one to add to their collection. When it was my turn to make my order, I approached the counter and a bright and friendly young lady took my order. I ordered a breakfast plate with two fried eggs over easy, bacon, and white toast, with a large Mocha Coffee to drink. The cook did an excellent job cooking my food, just how I had asked it done. At the entrance there was a Community Bulletin Board with different announcements and advertisements. I happened to find one for this year's performance of the Nutcracker at the Burgland Center, which I had been wondering about when ticket sales were selling. In conclusion, I highly recommend this coffee shop, not only for its great coffee and tea, for its food menu, for its exceptional customer service, and cozy atmosphere, that together make for an extraordinary dining experience.

    Photos
    The bakery display cases with delicious looking items.
    The bakery display cases with delicious looking items.
    Pumpkin latte & matcha
    Pumpkin latte & matcha
    Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

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    Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

    Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

    3.0
    (96 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $

    A few years ago I used to frequent this Coffee Shop often and enjoy drinking my Caffè Mochas…read more together with some hot breakfast sandwiches there. As a matter of fact my main Yelp profile picture was taken there in that Coffee Shop. But during covid they put a hold on the hot breakfasts and only served hot coffee, tea, muffins, danishes, and cinnamon rolls. So I decided to return to the place to see how it was doing, see what had changed, have a cup of coffee and breakfast there, and write a review. I arrived early in the morning at around 7:00am, the time the Downtown Coffee Shop opens. A young man behind the counter greeted me and asked me if I knew what I wanted to order as soon as I arrived. I asked him if they now had hot breakfasts again like in the time before covid. But he told me that in this store in particular they had discontinued the hot breakfasts. So I ordered a Caffè Mocha and a cinnamon roll. As I waited for the coffee to be made and served I walked around the store and found that the area for community announcements and for people to leave their business cards was still there as well as some of the complimentary magazines, but not all they use to have. I also found that the glass built into the wall display case they used to have full of t-shirts, coffee mugs and tumblers was completely empty, to the point of looking as it had been abandoned. Also, the wall where they used to exhibit for sale artworks of artists members of our community no longer was full. At this time my Coffee and cinnamon rolls were ready, so I took them from the counter. Heated the cinnamon roll in the microwave and had my breakfast. The coffee was as good as always and the cinnamon roll was fine. Later I asked the barista about what I earlier had found and he just confirmed the fact and told me that in the other of their stores they did have everything that was missing in this store, which to me now looked like one of those abandoned old Malls after a new one just opened in town. I wondered and asked myself: How could a local chain such as Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea have abandoned their Downtown Roanoke store in this way? I know there is competition, but how can it compete with nothing creative to do so. This store is very significant to the Downtown area, to the Roanoke community, and to the tourist that frequent the area. So rather than give it a 3 rating, I will give it a 4, and give you the benefit of the doubt, with the hope that after the Management of the Mill Mountain Coffee Shop chain reads my review they put their act together and do what is needed to bring the Star to this Mill Mountain Coffee Shop again. For the purpose of my reviews is not to point out the negative, but to give constructive criticism so that both the store can improve and the community can benefit by having a quality place in which to enjoy a quality product in a relaxing and beautiful environment. A business should not run just to survive but to grow so that both the community and the owners profit from it. The famous Q2. Quality will bring Quantity. Come on, I believe in you. Let's do what is needed so next time not only will you have earned a 5 Star review in paper but also in the eyes of the community of the great Star City of Roanoke in the Commonwealth of Virginia!

    I have a close friend who went to school in Roanoke and had the chance to visit a few times... This…read morewas one of my favorite stops I made Downtown. It's a cute little hipster coffee shop serving locally roasted fresh coffee and baked goods, and featuring local events. Just one person was working when we visited but out items came out quick. The worker thankfully wasn't swamped by orders or anything, but seemed to have to keep busy. I ordered a limeade, along with a fresh cranberry orange muffin. This bite to eat proved to be delicious and refreshing. My friends also enjoyed their coffee and baked goods!! We then sat in the warm cafe for a bit before heading back out to the cold city. It proved to be quite comfy and I was able to charge my phone! I really love Roanoke and all it has to offer - one of my fav features is this cute coffee and tea shop!! Stop in and get a cold or hot beverage and a snack on the go, or stay a while!!

    Photos
    A fork with a piece of the cinnamon roll.
    A fork with a piece of the cinnamon roll.
    Another angle inside this Coffee Shop.
    Another angle inside this Coffee Shop.
    The inside of the coffee shop.

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    The inside of the coffee shop.
    Steam Coffee + Eatery

    Steam Coffee + Eatery

    4.0
    (7 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Located in the Hotel Roanoke & Confidence Center, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 110 Shenandoah…read moreAve, Roanoke, Virginia, by the grand staircase at the Conference Center level. This upscale Coffee Shop, authorized purveyor of Starbucks, named in honor of the iconic 611 steam locomotive, opens at 6:00am, and provides a take-and-go breakfast as well as has a counter seating area inside with complimentary Wi-Fi as well as a few tables and chairs outside to enjoy a quick breakfast on the way to a meeting, or to spend some early morning quality time in a relaxed atmosphere with family or friends, while enjoying some good coffee or tea, with breakfast sandwiches, fresh bagels with cream cheese, or bakery items. I arrived to have breakfast on an early morning of the most wonderful time of the year and after having won the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award a week earlier, was looking forward to reviewing this very unique Coffee Shop, Eatery, and more. First of all I was extremely impressed with the interior design of the Coffee Shop. It is by far the most beautifully designed Coffee Shop that I have evered visited. The attention to detail was evident even before one entered the place and even more after. It was evident in the design and quality materials used to create and house this Coffee Shop and more. I was very impressed with all the gift items exhibited there as well, such as cute stuffed animals, tumblers, and fine crystal items, to name a few. Second of all I was very impressed by the nice variety of coffees, other drink items, and exquisite foods, made available not only on the menu, but also inside beautiful display cases, elegantly labeled by name. And last but not least, I was extremely impressed by the extraordinary customer service provided by the young lady barista behind the counter, who was very knowledgeable about the Coffee Shop and all its available items. I ordered a plain bagel with cream cheese and a large Caffè Mocha. They both were wonderfully prepared and tasted amazingly delicious. I enjoyed them seated at the white marble counter facing the Christmas trees that decorate the Hotel during this Special time of the year. I highly recommend this Coffee Shop for a unique breakfast dining experience in a relaxed yet distinguished atmosphere, with wonderful food and drinks, and extraordinary customer service.

    Small coffee space in the Hotel Roanoke for grab and go coffee. The food options available are all…read moreice and look fresh. The service is fast and everyone there is friendly. Also a few souvenirs to take of the Hotel and Conference Center.

    Photos
    The condiments area with beautiful tumblers for sale exhibited above.
    The condiments area with beautiful tumblers for sale exhibited above.
    The Plain Bagel with Cream Cheese. Crispy on the outside and soft in the inside.
    The Plain Bagel with Cream Cheese. Crispy on the outside and soft in the inside.
    The very elegant and distinguished entrance to the Steam Coffee Shop.

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    The very elegant and distinguished entrance to the Steam Coffee Shop.

    Sweet Donkey Coffee - coffee - Updated August 2026

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