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

What a great little find! On a freezing day outside of Raleigh, I stumbled upon this cozy little…read morecoffee shop! Trying to get a little work done, I was pleased to find a comfy couch, power and Wi-Fi- in addition to the incredible twist on a Mexican mocha and an absolutely insane bacon, egg, and cheese on there in house made biscuit! Greeted by the friendliest barista, I made myself comfy on the couch and watched her work her magic. My " not too sweet" mocha had beautiful latte art. I was actually a little sad as I reached the bottom of the mug. So I opted for a decaf refill, it was pure perfection. Do yourself a favor & pop in to make this place your morning ritual.

I came in here for a coffee break from work. It is such a beautiful building and was even more…read morewow-ed! By the aesthetics in the inside of this place. They do have both coffee and food. I wasn't entirely in a coffee tasting mood but really needed a pick-me-up. They had the strawberries and cream latte as their special drink, so I went ahead and order this and the bang bang tacos. The strawberries and cream was super delicious and hit my craving just right. The bang bang shrimp tacos had a kick with the sauce, but incorporating pineapple was what gave this a 10/10 for me. It had a sweet and spicy flavor to it, which balanced these tacos to perfection with each bite. The employees behind the counter were extremely friendly. I recommend this spot for anybody who's local or traveling through.

Fare&Fellow is amazing! The space is wide open and beautifully designed. It's the perfect spot to…read moreget some work done or catch up with friends over brunch. I tried the turkey and brie sandwich and it was absolutely delicious and the food came out super fast. They are closed on weekends and only open on weekdays until 2:30pm. I do wish they had longer hours so I could bring more people to experience it. I love everything about this cafe and can't recommend it enough. Spacious, welcoming, and serving amazing food. Fare & Fellow is definitely worth a visit!

A perfect coffee shop for natural light lovers! Fare & Fellow feels like an elevated snapshot of…read moreRTP's modern office district: every detail screams sleek and contemporary. It's super spacious, with tons of natural light, high ceilings, and both indoor and outdoor seating. The outside patio has cushy lounge seats, perfect for soaking up sunshine (though it's right by the highway, so some outdoor spots come with a bit of traffic noise during rush hours). This place is a dream for remote work. Every table is so spread out (esp outdoor) that you don't overhear other conversations, no loud music, and sunlight streaming in from every corner. Service was quick and thoughtfully accommodating. I appreciated that they bring food in a to-go container if you're sitting outside, so you're not stuck carrying plates back. And bonus points for their commitment to using sustainable packaging. The coffee was quite delicious! Jubala Coffee actually makes a type of specialty beans roasted just for F&F. Their drink menu is on the simpler side, but they usually have a couple of seasonal lattes, and everything I tried tasted great. Food-wise, it's a gem: generous portions, very reasonably priced, and flavorful. It reminded me a bit of Fount Kitchen in its "organic, healthy" vibe, but with more non-vegetarian options and even better flavor. There's plenty of parking right out front, but sadly they close at 2:30pm, so it's more of a morning or lunch spot. All in all, a wonderful place for a morning work sesh or a work lunch in style!

Well during my 6 hour odyssey of getting my car fixed between Jiffy Lube and Firestone, I walked…read moredown 55 for a brief moment of serenity. And I stumbled across this shop. Middle of a Sunday afternoon and every table was occupied. Very young crowd too. I guess the cool kids who avoid Starbucks hit this place up. They have several bookshelves to select a book from. The cafe beverage menu is quite extensive and they offer a few pastries as well. I ordered an iced chai with oatmilk and I had it within two minutes. That staff works quickly. I can't say it was a great drink, the spices weren't too noticeable. It tasted more like a cup of slightly flavored milk. Staff was quite jovial, so props for that.

What an absolute gem :) a very extensive and unique menu filled with drinks, some pastries from…read morelocal areas, plenty of tables and couch areas to sit, study, or chat- and even a little play area for toddlers at the back! I came here with my friends and their kids, and they were completely occupied with their toys. The staff here are so friendly and very patient- gave great recommendations, also engaged with my friend's toddler, and also were so patient when we couldn't make up our mind for which drinks we wanted (they have some really unique specialty drinks- don't forget to look below the big menu for even more options). I really loved their cafe/bookstore vibe, plenty of fun little Knick knacks as well (pins, stickers, locally hand crafted toddler toys, origami rose bouquets... you name it). The books are well-organized, and if you buy certain books you can also get a free drink! I loved everything about this place, very cozy vibe and really fell in love with their space. I was recommended to try their iced peanut butter persuasion which also had a peanut butter foam on top. Absolutely loved it- amazing recommendation. Y'all have to come by to check it out!

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.

Met a friend here for a quick catch-up. It's in the new box-ish building across from Urban Axes and…read moresorta behind Motorco/Parts and Labor. They have a lovely south-facing window and a deck with bistro tables and umbrellas. We got a cappuccino and a tea, and decided the interior would be better than the windy outside. It was a minor ing Wednesday, so service was immediate and friendly. The cappuccino was perfectly made - just frothy enough! (I could tell when she handed me the cup. It was lighter than it would have been full of milk. Thanks!!) There are mostly two- or three-tops scattered around the scant seating area, with a few comfy chairs around. There is a nice but small collection of snacks in the cabinet, but neither of us felt the need for food. The music was generic enough to not distract or call attention to itself. There is one very large, non-gendered restroom, well stocked and very accessible for those using assistive devices. It's a bold move to open a coffee shop a stone's throw from Cocoa Cinnamon, but I must say that Nectar has nailed the basics well, and may cater to a little different niche. Either is a good option for you, with decent WiFi, great drinks, and smiling patrons & servers! Welcome to the neighborhood, Nectar!

This place is very cute and warm. It's inside Geer House towards the back. I enjoyed my tea latte…read morefrom them and the turkey, brie, and fig croissant. The croissant had a nice texture and the flavors of the brie with the balsamic glaze also went very well. You get to choose from their options of tea. I decided on English breakfast and it was very tasty. We got pastries from them as well and I wasn't a fan because it felt like they were over baked. The coffee cake I got had a harder exterior on top that I'm not a fan of. My partner enjoyed both pastries and the sandwich. I appreciated them asking if whole milk was ok and providing him with ice cubes for his americano. Overall, I really like the setup of the shop and it's very cute. I loved that they had savory options and sweet options for food. Their cups are very cute and the staff is very nice. Their custom cups with their logo really sets them apart I think to some other shops.

What can I say. Like many others the place beautiful and the crepes were to die for. I had the…read moreFrench toast crepe which had cheesecake filling. So decadent. Lots of good with only one bad. The only bad was no drip decaf but I could get a decaf Americano. So even that compensated for the bad. Would love one of these in Maryland.

I started with the sweet potato old fashioned, which was excellent and definitely on the strong…read moreside. For my second drink, I ordered the cherry kiss mimosa and enjoyed that as well. The cocktail program was easily the highlight of my visit. The food, however, didn't quite live up to the drinks. I ordered the carne asada crepe, which was just okay and lacked the flavor I was hoping for. I also ordered a blueberry and lemon curd crepe to go and shared it with my sister. Unfortunately, neither of us found it very enjoyable. The restaurant itself is beautiful, clean, and well maintained. There was a long wait to sit at the bar, but it was around 1:00 pm on a Saturday, so that was understandable.

Absolutely loved this coffee shop!…read more It is unique in its aesthetic and I loved all the greenery. It's small inside, but every corner is carefully decorated. They use homemade syrups and that made a big difference. The mocha latte was delightful! Minimal communication with baristas, but overall they were nice. Definitely recommend this coffee shop if you're in the Durham area.

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.