Amazing place to get your morning joe!!! Matcha!!! Is a very busy place so carry a little patience in your bag, LOL.... Super nice people

It's okay here! I don't feel typical warm and fuzzies from the staff here, just kinda straight to the point, taking my order, etc, and I feel like every time I've visited so far (and I'm new to the area) that there's always something "wrong". I couldn't get a hot matcha latte the other day because the espresso machine wasn't working (which I'm sure is out of their control) and so I opted for a hot lavender earl grey tea (pictured here). I was able to get the hot matcha another day and that decent (also pictured). Just a pro-tea tip-- there was no reason to have THIS LARGE AMOUNT of tea leaves here. This was enough to brew an entire pot! So the cup of tea I had was EXTREMELY bitter for that small mug. Wayyyyyyyyyyy too many leaves. You only need a teaspoon (maybe two depending on the tea) and that goes for any loose leaf tea. This is often an issue at places that primarily serve coffee, so perhaps some education on proper tea brewing would help. read more

The Optimist - Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Not a bad scene. Expensive though. I ordered a quad espresso and it cost $6.50 when it's $4.12 at Cultivate Coffee in Fuquay. I didn't eat anything, so I won't talk about the food. I did enjoy the coffee though. The experience was average. read more

Quaint coffee shop with chill vibes and relaxing music. The back patio feels like you're nestled in nature with the sounds of birds chirping in the treetops. My bacon egg and cheese English muffin and "The Stacey" coffee was a great pairing for a morning break. read more

The Optimist - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Husband and I stopped here on the way into Raleigh. Every table had someone sitting there with a laptop except for us and for some reason it felt so uncomfortable in there, awkwardly quiet and weird. I had the goat cheese fig jam bacon English muffin that was underwhelming, but I don't know what I expected. Coffee was okay. read more

Iced coffee was very good Lemon Poppyseed muffin was a disappointment. It was a bit dry and lacked flavor. Beyond muffins we did not see many bakery-type snacks. Their made to order menu looked decent but we were craving baked treats. Service was prompt. Interior was clean and comfortable. read more

I'm new to the Oakwood/Mordecai neighborhood so I really wanted to give The Optimist another chance and I have gone pretty consistently over the past couple of months. Unfortunately they still don't quite meet the mark for me to justify spending a premium price for coffee to go. The ambience is nice and welcoming inside so I can see it being a good study or work space. Pebble ice isn't really my favorite to see at coffee shops but I understand how expensive it is to update ice makers. Nearly every iced latte I've had here has gotten watered down almost immediately because of having the smaller ice cubes in a smaller cup. Instead I think they could really benefit from moving all iced drinks up to the 14 or 16 oz cups so they can pack more ice in. Their espresso sometimes seems burnt and other times ok. Their drip coffee and cold brew are good for a quick fix. Haven't had too many of their food items but so far so good. read more

Great people and chi latte! The service is great and food atmosphere! Food order I will add on another review read more

The Optimist - Chi Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Very busy coffee shop really cool vibe not enough food and always sell out but that's probably a good sign. Coffee is great.

Man I really don't like not giving a 4 or 5 star review. It feels like lately nothing has been excellent. Having said that, I had been curious about this place for some time. I happened to be close by so I decided to stop since I was hungry for breakfast and coffee is always my thing wherever I go. Starting with parking. 9:15 am on a Tuesday and there was plenty. Store was easy to find and upon arrival the first thing I needed was the restroom. I should have just walked out then and there. The restrooms had not been cleaned and I'm certain it was from the previous day. My bad for staying. I ordered the maple walnut latte and avocado toast with bacon. The coffee was good. I normally don't drink it with sweetener, but I wanted to try those flavors. The avocado toast however was a complete disappointment. It was sourdough bread and it was a big slice, but the avocado was smashed into the bread (which was barely toasted) and they were very stingy with it considering the price of it. I paid an extra dollar for what ended up being crumbled up bacon that probably wasn't even a full slice. I was totally unimpressed with it. Overall friendly staff and when I told someone about the bathroom they said they would take care of it. Coffee good, toast terrible. 2 stars and I wouldn't go back. The bathroom was a big turnoff and the quality of the food I got was NOT worth the 18 bucks I paid! 2 stars= friendly staff and good coffee. Everything else (price, quality of food, and cleanliness of bathroom) takes away from it all. read more

The Optimist - Avocado toast with bacon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Super cute and cozy coffee shop. Plugs on the outer seating. Enjoyed their coffee, matcha wasn't my fav.

I love both locations of this quickly decorated coffee shops. Their daily specials are something to watch for.

Backstory: I drove to three coffee shops before settling on The Optimist. The Optimist offers a quiet atmosphere with soft music which produces an environment of productivity. Definitely needed on a Monday Second time here, but my first time trying the food. I tried an egg and cheese croissant . To my surprise the eggs were made fresh. Say what?!!! Yes! Fresh. Definitely would recommend with honey. I set here from 10:30am until 2:00pm and I felt like the time flew by. I would recommend ‍ read more

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The matcha latte, avocado toast, and the breakfast tacos were really good!! The vibes of this place is like a hipster coffee shop and they have board games for you to play! Service is great and would def highly recommend this place! read more

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The 2 young girls that work here are rude as fuck. I cannot have sugar because of my chronic illness and instead of finding out what products have sugar, they said they didn't know and gave me something with sugar in it. When I confirmed that it did indeed have sugar, one of them said "well don't drink it then." Was going to make it a regular spot to do remote work, but instead I will not be returning. read more

Stopped in for some coffee and a light breakfast while visiting the Raleigh area. This was recommended to us by some local folks and I really love a chill coffee shop vibe. They have indoor and outdoor seating and I LOVED all the plant decor as well. The paninis while very simple were made fresh and the coffee was outstanding. Definitely great spot to stop into while in the area. Also a nice spot to work from. 10/10 recommend a visit to The Optimist. read more

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Nice place to come and chill and do some work. It was decently busy but not loud. Got some food and had a great vanilla chai. Will definitely be back. read more

I can see why this place got such reviews, probably one of the best coffee shops I've been to. They have such a great combination of the obvious, coffee and tea, breakfast foods, sweet treats, beer and wine and great service? Great casual atmosphere, people were studying. Working or on this Sunday hanging out on a hot sunny day. Their coffee is Amazing, perfect strong, not too milky cappuccino is what I had. The cinnamon oat muffin was nice and soft inside , crunchy outside. Perfect with my coffee. My friend got the avocado toast. Which hit the spot she said. Her coffee was also extremely good. Another smoothly run place that knows how to do it right. They have a great space inside, and a quaint little patio out back and seating outside upfront. Absolutely fell in love with this place, it's a shame I don't live in Raleigh! read more

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Came here for the first time and I ordered a hazelnut cappuccino. When I received the drink I could tell the hazelnut was missing as it was not sweet and was a regular cappuccino. I kindly let the barista know and at first he confirmed he made a hazelnut cappuccino then followed saying that he forgot the syrup. He provided me a separate cup of hazelnut syrup for me to mix in myself (instead of remaking it). The cappuccino was overly sweet with the added syrup that the barista provided and I let him know but he rudely responded with "it depends on how you like it" with no solution. Not the best service especially with it being my first time here. read more

Overpriced and mediocre. There are other perfectly good options, though the space is pretty cute.

I was impressed by the amount of indoor and outdoor seating options! They also had some games for customers to play which I thought was nice/different. I ordered a latte and it was alright, not the best not the worst, but overall the ambiance made the experience worth it. read more

The Optimist has been my favorite coffee shop for years now, and their coffee always hits the spot. But the other week, i went in and decided to try some of their food for the first time. I have celiac disease and requested gluten free bread, and the 2 employees behind the counter said they had it. I didn't feel good after eating it but didn't think much of it until today, when I requested the same, only to be informed that they do not offer gluten free bread and they haven't as long as the employee has worked there. I was disappointed to hear that my go to spot had made this mistake and given me food i had marked as an allergy. I hope this information helps the employees gain awareness about allergens and to prevent this from happening to others. read more

Cute coffee shop vibe! Both indoor and outdoor options, including a few table options for larger groups and a coffee bar. Mellow background music so you can have a conversation and not feel like you are yelling across the table. Steady traffic for a Monday. Looks like they offer a loyalty program. Good parking options. This was a coffee only trip. I tried the Pine & Dandy. If you love cardamom, this drink is for you! Not overly sweet, and yummy! Great place to study, meeting, or hang with friends for a change of scenery. read more

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Cool place. We stopped here to check out the plants. Dirt bag gardens is here selling plants today and the actual nursery is open today as well. This is such a cool experience. They sell a variety of drinks such as lattes and hot chocolate. This place is jumping and the vibe is chill. There are many folks just catching up, and enjoying time with friends. read more

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We love trying new places on the weekend for coffee. The Optimist was recommended by a coworker so we gave it a go. First, the parking situation is not the best. The location is in a strip mall set up and was packed. We opted for street parking which is somewhat available, but watch for signs. Second, the drinks were ok, I do feel like the price was a bit high for such a small drink. Third, I ordered a breakfast sandwich that was much smaller than I was expecting for the price. It was a yummy sandwich but I finished it in a few bites. Overall, the cashier was nice and friendly, the aesthetic inside was very calm and inviting. read more

The coffee shop is a plant lovers place to be! The decor is created around the shop's appreciation for live plants. It is a relaxing place to be. The staff is friendly and greeted my friends and I when we entered The Optimist. The menu offers a variety of signature and seasonal drinks that offer an array of ingredients. The menu also includes breakfast and lunch items, which makes this a great place to meet a friend and/or work while enjoying a delicious beverage and a bite to eat. read more

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I visited this location for the first time today. I ordered a flavored latte, it was delicious, and a Chris P Bacon sandwich. Both items were to go. The coffee came out in a timely manner, but the sandwich took over 30 minutes to make. At the 25 min I stoped one of the kitchen staff and asked how much longer and he said 5 minutes. He was very pleasant. After 5 minutes I decided I would just take refund for the sandwich. I waited in line and once I got to the register asked the lady for the refund. I told her it has been 30 minutes and I have to go. She asked what time I specifically ordered the items, I said roughly 30 minutes but I can look up the time on my Apple Pay. She was able to find the order and then couldn't figure out how to refund the card. Honestly, the refund would probably take as long as the food! The guy from the kitchen brought my sandwich and I told the lady the sandwich arrived. She said, "so you're good then?" I said, "No, I'm not good, but I need to leave!" I would recommend the latte but would pass on the food. Sandwich was nothing to write home about. read more

The coffee window is a huge hit with my dog, as they always have biscuits ready for him! The homemade syrups really make a difference at this coffee shop! read more

oooo this is a must stop!!! coffee was super super good and so was English muffin. It was so well decorated and very calming fun colors. Service was great and fast, all the staff was so pleasant read more

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Another awesome coffee shop in the City of Oaks! This place has a cool vibe with a good variety of hot and cold drinks. I had an oat milk latte, and it was delicious! Restrooms are pretty clean and there is plenty of free parking. Also, they have some pretty cool merch. Looking forward to coming back! read more

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Atmosphere: The Optimist has a beautifully decorated interior, with bold colors, plants, and skeletons all around the shop. The space is a perfect place to work, study, or just hang out, as there are a decent number of tables. Seats can fill up fast though, especially during peak hours. Service: The baristas are friendly, and though it can get crowded at times, the food and drinks come out in a reasonable amount of time. Food: For drinks, we've tried their Matcha Made in Lemon, Flash Coffee, The Stacey, and other seasonal specialities. The Matcha Made in Lemon, a mixture of matcha, raspberry, and lemonade, had a perfect balance of grassiness, fruitiness, and sweetness. The Flash Coffee was vibrant and great for any coffee lover. Lastly, The Stacey, as well as their other lattes, have not disappointed us. The Optimist is always coming up with fun flavor combinations, making each cafe visit a new adventure. For food, we've ordered their Lunch Club, which although small, had a perfectly toasted sourdough that paired well with the hot turkey and vegetables. Overall: We love The Optimist and are excited to hear about their second location opening up! We're looking forward to returning and enjoying more of their specialty drinks. read more

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I really like this spot. We stopped in for lunch and ordered the Chris P Bacon sandwich with chips and a latte for my husband and one of the limited time only sandwiches with chips and a mimosa for me. We liked it all. The Optimist is really popular for remote workers so finding a seat inside can be a bit difficult at times. read more

Great meetup spot for coffee and pastries! I arrived after lunch time so there were no sandwiches available. The staff is nice, the atmosphere was quiet and there is outdoor seating. Will try again because the menu looked really good! read more

Such a beautiful coffee shop! Love seeing all the live plants vs fake plastic ones. Good vibe...cool things to look at...wed be back all the time if we lived here - but we are just visiting Raleigh for the weekend. read more

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**OPTIMIST MADE ME A PESSIMIST** This is the closest coffee shop near our bungalow in East Raleigh. So we've been here twice, but this was the first time I did a sit-down. PARKING ======== Limited parking spaces, so you may have to street park during peak hours. COFFEE ====== CAPPUCCINO - $3.75 Comes with double espresso shots, however, a bit on the weak side. Not strong enough for me and rather bland in flavor. The milk ratio was not balanced, tasted more milk than coffee. RATING: 3/5 FOOD ===== CHRIS P BACON SANDWICH - $11 Sourdough bread with tomato, arugula, cheddar, crispy bacon, sprinkled with basil and pepper and horseradish mayo was decent. Wish the sandwich had a stronger flavor (maybe a sharper cheese or an apple bacon). RATING: 3/5 SERVICE ======= Friendly enough. During our order, I asked if we needed a number (since we ordered food AND coffee), and they said only our first name. They made our coffees, however, we did not realize the coffees were sitting on the counter for 10 minutes while we were sitting down. I did not hear my name, nor did anyone come by to check. I guess if you order coffee AND food, you wait for the baristas to make your coffee FIRST, then grab a table, and HOPE your food arrives later to your table. No one likes cold coffee or a bad system. RATING: 3/5 OVERALL ========== It's fairly small, and we noticed some customers camped out with one beverage. Not cool, but whatever. It's the café life, I get it, but not feeling this spot. It's a neighborhood café and everyone has their favorite. I prefer elsewhere. read more

I got an iced nutella latte (the summer special) with almond milk and one of their Bavarian cream chocolate donuts. I swear the donuts must be homemade because they are SO GOOD, super dense. The photo says it all. The lady at the register was super nice, but the person on bar took a while. I think it's because of the simultaneous walk-up window orders so it makes sense. For the quality though, the wait is worth it. We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the shade until it got too hot. Loved this atmosphere! read more

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I wanted to like this place so badly. I've come back twice and each time there wasn't a single table open inside. So anyway, the latte was completely unsweetened, the iced coffee tasted like soy sauce (idk how), and they got my avocado toast wrong. It was supposed to have tomatoes on it. I'm really disappointed. read more

The Optimist - Iced coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Coffee is great! The breakfast sandwiches were very yummy but very small for the price. Cute indoor space, a little bit limited on seating options when over half of the tables are people sitting alone on their computers for hours at a time on a Saturday morning. read more

Hidden in a quiet area of the Oakwood neighborhood, this is a walkable spot from downtown (just under 1.5 miles). They have a great selection of food from breakfast tacos to avocado toast to breakfast sandwiches. The coffee was delicious. I would say for the price, the portions (coffee and food) were a little small. Everyone was very friendly though! There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside has board games to play as well. Overall, a nice quiet spot for a quick snack! read more

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I absolutely love the Concept... it's like a botanical garden coffee shop .. I didn't have food but the menu looks tasty.. I had a lavender latte that was flavorful.. Service was A1..and supportive of VETS offering a military discount which I love when local establishments do... I'll definitely be back... read more

The Optimist - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina