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The Optimist

4.2 (150 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Optimist Photos

THE OPTIMIST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - The Optimist

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Matthew H.

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.

Chi Latte
Mark L.

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

Avocado toast with bacon
Shelby L.

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.

Cutest catchy phrase
Britt J.

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 ‍

Matcha latte
Ashley J.

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!

Jennifer F.

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.

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

Best coffee and snacks in town! Coffee shop with the coolest vibes in the best neighborhood. Definitely worth the visit!!

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

Absolutely obsessed with this place. Great coffee & great aesthetics. We are here literally every single weekend- no place we'd rather be!

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

The baristas here are top notch. Management places a high emphasis on quality for every cup.

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

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Andrew W.

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6 years ago

Love love love this spot. Great coffee and tea options with good snacks and treats as well. Love the vibe here

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4 years ago

The baristas were friendly and the space was beautiful. I loved my seasonal coffee and would definitely go back!

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

Cute neighborhood coffee spot! Staff is super friendly. They offer really unique coffee drinks...try their iced strawberry mocha, so good!

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Tupelo Honey

Tupelo Honey

3.9(1.6k reviews)
2.2 mi
$$
Full bar
Takes reservations

This breakfast hit all the classic comfort notes but with a little finesse. Scrambled eggs were…read morecreamy, bacon perfectly crispy, and the potatoes golden and seasoned just right. The toasted sourdough was a nice touch for sopping up bites. The fried okra was a standout--lightly battered, bright green inside, and not soggy (a minor miracle) The chicken tenders had a peppery cornmeal breading that stayed crunchy and paired well with the dipping sauce. But the most nostalgic part was the warm biscuit split open with peach jelly--sweet, sunny, and the perfect finish! Overall: Comfort food done well, generous portions, great textures, and totally worth the visit

As a foodie from the Bay Area who's been spending more time in the Southeast for work, I've been on…read morea bit of a personal mission to understand and appreciate Southern cuisine. It's been an interesting journey--because while I absolutely respect the tradition, my palate has definitely evolved over the years toward lighter, more elevated, visually beautiful food. That said, sometimes you just have to lean in and experience the classics. Tupelo Honey had been on my list for a while, so during a recent work trip to Raleigh-Durham, I decided to check it off. The location is in a very nice, upscale area--one of those shopping districts where, if you see a Whole Foods nearby, you know the neighborhood is going to be polished, safe, and easy to navigate. Parking was simple in a lot across the street, and since I had a reservation, I was seated quickly on the patio, which was lovely and comfortable. For starters, I ordered the "biscuits for a cause," which is a nice touch knowing the proceeds support employee relief and development funds. They were warm and classic Southern biscuits--exactly what you'd expect. For my entrée, I went with the honey-dusted fried chicken (dark meat), a true Southern staple. It was well prepared, flavorful, and satisfying, especially if you're in the mood for something hearty and traditional. I also tried a cocktail called "The Debutante," which was pleasant and refreshing, and finished the meal with the butter pecan cheesecake for dessert. Overall, the meal was good--solid, reliable Southern comfort food--but if I'm being completely honest, it wasn't particularly memorable for me. I was traveling for work and dining on a per diem, so it checked the box for a dependable dinner in a convenient location. As a larger regional chain, it feels a bit like a rite of passage when you're spending time in the Southeast--something you try once to understand the landscape. Bottom line: Tupelo Honey delivers classic Southern comfort food in a polished, accessible setting. Service was smooth, the patio was pleasant, and everything was executed well. For me personally, it was a good experience--but not one I'd necessarily go out of my way to repeat. Still, as I continue eating my way through the Carolinas and beyond, I'm glad I gave it a try.

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Tupelo Honey
Tupelo Honey - Summerberry Salad

Summerberry Salad

Tupelo Honey

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Benelux Café - Strawberry pancakes

Benelux Café

3.9(219 reviews)
2.1 mi
$

I try a new coffee shop every Saturday and today it was Benelux…read more There isn't a lot of street parking, but there is an underground garage behind it, which is so convenient. It's located next to Village District. I was greeted immediately by a nice young man. I asked for his hot food suggestion, and of course he suggested the waffles! I ordered a waffle with fresh bananas and Nutella...every bite was absolutely delicious. I also ordered a lavender latte and loved it. They sell scones from a local vendor and I had a gluten free orange cranberry scone which was also delicious. Benelux is spacious and has plenty of seating. Tables, high tops and even a couple of comfortable love seats.

This is great coffee shop with a good, family friendly a diverse vibe…read more Benelux offers a good variety of coffee drinks and delicious pastries. We ordered lattes and other pastries, and they were all delicious. I met the new owners when I stopped by, and they shared their new plans for upgrades and improvements. They own other coffee shops in Colombia, so I'm guessing those improvements will be good. It is located in a shopping plaza centrally located. If you are not from the area, the GPS will take you straight to it. There is a parking lot for the entire shopping plaza with free parking. If you like to work in coffee shops, this one gets a bit busy and noisy at times. Keep that in mind. The staff was friendly and helpful. The space is comfortable and common areas are clean. Overall, 100% recommended.

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Benelux Café
Benelux Café
Benelux Café

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Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant - Fried Catfish with Egg and Home Fries

Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant

4.3(726 reviews)
1.3 mi
$$

Food service and ambiance beyond expectation and worth an 11 out of 10 on survey big…read moreeddddddddddddddddddddddd

A cute breakfast place in Downtown Raleigh that gets very busy! I came immediately after landing at…read morethe airport to get brunch on a weekday around noon. The place was crowded but there was no wait. I got seated immediately at a table near a column in the middle of the restaurant and Christy came over and asked if I wanted anything to drink. She brought me iced water and gave me time to look at the menu. I wanted to try so many things and I was too optimistic about ordering 3 things and finishing them myself. Good thing I only ordered 2 things! An order of fried catfish with home fries and one egg. And a biscuit with sausage gravy. The fried catfish was salted and well fried. It tasted delicious for my first bite! The home fries were basically cut potatoes, but they weren't very fried or flavored. I wished I ordered the side of apple sauce instead. The biscuit and sausage was good, but a bit too much for one person after eating a separate order already. Definitely bring more people so you can try more things. Also, I wished I had asked for sausage gravy on the side so I can try the biscuit on its own first as well. Furthermore, I would have more time to eat the catfish so I wasn't worried about the biscuit getting soggy. Christy came to check up on me every now and then. The place was buzzing with people and decorations so I didn't feel so alone. When it was time to pay, Christy brought me the check for me to pay at the cash register. Both Christy and the cashier were so friendly! The restaurant does have a women's and a mens restroom if needed.

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Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant - Dining area

Dining area

Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant - Brunswick stew with grilled bologna and cheese sandwich

Brunswick stew with grilled bologna and cheese sandwich

Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant - Outside

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Outside

Layered Croissanterie

Layered Croissanterie

4.5(240 reviews)
1.1 mi
$$

Two days in a row I've gone to layered croissant. The layers are on point and it was fascinating to…read morewatch the bakers use a machine to roll out the layers. I tried the passionfruit mango cruffin and the brown butter crookie. Both were spot on with their flavors. The passionfruit cream was especially noteworthy for being packed with flavor and yet not too sweet. The layers of pasty were perfection. There's one spot to order, though they do a brisk takeout business. Once ordered, items come out quickly. There is some seating, and if you order to stay, then they'll bring your items to the table. The vibe is bright and semi industrial with some pastel colors to soften it up. I love the bright windows, even if you're just looking out on the car's parked right outside!

Ohhh, I have been sleeping on this place. No longer. Visited in September 2024 and tried pretty…read moremuch the whole menu of pastries: + LKA + raspberry pistachio + butterscotch Cruffin + Plum financier + Ham & cheese + Boston cream donut + Brown butter crookie + Classic croissant + Pain au chocolat Standouts were the raspberry pistachio and ham & cheese. Also loved the filling in the financier, and the brown butter cookie was top notch. Cruffin was another highlight. Iced coffee was alright. Will get the iced purple matcha next time. This bakery is definitely born from the Dominique Ansel/Supermoon Bakehouse era, and they are executing very well. (I've had some baaaad knockoff cruffins/cronuts/croissant hybrids, but this place is killing it.)

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Layered Croissanterie
Layered Croissanterie
Layered Croissanterie

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The Optimist - coffee - Updated May 2026

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