Whether you’re a newcomer to the City of Oaks or a seasoned resident, exploring the many coffee shops in downtown Raleigh is a must. After working in the city for the last 6 years, I’ve tried just about every variation of the vanilla latte in town. These five Raleigh coffee shops are my absolute favorites for their taste, ambience, and overall experience. Cheers, caffeine lovers!

Heirloom Brewshop

Heirloom Brewshop is a relatively new coffee shop located in the posh, recently redeveloped Warehouse District. Serving up Laotian and Taiwanese coffee, tea, sake, and cocktails, this is one of the most Instagrammable coffee shops in Raleigh you will find. Come camera ready!

Location: 219 S. West Street

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The Morning Times

The Morning Times takes the cake as my absolute favorite coffee shop in Raleigh. Not only do they serve the best lattes in town, but they also have a pretty extensive breakfast and lunch menu from small pastries to hot sandwiches. Their outdoor street seating is such a treat on a nice day, and if it’s cold or rainy, you can snag a window seat for people-watching or head upstairs for a bigger table with friends.

Location: 10 E. Hargett Street

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42 & Lawrence

This corner coffee shop is tiny but mighty! The unique black and white decor at 42 & Lawrence makes it unlike any other spot in Raleigh (notice the lights?). There’s not a ton of seating, so I recommend stopping here for a to-go cup of joe on the way to your destination. Don’t forget to read your sleeve for a sweet reminder!

Location: 134 E. Martin Street

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Yellow Dog Bread

219 E. Franklin Street

Located slightly outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown, Yellow Dog is a small, charming neighborhood coffee shop with seriously cute treats. They go all-out on holidays with themed pastries and coffee drinks. At Christmastime, their peppermint latte comes with a mini gingerbread house, and this past Halloween I found a ghost in my cup!

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Honorable Mentions

Sir Walter Coffee | 145 E. Davie Street

Lucette Grace | 235 S. Salisbury Street

Cup A Joe | 3100 Hillsborough Street

Sola Coffee | 7705 Lead Mine Road (a short drive out of downtown!)

Jubala | 2100 Hillsborough Street

There you have it, my favorite coffee shops in Raleigh, North Carolina. Next time you’re in town, stop in to one of these spots and support a small local business!