50 Best Coffee Shops in Durham

“They allow dogs 🐶 What’s not to like? 🫶🏻“

“Came in for caffeine after lunch nearby. My coworker and I were inside a minimal amount of time, and both were extremely happy. I had the blended and frozen peanut butter mocha, it was very good. Definitely will mark this place as a spot to come back, and to try their food! Staff was great, place was clean!“

“Absolutely amazing! Real honest and delicious coffee from people who really care. The energy is beautiful and the coffee is consciously sourced. My favorite coffee shop in Durham!“

“Great idea and excellent products! Tastefully done. :)“

“Fun atmosphere and excellent drinks.“

“I’m from Los Angeles and found myself completely at home here with the warmest company. Listening to Rilo Kiley, drinking espresso, and sitting with plants filled me with peace - I even picked up a ceramic mug from here that fills/reminds me of this shop thousands of miles away. Grateful for this space and I will never miss the chance to come here when I’m in town!“

“This place is absolutely amazing. Everyone working was so kind, attentive, and helpful. Everything is very clean and the decorations are adorable. The ice cream was amazing. I cannot recommend the Ube enough. I’m sad I live over 4 hours away from here so I can’t come all the time but I’m so happy I decided to stop in so I had the chance to experience it.“

“Everything! Love their chai latte.“

“Definitely one of my favorite spots! Would recommend to anyone.“

“The best. Just the best. Try it!!“

“I checked this place out because it's the only dog-friendly coffee shop around me. Ordered online for pick-up so I could run in with my dog on our walk - fast and friendly!“

“Best bagels in NC! Looking forward to their new store.“

“Join the Open Mic Series on the last Wednesday of every month! FREE ENTRY. GREAT VIBES.“

“Best Paninis and Coffee in Durham! Thank you Fasil!“

“Coffee World shares the building with a Subway and an ice cream space. I was here super early with a coffee and a bagel, sitting in a corner table for six solid hours. Easy to sit with my work laptop for this time, dialed in to calls and sending emails.

Coffee was good and the bagel with cream cheese was good.

No one bothered me. I watched customers come and go. It was a great "office" for a Monday morning.

Vegetarian options: They have some vegetarian options.

Dietary restrictions: Ask about allergens.

Parking: Easy parking for the Sprinter van.

Kid-friendliness: Yes, they have donuts too!

Wheelchair accessibility: Step free access.“

“Great tasting BoBoa drinks, rolled ice cream, tayaki. Everything house made fresh upon order.

Friendly staff and family business. The coffee ice cream is freshly pulled espresso shot mixed with cream. And the drinks you can replace cow milk with oat milk too.

We haven’t tried the soft serve but I’m sure they are good too. Many flavors to choose from.“

“I want to express praise and gratitude to Desmond at the Durham Hotel. I had been calling the rooftop restaurant for a couple of weeks to try and modify a reservation for a birthday party and after five or six attempts, they had not called me back. I eventually called the hotel and Desmond answered and even though it is completely separate and outside of his job responsibilities, he took down all my information and reached out to them on my behalf . Desmond was able to modify my reservation so that I did not have to drive down there an hour each way. He was very professional and I enjoyed talking with him. He is definitely in the right line of work because I felt like I was talking to a friend. Details matter, and Customer Service should still matter. Thank you, Desmond!! Sincerely, William / reservation 9546“

“Yummy pastries! 🥐 🥮 Definitely recommend this place! 🥰“

“Anissa’s is truly a hidden gem of the Triangle. They make some of the best food in the area, period, the end. Especially if you’re trying to stay healthy, they have the freshest Acai bowls that they customize to your liking and no added sugar like other places. On top of that they have a loyalty card and after 10 berries, you can get a free bowl. The service is bar none, after my 3rd time they had my order memorized, which is why I go in once/twice a week!!!“

“I got the Greek omelette with light feta spinach and peppers ! It was amazing ! Great lil spot!“

“Cute little coffee window at Boxyard. The coffee is really good! I really enjoyed the flat white.

Boxyard is a fun environment too! It's kid and pet friendly. Plenty of parking in the mornings!

They had a nice selection of cakes, but the only one that seemed to go with breakfast was the lemon cake. Not a lot of food options. The TV screen menus were hard to read in the morning because the sun was shining on them; fortunately they had paper menus.

Everything was served in a ToGo paper cup.

Alex, the barista, was really nice, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. She also made delicious coffee! It was a perfectly pulled espresso shot using Counter Culture beans.“

“I’ve been ordering whole bean coffee from Joe van gough for awhile and love trying the newer blends and specialty coffees, it’s what we get up for! So fresh!“

“I’ve been ordering whole bean coffee from Joe van gough for awhile and love trying the newer blends and specialty coffees, it’s what we get up for! So fresh!“

“Friendly staff and great food. Was worth the wait.“

“Rana is amazing!!! She made my mango peach smoothie with boba - literally ever since I had it for the first time I’ve been coming back every other day. A little sad today 7/14/25 that the blender is down and I was unable to get my smoothie but Rana recommended another option and it worked out perfectly!“

“I love the lattes here becauae they're strong. I always stop by when I come. My kid usually plays with all the toys and the staff is just fine with it. The staff tends to be really nice and friendly. Also, I almost always watch the the train in the ceiling make a full route back and forth because it really is mesmerizing.“

“We felt so welcomed here — it truly felt like home! The staff were incredibly friendly and went above and beyond to make us comfortable. They even made me a Vietnamese coffee with dairy-free condensed milk, something I’ve never had before, and it was amazing. We also loved how they took the time to chat with us and recommend other spots nearby with dishes similar to what we enjoy in Vancouver. Such a thoughtful and authentic experience — we’ll definitely be back!“

“Wonderful place. I am there 3 times or more a week!!! Awesome Staff and Owners. Support Local!! Their outdoor clothing and accessories store is also awesome“

“Order the Tigerz Woodz!! I repeat, ORDER THE TIGERZ WOODZ!!!! The most incredible Arnold Palmer you’ll ever have in your life. My dad has been ordering nothing but Arnie palmers when he goes out for the past 20+ years and he claimed this is the best one he’s ever had. The mango pie drink was also absolutely exquisite ?“

“A small but fun cafe that makes for a cool gathering spot for friends or colleagues. A wide variety of gourmet coffees and teas. A nice selection of tasty homemade snacks and treats are available. Many healthy choice options. Our beverages were served warm, but not piping hot. We were a large party and ordered many drinks. Service is at the counter, fast and friendly.“

“Lavender Bloom tea is so good as are the Cappuccinos“

“This my favorite place to go to“

“Fantastic place. I was on a long road trip with my dog and really needed to get some work done, which required wi-fi. I couldn't find a single place that was dog friendly (indoors on a 90+ degree day) and also had Wi-Fi to get my work done. But Foster Street coffee came to the rescue. They are dog friendly inside, have Wi-Fi, have comfortable tables to sit at, really friendly baristas who made me feel welcome, and one of the most delicious flavored iced teas I have ever had. Will definitely return if I come through the Durham area again. Thanks Foster Street!“

“Great low sugar coffee ever.“

“I’ve been consistently coming to this cafe since my sophomore year, and highly recommend the place to anyone who wants a caffeine boost around campus.

My personal favorite drinks are either Thai Iced Tea or Iced Vietnamese Coffee. Both cost around $5.

In addition to coffee, there is a lot of food sold, ranging from a chicken caesar salad to red velvet cake squares. The food rotates throughout the semester.

Scott runs the place and he is a fun person to talk to. He is energetic and is clearly passionate about running this cafe.

Vegetarian options: Beyond the usual salads, there are vegan pastries sold seasonally.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free food is sold here, but the menu varies by semester.

Wheelchair accessibility: The Wilkinson Building is wheelchair accessible.“

“What a Durham Treasure! Beautiful projects and Toni and her team are so patient. Do yourself a favor and go visit. It’s really a treat!“

“This place is wow. Amazing beautiful deserts. Always fresh. Paninis! Unusual for NC as well, great selection. And the custom croissant sandwich I had today with egg, ham, tomatoe and lettuce was warm and heavenly. Also love the pictures on the walls.“

“AMAZING FOOD!!!! My family loved it there and it’s also so beautiful!! Highly recommend“

“This Whole Foods Market near Duke University has lots of vegetarian choices in the restaurant. The hot bar is big and there are salads as well as dessert choices. They have good vegan cookies for dessert, which is a treat. The only negative was that some of the cashiers at this store are, occasionally, less than friendly and helpful . In addition, there is usually an armed guard on duty (typically an off-duty police officer), which is something you don't see at most other Whole Foods Markets around the country.“

“Really enjoyed the experience! Thank you for the excellent service. 🙂“

“I got a ice pop and half a brownie and my family got each a coffee everything was delicious I would definitely recommend this here are my family's thoughts Dude. It’s a Starbucks. They just don’t let you down. You may encounter self-absorbed customers who mar you experience, but Starbucks is good at mediating even that. Use their phone app and cut the people frustrations. I always go out of my way to go to Starbucks they always have a consistent cuppa coffee it's hot on point and the staff is always very courteous the added bonus is now I have the Starbucks app so I can have my coffee waiting for me when I walk in thank you Staff are always wonderful and friendly~ Peppermint Mocha is amazing~ Great coffee and a fast drive thru Stuff is close and convienunt Didn't have to travel very far to grocery store or for fast food also walgreens auto part stores This Starbucks location is converted Schlottzky's Deli, and it has quite a bit of room. Of course, it's also popular, so despite its size, you may not find the exact chair you want at any given time.It is a great place to meet someone, have a coffee, and do a bit of networking. The location is convenient, and the service is what you'd expect from Starbucks. Such great staff working here. I met with my classmates to go over a presentation and we stayed for hours until they closed and they gave us each (6) cakes because we were studying and working so long. Super nice of them! the starbucks is close by the hotel. within walking distance and a safe commute. nice environment and plenty of coffee“

“Javon was extremely great at his job today I went to get a coffee. And he showed nothing but kindness to everyone he talked to and knows how to make a great conversation. Would come back just because he is a great person to get your coffee from!“

“Overall this Starbucks is fine, but improvements could be added.-Five star great quality costumer service.-Quick workers-Workers strive to make going to this Starbucks a good experience-Adds too much ice to the drink, when asked for light ice-Long lines due to being understaffedOverall this place has some cons, but overall decent.

Kid-friendliness: Workers seem to be kind to children

Parking: Limited parking

Wheelchair accessibility: There is no stairs in this location“

“The apple fritters are HUGE and soooo good. All the other flavors I've had are also very good and always fresh.“

“Great service and coffee. Would definitely recommend it anyone!!!“

“Lo mejor de lo mejor , buen servicio , excelente limpieza , la comida exquisita ?.“

“Lovely place to drink Kava. The mojito is perfection.“

“One of the nicest coffee shops in the Columbus area. Well appointed decor and furnishings, great customer service, delicious coffee and those insanely tasty biscuits!“

“Fresh everything! Great sandwiches, salads, ambiance, & service. Highly recommend this Durham gem!“