49 Best Coffee Shops in Durham

“The cereal milk latte is life-changing! Everlou is super cute and is run by the best people. We love it and will be back every time we’re in Durham.“

“What a lovely surprise. Was clean, upbeat, a reasonable walk from the Amtrak train station, and had great food. Was even open on a Monday when we were taking a train out of town. There is a nice outdoor seating area. They had gluten sensitive options available including gluten free bread. We had a Thai iced tea to go (great for the train). But I can’t wait to try their independent coffee shop options the next time I am in town.“

“Finally, a local coffee shop in North Durham! Try the Mabel latte with burnt honey and lavender as it was awesome. I will definitely be back and support this young family who owns it. Omie’s is going to be a success for years to come!“

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

“Fun atmosphere and excellent drinks.“

“So adorable and clean and quiet with great wifi! Only a little tough to find because it’s still has RedStart Foods on the front entrance at the moment. Will return….oh excellent drip coffee and heirloom tomato, grilled eggplant, pea shoot, and herbs toast (photo below)!“

“Best ice cream in the area! Tons of options! We love this place and the customer service is outstanding!“

“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!“

“Everything! Love their chai latte.“

“The best. Just the best. Try it!!“

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

“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!“

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

“Best doughnuts I've had in all of NC.“

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

“The Brunch food and surroundings were really lovely. But the service was much to be desired. We asked for more time to look at the menu, and then struggled to get anyone's attention for a good 10 minutes. It's really loud at brunch, which didn't bother us. But it's something to keep in mind if you are hard of hearing or you prefer a quieter brunch place. Most likely we won't be back.“

“We had such a wonderful experience at Anissa’s Spot! I brought in my three wild children. They ate all of their food and we all felt so welcome! Miracles happen here. This is a place worth visiting over and over again.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Truly European breads and sweets“

“This is Subway also. Where 8s can you get Subway Krispy Kreme and Ice cream at the same placeFeatures: Not sure but place was clean

Kid-friendliness: Def Kid friendly

Parking: Good amount of parking

Dietary restrictions: Subway has your options“

“coffee early morning & during lunch ,& after work ,& maybe a sandwich or Apple turnover ,yummy and calm down.“

“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 ?“

“Oh my god it is AMAZING! I got the sweet potato and oat milk lattee made with actual sweet potatoes and it is the best coffee drink I’ve ever had! Not too sweet. The croissants are amazing and they have fresh pumpkin rolls the size of actual pumpkins. The rosemary sweet potato scones looked good too!“

“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.“

“Five stars all the way you can never go home at Starbucks unless you get someone who doesn't know what the hell they're doing

Vegetarian options: A pastry

Kid-friendliness: Kids are everywhere

Parking: Parking there was a huge parking lot because this is located inside a Target“

“Awesome space, very comfortable chairs and ample space. Quiet except for music which I wished would be more moderate. Latte very affordable $4.50 for a small and it is a generous size. Asked for little foam but still got a lot of foam. Maybe next time. Coffee is very good.“

“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!“

“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“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

“Great Coffee ! We had the Pumpkin Spice Latte and those where really good, not so sweet like other Places. Outdoor seating a big plus“

“Ashley made my experience here very positive. She was incredibly friendly and worked really hard to get me my order even with her being the only one working at the store. She really made my experience positive and I will definitely be back to buy a drink again soon.“

“I know this is a chain, so not exactly an indie pick, but...I think these are the best donuts I've ever had. They have so many flavors to choose from beyond standard glazed, chocolate, strawberry, etc. and they're always fresh because they're literally made to order, so no risk of stale donuts here. They also have a cake-like texture to them as well, which is my personal preference. Try to avoid Dunkin next time and come here instead ;)“

“This is the kind of place where you can park your Subaru, listen to the barista tell you about bean origins and matcha sourcing, eavesdrop while based old people trash Donald Trump, and sip on the best iced mocha $6.50 plus tip can buy. And I wouldn’t have it any other way “

“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“

“This my favorite place to go to“

“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!“

“The drink I ordered was absolutely delicious. The people there were super kind. The chairs are very low, so get your knees ready. Also a divider/barrier between the food and counter would be nice to see as someone who doesn't like people talking and breathing over their food. But overall, sweet spot and I'll be back.“

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

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

“Ever dreamed of a Starbucks where you'd never have to awkwardly hover over someone camping out with their laptop, silently willing them to pack up? Well, Durham's 9th Street location has solved that problem by boldly eliminating seating altogether. (Though I suppose if you're really committed, nobody's explicitly banned bringing your own throne.)

This sleek minimalist outpost at 706 9th Street has mastered the art of the grab-and-go, featuring an interior that's less "live, laugh, love" and more "order, grab, vamoose." The wood-slat walls and efficient counter setup suggest this isn't your grandmother's coffee shop - unless your grandmother was really into Japanese modernism and app-based ordering.

The real genius here is in what's missing: No territorial laptop warriors. No awkward first dates. No amateur novelists working on their manifestos. Just beautiful, streamlined coffee acquisition.

Hours for your caffeinated convenience:
Monday-Thursday: 5:30 AM - 6:30 PM (For early birds and their enablers)
Friday: 5:30 AM - 7:00 PM (That extra half hour is for weekend pre-gaming)
Weekends: 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Because even baristas deserve to sleep in)

Location: 706 9th St, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (984) 842-3029 (Though if you're calling to reserve a non-existent table, save yourself the trouble)

Pro tip: Download the app, order ahead, and strut in like you own the place. Which, technically, you could - there's plenty of standing room for a power pose while you wait for your oat milk whatever.

P.S. If you do decide to test the BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) policy, please send photos. For research purposes, of course.“

“Many thanks to Aaron, Mary Claire, and everyone else Alimentari At Mothers And Sons. When Covid forced us to cancel our wedding (we had planned our reception at M&S), the team went above and beyond to help prepare a take home meal for us to celebrate our small ceremony this past weekend. We arrived to pick up our dinner only to be SHOWERED with amazing food and wine. Many thanks for helping to make it such a special day!“