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I agree with the recs for Third Place (Raleigh) and Driade (Chapel Hill). Padgett Station in Carrboro is a great place. Also recommend Pheasant Creek off of 55 in Apex.
I'd add the Bean & Barrell across from Governor's Club in North Chatham county, and the Caribou Coffee at the corner of Estes and Franklin Streets in Chapel Hill. And a second vote for the Open Eye in Carrboro -- a great place!
Three Cups in Chapel Hill. (west village courtyard, just off Franklin St) They really want their customers lingering--they don't have an espresso machine, and they don't really like offering coffee to go. Their focus is on perfectly prepared french press coffees--you choose the bean and they grind to order. No comfy armchairs, but a comfortable room with eclectic artwork and brick walls. And good (expensive) sandwiches next door at Sandwhich. and a Locopops, too. I don't think they're open on Sunday, but you could spend a nice Saturday morning/afternoon here.
Me, I like the places where, if you go often enough, you will see many of the same people and become a "regular" yourself. I also like really good coffee. I live downtown, so the places where I go to are Third Place...great owners, great place, the crowd changes with the time of day..that is it is a real mix of young and old, kids, professionals, artists, etc. most of the day, then something of a younger crowd at night. There food is great, which is a bonus. My favorites are the bean burger and the cheese and tomato...plus any soup. Lilly's Pizza is right next door, so during lunch and at night it can be quite a scene sitting outside.
My regular stop these days is Cup a Joe on Hillsborough, although I know some people who are regulars at the Mission Valley location. Lots of NCSU profs at the HB location in the morning with their regular table. Pretty steady crowd all day. I don't smoke, so I avoid the smoking room (what is it with the clove cigarettes anyway? I thought they made your lungs bleed or something. Yes, the crowd can be "different" here, but there are also a lot of "regular" people like me...I even take my kids there for killer hot chocolate on cold days. To me, the have the best coffee around, but the only downside is their food is really so-so, what there is of it. I stay safe with a bagel there.
I also like Helio's and love their middle eastern food. Always a crowd. My only complaint there is that there are often so many people there "working" on their laptops that there are no tables left for you to sit down and eat/drink. Plus, sometimes there are so many people sitting alone with computers and headphones that if you go in there and want to have a conversation or, god forbid, take your kids in there, everyone looks at you like you have disturbed their work area.
But on a nice day, Helios is a great place to sit outside, plus they open up the big doors and the outside comes inside.
I also like Crema on Fayetteville STreet downtown, not so much for the crowd, but the coffee. I think they have some of the best coffee in town.
And I will throw out one more place. Heraghty's Heavenly Delicious in the Glenwood Village S.C. on Glenwood just inside the Beltline. It is a French pastissiere. They have wonderful coffee, incredible French pastry, great paninis, etc. and soup for lunch. Has a busy crowd in the mornings, with a very real estate oriented crowd, oddly, but great staff. It is nice to sit outside here too. Plus, you can grab an beautiful dessert or cake to take home!
I agree with the recs for Third Place (Raleigh) and Driade (Chapel Hill). Padgett Station in Carrboro is a great place. Also recommend Pheasant Creek off of 55 in Apex.
Padgett Station has a new owner but I understand they aren't planning on making many changes.
New World Coffee House (Glenwood & Pleasant Valley) is my favorite and they have some of the best homemade sandwiches and soups..great feel and comfy place to hang out...
New World Coffee House (Glenwood & Pleasant Valley) is my favorite and they have some of the best homemade sandwiches and soups..great feel and comfy place to hang out...
Well I hang out at Starbucks on Peace St near Glenwood South. Nice chairs and the staff are super nice; always friendly and I see the same customer on a daily basis. I try to avoid around noon though. Always business meetings going on so there is no one to talk to other than the staff.
Fridays and Saturday they have live bands if you just want to hang out and listen to some good ole music while you have your coffee.
Great thread! Thanks for making it and the contrbutions.
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