Coffee Shop No. 491 Fred and Larry's Coffee…read moreBanner Elk, NC April 7, 2025 This is my second time visiting Fred and Larry's Coffee Shop in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The first time was September 13, 2021; the ending stages of COVID so customers were not allowed in the shop. I ended up drinking coffee outside with three local gentlemen; one of the them was Larry. He is an owner and a Marine Veteran. We had some good laughs and I learned a lot about Banner Elk and the surrounding area. After visiting Fred and Larry's Coffee the first time, I realized I wanted to make exploring local coffee shops a part of my life; and here I am almost 500 coffee shops later. On my second trip I enjoyed a cortado while relaxing on Fred and Larry's big comfy leather couch. The barista was super friendly. She is definitely an incredible asset to the shop. Thank you Fred and Larry for making delicious coffee and providing a relaxing setting to meet new people and dream up new adventures in life. Enjoying life one cortado at a time!

This little coffee shop is a must if you are visiting Banner Elk!…read moreI don't usually drink coffee but my husband has to have it. They make something for everyone with homemade treats as well. There may be a line - but it's worth the wait!

Central Perky! Very nice customer service. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. The…read moreatmosphere very inviting and quiet. Makes a great place for App Students to come study. I ordered a latte with vanilla. Very distinct flavor coffee bean was served. As a lover of strong coffee this hit the spot as a real eye opener. Highly recommend if you're in the area

I found this place to just be -meh- I didn't need up drinking even 1/3 of if the creme brûlée iced…read morecoffee. I just didn't enjoy the taste of the espresso and struggled to find the flavors described in the drink. We were out of town on vacation up from Florida and stopped here on the way to a park we were visiting. There was only one person making the coffee and it took forever for her to finish the customer in front of us and then to make ours. I think we waited nearly 30 minutes which is obscene. Husband liked his coffee though. I would never suggest going back here but it may be for you.

Bagels with lox & cream cheese - and the bagel was perfect - chewy crust & all. Super pleasant…read morestaff and excellent coffee.

The grill cheese is my go to. It's fabulous. The bread is crispy and the cheese is gooey and…read moredelicious.

I had a fantastic visit to Espresso News in Boone -- a classic mountain-town coffee shop with real…read morepersonality and seriously good drinks. At the recommendation of one of the knowledgeable baristas, I ordered the maple cardamom latte, and it absolutely delivered. The maple brought a warm, natural sweetness, while the cardamom added a subtle aromatic spice that made the whole drink feel layered and intentional. It was comforting without being heavy. That paired perfectly with a cinnamon orange white chocolate scone -- bright citrus notes, gentle spice, and just enough sweetness from the white chocolate to tie it all together. The flavors played off the latte beautifully. I finished with an amaretto latte, which was strong on the nose with that classic almond aroma, yet surprisingly smooth and easy on the palate. Bold but balanced -- a great way to end the visit. Great coffee, thoughtful flavor combinations, and baristas who know their craft. Espresso News is absolutely worth a stop when you're in Boone.

Cortafo was strong and sweet like my wife. Espresso beans were good too! Local roasting is the way…read moreto go

If there were 25 stars, I'd give that! Ambiance was darling! To say the food was delicious would be…read moreway too understated! I've never had a bigger more perfect biscuit. Everything made in house. Summer came to our table to ask about how things were and she was as delightful as the food. She told us how they had helped feed people that had lost so much in the hurricane, . Above and beyond. We went back the next day it was so good, and she remembered our names!! We'll be back! Dan, Darlene, Rich and Karen

Pictures and location looked promising for Saturday brunch but unfortunately we left feeling…read moreunimpressed. Biscuits were super dry and eggs were tasteless, the cheddar grits were the star of the meal and were very good and cheesy. I'm used to Orlando prices so thought the prices here were reasonable, but noticed they charged for ketchup which I can't recall ever seeing before. Vibe inside is cozy and the decor is nice, we like the different salt and pepper shakers + the books they used to being receipts.Server and host were but we kinda got ignored after ordering. My girlfriend's food came out wrong and when she mentioned it to the food runner he just asked her "are you sure?" Multiple times which was honestly rude. Ultimately I would skip next time I'm in Boone

Great fresh made doughnuts. Quick, friendly. A few outdoor tables. Open 8-12 seasonally (may…read morethrough oct). Closest thing I've had to a beignet in years.

Oh my gooodnessssss!! My family and I are cookie fanatics and we have tried cookies from all over-…read moreand these cookies might be the very best I've ever had! They have a nice variety of flavors and they are baked fresh to order. The store is very a aesthetically pleasing. The decor and ambiance are beautiful. Service was also very friendly and helpful. The girl helped explain the different options and was patient while we debated all the amazing choices! I was unable to take any pictures of our cookies because my family and I devoured them the second the box hit the table! Hahaha. The cookies take about 15 minutes to be ready, so just be prepared to wait. Trust me, it's worth the wait!!

There are a lot of large cookie type shops out there and they always get it very very wrong…read more Appalachia is the exception. Brought my family in and we got 8 cookies to share over a weekend. The cheesecake cookie may be one of my favorite things ever, chewy and spiced perfectly, their ferrero rocher one has deep chocolate flavor. Family loved the chocolate chip, sugar and animal cracker flavor. Highly recommend. When we were in our way out of Boone heading back home we stopped and grabbed another 6. I also should add that ordering ahead will save you about 20 mins.

Tucked behind the Mast General Store and in front of Valle Crucis Community Park, this ice cream…read morestand is a perfect spot for a sweet treat by the creek after shopping at Mast or playing at the park. Service is fast and friendly, prices incredibly cheap, and portions hearty. They are a small stand, and so have a limited selection of Blue Bell flavors, but always something's to enjoy.

It wasn't that busy when we arrived. There is a covered sitting area with a couple picnic tables…read more There's also a small creek right next to it and some nice shaded area behind the building for additional sitting options. I tried the Cookie 2 Step ice cream which was cookies and cream with cookie dough. The cookie dough made this ice cream delicious! My youngest tried the Peachy Peach and it was definitely peachy. It had big chunks of peaches I would definitely come here again for ice cream.