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    Iris Coffee Lab

    4.4 (160 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Iris Coffee Lab Photos

    IRIS COFFEE LAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Iris Coffee Lab

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    Neyda V.

    Stopped by for the first time today and really enjoyed this coffee shop! The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, answered all of our questions, and gave great recommendations. The menu is unique, with drinks you don't see at most coffee shops. The space is comfortable with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I had a cherry latte that was absolutely delicious, and my husband had a cortado made with today's blend--it was complex, earthy, and excellent. We didn't try the food, but everything coming out looked great. A couple of small downsides: parking can be a bit tricky, although we found free street parking just down the block. There were also quite a few flies inside during our visit, so I hope that's something they can address. Overall, a great experience, and we'll definitely be back!

    Interior
    Alex A.

    Stopped by Iris Coffee Lab for a cup of coffee over the weekend. When you arrive parking can be a bit difficult in this area, but there is parking available on the street. The coffee shop is located in the Glenwood south area and feels very modern when you walk in. To order you'll walk to the counter and place your order. I selected from their seasonal drinks and opted for the iced summer crumble latte. I ordered the summer crumble latte (espresso, milk of choice, blueberry, house made oat crumble distillation, subtle lemon coconut infusion, oat tincture, lemon rind garnish) which was excellent and tasted like a bowl of cereal milk. I noticed several people ordering matcha which also may be excellent and something I'll have to try next time. If you are in the Glenwood South area and are looking for a good coffee shop, definitely check out Iris Coffee Lab.

    Cortado
    Deidre T.

    Always enjoy a new to us coffee shop when traveling. Iris is a great little place. Interior is mostly white which provides great light even on a rainy day. They have outside seating on the sidewalk as well which makes it fun to people watch. You have to come down stairs to enter, which was not a problem for us, but made me wonder about those who might have trouble. Is there another entrance? The service was great. Super friendly and quick. Had the cortado as it is my go to drink when trying a new spot. The beans are more on the fruity side .... I prefer chocolate or vanilla note beans. But it was lovely and hit the spot. Served in a glass which I love!

    Kiara I.

    Iris Coffee Lab is where you bring the friend who can tell you the origin of a bean after one sip, who gets excited about extraction methods and tasting notes, and who genuinely believes coffee deserves the same reverence as a fine bottle of wine. Iris isn't trying to be trendy: it is unapologetically devoted to the craft. The interior reflects that philosophy. A restrained palette of white, charcoal, and soft gray keeps distractions to a minimum, allowing every cup to remain the focal point. It's clean, modern, and intentionally understated. If you're someone who typically reaches for cream and sugar, I'd encourage you to order at least one cup black. Iris sources and roasts exceptional coffee, and tasting it without distractions is the best way to appreciate the nuance and balance that have earned the café such a devoted following. That said, the seasonal menu is every bit as thoughtful. On this visit, I ordered the Mango Sticky Rice Matcha Latte, a drink layered with tropical sweetness, creamy matcha, and just enough complexity to keep each sip interesting. The final few sips, where all of the flavors settled together, were unexpectedly my favorite part. My brother-in-law chose Iris's signature blueberry-forward latte, while my niece ordered the house-made chai. Before she'd even finished half the cup, she looked up and declared, "This is the best chai I've ever had." Her father, after trying it himself, agreed without hesitation. The breakfast menu compliments the beverage program well, offering thoughtfully prepared dishes that feel every bit as intentional as the drinks. Like many destination coffee shops, Iris tends to attract people who settle in for a while. Laptops are open across nearly every table, conversations are minimal, and the room has the focused energy of a shared studio rather than a bustling café. Because of the open design, voices travel easily, making it a better place for quiet work than lively catch-ups. The café is meticulously maintained, including spotless restrooms that reflect the same attention to detail found throughout the space. Parking can require a bit of patience, though I've almost always managed to find a spot without too much trouble. Iris Coffee Lab isn't trying to appeal to everyone, and that's exactly what makes it special. It's a café for people who care about coffee, how it's sourced, brewed, and experienced. In a city with no shortage of coffee shops, Iris has carved out a distinct identity by putting craftsmanship ahead of trends, creating a destination that's as much about curiosity as it is about caffeine.

    Banana pudding matcha
    Andrea A.

    I really wanted to like Iris especially considering their partnership with Frame Matcha, but I had a pretty lackluster experience here unfortunately... Got the seasonal Banana Pudding Matcha, which tasted more like banana milk with a hint of matcha. Also felt like the drink was very powdery? Service was fast and friendly. Ambiance is nice- minimalistic feel, open space, lots of natural light. Good amount of seating, but it filled up quickly. There's free 2 hour street parking. 6.5/10 maybe recommend, I'd need to give this spot another try to be sure.

    Golden Spring Latte
    Camilla M.

    The vibes were so cute and the staff was extremely friendly. I tried their spring menu latte and it was really not great. Maybe other items on their menu are better. I love trying new coffee shops and saw great reviews online, but I was not a fan, personally.

    Lily F.

    Incredible coffee, and I loved the aesthetic! I got the strawberry creme latte (hot version), and it was fantastic! My partner got the iced version--which was somehow even better than the warm version. I don't like my coffee drinks too sweet, and they struck exactly the right balance. It tasted like there was real strawberry (and not just a super-sweet syrup). Unlike many coffee shops, they gave us a number to bring to our table, so we didn't need to stand around and wait for our coffee to be ready. Instead, they brought it to our table for us. This was such a nice touch! There's a good amount of seating inside, but we sat outside since it was such a nice day. Can't wait to go back & try an iced americano or drip coffee to try out some of their different roasts.

    Shirley Z.

    A lovely lovely place to grab a matcha and chat with a friend. Their specialty drinks were sooo yummy and service was fairly quick considering how busy it was when I went. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place to get a lot of work done, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to cafe work spots. Overall I would come here again to try another specialty drink and have a chat!

    Matcha yuzu yogurt bowl
    Jennie N.

    their drinks are truly one of the best in Raleigh! They curate their menus with a lot of care and you can taste it in the quality of their drinks. Their food def needs some work/adjusting. I got the matcha yuzu yogurt bowl today.. i really wanted to like it! But the taste of matcha was barely there, cantaloupe were not fresh/ripe and were too big of chunks to chew, and the yuzu was too overpowering/sweet. Darn! I'm still hopeful about their food though, i feel like it can improve overtime. Especially with how well they do their drinks. They decorated very minimally with touches of earthy tones in the light wood furniture and plants. Nothing special! A good amount of seating but they do get busy during peak hours!

    Jasmine mini matcha and candied ginger matcha
    Evangelina W.

    Iris Coffee Lab is definitely a place I'd recommend to chat with your friend in the afternoon. The shop had a nice amount of light and was bustling with customers on a Saturday afternoon. There were still seats that would open up and I was able to enjoy my matcha and hangout for 2 hours. The menu is what makes Iris stand out to me as innovative and exciting. There are so many cool and different drinks to try especially with a seasonal menu. I ordered the Jasmine mini matcha because it had all of my favorite things but I was disappointed in the ratio of cream to matcha. It was almost too much cream and I wasn't sure why it was designed that way but it was truly "mini". I think next time I'd definitely want a larger drink. I also tried the candied ginger matcha and really enjoyed that. Would definitely go again to try more drinks!

    Cherry marzipan latte
    Emily B.

    Of course I had to try this place based on the reviews. Woah! Cherry-marzipan latte. A must order. So delish. Loved the almondy flavor. So many fun drink flavors and options!

    Matcha
    Hayley P.

    Another Raleigh favorite that I just can't seem to stay away from. On my most recent visit, I came to try their matcha since I have heard such good things about it. I had their mini matcha, which I believe was the Jasmin Mini Matcha, and then their featured Valentine's Day Matcha, Strawberry Matcha Supreme. And wow, the reviews weren't kidding. This matcha was amazing. Just the perfect amount of matcha earthiness matched with the sweetness. Also, they do such an amazing job with the presentation. Iris continues to be one of my favorite breakfast, coffee, and now matcha spots in Raleigh.

    Mango sticky rice matcha
    Yolanda Y.

    Wow! A new favorite Raleigh coffee shop! Their matcha is amazing--I tried the mango sticky rice matcha with some skepticism, but it completely blew me away. The balance of mango flavor, earthy matcha, and the sweetness of sticky rice was perfect. The food options are also great and reasonably priced for the portion sizes. I'm not the biggest fan of the sidewalk seating since it can get noisy with traffic, but the space still has a very cute vibe, especially with summer flowers blooming all around. Inside has bright space with great working spaces. The service was fast and friendly - they can get busy though. There's plenty of street parking available, plus a garage nearby. I'll definitely be coming back often for both their food and drinks!

    Coconut Air

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    The seating isn't the most comfortable, but I love their coffee and vibe. The staff are always super nice too!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Iris Coffee Lab

    Boulted Bread

    Boulted Bread

    4.7(439 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Despite living in Raleigh for over a decade, I just visited Boulted Bread for the first time last…read moreweek. If you live in Raleigh, you've heard people rave about Boulted Bread - from their titular bread to their morning bun to their croissants, they have everything a carb connoisseur could desire. I visited with a friend on a Tuesday morning (they currently are not open on Mondays) and it was busy. I ordered their seasonal fig leaf latte, the morning bun, chocolate croissant, and a tartine that was kind of like a pizza on a piece of bread. The latte was delicious - it has brown sugar in it, which was perfect as the iced version. The morning bun was delightful - probably my second favorite morning bun/cinnamon roll in Raleigh. The chocolate croissant was filled with chocolate ganache - which I was not expecting - it was messy but also very good. Lastly, the tarine, which like I mentioned, was kind of like a pizza on a piece of toast - it had cheese tomato sauce - simple and savory and tasty. Overall, I felt Boulted Bread lives up to the hype. A Raleigh classic that is a perfect stop for a morning treat.

    Delicious as always. The morning bun stays being the best! Went around 2pm which made the seating…read moreeasier. If you go in the morning you usually can't get a table/seat. My tip is to walk over to the Platform apartments and sit in the common areas under there. The biale was a little hard, maybe because it was early afternoon. But morning bun was good. They had sold out a fair amount of the pastries by 2, but still had lots of morning buns. The light in the building is very nice. Good place to get a treat!

    Photos
    Boulted Bread - Bialy and croissant

    Bialy and croissant

    Boulted Bread - Morning Bun

    Morning Bun

    Boulted Bread - Cappuccino and morning buns, perfect combo.

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    Cappuccino and morning buns, perfect combo.

    Bittersweet - Bubbles and cupcake special

    Bittersweet

    4.4(484 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    What a fabulous dessert shop! Perfect place to grab an after dinner cocktail and dessert and…read moreconveniently located near St Roch Oyster Bar which is where we had dinner. Service was top notch with friendly folks greeting you the moment you enter the doors. Our bartender was so sweet and so welcoming. Had me a $10 Paloma cocktail that was just right and went to town on dessert. Everything was just delicious. Fresh made whip cream, perfectly balanced sweetness with the desserts and cute atmosphere. Loved my first time here and it won't be my last!

    Bittersweet has amazing desserts and drinks. I've been several times and each time I enjoy what…read moreI've had. A solid go-to is their s'mores sundae which is sooo good! The chocolate brownie is thick and rich, but not too sweet, and the marshmallow cream is divine, especially with the ice cream. A lot of their drinks and gin based, which I'm not the biggest fan of, but I always find something I can enjoy. The service is great and relatively quick, and everyone I've met there is kind and willing to help. The inside is a bit small, so smaller crowds are better and it does tend to get crowded later in the evening and on weekends. The outside street sitting area is nice too and hopefully will be fully fixed soon. Overall a great places to stop for drinks and desserts after a nice meal! And the menu rotates seasonally so you'll always have the chance to try something new!

    Photos
    Bittersweet - Chai espresso martini

    Chai espresso martini

    Bittersweet - Derby Pie and Gin n Tonic

    Derby Pie and Gin n Tonic

    Bittersweet - Pecan pie

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    Pecan pie

    Iris Coffee Lab - coffee - Updated August 2026

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