Went here in 4 separate occasions. The service is good!! The place inside isn't as clean and tidy which is a bummer but we always stay outside so not a problem. Their gelato is AMAZING though!!! read more

I met a new friend here on a Sunday afternoon, just before a torrential rainstorm. Fortunately, my planning to both bring an umbrella and stake out a table indoors won out over their desire to sit at a table outside. I got their Italian Salami panini and they got a coffee beverage. We sat and talked for a few hours, watching the wind and rain beat against the windows. Drenched walkers came in and left, and eventually they had to leave as well. I stayed and got a gelato and a cortado. Both were excellent. The sandwich was ok, but a little underwhelming for $16. The WiFi was great, and the AC blasted like crazy. It was a little much for late spring, but better than sitting in the monsoon. I recommend it, but it's a little too precious for me. (It is in Southern Village, which is a manufactured community for folks who don't really want to live in an old small town, but prefer to have it look like it's. It's kinda like a movie set of Mayberry, not the real thing.) The ladies working behind the counter were patient and pleasant, and extremely courteous. They even brought my sandwich out since it took ten minutes to make it. read more

La Vita Dolce - Open entry area - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

We were in a pinch and looking for a gelato after dinner and this was the only place open in tbe area. We got here about an hour before closing and were a but disappointed to see most if not all og their bins empty. We got what we could from the limited options and enjoyed the gelato. We sat in the store for the next hour chatting and it was very comfortablez the flavors were on point too. Just wish they had more options late on a sunday night. read more

See all

This place is so cute. I love the little shopping center it's nestled in. They have plenty of outdoor and indoor seating options. I've had a few different options of their teas, coffees, baked goods, and gelatos and everything is always good. The staff is also always friendly and the store is clean. The barista Ava was delightful this morning! read more

See all

We were in the shopping center, and looking for a place to hang out and have a snack. The barista's were very friendly. The place was very busy due to an event. We decided to try a chocolate chip cookie and an iced rose latte. The cookie was very good and they served it warm. My latte was tasty and I appreciated that they used fresh roast petals instead of roast syrup. It was not too floral and the right amount of sweetness. I would recommend the coffee shop. read more

La Vita Dolce - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

Only giving 4 stars due to the gelato being quite overpriced. But other than that, I had the coffee flavor and it was super delicious, zero complaints. They do give you samples like most other ice cream places so you can try what you like before settling on a flavor. The girl at the counter was nice and happy to give recommendations. It was a Saturday so it was pretty busy but definitely didn't seem hectic at all, and the area was kept fairly clean. So overall, it was a good experience. read more

See all

Went after eating at the nearby grill and was 40 minutes before closing. It has a nice outdoor area, and some indoor space too. It looked pretty clean and menus well visible. It's pretty expensive for the gelato. The smallest cup was 4.50 after tax it probably closer to five dollars. They give you tiny half teaspoons to make it seem like it's a more than it is or slow you down eating (I know this is average for high society gelato but imo it's nonsense). ‍ I got the strawberry and the mango gelato. Both were really good but the mango was more a sorbet and very refreshing, definitely would get it again. I'll have to come back to try the coffee. They had a very interesting pistachio chai latte that piqued my interest. read more

La Vita Dolce - Outdoor seating - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

The Espresso Milkshake brought this boy to the yard! The best ever! I had it made with Gingerbread gelato. I'm now addicted. I'm already seeking a rehab and I know I'll relapse. But seriously, great place and service. Ambiance impeccable! read more

Always amazing coffee. Great atmosphere good service just a fun place to be. I highly recommend.

Got lavender two shots espresso over ice Amazing super gas Service nice fast Not busy the plaza nice Different than Florida the vibe music not too loud plaza next to apartments read more

See all

The ice cream is amazing love this place great place in the summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw the workers scrambling to catch apparently a cockroach that was behind the counter. The coffee was fine but I just cannot forget about the potential bug problem. read more

Cute spot for some coffee and gelato. My girlfriend and I went here to grab quick sweet treat and we opted for 2 flavors for our gelato, lemon sherbet and mint chocolate chip. The mint was delicious and not too sweet at all! The lemon sherbet here is a tad bit too sour so I wouldn't recommend this flavor. I do say it is a bit pricy for how small it is. read more

This is a cute local coffee shop to check out. There were fun seasonal beverage offerings which I always adore. I got a pistachio chai latte which was a bit weak on the chai flavor but was definitely a treat. My friend got a lavender cold foam? Iced coffee seasonal drink and she also enjoyed how not too sweet and flavorful it was. The baristas were polite and fairly quick with it so no complaints there! The place could use more savory breakfast sandwich/pastry offerings but was a lovely place to visit with a friend on a lazy Sunday. read more

La Vita Dolce - Pistachio chai latte - seasonal offering ! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I've been here multiple times and have consistently enjoyed my orders! Their coffee is wonderful and the gelato is amazing. I also like the Italian soda and love how they allow you to choose multiple syrup flavors. The staff are very accommodating in helping with trying new things and I love how clean it is! The decor is beautiful and it is very bright and peaceful! read more

We've been here many times. The gelato is always good with many unique flavors that are different every time. A quick tip is that they sell their half pints and pints of gelato for about 1/2 the price which is a great deal for such a delicious treat. The coffee is also good for the morning goer. read more

Stopped in for something warm to drink and decided to try the Cuban latte. I was hoping this was similar to cafe leche I would often get while living in South Florida at many Cuban restaurants over the years I lived down there. This latte did not disappoint, in fact it was just as good if not better. They added sweetened condensed milk which topped it off. The price rivals Starbucks lattes and it was worth the price. The foam was perfect and good to the last drop! I also tried the gingerbread which I loved. It was definitely full of ginger and it was delicious. They have a variety of treats at this place and it was busy. read more

Visited on a Tuesday morning; very busy. Only two employees working, which wasn't enough. One employee was extremely apologetic, very personable, polite, & attentive. However, the other portrayed that he or she was having the worst day ever. The summer drink specials were fun. I have the lavender coconut cream iced latte: highly recommend. The ambiance is okay: the seating situation could be better thought through. You feel like you're in other peoples' face. read more

This place has been in southern village for a long times. The gelatos from here are really delicious. There's a lot of flavors too. The service is here good. People are friendly. I like the music they play here. Some people come here to study and some come here to chill. you often see very cute kids here after their tumbling classes. The price isn't too expensive about $3.50 per cup. Cleanliness: 9/10. read more

La Vita Dolce - Cashier section - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

La Vita Dolce has great coffee and a wonderful atmosphere. However, the best thing about La Vita Dolce is its friendly and wonderful baristas. I always try to find a nice local spot wherever we live and, for Carrboro, La Vita Dolce was it. They were like an extended family to me. We're moving out of state now and, regrettably, today was my last morning coffee run (though, if we come back to visit, I'll definitely drop in and say "hey"). So, if you like good coffee, great service, and a nice spot to spend your morning reading the news or chatting with friends, give La Vita Dolce a try. I hope it can become your new favorite local spot. FWIW, I recommend the Mexican Mocha and the Bacon, Egg and Cheese on an Everything bagel. Kelly read more

Every drink I've ordered has been delicious so far -- from the weekly specials to the regular drinks on the menu. If you are there during the early hours, may take a bit longer for your drink but be patient. There are usually 2-3 people working but they are working hard. I've appreciated my experiences at this particular coffee shop. read more

Stopped in for a coffee before work. They were busy, but service was efficient & the cashier made good conversation. Grabbed a Dolce White Russian & Apple Cider Muffin. Tasty & the total was less than $10. Solid. read more

La Vita Dolce - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Why is coffee $10 + tip now?? The Ice Cream flavors are a bit "too creative", stick with the classic chocolate or strawberry. Do people even order Olive Oil Ice Cream or Pickle Sorbet?? What's next Canned Tuna popsicles? Also there is never any parking, or a bunch of coffee shop chairs in the car parking spaces, not all of us live in the million dollar condos next door! People wonder how Starbucks took over?Consistent and quality at a low price. They never tried to be "zany" or "whacky" like this spot. read more

We stumbled upon this cafe, in Southern Village. However, we were definitely late to the party as they had many patrons occupying outdoor seating, swings and also people picking up online carry out orders. We ordered a Chicken Caprese Panini which had tomatoes, and a delicious pesto sauce! Chase enjoyed a birthday cake milkshake, and I had a Blueberry Lavender iced tea which came with a splash of milk...it surprised me but I LIKED it! There were definitely other items on the menu that caught our eye (fruit smoothies, gelato, sorbet, coffees, etc). so we'll definitely be back! Chase pointed out the cool chandelier and how it was made out of bottles! read more

See all

Omg. This is the best coffee I've had since I went to Cuba. I had the iced Cuban coffee latte with oat milk and it was amazing. I'm so sad it's 30 min away because I would be there everyday. read more

This place is a household staple for us as we're there a good 4-5 times a week either getting coffee, gelato, or a sandwich and it's pretty much the only coffee we drink in town anymore. Everyone' here has been friendly and helpful and amazingly fast at getting your drinks out to you and not feeling like you've caused them psychic pain for having done so. The prices are very reasonable and the sizes generous. Getting coffee almost everyday isn't a good value but it is a better value here at least. The paninis and bagel sandwiches are really good and you can tell they don't scrimp on quality and take as much care in their food as they do they're coffee. The gelato is always a nice treat and they also serve beer and wine with wine specials on Wednesdays. I love the outside area where you can usually snag a table and they have seating inside which is becoming rarer these days. You can also take your coffee to one of the porch swings they have around the plaza. We're lucky to have so many choices for local coffee here and I'm lucky that I've found my favorite one. read more

First time here and I will be back! Easy parking, plenty of seats, salted caramel was so good!! Prices were fair. Everyone was very friendly and service was great considering it was a busy Saturday morning. read more

Honestly not the greatest place for ice cream (which is why I came in). I love their whole vibe with a nice cafe from Italy, France or Spain. Honestly just a bit sad that the ice cream was mediocre. read more

This is a cute place and the service I got was prompt and friendly. They have their menu displayed on a stand by the register, but the menu is a little weird. For example, they have oatmeal listed under the "drinks - espresso" side of the menu. I guess it's because the oatmeal has espresso in it? But is it oatmeal like a dish or is it a drink? Also, they have a chalkboard sign out that says they offer fruit smoothies, but it doesn't list any of the flavors or the price. I didn't realize until after ordering that they have seasonal specialty drinks because these were listed on yet another sign. Then all the baked goods are in the deli case but again there are no prices listed. I'd love to see a menu that is a bit more clear and covers all the things they have. Or maybe a menu and then a specials board that is more clear. I did like that they had baked goods for a variety of tastes and diets! Just today I saw four different muffins (although one had no sign), that included a vegan muffin, a whole-wheat muffin, and a gluten-free muffin. They also had a variety of sweet breads, raspberry oat bars, plus some mini muffins and cake that, again, had no sign indicating what they were. The sign thing is really killing me because it was pretty crowded when I was here and it's annoying to stand around and ask the girls behind the counter what every single thing in the case is. I had an americano which was not mind blowing but good, and a raspberry oat bar which was huge! They did offer to heat up the oat bar but I was heading out so I declined. The bar had great flavor and was bursting with fruit, but the texture of the bottom layer was extremely hard. Like so hard I had to pick it up and bite as hard as I could to break into it! Heating may have helped with this? It was also pretty greasy/oily to the touch. But again it did have a great flavor. I'm not sure if I'd order this again but will definitely be back to try the other baked goods because it seems like they've got their seasoning on point. The gelato also looks scrumptious - can't wait to try it! read more

La Vita Dolce - Raspberry oat bar - huge and great flavor! But a bit greasy and the bottom layer was rock hard. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

One of the best coffee spots in Chapel Hill. Lively and homey. The coffee and gelato are great. I love coming here to do work and people watch! read more

La Vita Dolce - a living room with a blue couch - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

**This review is for the coronavirus only** We live about a 30-minute brisk walk from "downtown" Southern Village so we've been hitting this early in the morning to beat the "crowds" on the trails later in the day to maintain the proper social distance. I always thought their gelato was overpriced, but still pretty good; but the staff have been soldiering through some serious times and keep serving good morning coffee. I always tip 35%. read more

This place is phenomenal. People often come here more for the gelato, but I definitely want to highlight their drinks! Three words: Nutella hot chocolate. It's the best I've ever had, and it is the best around. It has a solid amount of Nutella mixed in and is just the drink you need to cozy up! Their Cuban latte is also the best around, promise. So good! It's hard to find Cuban drinks in the Triangle, and their's takes me back to Miami! Also, the seasonal drinks are really, really fabulous. Ginger honey latte (subtly sweet) and mouth watering Biscoff cookie butter affogato are out of this world! You can get the latter with decaf espresso so it can work as night time dessert as well! Seating is ample, and it is never as crowded as some of the other spots in town. If you don't have time to waste waiting on a table to get some work done and really want a great cup of coffee or a latte, go here!! read more

La Vita Dolce - Biscoff cookie butter affogato!!! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A local favorite for a great Chai or gelato. They also have a breakfast and light appetizer menu. Staff is on the ball and the gelatos are truly delicious. read more

La Vita Dolce - Breakfast sandwich with a latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

I love La Vita Dolce! As a resident of Southern Village, I love having a coffee shop nearby. They also have delicious gelato!! I love stopping in to check out their half priced pints which are super affordable and fun to bring home. Their in house mugs are enormous! I love their honey ginger latte, and they also have some fun espresso milkshakes. They also usually have a great selection of baked goods. Definitely check it out if you're in the area! read more

La Vita Dolce - Honey ginger latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Very cute espresso bar and gelateria in Chapel Hill. The servers are attentive and help to attend to everyone that arrives. The gelato flavors aren't super diverse, but everything is quite yummy. I ended up with a scoop of Coffee Gelato and it was the perfect amount of coffee flavor with the right bitterness that I look for in coffee flavors. For coffee, I got an iced Cuban Latte, which comes with condensed milk as a sweetener and it was just a bit too sweet for my taste. My boyfriend for the Triple Chocolate Shake and he was pretty much blown away.. but not me. Way too sweet for me. I would recommend these options if you have quite a bit of a sweet tooth. Highly recommend for study space as there are lots of tables and chairs. If you're into coffee house vibes and music, this would be the place to go. I loved their music selection the whole time I was there. read more

I went here a few times during the school year to study, and it is honestly a great place to be. It was a bit crowded at times, but the background noise wasn't too bad. I got the Cuban Latte and Mint/Coffee gelato. The latte was new to me and honestly pretty good, but a tad too sweet for my taste. The gelato was amazing, but might be too much for a small cup. For studying-wise, I wish the tables were a bit bigger to fit the books and laptop, but I'm glad that there are plenty of tables and chairs available. Regardless, it's a hidden treasure in Chapel Hill and I definitely recommend going there at least once if you are looking to explore the area! read more

Decent combination of ice cream, drinks, and some food. I got the Italian sandwich for $15 and It was fairly underwhelming, looked and tasted like something I could make Myself in 5 minutes, I would make the portion slightly bigger and the bread slightly thicker. My girl liked the coffee, and I enjoyed the gelato. A small complaint for the girl wearing the mask, couldnt hear anything she was saying, if your going to wear a mask, at least make yourself vocal enough so I dont have to lean halfway over the counter to understand what your telling me. Some small improvements could make this place a lot better read more

Coffee not much to write home about. But you can write home in comfort with plenty of seating and free wi-fi. Couldn't help but notice humongous biscotti sitting on the counter nearby. They were so big I couldn't consider buying them. Really. The weird thing is while the ambiance is suitable for study or chatting, due to the number of seats and sufficient elbow room, I couldn't linger. Studies show that we work best in coffee houses because there is a certain level of ambient noise that encourages our thinking. But the sweet life doesn't exactly lend itself to that same comfort, not for the volume of noise, but the harshness of tone bouncing thru the space. It's kind of jarring after a while. Probably a ceiling thing, need some acoustic tiles or something to soften the ambient noise from the treble harshness to a mellow lull. It was pleasant enough place to be. read more

One word: Average. Make that two words: Average and Disappointing. I have been to cafes around the globe, and even those in small villages/towns are above the standards of this cafe. The menu is lacking, the taste of the items leave something to be desired (I had a quiche and pastry that tasted like it came from a pre-packaged Walmart bakery aisle...and expired 3 weeks ago). I can't exactly say that I would consider that gelato, and don't understand the rave reviews. It's rather misleading. As for the service, it hit or miss. Sometimes you will get one of the nicer customer service staff, other times you will get a snarky woman who treats customers like they are a bother as she surfs on her cell phone. I'm shocked that this place is still in business. Oh, and an aside and word to the wise: don't bring your children or grandchildren, or human beings that might be intellectually inferior to the millennials behind the counter - you are only setting yourself up for even more disparaging sub-par service and treatment. read more

Best gelato and milkshakes ever! My favorite is their coffee and chocolate Oreo milkshakes.