English: TL;DR: Beautiful atmosphere, fantastic coffee and…read morefood, thoughtful modern Latin flavors, amazing breakfast/dinner spot, and Fernando, the manager, is awesome. We've been to Aaktun in Durham multiple times for both breakfast and dinner, and it's honestly become one of our favorite spots. I'm Peruvian and grew up with Peruvian cuisine, so seeing lomo saltado -- a classic Peruvian dish -- on the menu immediately made me happy. Having also grown up in Mexico and lived in places like Miami, I really appreciate what they're doing with the menu: a modern, delicious take on Latin flavors that feels creative without losing what makes those cuisines special. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful. You walk in thinking it's a stylish little coffee shop, then head toward the back and the whole place opens up -- gorgeous bar, tropical touches, cozy alcove seating, really cool vibe. One time we went with friends for a special dining experience they were offering, and it was excellent. The food, drinks, and whole experience were made even better by Fernando, the manager, who has always been incredibly warm, helpful, and accommodating. Highly recommend Aaktun for breakfast or dinner. Still haven't made it there for lunch somehow, but at this point we'd be shocked if it wasn't great too. Spanish: TL;DR: Lugar precioso, café y comida excelentes, sabores latinos con un toque moderno muy bien logrado, y Fernando, el gerente, es increíble. Ya hemos ido varias veces a Aaktun en Durham para desayuno y cena, y sinceramente se ha vuelto uno de nuestros lugares favoritos. Soy peruano y crecí con la cocina peruana, así que ver lomo saltado -- un plato clásico peruano -- en el menú me hizo muy feliz. Además, habiendo crecido en México y vivido en lugares como Miami, me encanta reconocer cómo integran sabores latinos con una propuesta moderna y de fusión. Se siente creativa, diferente y sobre todo riquísima. La atmósfera además es espectacular. Entras pensando que es una cafetería bonita y acogedora, pero luego caminas hacia atrás y el lugar se abre por completo: un bar hermoso, detalles tropicales, mesas tipo alcove... una vibra buenísima. Una vez fuimos con unos amigos para una experiencia especial de cena que estaban ofreciendo y la pasamos increíble. La comida, las bebidas y toda la experiencia fueron aún mejores gracias a Fernando, el gerente, que siempre ha sido súper amable, atento y servicial. Recomendamos muchísimo Aaktun para desayuno o cena. Todavía no hemos ido para almorzar, pero honestamente nos sorprendería mucho que no estuviera igual de bueno.

**Update 5/12/2026 - I made a reservation to take my mom to brunch on Sunday at 10:15. When we…read morearrived, the hostess said the reservation had been made for outside. I explained and showed her that I booked standard seating and she said that meant outside, which I thought was strange because I was very careful not to book either option that was clearly labeled outdoor. I told her that we wanted a table inside and she said "I have a table that has a reservation for 11:30, can you be done by then?" I laughed and said "sure" but thought to myself that would be up to them! She asked another hostess to seat us, and after we were seated, we waited about 15 minutes and watched staff walk by our table multiple times and no one came by. The original interactions had already put a bad taste in my mouth, so I called another restaurant downtown and asked how long the wait would be for two. They could seat us in the bar area right away, so we got up and left Aaktun to head there. The first two experiences that I had at Aaktun were great. I'm glad I got to try their food because I won't be back after Sunday's experience.

Absolutely loved this coffee shop!…read more It is unique in its aesthetic and I loved all the greenery. It's small inside, but every corner is carefully decorated. They use homemade syrups and that made a big difference. The mocha latte was delightful! Minimal communication with baristas, but overall they were nice. Definitely recommend this coffee shop if you're in the Durham area.

If I could give this place 0 stars I wouldI do not recommend this place, very limited seating and…read morevery crowded in there. I had a friend who worked there and they were constantly left alone with no help from teammates. they were constantly being hovered over and to make matters worse it was dirty in the back space , not a suitable place to work at nor shop at.

Really cute coffee shop located in downtown Durham that has ample seating, WiFi, and extended…read morehours. I enjoyed the butterfly pea lemonade and appreciated how many tea options they had. Quick service and nice ambiance. Would come back!

The lavender latte at Oak House was delicious and perfectly sweetened. My friend got the vanilla…read morecold brew, and it was also delicious. Inside with plenty of seating and lots of choices for coffee and other drinks. Was great and the inside was great.

When I was on vacation with my family we stopped in here during a downpour for a quick coffee and…read moredesert! The people were very nice and friendly! I loved the way the cafe looked! It felt almost like if I were in a movie :))) Decor was absolutely stunning!

I enjoy my experience here at Cocoa cinnamon but my latte wasn't the best?? Honestly, I could've…read moremade a better one at home... but I will say that I enjoyed the ambience. The atmosphere was pleasant. It was pretty busy me and my friend went around 9:30 am . The latte I had was the caramleto?

What a great little find! On a freezing day outside of Raleigh, I stumbled upon this cozy little…read morecoffee shop! Trying to get a little work done, I was pleased to find a comfy couch, power and Wi-Fi- in addition to the incredible twist on a Mexican mocha and an absolutely insane bacon, egg, and cheese on there in house made biscuit! Greeted by the friendliest barista, I made myself comfy on the couch and watched her work her magic. My " not too sweet" mocha had beautiful latte art. I was actually a little sad as I reached the bottom of the mug. So I opted for a decaf refill, it was pure perfection. Do yourself a favor & pop in to make this place your morning ritual.

I came in here for a coffee break from work. It is such a beautiful building and was even more…read morewow-ed! By the aesthetics in the inside of this place. They do have both coffee and food. I wasn't entirely in a coffee tasting mood but really needed a pick-me-up. They had the strawberries and cream latte as their special drink, so I went ahead and order this and the bang bang tacos. The strawberries and cream was super delicious and hit my craving just right. The bang bang shrimp tacos had a kick with the sauce, but incorporating pineapple was what gave this a 10/10 for me. It had a sweet and spicy flavor to it, which balanced these tacos to perfection with each bite. The employees behind the counter were extremely friendly. I recommend this spot for anybody who's local or traveling through.

A long-time favorite of mine here in Durham, particularly for anyone wanting a place to study. They…read morehave a ton of tables, free coffee refills, and lots of outlets. The lighting is good, the music is at an appropriate volume, and the seating is comfortable (particularly in the back room). During the weekends and on holidays they can be quite full (particularly during the school year), but generally speaking I can usually find a seat here. Baristas are friendly and competent. They are well-staffed, and even when there is a long line things come out quickly! There is also free parking available in the parking garage around the corner, which is certainly a bonus. My go-to here is simply an iced americano or coffee, but their seasonal drinks are also delicious. Can't recommend enough!

It's time for "second coffee" and my office for the morning, landing at Foster Street at around…read more8:30 am. Parking wasn't easy since I can't fit into a parking deck but a metered space opened up and I was able to jam into there. Warmly welcomed and my cortado was ready before I'd even finished plugging in the laptop. Strong coffee that had a deep flavor and I'd already had breakfast so I was able to resist the pastries. An hour in, another cup of drip was all I needed while I did the Internet thing. Foster Street is conducive to laptop but it did get a bit loud in there with the talking, the music and the sound of the espresso machine. But if you can handle all of that, it's ideal. I stayed about two hours this morning. [Review 943 of 2025 - 4346 in North Carolina - 24498 overall]

It took me more than a year of coming here to write a review for Yonderlust, mostly because I'm…read moresurprised by how much this place grew on me. Yonderlust is more than just a coffee shop--it's one of those spaces where you can easily spend an entire afternoon without realizing how much time has passed. It's a fantastic study and work spot: a mix of table sizes, plenty of outlets, and a relatively quiet, calm environment that makes it easy to settle in. It has solid coffee: Drinks here are consistently pretty good. I usually go for their Campfire Latte (a signature for a reason) or whatever seasonal syrup they're featuring, and their matcha latte is reliable too. It has actual, warm food: simple but satisfying sandwiches with enough variety to make for a perfect study snack or light lunch. I am often disappointed when coffee shops only offer cold pastries. It has entertainment: I love taking a quick study break to browse the shop's outdoor gear and clothing; it honestly feels a little like being transported to the West Coast for a moment (give me some Oregan vibes!). Service has always been quick and friendly. I wouldn't say any single thing here is the best in Durham--but together, it is special! There are many days when I find myself craving a few cozy hours at Yonderlust, followed by a quick dessert next door at Rose's.

Bottom line: Pretty nice coffee shop cafe adjacent to/sharing space with an apparel shop. Crowded…read moreeven on a Sunday. Clean inviting atmosphere, I enjoyed my hot skim latte here. The Deets: I had brunch with some friends that live in Durham and after the meal, they directed me to stop into Yonderlust for a coffee beverage stop instead of having one at the restaurant. We stopped by and ducked into the cafe side...I say cafe side as 2/3 of the space there is an outfitters/apparel shop and the other part houses the coffee shop/cafe. The cafe side (as well as the apparel shop) is very nicely done inside, very appealing and clean. The coffee seating area was packed, it appears to be a great place to stop and sit/work a spell even on a Sunday. Ordering moved through fairly quickly and I put in my request for a hot skim latte to the very nice and positive person at the register. The wait was not long before my beverage was completed, and your beverage/name are both called out to pick up when it's ready. I did manage to find one lone chair to sit and drink my tasty beverage while my friends did some shopping in the apparel side. I enjoyed my latte, I'd most definitely stop in again when in the area.

I got an orange blossom matcha latte and I'd say it was decent. The orange blossom syrup was very…read moremild so I could taste it very well. The matcha wasn't very strong and a little overpowered with milk. I didn't try any of their coffees but they looked to be pretty good! I'd give it a 3/5 for the matcha because it was decent but I don't think I'd order it again. The space itself was really nice though and the staff was friendly.

I have come into Joe Van Gogh multiple times, and although I like their drinks, I don't love the…read moreambiance. The restaurant could do a better job at positioning their tables in the space to allow for more patrons to do work (and have access to outlets) without being in the way of those queuing in line for ordering. I have sat here and read a book before, and despite liking my drink, I did not love that I felt "in the way" of others. I also think the bathrooms could be a little more well maintained. However, I do enjoy both the matcha and coffee here, and think that this shop around the Triangle does coffee extremely well. The baristas are knowledgable and can provide insight into various menu options, and are also extremely kind. I will likely be back but just for a grab-and-go coffee.

The cutest little coffee shop!! There's been a buzz brewing about this spot so we had to get out…read moreand check it out. Not a lot of parking out front so they allow parking next door at Kings gr but they kept a line of folks. Yes it moved, don't worry. Fresh pastry variety was quite impressive. The goodies were: Vietnamese coffee donut & creamsicle donut from Red Start bakery. An apple pop tart, & blueberry cheese danish also caught my eye. Yes I got them all. There was more but a guy gotta have limits. But I'll just they were mmm mmm good. I'll have to get the donuts again. There is limited seating, and a children's play area which was so cool. I'm hard pressed to not get my jolt of Java so I got a cortado with a drizzle of caramel for a little sweetness. LOVED the flavor, would've loved it if a little hotter. My son-in-law got the Mexican Coke, vanilla espresso. It was cold and amazing as per him. My wife's latte also needed to be hotter. I'll cut the barista a break as she was a one woman show.

Omie's is a small hidden gem in Durham. This place has the best truly espresso/coffee forward…read moredrinks in the triangle. You can tell the quality of the drink and beans Omie's is high quality as soon as you taste it. I absolutely loved their fun and creative seasonal menu. I ordered the pumpkin pie brown butter latte, and it was so tasty. Normally, I have to ask coffee shops to reduce the sugar, but this drink was perfectly balanced. In addition, Omie's sells baked goods to complement your drink. There was a selection of tasty treats to pick from. One of my friends got a HUGE cookie, which looked absolutely delicious. As a fair heads up, parking and inside seating areas are limited. However, Omie's has done the most to maximize the space to make it a cozy place to sit. Pro tip- there is a little more seating to the left of the bathrooms, and there are several comfy spots interspersed throughout. Come for the good coffee, good vibes, and lovely service staff. I definitely know that I will be back!

They charged $0.25 for a literal splash of oat milk which I thought was kind of lame. The food and…read moredrinks were okay but overall kind of expensive for what you get. I've been here once before and had a good experience, but was really disappointed by the service, price, and quality this time around.

Kind of confusing since this is the coffee service within The Daily (rebranded from The Daily…read moreBeer). They started off with basic single origin coffees but have expanded into making more of their own syrups and original coffee drinks. The atmosphere is very casual and friendly -- mix of locals and college students. They also usually have a selection of donuts and baked goods. And of course you can also order beer, wine and food from the Daily -- all from the same counter. Nice friendly spot and worth a visit.