Got four donuts and a bag of local Blowing Rock Tea and dropped nearly 15 bucks. That's the bad part. The good part was the donuts were great, especially the custard-filled variety. I got a maple, blackberry, bavarian cream, and a lemon pie (lemon custard filled), and each had its merits. One thing: the regular donuts (you know, the ones with the holes in 'em) aren't...pretty. We're all used to those Krispy Kreme or Dunkin' Donuts perfect little wheels of yeast and cake. These are homemade and they look gnarly. Don't be put off, though. They're excellent. The maple had a crunch and soft chewiness to the bread, and the maple glaze was like licking a tree in the winter time in Vermont (in a good way). The bavarian, my wife ate before I got to try, so I'm assuming it was good. It only lasted five minutes once I got it out of the store. The lemon pie was superb, not too sweet and nicely tangy. The only donut that wasn't impressive (and it was the ugliest, too) was the blackberry. The fruit was freshly crushed on top the donut, and the flavors just didn't mesh very well for me. The fruit was tart and sharp (like it should be!), but the donut was too sweet for the flavors to marry well. The owner/main donut man served me and was very nice and patiently explained all about the donuts to me and the others waiting in line. The interior is nicely apportioned (especially for a donut place). They were busy at 12:30 on a Saturday, so that speaks well of their chances. Not that Boonies need more donuts in their diets. read more

Overroasted coffee, stale doughnuts, and service that was lackluster to say the least. I ordered a pourer that was made with the care of a giant gripping a small flower, and it took 15 minutes for him to finish it. When I got it, it tasted like fresh roasted cigarette ashes. And my wife got the cinnamon thing, she said was bland and hard. I had a glazed doughnut that was meh at best. Definitely won't be back to this place. read more

Very disappointing. Donuts very egg tasting and the glaze is horrible. Ordered a carmel frappe and they tossed the first one and a second person tried to make another. I took one sip and threw it away. Tasted like cold weak coffee. Don't waste your time or money. read more

I've seen this place a few times as I've been traveling to Boone quite a bit. I decided to stop for "dinner" and have doughnuts instead. The expression is made on a world class Astoria machine, and the girls really know there way around it. The best part is the doughnuts themselves. Very well crafted cake style doughnuts that taste great and don't leave you with that super sugared, dripping with deep fried fat feeling. Look forward to coming back! read more

We tried all of the other local coffee shops in boone and this one out did them all. Still not the absolute best cup of coffee I've had, but not the worst. I had the iced vanilla latte with an extra shot and it was smooth but made with a light roast. More of a dark roast person however, the majority of coffee shops in the area are light roast based, but the coffee at Local Lion still rose above them all. read more

Best donut I have ever had! The chocolate with sprinkles was still warm from being freshly made. Prices were reasonable as well and the coffee was excellent! I will be back. read more

visited the local lion when i was on vacation in Boone. Must say this was by far some of the best doughnuts I have ever tasted. the staff was friendly and i felt very relaxed in the atmosphere they have going on in the coffee shop. peaceful. definitely try this! read more

Excellent! I got a chocolate covered Bavarian donut. It was so fresh and tasty. I also got a Bee Balm latte (vanilla and mint). The flavor was smooth and subtle, not bitter at all. And not overly sweet. It complimented the donuts nicely. I also got a orange glove raised donut. It's not as light as other raised glazed donuts I've had, but the flavor is amazing. The whole place was really clean, and I love all the custom woodworking: from the bathroom vanity to the cash register and the high top tables by the window. I wish I lived closer. I'd be here every day! read more

Very slow service when 1 person is working the counter and drive thru. Coffee is over priced and not that great (hi Starbucks) and the donuts are disgusting. Save your time and money and go to stick boy!!! read more

If I lived in Boone, I would visit The Local Lion at least three times a week. As it is, when I come to Boone I have to stop by and it never disappoints! Super friendly service, and such delicious and unique flavors for donuts! My personal favorites are the lavender and orange glazed, but they are all freshly made and the staff are very patient while you try to choose. In addition, their coffee is smooth in texture and rich in flavor. I love their specialty lattes; they do not skimp on flavors like lavender or hazelnut while the coffee to still shines through. read more

I'm only giving 3 stars because every time I have ever ordered a latte it has been lackluster. I just left and ordered a pumpkin spice soy latte. I barely taste the espresso and there is not even a subtle hint of pumpkin spice! This has happened before when I've ordered various other flavored lattes. Maybe it's the brand of soy milk or simply needs an extra pump of syrup. The convenience of a drive thru is nice and workers are pleasant. I will absolutely RAVE about the homemade donuts especially the orange ones!! Absolutely delicious and reminds me of the potato donuts my grandma used to make. Donuts are what keep me coming back...maybe next time I'll just get a drip coffee. read more

Fantastic coffee and doughnuts. Homemade and hand roasted there, a Boone favorite for sure.

Amazing! Best donut I've ever had and friendliest staff ever in a coffee shop! Highly recommend! read more

The Local Lion - Donuts Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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Overall very expensive for what you get. $2 for a tiny home-ade donut (very good) is a bit crazy. Their smoothies are terrible. $4.25 for ice and a shot of juicy juice. Use real fruit people!!! Service was slow. It would be a better place if open till night time. Most likely will not go back. read more

My husband and I were in Boone last week and stopped by this darling doughnut shop. YUM so delicious and excellent customer service. Coming from Atlanta, it is rare to get a smile. We plan to come back when the colors change Keep the coffee pot on read more

Excellent donuts!! So much more refreshing than the overly sweet Krispy Kreme donuts! And, supporting a local business. Recommend highly!

Finally checked this place out last week! So glad we did (was with 1 other person)! We were upset that we didn't go there sooner! We both LOVED it!!!! The customer service was top notch even though the place was practically full of customers. I ordered a pumpkin spice latte that was EXCELLENT! not too sweet, made just right! I also just had to order a pumpkin spice doughnut. It tasted fresh and delicious. I love the atmosphere and the decor. However, I would have given this place 5 stars but the location is not the best. In fact, it is a bit difficult to get to depending on the traffic. We will be back soon and love to support local businesses in our area. read more

Decided to give it a go after hearing some good stuff. If you have a craving for pure sugar carb o love this is wonderful . fair warning you wont be able to stop eating its so good. read more

This local owned coffee shop of a gem in Boone. It has a drive thru which is great when I'm running late for class. The staff is friendly and they have outdoor seating. I went here the other day and the girl who helped me was so nice! They also have baked muffins and goods. read more

I like this local coffee and donut spot much better than the big chains. The donuts are fresh and great. The coffee is good and the place smells amazing. Before you go anywhere else come here. read more

I enjoy their donuts and coffee! It's a cute little place in Boone and a great place to just sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself.

We have gone here many times. Great relaxing environment and the coffee and delicious! I choose the local lion over Starbucks any day.

Worked here for a couple hours. Had a great chocolate espresso homemade doughnut and an incredible hazelnut truffle latte. Friendly staff, good environment. Highly recommend. read more

1st class service! Great coffee! Inexpensive! We sat on the patio and enjoyed our drinks as the sun was setting!

Considering the town is extremely small (18,000 people or so) the coffee is extremely decent. I am sure family friends love it, but a coffee connoisseur would not appreciate. There are copious amounts of grounds found in each coffee I receive and if you are looking for quality, craft espresso I advise hitting Hatchet coffee, or Espresso News (purely delicious and opened till 12am) The owner of Local Lion (Josiah) seems to be at the shop at all times, micromanaging the employees which clearly makes their workers there anxious. The energy from him is rushed, rude and unaware. I have heard Josiah speak poorly of regulars and this man claims to be a "good Christian", this has nothing to do with the coffee, but it sure makes the experience poor. The wifi also rarely works (it only works for regulars who have been set up on wifi account for a good bit - as for new customers it is impossible to score wifi) (he does not care at all, when people ask he merely says oh well) As far as the doughnuts, yes they are old fashioned, craft and heard the start early to make them. When I drive around the back though, I see the employees handle the glaze and doughnuts with bare hands (NO gloves), no supervision and in straight heinous condition (licking fingers and dipping back into glazes). There is no GM, just the jerk Boss who should probably spend some time at home with his pregnant wife. I also heard a woman overtaking at Hatchet saying when she quit, the boss withheld her pay and withheld tips from the workers if they were late. That is what made me boycott this place -- SO wrong...legally and morally. 1/10 for me. The one star comes from the decent doughnuts made with grimy fingers. I believe there is a ton of room for improvement and it could have potential if Josiah was not trolling all day. read more

This place is so cute! I ordered a sweet potato donut & a glazed one. The sweet potato was soft, moist & cakey. Delish! The glazed donut was still warm & melted in my mouth, amazing. I would suggest getting them when they are still warm. This place is definitely a must go-to while in Boone! read more

I love the Local Lion!! I met up with a study buddy here that I met on Bumble Bizz and she loved the place too. It's a great atmosphere for studying and it has super good coffee and the doughnuts are amazing. read more

These are the best donuts I have ever had, and I fancy myself a connoisseur. The filled ones are more expensive than other places, but are worth it, sort of like with premium ice creams. They make all the donuts themselves from scratch in the back. They use local fruit for glazes. It's a locally owned establishment with a nice staff and a welcoming atmosphere. I love seeing people in there after skiing or hiking. I highly recommend it. The coffee has gotten great since they've opened. Best in town, if you like it really strong and flavorful. read more

Excellent place to stop in the morning. Coffee's great and the doughnuts are amazing. The service there was great, and have been short on change a few times but have never left without my order. They are what local shops ought to be like! I feel terrible for the bad experiences of a few others whom reviewed it, but those must be the exception and not the rule. Great great place! read more

Sad sad place. Not happy with service ALl. Coffee not hot they're not willing to remake. Guess I'll go to Stsrbucks.

The cookies and creme frappe is super delightful, almost like a milkshake though. So if you're into the coffee flavor being that this is a coffee shop, it may not be a match for you. I've heard the sweet potato donuts are awesome too when they actually have them available. read more

Great brews and specialty drinks, prices are pretty standard. I saw some unhappy doughnut posts and people just need to remember that this is a homemade/cake style. Krispy Kreme is down the road if you really want that. I find the doughnuts are a real treat - especially the Maple glazed and Orange glazed. They have done a good job of creating a cozy atmosphere here, including occasional live music. My only complaint is that the parking is tight and seating is limited. It's worth it to go early before students are up and about! Love having a local place to support! read more

Great coffee! Best deal for a pound of coffee in town for locally roasted organic fair trade beans. Plus, you get a free cup with purchase of a pound. Delicious donuts too. Worth a visit read more

I don't understand poor reviews, these doughnuts are incredible!! My only thought is that people are used to 'chain' doughnut shops. These are specialty doughnuts... not Crispy Cream. My daughter and I are a regulars. The Key Lime Pie, I had this morning was amazing, I am also a fan of orange glaze (a bit of zest in the glaze is sooo good). If you have a sweet tooth try the Maple Glaze, it's one of my favorites. read more

The service was mediocre. We walked in and they were obviously busy and overwhelmed with the drive thru and the in house customers. The person who took our order rushed us so we didn't get everything we wanted. They did not have labels on the doughnuts so we had no idea what any of them were! We felt bad to ask because he clearly wanted us to get out of the line. The flavors that they offered were ordinary, they did not go out of the box which most doughnut shops do. They do not experiment with their flavors, they take the safe route and it shows. The coffee was delicious but if I didn't know any better I would assume that they just opened...and they've been opened for almost three years. read more

Cute local coffee shop. You can watch the beans roast in the shop. They sell the empty burlap coffee sacks for $1 which is cool. Doughnut was not my favorite. Very heavy and greasy. Latte was pretty good though. read more

Great staff, wonderful doughnuts, coffee is good. I have been a couple of times and enjoyed it both times. I would say over all it was a good experience. read more

Nice place to sit and enjoy your fresh roasted coffee and doughnuts . Great coffee ! Great doughnuts ! Drive-thru if you are in a hurry .

don't get me wrong, i really love this place. super cute, super cozy, super tasty. i loooooved my hazel truffle iced latte and chocolate espresso and maple donuts. but the barista played XXXTentacion. in 2019. i was disappointed to find out that music made by abusers has a safe place in this establishment. but very good food :) read more

I was blown away by their coffee and donuts. I'm kind of a coffee snob, I grew up in Hawaii and don't even drink Starbucks. I wish this place was in my town. read more