This was my first time to Haraz Coffee, and I can't wait to come back! I opted for the everything…read morebagel pastry, which has flaky dough and cream cheese inside. Had it warmed up and it was fantastic! I also went with a pistachio latte with almond milk, hot. Also delicious, tasted a bit exotic, and just what I was looking for. So yummy! The vibe here is fantastic, it feels very elegant and there is lots of seating. Free parking out front as well. An amazing coffee shop and a real gem here in uptown, Charlotte!

I had a slice of the pistachio milk cake and I was disappointed. It was very dry especially for a…read moremilk cake and didn't have much flavor. I love Haraz but this one experience was a bummer!

Really outstanding service. Great coffee. Love coming here on the way to the Belk theater for…read moreCharlotte Symphony events. Two thumbs way up!

Super friendly and accommodating stuff, explained to me their history with nightswim coffee roaster…read moreas its one of beans i wanna try. But we came for the coffee, wife got ice latte and i got macchiato. The ice latte was good but my i felt my macchiato not prepared as ideal but still okay . First try dialed in again the beans i got rightaway. Good extraction. The beans i got is Ultraviolet as recommended by the staff

I loved the experience of this place. It was quaint and loved the ambiance of it all. We stopped…read morethrough after dinner up the street and I got a few treats to enjoy back at the hotel. I ordered the Biscoff cheesecake, a lemon bar, pecan and keylime tart....all delightful by the way. Definitely will come back the next time in town....you have to stop in if you are in the neighborhood!

Review for Amélie's French Bakery & Café…read more As a transplant from the West Coast--specifically San Francisco, where high-quality bakeries and true French pâtisseries are plentiful--I was genuinely excited to try Amélie's after moving to Charlotte. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing, and after giving it more than one chance, it's simply not a place I plan to return to. The concept feels more like a themed destination than a serious bakery. The interior is whimsical and eye-catching, with decorative elements like a faux Eiffel Tower, which clearly appeals to visitors looking for a fun atmosphere. However, if you've spent time in authentic French cafés or bistros, you know the real charm is understated elegance--wood, mirrors, tile, and craftsmanship. This felt more theatrical than authentic. Where it fell short for me was the food. For a place calling itself a French bakery and pâtisserie, the absence of classic laminated pastries was surprising. I was expecting staples like Napoleons, kouign-amann, or beautifully executed croissants. What I found instead were pastries that looked average and lacked the refinement and technique you'd expect from a true pâtisserie. On my visits, I tried: * A leek soup that was supposed to be cream-based but tasted thin and under-seasoned--more like warm vegetable water than a properly developed soup. * A baguette sandwich with fig, Brie, and apple that sounded promising but was poorly executed. The bread was overly hard, and the balance of ingredients felt off, making the sandwich less enjoyable than expected. I gave Amélie's two chances, hoping the second visit would change my impression. It didn't. To be fair, the café clearly has a loyal following and works well as a social or casual gathering spot. But if you're specifically looking for high-quality French pastries or refined bakery craftsmanship, there are stronger options in the Charlotte area. Personally, I'd recommend: * Renaissance Patisserie for more traditional European-style pastries * Paris Baguette at Rea Farms for consistency and better execution * Or trusted local favorites closer to home Bottom line: Fun atmosphere, but the food didn't meet expectations for a French bakery. After multiple visits, it's a pass for me.

One of the best lavender lattes I've had and they have homemade pop tarts (YUM!). Stopped by for…read morecoffee and was pleasantly surprised to find a pop tart with my name on it. Better than a real pop tart, but stayed to true to the brand with the frosting and sweet middle. This place is very dog friendly, and is hopping with energy.

The salted brown butter latte is incredible. The building is very spacious and modern. The baristas…read moreare friendly and quick.

Qahwah House was such a cool coffee shop! As a history and coffee nerd, I can honestly say that I…read morethink that this was the first time that a coffee shop made me smarter. That's because they had a huge map outlining the historical trade routes that coffee beans were transported on, as well as an homage to some of the patrons of coffee cultivation. They backed up these historical displays with great customer service, a solid cup of coffee, and a truly mesmerizing ambiance. I've been to so many coffee shops in my life, and Qahwah House was the first time, if not ever, then definitely in a long time, that I felt like I experienced something unique. I loved it. Overall, I loved Qahwah House, and I'll assuredly be back as soon as I can. I'd also recommend it to anybody looking for something new to experience!

First off, the Turkish coffee is amazing! Never burnt, which is my biggest complaint at some of the…read moreother coffee places nearby. But not here! It's fresh, made to order, and a huge serving. I don't even drink the whole pot because that's just too much caffeine for me lol. I also really loved the savory pastries they have, very complimentary to their coffee. The service is very kind and they give you a buzzer to easily come pick up your order when it's ready. The ambiance was great the last time I went in. They had wifi available if I needed it, but it wasn't overpacked so I could work a bit when I first came in and then was able to still hear my friend when she came over. It has nicely spaced tables so you aren't as boxed in as you are in some of the other coffee places in this area. Overall, my favorite place to grab a Turkish coffee in Charlotte. Yummy coffee, nicely spaced tables, free wifi, good service, and not overly packed. My go-to coffee spot in Plaza Midwood!

I stopped by this coffee shop expecting caffeine, and instead got... an experience? The coffee was…read moresomehow both exactly what I needed and not at all what I thought I ordered. It tasted like focus, with subtle notes of questioning my life choices--in a good way. The atmosphere felt like a place where time either slows down or speeds up depending on how long you stare at your cup. The barista seemed to understand my order before I said it, which was comforting and mildly unsettling. I left more awake than when I arrived, but not entirely sure if it was because of the coffee or the existential clarity it provided. Either way, I'll definitely be back, unless I already am.

I'm a sucker for a pick me up after adulting and was in the mood for a coffee or milk tea. I am…read moreglad I came because CocoBean is both cute and cozy. The area was clean and the cute interior makes for a good social media photo op. The menu has good variety and explorative flavors that encourages repeat visits. I got a Mango Milk Tea and was not disappointed. It gave a Mango Lassi vibe and was very refreshing. My only downside was the bottom of the drink tasted gritty and had a white residue left at the bottom. Also, I initially wanted the drink with light ice and this was my first encounter at a shop that charges extra for light ice (45 cents). Not a huge deal and I understand that companies incur more costs for light ice or no ice. Maybe I could justify the additional charge for getting the drink without ice, but I still wanted ice---just not a lot of it. I just would've like to have been told about it or seen some signage about the additional charge since the toppings and other add ons are listed out. I could've missed where it was listed out, but I don't think I saw anything written out. Nonetheless, after a few healthy gulps, I was sad that the drink was gone. I would come back to try other items.

Love this place!!! Decided to meet up with a friend for coffee (well tea for me) and she suggested…read morethis place as 'the perfect spot'. And it was. I read through some of the other reviews and I want to set the record straight. Yes, it's inside a church but there is a separate entrance. Yes, there are Christian books but also other genres. Yes, the coffee is very affordable BECAUSE all the staff are volunteers. No one is getting paid and they LOVE what they do. All smiles and great service. The proceeds go to local and global missions of the church. Win, win all the way around. The place itself is very spacious. Two levels. The seating areas are comfortable and far enough apart you can have some semiprivacy if you need it. My friend who brought me says she comes here all the time to study (she's in college). All of the staff knew her by name. (love places like that) I'm not a coffee drinker so I can't really speak to the coffee (although my friend says it's pretty good). I am a tea drinker though and they have a variety of flavors, some refresher juice drinks, a few pastries. Please support. Every now and again if you're thinking of getting coffee or a pastry, choose them. Why not? Do some good for the community through others who are committed to giving back.

I love this place! This is my go to spot to grab a comfy place to sit get my work done in peace and…read moregrab a delicious blueberry Matcha. Hidden gem!

Really great, local café that I will absolutely be adding to my regular coffee shop + bakery…read morerotation. Plentiful parking out front. Good amount of seating inside (mostly 2-seaters; one larger table reserved for bigger groups). Helpful and friendly staff who were amazing with my little one. You have to try a slice of the basque cheesecake. The plain slice (with no whipped cream or fruit topping) is not overly sweet and the perfect amount of "burnt" & creamy. We also tried the madeleines, which - as the café's name suggests - were on point. And the garlic bagel is a garlic + cream cheese lover's dream. The iced dalgona latte was such a treat. Sweet with a creamy foam and topped with crunchy cookies - very well balanced and delightful to drink. The prices reflect the care and high quality of the products. Come support this amazing local spot and enjoy their unique, thoughtful offerings!

Second time at this spot. The interior is super cute and the pastries are very good as well. The…read moreinjeolmi latte was a bit clumpy (make sure you mix well!) Coffee and service is always great.

TLDR: Cafe vibes that are good for if you are planning on hanging out in the cafe, bad if you are…read moretrying to get your food and go. The atmosphere was nice, it has the "work on your laptop or catch up with friends" cafe vibe. Somewhere you can hang for several hours and sip and coffee as you work/talk. I don't think I was the target demographic for this cafe sadly. I ordered a BE&C on a bagel. I originally had planned to go to a more "bagel-focused" shop, but they were closed. That's where I feel I was not the target demographic; I was looking to just order a bagel on my morning commute. I should have noticed the atmosphere/vibe of the cafe and realized that this was not going to be fast. It ended up taking over 30 minutes from the time I paid to the time I got my food (genuinely, I looked at the time my credit card was swiped and compared it to the time it was when I got my food). Now, I will say, if I had ordered coffee and brought a book, the wait probably wouldn't have been too much of a bother. The staff was really friendly, and the bathrooms were also very clean! The bagel was not my favorite bagel, but it was on par for a non-bagel-focused coffee shop. It wasn't bad by any means, but I would not order it if you were wanting "real" bagel. Edit: owner made a good point regarding the wait and was correct that I did not notice the disclaimer regarding the wait! I updated the rating to reflect my newer perspective.

Warm apple fritter. Maybe not what you would have thought when walking in, but they warm it up and…read moreserve it on a plate with just the right amount of small apple chunks in it! Mouth watering to say the least. The avocado toast was good and fulfilling. I wouldn't say great but along with a solid cappuccino it was good.

This is my "GO-TO" spot whenever I'm entertaining out of town guests or just a meetup with local…read morefriends. I've been for morning coffee when it's not as busy and late at night weekends during it's busiest times. Finding a parking space is challenging, especially on weekends. But once you step inside Vavela's you forget all about that because the vibe catches you instantly. The music, upbeat yet relaxing, transports you to another place and time. As soon as the doors open it's impressive! Seating is welcoming and abundant, be it at a table, on sofas or a grouping of comfortable chairs. When you walk up to the counter to order they have all of their drinks and deserts chilling and on display. And there are a lot of them! I don't know if they are made from scratch or premade, but I've had about 6 different kinds and each one was better than the next. All delicious! On my last visit we got our coffees, shared chicken flatbread, a tomatoe/cheese appetizer and sweet potato cheesecake and EVERYTHING was delicious!!!! They always have a lot of servers and they bring your order to your table. Because it stays busy I notice they have to constantly be on top of cleaning the tables and floors and often people will grab a seat before the staff has a chance to clean the area. But they overall do a good job staying on top of it. I highly recommend Vavela for a group meeting, or if alone, bring your laptop, your studies and get some work done while grabbing a bite to eat...and a Latte.

Vavala is a total gem. I had an internal battle over getting dessert, so I went with the Chicken…read moreAvocado Panini instead it was absolutely outstanding! My husband, however, has no self-control, so he got the Chocolate Strawberry Croissant lol. Both were 10/10. Even the matcha was so aesthetic and delicious! I know some people mention the prices, but honestly, it's spot on. I'd much rather pay for high-quality food and a gorgeous atmosphere than spend the same amount on something mediocre elsewhere. Plus, the service was fast and everyone was so nice. My only regret is not taking a dessert to go! I'll definitely be back.