Visit Idle Hour Coffee Roasters, Raleigh For Neighborhood Vibes + Great Coffee

A welcome addition to the Raleigh coffee scene as of August, 2020 was the boutique Idle Hour Coffee Roasters in the Oberlin neighborhood, just 3 miles from downtown Raleigh.

I love the neighborhood feel of this coffee shop. It’s the type of cafe I dream of having as my local where I just walk or bike to in the mornings for a delicious cup of coffee, a catch up with friends, or to get some work done online out of the house! 

Located on Oberlin Road, within walking distance of the Five Points neighborhoods and The Village District, this is an adorable coffee shop is just waiting to be explored!

In this guide, we share why it’s our favorite coffee shop in Raleigh and why you will fall in love with it too.

Why We Love Idle Hour Coffee Roasters NC

Yes, Idle Hour is a coffee house first and foremost, and a great one at that, but they also serve tea, baked goods that rotate frequently, plus paninis, sandwiches and other small bites.

Even if your intention is just a cup of coffee, good luck getting out of here without eating one of their delicious pastries or desserts, especially if you have kids like us! 

1. An inviting space

From the outside, Idle Hour Coffee Roasters looks like a simple and cute coffee shop, but not anything special.

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re met with an inviting interior space that’s aesthetically pleasing – clean and fresh in appearance, a lovely ambiance, and welcoming and helpful staff. 

There are comfy couches with soft pillows, and a desk bar with bar stools next to the huge windows, so you can watch the world go by whilst working on a laptop.

For remote workers, there are power plugs and free WiFi.

Inside seating consists of a few comfy couches and chairs, plus cozy booths.

The atmosphere is pleasant and well suited to conversations with friends or to do some work online – get there early if you plan on doing some work – and on nice weather days I enjoy sitting outside at one of the tables and chairs on the sidewalk. 

Upon entry you are greeted by their pastry and desserts display and let me just say, it’s all great eye candy and our taste buds are equally pleased, and one of our favorite coffee/cake pairings in Raleigh can be found here – their flour-less chocolate cake goes perfect with a hot latte of choice!

2. Large variety of coffees and tea

There’s a full coffee bar menu of staples such as espresso, latte, Americano, cappuccino, mocha, macchiato, etc but they also have a variety of speciality teas, and a delicious chai latte!

They also serve pour over coffe, as well as cold brew, and nitro.

3. The offer dairy-free alternatives

If you’re vegan, or lactose intolerant, all drinks are available with Oatley milk. I’m primarily a latte drinker, and their lattes are top-notch and worth traveling for.

Whilst I almost always drink hot coffee, when I need a refreshing iced coffee, I am a fan of their popular Iced Vietnamese coffee, which is also available with coconut milk.

Iced coffees are the perfect drink to help you cool down on a hot day in the summer in Raleigh.

4. Seasonal speciality coffees

If you visit Raleigh in the fall, don’t miss their specialty fall lattes, the maple ginger and lavender honey latte are a definite treat. 

5. Delicious food and sweet treats

All their pastries are made from scratch or by local vendors, and their popular Tepuy Donuts (handcrafted sourdough doughnuts) are a hit with the locals, and with our daughters! 

There’s also a small menu with paninis and sandwiches and bagels if you’d like something more substantial, and their Banh Mi sandwich – a short baguette with thin, crisp crust and soft, airy texture – takes me back to my time traveling through Vietnam in 2003. 

6. Locally sourced produce and suppliers

I love their focus on supporting local suppliers in the Raleigh area, and at Idle Hour Coffee Roasters they proudly serve:

• Little Blue Macaron
• Tepuy Donuts
• Union Special Bakery
• Tin Roof Teas
• Lyrix Kombucha
• Arteo Matcha
• Methodical Roasters
• HB’s homemade pastries and cheesecakes

How to Get to Idle Hour Coffee Roasters

Idle Hour is located at 1818 Oberlin Road, Raleigh. From downtown, you will need to drive along

Capital Blvd before turning onto Wade Avenue. Turn off onto to Oberlin Rd.

Parking

For parking, they have a few spots behind the building – when looking at Idle Hour from outside, you’ll see a driveway on the right of the building.

Otherwise we have parked on Oberlin Rd or on nearby Davis St with no issues.

Opening Hours

Idle Coffee Shop is open from Monday – Sunday, 7.00am – 7.00pm.

The Verdict: Would We Recommend Idle Hour Coffee Shop?

Idle Hour Coffee Roasters is a small coffee shop, but it’s definitely one of the best, especially if you don’t want to drive all the way into downtown for your coffee.

The comfy seating, cozy atmosphere, friendly staff and quiet ambiance, as well as the great cuppa Joe, make it a worthy coffee shop to visit if you need a space to work or unwind.

So, stop on in for a coffee, or even just a bit to eat. You won’t regret it! Now for our favorite coffee in Wake County – Fount Coffee & Kitchen

Did you visit Idle Hour Coffee? Let us know what you think in the comments or tell me what is your favorite coffee shop in Raleigh?