The Best Wintery Drinks in the Triangle: Coffees, Cocktails & Craft Brews

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Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it can only mean one thing on the horizon. If you’re now getting the Holiday spirit and feeling like a festive, wintery drink (or two), you don’t have to travel far to find it. We love how there are so many winter-themed drinks being served across Raleigh, each warming your belly faster than a mug of Grandma’s homemade eggnog.

mother and daughter drinking hot chocolate by firepit and christmas tree at the rink
Hot Chocolates by the fire and tree

Whether you’re dashing through downtown on the hunt for a peppermint-kissed cocktail, or for something warm you can stir with cinnamon sticks or candy canes, or you want to cozy up to a fireside scotch whiskey in a classic tavern, or catch up with friends over a spiced gingerbread latte in an inviting coffee shop, these are the top places that pour the sweet elixir to eliminate the winter blues into your glass!

Some of these bars are hosting a Christmas-themed pop-up, but there are more pop-up bars this Holiday season in Raleigh, which you can read more about here.

Cocktail Bars and Breweries

Clockwork 919

Over in downtown Raleigh, Clockwork 919 has a Christmas Nutcracker theme this year, helping it to make our best Christmas bars in Raleigh list.. Their warm and cozy tavern has been decked in Nutcracker decorations, resembling the beloved Christmas story of toys coming to life.

On the menu are a few warming options, including a Spiked Hot Apple Cider served in a novelty Nutcracker mug. There’s also a Boozy Hot Chocolate, my personal fav, as well as a festive take on an espresso martini​​ served with salted caramel. 

Dram and Draught

For a more elevated experience, head to the upscale cocktail bar Dram and Draught, which is known for its craft whiskeys. In fact, there are more than 300 of them to choose from!

Don’t just warm up this winter with a standard Scotch; try one of the seasonal cocktails crafted by their own baristas. We like the sound of the Apple Barn, crafted by Madison in the Durham branch, which features Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, Appleton Estate rum, Frangelico, lemon, apple, cinnamon, sugar, butter, and caramel foam. Can you think of anything richer and satisfying this Holiday season?

Another sweet and wintery drink that serves up Holiday vibes in a cup is the Chestnuts Roasting cocktail, crafted by Yoz at the Charlotte branch, which features Famous Grouse smoky black scotch, Pedro Ximenez sherry, Krupnikas honey liqueur, toasted chestnut orgeat, lemon, orange bitters, and soda.

Other Christmassy themed cocktails on the seasonal menu are Daddy Went For Cigarettes (made using Malört, cabernet, cranberry, fig, orange, lemon), Eye of the Thaiger (made with Evan Williams BiB bourbon, brandy, thai tea, cinnamon, brown sugar, coconut foam clarified with milk), and Ryze & Grind (made with Rittenhouse rye, Averna, cacao, maple, chocolate, D&D cold brew, orange bitters, and salted maple cream). There are many others, but these sounded the most warming this winter to us.

Tiki Brewing, Cary

Not a fan of winter? Then why not combine your love of Christmas with your love of summer sun and check out The Beach House by Tiki Brewing, which has transformed into a summery North Pole! The place has been decorated to the highest level of Holiday cheer, with every spare space covered in twinkling lights, candy canes, and installations. Outside, there are igloos where you can enjoy a festive tipple.

Although it certainly looks Christmassy, it doesn’t stop at the decor. The drinks are as festive as they come. Try a Boozy Hot Chocolate served in a North Pole mug, or if you prefer something citrusy, there’s a North Pole Nui Nui on the menu. The North Pole “No-Pants” Nog is the creamy treat you deserve after a cold day of Christmas shopping.

Watts and Ward

This year, why not head to a very merry speakeasy for a Dickens-inspired Christmas Carol night? Watts and Ward is transforming its bar into a Dickensian homage, featuring Christmas-themed drinks inspired by the Holiday classic tale. 

On the menu are themed cocktails, such as The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, as well as their wintery take on an Espresso Martini. My vote goes to the smooth and delicious Peppermint Espresso Martini, or if you prefer a bit of a sweet kick, there’s also a Cinnamon or Gingerbread Martini on the pop-up menu. They also have a unqiuely cool espresso martini tree!

Every cocktail bought, $1 is donated to Operation Sidekick (up to $5,000). This runs from now until December 31st.

Wolfe & Porter

Wolfe & Porter is one of our favorite cocktail bars for a date night or a sophisticated nightcap. The bar is separated into two sections, upstairs and downstairs.

The cellar downstairs is our go-to because it has a warm, mid-century vibe and antique bourbons, but it’s the upstairs you want to pay attention to this Holiday season, as it will be transforming into Santa’s Irresponsible Workshop – serving Spiked Peppermint Mocha cocktails, Pomegranate Spritz, and other festive cocktails throughout December.

There will also be events throughout the month, such as Christmas karaoke and a gingerbread house showdown.

Coffee Shops

42 & Lawrence

man sitting at 42 and Lawrence coffee bar

Overlooking Moore Square, 42 & Lawrence is one of our favorite coffee shops in downtown. 

We’re frequent visitors because they serve up really good organic coffee (using their own Larry’s Coffee) and nitro cold brews, but during the winter months, it’s the Peppermint Mocha that entices us. Or if we’re feeling fruity, the Apple Crisp Latte, blended with caramel, green apple syrup, oat milk, and topped with cinnamon and nutmeg, is the perfect treat.

42 & Lawrence made our list of the best coffees for the Fall season, with its pumpkin-spiced latte getting talked about all over the city, and fortunately, the Fall favorites continue throughout the Holiday season as well.

Deja Brew Coffee House

Deja Brew Coffee House is a family-run coffee shop that makes housemade specialty beverages using coffee from Raleigh Coffee Company and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. 

This winter, we’ve got our eyes on its Gingerbread Latte, Egg Nog Latte, and Mint Mocha, which have winter written all over them!

Fount Coffee + Kitchen, Morrisville

coffee and cake
Orange mocha latte
  • Address: 10954 Chapel Hill Rd Ste 109, Morrisville
  • Website: fountcoffee.com 

People who follow us regularly will know that Fount is our all-time favorite coffee shop in the Triangle because it’s gluten-free. Although not in Raleigh, it’s well worth the drive to, which is why we’ve featured it on this list. 

During the Holiday season, it also has a gorgeous festive decor, so if you want to sip your latte whilst being surrounded by garlands with ribbons and baubles, this is one of the most festive coffee shops in the Triangle (that’s not a pop-up bar).

Each year, they bring back the special Holiday coffee blend, Merry and Bright, by Black and White Coffee Roasters. The Holiday Blend combines flavors of cinnamon sugar, cherry cobbler, toasted marshmallow, and chocolate. There are also specialty lattes and hot chocolates to keep you warm this festive season. Last week, I had an orange mocha latte which was delicious! There’s nothing better at Fount to pair that with than their coffee cake!

Iris Coffee Lab

New this year, Iris Coffee Lab is launching a new brand of aptly named Christmas Coffee, made by Julio Madrid. They wanted to bring a fresh Nitro coffee to Raleigh with a hint of Holiday flavor, so your taste buds can taste the magic of Christmas. This new concoction is Toffee Apple flavor and is a limited release. So get in fast, because once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Iris Coffee Lab is one of our favorite coffee shops in Downtown because it’s a modern, clean, and stylish space that feels relaxed enough that you don’t feel awkward opening a laptop and doing some work, and the coffee is always on point. It’s a place that is always evolving, whether that’s by turning its space into pop-up shops or trying new coffee blends. 

I personally LOVE their Fall seasonal drinks, I wish they were year-round, so I have high hopes for this unique Holiday blend.

Jubala Coffee

You can often find us working from Jubala Coffee, mostly because it has such a lovely, warm atmosphere and delicious coffee! 

This winter, they are serving festive coffees made with their own festive blend, Jubala-la-la-la, which is a cinnamon-infused blend of 70% Laboyano and 30% Huber Castillo. It will be served as a drip coffee.

If you prefer something milky and sweet, the Winter Matcha, made with toasted walnut, maple, dark chocolate, and matcha, of course, would be my choice for a unique wintery drink.  

The Morning Times

Wake up and taste the winter chill with a Toasted Pecan Praline Latte at The Morning Times. Or if you prefer an afternoon sweet treat, Brett’s Biscoff Matcha, served either hot or iced, would be the ultimate hug in a mug this December.

These drinks are available while supplies last, so don’t walk on by if you happen to be in downtown!

We also love sitting in at one of the tables in the space upstairs, which has a cozy vibe and also functions as a mini art gallery. 

NoRa Cafe

Introducing the winners of the 2025 Indy Award for Best Local Coffee Shop in Wake County, NoRa is the perfect place to sip a wintery drink whilst tucking into a good book (in case you didn’t know, NoRa is a coffee shop and library in one).

NoRa is known for serving “Bee” drinks – drinks infused with locally made honey from The Pleasant Bee apiary, as well as using local coffee from Carrboro Coffee Roasters’ beans.

For a taste of winter warmth, the Peppermint Mocha or the Teddy Graham (Latte with honey simple syrup, brown sugar cinnamon syrup, vanilla syrup, and cinnamon powder) would get me in the Holiday spirit. How about you?

We also love how NoRa cafe sells gluten-free baked goods made by Freshly Baked by Meg. We missed out on the apple cider doughnuts, but maybe you’ll find a delicious wintery treat to tuck into on your visit!

Drift Coffee and Kitchen

Drift is a casual, dog-friendly, and family-friendly coffee shop with an airy and modern vibe. It’s the kind of coffee shop where you could sit down for a coffee and brunch with friends, and feel welcome to linger as long as you like.

If the vibe doesn’t tempt you, the Holiday flavors for December might – they are looking decadent! Choose between a Peppermint Mocha, Peppermint Match, Gingersnap Latte, or a Sea Salt Butterscotch Cappuccino. Which would you choose?

The Optimist

Last but certainly not least, The Optimist’s winter menu is looking as hot as a cup of Egg Nog Chai. Yep, it’s the seasonal fav, and it’s back for the month of December only, so be sure to indulge while you can.

Also on the winter menu this year is Polar Espresso Tonic (spiced crnabbery tonic), Sweet Tooth Latte (Brown Butter Toffee Caramel Latte), Sugar and Spice Latte (Cinnamon Bun Latte), Jack Frost Fog (White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Fog), Fireside Cider (Mulled Cider), and Winter Wonderland Latte (Peppermint mocha).

We’re big fans of The Optimist. It’s a lovely neighborhood coffee shop in Historic Oakwood, which is one of our favorite neighborhoods in the Holiday season. Grab yourself a winter drink and stroll around the streets, admiring the historic revival homes draped in festive decorations.

But wait, there’s more

Since we can’t spend every minute of the day sampling holiday and wintry drinks in Raleigh, we turned to our Facebook community to ask for their favorite recommendations. Here’s what they told us… (some are located outside Raleigh in Triangle towns)

  • Little Blue Bakehouse: A true holiday standout. Their house-made Eggnog Latte is rich, cozy, and beautifully balanced, while the Red Velvet Latte with cream cheese cold foam has quietly become a cult favorite. Seasonal, indulgent, and worth the drive.
  • 9BAR Coffeehouse: If festive drinks are your love language, 9BAR in Clayton delivers. From Eggnog and Sugar Cookie Lattes to playful creations like Campfire Cookie Chai and Santa’s S’mores Cocoa, their holiday menu is one of the most creative in the area.
  • Pine State Coffee: The Egg Nog Bomb is bold, comforting, and unapologetically festive — exactly what you want on a chilly December morning. Pine State has one of our favorite flat whites in Raleigh.
  • 321 Coffee: Beloved for both their mission and their coffee, 321 Coffee’s seasonal drinks consistently hit the mark. Feel-good coffee in every sense of the word.
  • Cocoa Cinnamon: The Harvest is a seasonal classic for a reason — warming spices, depth of flavor, and that unmistakable Cocoa Cinnamon magic that feels like the holidays in a cup. Cocao Cinnamon is our coffee go-to when we visit Durham.
  • Sola Coffee Café: Their oat milk latte with house-made cardamom syrup is subtle, aromatic, and perfect if you love cozy flavors without too much sweetness.
  • Black & White Coffee Roasters: The Iced Brown Sugar Cinnamon Latte proves holiday drinks don’t have to be hot to be festive. Smooth, lightly spiced, and expertly crafted.
  • Packhouse Coffee Company: A decadent Caramel Brûlée Latte that leans into dessert-level comfort while still letting the coffee shine. You’ll find this coffee shop in Youngsville.
  • Willow House Coffee: Locals rave about the Gingerbread Latte, a classic holiday flavor done exceptionally well — nostalgic, spiced, and perfectly seasonal. Willow House is another favorite downtown coffee shop of ours.
  • Cup A Joe (Hillsborough Street): Sometimes simple is best. Their Peppermint Latte is a longtime favorite and a go-to holiday order for NC State students and locals alike. Why not grab one of these when you go holiday shopping on Hillsborough St?
  • Sugar Euphoria on N Person St has an amazing crème brûlée and gingerbread latte.
  • Thanks A Latte – Coffee & Gift Boutique in Holly Springs received several nods for their seasonal iced lattes, Eggnog latte, and Tiramisu latte
  • Duprès Coffee Truck in Fuquay-Varina is waiting for you with an Iced eggnog latte and Tiramisu iced latte.
  • Fera’wyn’s Artisan Chocolates in Holly Springs has raving fans for their exceptional Milk hot chocolate.

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