Sip Into Raleigh’s Must-Try Fall Drinks for 2026 [Coffees, Cocktails & Craft Brews]

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As the crisp Fall air settles in over Raleigh, there’s no better way to celebrate the season and get cozy than with a delicious Fall-inspired cocktail or coffee in hand. From pumpkin-spiced lattes that warm your soul to craft cocktails infused with spiced flavors in a glass, Raleigh is not short of Fall drinks to warm you up this season.

With so many places releasing their Fall menus right now, it can be a hard task narrowing down where to go, so we’ve put together our list of delicious Fall drinks in Raleigh that we found and personally love. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or fancy a craft brew spiced with cinnamon and star anise, these drinks are the best Autumnal brews in the City of Oaks. (and if you know of some great ones not on this list, please drop them in the comments below!)

Cocktail Bars

Whiskey Kitchen

Orange cocktail.
Exposure Therapy

Wye Hill Kitchen often has a range of Fall drinks! Back in 2024, we were huge fans of their Exposure Therapy craft cocktail, which was made with two local spirits from Durham Distillery, Conniption American Dry Gin and Krupnikas Spiced Honey Liqueur, and in 2025, the Amber Ember Cocktail, which features Rabbit Hole rye, thyme-spiced orange syrup, lemon-ginger juice, bitters, smoked salt tincture, and a black Hawaiian salt rim, was our top choice – which I am pleased to say is back again this year! On the menu this fall, we have our eyes on the Twist of Fate, made with Old Forester Bourbon, Campari, Averna Amaro, Jamaican rum, and Peychaud’s bitters.

The Merchant NC

pozole cocktail from the merchant bar
Pozole

The Merchant NC is one of the most popular cocktail bars in Raleigh for a date night and often has five killer seasonal fall cocktails, each curated by its talented bartenders. The menu usually comes out at the end of September, but in previous years we have tried concoctions such as Jam Sessions, which was a sweet and salty cocktail made with Peanut Butter Washed Rye, Grape Jelly Syrup, Lemon, Egg White, and Uncrustable.

For sweet tooths, we’ve previously tried the What The Fluff cocktail, which was a refreshing take on a s’mores cocktail, featuring a blend of Washed Bacardi, Spiced Rum, Espresso, Borghetti, Chocolate, Marshmallow, Syrup, Heavy Cream, and topped with a Graham Cracker.

Be sure to keep your eyes on their socials for their Fall menu end of the month!

Pumpkin Spiced Ale, Norse Brewing Company

People sitting at tables in brewery.

At the end of September, the Pumpkin Spiced Ale by Shipyard Brewery will drop on tap at Norse Brewing for a unique taste this Fall. They are also serving a spiked pumpkin spice latte, spiced cider margarita, and a caramel apple martini already this Fall. Norse Brewing is a Scandinavian-themed brewery in downtown Wake Forest! Inviting atmosphere with both inside and outside seating, and ample TVs to catch the game!

Dram and Draught

cocktail from dram and draught
Masque of Red 

Dram and Draught release their Fall cocktail menu at the beginning of October, and if it’s anything like previous years, it’s one date to add to your diary. We loved the Masque of Red cocktail in 2024. It was made with Aviation Gin, Campari, Cream Sherry, Sweet Vermouth, Graham Cracker, and Apple. It tasted like an Apple pie topped with cinnamon.

Their aim at Dram & Draught is simple: to be your favorite neighborhood bar. Whether you’re popping in for a casual beer and a shot (Dram & Draught) after work or looking to enjoy one of the best cocktails in town, we are a place where you can feel completely at ease. They also have a location in Fenton, Cary.

Coffee Shops

The Optimist

The Optimist is a lovely neighborhood coffee shop in Historic Oakwood that really comes into its own in the Fall season. It opened during the pandemic (May 2020), and that didn’t stop it from becoming one of the city’s favorite coffee shops because of their calm and relaxing space that feels warm and cozy year-round – with indoor plants and a patio with heaters, it always feels like a home away from home.

Lady having a cup of coffee in a cafe
Relaxed and cozy interior
Two cups of coffee on a table
Lattes

Fall is the best time to visit The Optimist, not only for the cool decorations during Halloween time, but for the seasonal drinks. They use Raleigh’s local coffee company, Black & White Coffee Roasters, in all their coffees.

On the Fall menu, two favorites for the 2026 season are the Harvest Moon Latte (pumpkin + maple), Werewolf Heart Chai made with Apple, Caramel, and Cinnamon, and the Type O Negative (blood orange-flavored espresso tonic with a dried orange).

Sir Walter Coffee 

People sitting on stools in a cafe.

Sir Walter Coffee is a cool barista bar and coffee shop in downtown Raleigh that’s known for its unique coffee creations, tea lattes, tea cocktails, kombucha, bubble tea smoothies, and beer. We typically order a milkadamia latte or the campfire mocha, and they serve bagels and waffles to keep our kids happy. 

On the Fall menu, the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cold Brew is a tasty treat – Nitro Cold Brew topped with house pumpkin pie sauce, cheesecake cold foam, and graham cracker crumble topping.

For something warmer, there’s also a Pumpkin Spiced Latte, S’mores Cold Brew (Salted mocha, cold brew, s’mores cold foam, mocha drizzle and graham cracker crumble topping), and for tea drinkers, the Spiced Chaider made with spiced chai latte and apple cider sounds divine!

image

Fair warning: being in Moore Square, it’s not always the quietest of cafes, but we personally love the upbeat atmosphere. It’s a popular place during First Fridays in Raleigh. They now also have a location on Fayetteville St.

NoRa Cafe

NoRa Cafe should not be bypassed this Fall! After winning the 2025 Indy Award for Best Local Coffee Shop in Wake County, we’re excited to taste its Fall flavors. In case you didn’t know, NoRa is a coffee shop and library all in one.

NoRa is well known for its “Bee” drinks, which all include dark chocolate and locally made honey from The Pleasant Bee apiary, as well as using local coffee from Carrboro Coffee Roasters’ beans – but it will soon be known for its Fall drinks.

This Fall, they are donating $1 of every Community Hearth latte purchased to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC’s #PlateItForward initiative. Choose between three flavors; dark chocolate, pistachio, and toasted marshmallow.

I would struggle to choose between The Pumpkin Harvest coffee, which is infused with pumpkin, French vanilla, and cinnamon, and the Pumpkin and Maple – both can be served with two or three shots of espresso.

The Toasty Ghost (white chocolate and toasted marshmallow) and White Pecan Mocha (white chocolate, butter pecan, and cinnamon) also sound delicious. If sweet coffees are your thing, then this is the coffee shop to check out this Autumn.

42 & Lawrence

coffee with raleigh views outside at 42nd and lawrence

Another popular option in Moore Square, 42 & Lawrence in the historic City Market in downtown, serves up really good organic coffee (using their own Larry’s Coffee) and nitro cold brews. During the Fall season, the pumpkin-spiced latte gets a thumbs up for being one of the most delicious Fall drinks in the Triangle.

This popular drink is made with homemade pumpkin puree, so there’s no artificial anything in there, topped with its signature espresso. My only quibble would be that it’s not quite big enough! Also on the menu this year are a Pumpkin Matcha, Pumpkin Chai, and Pumpkin Shaken Espresso.

Jubala Coffee

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know you can often find us at Jubala Coffee on Hillsborough St. It’s our fav coffee shop on this vibrant thoroughfare. Jubala is a chain of three coffee shops, and I love all of them. We also visit their North Hills location regularly!

I like to watch my sugar intake, so I tend to order the flat white, but the seasonal Pumpkin Spiced Latte, aptly named the Fall latte, gets a lot of chatter about in the Raleigh community. It’s made with Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg, Allspice, Brown Sugar, Espresso, and Milk.

There’s more than just PSL, though – also on the Fall menu is an Espresso Mule (Spiced Honeycrisp, Espresso, Brown Butter, Lemon, Ginger Beer), Black Sesame Cardamom Flat White (Black Sesame Tahini, Cardamom Bitters, Vanilla, Espresso, Milk), and Fig and Pear Matcha Soda in downtown only (Three Cents Fig Leaf, Fresh Asian Pear Juice, Yuzu, and Matcha)

Yum!

The Morning Times

Coffee with marshmallows.
S’mores Latte

The Morning Times is another coffee shop that embraces the cozy flavors of fall with two seasonal favorites each year: the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the S’mores Latte.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte blends the perfect mix of spiced warmth and creamy sweetness, while the S’mores Latte brings a nostalgic twist with hints of rich chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and graham cracker. Both drinks are crafted to capture the essence of autumn in every sip, making them the perfect treat for cooler weather! 

321 Coffee 

321 coffee
Pumpkin dirty chai latte

The pumpkin cookie latte is a Fall favorite from 321 Coffee! This seasonal special blends a trio of all the best fall flavors: matcha and pumpkin – proudly roasted and brewed by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Each sip delivers both the cozy warmth of autumn spices and the bold kick of espresso, perfect for these crisp, golden Fall days. On the Fall menu for 2026 are a Pumpkin Cookie Latte, Pumpkin Brulee Matcha, and Pumpkin White Mocha.

The Left Hook Coffee

left hook
Seasonal Obligation

The Left Hook usually comes out with three seasonal coffees to choose from in the Fall. A Seasonal Obligation is a pumpkin-spiced latte, and last year they made a delicious latte made with house-made spiced pumpkin syrup, espresso, and milk. Hopefully it returns this year!

Iris Coffee Lab

man holding coffee cup in cafe
Iris Coffee
coffee cup
Sweet Potato Flat White / Saffron Vanilla Latte

Iris Coffee Lab in Glenwood South is one of our favorite coffee shops in Raleigh, and they have several seasonal coffees and teas on their Autumn menu, for example…

The Autumn menu is usually released around the end of September to early October, but last year they had a delicious Sweet Potato Flat White and Saffron Vanilla Latte to give you an idea of what to expect. I feel safe in saying Iris Coffee Labs has the best seasonal coffees in Raleigh – no one comes close to their innovation and how perfectly delicious each one is.

Final thoughts

There you have it. Where to get fall flavors in a cup at some of Raleigh’s best coffee shops and cocktail bars. Share any suggestions in the comments below!

Other Fall ideas you need to know …

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