A welcome addition to the Raleigh coffee scene in August of 2020 was the boutique Idle Hour Coffee Roasters in the Oberlin neighborhood, just 3 miles from downtown Raleigh, and if you’re on your phone searching for cute coffee shops near me, you can’t go wrong here!
I love the neighborhood feel of this Raleigh 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 cup of coffee, to catch up with friends, or to get some work done online out of the house!
Located on Oberlin Road and walking distance from the excellent Five Points neighborhoods and The Village District, this is an adorable coffee shop from the outside with an inviting interior space that’s aesthetically pleasing – clean and fresh in appearance, a lovely ambiance, and welcoming and helpful staff.
Idle Hour Coffee (not just a coffee house)
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!
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!
For drinks, on offer is a full coffee bar menu of staples such as espresso, latte, Americano, cappuccino, mocha, macchiato, chai latte, and pour over plus cold brew, and nitro. And drinks are available with whole, skim or Oatley milk.
I’m primarily a latte drinker and their lattes are top-notch and worth traveling for, and up there with some of my other favorite coffee shops in Raleigh, and 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 a perfect pairing with summer in Raleigh.
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.
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.
I love their focus on supporting local suppliers in the Raleigh area, and at Idle Hour Coffee 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
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.
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.
This is a must try Raleigh coffee shop whether you live in the City of Oaks or visit Raleigh for the weekend, so stop on in for a coffee, or even just a bit to eat.
- Store Hours: Monday – Sunday, 7am – 7pm
- Address: 1818 Oberlin Road, Raleigh
- Website: Idle Hour Coffee.com
Let me know what you think of Idle Hour Coffee in the comments or tell me what is your favorite coffee shop in Raleigh?
