5 coffee shops to work from in Raleigh and beyond

If you're like us and work from home — or want to break from your cubicle, we've got a few spots you should try.

1. Idle Hour Coffee

A cozy green velvet couch greets you. There, you can snack on some of the best avocado toast in town — largely thanks to the pickled onions on top — and drink a matcha latte.

• Choose from a handful of other latte flavors, grab a seat outside and enjoy this weather.

Lucille's go-to order: Rose cardamom latte

Address: 1818 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh

2. The Durham Hotel

The Durham Hotel's coffee bar — located in the lobby of the 1960s-inspired hotel — has become one of the city's most popular places for business meetings.

• Plus, you can grab a post-work drink at the hotel's rooftop bar overlooking downtown.

Head's up: The coffee bar closes at 2pm.

Zach's go-to order: The Durham Coffee Soda

Address: 315 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham

3. Black & White at Videri Chocolate Factory

Serving up excellent coffee from award-winning baristas Kyle Ramage and Lem Butler, Black & White Coffee's location in downtown Raleigh is a convenient spot for getting stuff done.

• It also happens to be connected to one of the best chocolate makers around.

Of note: Located in the Warehouse District, you can take your coffee to go and walk to most parts of downtown, or stay a while on its large outdoor courtyard.

• Black & White also has free parking.

Zach's go-to order: Cappuccino

Address: 327 W Davie St., Raleigh

4. The Optimist

Tucked in Raleigh's Historic Oakwood neighborhood, The Optimist is one of the city’s coziest coffee shops. It has outdoor seating in the front and a sun-soaked patio in the back, plus a free parking lot.

Head's up: It’s usually crowded, so you might have to wait a bit if you're set on posting up at a booth.

Lucille's go-to order: The Stacey and a melts-in-your-mouth lavender blueberry muffin

Address: 1000 Brookside Dr., Suite 109, Raleigh

5. Jubala Coffee

Jubala is Lucille's favorite spot for a coffee meeting. Located off Hillsborough near N.C. State, this coffee shop is buzzing with professionals and college kids. Plus, they serve made-from-scratch biscuits, and there's plenty of patio seating.

Jubala has two other locations, in North Hills and North Raleigh.

Lucille's go-to order: Biscuit with egg and pimento cheese

Address: 2100 Hillsborough St., Raleigh