The best coffee shops for remote work in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill
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The cafe counter at The Optimist. Photo: Lucille Sherman/Axios
There are certainly more people working from home these days.
But if you're like us and often find yourself in need of a change of location during your day, we put together a guide to some of the Triangle's best coffee shops for remote work.
In no particular order, here are a few of the spots where we — and many of our readers — spend most of our time.
Raleigh
- One of Raleigh's most beloved coffee shops, The Optimist has taken off in recent months. It recently opened a cart at PNC Arena and will soon open a second location at The Exchange Raleigh, a billion-dollar development in North Hills.
- It can be hard to find a seat inside, but if you're patient, The Optimist is a cozy spot to post up for a bit with a latte in hand (may we suggest The Stacey?) and a breakfast sandwich to snack on.
- Location: 1000 Brookside Dr., Suite 109
- Iris is one of Raleigh's smaller shops, but it features a plethora of outlets and a small but mighty menu of tea, espresso and breakfast and lunch options.
- Pro tip: The shop makes a delicious blue matcha latte (Lucille likes to drink it iced), a mean oat milk latte and, if you get there before 11am on weekdays, their breakfast sandwiches, made with New York bagels, are some of the best in town.
- Location: 725 Tucker St.
Black & White Coffee at Videri Chocolate Factory
- Also one of Raleigh's smaller coffee spots, Black & White makes up for its size in reliably consistent espresso drinks and the smell of chocolate wafting under your nose.
- While you're there, we fully support grabbing a soft service ice cream to enjoy with a whole milk latte, if that's your thing.
- Location: 327 W Davie St.

- If you're more of a tea drinker and need as much natural light as you can get, Heirloom might be the spot for you.
- The shop has plenty of outlets, a couple of cozy chairs and can be a great place for taking meetings with a (little bit) larger group. Plus, they recently started serving dinner, and we're itching to try it.
- Location: 219 S West St.
- Pine State is a great spot for solo working, and also happens to be Zach's favorite shop in Raleigh.
- The shop has high-top community tables inside, with even more seating outside on its patio. Plus, it shares a space with Runologie, so when you need a break, you can browse running shoes and on-sale gear.
Jubala Coffee (Hillsborough location)
- A staple in the Raleigh coffee scene, Jubala has a sprawling menu with plenty of seasonal specials and made-in-house biscuits.
- The shop is best for solo working, with plenty of bar seating and small booths with access to outlets, but it has a few tables for groups of 4.
- 2100 Hillsborough St.
Bonus: Benchwarmers Bagels in Transfer Food Hall serves excellent coffee, plus the best bagels in town, and Transfer has tons of space for remote work.
- Boulted Bread is also a great place to work and sip on (really, really good) espresso drinks, but has a slim selection of outlets. But, bread.
Durham
- Durham's swankiest hotel lobby is also one of the city's favorite places to take a meeting or get some work done thanks to its cozy booths and tables.
- Pro tip: Order the hotel's signature coffee soda.
- Location: 315 E. Chapel Hill St.

- It's only been open for a couple of months, but the Common Market is quickly becoming a magnet for people doing computer work or taking meetings thanks to its plentiful tables upstairs, downstairs and (when it's warm) outside.
- It helps that you can quickly order a delicious sandwich, snacks, drinks or order a coffee from Mid Bloom while you work as well.
- Location: 1821 Green St.
Cocoa Cinnamon (Chapel Hill Road)
- Of Cocoa Cinnamon's three popular coffee shops in Durham, the Chapel Hill Street location is its most spacious, with several long rows of tables ideal for coworking.
- It's also the only location that makes in-house churros — the sweet remote work pairing you didn't know you needed.
- Location: 2013 Chapel Hill Road

- One of Durham's oldest coffee shops, Bean Traders in South Durham has space and parking aplenty.
- Location: 105 W. N.C. 54 Highway
Bonus: Namu's cafe on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard has a beautiful outdoor space on warm days. The Oak House, while on the smaller side, is a popular meeting spot in downtown Durham.
Chapel Hill/Carrboro
- An abundance of tables and outlets and WiFi as strong as its coffee, there's a reason Open Eye Cafe has been a favorite haunt for graduate students and townies alike for years.
- Pro tip: Grab some food next door at Neal's Deli before or after you start working.
- Location: 101 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro
- You'll be competing with students for a table, but Epilogue's collection of books and Mexican breakfast options makes it worth it.
- Location: 109 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

Bonus: The small Caffe Driade mainly consists of outdoor seating but it's lovely to work essentially in a forest on a nice day.
Morrisville
- Since it opened in 2018, The Fount has provided a welcome gathering spot for the area around Research Triangle Park, which had no shortage of workers but few places besides offices for them to work out of.
- Pro tip: Lucille thinks The Fount has the best pumpkin spice latte in town.
- Location: 10954 Chapel Hill Road

