The Left Hook Coffee and Press Coffee, Crêpes & Cocktails are two new must-see coffee shops in Raleigh. Both encompass all the best things about a typical coffee run while also bringing a unique twist to shake up how you usually experience it.
The Left Hook Coffee is located on West Morgan Street, about a 10-minute walk from North Campus. It boasts an inspired menu, including some unique house syrups like brown sugar vanilla, honey cardamom, maple cinnamon and Nesquik.
A latte with brown sugar vanilla syrup is best suited for those who enjoy the taste of coffee with just a little added note of sweetness. A latte with honey cardamom syrup would be well-liked by coffee drinkers who have a love-hate relationship with the actual taste of coffee and want something with a bold and spiced flavor.
The atmosphere at Left Hook Coffee feels like walking into an antique store, with a homey assortment of vintage signs, nostalgic artifacts and art from local vendors.
The bright music playing and the friendly, conversational staff enhance the warm energy and make it the perfect getaway from the cold weather.
Left Hook also has an assortment of non-coffee items, including teas, sodas and breakfast foods. They offer house-made chai, mizuba matcha and chocolate soda and serve breakfast sandwiches and burritos Wednesday through Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m.
The establishment is located in Gussie’s bar. The majority of seating space inside is dedicated to customers of the bar, so you may want to plan to sit outside or take your items to go. There is plenty of open seating outdoors, which is perfectly suited for enjoying a coffee on a nice day.
If you’d like to sit indoors for a full dining experience alongside your coffee, Press Coffee, Crêpes & Cocktails is the perfect place for you.
Press is located at 400 Hillsborough St., about a 10-minute drive from Main Campus. It is a European-inspired coffeehouse that encourages the enjoyment and savoring of coffee, turning it into a sit-down occasion rather than a drive-thru run.
They offer many specialty brunch items such as salmon crêpes, turkey brie crêpes and strawberry ricotta toast. If you have a sweet tooth, they also offer classic crêpes with Nutella or peanut butter, banana cream pie crêpes and stuffed French toast crêpes.
Along with the brunch menu, there is no shortage of uniqueness in the variety of coffee they serve. In addition to the typical assortment of espresso and cold brew, they offer banana bread lattes, salted pistachio mochas and cinnamon plum orange tea lattes.
In terms of non-coffee drinks, they have chess pie hot chocolate, matcha lattes and cinnamon plum tea.
It can get pretty crowded during popular times like Saturday mornings; however, the service is still fast, and there are QR codes you can use to order, which increases efficiency as well.
The floor is lined with tables and booths, there are places to sit at the bar and there is an outdoor seating area. However, due to its popularity, the wait times usually sit at around 30-45 minutes during peak hours.
If you’re in a hurry, you can take advantage of their to-go counter, where you can order all the items on the menu for quick carryout.
Overall, Press curates an environment that makes you want to stay and enjoy each sip of coffee. The atmosphere is lively, and the conversation never stops flowing, except perhaps to ask for a refill.
The Left Hook Coffee and Press Coffee, Crêpes & Cocktails are great examples of how even within the same industry, each small business brings a vastly different experience and specialty.
As consumers, we can shape our community with seemingly insignificant decisions, such as selecting a place to get a morning coffee. Being conscientious about shopping local, whether coffee or otherwise, fosters a diverse and vibrant future for Raleigh by encouraging the continued development of the specialty businesses that set us apart as a thriving, innovative city.
