The Optimist - A Coffee and Tea Haven in Raleigh, NC

It's been a while since I've reviewed a place, and just like the percolation of a delicious brew, The Optimist brought that creative side back! The register is right by the door, which was a little jarring on a Black Friday, but Maple greeted me warmly and with a smile. As I looked over the menu, I had a short chat with her, and was treated with kindness while rewarded with knowledge. I got a parfait, yogurt bowl, and two of their specials. The Stacey and the Cherry on top, which were perfect for what we were expecting. A silky iced latte with notes of vanilla and honey. I'm SO IMPRESSED with the cherry on top. Usually cherry "flavoring" can be jarring in a hot coffee, but the cherry and coffee mix together like two loves on their first dance. Did I mention the space is very well done, with a great vibe for socializing, working, or just writing a Yelp review. I love the plants, and thoughtful touches throughout the space. Regardless of how you felt walking in here, you'll feel a bit more optimistic walking out

We love trying new places on the weekend for coffee. The Optimist was recommended by a coworker so we gave it a go. First, the parking situation is not the best. The location is in a strip mall set up and was packed. We opted for street parking which is somewhat available, but watch for signs. Second, the drinks were ok, I do feel like the price was a bit high for such a small drink. Third, I ordered a breakfast sandwich that was much smaller than I was expecting for the price. It was a yummy sandwich but I finished it in a few bites. Overall, the cashier was nice and friendly, the aesthetic inside was very calm and inviting.

Such a beautiful coffee shop! Love seeing all the live plants vs fake plastic ones. Good vibe...cool things to look at...wed be back all the time if we lived here - but we are just visiting Raleigh for the weekend.

Stopped in for some coffee and a light breakfast while visiting the Raleigh area. This was recommended to us by some local folks and I really love a chill coffee shop vibe. They have indoor and outdoor seating and I LOVED all the plant decor as well. The paninis while very simple were made fresh and the coffee was outstanding. Definitely great spot to stop into while in the area. Also a nice spot to work from. 10/10 recommend a visit to The Optimist.

Backstory: I drove to three coffee shops before settling on The Optimist. The Optimist offers a quiet atmosphere with soft music which produces an environment of productivity. Definitely needed on a Monday Second time here, but my first time trying the food. I tried an egg and cheese croissant . To my surprise the eggs were made fresh. Say what?!!! Yes! Fresh. Definitely would recommend with honey. I set here from 10:30am until 2:00pm and I felt like the time flew by. I would recommend ‍

Atmosphere: The Optimist has a beautifully decorated interior, with bold colors, plants, and skeletons all around the shop. The space is a perfect place to work, study, or just hang out, as there are a decent number of tables. Seats can fill up fast though, especially during peak hours. Service: The baristas are friendly, and though it can get crowded at times, the food and drinks come out in a reasonable amount of time. Food: For drinks, we've tried their Matcha Made in Lemon, Flash Coffee, The Stacey, and other seasonal specialities. The Matcha Made in Lemon, a mixture of matcha, raspberry, and lemonade, had a perfect balance of grassiness, fruitiness, and sweetness. The Flash Coffee was vibrant and great for any coffee lover. Lastly, The Stacey, as well as their other lattes, have not disappointed us. The Optimist is always coming up with fun flavor combinations, making each cafe visit a new adventure. For food, we've ordered their Lunch Club, which although small, had a perfectly toasted sourdough that paired well with the hot turkey and vegetables. Overall: We love The Optimist and are excited to hear about their second location opening up! We're looking forward to returning and enjoying more of their specialty drinks.

I can see why this place got such reviews, probably one of the best coffee shops I've been to. They have such a great combination of the obvious, coffee and tea, breakfast foods, sweet treats, beer and wine and great service? Great casual atmosphere, people were studying. Working or on this Sunday hanging out on a hot sunny day. Their coffee is Amazing, perfect strong, not too milky cappuccino is what I had. The cinnamon oat muffin was nice and soft inside , crunchy outside. Perfect with my coffee. My friend got the avocado toast. Which hit the spot she said. Her coffee was also extremely good. Another smoothly run place that knows how to do it right. They have a great space inside, and a quaint little patio out back and seating outside upfront. Absolutely fell in love with this place, it's a shame I don't live in Raleigh!