Duck's Cottage

Duck’s Cottage is a gem in OBX that is a perfect place to patron if you’re looking for a great way to start your day or get an afternoon boost. It’s a cute and cozy shop with a really appealing atmosphere. As an avid coffee drinker, the coffee isn’t “the best I’ve ever had”, but it’s still good! Even as someone who’s not much of a reader, I appreciate the selection of books! Duck’s Cottage is worth a visit for sure and could become a staple of your trips to the Banks.

Great little shop, love the books but unfortunately the coffee is terrible. I had just a plain drip coffee and it tastes very under extracted, bitter water if you will. Seems and tastes like they never truly clean their coffee pots. The top of my coffee looks like a mineral mosaic….yuck! Also seemed like we were inconveniencing the concierges in their conversation. The waterfront is gorgeous though!

Just got back from our annual OBX family vacation. We've been getting our daily coffee at Duck's Cottage for the past 15 years. The Coconut Crunch is insanely delicious. The staff is super friendly and really add to the whole experience. We always make sure to bring home 3-4 extra bags of coffee so we can savor the memories. Can't wait to be back next summer!

Duck Cottage is a treat. My wife and I discovered it years ago as OBX visitors, and are delighted that we now live within walking distance. It may remind DC residents of a much smaller and rustic version of Dupont Circle's Kramers. Duck Cottage has an interesting history as it began its life decades ago hosting wealthy hunters. Enjoy browsing the staff book selections as you make your way up to the counter. Better still, support independent bookstores and buy one. The muffins and pastries are quite good. There are lots of choices, but don't miss trying the coconut-flavored coffee. If you can't snag a seat in the cozy seating area up front, you can opt for a chair or bench on the adjacent shopping center boardwalk. There will be a line and a wait if you visit in peak season, so bring your relaxed resort attitude and enjoy the Duck Cottage experience.

Delicious coffee. We got a hot pistachio latte and a cold brew with liquid cane sugar. Cream is self serve.

I hosted my family to coffee and a pastry. I blurted out to the young lady taking orders if they made hearts on their lattes. When I picked up my latte, one of the baristas announced that she made me a heart! Frankly, by doing such a sweet thing they stole my heart! What a wonderful moment and morning! - Adam (Virginia)

I ordered the Mucky Duck. The first drink was a bit "Mucky" tasting but it got better the more more I drank it. I would order it again. Staff was friendly and quick at getting my order ready. They have a very nice gift shop area inside that sells things like books, T-shirts, cards and other small trinkets. I bought a really cute card. There is no indoor seating, but there are some chairs on the patio, so you will probably need to plan a to go order and take it with you somewhere else. It is in a really good area with a bunch of other shops nearby. Recommend.

A perfect treasure nestled along the Duck boardwalk. Coffee is perfect (try their custom brews) and they have many interesting books and gifts. I went here three times over two days.

Delish coffee, cute merch and great books! Grab your coffee then check out all the other spots near by

Great if you want coffee but not to shop for books. The coffee line dominates the space and makes for awkward and uncomfortable book browsing. Claustrophobic.

There's nothing like combining coffee and shopping on vacation--it truly makes for a perfect day. A friend recommended this quaint coffee shop that also doubles as a bookshop and souvenir store. These kinds of shops are becoming rare, so I was delighted to find one. This particular shop is known for its coconut crunch coffee. As one who may be coconut obsessed, I was excited to give it a try. While they do charge for refills, one cup is more than enough for me. On a chilly day in the Outer Banks, that warm cup of coffee was a welcome companion as I explored the charming little stores within walking distance.

Very cute bookstore with small knick knacks and such. I bought a Duck's Cottage T-shift just because of the cute logo and perfect soft blue color. As they maze you through all of the books and things for sell it is impossible to not pick something up. By the popularity of this coffee shop I was expecting a much better latte. I ordered an iced honey latte. The espresso tasted burnt and they use small, crushed ice which immediately waters down lattes. Would not recommend.

Hands down favorite stop during our trip to Outer Banks. I was alone with the baby and could not have asked for a better spot to spend the day. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. This is a cozy bookshop and coffee shop in one, and as an added bonus they have a turtle feeding pond in the back as well! Delicious coffee, great people, fantastic local stop.

Love this adorable coffee cottage. I've been coming here for over a decade and our week in Duck typically consists of afternoon iced coffees and a stroll through the book store. My boys love the muffins and the Where's Waldo contest.

I love the idea of books and coffee. My first visit to the shop. I loved the vibe. Although very tiny for trying to look at books and wait for coffee the great coffee made up for it. Beautiful shop. Thank you.

Fun little coffee shop book store combo in the heart of Duck. The folks working here have always been very friendly and the coffee and pastries are good. The outdoor seating area is beautiful in nice weather, with a pond to sit beside.

Staff was super nice. Iced vanilla latte was delicious, but kind of confused why they do not put lids on their drinks, leaving it to the customer. Not really an issue, but just something I was not expecting. The chocolate chip muffin was very large and delicious! The German butter cake was so amazing as well. The atmosphere in there is very cute, a little book store with the coffee shop and bakery attached. As far as I saw, only bakery items are there, no hot food. Overall I would totally recommend you to stop by if you're in the area!

Top notch cute place with fun staff, great coffee and books galore. I bet it's popular in summer!

Rare to find really good coffee...so much better than coffee we brew at home. The bakery items are sooo fresh and tasty We bought coffee and muffins and sat on the comfortable porch

The staff was rude... while I was waiting for my coffee my sons pointed out that they were making fun of their customers- rolling their eyes, giggling- pointing and whispering to eachother. It was appaulling... Then we got our drinks... they were terrible; watered down and over priced. I generally support local business - but will head to Starbucks next time we're visiting our home in Carolla. Don't be fooled by the cute aesthetic- there's nothing cute about bully's and gross coffee.

This is a super cute, small cafe and book shop located right off the Duck boardwalk that's absolutely worth a visit! I enjoyed it so much that I went there twice. The menu has delicious options, I ordered the coffee with hazelnut, I forget the name, and a cheese Danish and both were deliciously sweet. They also have a decently wide range of books for children and adults but not so wide that its overwhelming. The books vary from big, popular, current reads to small, local authors too, which I really appreciated. Along the walls you'll also find cute little things such as calendars and puzzles. I bought a book the first time when I stopped in the cafe and then the second time I bought a murder mystery book written by a local author and a souvenir button. They also have bookmarks advertising that they partner with librio if you're interested in supporting an audiobook company that isn't Amazon and puts more money into the pockets of the authors that we're supporting. I only subtracted a star because it is a tight fit if you're there when it's busy, which it was during my first visit. Theres not a lot of room for multiple people to browse the same area and it can make that a bit awkward, however my second visit where there was only one other person shopping made it much more easy to browse and take in all the different things the store had to offer.

I don't drink coffee, but the books they fit here amazed me! I couldn't believe how small it is but yet how many book options they had. I was very happy to see some books there by my fave author, Lisa Wingate, too. Definitely check this place out!

Such a great small business! Get your coffee from here instead of Starbucks or Dunkin'. The place is very calming and homey and the coffee is delicious! 10/10, no notes.

This little coffee shop is a gem. I had the Purple Martin latte infused with lavender and vanilla and it was wonderful. I went back about 4 times in our visit to Duck, NC. The variety of biscottis is a huge bonus and the staff is very friendly. Can't wait till next year when we vacation there again, to enjoy my favorite coffee spot in the Outer Banks.

Dropped in for a leisurely visit in the off season. Super happy that they were open! Ambiance is relaxed and cozy. The coffee is reasonably priced and you pour and mix it yourself. Enjoyed browsing their books and got away with a great puzzle and two journals. What a lovely way to while away the morning.

Quick service, good coffee, fun and yummy drink suggestions. Good atmosphere and handicap or stroller accessible (just slightly tight once you get inside, but it is possible!). Good book displays with recommendations for all your reading needs. I recommend the 1/2 sweet Purple Martin!

All of Ducks Cottage coffee and hot beverages were delicious. I tried their hot apple cider and their "snicker-duck" hot drinks and both were absolutely delicious. They also have very tasty treats like biscotti and plenty of books for everyone to enjoy. Check it out!

Coffee is always so delicious and the customer service is equally as great! Accidentally broke my plastic cup for an iced drink and they were so kind and remade it! Look forward to always coming here for coffee when we're down in OBX!

The town of Duck has always been incredible to visit and it was made even better when Duck's Cottage opened its doors. The inside is the epitome of cozy and comfortable. We visited three times during our week long trip. One member of my family had the Coconut Crunch Coffee all three times, it was so good they drank it without sugar or creamer. We also had the Hot Chocolate which has a delicious delicate chocolate flavor. The Chai Tea Latte was a personal favorite with its perfectly spicy taste. If you're looking for a beach read or a cup of deliciousness this is the place for you!

Continued positive endorsement of Duck's Cottage's lattes, coffee drinks and goodies...especially during the uncrowded off season. Feels like you have the whole place to yourself. :)

I stopped by here at least 3 days on my week trip with my mom. She really enjoyed the mint grasshopper iced latte and the crumb cake! I had the vanilla chai biscotti which was the best biscotti I think I've ever had. It was soft and dense not hard like biscotti normally is. My mom thought the salted chocolate toffee biscotti was kind of boring but enjoyed it more when she dipped it into her hot coffee.

Very cute shop with good coffee. I could have stayed here much longer but unfortunately was on our way out and had to get back on the road.

If you're vacationing in the OBX, this is the best coffee place- delicious pastries (the German butter cake especially) and yummy coffee! I highly recommend this spot!

What a cute little book and coffee shop! They also have a handful of pastries. Not a ton of indoor seating, but they have a small love seat and two small tables with chairs. Shop around for some books and grab a drink! They also have a covered porch with some benches. I ordered a London Fog which was not on their menu. It could have been a little more sweet, but overall it wasn't bad!

This place is really unique Coffee and books Small and quaint Definitely worth a shot next time you are in Duck

The absolute cutest coffee and book place! I went here with my family and we loved it! All of the beverages were so yummy and I loved the selection of books! Highly recommend! My new favorite place in OBX!

Visit: first week of November 2023 Duck's Cottage Coffee and Books is a quaint shop in what is one of the oldest buildings in town. The coffee and pastries tasted rich and fresh! I was a bit surprised to learn they do not make drinks that require the use of a blender (probably takes too long), but offer drinks with crushed ice. I ordered a chocolate cheese muffin and an iced Snapping Turtle (not on the menu), an iced latte with caramel syrup and chocolate sauce topped with house made whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Both were DELICIOUS, but a little less ice would've been better because my medium drink was gone in four sips. The store initially felt unwelcoming due to the many signs and brightly colored floor arrows directing the flow of traffic, but it's understandable due to tight quarters and the heavy traffic they likely get during the regular season. There were just two other customers browsing books during my visit and it was awkward trying to squeeze past them, so I went counter to the rules of the signs/floor arrows and walked right up to the counter. I can't imagine doing that when they are busy. Customer service was nice from the three women I engaged with but slow. I'll gladly take quality over speed, which it was! Don't expect to make this a spot to linger half the day as there isn't a lot of seating with a small area indoors for about 6 and seating outdoors on the porch & side of the building. I'll definitely return as they have good coffee, yummy pastries, books to browse, easy parking, ties to local history, and are located in a great area to watch the sun set.

Drove up from South Nags Head to check out DC. My late wife co-founded a Coffee and Book Club at our Church 26 years ago and it continues under new leadership in her absence. We frequently vaca'd in Duck over our nearly 30 years of marriage but never heard of DC until a friend recommended this past weekend. First, love the location. Duck has its own ambiance which is reminiscent of some spots on Cape Cod. My bride, coffee and book fiend she was would have LOVED this place! Don't be dismayed by the long lines; service, as promised is lightning fast. Lots of coffee choices ranging from S-L with a 24oz size listed for good measure. I ordered a large hot Americana with Amaretto flavoring and cream. I like my coffee sweeter than most, but, this was not sweet. However, as the beverage cooled, I grew to really enjoy this cuppa Joe. Prices? Well, if you can afford to come here on vacation, you can easily handle this expenditure. And, as a predominately seasonal business, it's justified. With tip, my Americana was just north of six bucks. Besides coffee and books, there are many sweet treats to tempt the palate as well. Glad I made the run from MP 19. Recommend.

I love it! Stopped by here (the air conditioning felt amazing) for some iced coffee and a snack and it was perfect! Love the bookstore / coffee shop combo. I perused some books before heading in line. Upon barista recommendation I had the cold brew and also ordered the strawberry rhubarb muffin. Both were awesome and hit the spot. The coffee shop is pretty small with limited seating, but it wasn't a problem at all and I didn't have to wait long at all for my coffee and was able to snag a seat. Definitely recommend!

Love this quaint coffee/book store. When walking in....the smell of coffee is just circulating the store. They do good with book choices and cute tchotchkes. We love stopping by when visiting OBX.

I have mixed feelings. This used to be my absolute favorite bookstore in OBX. Due to the pandemic, presumably, it has been converted almost totally into a coffee shop. They still sell books but there are no chairs inside and the coffee line takes up most of the cozy interior space. But kudos to them for pivoting to keep things going, and the coffee business is booming. This is a historic cottage, dating from 1921. Because the interior capacity is limited, they now have more outdoor seating, around the cute little pond right behind the structure. So grab a coffee and pastry and you can take in some really relaxing scenery.

This is a place I have to stop at- usually multiple times- during my OBX trips! My favorites are the coconut cold brew and the Nutty Duck drinks, they have just the right amount of flavor without overpowering the coffee taste! We usually buy a bag of the Coconut Crunch coffee to make at home during the week and then some to take home with us as well- the coffee is absolutely perfect for summer!

We were in Duck last week and had some iced lattes from here a few times and they were terrible! We could not figure out why the coffee was so weak. The drinks just tasted like milk. Then one day we realized we could not hear the sound of an espresso machine and we asked and they told us they premake their espresso in the morning and keep it in a large container that they pour "shots" from. We were stunned and we never went back for coffee. The bookstore is great but skip the espresso drinks. Treehouse Cafe in Duck is awesome. They use Counter Culture coffee and have an actual espresso machine! Plus their biscuits to die for.

11/10 recommend! My girlfriend and I were looking for a spot to hang out on a rainy day while vacationing in the outer banks, and Duck's Cottage was the perfect place. They have amazing pastries, delicious + strong coffee, and wonderful people. We went multiple times during our trip.

new favorite coffee spot in OBX! Cute little cottage filled with popular books & gray coffee options. The service is incredibly fast & they are so friendly. I got the Nutty duck & the Swann - both great. a few spots inside and outside to sit. Highly recommend!

WHITE Chocolate Swan coffee is a must Mucky duck was good too. Spoiler alert: try a piece of Pistachio Lemon Biscotti, and you'll end up getting a dozen to go!

Excellent coffee! I got the iced Mucky Duck and it was sooooo good. I'm seriously craving one now but I'm 500 miles away. Help! My boyfriend got the hot Swan (or something like that), and he really enjoyed it too. They were abiding by covid rules so only 6 people were allowed in the store. It would be nice if they had seating right outside their place but there IS a cute little picnic table by the lake there that we used instead. We both also got muffins and they were good too (one chocolate and one banana nut). This coffee shop is also a book store but we didn't really look around too much. Would definately come here again when in the area: if I knew about it sooner, it would have been a daily visit for me probably. Perfect for your morning or a mid-day pick-me-up!

Located in an area of small businesses right on the water, this coffee shop and bookstore combo was a lovely find. Wonderful selection of beverages served up quickly and efficiently. A little on the spendy side but we don't mind paying for quality.

Good selection of books but weird and pretentious. The coffee was mediocre at best. I ordered 3 coffees and 2 biscotti. The coffees had weird after taste and absolutely no flavor - and we ordered flavors on our coffee. The biscotti are gross and tasted like they were 2 weeks old. I wish there were better options in Duck for coffee.

This coffee and book store has a very focused selection of hot and cold beverages and pastries. The book selection is pretty fantastic for the store size, with a nice kid's section. Very progressive and witty titles. There's minimal indoor and outdoor seating tucked into a picturesque shopping village near the Sound.

Quaint little bookstore and coffee shop. Great selection of new releases and Outer Banks themed books for all ages, even a great YA selection. My coffee was delicious. Really cute shirts, mugs, and stickers for sale and a seating area to chill out.

Best coffee so far in the outer banks on trip day 1. Loved that they use the small round bits on ice for iced coffee. Lots of add in syrup flavors. Coffee cake was also great. Cute atmosphere.

Great coffee in charming bookstore. There is a line at 7:15am during the summer so a little congested. Won't always be like that. It's in a cute string of newer shops. Coffee is worth the summer wait and crowded parking lot. Anywhere will be crowded during the season. So choose this crowd for coffee.

Cute little indie coffeeshop and bookstore. It's definitely a grab and go type of place. Nice location in the entrance of the Waterfront Shops so a perfect place for a pick-me-up before or after you souvenir shop. It was the last day and stop of our weekend trip so I decided to stop in and grab some java for the road. I ordered one of their specials, the Nutty Duck. I usually ask for iced coffee but considering the 60 degree weather, I asked for it hot. Nice cup of espresso with some added hazelnut and caramel syrup and the workers were super nice and personable.

Great place to chill with I think the best coffee / tea in the duck area. Friendly staff, they get the line moving at a good pace, lots of books to choose from. A++. Strongly recommend

went in and grabbed an iced coffee on monday morning, the cashier looked like she would rather be anywhere else and her attitude verified that, i don't care if you have RBF - we are visiting and excited to try cafes in the morning, that experience definitely ruined my vibe, made me not return, and I won't recommend it to the friends I'm here with.

I absolutely love this coffee shop! Whenever we're at the outer banks I go every day. The dirty chai and island breeze (coconut lavender latte) are my favorites. The pastries are incredible (specifically the German butter cake). It's just such a cute little place with really friendly, helpful staff! Definitely worth a trip!