NoRa Cafe

My daughter and I decided to stop here upon the suggestion of someone we met at another coffee shop last week. This place is awesome!! They have a huge menu, including coffee, tea, beer, pastries, full lunch menu and who knows what else. When we stopped by the place was hopping, which was a very good sign. Since I'm a PITA and a challenge by having Celiac and being Vegan, I've found it very helpful to just ask for the barista's opinion when I'm at a new place. This one was great! She gave me quite a few different options and even let me read the ingredients in a few of the products (thank you very much for that since I know exactly what I'm looking for and it generally saves a lot of time). I ended up getting the Spicy Mocha with oat milk and my daughter got the Milky Way with oat milk. She also got a piece of their house made coffee cake and I got the Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Ball (since it was the only GF & V option). Everything was delicious! 5 stars all the way around. As a bigger bonus, they carry Armored Cow beer in their cooler and had some of the gluten free options by them... including my favorite (even though it's off season right now): Pumpkin Spice Ale. I had to grab 2 of them for another time. Very cool! Overall, this was a fantastic recommendation and I'm very glad that we decided to check it out while we were in that area of town.

We decided to check this place out after gaining dog-eared, one of our favorite bookstores. This place had lots of seating and would be a wonderful place to study or hang out. We didn’t get any food so I can’t speak to that. The latte we ordered was good. The books are a nice touch but people go here for the coffee and space more than for books.

I decided to come by this morning right before heading into work. Because why not! I liked the vibes inside! Super chill, kinda pleasant and friendly kinda.. I came alone and kinda felt alone but Tee at the register was really kind as I shared this is my first time here. Recommended a delish hot drink that I demolished as I pulled into my work parking lot. I love avacado toast and I got a blueberry muffin thing. Sometimes when you come to places alone - me I like to feel weekend, I kinda felt that way but I plan to come back soon.

Love the gluten free options! The specialty lattes are on point. Customer service was great and the ambiance was both comfortable and eclectic. The library is a delight. There are places to work, converse, read and listen to music. Highly recommend!

A true gem of a cafe! My friend and I were traveling to NOLA from CT and had a layover in NC. We looked up craft coffee shops and NoRa caught our eye! Everyone there is so kind and the food is delicious; 10/10 recommend!

Great atmosphere with ample indoor and outdoor seating! The Hazy Day was delightful and so tasty, but the drip coffee was just okay (it was a little weak).

I really love this place. Plenty of parking, great coffee and the mix of coffee / bookstore is really great. Kitchen closes at 2 pm I think something to be aware of. Nose level is a bit interesting. They have two rooms but they both have a bit of an echo effect where it's louder than it should be. Maybe adding some sound dampening pads would help.

My absolute favorite coffee shop in Raleigh! I have probably overstayed my welcome here while working or studying, but the staff are always so welcoming and nice. The coffee and food are great and affordable. I love that they have opened it up to their connected book store to add more seating. The patio is wonderful on nice days!

Great coffee, but an all-star lineup of Triangle pastry bakers. Muffins, coffee cakes, morning buns, croissants. Lots of seating and great vibe. If there's a better coffee shop in the Triangle I haven't seen it

This café was slammed on a weekend, but it did offer efficient service. A buzzer warned me when food was ready, but I did have to watch out for my drink. The Liège waffle I came for had some nice pearl sugar and was available with some toppings of which blueberry was a wise choice. Seeing Oatly is an option, I opted for an oat milk Matcha, which was quite substantial and offered suitable bitterness to contrast the pearl sugar. A number of baked goods were on sale from what appeared to be quality vendors elsewhere in the area.

Nora Cafe is a gem. They are consistent in their quality of drinks and food, good atmosphere and local charm. Do not sleep on the pull aparts! Michael's English Muffin Everything with Egg, Bacon and Pimento cheese is my go to sandwich here. They even have gluten free offerings - the kitchen sink cookie is good even if you aren't gluten intolerant!

first time trying out NoRa and will be back! I had an everything bagel with cheese, turkey sausage, egg, and tomato with a vanilla espresso latte, both very yummy!

Cozy and intimate setting. The latte was creamy and well-balanced. Great place to unwind

One of the best hot Mocha's I've had. And the Asiago scone!!!!! I wish I had bought another. I ate it in the car. I couldn't stop. Great vibe in the shop and they have a small used book store on the side. Staff were really helpful. I'll be back!

Solid coffee, great menu. They have a ton of different flavors and the staff was very friendly making different recommendations. There is ample seating and a little study nook that is more private. I went on a Sunday morning so it was pretty empty until 9am it got super busy and you wouldn't have been able to find a seat. Their pastries looked really good, I did not have any but they were very large. The biggest negative was the bathrooms were pretty gross and should be cleaned more.

We stopped here on vacay and it was a cute little cafe! The service was fast and I particularly loved the build your own sandwich! No complaints.

Many sugar free syrup options, yes please!!! It is difficult to find a coffee shop that caters to those with sugar free needs, so thank you, thank you, thank you! On top of that the Rosemary English muffin was delish! The pastry counter when ordering was also very tempting...only thing that would make this 5+ stars would be some sugar free dessert options but really loved this place regardless!

Must stop in the North Raleigh area! The atmosphere is very laid back. Staff very friendly and helpful. Service was very fast too. 9:30a on a Friday morning was definitely hopping, so there weren't any tables open unfortunately. Got the lazy snow day latte half sweet, breakfast sandwich and blueberry danish. All incredibly delicious! I love finding cool coffee shops while traveling. I was just in town for one night and stopped here on my out, but maaaaan I wish I lived closer. I'd be here all the time. This one is on my list of favorites.

We came to NoRa on a weekday around 8 AM and it was pretty bumpin'! We ended up ordering some breakfast sandwiches and some lattes. I normally get a regular latte when I go out for coffee but for some reason the "Honey Bee" was calling my name so I ordered it instead :) It was pretty tasty! The breakfast sandwiches took a while, but they were definitely cooked to order (and the place was busy, as mentioned) so that was fine. They used turkey sausage which is maybe not my preference but it tasted pretty good regardless :) NoRa was reasonably spacious and we managed to find a table for our small family. Overall, nothing extraordinary but it got the job done. I wouldn't drive out of my way to come here, but if I was in the area, I would definitely consider stopping by to grab another Honey Bee!

Only 4 stars because I couldn't get the first couple of choices I wanted to order. I ended up with h and cheese croissant which I didn't care much for. I wanted to try the waffle or a plain croissant but they did not have either. The latte however was excellent. Prices were great. I was surprised how good the prices were and staff were friendly as well as quick service. Is definitely stop back be side I want to try the waffle.

Atmosphere: NoRa offers a spacious setting ideal for hanging out with friends, studying, or working. The shop is split up into a lounging/working area and a cafe side, where you order your drinks. Though there are big windows for natural light to shine through during the day, the fluorescent lighting was especially prominent when we went at night. Service: The baristas were friendly, and our drink was promptly served. Food: We ordered a hot matcha latte, which was both earthy and flavorful. The balance of sweetness and bitterness was good, and the drink was hot and freshly made. Overall: Our visit to NoRa was pleasant, particularly as a late-night spot for studying and grabbing a quick matcha. We're eager to return and try some of their other drinks!

great ambiance and vibe!! what i LOVE about NoRa is there's PLENTY of room to sit- it's not like a cafe that's overcrowded and all squeezed together. there's a small separation between people who want to dine and talk and people who go to do work. there's staff was SO SO SO SOOOO kind!!! constantly on the floor cleaning up, making sure peoples orders were right, and leaving compliments. first time here and definitely not the last!

Really enjoyed the coffee here and egg sandwiches as they let you customize it your own way. The coffee was great and the inside is perfect for enjoying with family. The staff were friendly and patient as I did take my time ordering.

NoRa Cafe is a haven for latte enthusiasts like myself! Their extensive range of flavored lattes and seasonal offerings always keeps me coming back for more. The cozy indoor seating and spacious outdoor area which is a perfect setting for catching up with friends or enjoying some alone time. The staff are friendly and attentive and let's not forget about their pastry selection! There's something for everyone, including gluten-free options. Ample parking in the plaza near Food Lion makes getting my caffeine fix a breeze. NoRa Cafe is my go-to spot for coffee on the way to work or a stop by during the weekend.

Not much open in Raleigh on a Monday, so we ended up here while in need of coffee and a quick breakfast bite. The English muffin with egg, turkey sausage and American cheese was actually pretty decent, but the chocolate chip muffin and iced oat milk latte were both meh. Unless you want something in this immediate area, you can get better fare at Jubala, Sola, etc. Just found it super average overall.

The vanilla latte was amazing and the workers were so friendly! I had a great experience getting coffee from here and will for sure come back next time I'm in the area.

Super busy in there on the weekend but there is a lot of seating inside and outside. There are vegan & nonvegan options. The coffee was delicious ! My friend had a blueberry muffin.

I came by after dropping my dog off for an early morning vet appointment hoping to get a coffee and a keto box that I saw mentioned in a previous review. Got the coffee, but the staff had no idea about any keto options not could not make any suggestions as they were clueless what that meant. Since it was a bit busy I decided to just take my coffee with heavy cream and go somewhere else for food. That's when I discovered no heavy cream just half and half or CoffeeMate not-legally-cream. Somewhat disappointing since I had read the response to said prior review and one of the responses was that they would make sure to stock heavy cream. That review was from some time ago so maybe they just stopped offering keto options. Those things being said, the staff was friendly and the coffee was good. Nice atmosphere. Plenty of seating. I might have given it more stars if I could have tried the food. It looked good, just not what I am eating.

The drink I ordered is 3.5 stars, but the environment is 5 stars!!! I got an iced white chocolate, almond, and hazelnut latte and I think the white chocolate is what made it not the best. Tasted too torani-like, like it wasn't rich and decadent. The baristas were all super sweet. The bakery case was STOCKED on a late Friday afternoon, but I didn't try anything. I will have to next time! Everything from the tables to the quieter work environment to the chitchat behind the counter made this such an enjoyable space, and very conducive to remote work. The wifi name is NoraChai. NEED I SAY MORE?! I love that!!!

Love this gem of a cafe! It's spacious and right next to a bookstore. I've not ordered anything I didn't like from this cafe. Highly recommend their coffee cake and lattes :)

Had a good experience here. I enjoy the vibe of people studying, working, reading, and hanging. The cashier was really helpful in explaining their really large menu Of specialty coffee drinks and food items. I had a build your own breakfast sandwich with English muffin Turkey sausage egg and cheese. My spouse had one as well but with a bagel, which looked better. We had 3 coffees, 3 breakfast sandwiches, and a strudel and our total was around 45; 5-6 dollars for a latte is a little steep, although they were very tasty and creative. Overall, I find this to be a little on the pricier side for coffee and a breakfast sandwich, but I'd rather support local than a chain so all things considered, not bad. I also got the larger sized latte and was disappointed to find it was filled about 3/4 of the way. Still, I'm interested in returning and spending some time working and enjoying their drip coffee and a sandwich on a weekday.

The service was only outdone by the quality of coffee. The staff were friendly and helpful to this first timer and didn't steer me wrong with the Honey Bee specialty latte. Not to mention, they had "beeper buddies" (pictures of the staff's pets) on your order pager which I thought was a fun and original detail. The coffee was well balanced unlike many cafes (God forbid Starbucks) that douse their coffee with sugar. My croissant to filling ratio wasn't exactly to my liking but the quality was great and the customizable toppings was a standout. Definitely recommend a visit!

Love the vibe of this place. It isn't stuffy and cold. The employees are welcoming and they make your coffees with a smile! There's plenty of space to find a spot and get work done or visit with a friend- or two. The coffee is fresh and smells great. Their desserts are so good too. Tastes like your grandma made it just for you when you visit! I like going here because it's a small, locally-owned business.

Last time I left a review here was right after the craziness of COVID, so I thought it deserved an update. It has changed a lot since then and I have grown to love coming here. Of all the coffee shops in the area, this is the place where I see community happening the most. I'm not gonna lie, I'd rather have a latte from Jubala or Sola, but Nora has a lovely environment. (I just wish they'd make homemade syrups ;)) I love the fact that they get baked goods from local bakeries and support local through what they sell. The ham and cheese croissant I had recently was shwae. It's just a great place for hang outs, doing work, reading, or simply enjoying some dank coffee and pastries. I'll keep coming here as long as I'm in the 919:)

The coffee shop in all of the triangle. The staff is incredible and wonderful to speak with. Always helpful and smiling. Coffee is very tasty and so are the pastries. The only coffee shop we go to.

What a cute place! I got a matcha latte. The baristas were kind, the menu was large, the dining room had plenty of seats. There were lots of tables inside and outside. It was a perfect place to grab a drink and read a book or work on something. Very cute place.

Best english muffins ever. Coffee slaps harder than that professional slap boxer. Great bang for your buck. Staff is lovely. Can't go wrong with their sweet treats.

The first time i went here with my friends and son,the coffee was nice and hot So i took my wife and ordered the dark chocolate mocha with mint. I had requested extra hot, but was cold. It was made good , but giving one star for not making it hot . Not acceptable as it destroyed whole experience!

super cute!!! love the vibes.. its packed the whole morning so if you want a spot you have to get there early!

Great coffee atmosphere and a wonderful selection of baked goods from local bakeries!

Fantastic. Came here instead of Fount. (Don't get me wrong I've never been to fount) but I got a better vibe on the phone. The drinks were really great. Fantastic pairing of flavors (chocolate, honey, cinnamon, hazelnut) Def a cool people watching spot. Some interesting folks here yes. :-) Free stickers too.

My absolute favorite neighborhood coffee place! Cozy vibes, friendly staff, and amazing coffee/food. My personal favorite is the iced butter pecan latte with a spinach and feta croissant. And don't forget to check the cooler for the pimento cheese! My personal favorite is the smoked Gouda and bacon! Yummmmm

Love Nora for a quick breakfast sandwich! Their English muffins are so fluffy- probably the best I've ever had! I usually get an English muffin sandwich with egg, Gouda, and vegetarian sausage and it's always spot on! Their coffee is also delicious. Love the outdoor seating on a nice sunny day or just quickly running in for a pick-up order. Will come back over and over again! It's definitely our go-to for a quick grab and go breakfast!

Keep going back to this friendly cafe. I am now addicted to their avocado toast! Still enjoying their selection of coffees also!

Busy local coffee/tea shop. Great place to meet friends for a cup and conversation or get some studying done. Nice patio seating.

Coffee was excellent so was my breakfast sandwich. Why a lovely spot and def queer friendly. Pop into wanderlust next door. Both will be frequent hangouts for me

I love NoRa Cafe! Their menu is perfect for lunch, breakfast, or a cup of coffee. I've been here for all 3! The owners are awesome and the staff is always so helpful and kind! Very cool vibe for relaxing and chatting with friends or getting a little work done. Now, they've even opened a used book store next door to expand the reasons to stop by!

NoRa is my fave coffee spot in the triangle. It has a very trendy and hipster vibe. The coffee is local. The food is local and very delicious. And it feels just like home. This is a frequent spot for me and I've been fortunate enough to try many of the menu offerings. I absolutely love their specialty lattes. You can't go wrong if you're looking for a treat. And the breakfast sandwiches are yummy too. They have vegan/vegetarian options! And the English muffins are the best I've ever had. They source from many local vendors so those in the area may be familiar with many of the products. There's also plenty of comfy indoor seating and covered outdoor seating. Be sure to stop in soon!

I went here years ago when it was Called Maude's Garden. I'm not sure when the name changed, but the espressos and lattes are still great. I love the cute names they have for their drinks. I will be back for sure.

Fantastic GF biscuit and delicious laté. Cute atmosphere and the staff was very friendly and welcoming.

This a local gem that you will be glad you visited. They have the best coffees and sweets. I usually will meet friends here after dropping kids off at school just because the atmosphere and vibe is so comfy. I love that they will promote local bakers and house their items. I love that they use a local roaster for their coffee. The best are their lattes, which are created by staff and customers. Most of their drinks can be served hot or iced. And if coffee isn't your thing, come in the evening and try their beer and wine.

NoRa (for North Raleigh) Cafe has a great feel to it...fun and quirky decor, people sitting at tables chatting or working on their laptops. I treated myself to a Latte and it was delicious. Their glass display case is full of a tempting array of baked goods. Chris and Lyn were friendly and courteous servers, and the whole staff appeared to work very well together. Definitely worth stopping in to NoRa!

I tried NoRa for the first time today when a friend chose it for a lunch out and I loved it! I did not get any drinks, so I can't say anything about those, but I got food - a bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwich with side salad and a ham and cheese croissant. The sandwich... oh, the sandwich! It was everything I hope for in a BLT. Crispy bread, lots of crispy thin bacon, a big slice of tomato, crispy lettuce, and a healthy smear of mayo. This one had avocado too, which made it extra special! I was expecting just greens as the salad (and was told by my friend that they sometimes just give you greens and sometimes more), but my salad was lovely spinach, strawberry, and pepita salad with a sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette. A pickle too! I ate every bit of it and it was amazing. I had the croissant later in the day and while it was not the very best ham and cheese croissant I've ever had, it was still very good. Rich, meaty ham and cheese, a thick layer of croissant. It was just a touch denser than my preferred croissant, but I would happily eat another too. It was darned tasty. Overall, I was very pleased with this meal and will be going back next time I'm in that part of town!

My friend and I discovered NoRa Cafe yesterday when we were searching for a new coffee shop to co work at. We started our morning at Sola Coffee Cafe (because they are doing donuts on Tuesdays) but their wifi wasn't working and we had things to do. We did a quick search on Yelp and found that NoRa was close by and had good reviews. Yay! Apparently this shop has been around for a little while and used to be called Maude's Garden (?) but have since done away with the garden and are still a cafe. The decor was eclectic and fall-themed. You can see a lot of personal touches if you look around at everything - many handwritten signs and posts about community events they host every month. They sell a variety of handmade facemasks, bags of locally roasted coffee (Carrboro Coffee), books, and more. I loved the propped up book-reading skeleton, but I'm not going to lie, I thought it was a very still, bald man at least twice while I was there. Ha, anyways NoRa Cafe is located in a shopping center with a grocery store so there are plenty of parking spots which is convenient. Hand sanitizer was available for patrons and the staff were wearing their masks correctly as well! I wish I had gotten her name, but the barista with blonde hair was SO helpful and sweet. I loved her sense of humor! She recommended the Toasty Ghosty, which I ordered iced and with oat milk, and it was so good! I wish I had tried some of the baked items (which I believe are sourced from Ninth Street Bakery in Durham) but they all looked really delicious as well - especially the muffins! There are SO many seating options to choose here. They have lots of tables and chairs, a couch or two, and semi-private study nooks inside, with at least 9 or 10 (safely spaced) tables outside. Some of the tables outside are shaded with umbrellas or canopies. Naturally, I forgot to check in before I ordered so I ended up missing out on the 25% Check In Offer... so I went back an hour later and ordered another oat milk latte (this time I chose honey harvest with an extra doubleshot). I drank half while I worked and took the rest home for the next day. I enjoyed the outdoor working space here a lot. I would recommend NoRa Cafe to my friends and will likely be back again soon. You should definitely check them out!

I have been to this tea/coffee shop twice. This 2nd time was a much better experience. The service was great. Plenty of places to sit (tables, couches and outside seating). And they stay open later than most tea places. Great place to catch up with a friend, meet someone or knock out some work. I'll definitely be returning.

I'm a new NoRa fan! I've been meaning to stop in here for a while and finally did this weekend. It's such a gem. So many creative lattes and beverages. Also a good amount of pastry and breakfast options. I opted for the garlic english muffin and the caramel/hazelnut lattee. Both were fantastic! They have a used book section for perusing and ample seating both indoors and outdoors. If you're in the mood for happy hour, they serve beverages in the afternoon as well. I loved the eclectic vibe here and can't wait to come back.

Love love love this Cafe! Coffe, tables and books! The lavender honey latte was exceptional! Quick service. Very nice patio seating area.