The Optimist Raleigh

Wow!!! This coffee shop is SUPER CUTE! It doesn’t look big from the outside but it has ample seating. They also have a outdoor window that you can order at as well. Other than coffee, they sell beer and wine, kombucha, caramel apple cider, juice, and hot chocolate. The people working here for super friendly. Definitely recommend the optimist if you need to do work or school work!

We decided to check this place out on our ongoing quest to find some great coffee spots in the area. The atmosphere was fantastic and we loved the vibe, as well as all of the seating!

They are dog friendly on both their front and back patios, but not in the shop itself (obviously).

My daughter got an Iced Caramel Latte with oat milk and I got a Golden Milk Matcha with soy milk. The pricing for both was a bit higher than I'd like to pay for 12oz drinks, but seems pretty on par with what the local code shop pricing is lately.

I really enjoyed my drink, albeit a little on the sweeter side than I'd prefer. My daughter liked hers for the most part, but said the aftertaste was a bit off for her (too thick and smoky).

Overall, it appears to be a great local spot to hang out for coffee and tea. They did have a smaller food menu, but I didn't see much that appeared to be gluten free and vegetarian for me. So I probably wouldn't go there to eat anything.

Update...
After my review about the avo toast I was contacted by the owner here and via email and I can’t say enough lovely things about him. My appreciation for this coffee shop has expanded. He was kind, compassionate, human and what really surprised me was his desire to work on bettering the avo toast experience :) Thanks so much for being here, Andrew. Your humanness and kindness in the world is admired.

Previous Review:
I really love this place. The ambiance and drinks are great. Employees are always super friendly. But I just paid $8 plus tip for this...and I’m pretty bummed about it. It also tasted awful, like the avocado was previously frozen.

So we came to wait out the rain a little. The reviews generally say dog friendly and all. So I figured come have coffee and lunch. The bf isn't a coffee person. Beware there is no soda here for seconds that don't do coffee.
So only service animals can go inside.
Dogs are welcome in the front and on the back patio but that's it. Which is disappointing on a chilly rainy day you are trying to wait out the rain.

The latte tasted like dirty water. Zero flavor. Pumpkin nothing.
Nothing came in cups or plates. Just sad presentation like you don't even want us here.

Came here because it was close to a dog park. We will find a different place or different park etc.
We will not be back.

First visit and I’m hooked! Gorgeous design and atmosphere made me want to just stay all day. The service was excellent: kind and caring people who make delicious coffee. I can’t wait to come back and try out the food menu. This place checks all the important boxes, it has clean restrooms and I loved all the plants indoors and out 😍👏🌱

I ordered their purple matcha (maqui berry) and a regular latte! They have a variety of matcha flavors to choose from if you’re more of a tea person. They also have scones, breakfast & lunch options, and mimosas!

This place is lovely. From the people behind the counter, to the relaxed, hip atmosphere, it’s a super cozy place to just chill and sip your coffee slowww. I happened to go there for my first time on a day where they had a Thin Mint Matcha Late as their special. Oh.My.Gawd. It was so beautifully crafted (see pic) and was really reasonably priced- even after subbing their house made oat milk for the regular whole milk. I’ll be delighted to show off this hidden gem to any friends and family who come to visit. Oh, did I mention they make a pb&j sammie on a house made croissant! Just wow.

This coffee shop is listed as one of the top coffee spots in Raleigh and I understand why. The seasonal lattes were a perfect balance of smooth espresso, sweetness and flavor (such a relief from the standard, sugar-blasted drinks one finds at coffee chains). Our breakfast sandwiches were delicious and good size - I really liked all the options! The shop's atmosphere is very trendy and cozy, adding to the overall experience. Just note that this place is very busy (being awesome has its drawbacks), so expect to wait a bit for your food and drinks. The staff were very friendly and upbeat - even with there being so many customers, I still felt that they appreciated my business and they made me feel welcome!

We'll be back!

What an amazing way to start my morning! This morning I had the pleasure of speaking with Kyleeon. He wasn’t the one behind the register but he did ask me if it was my first time. To my response it was. He recommended a Blueberry Mocha. Like most coffee lovers; we know what we like! Nonetheless, I ordered it and it was amazing I was pleasantly surprised! He checked back to see how it was then told me about the food they offer, I wasn’t expecting to get breakfast but oh man was I glad he did! It was the best sandwich I had ever had and there was no meat OMG!!! The burst of flavors paired with the blueberry mocha my goodness. Thank you so much for an amazing experience! I can not wait to come back and try a different coffee!

Neat little coffee spot! Cute area with a decent amount of tables inside and outside! They have pretty dope merchandise as well! Definitely go here if you’re looking for a quiet, calming place to work/study/hangout!