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Highest-rated cafes in the Charlotte area by diners

·Stacker

Monning27 // Shutterstock
Monning27 // Shutterstock
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From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.

During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.

Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.

Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.

Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.

Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Charlotte area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Charlotte were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!

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#30. Kung Fu Tea

- Rating: 4.2/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8200 Providence Road Ste 1000, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Coco and the Director

- Rating: 4.2/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 West Trade St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30

#28. Central Coffee Company

- Rating: 4.2/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 719 Louise Ave. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Queen City Grounds

- Rating: 4.3/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 644 North Church St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30

#25. The Salty Donut

- Rating: 4.3/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1515 South Tryon St. Ste 105 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30

#24. Not Just Coffee - Atherton Mill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (226 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2000 South Blvd. Ste 130 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. Villani's Bakery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (441 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 901 Pecan Ave. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Cupcakes, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Smelly Cat Coffee

- Rating: 4.3/5 (646 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 514 East 36th St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 30

#21. Not Just Coffee - Dilworth

- Rating: 4.4/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2230 Park Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 30

#20. Undercurrent Coffee

- Rating: 4.4/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2012 Commonwealth Ave. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30

#19. Brakeman's Coffee & Supply

- Rating: 4.4/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 225 North Trade St. Matthews, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30

#18. Sumaq Coffee

- Rating: 4.4/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6259 South Blvd. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30

#17. Laurel Market

- Rating: 4.4/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 114 Cherokee Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Wooden Robot Brewery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (400 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1440 South Tryon St. Ste 110 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, Venues & Event Spaces, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30

#14. Deli St

- Rating: 4.5/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2801 Central Ave. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30

#13. Haraz Coffee House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1204 Central Ave. Ste 100 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Patisserie/Cake Shop
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30

#12. Not Just Coffee - 7th Street

- Rating: 4.5/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 224 East 7th St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

21 / 30

#10. The Hobbyist

- Rating: 4.5/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2100 North Davidson St. Ste D Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Coffee & Tea, Specialty Food
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30

#9. Reigning Doughnuts

- Rating: 4.5/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3120 North Davidson St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30

#8. Salud Cerveceria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3306-C North Davidson St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, Coffee & Tea, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30

#7. Julia's Café and Books

- Rating: 4.6/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1133 North Wendover Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bookstores
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 30

#5. Milk Cha-Cha

- Rating: 4.6/5 (221 reviews)
- Address: 4620 Piedmont Row Drive Ste 170A Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30

#4. CupLux Coffee Drive-Thru

- Rating: 4.7/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3115 Freedom Drive Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 30

#3. Tous Les Jours

- Rating: 4.7/5 (160 reviews)
- Address: 4625 Piedmont Row Drive Ste 105 Piedmont Town Center Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30

#2. Matcha Cafe Maiko

- Rating: 4.7/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8128 Providence Road Ste 900 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Shaved Ice
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Enderly Coffee Co.

- Rating: 4.9/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2620 Tuckaseegee Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.

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