Coffee and Doughnut Spots in Charlotte
Wondering what’s the tea on the Queen City’s coffee and doughnut scene? It’s piping hot!
by Sasha Bello Dec 18, 2023
The beauty of this small, yet ever-growing city is the community behind every cup. Charlotte’s got you covered when it comes to hole-foods and staying grounded.
Archive CLT
Area: West Charlotte
Archive a moment in time at this Black woman-owned, West Charlotte staple. This cafe offers signature handcrafted lattes, like the Foxy Brown, and locally blended herbal teas, like the Little Red Corvette which is infused with hibiscus, ginger and cinnamon. Archive CLT also boasts collections of vintage Black culture, from JET magazines to timeless records.
Beyond Amazing Donuts
Neighborhood: Montford Park
Who knew being B.A.D could be so good? Between the brown butter with sorghum caramel and the black garlic everything flavors, Beyond Amazing Donuts will have you feeling out of this world. Since everything is baked in-house, you’ll want to be sure to get there early; it’s first come, first serve.
Coco and the Director
Neighborhood: Uptown
Right in the heart of Uptown is a coworking coffee lab where the ambiance is just as warm as its coffee. With locally sourced beans, craft coffee and artisanal sweet treats like Coco’s signature cronut, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Coco and the Director also features work nooks to nest and stadium seating.
Coffee at Station West
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
With a breathtaking backdrop of the city’s skyline, Coffee at Station West, formerly Backdrop Coffee, offers a chance to unwind from your daily grind. With ample indoor and outdoor seating, including fire pits, along with an amazing menu and house-roasted coffee blends, it’s easy to station yourself for a while. Stop by on the weekends for Small Business Saturdays.
Enderly Coffee Co.
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Enderly Coffee Co. is local to its core. This family-owned shop is focused on bettering the neighborhood by supporting other local small businesses and hosting community-backed events like CreativeMornings. One sip will have you feeling right at home.
Hex Coffee Roasters
Neighborhood: Camp North End
If you’re looking to get a pep in your step while exploring Camp North End, stop by Hex Coffee. You’ll know the baristas certainly worked their magic when it comes to the espresso tonics and cereal milk lattes.
MJ Donuts
Area: Pineville
If you love the classics, MJ Donuts is the shop for you. This Pineville staple has the fluffiest cake doughnuts around. You’ll have plenty of options to indulge in like double chocolate cake and cinnamon crumb. Make sure to stop by early because all the options, including the apple fritters, go quick.
Not Just Coffee
Neighborhood: Uptown, South End, Dilworth, Wesley Heights, East Charlotte
This local chain is all about cultivating community atmospheres. Pop by for a cold brew, pop tart, local jazz concert or one of the Latte Art Throwdowns. These shops offer different flavors for everyone. Each Not Just Coffee location makes homemade seasonal syrup and herbal teas like rosella and honey orchid.
OMG Donuts & Coffee
Neighborhood: Concord
You will be saying “oh my gosh” when you try one of OMG Donuts’ handmade, yeast-raised doughnuts. OMG is known for the doughnut-filling station, where you can fill your own doughnuts, along with the shop’s famous apple fritters.
Pepperbox Doughnuts
Pepperbox Doughnuts gives you the best of both worlds: coffee and doughnuts; as well as DogNutz for your furry friends. Try the lemon poppy seed doughnut or the pecan pie croissant. This shop even makes vegan doughnut breakfast sandwiches and offers half-gallon options of its nitro lattes and cold brew.
Reigning Doughnuts
Neighborhood: NoDa
Reigning Doughnuts are the coolest-looking doughnuts around. Some are decked out with shimmery gold dust and others look like a work of art. Check social media to find out what the specialty flavor of the day is before you head to this walk-up window.
Smelly Cat Coffee House and Roastery
Neighborhood: NoDa
Named after the TV show, “Friends,” Smelly Cat, the longest-running coffeehouse in Charlotte, is the perfect spot to grab a cup of joe or Puppaccino with your closest pals. All beans are sourced ethically from Africa and Latin America, and with flavor choices as eclectic as the vibe, you’ll always have something new to try.
Suárez Bakery
Neighborhood: Montford, Optimist Park
If you’re looking for decadence, look no further than Suárez Bakery. Located in the Park Road Shopping Center and at Optimist Hall, you’ll find bite-sized vanilla glazed doughnut holes, monthly flavor drops like eggnog and letter-shaped doughnuts to write out messages. Suárez will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sugar Donuts
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
This doughnut shop started out on wheels and now it’s taking off. Sugar Donuts has some of the richest vegan and gluten-free doughnuts around, with flavors like Nutella glazed and even doughnuts filled with handmade gelato. Sugar Donuts also has caramel pecan cinnamon rolls that you’ll want to order a full tray of.
Summit Coffee
Neighborhood: NoDa, Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, Ballantyne, Huntersville, Davidson, Mooresville, East Charlotte
Summit Coffee offers space for local artists to showcase and sell their work, while you enjoy a chai latte or hibiscus berry lemonade and a pastry, or two. The coffee is locally roasted at Basecamp, the flagship location in Davidson where experiencing the outdoors is top of mind. Sipping on Summit Coffee will have you reaching new heights.
Your Mom’s Donuts
Neighborhood: Montford, Matthews
Everyone and their momma agree these gourmet, square-shaped doughnuts will have you hitting up every shop. It won’t be long before the shelves are cleared of flavors like lemon honey, pumpkin cheesecake and maple bacon. You can also find Your Mom’s Donuts every Saturday at the Davidson Farmer’s Market.
