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The all-day cafe is taking hold in Raleigh.
By 9am, it’s coffee. By 9pm, it’s a glass of wine—and the best part? You never even have to leave your seat.
The day-to-night cafe has entered the chat in Raleigh, blurring the line between neighborhood coffee shop and go-to wine bar. One minute, you’re sipping espresso and answering emails; a few hours later, the same table holds a glass of natural wine and a savory small plate.
With long hours and a lowkey feel, these cafes look nothing like the typical coffee shop. While Americans tend to fuel up in a rush, other cultures across the globe take the time to sip and savor—treating cafes less like pit stops and more like a “third place” to spend the day rather than just grab a lukewarm to-go order.
The concept isn’t new globally, but it’s gaining traction stateside—and Raleigh is catching on. Locally, that energy is showing up at spots like Cuya, Vino, and Gussie’s + Foxhole. Fresh coffee and homemade pastries anchor the early day; by evening, wine, cocktails, and savory snacks or dinner plates take hold—all in spaces that beckon you to stay awhile.
“When you come in, you’re going to get a delicious fresh espresso and good wine,” says Andrew Butenko, co-owner of joint coffee shop/wine bar Vino. The space leans into that stay-awhile vibe via cozy couches and moody corners that work just as well for slow morning coffee as they do for laid-back wine nights.
Cuya owner Charlie Ibarra and executive chef Kevin Ruiz are leaning even further into that public living room-esque culture, revamping the Glenwood South restaurant’s patio with retractable glass roofing and adding a dedicated coffee bar as part of the upcoming Cuya Cafe.
“We go to cafes all the time… during the day to work,” maintains Ruiz, a Puerto Rico native. “For us, it makes sense. Coffee is a big part of our culture”—adding, as Bad Bunny famously croons: “Por la mañana, café; por la tarde, ron.” Read: coffee in the morning, rum in the afternoon.
And in Raleigh’s growing all-day cafe wave, you can increasingly find both under the same roof. The momentum reflects a broader cultural shift, says Butenko—one where Americans are indulging in more worldly habits, slowing down and straying from the common stereotype of always being on the go.
“This generation is more cautious about what they eat and drink,” he acknowledges. “They’re looking for a place where there is no TV, no drama—just good wine.” And, increasingly, good coffee to boot.
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