Ditch the PSL and spice things up this fall with creative seasonal bevs.
We love a pumpkin spice latte as much as the next person, but this season, Raleigh coffee shops and bars are crafting creative fall flavors that go way beyond the orange-hued froth. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy latte or a unique craft cocktail, these seasonal cider-spiked, nut-infused and sugar-dusted bevs are worth savoring every sipping—and skipping Starbucks for.
The Longleaf Lounge Drink This: Autumn White Sangria Sangria gets a fall makeover with this crisp, cool and smooth bevy mixing white wine, apple brandy, cider, maple, orange and lemon. Think of it like a cold version of a hot toddy—add apple and a touch more sweetness. White it might not cure a sore throat, it’ll certainly lessen your post-summer blues.
NoRa Cafe Drink This: Chaider + Honey Harvest Latte This neighborhood coffeehouse in North Raleigh leans into seasonal comfort with its Chaider, a warming blend of spiced chai tea and tangy apple cider that tastes like straight up fall in a mug—and is the perf op for non-coffee-drinkers. For the creamy caffeine heads, opt for the Honey Harvest Latte, featuring local honey that provides just the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the espresso’s depth. Either way, you’re in for a flavorful break from pumpkin overload.
Wye Hill Drink This: Roots & Rye Play into purple with this vibrant concoction of rye whiskey, ube (a purple yam), cinnamon, clove, lemon and egg white. Frothy, bold, and subtly sweet and spicy, it offers multiple reasons to ditch the orange for a new color of the season. ~Wye~ not give it a try?
Boatman Spirits Co. Drink This: Cleopatra Julep Seaboard Station’s otherworldly cocktail bar takes seasonal sipping seriously, drawing inspiration from historical recipes. Depart from the norm with the Cleopatra julep feat. a fragrant mix of olive oil-washed rye whiskey, cinnamon, rose, myrrh, cardamom and mint reminiscent of what historians have determined about the Queen of the Nile’s signature perfume. It’s a history lesson in a glass, and one that tastes perfectly of fall.
Sonder Drink This: Apple Cider Donut, Carrot Cake & Cinnamon Toast Crunch Lattes The bright and airy Wendell coffee shop’s seasonal menu reads like a bakery case—but in latte form. The apple cider doughnut latte serves as a nod to orchard visits (and is best served with Tepuy’s apple cider doughnut holes), while thecarrot cake latte blends spice and sweetness for an autumnal twist on a classic dessert. And for pure nostalgic comfort? The Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte brings the cereal-milk trend into fall territory. It’s a playful, sugary lineup guaranteed to brighten gray fall mornings.
East Bower Cider Co. Drink This: False Fall Cider Raleigh’s first cidery’s aptly named False Fall cider bridges the gap between hot summer afternoons and crisp autumn evenings. Made with local apples, peace purée and layered with bright, refreshing notes from chai spices that hint at cooler days ahead, this semi-dry cider is light, crisp and easy to sip when the weather can’t quite make up its mind.
Jubala Coffee Drink This: Spicy Churro Flat White If you’re really looking to spice things up, Jubala’s seasonal flat white takes the heat to the next level with a mix of chile de arbol, Videri chocolate, Cinnamon Toast Crunch-infused milk and espresso. It’s a surefire antidote for a cold fall day—packing both the heat and the sweet for flavorful fall sipper. A pumpkin spice latte could never.
The Haymaker Drink This: Burnt Sugar & Rye Old-Fashioned Sweater weather in a glass? Say less. Haymaker is channeling autumn’s smoky meets spicy side in its riff on an old-fashioned made with Jack Daniel’s Bottled in Bond rye, burnt sugar syrup, orange essence and aromatic bitters. And the result is rich, warming and subtly sweet—making for an ideal nightcap on crisp evenings. Now the only thing missing is a cozy fireplace.
Bittersweet Drink This: Blair Witch Tea Party Something wicked(ly delicious) this way comes… Get in the Halloween spirit with Bittersweet’s witchy and refreshing bev made concocted of Cardinal barrel-rested gin, black tea, honey, pineapple, lemon and cayenne pepper with a spiced rim. No tricks—just a sweet and slightly spicy liquid treat, best paired with one of the DTR bar’s signature desserts (the pumpkin crème brûlée and apple pie sundae will really get you in the fall mood).
Dubai chocolate is melting minds in Raleigh. Here’s where to find it.
Social media cracked it open, and Raleigh’s sweet tooths have never been the same.Enter Dubai chocolate, the pistachio cream-stuffed, phyllo-crunching viral sensation that has taken over the Triangle. Originally dreamed up to satisfy a Dubai engineer’s pregnancy cravings, the once hard-to-find import has since become the candy equivalent of a Birkin bag. Its glossy chocolate shell and signature green filling are now TikTok catnip—with the kind of ASMR crackle that makes you stop midscroll. The buzzworthy phenom is so popular, in fact, that it’s stirring an international pistachio shortage, with some even speculating the flavor could become the new pumpkin spice. Now, local makers are cashing in with Dubai chocolate-inspired bars, lattes, donuts and more. Here’s where to snag your own fix.
Arabian Delights Market This Raleigh market is your plug for the real deal—authentic Dubai chocolate bars sourced straight from the Middle East, available in two sizes. (Pro tip: always go bigger.)
Champloo Desserts If there’s a Dubai chocolate HQ in Raleigh, this is it. Champloo has gone all in on the flavor sensation, churning out homemade bars, truffles, croissants, pancakes, lattes and even a stuffed Labubu (!). Translation: Almost any way you want it, they’ve got it.
Sassool Already a go-to for Mediterranean eats, Sassool’s Raleigh and Cary locales double as a Dubai chocolate hookup. Grab the OG bar—or lean into other pistachio and phyllo-based desserts that scratch the same itch.
Tepuy Donuts The popular local doughnut outpost riffs on the trend with a sourdough doughnut stuffed with pistachio cream, glazed in chocolate and dusted with pistachio crumbs. Try to stop yourself from having just one…
Cafe Soul Cups This Cary cafe has been crackling across social media thanks to its viral Dubai Chocolate Crackle Latte, a pistachio-flavored espresso drink served inside a chocolate-lined cup—best served with a Dubai chocolate mochi doughnut. Fair warning: Expect a line—they’ve been slinging 500+ a day since the spring launch (!).
Common Grounds Coffee House & Desserts Apex’s Common Grounds puts its own spin on the viral treat with a plated dessert—plus a DIY jar kit packed with pistachio cream, kataifi (aka shredded filo strands) and chocolate chips to create the indulgence at home.
Nikos Over in Durham, Giorgios Bakatsias’ Mediterranean hot spot elevates the craze with a plated dessert of white and dark chocolate mousse, pistachio-phyllo crunch, and a side of pistachio ice cream. It’s Triangle-meets-Dubai decadence at its finest.
Surplus food marketplace Too Good To Go launching in Raleigh
Heads up: This isn’t too good to be true (!). Combating the ever-rising issue of food waste and cost of quality food is Too Good To Go, a surplus food marketplace launching in Raleigh and Durham June 5.
Operating on a win-win-win business model (“for people, profit and the planet”), the certified B Corp social impact company connects consumers with food from restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away, in turn helping businesses unlock revenue from their surplus. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
According to Too Good To Go Senior PR Manager Sarah Soteroff, upward of 40% of made food goes to waste in America, with the country’s annual food waste contributing to about 10% of carbon emissions. On top of the environmental impacts, it tightens costs for businesses and consumers, wasting about $2,000 a year per person.
The platform’s goal is to mitigate those detrimental-to-the-Earth issues—NTM selling food items at around a third of the retail cost. Since its founding in 2016, Too Good To Go has saved 300+ million meals from going to waste, and that footprint is expanding with its Raleigh/Durham launch.
Consumers receive that surplus in the form of surprise bags, which vary daily but can include dairy, baked goods, produce, prepared meals and packaged goods. “It’s harder for food-selling businesses in tight margins to make money,” says Soteroff, “so if there’s a way for them to regain some revenue by selling this discounted food, it’s a huge bonus. We get that food into the hands of people who want it without it going to waste.”
For her part, partnering with Too Good to Go was an easy choice for Little Barb’s owner Barb Nigro, who says the marketplace’s goals aligned with the bakery’s existing sustainable initiatives—think “low waste eats” bags and baking in small batches to reduce waste.
“We first focus on not having a ton of surplus for bags, but if we do, it’s great to have Too Good To Go’s help,” explains Nigro. Little Barb’s bags aren’t a constant, but they normally feature bready items like scones or cheddar bacon biscuits, and treats not up to the bakery’s normal standards, which again helps recover loss.
Tepuy Donuts owner Alejandro Contreras also says Too Good To Go has been helpful in reducing waste. “People have been very responsive to it, it’s been working,” he says. “It’s been a win-win for everyone.”
Tepuy Donuts opening a brick-and-mortar this spring
If a stop at Idle Hour is now a staple part of your morning routine for a “hole in one”—aka a delish doughnut that only Tepuy Donuts delivers—you can soon upgrade your daily tradition. Raleigh’s “Doughnut Guy” is leveling up with a brick-and-mortar. … Pause for applause.
Despite only having lived in Raleigh for about four years, that “Doughnut Guy”—aka founder, owner and baker Alejandro Contreras—has made quite the name for himself… and at a time when that’s a relatively difficult grab considering those dough holes are having quite the moment.
But Contreras’ first storefront will be just the beginning of yet another chapter. Slated to open in the spring in a small shopping center where Capital Boulevard and 440 meet, Tepuy’s outpost will lean toward grab-and-go doughnuts and coffee, with some indoor seating and a spacious patio. And before you fret, his popular sourdough doughnuts will continue to be available at existing locations throughout the Triangle.
At the shop, expect all the standard and seasonal flavors you know and love (vanilla bean-glazed and Nutella-filled are Contreras’ two faves)—plus some new options he and his team will dream up. To boot, the brick-and-mortar will also serve housemade breakfast sandwiches and traditional savory Venezuelan pastries like empanadas, kolaches and tequeños (aka “cheese fingers”).
A native of Venezuela, Contreras taught himself how to bake while going to culinary school in his home country, initially making cinnamon rolls. It wasn’t until he visited the States and went to Krispy Kreme that the doughnut bug caught him and he began selling them back in Argentina, where he lived at the time.
Since launching Tepuy—named after a type of tabletop mountain found in Venezuela—out of Mandolin’s kitchen midpandemic, the doughnut connoisseur has always dreamed of opening a brick-and-mortar. And, a full-circle moment, Mandolin chef/owner Sean Fowler will actually be a silent partner in the venture as well. “I can’t wait—I already imagine myself there,” Contreras muses. “It’s been a journey.” And we’re here for the sweet ride. tepuydonuts.com
If you like big beads and you cannot lie… you’re gonna wanna post up at these New Orleans-inspired spots and celebrations around Raleigh. Eat, drink and dance the night away, but don’t you worry—what happens on the float, stays on the float.
Our very own Nawlins nugget in Raleigh, The Big Easy is obv here for Mardi Gras. Head to DTR and down some bevs while grooving to live music. And up the authentic factor with some bites from Big Easy’s Cajun-inspired menu (think alligator bites, shrimp and gouda grits, and Bourbon Street chicken) that promise to put you in the Fat Tuesday spirit.
Hola, NOLA. A Mardi Gras celebration at one of Raleigh’s most esteemed Nawlins-inspired restaurants is a no-brainer. Swing by for faves like oysters, crawfish hushpuppies, gumbo, fried seafood and more. Beignet, done that.
Fill your soul (and stomach!) with New Orleans -inspired eats from chef-owner Colleen Speaks—from gumbo to fried chicken livers to po’boys and more. (Note: Hummingbird is closed on Tuesdays but will be open Wednesday for anyone who’s craving a late Mardi Gras celebration!)
Calling all kings and queens! Feast your eyes on a one-of-a-kind riff on the classic Mardi Gras king cake feat. brioche dough, cinnamon chips, decadent icing and colorful candy. Let’s eat!
