The best coffee shops in Cary

The best coffee shop in Cary is a registered nonprofit that employs adults with disabilities, and it won the category outright against every commercial cafe in greater Cary. That is a genuinely unusual result and it leads this list.

After that the useful question is hours, because Cary coffee closes early. Most of these shut between four and six. Two stay open past nine, and only one runs to eleven.

Hours below were taken from each business's own published information and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

Esteamed Coffee

A downtown Cary coffee shop run as a 501(c)(3) that employs adults with disabilities. Angie Hudson and Tamara Lapsley founded it in 2017 and opened the shop in December 2020, and it won best coffee shop in the 2026 Maggy Awards outright.

Hours: Tue-Thu 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri-Sat 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Monday.

Address: 114 S. Academy St., Cary, NC 27511

Why they made the list

• Won best coffee shop in the 2026 Maggy Awards, beating every commercial cafe in greater Cary.
• Operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit employing adults with disabilities, which is the business rather than a program attached to it.
• Founded in 2017 by Angie Hudson and Tamara Lapsley; the shop itself opened December 14, 2020.
• Closed Mondays and shuts by 5 p.m., so it is a morning and afternoon room.

See the full directory listing

Coffee Studio

A South Walker Street cafe and a 2026 Maggy best coffee shop finalist, open seven days from seven on weekdays and eight at weekends. The most reliable hours of any independent coffee shop in Cary.

Hours: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat-Sun 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Address: 370 S. Walker St., Suite 123, Cary, NC 27511

Why they made the list

• A finalist for best coffee shop in the 2026 Maggy Awards.
• Open seven days until 6 p.m., the longest and most consistent hours on this list.
• On South Walker alongside SAAP, so it works as the start or end of a downtown trip.
• The only shop here open past 5 p.m. every single day.

See the full directory listing

La Farm Bakery - Downtown Cary

Lionel Vatinet trained through Les Compagnons du Devoir in France and founded La Farm in Cary in 1999. The West Chatham shop pairs the best bread in Wake County with a proper coffee counter, and it won best bakery in the 2026 Maggy Awards.

Hours: Sun-Thu 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri-Sat 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Address: 220 W. Chatham St., Cary, NC 27511

Why they made the list

• Won best bakery in both the 2025 and the 2026 Maggy Awards.
• Founded in Cary in 1999 by a Master Baker trained through the French artisan guild.
• The pastry case is the strongest of any coffee shop on this list by a wide margin.
• Open seven days from 7 a.m.

See the full directory listing

Brew Coffee Bar - Cary Theater

Housed in the Cary Theater building on East Chatham, which makes it the best-sited coffee shop downtown. A second location, BREW Gateway, runs in Raleigh. Open seven days, and the only one here open at 9 a.m. on a Sunday.

Hours: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 122 E. Chatham St., Cary, NC 27511

Why they made the list

• Inside the Cary Theater building, so a film and a coffee are the same trip.
• Open seven days, with a 6 p.m. close Monday through Saturday.
• A sibling location in Raleigh, BREW Gateway, so it is a small local group rather than a single shop.
• Right on East Chatham alongside Di Fara and Geluna Gelato.

See the full directory listing

Asali Desserts & Cafe

A Mediterranean dessert and coffee cafe in MacGregor Village that won best dessert in the 2026 Maggy Awards. Open until eleven on Friday and Saturday, which makes it the only late-night coffee option in Cary.

Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri-Sat 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Address: 107 Edinburgh Dr. S., Suite 106A, Cary, NC 27511

Why they made the list

• Won best dessert in the 2026 Maggy Awards.
• Open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, by far the latest coffee on this list.
• Mediterranean desserts rather than the standard American cafe case.
• Open seven days from 7:30 a.m., so it covers morning and late evening equally.

See the full directory listing

Meeple's Brew - Cary

A board game cafe on Bass Pro Lane with a library of more than 850 games across its two stores. The Cary shop is the second, after the original in Morrisville, and it is the only cafe in town where the coffee is an excuse to stay.

Hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 821 Bass Pro Lane, Cary, NC 27513

Why they made the list

• A library of more than 850 board games across its two locations.
• The only board game cafe in Cary, so it is a category of one.
• Open seven days at identical hours.
• Closes at 4 p.m. daily, which is early for a place built around lingering. Plan an afternoon, not an evening.

See the full directory listing

Simmer Coffee

A neighborhood cafe in the Amberly Village center in west Cary, open seven to five every day of the week. This is the option if you live out past Green Level and do not want to drive downtown for a coffee.

Hours: Daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 726 Slash Pine Dr., Cary, NC 27519

Why they made the list

• The best independent coffee option in west Cary, well away from the downtown cluster.
• Open seven days at identical hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• In the Amberly Village center, so there is parking and other errands to combine.
• No award or founding date is published, so it earns its place on location and hours rather than accolades.

See the full directory listing

Starry Night Coffee and Crepes

A creperie and coffee bar in Crossroads Plaza, open until ten on Friday and Saturday. Savory and sweet crepes made to order, which is a different proposition from a pastry case.

Hours: Mon-Thu 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri-Sat 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Address: 315 Crossroads Blvd., Cary, NC 27518

Why they made the list

• Crepes made to order, sweet and savory, which nothing else on this list does.
• Open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, second only to Asali here.
• Open seven days from 7 a.m. on weekdays.
• In Crossroads Plaza, so it pairs with the shopping rather than a downtown walk.

See the full directory listing

Crema Coffee Roaster & Bakery

A family-run shop on High House Road that roasts its own beans on site, which makes it the only in-town roaster on this list. Six days a week, closed Sunday.

Hours: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sunday. Their own site was unreachable, so confirm by phone.

Address: 1983 High House Rd., Cary, NC 27519

Why they made the list

• Roasts its own beans on site, the only Cary coffee shop on this list that does.
• Family-operated rather than part of a group.
• A bakery counter alongside the roasting operation.
• Their own website would not load when we checked, so the hours come from a third party. Call before a special trip.

See the full directory listing

Java Jive Coffee and Tea

An independent coffee and tea shop in the Lochmere retail center on Kildaire Farm Road, and a fixture of TripAdvisor's top ten Cary cafes. Seven days, with a 9 a.m. weekend start.

Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 2425 Kildaire Farm Rd., Suite 403, Cary, NC 27518

Why they made the list

• Ranked in TripAdvisor's top ten Cary cafes.
• Tea is given equal billing with the coffee, which is unusual here.
• Open seven days until 6 p.m. most days.
• In the Lochmere center, which serves a part of Cary the downtown shops do not.

See the full directory listing

Frequently asked questions

What is the best coffee shop in Cary, NC?

Esteamed Coffee on South Academy Street won best coffee shop in the 2026 Maggy Awards. It operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit employing adults with disabilities, founded in 2017 by Angie Hudson and Tamara Lapsley, with the shop opening in December 2020. Coffee Studio was the finalist.

Which Cary coffee shop roasts its own beans?

Crema Coffee Roaster and Bakery on High House Road in west Cary roasts on site, and it is the only in-town roaster among the independent shops on this list. Their own website would not load when we checked, so call ahead.

Are any coffee shops in Cary open late?

Asali Desserts and Cafe in MacGregor Village is open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. the rest of the week, which is the latest coffee in Cary. Starry Night Coffee and Crepes at Crossroads runs to 10 p.m. on weekends. Everything else closes between 4 and 6 p.m.

Which Cary coffee shop is best for working or lingering?

Coffee Studio on South Walker Street has the longest and most consistent hours, seven days until 6 p.m. Meeple's Brew on Bass Pro Lane is built for staying, with a library of more than 850 board games, though it closes at 4 p.m.

Where can I get good pastry with coffee in Cary?

La Farm Bakery's downtown shop on West Chatham Street, which won best bakery in both the 2025 and 2026 Maggy Awards and was founded in Cary in 1999 by Master Baker Lionel Vatinet. Asali Desserts and Cafe won best dessert in 2026 for Mediterranean sweets.