Caffé Driade

Good chai latte. The outdoor seating is great and more extensive than it first appears. Small humidor with cigars too.

It’s a nice spot because of its location and the natural beauty of the forest but the staff is not very friendly and you have to pay for WiFi.

Delicious coffee, lovely location, but as several reviews have also noted, the poor/​indifferent/​sometimes rude service warrants attention. I have had a couple of interactions with baristas who spoke to me as if they were doing me the favor of providing coffee. In fact, one person wouldn’t give me a glass of water because I didn’t sign the credit card receipt for him fast enough.
I will return when I stop seeing consistent reviews about their negative staff interactions.

I LOVE the outdoor seating here. Directly faces a forest-​y area and it’s super nice.
I had a soy cappuccino and chocolate macaron. The cappuccino was strong with well done cappuccino art. The macaroon was a bit too cake-​y for my taste, but better than most I’ve had in the triangle area.
The only downside is that the wifi here isn’t free, but it’s still a gem of a place.

*This* is where you get your unadulterated cortado or americano. There’s just something about the way they pull the espresso that sets Caffe Driade’s coffee in the highest echelons of java.
Then there’s the pastry case. Ask what Annie made and get that. We had her orange blossom macarons and a dark chocolate vanilla pear shortbread. They were wonderful.
Caffe Driade is a place where you go to enjoy sitting in a kind of fairy wonderland, on a rustic terrace in the midst of pines. Or, if you are one to throw back your coffee in a rush, you might then stroll on the Bolin Creek Greenway just below the terraces. You could also bike or run from the greenway to Driade…
Caffe Driade is a special place, a must stop for coffee connoisseurs and those who like enjoying a quiet moment on a pretty little terrace away from the road. I loved it!

The outdoor seating really makes this place special. When you walk out the back door you can choose from the many patios that sprout from a path that leads down the hillside a bit. Great place to find a corner and chat or just think through your week.
The pressed coffee is strong and balanced, and they can make an excellent cappuccino. The main building is a little cramped, but as soon as you step outside you see why this place is in a league of their own.
Wi-​Fi could be better at the furthest patio.

Great café tucked away in Chapel Hill, with a warm, quirky atmosphere. There is plentttty of outdoor seating to boot (though it was too cold for us to sit outside when we went), and the chai latte I got hit the spot. No wi-​fi here, which is kind of unheard of these days, but definitely nice to not have the OPTION to even use the internet here. It forced the bf and I to focus on our conversation, enjoy our lattes, and be more in-​the-​moment at this café. Next time we will try their baked goods — the chocolate croissant in particular was calling to me!!! I’ll be back for you.

The best coffee shop. Great coffee, small but great adult bev selection, fantastic baristas… even without its magical forest setting this place would be the standard by which coffee shops should be judged.
Long live Driade!

This is one of my favorite coffee shops. Easy to reach from nearby bike path.
Always great. Super vibe!

I am giving this spot 5 stars for the simplistic love of coffee and all things caffeine. The location is about a mile from downtown Chapel Hill. Super cute and quaint little house. I had the best Americano to date; no exaggeration it was tasty, no burnt bean taste and I was jacked! I recommend with little amount of water to fully get the flavor. I sat inside first to only realize they have the best patio around. Come by, relax a little and enjoy nature with a little taste of heaven.

Okay I’m bumping this place up to 5 stars. It’s so beautiful on the back patio. On top of that, I ordered an iced Americano and the barista made it perfectly. They don’t have simple syrup or milk out (just creamer and raw sugar, maybe other sweeteners, I didn’t notice) but you can ask and they’ll make simple syrup you. The barista told me to add however much sugar I wanted and then whipped up some syrup for me on the spot. The coffee wasn’t bitter at all and really hit the spot.
Get here while it’s still nice outside. It’s a little sunny but crisp with weather in the 70s and fall leaves everywhere. It feels enchanting. I tweeted a picture and friend who is not fortunate enough to live here replied with a shocked emoji and asked me if it was real. It’s real, it’s just unbelievable. I feel lucky we have such a pretty spot here.
They also have some decadent treats from guglhupf and some other baker that slips my mind. And wine! This is a nice date spot.

I struggle with writing a review of Caffe Driade. The space itself is cozy and inviting. When the weather was is nice, the outdoor seating makes you feel like you’ve escaped from the hustle and bustle. But, I have been unimpressed with both my coffees and the service I received. My interactions have not been rude, just mere indifference. And, I ordered a soy latte that was… cold. On a rainy, fall afternoon, a cold latte wasn’t working. I will visit more, no doubt, but with the recognition that the culture of Driade and I may not be well-​aligned.

This is such a cute café. I was given this recommendation by a colleague so I decided to try it out and I am so happy that I did. I enjoyed a delicious coffee and bagel and my friend tried the tea and macaroons. This is a must when you are in Chapel Hill. Such an awesome place! The scenery is the best part.

Location, location, location! Such a perfect spot to enjoy a cup of joe or hot tea (or wine)! The Earl grey was sooo good! The macaroons were delectable! So happy we stumbled across this amazing place! tables centered throughout the property in the middle of trees. Simply beautiful!

Best café ever!
I absolutely loooove this place. I’ve come here by myself to enjoy a nice latte and read, with friends to catch up over a coffee, and to play board games while hiding away from the rain. It’s perfect for any occasion.
The inside is quite small and seats maybe 15 people. Lots of small tables for two. But there’s a ton of outdoor seating. When it’s cold out or raining, they put up a heat lamp and zip up the perimeter (there’s gotta be a word for that plastic sheet that surrounds the building), so those outside are kept warm. I’ve sat in these outdoor sections during a downpour with some friends playing monopoly and it was super cozy and fun. There’s seats outside (all shaded by trees), and another seating area down in the woods that is lit up by Christmasy lights at night. It also borders the greenway system, so heading to café driade after a hike is awesome (get the affogatto in that case — vanilla ice cream with 4 shots of espresso poured over it. It’s edible crack).
The owners of café driade also own open eye, and do coffee right in both locations. They also serve wine here!
The staff is friendly, unpretentious, and know their stuff. Note: don’t come here if you’re in a hurry. The staff here take their time making drinks, and sometimes it’s just one person back there taking orders, ringing people up, and making the drinks. Be patient bc it’s worth it!
I literally haven’t had anything bad here yet. Their lattes are the best I’ve ever had, great affogatto, delicious pastries (delivered from guglhupf — another place you must try). The stuff here is a little bit more expensive than a typical café, but it’s well worth it bc the staff know what they’re doing, & all the ingredients are of high quality.

Café Driade is a beautiful setting to enjoy a cup of coffee. The single origin offerings are thoughtfully sourced and well roasted, albeit usually a bit too dark for my personal taste profile. This isn’t to say they’re doing it wrong, only that I have a personal preference for lighter roasts, more in the style of Counterculture. This said, when the baristas on tap are the ones that are passionate and skilled, you can get quite a good cuppa here. The garden and walking path is well kept and very attractive, with some breathtaking views.
On the downside, they don’t usually offer an SOE espresso, and not everyone on staff is at the same skill or passion level. If you want a latte, their espresso is excellent for that purpose and I would definitely recommend it as it stands up very well in a lot of milk.
The SOE pourovers are often quite good, again depending on who’s doing the pouring. The pastry selection is always fresh and tempting.
Overall do recommend, with some caveats. It’s a nice place to sit and sip in Chapel Hill.

Driade is a very special place. They have tons of outdoor seating in a very lush and green environment. The downside to this is 1) mosquitos during the summer and 2) smokers. Patrons will light up all over the patio without a care in the world. It doesn’t happen every time I visit, but it does happen. The coffee and pastries are excellent, but the place is tiny inside, so if there’s a line it takes forever to order. They also have some good beers and wine, but they pour a very small glass if you get wine by the glass. Last time I checked, there was no wi-​fi, but that can be a blessing to reduce distractions if you’re trying to write or focus on a book.

Just up Franklin from Sunrise Biscuits; you may need to slow down so as not to miss the entrance.
Also accessible from the greenway that runs behind it, a small hand-​painted coffee cup sign directs you to its private entrance, an uphill mini-​hike to a hidden café oasis.
Quiet open air dining or lively conversation — with so much seating across this deceptively large property, take your pick.
Enjoyed a café au lait boule. Brought back memories of café days in Berkeley, CA.
A unique find.

Totally worth all the bug bites I got while here.
I experienced my first affogato ever here ~5 years ago and I have yet to find a place that tops theirs!
Their lattes/​macchiatos/​affogatos all have a strong espresso taste without being bitter.
If you couldn’t tell already, my favorite thing here is their affogato. I know it’s just espresso and ice cream but they make it soooo yummy. Their ratio of ice cream to espresso is truly flawless.
I’ve tried a few of their pastries before– honestly, I’m not crazy about them. I believe they get it elsewhere and maybe that’s what leaves me unimpressed about them?
Anyhow, ambience is great to chill out with friends or get some work done! However, they do not offer free wifi.
Also, majority of this place is outdoors and they leave their doors open for the fresh air to ventilate this coffee shop. That said, watch out for mosquitos!
I believe they have live music a few nights a week but I haven’t experienced it myself yet.
Barista was pretty nice and friendly.
Summary of this review: go get their affogato!!!

Lovely ambience. I came here on a Monday night and it wasn’t too crowded. Ordered a decaf cortado with a touch of honey and it was delicious. The latte art was also executed beautifully. Great place to study and get work done; there are outlets, plenty of indoor/​outdoor seating, and wifi (NOTE: you have to pay for wifi). The coffee was quite delicious — the beans they used when I went had this nice, rich caramel-​like flavor. Definitely want to come back and visit again in the day time (to appreciate the outdoor seating and the trails); this place was worth the trek.

First time I’ve written a review and I had to for this amazing place. It’s nestled in the trees on the edge of beautiful woods and serves quality coffee, tea and pastries… And beer & wine!
It’s the one space where I feel instantly relaxed as soon as I walk up.
Even if the parking lot is packed the space is lovely and quiet — a great study spot or place to catch up with friends.
The press pot coffee is quality and there are several blends to choose from, just like the loose leaf tea. The pastries come from bakeries in the area and range from croissants to fresh fruit tarts.
You know it’s a good café when all the French & Italian transplants arrive on the weekends.
They welcome dogs and provide water bowls and plenty of shady spots to lay.

This place is adorable. Came here with some family while driving through the area and I loved the vibe Driade had – it’s friendly, welcoming, and you feel like you could stay for a while.
We ordered our coffee inside and drank it at a small table in the back, which was nice because it was still close by, but you’re also surrounded by huge beautiful trees. The coffee was pretty tasty (I got a mocha, my husband got the latte), and they serve it in what looks like a small bowl, so it’s kind of fun to drink out of.
If I lived in the area, I would definitely take my laptop and spend a few hours doing work and getting way too caffeinated.

Very solid coffee spot with such a cool vibe. I’ve been here a couple of times and have been very impressed with the uniqueness of the area. Caffe Driade is located in the midst of a collection of trees — if you weren’t looking for this café in particular and were just driving around, you’d probably miss it. As you drive through a rocky driveway, you will see limited parking for a cute little coffee shop surrounded by more and more trees. Caffe Driade uses its surroundings to its advantage. The outdoor seating is very extensive and has such a comforting feel, since customers are sitting in the midst of trees. There’s very limited seating indoors, so there is even a heater outside so customers can still grab a spot outdoors when the weather gets chilly. I absolutely love the layout of this café — one of the most unique and adorable ones that I’ve seen.
With regards to the actual food and drinks, my expectations were set really high from the reviews that I heard from my friends. Unfortunately, Caffe Driade didn’t entirely meet my expectations. I ordered the Chai Lattes here on multiple occasions, and both times, they were not impressive. The most recent time that I’ve tried the chai, my drink was really watered down and didn’t have that spice flavor that I adore in a chai. The chai concentrate is made in house, which I definitely appreciate, but I was just hoping that the drink were much more flavorful than it was in actuality. I haven’t tried the espresso drinks yet, and I really do hope that they are better than the chai. When I do get a chance to try the espresso, I will update my review for sure.
There is quite a large selection of bakery goods here as well, from tarts to macarons. I had to try the apple tart because I absolutely adore apple desserts, and this one looked so scrumptious that I couldn’t resist. Unfortunately again, this apple tart also fell a little short of my expectations. The apples had great flavor, but there was some gelatin-​like substance covering the tart that made some pieces a little unenjoyable. Maybe it was jam? The crust was made pretty soggy from the apples on the top and was so crumbly that the crust couldn’t really be picked up with a fork. Don’t get me wrong — the apples were seasoned great and were super flavorful, but there were just some little nuances about the tart that didn’t make it as perfect as it could have been.
Oh, the prices too — they’re pretty high. Around $ 5 for my iced chai latte. I paid over $ 8 for the tart and chai together.
Loved the ambiance though. There’s lot s of outdoor seating in the front and back. Great for working (but you must pay for wifi…) or for conversations; I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to find a table in some nook or cranny if you want some privacy. Beware of mosquito bites in the summer though if you’re sitting outside — they are VICIOUS.
The baristas are super efficient and helpful though, so it was really pleasant getting to talk to them and asking them specifics about the drinks. I definitely have it on my list to come back here to try the espresso. Maybe the food and drink orders that I have made in the past couple of trips are not the best at this café.

As a coffee freak, I have no idea why it takes me four years to finally come to this famous coffee place.
I was there on a Friday morning around 8am. No one was there!
I am a dull person who needs Americano every day. So obviously, I went for it. Not bad, they have local beans, which is from carrboro roaster. Unlike open eyes’ americano, this place’s americano is actually less acidic. I liked it and also a little surprised.
The place is really quiet if no one around but lots of outdoor spots. It would be really nice to seat outside and enjoy your time on a sunny day. And I heard they have regular music concerts here at night and wine taste ceremonies. I bet it would be really romantic and interesting. I wish I could have time to come back for some concert I like before I graduate.
The only thing I dislike here is the internet. 4 dollars per hour if you are not a regular visitor here. A bit of pricy and I am baffled by such circumstance. I do not wanna comment on this but … yeah, I am not a fan of such policy.

Well isn’t this an awesome spot off the beaten path! After finishing my rocking workout a few miles away, I Unilocaled my way over to Caffe Driade for my coffee fix.
This place may be a bit easier to find when its warmer out with outdoor seating but nestled just behind the art gallery amongst the trees is this amazing café. Indoors is cozy with multiple seating options. A few people were working dillegently on their laptops while Pharrell and Daft Punk swoon overhead.
Only one person working behind the bar at this time, so while they make coffee to go, it’s not the fastest place to grab one for the road. However, perfection cannot be rushed, and this latte was perfection!
I saw lots of customers feasting on their baked goods, but given my current post-​workout state, I decided to behave, and maybe run an extra 15 minutes on the treadmill so I can treat myself next time.
Definitely worth the drive and I for sure will be back.