Chapel Hill has no shortage of places to get a good cup of coffee, but you’ll never find us complaining about having too many places to get a good cup of coffee. Located just down the hill from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Coco Bistro & Bar is one of the newest entries into the town’s coffee scene.
We visited Coco Bistro & Bar to see what they were brewing (and cooking) up. This is what we found.
Coco Bistro & Bar: Just the Facts
| Website | Coco Bistro & Bar |
| Address | 101 Glen Lennox Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 |
| Hours | M-W: 7AM-5PM Th-F: 7AM-9PM Sat-Sun: 8AM-9PM |
| Food | Full menu, 100% plant-based |
| Beer/Wine/Liquor | Yes/Yes/Yes |
Coco Bistro & Bar: Our Experience
Coco is a sun-filled and stylish cafe that is walkable from the Glen Lennox, Link Linden, and Link Calyx apartment complexes; Chapel Hill’s fare-free bus also stops nearby. A slew of seating options both indoor and outdoor, generous hours, and a full kitchen and bar are some of Coco’s highlights.
What We Had
- 8oz Oat milk mocha (ceramic mug)
- Gingerbread muffin (actually served warm!)
- Iced double espresso
Vibe Check
On the sunny Wednesday morning when I stopped in, Coco was awash with cafe chatter and chill music. The floor-to-ceiling windows made it delightfully warm. The decor – lush indoor plants, eccentric brass light fixtures, funky chairs – feels fresh and new, but still warm and homey. There’s also… a giant blown-up photo of a Balinese cat? With table service, un-fussy Wi-Fi, and a relaxed pace of service, it has a vaguely European feel. Stay and hang out a while; what’s the rush?
Is Coco Bistro & Bar a Vibe?
Absolutely a vibe.
Coco Bistro & Bar: The Coffee
The purists among us might feel like Coco errs on the side of doing a little too much with its coffee menu. However, if it’s variety you want, you’ll find it here.
They’ve got drip, they’ve got espresso, they’ve got French press, they’ve got pourovers, they’ve got cold brew, they’ve even got mushroom coffee. That’s in addition to all your standard espresso drink varietals and about 100 specialty lattes.
Oh, and tea. And smoothies. And I’m probably forgetting some stuff. It’s a lot. And while it is a lot, you’re not going to find any dairy milk on the menu. Everything that comes from behind the bar or out of the kitchen is 100% plant-based.
Fortunately, Coco has several plant milk options: sweetened oat, soy, almond, macadamia, coconut, and cashew.
Coco Bistro & Bar: The Food
I only had time for a muffin today (it was phenomenal, by the way), but Coco has a full food menu and full bar. Again, everything at Coco is plant-based.
Like the coffee menu, the options for food are numerous and varied. You’ll find several breakfast items featuring vegan egg and meat substitutes. The kitchen also makes salads, paninis, various sweet and savory toasts, superfoods, Impossible burgers, vegan chicken sandwiches, fries, pastas, curries, Mediterranean dishes, bao buns, cakes…WHAT IS GOING ON HERE???
Based on the quality of my muffin and the smells coming from the kitchen, the greater menu demands some additional investigation at a later date.
Coco Bistro & Bar: Other Features
In general, Coco has a bit of a European accent. A full alcohol menu makes that accent even stronger.
Coco offers wines by the glass and by the bottle. You’ll also find beers on tap, including one of my personal local favorites: the “Coffee Is For Closers” porter, brewed at the other end of Tobacco Road by Fullsteam in Durham. The drink menu also features a succinct but more-than-sufficient list of cocktails.
Coco Bistro & Bar: Human Stuff
The folks at Coco also seem to be positioning the place as something of a passion project, expanding what people think of when they think of plant-based food and drink. Their “About Us” page emphasizes their commitment to locally-sourced ingredients, sustainability, compostable/recyclable packaging, living wages, and charity; they partner with the Beautiful Together animal sanctuary.
Coco Bistro & Bar: Our Thoughts
Halfway through writing this review, I started asking myself if this place really qualifies as a coffee shop — but I’m too deep in it to turn back now. In my defense, coffee seems to be a focus for a lot of patrons – there was quite the queue of lattes ahead of mine – and the espresso machine is positioned front and center behind the service counter.
It’s clear that the owners at Coco have really tried to offer something for everyone and every situation. As for me and my situation, they succeeded.
