Caffeena Coffee House

Description: An upscale Yemeni coffee house in Charlotte serving authentic Yemeni coffee, handcrafted espresso drinks, teas, seasonal beverages, fresh pastries, and desserts. The interior features marble finishes, warm beige and gold tones, modern lighting, comfortable seating, and floor-to-ceiling glass in a polished but welcoming setting.

Comments: This place has the same polished aesthetic that many of the Middle Eastern coffee shops around town have, like Haraz, Vavela Cafe, and Qahwah House. It’s small, but they pack in the seating. There are 8 tables, 3 of which are larger with 4 chairs, while the rest are 2-person tables. Each one has a polished white marble top to match the floors.

All the chairs are comfortable. Padded backs, padded seats, none of those terrible metal chairs that all coffee shops around here seem to have. Your back will be just fine sitting in one of these chairs. Parking is free, but it’s street parking, so you’ll have to find a spot and might need to drive around a little.

The menu is similar to what you’ll see at Haraz, with Arabic coffee and tea options, plus pastries. And similar to the other Middle Eastern coffee shops, they’re open late, giving people plenty of time to hang out, study, work remotely, and converse. It’s down the street from The Giddy Goat’s South End location, so if you’re driving in from a different neighborhood, you have 2 hangout options in the same area.

They also have an ordering kiosk if you’re introverted and don’t want to talk to the barista. Perhaps the coolest thing here is the back area, which connects to an auto shop where some fancy cars are sometimes getting detailed.