Open Eye Cafe

Open eye has a great ambiance and their coffee is outstanding. Despite its drawbacks, it is one of my favorite places which is why I gave it four stars. However, there are a number of problems with this place. For one, it is often very crowded and the seating can be very limited. They do not have shades on their windows which makes certain tables basically uninhabitable during the daylight hours due to the sunlight and resulting greenhouse effect. They also have a tendency to play very loud and occasionally jarring music, especially when they are trying to drive out customers near the end of the night before closing time. The staff is pretty hit or miss as far as friendliness and service goes. Not the worst I've seen, but also not the best. The window shade and music problem could be solved rather easily, but they don't really seem motivated to change because they get a lot of business. This is too bad because it would improve things a lot. more

If you're looking for a less crowded café where you can do some serious homework or just chill out on a couch with some friends, Open Eye Cafe is great. The coffee is not expensive and because the town of Carborro is super advanced, the town provides free wireless. That means the internet access is free at Open Eye, too. more

Open eye has changed pretty drastically over the past year, and for the better. The old open eye was small, and a little dingy to be honest. The new open eye is much more spacious, with more furniture, the same great coffee, and thankfully much cleaner. It's a great place to study or just to meet up with some friends to hang out. more

There is nowhere in Carrboro (or anywhere else in the triangle) that comes close to what the Open Eye offers, in regards to quality of coffee (etc.), service (knowledgeable!) or atmosphere. Now that this place is in its new space...man, why would you go anywhere else? Plenty of room, interesting and beautiful artwork, and live (free) music on a regular basis (smoke free!). They roast their own coffee (no one else around here can say that) and have won plenty of awards! Now they have the free wireless set up and longer hours...I'm sold. more

I love the Open Eye Cafe. It's one of the best places in Chapel Hill or Carrboro to unwind and drink a great cup o' joe. It's obviously a locally owned and operated place--very relaxed, and not pretentious at all. It's a great place to just hang out either by yourself or with friends. It's so popular that even though I usually go alone, I end up seeing tons of people I know--it's truly a neighborhood hotspot. . more

The Open Eye Cafe is my favorite place in Carrboro to just sit and relax with a cup of great coffee. The atmosphere is relaxed and homey, just like an independent neighborhood coffee house should be! The coffee is excellent, the prices are good, and the vibe is downright excellent. You never know who you'll run into at the Open Eye... more

This Carrboro coffee house is a local fixture. It is always full, serving everyone from students who study there to local guys who come for a coffee refill. There are old couches to lounge on with a good cup of coffee and a book. They also host small concerts (very casual, 50 people or less) and other neighborhood events. The coffee is very good, and the atmosphere too. more