I have a soft spot for the SoCo District in downtown Pittsboro. It is one of those pockets of the Triangle that still feels a little bit like a secret, tucked around the historic courthouse circle, walkable in about ten minutes, and stubbornly resistant to turning into a strip mall. So when I heard a new Italian coffee shop had taken over the old Havoc space there, I moved it to the top of my list.
Nonna’s Cafe opened its doors with a grand opening on Saturday, September 20, the first phase of a bigger concept called La Cucina della Nonna from owners Dana and Jim Rumbold. Right now it is running as an Italian coffee shop in the morning that shifts into an Italian wine bar by the afternoon and evening, basically two different hangouts depending on what time you walk in.
What Nonna’s Cafe in Pittsboro Is Actually Serving
Mornings at Nonna’s Cafe are built around real Italian coffee culture, so think proper espresso, cappuccino, and the kind of café-style pastries that make a 9am errand in Pittsboro feel like a small vacation. Once the sun moves past lunch, the same room pivots into a wine bar pouring Italian selections, which is a genuinely fun idea for a town that has not historically had a dedicated Italian wine list.
The part that has me most excited is what comes next. The Rumbolds are currently building out a full Italian restaurant kitchen in the same space, with a target opening of early 2027. So this soft opening is really an invitation to watch a restaurant grow up in real time, starting with the coffee and the wine and eventually turning into a full sit-down Italian spot in the heart of downtown Pittsboro.
Because they are still in soft-open mode, hours are settling in as they go, so your best bet before you drive out is to check their Instagram, @nonnascafe, for the current schedule and whatever they are pouring that week. I will update this post once they lock in a permanent hours page.
Why This Matters for the SoCo District
Pittsboro has been quietly building one of the more interesting small-town food scenes in the Triangle, and the SoCo District specifically has become the place locals point to when they want to prove Chatham County is not just a pass-through on the way to Chapel Hill. A new concept taking over a well-known former space, with real investment in a future full kitchen, is exactly the kind of opening that tells you a neighborhood is on the way up rather than just filling a vacancy.
It also gives Pittsboro something it has been missing: a genuine daytime-to-evening spot. You can start your morning there with a cappuccino and end up back on the same barstool that night with a glass of something Italian, without ever needing to find a second parking spot. For a town built around one walkable circle, that kind of flexibility matters more than it sounds like it should.
Worth the Drive From Raleigh
If you are coming from Raleigh, budget about 40 minutes, or closer to 20 if you are already over in Chapel Hill or Carrboro. Pair it with a walk around the courthouse circle and a stop at whatever else is open in SoCo that day, and you have got a legitimate half day trip that does not require you to book anything or fight for a reservation.
I will be back to check in once the full restaurant opens in 2027, but for now, Nonna’s Cafe is a genuinely good reason to route your next coffee run, or your next Friday glass of wine, toward downtown Pittsboro instead of the usual spot. Follow along at @nonnascafe for updates, and if you want more finds like this one dropped straight into your inbox, you can subscribe to The Raleigh Local so you never miss a new opening.
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