Support Us Button Widget

We tried a vanilla latte at 5 Lakeland coffee shops

Here are our superlatives for the six cups of joe we tried at a few of our favorite coffee shops and cafes.

An iced latte, blueberry muffin, and laptop sit on a table at the Unfiltered coffee shop in Lakeland, FL

Unfiltered offers several fresh-baked goods to pair with your latte.

Photo by LALtoday

Table of Contents

It’s no secret that we love coffee, especially when it comes from a local coffee shop. That’s why we decided to visit five Lakeland cafes for one of our favorite drinks — an iced vanilla latte — to deal out some superlatives for these sips.

Best paired with a baked good

Unfiltered Lakeland, 801 E. Main St. | Grab a seat in this eclectic space and enjoy your latte with one of Unfiltered’s warm blueberry muffins — you’ll thank us later.

A hand holding up an iced coffee in front of a coffee shop window

We love stopping by Mitchell’s before a day of downtown shopping.

Photo by LALtoday

The perfect balance

Mitchell’s Coffee House, 235 N. Kentucky Ave. | This latte had just the right balance of bold espresso, sweet vanilla, and creamy milk. It would pair perfectly with whatever bites you find at the farmers market.

A hand holding an iced coffee in front of the La Imperial Bakery sign next to Main Street in Lakeland

Cool off with this sugary sip made with Bustelo, a Latin-inspired espresso.

Photo by LALtoday

For the sweet tooth

La Imperial Bakery, 830 E. Main St. | This concoction is great for those seeking a sweet treat. It’s made with chilled Bustelo espresso and French vanilla for a syrupy sweet beverage.

An iced coffee sitting on a table next to a laptop with the LALtoday website showing

The caffeinated drinks from Black & Brew have fueled many of our newsletters.

Photo by LALtoday

Emphasis on espresso

Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro, locations vary | If you want a latte with a strong coffee taste, this is your best bet. The vanilla takes a backseat to let the espresso shine.

A hand holding an iced coffee with a coffee table and patterned red rug in the background

Add a bit of cinnamon to spice up your regular vanilla latte at Pressed.

Photo by LALtoday

Good to the last chapter

Pressed, 213 E. Bay St. | Linger over your book with an iced vanilla latte at this bookstore/coffee shop. Pro tip: We added a dash of cinnamon so each sip had new layers of flavor all the way to our final page.

Of course, we didn’t visit all of Lakeland’s coffee shops — can you imagine how caffeinated we’d be if we did? Tell us which drinks and cafes we should rate in our next roundup and we just might use your idea.

More from LALtoday
Hit the courts and grab a bite at this development, helmed by local entrepreneurs and pickleball fanatics.
The City of Lakeland has finalized its 2026 budget before the next fiscal year begins — let’s take a look at the $815 million bottom line.
From guilty pleasures to unexpected favorites, the “unfortunately do love” social media trend is taking over the internet — and we want your input.
From coffee to baked goods to cocktails, there’s a pumpkin spice or fall-flavored treat for everyone in Lakeland to enjoy this fall.
Directly north, east, south, and west of LAL, cities across the world await.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
Polk Vision published the assessment in June 2025 after 18 months of data collection.
Take a bite of Lakeland’s past at these restaurants that have stood the test of time.
It’s your party and you’ll enjoy these deals if you want to.
Dive into how nearly a century and a half of history is kept alive with historical markers around town.