When the former owner of La Vita Dolce in Southern Village retired, Annie Johnston bought the coffee shop to fulfill a long-held wish: to own a cafe.

La Vita Dolce has been in Chapel Hill for more than 15 years. Roughly two years ago, Johnston bought the coffee shop from the previous owner and started working on her new cafe. She switched all the coffee selections, made new types of gelato and changed the menu, all while keeping the name the same.

“I had grown up just a couple miles away from here and I had watched Southern Village be developed as a kid,” said Johnston. “So, when this went up for sale and I was looking to start a cafe I was like, ‘Oh, that’s perfect!’ I know this community – I think this place has a ton of potential.”

This is Johnston’s first cafe, so in order to gain practical experience in day-to-day operations, she worked as a barista for about nine months.

“I tasted 50 different types of beans, from top roasteries across the country, from regions all over the world to find the one that I thought was going to be the best for the most people,” said Johnston. “To make sure that [when] people come in, they feel like they’re getting a treat.”

Johnston and her team focus on encouraging customers to treat themselves and feel good while in the café, through typical café fare and an expanded menu that features a wide selection of options that stretch beyond coffee. The gelato is made in-house, and available in up to 18 flavors in the warmer months. The gelato is gluten-free, not including toppings, and the sorbet is vegan. The cafe also has fresh fruit smoothies without sugar that are gluten-and-dairy-free, as well as paninis, wraps, sandwiches and locally produced baked goods. According to Johnston, she wanted to make sure there was something on the menu “that made everyone’s eyes light up.”

La Vita Dolce also sells wine and beer and launched a summer event, Wine Down Wednesday, this year. According to Johnston, the crowd has been getting bigger every week. There are free gelato cones for children 10 and under, discounts and free samples, live music and opportunities to mingle with other Chapel Hill residents.

The remaining Wine Down Wednesdays of this summer are Sept.13, 20 and 27.

“Even if they come alone they meet someone new and they start talking to them,” said Johnston. “Or they meet their friends here, make it kind of a community event.”

Related Stories
‹
La Vita Dolce Shares Details on Upcoming Southern Village Move, Including New Menu and Hours
The Southern Village café and gelato shop owned by Annie Johnston will move a block down to 700 Market Street and aims to open in early July.
Southern Village's Market and Moss Set to Close After 5 Years of Business
Market and Moss — a restaurant in the Chapel Hill neighborhood of Southern Village — shared it will be permanently closing on June 20.
Southern Village to Open New Restaurant Called Market and Moss
Southern Village will become home to a new restaurant this spring. After Pazzo Trattoria and Pizzeria closed this past December, it was bought out by the owners of La Vita Dolce cafe – also located in Southern Village. Now, the owners have announced that their new sister restaurant and bar, Market and Moss, will open in […]
Perk Up Your Work: Three Free-WiFi Coffee Shops in Chapel Hill
Coffee shops, however popular they may be, are still uncharted treasures. Most people don’t realize just how multipurpose these places can be – they are meeting spots, date locations, work spaces, shelter from the elements, and, quite obviously, a source for food and drink. Chapel Hill is home to unique independent coffee shops that manage […]
'Dreaming Aloud': Live and Local with Jess Klein!
Singer-songwriter Jess Klein stopped by Live & Local this week, following the release of her latest album "Dreaming Aloud."
Local Artist Loren Pease Creates Vibrant Murals Across the Community
She is known for her murals adorning local businesses and buildings, and has plenty of projects coming to the community soon.
‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Updates in April-June 2026
The spring led to some exciting openings for some and quiet closings for others. Read details on the greater Orange County business scene.
South Creek Finalizes Deal to Protect 80 Acres of Forest with Local Conservation Group
The developers of South Creek struck a deal to formally convey the largest undeveloped, privately-owned tract within Chapel Hill town limits.
‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Updates in January-March 2026
The start of 2026 featured some early closures, openings and plenty of returns to business in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and beyond.
Chapel Hill's South Creek Neighborhood Celebrates Construction Milestone, Announces First Business Tenant
The development team for the future South Creek neighborhood in Chapel Hill gathered on Wednesday for a ceremony recognizing a milestone in the project: the completion of the first full building structure on the site.
›