Best coffee shops in Austin
One of the best things about living in Austin is the abundance of cute coffee shops all within ten minutes of driving. The below options are my personal favorite coffee shops that all have great coffee, snacks, and overall environments!
mañana
Love love Mañana’s coffee and especially their unique pastry selection that changes with the season. It’s a beautiful, well-lit space located right on South Congress and there’s also a great patio in the back.
I always order the oatmilk latte, and my favorite pastry is their pear prosecco hand pie! The spiced chocolate pecan cookie is also really good!
Thunderbird Coffee
I used to live close to Thunderbird and would sometimes visit 2 times a week for their honey nut latte half-sweet with soymilk and their hummus and pita bread.
Besides amazing seasonal lattes, Thunderbird has a great food menu - with sandwiches, grilled cheeses, salads, and more. Would also recommend Thunderbird for working/studying as they have many tables and an outdoor patio. We would even buy their Rude Boy coffee to grind at home.
Greater Goods Coffee Roasters
Greater Goods recently won the title of Best Coffee in Texas, and they also have great food options. The space is completely open with a ton of natural light coming through the floor to ceiling windows.
The espresso bar is right in the middle of the store where you can watch them make beautiful lattes. They also host workshops for coffee-lovers —I had a chance to take their latte-making course and it was great!
Mozarts coffeE
Mozarts Coffee Roasters is an Austin gem. It’s located right next to Lake Austin with plenty of water-front patio seating (there’s two stories). They also have good drink options and lots of cakes to choose from (I really like their tiramisu). I love bringing friends and family here to show off the lakeview and play with the abundance of puppies. If you’re visiting Austin, definitely make a stop here.
During holiday season, Mozarts hosts an annual light show with live music and hot chocolate!
cafe nena’i
I stumbled across Cafe Nena’i a few months before moving out of Austin, and I wish i found it sooner. It’s a South America inspired cafe that serves empanadas, Venezuelan arepas, and pastries from various countries, all perfect for pairing with a cafecito!
My personal favorite was the ‘factura de guayaba y queso,’ a flaky pastry filled with guava jam and cheese. The empanadas are delicious too. It’s a little outside of central Austin, but on the way to the airport!
Some more coffee shops…
Houndstooth- east side
Houndstooth has multiple locations, but the one I like the most is the East Side one, on MLK blvd. The only downside of this spot is the lack of outlets! It’s a beautiful, open space with great tables and drinks (coffee, tea, beer, wine). Great place to read or catch of with friends but don’t bring a laptop to work!
halcyon @mueller
While there’s also a downtown location, I prefer the one in Mueller Park. They have food, coffee, wine, and also offer a great happy hour. It’s not the most comfortable place to work (it has a more cafe/restaurant feel), but it’s a nice space for talking, snacking, and sipping on some coffee or wine. The outdoor space is really nice too, and you have access to the rest of Mueller Park.
bennu - for those late night studies
I spent too many nights studying here and sipping on a ‘pride and prejudice.’ It’s not the cutest place - they have mix and match desk chairs, sofas, and dining tables, but it’s open 24 hours, has cheap and good coffee and also serve breakfast tacos, pizzas, and pastries. I don’t usually recommend Bennu to visitors, but it will always have a spot in my heart.
I moved to California recently and there might be new coffee shops opening in Austin that I have not been to. The ones above are the ones I frequented during the 4 years I lived in the city. Hope you guys enjoy!