Cities like New York City and Seattle may get most of the credit for their coffee-fueled cultures, but coffee shops in Austin prove that the city has the caffeine scene to rival those places. If you’re on the hunt for the best coffee shops in Austin, make sure to visit these five neighborhoods.

South Lamar

The rapidly evolving South Austin area of South Lamar now boasts a high volume of prestige restaurants, trendy bars, and hip coffee shops, on both the neighborhood’s main drag of South Lamar Boulevard and in quieter pockets of the region. 

Coffee enthusiasts in South Lamar regularly flock to Patika on South Lamar Boulevard, a cozy and chic coffee house with minimalist decor, outdoor seating, house-baked pastries (including inventively flavored scones like masala chai, blood orange poppyseed, and whiskey maple bacon), and coffee made from beans roasted by Austin-based Superthing Coffee. 

Just a few steps down from Patika, you’ll find Irie Bean Coffee & Wine Bar, a lively day-to-night hangout serving locally roasted coffee from Texas Coffee Traders and a rotating selection of wines and craft beers. The space transforms into a live music venue on weekend evenings, and Irie Bean also hosts open-mic nights and art shows on a regular basis. 

Tucked away on Manchaca Street just north of Ben White Boulevard, Radio Coffee & Beer is largely considered one of Austin’s best “coffices” (aka spots for remote workers to post up with a coffee in one hand and a snack in the other to enjoy speedy, free WiFi).

Radio’s spacious outdoor spaces—both a well-appointed backyard and a screened-in, all-weather front patio—always contain a strong population of laptop-wielding freelancers, sometimes accompanied by their four-legged friends. 

They gravitate to Radio for several reasons; first of all, the shop brews coffee from several highly ranked craft roasters, including Austin’s Little City and Wild Gift. Also, the beer selection is immaculate, including rotating drafts and cans from local breweries like St. Elmo, Blue Owl, and Hops & Grain.

Finally, Radio’s backyard is home to two of ATX’s most acclaimed food trucks: Veracruz All Natural (specializing in breakfast tacos) and Dee Dee (specializing in Thai street food).

South Congress

A neighborhood that really pioneered the “Keep Austin Weird” philosophy that still defines the city, South Congress fully commits to its local businesses and locally made products, and that ethos extends to its coffeeshop landscape. 

The iconic Austin mini-chain known as Jo’s Coffee locates its flagship right on South Congress Avenue, and this shop—open since 1999—remains one of the city’s most pleasant places to grab a patio table, sip a well-brewed mug of coffee or glass of cold brew (made with beans sourced from beloved third-wave Portland coffee roaster Stumptown), munch on a breakfast taco, and engage in some top-notch people watching.

South Congress’s indie hotel scene surpasses that of any other ATX neighborhood, and one such spot, the South Congress Hotel, includes two must-visit cafes: Manana and Cafe No Se. The slightly-more-casual Manana serves up coffee to-stay or to-go, along with house-made pastries like “everything bagel” kolaches, cinnamon rolls, and s’mores “pop tarts.” 

Cafe No Se offers full brunch and dinner menus with items like the quinoa bowl with a poached egg, avocado, fried chickpeas, greens, and pumpkin seed pesto; the pork confit torta with ham, pomegranate, guacamole, cotija cheese, and aioli; and the charred octopus with guanciale, olives, tomatoes, beans, arugula, and lemon vinaigrette.

Both shops serve coffee roasted by Texas Hill Country-based Weathered Hands Farmhouse Coffee.

East Austin 

If there’s one Austin neighborhood that can be definitively dubbed the Coffee Capital of Texas, is has to be East Austin. This trendy area claims many of ATX’s top destinations for java, making it an excellent pick for a coffee-walking-tour locale.

Cuvee Coffee, a widely beloved Austin coffee roaster with a major presence at coffee shops throughout the city, locates its only brick-and-mortar cafe in East Austin, and Cuvee devotees can belly up to the coffee bar for freshly-brewed cups, special releases, and locally made snacks.

A coffee shop located within a bike shop seems like a hipster paradise, and Flat Track Coffee on East Cesar Chavez Street absolutely delivers on that image. Flat Track also roasts its own beans, and the resultant coffee drinks are considered some of the city’s best.

Largely considered East Austin’s answer to Radio Coffee & Beer, Wright Bros. Brew & Brew features both Flat Track Coffee and Heart Roasters coffee from Portland, along with local beers and Rosen’s New York-inspired bagels.

The East Austin coffee shop that most encapsulates the neighborhood’s hipster vibes may be Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors, a sleek space with industrial vibes, antique furnishings and accents, and a rotating repertoire of coffee beans from Austin, San Francisco, Portland, and other coffee capitals. Freelancers love the quick WiFi and the airy interior, as well as the charming outdoor tables and the fact that Figure 8 serves Tacodeli breakfast tacos.

Downtown Austin 

It should come as no surprise that Austin’s business center and arguably top neighborhood, Downtown Austin, contains numerous (and universally great) coffeeshops. Both local and national chains have a strong presence in this neighborhood, but Downtown Austin also has a few stand-alone coffee bars well worth a visit. 

Like Flat Track, Juan Pelota Cafe exists within a bike shop. This laid-back java destination carries Stumptown coffee, and visitors and locals alike love it for its quirky environs, plentiful outdoor seating, and well-stocked smoothie bar.

Halcyon Coffee Bar enjoys a location just steps away from the busy Republic Square bus stops, making it a very convenient spot to swing by for a caffeine boost and perhaps a glass of wine or a craft cocktail. Halcyon also features a menu of light bites like a Caprese sandwich, spinach artichoke dip, a turkey Cobb salad, and table-side s’mores.

At the trendy Line Hotel, you’ll find Austin’s only outpost of Alfred, a hipster coffee icon in Los Angeles best known for its beautifully balanced iced vanilla latte, which pairs perfectly with any warm Austin afternoon. 

North Loop

A neighborhood famous for its community spirit and its eclectic shopping scene, North Loop in north-central Austin also hosts a considerable amount of independent cafes with expertly brewed coffee drinks. 

Open since 1992, Flightpath Coffeehouse very much feels like a bohemian 1990s coffeeshop in the best possible way. Visitors will find ample tables, indoor and outdoor seating, coffee, espresso, an array of teas, and locally sourced pastries and snacks, along with the all-important quick and free WiFi. 

University of Texas students, freelancers, and other North Loop night owls can burn the midnight oil at Epoch Coffee, a 24/7 operation with strong coffee, plenty of electrical outlets, free WiFi, and a cult-classic Mexican hot chocolate beloved by regulars and newcomers alike. 

If you like to pair your espresso with Japanese-inspired bites, you’ll love Sa-Ten Coffee & Eats, a popular North Loop destination with a stylish, minimalistic interior and a menu including items like a Japanese egg salad sandwich, nori toast, crispy tofu teriyaki, and Japanese curry.