The Best Coffee Shops In Austin With Playgrounds
I can't count how many play dates I've done at coffee shops in Austin! They're great spots to meet up with a fellow mom friend, let the toddlers play, and enjoy a caffeinated catch-up session. Here are a few of my favorite Austin coffee shops with play areas.
Full disclosure: I'm a coffee snob. I want really good pour overs and velvety milk in my cappuccinos; I'm not the person ordering sugary flavored coffee drinks. So I'll stay true to my authenticity and let you know my honest thoughts on the coffee program at each of these shops!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.
Littlefield’s
Littlefield’s is an outdoor kid-friendly cafe with food trucks in Tarrytown. Get some coffee at Besamé food truck and a breakfast taco at Veracruz All Natural, which has some of the best Tex-Mex cuisine in Austin.
Your kids can run around in fenced-in turf hills area. There are picnic tables, a big patio, and shady trees. Literally the only downside is that it gets SO crowded on Saturday mornings, so I always aim for a weekday morning if possible!
littlefieldsatx.com | 2401 Winsted Ln, Austin, TX 78703
Merit Coffee at The Triangle
Merit Coffee serves some of the best coffee in Austin (they use their own roast, and their baristas are excellent!) If you’re a bit of a coffee snob and you want some of the best coffee in Austin at a kid-friendly cafe, you definitely need to head to Merit - Triangle location.
The actual playground is shared by multiple restaurants at The Triangle, so you'll have to bring your coffee + pastries outside to get to the play area.
My strong advice: don't skip out on the pastries at Merit. 🙂
meritcoffee.com. | 4615 N Lamar Blvd #303a, Austin, TX 78751
Lazarus Brewing (Airport Blvd location)
This is probably my kids' favorite Austin coffee shop! The pirate ship play area is just SO cool.
Lazarus has a full coffee menu, really good breakfast tacos, and plenty of space for me to sit down and work on my laptop while the kids play. Since Lazarus is also a brewery, it's also on my guide to the best kid-friendly breweries in Austin.
lazarusbrewing.com | 4803 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
Brentwood Social House
Brentwood Social House is a cozy English-style café in a renovated house, known for its warm vibe and authentic British pastries (the scones and Millionaire’s bar are a must!). Families love it for the full backyard playground and the sweet little indoor play area for toddlers. Bonus: you can even rent the backyard for birthday parties.
WEBSITE | 1601 W Koenig Ln, Austin, TX 78756
The Hive
The Hive on South Menchaca is a cool community spot for parents, creatives, and locals alike. My kids love the big backyard playground, and the menu has plenty of heartier kid-friendly options like sandwiches.
We've been to lots of crowded birthday parties on the weekends (fair warning - it gets packed on Saturdays!, but during the week it’s a laid-back place to grab coffee, breakfast tacos, and let the kids go wild on the big playscape.
hiveaustin.com |10542 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748
Meanwhile Brewing Co.
Like Lazarus Brewing, Meanwhile Brewing is pretty quiet in the mornings—and the coffee is excellent. Order at the counter, then enjoy the beer garden with its treehouse playground. There's even a soccer field here - remember to pack a ball!
Pueblo Viejo food truck is also open early for breakfast tacos, and there are a few other trucks for other great food options.
meanwhilebeer.com | 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
Flitch Coffee
I absolutely adore this coffee truck in east Austin. It’s permanently parked in a gravel driveway, and if you’re a parent to young toddlers you know that rocks + toy trucks = entertainment.
I’ll stop by to order an iced latte in the summer, bring a few Tonka trucks for my boys to play with, and enjoy a minute of peace while they play outside.
flitchcoffee.com | 641 Tillery St, Austin, TX 78702
Doxa Coffee (Way South Food Truck Park)
This coffee truck in south Austin is located at the Way South Food Truck Park. It’s an AWESOME food truck park with lots of space and parking, a few excellent restaurant options, and….a playground!
Doxa Coffee Roasting roasts their own beans for their full coffee menu. Their pastries are delicious, and they even have a few gluten-free options.
waysouthfoodpark.com | 11300 Old San Antonio Rd, Manchaca, TX 78652
Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches
Batch is a local favorite for its scratch-made kolaches, great coffee, and spacious backyard where kids can run and play.
In the afternoons, you can also grab some seriously good barbecue from Parish BBQ, the food truck parked on-site—making it an easy one-stop spot for both parents and kids.
batchatx.com | 3220 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
St Elmo Brewing (Springdale)
St. Elmo Brewing’s Springdale location is one of the best kid-friendly coffee spots in Austin. It opens early, has a full coffee program (I’m a fan of their cappuccinos), and—most importantly—features a fantastic play area where kids can climb and explore for hours. My boys never get tired of it!
Parents will appreciate that there’s plenty of outdoor seating near the playground, making it easy to keep an eye on the kids while you enjoy your drink. And if you’re hungry, Pueblo Viejo food truck is parked on-site, serving up decent (not the best, but pretty good) breakfast tacos. Between the great coffee, kid-friendly play space, and delicious food, this is a spot that checks all the boxes for families.
stelmobrewing.com | 8110 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78724
Progress Coffee and Beer in Buda
Progress Coffee + Beer in Buda is a perfect way south Austin alternative to popular spots like Radio or Cosmic—only this one has a playground!
Grab coffee and pastries at the bar, then head to the front yard where kids can play while you relax. Food trucks round it out, including Pueblo Viejo for your breakfast taco fix.
progresscoffee.com | 750 FM2001, Buda, TX 78610
Malone Specialty Coffee
Malone Specialty Coffee has a few spots around Austin, but the Bratton Ln location is the most kid-friendly. Toddlers will love the small play corner with toys, while older kids can stay entertained with the foosball table—giving parents a chance to actually enjoy their coffee and conversation.
malonecoffee.com | 14735 Bratton Ln #210, Austin, TX 78728
Radio Coffee & Beer
Any location of RADIO Coffee & Beer is one of the best coffee shops for kids in Austin. Each spot offers spacious indoor area and large outdoor patio, perfect for families who want to enjoy coffee and breakfast tacos while their kids run and play.
I like to pack toy trucks or small toys to keep my kids entertained.
radiocoffeeandbeer.com | 3 Radio locations
Tot Box Play Café
Located in Round Rock, Tot Box is more of a play café than a traditional coffee shop. It’s perfect for young children to explore beautifully designed play spaces.
Parents can enjoy a lavender latte or coffee while their little kids play, and each 2-hour session gives you dedicated time to relax, catch up with a friend, or even get some work done.
totboxplaycafe.com | 403 N Mays St, Round Rock, TX 78664
Hat Creek
Ok, I’m aware that when you’re looking for Austin coffee shops with playgrounds you probably don’t have “burger restaurant” on your radar. But don’t forget about Hat Creek’s breakfast menu! Hat Creek is so much more than just burgers and fries.
They have multiple locations in the Austin area that are open early with breakfast tacos, pancakes, and breakfast bowls available.
The only coffee option is a drip coffee (no fancy coffee beverages here), but with that awesome fenced-in playground area and the yummy breakfast options, I’m not complaining. This really is one of the best places to meet up with a fellow parent for a friend date while the children are entertained nearby.
hatcreekburgers.com | Multiple locations
Juiceland (Lake Austin Location, Oak Hill, and Brodie locations)
Juiceland is Austin’s biggest fresh juice and smoothie chain. Have you ever tried their coffee, though? They call them “superfood lattes and tonics” on the menu, but they have a basic cold brew that you can order. They also have fancier lattes, like an oat milk latte made with coffee, coconut oil, and cinnamon, and various golden mylk and matcha lattes.
You can find locations ALL over the city, but here are some of the best kid-friendly Juiceland locations:
Lake Austin location: it’s a walk-up window near Lady Bird Lake, and there’s a rocky patio where my little ones love to play with trucks.
Oak Hill location: this one is known for its drive-thru, but did you know that there’s a little play area inside?
Brodie location: the Brodie location also has a small play area for kids.
WEBSITE | Multiple locations
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