Exploring The 23 Coolest South Austin Coffee Shops

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 4, 2024

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I normally wouldn’t say that coffee shops are “cool.” I’d call them serene, calming, or excellent places to work or start your day. But in this case, these South Austin coffee shops are cool. And that’s not just because South Austin, in general, is just a cool little area of ATX.

>>>Scroll to the bottom of this page for a map of the best South Austin coffee shops.<<<

It’s also because the south Austin coffee shops we’re going to explore are full of impressive feats, like featuring James Beard Award-nominated pastries, in-house-roasted coffee beans for retail, and renovated interiors in historic homes.

Some of these shops have dog-friendly and kid-friendly outdoor patios and playground (yup), and many of them have food menus that deserve to be on the best brunch spots in Austin.

But mostly, these are local favorites among the south Austin coffee shop scene. They’re places that I, a south Austin resident, have frequented again and again with my friends and family over the past decade+.

A few of them are new to the Austin coffee scene, but they’re SO good that I truly believe they deserve a list on this map.

Whether you’re searching for a place with free wifi to get a morning work session done on your laptop, you need a cute coffee shop to meet up with a friend for a chat, or you simply want the best pour-over in town, you’ll find what you need at one of these south Austin shops.

>>>Scroll to the bottom of this page for a map of the best south Austin coffee shops.<<<

Best Coffee Shops in South Austin

1. Patika

Ah, Patika has a little piece of my heart. It’s probably the south Austin coffee shop I’ve frequented the most over my lifetime because of its local charm, it's top-notch pour-overs and cappuccinos, and those dang scones! They’re just SO good. Dense and buttery and offered in unique flavors like carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, blueberry basil, and coconut lime.

Patika is a small shop, but I've noticed that in the early morning hours, they have plenty of free tables where customers can bring laptops and get work done. In the later morning, it will get very crowded. And on weekends, they turn off the Wifi so folks can be fully present for their weekend brunch. (Which is phenomenal, btw.)

Patika is probably the very best coffee shop in Austin if you’re simply ranking based on the quality of coffee. They train their friendly baristas well so that they’re skilled in pulling espresso shots, steaming milk, and pouring methods. And they now have their own line of roasted coffee beans (Superthing). You can buy them on the shelf at Patika, and you can also find them around Austin at other shops, like Meanwhile.

Psst: they also have a location in downtown Austin!

WEBSITE | 2159 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704, United States

2. The Meteor

If you’re looking for a coffee shop in South Congress, make sure you consider this one! The Meteor is an absolute gem, and here’s why: it’s just a bit removed from the chaos of SOCO, so you can actually find free parking here, tables inside, and a calm and quiet back patio. Yes! All of that is available on SOCO if you know where to look!

WEBSITE | 2110 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

3. Proud Mary

We’re going to take a break from coffee shops and talk just about great coffee. Proud Mary is more of a breakfast restaurant than a coffee shop, so it’s not necessarily the type of place where a lot of people bring their laptops or just casually meet up for a cup of coffee with a friend. (Although they have a coffee bar where you can order a cup to-go!)

However, in regards to the best coffee in South Austin, Proud Mary is one of the most reputable roasters. They even offer an espresso flight here, which isn’t something you see very often. You might see Proud Mary around town at other coffee shops as well, but it’s fun to go to the source and order a specialty Geisha coffee or one of those espresso flights.

Proud Mary is a beautiful Melbourne-inspired breakfast cafe that first opened in Portland before opening their Austin, TX location. And they really do have some of the absolute best food in town. So if you have a moment to sit down while you enjoy your coffee, ask to be seated at a table and try their scrambled egg roti or their ricotta hotcakes.

WEBSITE | 2043 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

4. Teal House Bakery

Places To Indulge In Weekday Breakfast In Austin

Wait, a cinnamon roll shop is number 4? Yes, and here’s why: their coffee is excellent! Also, this is one of the cutest (and quietest) coffee shops on South Congress Ave. That’s because most people order a half dozen cinnamon rolls to go, and very few people think of this as a sit-down coffee shop.

But it’s a bright and beautiful family-owned coffee shop with plenty of seating for customers. They have a full espresso bar, an excellent menu of cinnamon rolls and kolache and croissants. But for real…these are legitimately the very best cinnamon rolls in Austin.

WEBSITE | 2304 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

5. Merit

Merit started in San Antonio and quickly expanded to multiple locations in Austin, all of which have been highly successful. And while “opening a lot of locations quickly and successfully” doesn’t necessarily mean you have excellent coffee (think: Starbucks), Merit actually does have some of the highest-quality coffee beans and best baristas in Austin. And they’ve managed to scale and expand that, which is quite impressive.

They roast their own beans. Pick up a bag of that MERIT coffee roasters with your order - you won’t be sorry. They also feature delicious pastries which, last time I checked, were sourced from Bakery Lorraine, another San Antonio favorite.

Merit’s South Lamar space is inside a historic building. It’s a community-driven space with lots of friendly faces, uplifting energy, free parking, and (of course) exceptional coffee ready to be made for you.

WEBSITE | 1105 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

6. Oven Bird

Way down in far south Austin is a little locally-owned coffee shop called Oven Bird. It’s located inside a small shopping center with a few other restaurants and retail spots nearby, so don’t be alarmed by the full parking lot. There are typically a few free tables available inside for customers to sit and chat or get some work done.

They have a great list of pastries, a good coffee program (good, but not great….I wouldn’t call their coffee quite as good as Patika’s or Merit’s, but it’s pretty good), and a gorgeous, plant- and light-filled space. The windows stretch all the way up to the ceiling, and it’s a great place to beat the winter blues with a bunch of sunlight and warmth.

They also have a sidewalk patio with outdoor seating where you can enjoy your hot coffee and muffin.

WEBSITE | 6501 S Congress Ave UNIT 211, Austin, TX 78745

7. Spokesman Coffee

If you’re looking for a coffee shop in south Austin where you can most likely find a place to sit and get some work done, Spokesman might be the place. It’s a massive space at The Yard at St Elmo (just down the block from St Elmo Brewing and STILL Whiskey Distillery.)

It’s a coffee shop by day and a bar by night. Spokesman roasts their own coffee beans in-house, and they’ve grown so popular in Austin that they also opened a Highland location in north Austin right next to a climbing gym.

Since this space is just so big, there seem to always be tables available. And then after you have your coffee and muffin and get some work done, you can stick around and order a beer in the afternoon!

WEBSITE | 440 E St Elmo Rd A2, Austin, TX 78745

8. Carpenter Coffee Bar

Located inside the Carpenter Hotel, Carpenter Coffee Bar is a destination in and of itself. They have phenomenal coffee, some of the best pastries in the city, and an adorable little space to sit and get work done in the coffee shop.

Parking is a bit of a nuisance here - parking spots are reserved for hotel guests, so you’ll have to pay for street parking. It’s not bad though - it just costs a couple dollars, and there’s typically plenty of street parking during the morning hours.

WEBSITE | 400 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704

9. Once Over Coffee

I’m always a little bit surprised when people tell me they haven’t heard of this place, because it’s the OG specialty Austin shop! Located on South First St, Once Over is an awesome little place that shares a space with El Primo taco truck.

They use Wild Gift coffee, a reputable roaster here in Austin. They really place a lot of value on the exectuion of their drinks, and even though they’re an older spot, they’ve managed to retain the quality of their coffee program.

One of the coolest things about Once Over Coffee is their little creekside back patio. It’s tucked away behind the building, and you’d never know it’s there by looking at the front of the building. It’s just a little perk of reading this guide. 🙂

WEBSITE | 2009 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

10. Radio Coffee and Beer

Radio Coffee and Beer opened in south Austin in 2014 and absolutely took the town by storm! At the time, it was a fairly new concept to an all-day spot: coffee in the morning, beer garden and cocktail bar in the evening, live music on the weekends, and food trucks all day. These days you can find these types of places all over Austin, but in 2014, Radio was the first one to be doing this.

And they’re still just as popular! They’ve expanded their parking so it’s a bit easier to find a spot, but this place still gets packed any day of the week. After you order your coffee inside and find a table, be sure to stop at Veracruz All Natural and order one of their migas tacos to try. This particular taco was called one of the best tacos in the entire country by Food Network, and locals love them too.

WEBSITE | 4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

11. Mañana Coffee

Possibly the prettiest coffee bar and bakeshop in Austin, Mañana is located on the ground floor of the trendy South Congress Hotel. The coffee is wonderful (a bit pricey, but they can do that based on the demographic) but the true beauty of this place is its pastry program.

All the delicious treats inside the pastry case are baked in-house at the South Congress Hotel and created by James Beard Award semifinalist Amanda Rockman. Be sure to try the Kouign Amann, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate chip cookies.

WEBSITE | 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

12. Stouthaus Coffee Pub

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Stouthaus has managed to remain a local secret. I believe it will always be that way, simply because they location is just a bit tricky to find. But once you’re there, this coffee shop is so warm, welcoming, and comfortable.

They roast their own coffee, and their simple drip coffee is awesome. As are their nitro cold brew and their hot espresso-based beverages. If you need a bite of food to go with your morning cup of joe, grab a yogurt parfait or order a bowl of their yummy oatmeal.

And since it’s a coffee pub, Stouthaus turns into a bar in the evening with a great lineup of local beers on tap.

WEBSITE | 4715 S Lamar Blvd #102, Sunset Valley, TX 78745

13. Meanwhile Brewing

Sure, it’s the most popular brewery in Austin, but did you know that Meanwhile also has a robust coffee program? They use those delicious coffee beans from Superthing Coffee (mentioned up above at spot #1 on this list) and have a full coffee menu with cold brew, espresso drinks, and drip coffee.

Meanwhile Brewing’s space is an enormous indoor/outdoor property in southeast Austin near the airport. There are hundreds of tables with multiple seating areas, and in the morning hours it’s pretty quiet here. There are actually few places in Austin that are better for a still and calm morning than a brewery…but it will get packed later in the day and on the weekends, so watch out!

There’s a taco truck on site if you’d like to order a breakfast taco with your coffee. If you’re visiting with kids, Meanwhile has a big playground in the middle of their property where the kids can run around while you sip your coffee or get some work done.

WEBSITE | 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744

14. Medici Roasting on South Lamar

Medici Roasting was another one of those old-school Austin coffee shops. They were actually called Caffe Medici for a while (and then rebranded recently), and you can find a few locations in Austin. Including one at the Austin airport.

The South Lamar location is tucked into the ground floor at Lamar Union, one of those four-story apartment buildings on SoLa with retail and restaurants below. It’s a really pretty, modern coffee shop, and they have a reputable coffee program and excellent pastries.

Parking is really easy here, too. There’s a parking garage at Lamar Union, and it’s totally free for guest. (No tickets/validation required or anything annoying like that.)

Medici Roasting is literally right across the street from Merit Coffee. I find that when I have to choose between the two of them, I pick Merit. (This is simply because Merit’s pastries are AMAZING and their coffee is maybe 10% better than Medici’s.) But now that I’m writing this, I’m realizing that I need to make a point to go to Medici Roasting more often. It’s a solid option to be ranked among the best south Austin coffee shops worth visiting.

WEBSITE | 1100 S Lamar Blvd #2125, Austin, TX 78704

15. Little Brother Coffee & Kolaches

Hardly a coffee shop and more a coffee window, Little Brother Coffee & Kolaches is an excellent place to get a coffee to-go while you’re walking up and down South Congress. It’s from the same team behind Better Half Bar and Hold Out Brewing, so you know it’s good!

WEBSITE | 1512 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

16. Cosmic Coffee and Beer

I’m just going to say it: don’t go to Cosmic Coffee for the coffee. It’s really not very good at all. HOWEVER, the space is so much fun, and the food trucks here are awesome! When you’re looking for a big outdoor hangout spot where you can find an outdoor picnic table, gather with friends, let the kids push trucks around in the gravel, and enjoy a morning together, Cosmic is a great spot.

The lineup of food trucks that are parked here is pretty impressive, including Pueblo Viejo (tacos), LeRoy and Lewis (barbecue), and Tommy Want Wingy (wings). I’m much more likely to visit this place later in the day when I can get a craft beer to enjoy with my barbecue, but I have stopped by occasionally on a weekday morning when I want to get some work done.

The ambiance is soooo beautiful and Austin-y. The coffee is just not very good.

WEBSITE |121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704

17. Summer Moon

People love Summer Moon! It’s a mini-chain that started on South First Street selling wood-fired coffee and decided to start scaling and expanding a few years ago. As they opened new locations, they really got into the theme of designing bright, beautiful spaces that are absolutely made to be instagrammed, which helped their brand a lot.

Summer Moon is famous for their sweet cream moon milk, which you can add to your latte by the ratio. For instance, you can order a ¾ Summer Moon latte, a ½ Summer Moon latte, or a ⅛ Summer Moon latte, which is also called a “Whisper Moon.” The coffee itself isn’t all that amazing…it’s only a step above Starbucks quality (slightly over-roasted and made in bulk), so this isn’t a place for speciality coffee snobs.

It is, however, a wonderful spot to get some work done or meet up with a friend if you enjoy chai lattes, sweet and creamy drinks, and grab-and-go breakfast tacos.

WEBSITE | 5701 W Slaughter Ln A170, Austin, TX 78749

18. Madrone Coffee Co.

Madrone Coffee Co. started in Dripping Springs before opening this epic Oak Hill location. It’s a really big indoor space (this location used to be Austin Pizza Garden, for all of you OG Austinites who remember that spot), so it’s quite large!

This means that it’s really easy to find a cozy spot to hunker down with your laptop. There are multiple “rooms” with lots of little nooks and crannies. It’s such a great spot on a cold or rainy day when you want a space to enjoy your latte and scone while you get a few hours of work done.

Madrone has a little playground in the backyard. If you’re looking for a fun coffee shop to visit with kids, be sure to check out Madrone.

WEBSITE | 6266 US-290, Austin, TX 78735

19. Jo’s Coffee

There’s the Jo’s Coffee location on South Congress (it’s the place with “I Love You So Much” written on the side and their famous Iced Turbo drink), but there’s another location that’s a bit further south. It has indoor seating, great coffee, yummy pastries, and it’s a bit less crowded with tourists.

WEBSITE | 1300 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

20. Plaza Colombian Coffee

Plaza Colombian Coffee Bar sometimes gets forgotten in the list of excellent south Austin coffee shops. That’s probably because they’re a little bit of everything. This is a coffee shop, but it’s also a Colombian bakery, cocktail bar, beer bar, tiki bar, restaurant, drive thru…it’s a lot.

The pastries really are very, very good here. The coffee is “medium,” but if you want a drive-thru option, it’s pretty hard to beat. And if you just want a pretty spot to sit and enjoy a delicious Colombian pastry and a sweet iced beverage, be sure to check out Plaza.

WEBSITE | 3842 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

21. Radio/EAST

Remember how I mentioned Radio Coffee & Beer earlier and said that’s it’s always crowded? Well, they opened an additional location in south Austin! It’s located very close to Meanwhile Brewing and the Austin airport, and it’s incredibly spacious.

They have the same menu of coffee in the morning and beer in the evening, as well as a few food trucks. You can just scan the QR code at your table and order a breakfast taco to pick up a few minutes later.

The inside space at Radio East Austin is much more modern and light-filled than the original Radio location in south Austin.

WEBSITE | 3504 Montopolis Dr, Austin, TX 78744

22. Golden Hour Wine Bar and Coffee

You might have seen it in our guide to the best wine bars in Austin, but Golden Hour is also a morning coffee shop and cafe. Stop by for a pour-over and a challah toast with French butter and enjoy it on their sun-soaked outdoor patio.

This indoor space is light-filled and beautiful, albeit a bit small. But there are 3 or 4 small tables where you can enjoy your beverage and food or sit and chat with a friend.

I wouldn't necessarily call this an excellent coffee shop for getting work done for hours on end, but it is a beautiful space to enjoy a great cup of coffee in south Austin.

WEBSITE | 7731 Menchaca Rd Suite 100, Austin, TX 78745

23. The Hive

The Hive is very popular among parents with young children because of the massive playground in the backyard. But this south Austin coffee shop is also a great spot for creatives to gather and work at all times of the day, and enjoy bites like morning pastries and sandwiches in the afternoon.

WEBSITE | 10542 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78748

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