10 East Austin Coffee Shops to Visit
July 19, 2024
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Every city has its own coffee shop culture, and Austin’s is as creative as the people you’ll meet here. East Austin is arguably the best neighborhood to experience Austin’s impressive coffee scene. At the Heywood Hotel, we often get asked by guests for nearby recommendations, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite coffee shops on the East Side.
From excellent espresso to cold brew to concoctions made with unique housemade syrups, you’ll find a range of creative and memorable coffee drinks at these East Austin coffee shops. And the best part is, they’re all a mile or less away from the Heywood.
10 East Austin Coffee Shops
1. Flat Track Coffee
Just a few steps from the Heywood, we’re lucky to have one of Austin’s most beloved coffee shops. We love the industrial vibe, and they hands-down have some of the best espresso and cold brew in the city. They also offer locally-made kolaches and a selection of pastries. A visit to Flat Track is best for espresso aficionados or Heywood Hotel guests looking for a walkable East Austin coffee shop.
2. Cenote
Cenote is another neighborhood favorite. Located just four blocks away from the Heywood in a cozy bungalow-style space, the popular East Side cafe has ample seating indoors and out. Cenote is best if you’re looking for a meal to go with your coffee, as it offers a full food menu.
On the weekends, you’ll find hearty breakfast items such as apple butter pancakes, a grilled breakfast burrito, and eggs benedict. They also serve a range of lunch items, including sandwiches, salads, and burgers.
3. Cosmic Saltillo
Industrial architecture meets expansive garden patio at Cosmic Hospitality’s East Austin coffee shop, Cosmic Saltillo. A sister spot to the original location in South Austin, Cosmic Saltillo is an all-day spot for coffee, drinks, and tacos in a thoughtfully converted railroad yard.
The impressive outdoor areas feature native landscaping, water gardens and creative steel structures. There is ample seating, both on the patio and on the rooftop deck (which offers views of downtown Austin!). However, indoor tables are limited. If you’re looking for a spot to crack open your laptop and get some work done, this coffee shop is best enjoyed when the weather is nice and you don’t mind sitting outside.
4. Dark Horse TCB
Dark horse TCB — which stands for tattoo, coffee, and barber — is a multifunctional space that acts as a coffee shop, tattoo shop, barbershop, and even an art gallery all rolled into one. Whether you want to book a hair appointment or get tatted, the coffee is always reliable. Plus, the coffee shop is open 24 hours and it’s just a five-minute walk down the street from the Heywood.
5. Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
If you’re looking for excellent espresso or pour-overs, Figure 8 is another longtime local favorite. There’s a reason it was recently won Best Coffee by the Austin-American Statesman. Figure 8 sources their own green beans and roasts their own coffee. Plus, the founders worked at other successful coffee shops in Austin before opening Figure 8 in 2014, so high-quality coffee is the foundation of their business.
The quaint shop is located at the corner of Chicon and Tillotson, just across the street from Huston-Tillotson University. Plus, it’s less than a mile away from Heywood, so it’s an easy drive or walk for guests.
Looking to stay near the best coffee shops in East Austin? Book your stay at the Heywood Hotel.
6. Pershing East
Pershing East is another one of our favorite East Austin coffee shops. Located next to Pershing, a social club and music hall, the bright, light-filled space is perfect for enjoying your morning brew or getting some work done. While you’re there, try the Tiger Latte: a concoction of turmeric, ginger, simple syrup, espresso, and milk.
7. Fleet Coffee
Fleet Coffee is a go-to for great coffee with a creative twist. Fleet is best known for its housemade syrups with unique flavors such as mainstays like cherry almond and juniper vanilla and a rotating list of creative concoctions for its seasonal menus. While Fleet has three locations now, the original location is on Webberville Road, just a little over a mile away from the Heywood. The quaint space has limited indoor seating and offers a few covered tables outside.
8. Desnudo
Located in a food truck park next door to Fleet Coffee, Desnudo is another can’t-miss coffee shop in East Austin. The two brothers who run the business flip the typical coffee distribution chain upside down by working directly with small, family-run coffee farms to source sustainably produced coffee. If you’re looking for a memorable coffee drink, we suggest trying the Brown Sugar Miso Latte, Shoyu Butterscotch Latte, or Boggy Berry.
9. Dear Diary
Dear Diary is a cute destination for coffee and art, just a mile and a half from the Heywood. Part coffee shop and part artist market, it’s home to the works of over 40 local artists and makers. Shop for paintings, jewelry, art supplies, and other handmade goods while you enjoy one of their many specialty brews.
Dear Diary serves blends roasted by Sightseer Coffee Roasters, a 100% women-owned coffee supply chain. A couple of its signature drinks include a Black Matcha Latte (a creamier alternative to a London Fog) and a Marshmallow Latte, which combines two of the shop’s housemade syrups, caramel and vanilla.
10. Lazarus
Lazarus is a fun East Austin coffee shop and brewpub located on East Sixth Street, a little over half a mile away from the Heywood. It offers a full-service coffee bar all day long. The shop sources its beans from all over the world and roasts them in-house with two distinct profiles: adventure (light and bright) and comfort (dark and smooth). Lazarus opens at 7:30am on weekdays and 9am on weekends.