Top Houston Coffee Shops
The best java spots across town
Love coffee? Enjoy supporting local businesses? Looking to discover the best latte in town? Houston has coffee shops aplenty, each featuring its own unique vibe, crowd, and menu items. Check out our list below and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for new shops throughout the city that suit your vibe!
Blacksmith
If you happen to be out and about in Montrose and need a morning or afternoon pick-me-up, you are in luck! Some of the city’s favorite coffee haunts are located in the gayborhood and all offer delicious assortments of coffees, teas, pastries, and more. Located on Westheimer Road, a few blocks down from Montrose Boulevard, is Blacksmith, a coffee house that is perfect for meeting up with friends, getting some reading or studying done, or just grabbing a coffee to go. The menu features savory and sweet food options, and the space has a quintessential Montrose vibe, from the tunes to the industrial design.
Campesino Coffee House
A stone’s throw away lies Campesino Coffee House, a coffee joint that is one of the few shops in Montrose that harkens back to the days of old. The cozy spot serves coffee along with Latin American specialty drinks, all which pair well with the empanadas, sandwiches, tamales, and more options also on the menu. Pull off a chair, grab a seat on the couches in front of the TV (which is likely playing a cult classic film from the 80s or before), or soak up the sun in their outdoor seating area.
Tucked away in a quieter part of the neighborhood is Mercantile Montrose, an upscale coffee house that crafts espresso drinks, food items, and happens to be attached to a laundromat if you’re looking to kill two birds with one stone. With tables set up for group hangs, seating for solo or couples’ coffee ventures, and even a swing to escape to while you wait for your coffee, Mercantile is the perfect shop to go and think of your master plan—under a neon sign that beckons you to do just that!
Despite being on the outskirts of Montrose on Washington Avenue, Catalina Coffee is appropriately located to delight dwellers of the gayborhood and Heights alike! The infamously WiFi-free coffee shop is a coffee lover’s paradise. The vibe is easygoing, with exposed brick adorned with art and photography and customers engaged in conversation, noses in books, or saddled up to the coffee bar chatting with baristas. Weekend mornings can get busy, with a line of folks looking to get their caffeine fix stretching out the back door, but fans of the shop know the coffee is worth the wait. Slow things down and enjoy the atmosphere of Catalina, or take your cup and pastry to go and enjoy a walk in the quaint Old Sixth Ward neighborhood just behind the shop.
The sleek and aesthetic Blendin Coffee Club is an upscale shop near Buffalo Bayou that serves up sweet treats and the perfect cups of coffee, roasted and brewed right here in H-Town. Walking into the shop, you’re met with modern seating and a warm, inviting vibe. Hang a left into the shop, with white walls and subway tile rounding out the design, to order your latte, drip coffee, espresso, and more! Located near a Stages theatre, Big Power Yoga, and more, the shop is perfect for pulling up a seat and enjoying the atmosphere and good company or grabbing a cup to go and enjoy a nice walk around the bayou.
Eden Plant Co.
If you find yourself in East Downtown, you definitely want to stop by Eden Plant Co. for coffee and plant perusing. The tropical oasis of plants and coffee is a hot spot for wellness enthusiasts and plant parents alike. With a trendy vibe and a plethora of plants to choose from, the shop also boasts an impressive cup of coffee as well. With events throughout the year, the shop is a cultural hub for artists, creatives, and the like, so if you’re seeking inspiration or just something different from a typical coffee shop, head over to Eden Plant Co. and bring your green thumb with you.
Who doesn’t love walk-up service that ends with a delicious pastry and cup of coffee? EaDough Pastries and Provisions is the vibey shop in East Downtown, or EaDo, serving up mouthwatering breakfast sandwiches, kolaches, muffins, danishes, smash burgers, and more. After perusing the food menu, choose from their list of specialty teas (beetroot cacao latte? cool!) and coffees, such as the fan-favorite Cereal Milk Latte. Seating is limited, but the shop is right along a hike and bike trail, which is perfect for a fall stroll. If it’s too hot out, grabbing your bite and beverage and running back to your air-conditioned car is also a great option!
Brass Tacks
If you’re looking for an upbeat place to grab coffee and a breakfast taco, then Brass Tacks is the lively shop for you. The coffee bar features Nitro Cold Brew, Texas Affogato (made with Blue Bell Rocky Road ice cream!), espresso, macchiato, and more. Teas, juices, shakes and more are all also available for wetting your whistle. The food menu kicks off at breakfast with delicious options available for all diets. Whether you’re craving bagel & lox, a Caesar Salad bowl, spring rolls, or another tasty treat, you’re in good hands with the Brass Tacks team. Not necessarily known for its serene atmosphere, the playlist is always right and the seating, WiFi and outdoor areas all appeal to every kind of diner. Stop in to the EaDo gem for delicious food, amazing coffee, and grab a seat in their little window nooks or among their gorgeous plants.
Were you looking to purchase locally roasted coffee from a shop that occupies a renovated 1921 Gulf gas station? Then look no further than Retrospect Coffee Bar in Midtown! Located in close proximity to Axelrad Beer Garden and Under The Radar Brewery, Retrospect is a little shop with a lot of character. The primary indoor space is where you order, but the outdoor space is the main seating available at this shop, which serves up expertly roasted coffee, craft beer & wine, crepes, and paninis. This uniquely historic shop is a neighborhood favorite and is the perfect spot for enjoying outdoor weather with a cup of coffee and light bite. Keep an eye out on their social media to catch a pop-up market event and peruse crafts with your coffee in hand.
Roast & Brew
The Heights is rich with delicious coffee shops, but Roast & Brew is one of the newer shops that has become a go-to for coffee and wine enthusiasts in the historic neighborhood. The European cafe and coffee house offers specialty coffee, loose-leaf tea, local craft & international beers, boutique & premium wines, and even champagne. Delicious beverages pair nicely with all-day breakfast, Greek specialties like Gyros and Kebabs, Falafels, flatbreads, salads, pasta, salmon, hamburgers, and more. Attracting young professionals, families, artsy folks, and residents from nearby homes, Roast & Brew offers a chill atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating that will make you want to order your food and drink for dining in.
Another Heights haunt is Antidote Coffee, located on Studewood Street in a small shopping center. A local favorite, this shop has delighted customers for years with its chill vibe, coffee and tea selections, beer, and wine. The bites at Antidote, including sandwiches and pastries, also keep customers coming back for more. The space feels like a home away from home. With cozy seating and minimal outlets, Antidote attracts folks who are engaged in conversation or enjoying a nice book. If you’re lucky enough to snag a seat by an outlet, you may also get some work done on your laptop. The hip coffee joint is a charming and chill oasis in a city known for its hustle mentality, so stop in to slow down a bit. If the weather is nice, snag a seat outside under one of their umbrellas to enjoy your coffee and company.
A rather aptly named coffee shop, located on Kirby Drive, Grinder’s Coffee Bar is Houston’s self-proclaimed original coffee shop and dispensary. Opened in 2019, the shop offers a variety of coffee drinks, including flat whites, cold brew, cafe au lait, and more. Speciality drinks, such as the Purple Haze Latte, and bites, such as the delicious pastries on the menu, round out the menu. Located in a bustling area near Rice University and Rice Village, the shop invites customers to chill out with CBD offerings as well. The shop is quaint and relaxing, with artful lighting and a colorful mural reminding guests to “Smile and your heart will follow.” Visit this queer-friendly shop in the upscale neighborhood and enjoy!
Campesino Coffee House
In a city as big as Houston, it’s impossible to list every amazing coffee shop there is, but we think this list is a good start! Once you find a cup of coffee to your liking, take it on the road and explore the city. Our Guide to Instagrammable places in Houston is a great map for venturing around H-Town!
Photos: Courtesy of coffee shops and cafes mentioned in this post.
