We’re thrilled to wish you a happy National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, 2024, if you’re the type to celebrate. The rest of us are wiping sleep out of our eyes and glugging the brown stuff, no matter the day.
Our food team members at The Dallas Morning News are frequent fliers at the coffee shops in Dallas-Fort Worth. We work there, we drink there. We eat pastries; it’s part of the job.
So here’s our list, not of the best coffee shops in Dallas-Fort Worth, but of our favorites, listed in alphabetical order. For a deeper look at coffee joints across Dallas-Fort Worth, grab a cup o’ Joe and sift through this longer list.
Original story published Sept. 28, 2022 and was updated Sept. 29, 2024.
Aussie Grind
This popular Frisco shop owned by an Australian family offers much more than Flat Whites. There’s an extensive drink menu that includes Aussie iced coffee (served with ice cream), impressive cocktails, juices, smoothies and milkshakes — add booze if you want. The food menu includes “breaky,” lunch and dinner, serving items like Bubble n’ Squeak, Fish n’ Chips and Chicken Parmy. Kids will love the Fairy Bread (sourdough with butter and sprinkles) or the Hotcakes served with Fairy Floss (cotton candy). — Erin Booke
Aussie Grind is at 3930 Preston Road, Frisco and 4887 Alpha Rd, Suite 285 Farmers Branch. theaussiegrind.com.
Black Coffee
Owner Mia Moss opened her coffee shop in 2019 on the east side of Fort Worth, where she grew up, and it’s been a place of community and conversation ever since. The menu includes traditional coffee drinks and teas, plus specialty items like the Raspberry Beret Latte (a nod to Prince) and the Blueberry Hill Matcha Latte (a nod to Louie Armstrong), and pastries from La Casita Bakeshop in Richardson. — E.B.
Black Coffee is at 1417 Vaughn Blvd., Fort Worth. blackcoffeefw.com.
Cafe Duro
This cafe, with its Renzo Mongiardino-inspired design and its coffee counter meant for standing and sipping espresso, delivers a rather authentic Italian coffee experience. Step inside away from the hum of Greenville Avenue and it’s as if you’re in Milan. Along with morning pastries, polenta egg cups and espresso drinks, Cafe Duro also offers a lunch and evening menu with wine, paninis and aperitivo cocktails. Its European leanings lend itself to an environment better suited for a meet up with a friend over a date with a laptop. — Claire Ballor
Cafe Duro is at 2804 Greenville Ave., Dallas. cafe-duro.com.
Cafe Frida
Located in the heart of Downtown Garland, this new café draws inspiration from the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The interior exudes tropical vibes, creating a lively atmosphere. The enticing scent of its signature Frida Latte fills the space, a delightful drink featuring a rich blend of espresso, milk, Mexican vanilla bean extract, cane sugar, and a topping of marshmallow-flavored foam. As guests enjoy their coffee and pan dulce, they can take in the stunning mural of Kahlo that adorns the wall. — Alyson Rodriguez
Cafe Frida is located at 509 West Walnut St., Garland, Texas https://www.instagram.com/cafefrida_garlandtx.
Chimlanh
Vietnamese cà phê shop Chimlanh is back in the Cedars neighborhood after a months-long closure. It’s got a fresh coat of pink paint and now offers tea service alongside a handful of Vietnamese coffee drinks and locally made pastries. Order from the walk-up window and sit on the covered patio or order ahead online for quick grab-and-go service. — C.B.
Chimlanh is located at 1902 Botham Jean Blvd, Dallas. chimlanh.com.
Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co.
This micro roaster and coffee shop is a favorite amongst East Dallas locals. It’s always busy on the weekends, but the line never takes long. It shares a space with Goodfriend Package, so plan a one-two stop for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. — C.B.
Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co. is located at 1155 Peavy Rd, Dallas. cultivarcoffee.com.
Fount Board & Table
If coffee’s on your mind when you enter the old home that houses Fount Board & Table in Uptown Dallas, get a cup. But can I suggest something else to fixate upon first? Fount sells jammy egg toast for breakfast that is possibly the best pre-lunch bite in the city. It’s a piece of toast slathered with stracciatella cheese, then layered with prosciutto and several pieces of soft-boiled egg. OK, now you can dive into the cafe’s deep selection of hot teas, matcha and espresso. Ask an employee if you want pointers; many love talking about Fount’s food and drink. — S.B.
Fount Board & Table is at 2414 Routh St., Dallas. fountboardandtable.com.
Good Boy Cafe
Fair warning: This coffee shop comes with some sticker shock. The drinks are pricy, but it’s an impeccably designed space with great coffee, great music and great sunlight. It’s located inside Hey Koneko, a retail shop with vintage clothing and new home goods, so you can shop while you sip, or camp out on one of the velvet couches with a book. — C.B.
Good Boy Cafe is located at 3901 Main St, Dallas. instagram.com/goodboycafedallas.
Halcyon
Walk into Halcyon on any given weekday and you’re surrounded by the buzz of caffeine and productivity. This Greenville Avenue coffee shop, which originated in Austin, is a hotspot for people looking to switch up their work view and sip coffee while sitting behind a laptop. At night, though, the coffee shop transforms into a lounge with happy hours, live jazz and movie nights. It has a sizable food menu that covers all three meals of the day (with breakfast even served until 6 p.m.) as well as an extensive coffee, tea, wine and cocktail list. — C.B.
Halcyon is at 2900 Greenville Avenue, Dallas. halcyoncoffeebar.com.
Hola Cafe
The small and personable coffee shop opened its first location in 2019. Hola Cafe’s interior is sleek and monotone, with a picture-perfect seating area. The cafe’s menu showcases many unique drinks like Cold Brew Limeade, the Teddy Latte, Michelada Topo, and Banana Matcha. Other delicacies include the organic sourdough english muffin, avocado toast, and almond butter banana toast with honey. — A.R.
Hola Cafe has two locations at 413 N Tyler St and 1845 Woodall Rodgers Fwy. https://holacafedallas.com.
La Casita Coffee
La Casita Coffee, known for its delicious bakery items like croissants, cruffins, and muffins, opened the doors to its newest outpost in August inside Half Priced Books on Northwest Highway in Dallas. Before launching the coffee shop, La Casita had built a reputation for its baked goods and being one of the biggest bakeries in the Metroplex. Now the coffee shop is becoming a fan favorite through drinks that include a sweet potato latte, lychee lavender spirits and cherry blossom matcha. — A.R.
La Casita Coffee is at 3837 Main Street Rowlett, TX and 5801 East Northwest Highway. https://www.lacasita.coffee.
La La Land Kind Cafe
The name fits: La La Land is a dreamy place where the latte cups are bright yellow and the staff is taught to compliment everybody who comes inside. La La Land in Richardson is a total trip: It’s drive-through or walk-up only, and the employees working each station chat you up while you wait for caffeine. Like, they really talk to you. The founder says he wants to “normalize kindness” and that coffee is just the conduit. In the few minutes I waited for my Perfect Latte, they told me they liked my sunglasses, asked where I was headed next, and shared a story about their day. It was nice. — S.B.
Multiple La La Lands in Dallas-Fort Worth. lalalandkindcafe.com.
Magnolias Sous Le Pont
Nestled under a bridge in Dallas’ Harwood District is Magnolias Sous Le Pont, a moody French coffee shop with herringbone floors and seasonal drinks like the salted caramel mocha and lavender latte. It offers a pastry counter along with a breakfast and lunch menu of parfaits, salads and sandwiches. It’s a great place to camp out with a good book (or a textbook) and its patio is a prime spot during Dallas’ good weather days. — C.B.
Magnolias Sous Le Pont is at 2727 N. Harwood Street, Dallas. magnoliasdallas.com.
Mudleaf Coffee
It’s wonderful to see a coffee shop that welcomes young children. While you’ll find plenty of seating and outlets for those working remotely at this Plano hot spot, there’s also a welcoming space with toys and games to keep kids occupied while parents visit with friends. The menu includes a variety of coffees and teas, including seasonal favorites like the Lavender Honey Latte and Wedding Latte. For a snack, try the Strawberry Nutella Toast on sourdough bread from La Casita. — E.B.
Mudleaf Coffee is at 3100 Independence Parkway, Plano. mudleafcoffee.com.
Palmieri Cafe
For coffee in true Italian style, Palmieri is a Dallas staple. Owner Corrado Palmieri opened the spot at the Dallas Farmers Market in 2016, serving espressos and drip coffee in addition to some of the most crave-worthy housemade pastries in the city, like pasticiotti, cannoncini and vanilla cream-filled graffa. He most recently opened a BIshop Arts location. — E.B.
Palmieri Cafe is at 920 S. Harwood St. and 307 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas. palmiericafe.com.
Staycation Coffee
This cute shop that opened in Richardson’s downtown district in 2021 has a neighborhood, Austin-ish vibe. Located in a 1940s cottage, there’s plenty of indoor seating for chatting with friends or doing a bit of work. Plus there’s a spacious backyard with games and more space to relax. Owner Nicole Gregory says Staycation is meant to be a “space where you can pause and take a second to appreciate coffee and conversation.” The menu includes a wide range of coffee drinks and teas, housemade syrups, and pastries and treats. — E.B.
Staycation Coffee is at 201 S. Texas St., Richardson. staycationtx.com.
Summer Moon Coffee
They won’t tell you what’s in Moon Milk, and maybe we don’t need to know. This sweet cream is rich, delicious and worth the few extra calories. I like the 007 (which is now called the Moon Shaker): two shots of espresso, served cold, laced with Moon Milk. (Shaken, not stirred.) The company has ballooned across Texas, with more than 40 cafes now open. It’s probably only a matter of time before more open in Dallas-Fort Worth. — S.B.
Summer Moon has multiple shops in D-FW. summermooncoffee.com.
The Meteor
The Meteor, one of the trendiest new all-day coffee and wine bars, opened in August in the Design District. Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time, thanks to its vintage-inspired vibe. Along with the usual coffees and pastries, The Meteor offers pizza, burgers, salads, a natural wine shop, and even a boutique bike shop. It’s a popular spot among Dallasites who are avid bikers. — A.R.
The Meteor is located at 1950 Hi Line Dr. https://themeteor.cafe/dallas.
White Rock Coffee
Before there was an indie coffee shop at nearly every intersection in Dallas, there was White Rock Coffee pulling espresso shots in Lake Highlands since 2005. Nothing here is fluffy or overdone, they just serve good coffee — often in a drive-through — alongside housemade cookies, muffins and scones. They also sell the best chicken salad I’ve had in Dallas. White Rock has expanded from Lake Highlands to Lakewood, Preston Hollow, Preston Center, Uptown Dallas and in University Park, across the street from SMU. — S.B.
Find a White Rock Coffee at wrcoffee.com.
Window Seat Coffee
It’s designed to feel like you’re inside an airplane, but Window Seat Coffee is better than that. Here, there’s no fasten-seatbelt sign and your kids are free to roam the cabin. On weekdays, the vibe is quiet — good for getting an hour of work done. (Note, they’re closed on weekends.) All coffee is roasted in-house and is available for purchase. — S.B.
Window Seat is at 3018 Greenville Ave., Dallas. windowseatcoffee.com.
Xaman Cafe
This warm shop in Oak Cliff (pronounced “shaman”) feels like a giant, cozy hug. The menu of food, drinks and pastries is influenced by Central Mexican flavors and includes an array of chilaquiles, mollettes and tortas for lunch and brunch. Drinks are plentiful: Get the Cafe de Olla, Oaxaca Mocha or the Xaman Horchata, all served in clay mugs made in Oaxaca or in carved coconut shells. In the evening, stop by for tapas and cocktails like a Cafe con Mezcal or Leche Del Desierto. — E.B.
Xaman Cafe is at 334 Jefferson Blvd., Dallas. xamancafe.com.
Erin Booke also contributed to this report.
