We’re serious about our coffee at StudioHop HQ. Living in Dallas makes it tough to decide where to go on those mornings when you just need a solid Americano or cappuccino. There’s just so many coffee shops and they’re constantly popping up. Here’s our list of our favorite places to caffeinate in the Big D. This is by no means our full list, but factors when deciding favorites include flavor profiles of their drip and espresso, atmosphere, friendliness/customer service and alt milk options (I mean, c’mon) among other things.
LDU
Everyone knows the Australian brothers who own this shop are the coolest and will make you feel at home as soon as you walk through the doors. Their espresso is seriously good, the service is great (thank you for bringing me water!) and you won’t want to miss their toasted banana bread.
Magnolia Sous Le Pont
Literally situated sous le pont (meaning: under the bridge), this place gives off really trendy and fancy vibes. There’s a few different vignettes of cozy spots to sit as well as tables to get some work done. Their matcha lattes and cappuccinos are delicious and beautiful and they carry the most gorgeous pastries (and breakfast tacos) from the surrounding Harwood neighborhood.
Houndstooth
If you know coffee, you’ll want to go here. They’re serious about their espresso and flavor profiles and they pump out beautiful latte art. There isn’t a lot of space to work or plug in (I don’t think they have outlets hanging around for customers) so it’s more of a quick meeting spot. The space is also really pretty and the Sylvan 30 location was once featured in Architectural Digest as the most beautiful coffee shop in Texas, so there’s that!
Lalaland Kind Café
If you don’t Instagram this spot, you aint livin. This café is brought to us by the same guy who opened up Pok a while back and he’s onto something with Lalaland. It’s housed in a cute bright white cottage with a patio and all things bright yellow. They have a mission with their café: to employ fostered youth who have aged out of the system. Sip on one of their fancy matcha lattes or regular lattes and definitely try the avocado toast. We plan to go back to try the chocolate chip cookie.
Mudsmith
A staple on lower Greenville Ave, but now open near StudioHop HQ at the Centrum Building, Mudsmith has an extensive coffee and matcha drink menu and plenty of treats and fuel including fresh juice and smoothies. There’s plenty of space to plug in and get some work done here. It’s a pretty moody-lit spot, so you definitely have to be in the “mood” for dimly lit productivity.
Royal Blue Grocery
This is definitely the see and be seen spot in Highland Park Village, so expect to run into at least one person you know here. Their Stumptown coffee is always a treat, as are their matcha lattes and they have the full gamut of alt milk: coconut, oat, almond, hemp, you name it. Plus they have a collection of delicious pastries from around Dallas and Tacodeli. It can be tough to snag a table, but the patio outside is always nice when the weather behaves.
Commissary
This place just makes us happy. You can’t miss it in downtown with the exterior covered in blue tile. The coffee is great and the pastries, sandwiches, breakfast and lunch options are all made in house. There are plenty of windows to do some downtown people watching, and it’s great for post-class at Vital Fitness or F45 Main Street.
Ascension
This is a long-time favorite of ours and many others in Dallas. The service can be a little slow sometimes, but they take their espresso and coffee very seriously. It’s always spot on, and the food is the cherry on top. You can’t go wrong with their avocado toast (are we #basic or what)—it comes with a poached egg on top. You can plug in and get work done at either location, but we have found it gets a bit noisy at times.
Brewed + Pressed
This is a health enthusiast delight. Their coffee is great, but we love ordering a hot “elixir” that has adaptogenic herbs with pumpkin seed milk to feel fancy. Their juices are very tasty but they’re also pricey. The seating is limited here, but if you snag a seat, it’s yet another really pretty interior and a trendy place that should earn a spot on your Instagram feed.
Herb’s House Coffee + Company
This is a new-to-us coffee shop mixed with a coworking space where you can rent conference rooms too. They have the standard coffee drinks, Tacodeli and some pastry options. The real pro here is that their space is bright and airy and there are a TON of tables to get some serious work done.