Quick Guide to Fort Worth's Coffee Shops
Fort Worth’s coffee scene is having a major moment, even being highlighted just a few days ago in Dallas News Magazine. While it’s easy to find quick lists of where to grab coffee, here’s my guide with a few of my own notes and takeaways from each location. In no particular order, here are some awesome spots around town.
AMPERSAND
Ampersand is a spot just off of Crockett Row/West 7th. Although it may seem small at first inside, there’s a patio out front and a lounge in the back. The back room is dimly lit and has a great selection of seating if you need to quietly work on something without much interruption. At night it doubles as a club, but during the day it’s a great spot for a more intimate conversation over coffee or work. The lounge area is open for use until 9pm everyday. Ampersand has a wide variety of fun drinks including an Irish Cream White Mocha and a Lavender Latte. The signature R.F.M.E. (Reason for my Existence) is a shaken iced breve latte with hazelnut and is a favorite (and mine).
Location: 3009 Bledsoe St
Design: Modern and sleek with lots of black and white. Very Instagrammable
Food Options: A small pastry selection
Seating: When you walk in, it may feel tight being mainly bar seating, but walking into the back lounge is a completely different situation. There is a wide variety of seating and spaced apart from each other nicely so you’re not on top of anyone’s conversation or work.
Stroller Friendly: Yes and no. The front area is tight and quickly can become too tight for a stroller, but both the patio space and lounge are very spacious.
Parking: They share a small lot in the back. It could get tricky if you go at peak times.
Good For Work/Study: Yes. Primarily in the lounge.
Local coffee truck turned brick & mortar, Arcadia is a fun spot for breakfast/brunch and great coffee. They roast their coffee in-house and everything is vegan! When you go, make sure to try their signature Cosmic Latte!
Location: 326 Bryan Ave.
Design: Artsy, dark but just enough where it’s cozy and inviting.
Food Options: There’s a solid food menu to back up the coffee selection including pastries, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and their signature charcoal infused waffle.
Seating: There’s a wide variety of seating including sofas, bar seating and tables. All very cozy and private.
Stroller Friendly: Yes. Very,
Parking: They’ve got their own lot as well as street parking. Things are a little crazy with construction but it’s usually pretty easy to find a spot.
Good For Work/Study: Absolutely. It’s quiet and perfect for work, studying, of catching up with friends.
Avoca is a Fort Worth staple and you’ll notice a lot of local businesses serving AVOCA coffee. They’ve been around since 2011 serving quality products. It’s a lovely place to grab a drink and the outdoor seating on Magnolia is a beautiful way to start the day. My personal favorite is the New Orleans Style!
Locations:
1121 W. Magnolia Ave.
835 Foch St
Design: Not rustic, not hipster but somehow both of those combined in the best possible way? It’s a hard one to describe.
Food Options: Lots of tasty baked goods, some from Stir Crazy down the street.
Seating: It’s a large venue so there is likely going to be a spot. There are tables next to each other in a way that caters to students or those trying to get work done.
Stroller Friendly: Technically yes but at both locations you’ll struggle a bit depending on stroller size
Parking: Both have a designated lot, although it fills up fast so be prepared for street parking
Good For Work/Study: Great for studying. May not be the best for long term working/projects.
Located in East Fort Worth, Black Coffee is a gem. It’s one of the only coffee shops in the area and is one of my favorite spots in town. Recently voted Best Coffee for Fort Worth’s Best of 2020, the culture around Black Coffee is focused on using their product to “bridge gaps and create relationships.” It shows and is well worth stopping by.
Location: 1417 Vaughn Blvd
Design: Monochromatic and modern, but somehow makes you feel right at home.
Food Options: A variety of pastries and a solid selection of breakfast tacos.
Seating: Tabletop seating and a bar along the front windows. You’ll find a couple bistro tables outside, too.
Stroller Friendly: Absolutely. There’s plenty of room to navigate and the entire vibe feels very kid friendly.
Parking: They have a lot attached to the shop and plenty of parking.
Good For Work/Study: Yes. Although this seems like a great place to set up shop for a day of remote working/studying, I would say that this feels more like a place for meeting up with friends. You may end up distracted by other people or conversations if you’re not in the zone.
Buon Giorno is another Fort Worth staple and now they have a new spot downtown. It’s larger, brighter and ohh, the ease of parking now! They roast in-house, bake in-house, and have some seriously great food options, including the new vegan sausage roll, which honestly is amazing and shocking that it’s vegan. They have a variety of drinks, food, and seating that allows for both studying and great conversation. The large floor-to-ceiling windows at the front have cozy chairs next to a designated children’s area, complete with games, toys, and even coloring supplies.
Location: 500 W 7th St. Suite 140
Design: Similar to the last location except now with a few more modern elements. It’s still just as cozy and eclectic.
Food Options: They have an extensive menu for a coffee shop. Come here for more than just pastries. Come hungry.
Seating: Tabletops, couches, bistro tables, cozy chairs looking out onto W. 7th and even a round bar in the center of the room. They have all the seating and all types.
Stroller Friendly: Technically yes but not without bumping a few chairs.
Parking: A parking garage right behind the building on 6th gives you all kinds of easy access without worrying about street parking or validation
Good For Work/Study: Absolutely.
I love the little moment of peace Coffee Folk gives me. They’re a coffee truck located in E. Fort Worth. They have an outdoor seating area, although not large, is enjoyable. If you stop by, try out their Iced Burnt Sugar Pink Salt Latte. You won’t be disappointed!
Location: 4147 Meadowbrook Dr.
Design: It’s an outdoor food truck location with a modern twist.
Food Options: They carry a small selection of pastries and have breakfast tacos in the morning.
Seating: They have outdoor seating nearby.
Stroller Friendly: Yes.
Parking: They have a lot but it fills up fast. Street parking on Magnolia is available
Good For Work/Study: No. It may be a great spot to sit down with a book for a bit but it’s definitely more of a drop in/out location.
Craftwork is one of my favorite spots in Fort Worth. They’ve got 3 locations around town, and each offers consistent, quality coffee. Keep an eye out for their seasonal menu!
They’re also known for the co-working spaces attached to their coffee shops, with 24/7 access, conference rooms, and all other kinds of amenities for remote workers.
Locations:
Camp Bowie: 4731 Camp Bowie Blvd.
The Foundry District: 2700 Weisenberger Street
Magnolia: 1121 W. Magnolia Ave.
Design: Each location differs a bit in style, but no matter where you land, you’ll find lots of natural light and wood accents that stand out next to light walls that catch the natural light.
Food Options: Each location has a couple pastry options available and breakfast tacos.
Comfortable Seating: For the most part, yes. The Magnolia location has an area with sofas, a window seat and a small area for kids to play.
Stroller Friendly: Both Magnolia and The Foundry location handle strollers beautifully and allow plenty of space. The Camp Bowie location is narrow and not as stroller friendly but still very kid friendly.
Parking: Each has a small lot, but at every location, depending on what time you arrive, you may have to do some searching for street parking.
Good For Work/Study: Absolutely. It can get loud but it’s still very doable. If you’re someone who just needs to be around people while getting something done, reading a book or just having a cup of solid coffee, this is a spot for you.
CRUDE Is my happy place. It’s intimate and quieter than other coffee locations which is what I value when having an intimate conversation or just needing to get work done. I get distracted at a lot of other coffee locations, but something about the environment of CRUDE keeps me grounded and focused. The pear spice latte is my current favorite seasonal drink, though all their seasonal drinks are great.
Location: 804 S. Main St. Suite 120
Design: Dark and moody with a splash of art deco
Food Options: Small batch desserts
Comfortable Seating: Yes, even for long periods
Stroller Friendly: Yes. It has a very open layout but maybe not double stroller comfortable.
Parking: They have a small lot but we’ve always parked on the street with no problem.
Good For Work/Study: So good. The insulation is on point and you don’t have to turn your sound up all the way. Excellent for long term working or just being in a quiet corner for a bit.
The original Dwell is just south of Fort Worth in Burleson and the location on University has been open for just over a year. Being just a block south of the TCU campus, this shop has the largest student population. It’s a super cute, open space and the coffee is really good. Although they have awesome seasonal drinks, I’m a sucker for their classic iced latte.
Location: 3113 South University Dr
Design: Bright, welcoming, fun and Instagrammable
Food Options: biscuits and biscuit sandwiches (both sweet and savory)
Seating: Table seating, some with booths. Comfortable for short periods.
Stroller Friendly: No. Although the tables make for easy stroller accessibility, ditch the stroller when you’re here. It’s pretty tight and fills up fast.
Parking: They have a small lot that they share with other businesses which gets full fast. I’ve parked at the Kroger across the street before and walked over.
Good For Work/Study: Great for both but you’ll have to have your music in because it gets loud when it fills up.
I honestly don’t have much info on this shop yet. They’re located on Camp Bowie near the Ridglea are which is an awesome spot for them to land. They open their doors this Saturday, February 8th for their grand opening. They’ll be serving a full pastry selection from Stir Crazy Baked Goods, sandwiches from Wild Acre Brewery and a Build-Your-Own-Bouquet Pop-Up!
Location: 6475 Camp Bowie Blvd.
This new stop in The Riverside District is a beautiful renovation project of a 1940's bail bonds office. The shop is a cute branch off of Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters in Dallas, and we’re excited to have it in the neighborhood! In the hopes of creating an atmosphere of communication and connection, they have intentionally opted to not install wifi on the location. So, you won’t be staring at your phone the entire time you’re here. If you’re not used to being in an environment without your laptop or your phone, you may want to bring a book or at least a friend. Make sure to try their signature mocha, made with their “five mile chocolate”, made in-house.
Location: 3021 Race St.
Design: Modern and retro combined with teals, oranges, reds against white and pops of deep wood decor.
Food Options: bagels and other small snacks
Seating: tables with chairs and a patio in the works
Stroller Friendly: Barely. It’s doable but I wouldn’t bring it along just for convenience.
Parking: they have a small lot but there’s plenty of parking on the strip right by the shop
Good For Work/Study: Not really, unless you can work or study without wifi.
Tucked behind Main St. on Bryan is Roots Coffee. Oh my goodness this building is stunning. There’s a ton of construction happening on that street, including some still happening on Roots itself. The look of the space is honestly breathtaking, and when I went I spent a couple minutes simply soaking up how beautiful the space was. As large as the building is, the space for the coffee shop is small. The building is separated by the coffee bar and kitchen, and on one side is the coffee shop and the other is a co-working space, which is still a work-in-progress.
Location: 400 Bryan Ave
Design: Deep greens contrasted with gold accents and a statement wall with an exotic leafy wallpaper. Truly a beautiful building, space and design.
Food Options: Pastries, sausage rolls, and a sizable menu that includes both breakfast and lunch options. You can come hungry.
Seating: A booth along the wall and a couple high top tables. They have some patio seating and have more plans for their outdoor space as well.
Stroller Friendly: No. It’s very tight and although the patio has the most space, it leads right into the road and isn’t fenced in so children need to stay strapped in. Ditch the strollers, carseats or anything bulky when stopping by.
Parking: Only street parking. There’s no designated lot but it didn’t seem hard to find a spot.
Good For Work/Study: Not in the coffee space. Most of the building will be dedicated to the coworking space, so keep a look out for when that space is ready.
SOL is often my go-to for meeting up with friends. It’s got lots of natural light and plenty of food options, and of course the coffee to back it up. That being said, sometimes it can get crowded and loud. So if you’re wanting a sensitive conversation, you may take it elsewhere. Otherwise you may end up talking a little too loud for comfort.
One of my favorite drinks in all of Fort Worth is here at Sons: the Charcoal Lavender Latte. It’s got active charcoal and is the perfect blend between coffee and tea. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask for it. (You’ll need to ask because it isn’t on the menu.)
Location: 250 W Lancaster Ave #120
Design: Open, airy, light environment contrasted with dark decor giving an almost industrial feel.
Food Options: Although limited, they have a solid menu offering breakfast tacos, paninis, and toasts.
Seating: It’s a large venue and there is a lot of seating to back that up. They’ve got sofas, bars, high-top tables and regular table seating available.
Stroller Friendly: Yes. Very. Although the front entrance is stroller friendly while the back entrance (from the parking garage) has stairs.
Parking: They have street parking and allow up to 3 hours free in the parking garage behind the shop.
Good For Work/Study: Yes. It’s worth noting that this can be a loud environment because of the space size, so if you’re someone who gets distracted easily (aka me), it may be harder to get work done.
I really enjoy Summer Moon. They have their signature “moon milk”, which is their own delicious creation of a sweet creamer. If you find it too sweet, you can order half and a quarter of the moon milk in order to create your perfect coffee. I like sweetness, so I enjoy the Summer Moon on its own with no variations. Also, this location has a designated children’s area, which makes it stand out from other coffee shops in town. It comes stocked with toys and a blocked-in corner so that little ones can play without disrupting others, allowing moms to drink their coffee with a little more peace of mind.
Location: 625 S Main St.
Design: White brick walls contrasted with lots of deep wood and iron details. It’s a tasteful and hip take on a cozy coffee shop.
Food Options: Pastries and breakfast tacos. You’ll be able to find something to snack on.
Seating: They have an upstairs with a variety of seating and the downstairs has both tables and bar seating available.
Stroller Friendly: Yes, although depending on the crowd it could be tight.
Parking: Street parking is available and they have a large lot behind the coffee shop with a back entrance as well.
Good For Work/Study: Yes. Specifically, the upstairs. The music is quieter and less foot traffic making it ideal to focus.
This little nook is an adorable find. They’re currently going through a bit of a branding change in that they’re shifting focus to work with local Fort Worth businesses. For example, they now get all of their tea from Leaves Tea Shop, and, of course, they have an extensive tea menu. You’ll find a London Fog here as well as a stunner of a coffee drink, the Horchata Latte.
Location: 109 Houston St.
Design: Exposed brick, cozy lighting and a very authentic and “at home” feel
Food Options: again, they’re working through their menu but you’ll find a variety of pastries (including Kolaches from Pearl Snap) and a few items that are more substantial than snacking.
Seating: Multiple tables and a couple couches
Stroller Friendly: Yes. Very. They have seating outside as well but it’s close to the street, so keep the kids contained and inside while you have a drink.
Parking: It’s rough. They have three designated spaces but the rest is street parking.
Good For Work/Study: Yes. This has a great “long term” vibe.
