The Ultimate Guide to Cozy Coffee Date Spots in Austin

As I begin to celebrate my fifth year in Austin, I’m realizing many things about my life here and the spaces I choose to live it in. One piece of this Austin-based life I’ve mastered is finding the most satisfying places to test out my humor, palate and taste in men…and the venues they choose for our dates.

I have a string of top notch date spots to share, as I bare my soul to Austinot readers. Today, I’ll begin by presenting a few of my most memorable, cozy coffee date spots in Austin.

Halcyon

Halcyon Coffee/Bar/Lounge offers opportunity for a cozy coffee date, day or night. With a menu including breakfast, appetizers, lunch, and desserts paired with espresso and signature cocktails, you’re sure to make a great impression. A walk-in humidor located inside features cigars, specialty cigarettes and tobacco accessories to easily round out a his-and-her day out.

Located at 218 W. 4th Street, check website for hours of operation.

Venue Highlights: Early bird morning and late night hours allow time for a quick walk-about in the downtown neighborhood or around Town Lake. DIY s’mores for two are a tabletop rendition of the ol’ campfire favorite sure to unite a lovers flame, new or old. First date jitters will ease during the prep-time and allow for seamless conversation. Twilight on the patio overlooking Austin’s Warehouse District and indoor/outdoor seating make for great people-watching and many conversation starters. Halcyon’s occasional live music can make this coffee spot pretty sweet indeed. Grab a cozy couch and dive into the diverse menu while seeking out the true meaning of a peaceful, carefree, untroubled and prosperous Halcyon.

Departure Lounge

Departure Lounge screams out wanderlust satisfaction to a girl like me, carrying around a gypsy heart and soul. Although I’m always itching to take flight, I find myself grounded and in love with the consistency of Austin’s creative approach to the simplest food and drink.  Departure Lounge takes a minimalist approach on the savories, while highlighting their sweets, coffee, tea and wine.

Located at 311 W. 5th Street, Suite 102 (at the corner of 5th and Guadalupe), check website for hours of operation.

Venue Highlights: Date going well? Take it one step further and research your options for travel, vacation-planning and more. I’ve always said that travelling with someone is a tell-tale way to know if you’re a good fit for the long-term. When you’re prepared to take flight, Departure Lounge can pair you up with a travel advisor who will help you explore the Virtual Getaways, accessible on the large touch screens located in the lounge.

While you venture virtually, cozy up on a couch with your date, round up some hot drinks and dive into Chef Jocelyn’s infamous Russian Red Velvet CosmoCake. This date will not lack creative conversation and can satisfy the travel bug without ever leaving Austin.

Caffe Medici

Are you ever in a spot where you feel like you need to one-up the usual coffee date? Caffe Medici offers you an opportunity to challenge even the most sophisticated coffee palates in good spirit. Opening the doors to like-minded conversations and melt, rather than break, the ice. The pros at Caffe Medici will discuss, grind, brew, prepare and pour an exquisite cup!

An ever-expanding Austin favorite, Caffe Medici can now be found in three locations around town. Check website for hours of operation.

• 1101 West Lynn
• 2222B Guadalupe Street
• 200 Congress Avenue #2B (in the Austonian)

Venue Highlights: Know someone who enjoys to master the art of…well, pretty much everything? Invite them to try their hand at the beans. The staff at Caffe Medici rely on their thorough approach to the exquisite cup. They’re dedicated to service and passionate about the journey to a quality result. Case in point: they dig it when people ask them questions about the beans, where they come from, the best temperature to brew and serve, etc. Beanery education 101 can be fun and supply you with an interesting answer to the age old question, “How do you take your coffee?”

Cenote

Cenote portrays a humble mix of the daily cup of coffee in small town America combined with a tilted seat at the Mad Hatter’s tea party. The colorful canvas and white picket fence create a comfortable hideaway for no pressure, first time flirting. Ready to impress your date with a nugget of info that you may never, ever, be able to share in any other situation? A “cenote” is a deep, natural well that the Mayan civilization was built around, which remains to this day as the source of potable water for the region. This Austin venue sits atop a currently inactive well that remains beneath the repurposed Eastside house.

Located at 1010 East Cesar Chavez, check website for hours of operation.

Venue Highlights: Choose between fair trade coffee provided by local roasters, wine or beer at Cenote. Each cup is pressed and served in single cup servings. Locally-sourced produce makes up the majority of the menu, including ingredients plucked directly from the on-site garden. If your date is progressing well, stick to the beer menu which features many local draft and bottled beers priced at $5 and under.

Dating is an adventure in itself. You might as well have a great time while exploring everything Austin has to offer. I just may have drank my cup of tall, dark and handsome at one of these cozy coffee spots. Give it a shot and share your stories.