Where To Get Coffee In Austin With A View
Ok this is so very "millennial" of me:
my sister and I were talking about how we just can't go work in coffee shops anymore! Because...of a million things.
I mean, I might not find parking, and then the coffee shop will most likely be crowded so I'll be perched on some uncomfortable metal bar stool next to a loud man taking a zoom call without headphones, and it's so rare to find a spot near an outlet to keep my (battery-drained) laptop plugged in, and what if the wifi is weird? and yada yada yada...
...and do you know what that means? I pretty much only go to coffee shops when I want a VIBE.
I mean, I loveeeee enjoying a delicious coffee beverage made by someone else, but if I'm going out for coffeee in Austin I want a view! I want a beautiful rooftop! I want a waterfront deck where I can sip my iced latte and enjoy the scenery.
If you ever find yourself in the same boat, here are a few of my favorite Austin coffee shops with views + scenery. Hope you find one that you can enjoy!
Coffee Shops In Austin With Views
Cosmic Saltillo
Photo credit: Clayton Korte
Have you even seen this place?! I mean, those rooftop coffee shop views of downtown Austin are unbeatable.
*I'm going to be very blunt with y'all for a minute: Cosmic's coffee program is very "meh." So if you're a craft coffee snob and you value quality pour overs, you'll be disappointed. If you're not too picky, Cosmic will get the job done.
Both of Cosmic Coffee's Austin locations are SO popular for being so lush and green. But Cosmic Saltillo has downtown views and it's an awesome place to enjoy a cup of coffee.
COSMIC WEBSITE | 1300 E 4th St
Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar
Oh my gosh, goooorgeous open-air dining + coffee in south Austin at Leona Cafe & Bar! Order a specialty coffee beverage (and they have pastries from Rockman bakery here in Austin - win!!) and then find a pretty spot to enjoy the nature.
I also love that there are 2 great places to eat (Dee Dee Thai and Veracruz Tacos) if I want to merge my coffee date into a lunch date.
LEONA WEBSITE | 6405 Brodie Ln
MOZART'S COFFEE
This is about as OG as it gets for Austin coffee shops but the view is never going to be beat IMO! The lakefront deck at Mozart's Coffee is...iconic. There is literally NO better place to enjoy a waterfront cup of coffee!
Now, just like most places with views...the quality of the product suffers a bit because with that view?? You just don't need to try as hard. Which is a damn shame because if I could get Houndstooth's quality of coffee with Mozart's quality of view, I think my life would be like 3% better instantly.
Nevertheless...Mozart's Coffee has the very best coffee shop view in Austin.
MOZARTS WEBSITE | 3825 Lake Austin Blvd
Jo's Coffee
Maybe I'm a weirdo but people watching counts as a view. And if you're equally amused by the tourists parading down SoCo, then Jo's Coffee is an excellent place to get coffee in Austin with a view. 🙂
Haha, but seriously, this coffee shop is in the HEART OF SOUTH CONGRESS so there is always a fun energy! The outdoor patio is larger than you might think (I can always find a spot to sit for a while) and it's just an iconic Austin coffee shop.
JO'S COFFEE WEBSITE | 1300 S Congress Ave
Once Over Coffee Bar
You'd never know it from the front of the building, or even from walking inside, but there's a teeny creekside patio at the back of Once Over Coffee Bar on South First.
This is DEFINITELY the best quality coffee in Austin with a view! Now, the views aren't sweeping downtown views like you'll get at Cosmic Saltillo. Buuuut it is a nice little patio where I've enjoyed many a cappuccino while journaling with my headphones on. Peaceful and quaint and very "old Austin" vibes.
ONCE OVER WEBSITE | 2009 S 1st St #100
Radio EAST
One more because the outdoor ambiance is so nice here! Radio EAST is huuuuge so you'll have no trouble finding an outdoor table on a pretty morning.
In case you haven't picked up on it, lakefront/cliffs/mountain views are few and far between in Texas, so some of the best coffee shops with a view involve trees, plants, landscaping, water features...haha. That's what we're working with here, and Radio is a good option if you're ok with that!
(Psst: Meanwhile Brewing is really close to Radio EAST, and they also have a morning coffee program, shady outdoor seating, and a pretty chill morning ambiance if you want one more good option.)
RADIO WEBSITE | 3504 Montopolis Dr
Hope this helps you find a nice place to sit and enjoy your morning joe with a lovely Texas ambiance. I also wrote this guide to some of the best coffee shops in Austin if you want to see more (indoor) options. Cheers!