Formerly Urban Dog Coffee, the light-filled Oak Lawn space has a home-kitchen vibe that makes us want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. Espresso — served James Bond style (that’s shaken, not stirred) — is the standout. It pairs perfectly with the chewy granola bars made in-house daily.
Oak Lawn Coffee, 2720 Oak Lawn Avenue (214-219-5511 or oaklawncoffee.com).
Although the food here tastes good at any hour, it seems to get better after midnight. Maybe it’s because after dancing hard for four hours, our judgment is somewhat impaired. We prefer to think it’s the banana-nut pancakes and all-you-can-drink coffee that keep us coming back.
BuzzBrews Kitchen, 4154 North Central Expressway (214-826-7100); 2801 Commerce Street (214-741-2801); 4334 Lemmon Avenue (214-521-4334 or buzzbrews.com).
It ain’t fancy, but it hits the (caffeine) spot. The no-frills house blend is the most popular drink here, and at just $1.59 for a giant cup, we can see why. Sharing space with the Half Price Books flagship, this coffee shop courts a following of quirky, bookish regulars who love getting lost in the warehouse with a steaming latte in one hand and a steamy novel in the other.
Black Forest Coffee, 5801 East Northwest Highway (214-361-2483).
When we say that Crooked Tree feels like your best friend’s living room, it’s because, well, it is a living room. Located in a 1920s house in the State Thomas neighborhood, it’s where SMU students go to cram for finals and Uptown work-from-homers go for a change of scenery. The coffee is good and the staff doesn’t mind if you fall asleep with a book.
Crooked Tree Coffeehouse, 2414 Routh Street (214-953-1142 or crookedtreecoffeehouse.com).
We almost missed this chill coffee jewel, hidden in a busy strip mall that is also home to a cremation center and a women’s health store, but this is one spot you want to seek out. The obscure location makes it perfect for when you want to avoid a crowd; take a book or your laptop and take advantage of the peaceful atmosphere. Try a Cuban espresso with a monkey muffin, chockful of butterscotch chips and walnuts.
Cafe Silva, 8499 Greenville Avenue, suite 108 (214-267-9836 or cafesilva.com).
Basements are hard to find in Texas, so when we come across one, it’s worth taking note. Especially when it’s where you find tasty coffee drinks and live music almost every night of the week. Claim a spot on a comfy couch and curl up with the Coffee Cooler, a double-shot espresso milk shake with a twist. Need something stronger? The baristas will gladly add a shot of O’Mara’s Irish cream to any drink.
Opening Bell Coffee, 1409 South Lamar Street, suite 12 (214-565-0383 or openingbellcoffee.com).
Tired of working on the TPS reports from the confines of your apartment? Grab your laptop and head here for a change of pace (and possibly a nice view of a handsome hipster). Pair the famed Pearl Latte, a blend of Latin American, African, and Indonesian beans, with a ginger-citrus muffin and thank us later.
Pearl Cup Coffee, 1900 North Henderson Avenue (214-824-9500 or pearlcupcoffee.com).
Step into the loft-style shop located on a sleepy corner in Deep Ellum and be transported to someplace faraway. From the soothing world music to the modern interior design and colorful local art, this place feels more Euro chic than urban Dallas. Try a chai latte (iced or hot) with the Insider — a veggie sandwich so good it’s popular with meat lovers.
Murray Street Coffee Shop, 103 Murray Street (214-655-2808 or murraystreetcoffee.com).
Gourmet coffee and teas on one side, gourmet tacos on the other — does it get any better than that? In what may be one of the better partnerships of all time, Cultivar shares space with Good 2 Go Taco, so you can satisfy your caffeine and queso cravings simultaneously.
Cultivar Coffee & Tea Co., 1146 Peavy Road (469-387-6289 or cultivarcoffee.com).
Part hipster hangout, part art gallery, and part music venue, Mokah brings everything we love about Deep Ellum together in a refurbished warehouse-style space. Regulars know to ask for off-menu drinks like The Spaniard — espresso with half-and-half drizzled over it — for days when they need an extra kick start.
Mokah Coffee Bar, 2803 Taylor Street (214-651-0633 or mokahcoffee.com).
This vibrant cafe is anything but boring. Curl up with a good book on the colorfully cushioned window seat and let Latin-Euro music transport you to a sunny South American locale. Sure, you could order a latte, but with intriguing options like guanabana, maracuya, and lulo on the chilled-drinks menu, we recommend an exotic fruit smoothie or juice instead.
Espumoso Caffe, 408 North Bishop Avenue, suite 105, Oak Cliff (214-948-2055 or espumosocaffe.com).
If the Jetsons had a favorite coffee shop in Orbit City, it would probably look something like Drip. Everything about the place, from the exposed beams and industrial pipes to the sleek red bench that runs along one wall, conjures a Skypad minimalism. The only thing not minimal is the huge coffee selection. Let a BrainFreeze propel you into the future.
Drip Coffee Company, 4343 Lovers Lane (214-599-7800 or dripcoffeeco.com).
Step into White Rock Coffee and you get the feeling you’re leaving Dallas for a country barn where coffee making is taken very, very seriously. (Local small-batch roasts are the norm.) On your next visit, try the Adam Bomb, a blended espresso drink made with white chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and ground espresso beans. Pressed for time? Hit the drive-thru.
White Rock Coffee, 10105 East Northwest Highway (214-341-4774 or wrcoffee.com).
While some of us dream about a steamy affair with a hot Latin cabana boy, the fantasy is usually far from reality. And that’s where Zaguán enters the picture: Pastries and chocolate always satisfy our needs. Looking for more spice? Dunk alfajores (Latin sandwich cookies) into Latin hot chocolate, made with a dash of cinnamon to heat things up.
Zaguán Latin Cafe & Bakery, 2604 Oak Lawn Avenue (214-219-8393 or zaguan.com).
We wouldn’t have guessed that European and Latin American cuisines could mesh so well, but the chefs here are onto something. Picture fine European pastries infused with Latin spices (eclairs meet dulce de leche) and you’ve got a match made in heaven. Order the French hot chocolate made with real Belgian chocolate and lots of whipped cream.
La Duni, 8687 North Central Expressway, suite 1516 (214-987-2260); 4264 Oak Lawn Avenue (214-520-6888); 4620 McKinney Avenue (214-520-7300); 233 Town Place, Fairview (972-549-4069 or laduni.com).
We go for the coffee (a single origin Brazilian medium roast) but somehow end up with more (cider French toast and people-watching, anyone?). Don’t let the fancy espresso machine distract you from the restaurant’s real brewing secret — charming baristas well versed in the art of the perfect cup.
Oddfellows, 316 West Seventh Street, Oak Cliff (214-944-5958 or oddfellowsdallas.com).
Any place where baristas enthusiastically sing and dance to “Hit the Road Jack” and other classics is a winner in our book. This cafe has a retro vibe and an impressive menu of something for everybody. Try the iced dirty chai — so called because it’s made with two shots of espresso — and go on a weekend morning, when Belgian waffles top the menu.
The Corner Market, 3426 Greenville Avenue (214-826-8283 or thecornermarketflowers.com).

Formerly Urban Dog Coffee, the light-filled Oak Lawn space has a home-kitchen vibe that makes us want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. Espresso — served James Bond style (that’s shaken, not stirred) — is the standout. It pairs perfectly with the chewy granola bars made in-house daily.
Oak Lawn Coffee, 2720 Oak Lawn Avenue (214-219-5511 or oaklawncoffee.com).
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