Fareground in Austin is the downtown food hall at the One Eleven tower since 2018, a subterranean plaza of counter restaurants including Henbit, Aburi and Houndstooth.
Tip: The plaza-level patio is the work-friendly side; the underground hall is louder at lunch.
Address: 111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Bouldin Creek Cafe in Austin is the South 1st vegetarian coffeeshop since 2000, a bungalow patio with all-day breakfast, gluten-free options and the strongest queso south of the river.
Signature drink: Drip coffee + breakfast taco
Tip: Morning queues peak at 9am Saturday; weekday mornings run easy and the patio is shaded by 11am.
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner with a counter for drip coffee, all-day breakfast and the Mag Mud queso, open round the clock Thursday to Saturday.
Signature drink: Drip coffee + Love migas
Tip: The booths at the back are wifi-friendly; the counter side fills with Magnolia regulars before sunrise.
Kerbey Lane Cafe in Austin is the Central all-day diner with a counter cafe service since 1980, the 1930s bungalow that started the chain and still runs 24 hours.
Signature drink: Drip coffee + gingerbread pancake
Tip: The South Lamar branch has a larger work-from-cafe room; central is the original and the smaller floor.
Jo's Coffee in Austin is the South Congress walk-up since 1999 from Liz and Lou Lambert of the Bunkhouse Group, a patio coffee bar next to the Hotel San Jose.
Signature drink: Iced turbo
Tip: The 'I love you so much' mural on the south wall is the most-photographed in Austin; queue early for breakfast tacos.
Houndstooth Coffee in Austin is the downtown specialty cafe at the Frost Bank Tower since 2012, an h+uo-designed counter pouring house and guest-roaster espresso.
Signature drink: Cortado
Tip: The corner-of-the-lobby entrance lets you skip the office-tower foot traffic; bar seating at the 4th Street side.
Cuvée Coffee in Austin is the Rainey-district storefront from Mike McKim's roastery, a small-batch specialty cafe pouring Black & Blue nitro cold brew on tap.
Signature drink: Black & Blue nitro
Tip: The East 6th original closed in 2024; the Rainey storefront is the only Austin retail cafe left for now.
