Second Helpings: Coffeehouses Part I

"Second Helpings" offers tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week's entries were updated by Erin Mosow. For quick, reliable information about Austin eateries, check here.

Spider House

2908 Fruth, 480-9562

Monday-Friday, 8am-2am;

Saturday-Sunday, 9am-2am

Whatever mood you're in (and coffee drinkers tend to be a moody lot), odds are you'll feel comfortable somewhere inside Spider House. A coffeehouse with the emphasis on house, this cozy old North Campus bungalow serves coffee drinks, juice, and beer, as well as a small, eclectic menu in a comfortably shabby atmosphere. The patio and nicely landscaped yard are pleasant places to do some coffee-enhanced studying, watch a play, or listen to poetry readings and live music. Beer and wine, in addition to great seating areas inside and out, make Spider House the perfect place to kill a few hours with a tall coffee or frosty beer no matter the season or time of day.

Flightpath Coffeehouse

5011 Duval St., 458-4472

Daily, 8:30am-midnight

Though the sound of jets thundering overhead at low altitudes is now a thing of the past at Flightpath, this Hyde Park coffee shop has become something of a community cornerstone. Flightpath's economical coffee and relaxed, sit-and-stay-awhile atmosphere makes it a prime spot for reading or studying. In addition to coffee drinks, you can sate your sweet tooth with a brownie or pastry

Little City Espresso Bar & Roasting Co.

3403 Guadalupe, 467-BEAN

Monday-Friday, 7am-midnight;

Saturday-Sunday, 8am-midnight

916 Congress, 476-CITY

Monday-Friday, 8am-midnight; Saturday, 9am-midnight; Sunday, 9am-10pm

www.littlecity.com

Little City serves some of the city's finest coffee using fresh roasted beans from Central America, Indonesia, and East Africa. They describe their Top Shelf Blend as "really more like Al Green than coffee," which sounds pretty stimulating to me. Happy hour, during which all coffee, espresso drinks, and fruit frappés are half off, runs 5-7pm every weekday. Little City also has a good selection of baked goods and pastries from Russell's Bakery, and the Downtown location serves up several delectable varieties of salads and sandwiches.

Mojo's Daily Grind

2714 Guadalupe, 477-6656

Daily, 24 hours

Not too many people remember that 2714 Guadalupe once housed a shady-looking dentist's office, which is a fine testament to Mojo's 24-hour popularity. Their war against corporate coffee is endearing to the slacker-types who haven't yet been priced out of town, but Mojo's also delivers good coffee, espresso, and cafe au lait. If you're hungry, try the baklava or pizza.

Halcyon

218 W. Fourth, 472-9637

Monday-Wednesday, 7am-1am; Thursday, 7am-2am; Friday, 7am-3am; Saturday, 8am-3am; Sunday, 8am-1am

You can still grab a coffee and lounge at Fourth and Lavaca -- it's just called Halcyon now. A little brighter and swankier than its previous tenant, Halcyon offers all kinds of espresso and coffee drinks, wines, scotches, and signature drinks like their Chocolate Espresso Martini. Snack on their sandwiches and desserts in their comfy lounge chairs while listening to locals strum on their guitars. Bring a laptop -- they have free wireless Internet access!