Flightpath Coffeehouse
5011 Duval St., 458-4472 Daily, 8:30am-12midThough 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 make it a prime spot for reading or studying. In addition to coffee drinks, you can sate your sweet tooth with a brownie or pastry.
Halcyon
218 W. Fourth, 472-9637 Sunday-Wednesday, 7am-1am; Thursday-Saturday, 7am-3amYou 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!
Little City
916 Congress, 476-2489 Monday-Friday, 7am-12mid; Saturday, 9am-12mid; Sunday, 9am-10pm 603 N. Lamar, 472-5050 x115 Daily, 9am-11pmLittle 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 hoursNot 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.
Spider House
2908 Fruth, 480-9562 Monday-Thursday, 7am-1am; Friday-Saturday, 7am-2amWhatever 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.
“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 info about Austin eateries, check here.
This article appears in December 19 • 2003.