Austin Food Bytes Archive, 2

Austin Food Bytes
Coffee: You can sleep when you're dead.

Americans love their coffee. Austinites love it even more. This week, I'm featuring three of my favorite java-stops in north-central Austin .

Austin is choc-full of coffee houses, and I don't mean the Starbucks on every other corner, or the Seattle 's Best, or even Peets (RIP). There are a plethora of locally-owned cafes that do brisk business and have a dedicated clientèle. To me a good coffee house needs to have more than just coffee -- it needs atmosphere and individuality. Good food doesn't hurt either. These are just a few of my favorites:

Flightpath Coffeehouse
5011 Duval St
Austin , TX 78751
(512) 458-4472
Mon-Fri 8am-12pm;
Sat-Sun 8:30am-12am ;

Flightpath is one of my favorite places to curl up in a comfy chair with a cup of coffee and a good book. Located on Duval street at 51 st, it's spacious on the inside with a variety of seating, and has a patio as well. They provide free wireless, and it's a favorite grad-student hangout, laptops abound. The walls are painted a lemony-yellow and often feature local artists. They have a few snacks, a variety of juices, beer and wine, and the normal array of coffee and espresso drinks. They also have a frozen blended coffee that kicks the frappucino's ass. It's called the Carrollton , and it's made with New-Orleans style chicory coffee. The perfect blend of caffeine and sugar, it tastes like the light version of an espresso-vanilla shake.

Pacha Coffee House
4618 Burnet Rd.
Austin , TX 78756
512-420-8758
Mon-Thu 7-7, Fri 7-9, Sat-Sun 8-7

Known mostly to Allendale locals, Pacha Coffee House on Burnet (just north of 45 th) is a lovely little gem. The interior is decorated in a South American style, and features imports from the region for sale. They have a great food menu, featuring locally made tamales, empanadas, muffins and scones, and other house made items like pasta salads, soups, and quiche. The food is always fresh and tasty, and the coffee is excellent. I especially like the rich and spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate. Pacha has a small back patio with four tables where you can sit if you have a canine friend with you. Pacha kindly provides a water station for it's four legged patrons.

La Dolce Vita
4222 Duval St
Austin , TX 78751
9-12 Everyday
Happy hour 4-7

For a swankier, more continental coffee experience, try La Dolce Vita on Duval, a few blocks south of Flightpath. While essentially a coffee house, La Dolce Vita features house-made gelati (Italian-style ice cream), sorbetti, pastries, and a full bar with one of the best liqueur selections in town. The inside has tightly packed, candle-lit tables, there's a more expansive patio in the front and to the left of the café. If you're feeling especially decadent, try your gelato Legato style - drenched in a shot of the liqueur of your choice. One of my favorite touches, you get a tasty little almond biscotto with your coffee. La Dolce Vita is a great place to wrap up your evening after a fancy dinner out or a trip to the theater.

So, next time you need a quiet moment alone with your coffee, eschew the chains and try some local joe.