First, the coffee is wonderful. It tastes great and is reasonably priced for the quality. Thus, three stars. However, there's an upsell vibe with every transaction. For example, I ordered a "small black coffee" the other day. The gentleman behind the bar asked me which type of coffee I'd like. I said, "whichever is your favorite." He served me the reserve coffee - which was almost twice as expensive. Without telling me that it was almost twice as expensive. I was told that the prices are on the menu, so I shouldn't have been surprised by the cost. I've just never been to a coffee shop that up-charges quite this much. It feels skeezy. Generally, like at Greater Goods or Starbucks, the two different brewed coffees are the same price. You're basically just choosing between flavor profiles and roasts. I actually love that Houndstooth offers a reserve coffee. It's fun - like at a cute bar that has a special whiskey. I just don't think it's fair to be RyanAired with price gotchas. Considering that 32% of Americans from all income brackets live paycheck to paycheck (check the new New York Fed report), it seems unfair that a cup of joe can jump from $3 to $5 in a blink. A little bit of transparency goes a long way. read more

This is going on my favorites list for traveling! We were visiting Austin and our Airbnb was in the apartment complex adjacent to Houndstooth. I stumbled on it and was so glad I did. Their coffee is delightful! I had an iced cappuccino and a hot cappuccino. Both were great. I also enjoyed the Bean, Avocado, and Pico breakfast taco which filled me up and tasted delicious! The atmosphere is big and airy, and I loved reading a book in the leather chair while it was pouring rain outside. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This coffee shop is really great. Anna and Jack are very friendly, and honestly the best. They make amazing drinks and are always open to making drinks that aren't on the menu. My only complaint is the bar doesn't have the ingredients for a Paloma. Please add that drink to the menu! read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super cute place and great aesthetic, however they only have USB outlets instead of normal outlets to plug your laptop. More of a place to grab coffee and socialize than to study. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

MLK location of this excellent coffee chain. Chill vibes, excellent coffee, comfortable chairs, appropriate acoustics, it pretty much covers all the bases as far as coffee shops go. The only downside - the pastry selection could be (a lot!) better... read more

Beware, they don't have regular outlets and won't assist at all with even helping you charge something behind the counter. Spent $11 and immediately had to leave because I couldn't use an outlet. read more

I love the vibe and setup of this coffee shop. It's really modern and chill. A lot of space to spread out study and chill while having coffee. The coffee I got here after taste was slightly sour after sipping. I got the vanilla latte. The people here are friendly and I open sharply on time. I like this coffee shop, decor, vibe, people, and business setup. You can get sweets and tacos here in the am. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is my FAVORITE coffee shop. I come here weekly, religiously, to study, catch up, relax, you name it. There are no outlets, but I just come here with a fully charged laptop. The seats are comfortable and plentiful, and the lighting is absolutely gorgeous. It's so relaxing and peaceful here, with the right music playing, makes for the perfect ambiance. There is ample parking if you turn right near the bus station and plenty of street parking. The coffee is delicious, I've had the cold brew and vanilla latte plenty of times. They have a variety of baked goods that go quick, so try one next time. read more

This place is a great spot for studying - it's pretty quiet and has lots of natural light due to floor to ceiling windows! Very minimalistic vibes. I've only had the chai here and it's pretty good, cold or hot! Oh and they have these really big, comfy, swirly chairs! They have some pastries available and serve Taco Deli breakfast tacos (until they run out) So I mentioned this place is minimalistic, which is great until you realize they don't have normal outlets so you can't charge your laptop :/ They only have USB outlets which is totally strange to me, so make sure all your stuff is charged before coming here! Also it gets a little chilly (I get cold easily though) under the big fans they have going above the large community table. Conclusion: This is a great spot to study or meet up with friends to grab some coffee. The staff is nice too, I just wish they had normal. Would actually probably be a 3.5/5 read more

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Delicious vanilla iced latte! There's always a problem with iced lattes being watered down but this is not the case for Houndstooth! The barista was very nice and even gave me a sample of their Japanese styled coffee(which I didn't end up getting because it's plain black and I like milk in my coffee.) There's parking if you turn right and pass the shop a bit. You pull up into a residential area and parking is free for customers until 6pm on weekdays! Just walk around he corner to get to the coffee shop! All in all, 10/10! read more

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Hoorah! The newest branch of Houndstooth coffee has finally opened this weekend on MLK, on the first floor of the platform apartment complex. I've been waking past for months watching the fit out come together. The cafe is a beautiful, bright space with great natural light. Plenty of bar and table seating for chatting or working. And excellent coffee. Welcome! We're glad you're here. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

A great place to get high quality coffee and tea in a comfortable, neat and elegant shop. I had the oat milk vanilla latte and my friend had masala chai. The barista was friendly and did a splendid job on our drinks - both were delicious! They have a nice dog friendly patio. I am currently on crutches as I recover from an injury and I was very comfortable navigating the space and the approach to the shop was also very easy. Super happy about it! I think I found another coffee shop in Austin that I like. read more

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My review is based on coffee only. I'm reading all these 1 star reviews, and they don't have a lot to do with their coffee. This location is super spacious and lets in beautiful sunshine. Baristas are always friendly to us every time we go. Their coffee is right on point, the latte is just the right amount of boldness, I usually get an extra shot in mine. Only downside is the parking is a pain in my behind, but that's the story of every single Austinites I'm sure ;) read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Iced Latte with an extra shot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Amazing spot - super fresh space with minimal design and amazing freakin coffee. I love the sweet latte too. And the black current scone is my go to treat! I've hear rumors they're going to be doing a waffle thing on the weekends?! I hope it's true!! I don't get up early enough for the tacos (and wish they had more corn options) read more

Great coffee & clean space! However, there are very few outlets, so it's not a great place to sit and work.

Summary: If you're looking for a place to study or work, this isn't the place for you. If you're looking for a place to enjoy a short read or meet up with someone, this is the place for you. Most things are quite steep in price but high in quality. The mixed drinks seem to be of a reasonable value. ----- This is a very difficult review to give. I've frequented the MLK location since its opening. I think the main issue is that I'm an undesirable demographic for Houndstooth's business model. The GOOD: * Location is stellar for natural light * Baristas seem very friendly * Coffee and mixed drinks are very good * Vibe feels very airy and up-beat The BAD: * Hot tea is very weak (and expensive) * High level of pressure to keep buying drinks * Music is often too loud or overly aggressive * Management seems indignant toward customer requests and feedback The UGLY: * No outlets in an attempt to engineer stays to be shorter * Your card is intentionally kept when opening a tab * Baristas seem to be socially trained; hard to discern authentic conversations * Systematic differential treatment of consumers After spending some time here, it is obvious that--at least for this location--the primary goal is monetization. In fact, it feels as though monetization is pushed so much that everything else is artificial. Conversations with the people who work there are probably scripted. The tagline "The Pattern of Coffee and People" perhaps means nothing and is simply marketing. All this said, I'll probably still visit every once in a while. The ambience is very well constructed. read more

Checked this place out bc google said it was one of the best in Austin and I'm only here for 2 days.. it was more than disappointing and nothing more than just basic. The lattes tasted like straight milk.. AND it was almost $15 for 2 smalls. Save yourself the disappointment. read more

This coffee spot is in a new part of East Austin Brandon apartment complex not too far from the metro rail. The inside is brand new looks great design is modern. Plenty of seating. I wish they had more outlets to charge your phone and laptop. Would be a cool work spot or a meeting spot before going out. They have a full bar server was really nice. Not a fan of the prices. read more

I stopped by this location after work when I had some time to kill before heading to my evening event. The location was easy to find, just on the corner, on the bottom floor of a multi-unit housing complex. Parking was easy, there were many spaces available on the street in front and around the corner. There is seating outside for when the weather is nice. The inside is bright, airy, and spacious with plenty available seating as well as a large communal table. The shop was pretty empty when I arrived on Friday after work. I ordered a chai tea latte with oat milk in a for here cup. With the large windows covering the walls, you can watch the world go by from wherever you sit. The chai was not overly sweet, a little spicy, and had just a hint of a licorice flavor. It blended very well with the oat milk. I wish it had been hotter because it did cool down pretty quickly in the mug. I will ask for it to be hotter next time. I enjoyed hanging out here for a little bit and I would definitely come back here again. read more

Great atmosphere to work or meet up with people. I enjoy how spacious the venue is (especially the large windows). Many people probably have mentioned: there are no outlets. So please be aware of that. But overall, it's a nice place to work, read, or chat for a few hours. Staff is friendly. Never had any issues. I only drink black coffee, so I can't comment on the drinks. But I thought the prices were fair, in relation to other coffee shops. read more

$22 for a single shot of mid-tier liquor that costs at $7 every other bar in town? ... Which I ordered only because they didn't have any coffee brewed two hours before closing time? AND I got the pleasure of parking a half mile away because there is no parking here? Where do I sign up?? read more

The place has a very slick design. Spacious and lots of light. However, it doesn't have outlets just usbs. Had planned a worked session and my laptop happened to be low on battery. While it rubs me the wrong way they don't have outlets -we all know why they don't- its still a nice place to meet a date or work for a while. Just bring your laptop charged read more

Visited from Houston and dropped by houndstooth early AM August 23rd. Coffee was not so good. Service was passive aggressive and smug. Was a nice departure from the outright standoffish service one might find in Houston when service is at its worst. read more

Baristas are chill and quirky, the coffee is caffeinated and slurpy. Inoffensive, beige.

The spot is cute. But I was bummed they lacked any pastry options. The wifi also didn't work, and they don't have regular outlets--only USB. So don't expect to work remotely from here. read more

Everything I've tried at Houndstooth Coffe is deliciously and carefully crafted! I adore a cappuccino, but I'm often tempted to sample whatever brewed coffees are currently available. I appreciate that Houndstooth's baristas are extremely knowledgeable, and always provide excellent recommendations! read more

Loved this place while i was in town on business. Great coffee, good beers, and awesomely freindly staff. I was in town for work, and this was in walking distance for the place I was staying. Its a great local coffee place that allowed me to get my work done in peace. The coffee is good. And I like that I can start with a coffee and move on to a Manhattan and a beer as the day kept going, and I needed the refreshments to keep my work from driving me crazy. The staff are pure Austin, and great conversationalists if you take the time to engage them from behind your computer screen. It's a little local place that I hope has the staying power of Bernadette Peters. read more

Finals weeks calls for coffee shop hopping. Houndstooth was one place on my list and definitely was very productive studying here. The coffee shop was bright and the workers were friendly asking how my week was going. Cold brew was good and scone buttery. I'd go hear again to study read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Cold Brew with almond milk and Black Currant scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm giving 5 stars just for the cool decor of the location. Love the vibe. There's also a full bar along with the coffee. Need more of those leather chairs. Coffee was okay, I unfortunately did not get wowed away the two times I went. Parking was never a problem. Have never tried the alcohol there but should give it a try some day. Last time I went on a weekday evening. It was quiet and my friends got to have a peaceful conversation without much disruption. read more

Best coffee shop in town. Incredible space, perfect espressos and Americanos. Depending on whose working - the playlist will blow ya away. There's no outlets really handy so charge your laptop and bring your battery pack. Or just bring a book. The wide open windows provide incredible light to read. read more

Larger and more group friendly than the north lamar location. Good place to study in the morning and afternoon, and slowly turns into a hang out place to get drinks in the evening. No power outlets, just USB ports. Bring your laptop fully charged. Lack out outlets creates a more inviting atmosphere later in the day and prevents it from becoming a study place like Bennu down the road. Incredible service, I hope you see Dave. He is a sweet man. Bathrooms are gender neutral if you're into that and the sinks are in a common space so you can chat with the person you pottied next to! Big ole windows for good natural lighting and a very clean, white aesthetic. Very friendly place, good to hangout and study depending on the time of day. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Barista Dave at his best - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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They may be doing their best during the pandemic, but the best means not answering the phone, and not even having a message to tell me if they're open, when they'll be open, if they're going to do takeout... Nothing. Maybe they've gone out of business. I used to like this place, then I quit drinking coffee, then the pandemic hit and I now drink a gallon a day. I was hoping for some good coffee. Edit: ok, on their web page: In Austin: 4200 N Lamar and MLK cafes are open M-F 7AM-2PM and 8AM-3PM on weekends. But, seriously, how hard is it to update your answering machine message just simply start with, "Pandemic hours are..." read more

the place is so cute!! nice atmosphere, kind and attentive baristas, and good air conditioning. however the coffee is almost unbearably bitter, almost savory. we ordered iced lattes with vanilla and chocolate flavorings, and while the chocolate made it somewhat better, neither of them really tasted good. i know it's just a preference thing, but both my friend and myself have barista experience and neither of us have ever tasted coffee like what we got here. we expected a bit more from such a well-loved austin establishment, so we are a bit disappointed. hopefully other people will have a better experience. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - the lattes we ordered - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

So I'm seeing a trend here from what other reviewers are saying. The prices for these coffee are a bit high for what they are. My main problem with this place is the way you have to order and pay for the drinks. They take your order and make sure to finish every single thing before ringing your order up for payment. So you have to awkwardly stand in front of counter as they take 5-10 minutes to make your entire order. This also creates a long chaotic line even if its just four people standing behind you. I don't want to stand for 10 minutes in front of the baristas and wait for them to ring me up. The price of the coffees can be overlooked since a lot of the places charging similar but its just this uncomfortable experience of order and paying for your coffee that is annoying. read more

Love the new location on East MLK. The coffee is excellent and so is the service - that's a winning combination every time. I'll be back often, it's well worth the drive. read more

Houndstooth Coffee - Perfect cappuccino at Houndstooth on East MLK in Austin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm so confused by this place. There aren't outlets for those of us needing to work so I'm assuming you don't want the lingering. Yet the music is super loud for those of us needing to talk. The manager is rude, the baristas are nice but the coffee is way overpriced. Plenty of other welcoming coffee shops with adequately priced coffee you should try out instead. read more

Love the coffee, love the staff, love the environment. I dislike they don't have Splenda. I KNOW, I KNOW...it is not good for me but neither are the scooters and people ride those things in rush hour. Just sayin'. lol. read more

I gave this 5 stars bc the coffee is good, wait is short, the place is clean and most of the staff is friendly. I am writing this review bc there is one very sad barista with long-ish black hair and a coffee mug tattoo on his arm, who I feel very bad for. If this is your friend, please help him get to the bottom of his personal issues. I am concerned for him as he appears to feel that belittling his co-worker is a form of stand up comedy. I wanted to tell him right there what a huge duck he is but then again my coffee was in his hands. He made a good latte, but it was just like the latte's I had ordered from this same counter the previous two days. So it's not like he's serving up reasons to be a duck to the other baristas. He's not God's barista. read more

Living nearby, we waited for this place to open for over a year. YAY finally here. I can't say that we actually enjoy their coffee.. a little overpriced in my opinion. But, we do enjoy their stiff draft cocktails and beer options. They serve TacoDeli in the mornings, but other than that, pastries are pretty dismal. The one thing that annoys me is every time we order beer, the person pouring has no idea what they're doing and they pour 1/3 foam and then don't want to top it off. I get that they are Baristas 1st, but if your going to serve alcohol, please learn how to pour a draft beer. read more

I really wanted to like this place because it's super close. The coffee is good and the prices reflect as much. It just feels very... cold. There aren't outlets. Everything feels very sterile, including the über hip baristas. The outside tables are always out of the sunlight. It does not have the cozy, bustling coffee shop feel. This is also the only coffee shop that has ever asked me if I wanted to start a tab. I get that you have like two beers on tap here, too, but it's 9am. In my humble opinion, this place would benefit from being a little more relaxed. read more