Janna

Walking around downtown Austin and happened upon Houndstooth Coffee at 4th and Congress. Located on the first floor in the Frost Bank Building, Houndstooth Coffee offers an excellent latte that’s smooth and perfectly balanced (my go-to coffee drink every time I try a new coffee shop), and their cortado (husband’s go-to) was great too. A perfect place to sit and sip coffee while getting some work done or just to enjoy the bustle of Austin… A must-visit for coffee lovers in the heart of the city!

+1

Dmitriy Mykalo

Another Houndstooth Coffee location, and while the first one we visited made it onto our 🏆 Top.Coffee places rank, this one feels slightly different. It’s located inside an office building, which naturally gives it a more functional, business-oriented feel rather than a cozy, atmospheric café experience. That said, the quality of coffee and service remains top-notch. The execution is just as precise, with balanced, well-extracted espresso and properly textured milk. It’s clear that the same level of craftsmanship is applied here, even if the space itself feels more catered to office workers and the surrounding corporate crowd. If you’re nearby and looking for a great cup of coffee with quick, professional service, this location delivers. But for those seeking a more immersive coffee shop experience, the original spot still holds the edge.

+2

Nothing amazing, but pleasant, with the coffee - a little fruity flavored in the Americano. Nice spot inside to work and/or socialize. Fast service.

Brendan Alvarado

Houndstooth Coffee is a solid go-to when you want a well-made espresso drink and a calm place to reset. The shop has a clean, modern feel with plenty of light, and the baristas know what they’re doing—my latte was smooth, balanced, and not burnt or overly sweet. It’s also a great spot to sit for a bit, catch up on email, or meet someone without the noise of a full-on café. I’d come back for the coffee and the vibe.

Kate Lareau

Great coffee and excellent breakfast taco. Vibes are a little sparse but baristas are kind and Wi-Fi is fast. Also appreciate the open time which is earlier than a lot of the downtown spots.

Kavitha P

Nice coffee shop walking distance to where we are staying in Austin Not a large menu but drinks were good and shared a pastry Inside is rustic and they have a large outdoor space to drink!

Amanda

Great, local, coffee shop showcasing their espresso and teas! I really enjoyed their latte with their homemade honey syrup and oat milk. The espresso was not bitter and had a good well rounded taste to it. Get their seeded croissant or other baked goods. The service was friendly and cafe had a decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating.

+1

Owen Dabek

Stopped in here before breakfast to get good coffee. My wife likes skim milk in her coffee and they did not offer it here. The barista made a flower in her cappuccino while he was talking to us and that was really cool to watch him do. My red eye was balanced and nuanced, you could tell the different flavors from the drip and the espresso kind of a floral sip with a dark chocolate aftertaste. It was very pleasant. We sat outside on the patio because it was nice out and it was a little loud, but there were people inside doing work, so this could be a place to get things done and get caffeinated.

Todd Johnson

4.5 for less than comfortable seating. Open early with lots of seating but no seat backs so I preferred the lounge seats in front of the building. Great in house mocha latte. Rich vibrant dark chocolate with just a hint of sweetness. Staff had helpful suggestions for a newcomer and service was quick.

+2

Olga Barabanova

We came to your café with a large group of friends because we had heard great things about the quality of your coffee. The coffee really was delicious. There were 12 of us, and we ordered many drinks. We also pushed a few tables together so we could sit as a group. Unfortunately, the way your staff treated us was unexpectedly rude and unfriendly. They spoke to us very harshly, telling us we were not allowed to move tables, and that since we had already done it, we would have to clean everything up afterward. They also insisted—again in a rude tone—that we must clear our cups ourselves. When we were about to leave, they approached us once more and told us to take our cups immediately and put them into a specific basket. The whole interaction felt strange, hostile, and not welcoming at all. We were showing Austin to a friend who is a well-known rock artist in Europe and Russia, and this experience was genuinely embarrassing and disappointing. It reflected poorly not only on your café, but—unfortunately—on the hospitality we were hoping to show in Austin. I’m sharing this because the coffee was great, but the service was so unpleasant that it completely overshadowed the experience. I hope you’ll address this with your team so other guests don’t feel the same way.

adam callif

Mixed feelings on this visit. The coffee is reliable enough—the drip and cortado were both decent—but it won't be winning any awards. Unfortunately, the scone was a major letdown; it was so dry it was practically parched. Great for a caffeine fix, but maybe pass on the bakery case.

Joel Artzt

I came into this store just before 7am on a Tuesday. I was one of two customers in the store. The barista was having a conversation with the other customer. I thought the cashier asked what I wanted and said "A cortado please". Upon hearing that, she said "the line for ordering coffee is there" pointing at the one other customer I the store who was chatting with the barista. I waited a minute while the barista continued to chat with the one other customer (a personal conversation, not related to their order). Then I chose to leave as I didn't want to tip the cashier and barista for ignoring me. I can understand the cashier redirecting me if I was cutting a line but there was NO ONE else in the shop. Houndstooth has very good coffee but there are endless competitive options and the Congress Ave Houndstooth would be wise to try to provide a good experience for all customers.

Loren G

No one in our group liked the coffee, two employees were borderline rude and the baked item were dry. Avoid.