18 Best Coffee Shops in San Antonio (2024 Edition)

By Kelsey Kennedy | August 29, 2024

Here we go…the best coffee shops in San Antonio, TX! The coffee scene here goes way back to What’s Brewing?, an old-school coffee roaster that opened in 1979 (and is still going strong!). But recently, more specialty coffee shops have been opening their doors and there are now several solid coffee shops, houses, and roasters to get a great cup of coffee in SA.

Poetic Republic Coffee Shop in San Antonio

The list below is in no particular order, but each review should give you a general idea of the type of coffee shop it is.

There’s also a map of the best San Antonio coffee shops below, as well as information about their location, website, and more.

Now it is time to sip, savor, and get caffeinated!

ABOUT US

We’re Kelsey and Sara, two local foodies with a combined 29 years of eating in San Antonio, two travel books, and millions of blog readers. We adore local spots, rarely visit chain restaurants, and we aren't afraid to tell you the truth. After spending thousands of our own $$$ at hundreds of local hot spots, we're sharing the best with you.

TL;DR

Don't have time to scroll but want some ideas and quickly? Here are my 3 absolute favorite coffee shops in San Antonio:

CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery - Ultra-cozy and multiple locations for better access.
What's Brewing? - Roasts their coffee in house, offers a relaxed vibe that encourages togetherness, has more than 50 old school pin ball machines to try.
Theory Coffee Co. - A coffee food truck for quality coffee on the run.

For more information on these coffee shops or for the full list, read on!

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The Best Coffee Shops in San Antonio

1. Local Coffee Founders

Regarded as the original specialty coffee shop in San Antonio, Local Coffee Founders is a beautiful space in the historic Pearl District.

Stop in for an expertly poured cappuccino, some delicious pastries, and a gorgeous spot to sip and savor your coffee.

There are a few tables outside on the sidewalk patio where you can watch the hustle and bustle of shoppers, or sit indoors and enjoy the light-filled space. It has a modern touch with white subway tiles lining the wall, large windows on three sides of the space, and beautiful topiary cover the display shelves

The owners of Local Coffee sold the business in 2020, but they still retain ownership of this little shop.

The other locations in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas have transferred ownership and are called Merit Coffee (which you can read some more about below).

WEBSITE | 302 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

2. Merit Coffee

Merit Coffee started in San Antonio under the same ownership as Local Coffee Founders (the first place you read about on this list), but they're now separate companies. And separate or not, Merit Coffee is a REALLY solid option.

They have beautiful cafés, highly skilled baristas, and excellent coffee. Oh, and some of the best pastries you'll find ANYWHERE.

There are 5 Merit locations in San Antonio. They source and roast their own coffee, and each location is a welcoming place to chat with the barista, or enjoy a coffee date with a friend.

Highly recommend Merit for those who like to work in coffee shops. The internet is usually fast and reliable, the cafés aren't super loud, and you'll typically find lots of space for a workspace setup.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

3. Shotgun House Coffee Roasters

Here's another excellent option if you're looking for a coffee shop in San Antonio for coffee snobs (which is just another way of saying discerning coffee connoisseurs). Shotgun house has an excellent coffee program, which starts with their in-house roasted coffee beans.

The roaster is literally a few feet from the counter where you order your coffee, so you might get to see it being roasted right in front of you! They bag it up and sell it within a day or two of it being roasted. So it is super fresh.

Shotgun is located inside Warehouse 5, a longtime sewing factory - turned co-working space.

There's a cozy indoor space with tables and couches and wifi, as well as an outdoor garden where you can bring your coffee and your laptop and get some work done in the great outdoors.

WEBSITE | 1333 Buena Vista St, San Antonio, TX 78207

4. San Antonio Gold

This super hip coffee shop is located just east of the King William District in south San Antonio. It shares a space with a studio/gallery, a motorcycle clothing store, and a barber shop. And somehow, it just all works.

The shop itself is a funky space that displays ironic/edgy art and feels like the coffee house version of the Alamo Drafthouse. But the vibe is inviting (the barista went out of his way to welcome me and chat), entertaining, and really fun.

Coffee here is top notch with all the standard coffee house offerings plus a speciality menu which showcases the most popular drink at Gold called "A Holiday in Cambodia." Not sure what it had to do with Cambodia - but the bold tasting blend of chai cold brew, oat milk, and proprietary spices was totally delicious.

Only downside to Gold is the parking situation. There is a small lot directly in front of the building, but it fills up quickly. If the lot is full, there is a Southtown Public Parking Lot right next door that is easily missed since it looks just like a dirt lot. If you can't access it from Cevallos St., try going around the block to Clay St. where there is an access point.

WEBSITE | 1913 S. Flores St., #A, San Antonio, TX 78204

5. Estate Coffee Company

Located near downtown, this small-batch coffee roaster and espresso bar is one of the best coffee shops in San Antonio. They pride themselves on working with family-owned importers to source the best coffee beans possible. Estate Coffee Company roasts in-house and provides a robust wholesale coffee program to their patrons.

The shop itself is an adorable space to stop by for a latte. There’s a small bar at one end of the rectangular cafe, and the rest of the space is filled with tables and chairs. It’s simple and modern, but what matters most is that the coffee program here is really top quality.

WEBSITE | 1320 E Houston St., A101, San Antonio, TX 78205

6. CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery

The original CommonWealth Coffeehouse was built in a chic cottage from the 1800s that was transformed into an all-day cafe and coffee house with French decor, indoor/outdoor seating, and a chicken coop (yep, you read that right!). CommonWealth is really the whole package and therefore one of my favorite coffee shops in San Antonio.

There are now multiple locations and each has the cutest rustic/chic vibe. If your coffee house preference is for cozy and intimate - this is definitely the place to go for a quick cup or a take-it-easy kind of breakfast/brunch/lunch.

They offer homemade pastries and French cafe fare like a Croque Madame with black forest ham, parm béchamel, and fontina cheese on their signature homemade French bread. Any dish with eggs comes direct to you from the hens in the backyard so you can be assured of absolute freshness. And just one bite will confirm it.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

7. Niche Coffee

For an excellent cappuccino in downtown San Antonio, head to Niche Coffee. Niche is a small specialty shop that uses beans from San Antonio's own Quantum Coffee Roasters.

They have a small cafe space with tables, free WIFI, a few refrigerated snacks available, and a full espresso bar with drip coffee, cold brew, well-made lattes, and multiple milk options.

If you want something fun, go for a seasonal speciality drink like the roasted hazelnut latte or the delicious chocolate-caramel latte.

WEBSITE | 108 Villita St., San Antonio, Texas 78205

8. Poetic Republic

The Poetic Republic is about “making connections between strangers, friends, and generations,” and the entire Southtown coffee shop is set up with that intention.

Walk in and you’ll be greeted by a friendly barista at the window-facing coffee bar who’s ready to take your order. Once you have your drink (try the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Latte!), sit down in the adjacent lounge where they have tables, sofas, and a calm environment for reading, chatting, or just sitting and enjoying your latte.

In line with the name of this place, Poetic Republic has free readings available to the public (often on Friday evenings). This is a full-service coffee shop as well as one of the best San Antonio wine bars with Texas natural wines available.

WEBSITE | 2330 S Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78210

RELATED: Best wine bars in San Antonio

9. Halcyon - Southtown

Coffee drinks by day, cocktails by night… Halcyon has one of the coolest vibes in San Antonio. It’s located in the Blue Star Arts District, so it has that industrial feel with brick walls, exposed ceilings, and lots of bright colors.

If you need a place to grab a cup of joe in the morning, grab an iced coffee and enjoy their free wifi and energizing environment. But they also have a great afternoon happy hour ($6 mango chile margaritas, anyone?), a delicious dinner menu of comfort foods like the brisket fried rice and pulled pork pineapple tacos, and a full bar. Don’t forget about those tabletop s’mores for 2 or 4 in the evening!

WEBSITE | 1414 S Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210

10. Mila Coffee

Mila Coffee started as an awesome little coffee trailer near Brackenridge Park. But it now has a second brick and mortar location at the Make Ready Market (one of San Antonio's best new restaurants).

Mila's a pretty casual place (there’s no official website and they sometimes open and close on a whim), but they have a loyal customer base and some great cold brew. They use Tweed coffee roasters, based out of Dallas.

Their original location is in a community of other airstream businesses, so be sure to check out Mister Diablo Taco Truck and Bexar Goods Co. while you’re there.

If you hit up their brick and mortar, you'll have lots of options for dining, both indoor and outdoor, inside the market. On a nice morning or evening, Mila is a great place to grab a cup of coffee, sit outside the market, and enjoy the weather.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

11. PRESS Coffee

PRESS Coffee shop also just expanded to a second location. But the original is still my favorite because it feels like you’re in a little treehouse!

The multi-level shop has lots of greenery, tons of windows, and a multi-level seating area. Stop by for coffee and tea, homemade pastries, and free wifi.

PRESS's second location is in Castle Hills and has a more industrial feel to it, but still serves the same great coffee. If you can't get to the original, you won't be disappointed with the Northside location's options.

They also offer a customizable coffee subscription service. You can select the type of coffee, bag size, and shipping schedule, and they’ll keep freshly-roasted coffee coming to ya all year.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

12. Stranded Coffee

Stranded Coffee is another little coffee trailer with a BIG presence. Located in Southtown at the corner of S. Alamo and E. Johnson, Stranded has established itself as the go-to place for Southtown residents who want to grab a coffee on the run, but don't want to trade quality for lack of time.

Seating is strictly outside at Stranded underneath colorful shade umbrellas so be sure to take the weather into account before heading there. But on a nice day, it is a lovely and quieter part of Southtown to enjoy Stranded's delicious coffee.

If you are angling for something new, try their most popular drink, the Maribel. Cinnamon vanilla syrup, oat milk, cinnamon dust, and espresso combine for a super tasty beverage that was great both hot and iced. You can order the Maribel, along with the rest of Stranded's offerings, ahead of time online at their website.

Parking for Stranded is best done along E. Johnson where you can park in the lot where Stranded is parked or on the residential street.

WEBSITE | 1203 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210

13. What’s Brewing?

This local San Antonio coffee roaster is known for its OG shop (they’ve been around since 1979!), pinball machines, and exceptional coffee roasting program.

What's Brewing Coffee - best San Antonio coffee shops

You can get their coffee at their roastery and cafe, their drive-thru only shop, and at the Pearl Farmers Market on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

What's Brewing? is unlike any other coffee shop in San Antonio. It has a more party vibe - though not raucously so. Just a great place to hang out with some friends, play some board games or pinball, and drink some of the city's best coffee which is roasted right on the premises.

If you're curious, walk toward the back where you can check out the roasters and see the process taking place for yourself.

WEBSITE | 138 W Rhapsody Dr, San Antonio, TX 78216

14. Southbound Coffee

Southbound Coffee’s tiny pink trailer is the place to go for the most instagrammable coffee shop in San Antonio! It’s an adorable, bright pink trailer in Southtown that serves fun, photo-worthy coffee drinks. They offer mobile ordering so you can place your order ahead and pick it up right when you arrive.

If you want to make a morning of it, Southbound is parked next to another adorable pink trailer that serves all manner of tacos, and for excellent prices! Coffee and breakfast tacos, yes please.

Big thumbs up for Southbound's famous Dirty Horchata Latte, an ever so slightly sweet matcha latte with horchata. But if you're not feeling that or don't like horchata, try one of the fun seasonal menu items that they’re constantly introducing.

A word about parking - try to park along Cevallos street next to the apartment complex across from Southbound. There is a paid lot right next to Southbound, but was almost empty as there was ample, free street parking. Why pay when you don't have to?

WEBSITE | 246 E Cevallos St, San Antonio, TX 78204

15. Theory Coffee

We've got another little coffee trailer on our list of best San Antonio coffee shops. And this one is fire!

Theory Coffee has a classic menu of traditional coffee offerings like espresso, cappuccino, and drip coffee. But owner Mark Vollmer has a culinary degree from the Le Cordon Bleu program in Austin, TX and loves to pay attention to the care and quality of every single cup they prepare. So while it may be a standard menu, the coffee is anything but standard.

Theory Coffee gets their beans from Wild Gift Coffee Roasters in Austin, TX.

WEBSITE | 2347 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209

16. Bright Coffee

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Open since early 2022 at the Blanco Center in Beacon Hill, Bright Coffee has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. With coffee and a gallery by day and dancing by night, Bright Coffee has managed to combine three loves of its owners (java, art, and swing dancing) into one outstanding experience.

Bright is all about supporting and bringing together the local community. From the beans they source (downtown’s Estate Coffee Company), to the warm and inviting seating area, to the works of local artists they display around the café, everything they do is meant to bring people together while promoting local businesses and the arts.

Bright’s menu has all the traditional coffeehouse standards as well as a few unconventional coffee options inspired by the owner’s Korean heritage including a banana milk latte (highly recommend!), a melon milk latte, a red bean latte, and a black sesame latte. They also offer a seasonal menu highlighting the flavors and ingredients of each season.

*Bonus - Once you’ve had a chance to check out Bright by day, don’t forget to come back at night for swing dancing and lindy hop lessons. It seems right on the nose to work out those caffeine jitters by learning the jitterbug.

WEBSITE | 1705 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78212

17. Folklores Coffee House

Folklores Coffee House is another quirky coffee shop located near the N. New Braunfels entrance to Fort Sam Houston. Given its proximity to the base and the fact that Folklores give discounts to service members, first responders, and teachers, it is no wonder that this coffee shop is super popular with the military members and families who are stationed at Fort Sam Houston.

Like Gold, Folklores has a funky feel to it with a lot of the decor celebrating old horror movies and characters (apropos the giant man eating plant from the Little Shop of Horrors). But even if vintage horror isn't your thing, it doesn't matter. You're still welcome at Folklores - a sentiment made obvious by numerous signs addressing Folklores all-inclusive status.

Overall, the shop felt irreverent and fun. Maybe not the best place to come and get some work done, but a great place to come with friends, coworkers, or other servicemen while on a break.

Folklore's menu, which includes a few breakfast/brunch food items, has a great selection of speciality coffee drinks. I tried the Sheena with banana milk, cinnamon, and a caramel drizzle. If you like banana, this one's for you. But if you're not a banana fan - avoid and give another one of their creative drinks a go.

Parking at Folklores is a bit tricky. There's a small lot off of N. New Braunfels, but if it is full, try the two hour street parking off of Grayson. The rest of the lots in the vicinity are for adjacent businesses and apartments and require permits to park.

And be careful you don't accidentally drive onto the Fort Sam Houston military base as that can be a painful mistake to correct.

WEBSITE | 1943 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio, TX 78209

18. Philo Çoffee

While I don't know exactly what the little curly-q in Philo Çoffee's name is for, it doesn't really matter. This place is ultra cute, smells amazing, and is super tasty.

Located just a few blocks away from San Antonio College in a quiet neighborhood, Philo is your quintessential neighborhood coffee house.

It is housed in an old home with vintage charm and gorgeous wooden floors. And the whole place just feels intimate and is obviously quite popular with college students attending the nearby school.

Philo Çoffee serves a variety of coffees and teas and is a great place to try something new and different. Each barista has a favorite drink that is written on a board near the register and will eagerly prepare his or her favorite for thirsty guests. I recommend coming with an open mind and taking a chance on something unusual - you might just discover YOUR new favorite.

Philo also have a decent sized menu of food and snacks as well as beer and wine.

WEBSITE | 606 W. French Pl., San Antonio, TX 78212