Can we be real for a second? Taking care of kids is exhausting. It’s no wonder that coffee is the unofficial drink of parents, babysitters, and nannies alike. But coffee shops aren’t always the most family-friendly of venues, making heading out with children to get a much-needed caffeine jolt a little more complicated.
Thankfully, Houston is home to a number of great coffee shops where kids are welcome. Here are 10 of our absolute favorites.
Paper Co Cafe
Address: 1100 Elder St., Houston, TX 77007
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 713-522-3533
At Paper Co Cafe, you get a side of warm fuzzies with your hot beverage. That’s because all proceeds go toward helping Houston’s homeless community. Its coffee is also responsibly sourced, and all food — including its kids’ menu — is made from scratch.
In addition to its community-minded mission, the location is relaxing and comfortable. With tall ceilings, large windows, and plenty of space between tables to roam around, kids won’t feel as confined as they might in a traditional “cozy” coffee shop. There are also outlets near the tables along the wall in case you need to charge devices or work while your little ones color in their high chairs.
A 2nd Cup
Address: 1111 E. 11th St., Houston, TX 77009
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 832-962-7656
Like Paper Co Cafe, A 2nd Cup also offers coffee for a cause. The shop opened in 2012 to raise awareness about human trafficking, and proceeds go toward helping survivors reintegrate into society.
Despite the heavy mission, the space is light and airy with comfy couches and chairs, and ample space for free-spirited children. The menu has specialty coffee drinks with fun names like the Mochanut and Secret Squirrel, as well as a small selection of food items, including breakfast tacos.
Kaffeine Coffee Internet & Office Cafe
Address: 5225 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77004
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Closed Monday & Sunday
Phone: 281-501-1355
Kaffeine is within walking distance from Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo, and the Children’s Museum, so after the kids are done with their enrichment activities, treat yourself to one. The pastries are baked fresh in-house, and the perfectly crafted iced drinks are served in mason jars. Mason jars!
It’s a great spot to bring bigger kids who want to feel “grown up,” sipping their non-caffeinated beverages while paging through the latest copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. For the younger ones, there is a comfy couch and a TV often tuned to PBS Kids. When the weather is tolerable, a small outdoor patio can be a nice place to take in a little sun.
EQ Heights
Address: 1030 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 713-434-6923
The Montrose area might lay claim to the city’s best coffee shops, but the Heights provides some good competition. EQ Heights is right off the Heights Boulevard hike and bike trail, just blocks away from Donovan Park. Swing by before or after hitting up the playground to grab some flavored ice water and a cup of joe.
While you sip, the kids can play with one of the board games available, sprawl out on a couch, or stomp around the covered patio. Everybody wins.
Boomtown
Address: 242 W. 19th St., Houston, TX 77008
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Phone: 713-862-7018
Anywhere that has both delicious coffee and tasty breakfast tacos is pretty much every Houstonian’s happy place — and Boomtown fits the bill.
It’s no secret that Boomtown has some of the best coffee in the city. The responsibly sourced beans are roasted in-house in small batches, and the signature lattes — like the spicy/chocolatey Mayan Mocha — are as creative as they are delightful. It’s also one of the few locally owned coffee shops that have high chairs available, so you can sip without worrying about a squirming child on your lap.
Is it a coincidence that Boomtown is also located along the Heights’ famous 19th Street shopping strip? No, no it’s not, mama. Treat yourself.
Common Bond
Address: 1706 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 713-529-3535
Let’s be honest. What separates a good coffee shop from a great coffee shop is its baked goods, and when it comes to mouth-watering pastries, Common Bond doesn’t disappoint. The kouign-amann is light and buttery, and the Nutella cupcakes will make you wonder how anyone could ever give up carbs when such things exist. The menu also boasts a wide selection of both hot and cold food items, as well as non-caffeinated, kid-friendly beverages like lemonade and hot cocoa.
Families fill the place during peak weekend hours, but during the week you can almost always find a spot to sit inside or out on the patio.
Brasil
Address: 2604 Dunlavy St., Houston, TX 77006
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Thursday & Friday, 7 a.m. – midnight | Saturday, 8 a.m. – midnight | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 713-528-1993
If Common Bond is packed, you can try walking across the street to Brasil. This spot features two separate patios — one covered, one uncovered — and the inside seating area has plenty of space between tables where antsy kids can get up and move around, though high chairs are available if you prefer to keep them in one place.
With a full food menu complete with kid-friendly dishes and juices, Brasil is great for brunch, coffee/playdates, or just a break from the routine.
Tinys No. 5
Address: 3636 Rice Blvd., Houston, TX 77005
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Closed Monday
Phone: 713-664-0141
West U is the Beverly Hills of Houston, so it’s no surprise that the coffee shops in that neighborhood are on the fancier side. Even with its stylish decor and perfectly landscaped patio, however, Tinys No. 5 is a favorite among families.
Dress up or wear your “good” yoga pants — there’s no judgment here. Everything about Tiny’s No. 5 is relaxing, from the floor-to-ceiling windows to the refreshing flavored water. The menu boasts a mix of fresh, light dishes that are healthy and satisfying, as well as a variety of sweet treats. The chocolate chip cookies, in particular, are so good you won’t want to share. Baked in small batches throughout the day, the cookies come out with a fresh-out-the-oven gooeyness no matter when you order them.
Black Walnut Cafe
Address: 5512 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007 | See additional locations here.
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 6:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 713-868-1800
If you’re looking for great lattes with good food, Black Walnut checks both boxes. In addition to hand-crafted coffee drinks and generously sized baked goods, this restaurant has a full food menu, adult beverages, gelato, and a kids-only menu with healthy side options.
Black Walnut has several locations throughout Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including in Katy, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land. The location off of Memorial Drive is the more kid-friendly location inside the Loop. In addition to having high chairs available, it has plenty of parking and a large outdoor patio.
Cafeza
Address: 1720 Houston Ave., Houston, TX 77007
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m. – midnight
Phone: 832-203-8016
This Sixth Ward coffee spot offers a menu with roots in Spain and Latin America. You can sip a cortado while your kids munch on churros or fried plantains. In addition to the standard European-style coffee drinks, they also offer cold-brew coffees, adult beverages, and an impressive number of loose-leaf teas.
Kids will love to listen to musicians play live music on the weekends, and while the space can get a little cozy during peak times, there’s typically plenty of seating available.
