coffeeshop talk

Not a secret for long: Vintage Heart Coffee's mag-worthy hot coffee, cool designand friendly vibe

Vintage Heart Coffee
Photo by Jessica Pages
Mallory Alison owner of Vintage Heart Coffee
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages

A good coffee shop feels a tad homey — inviting, cozy and overflowing with delicious scents. A great coffee shop (at least for this coffee-shop-hopping writer) is one that has all of the above yet still manages to give you your space and spur inspiration in an artful, inexplicable way. Vintage Heart Coffee, 78702’s latest coffee haunt, does just that.

Adding to the ever-growing list of new, design-savvy, on-trend East Austin establishments, VHC officially opened just a few weeks ago at 1405 E. Seventh St. Situated in a blink-and-you-might-miss-it building, its neighbor to popular Mexican food restaurant Takoba and looks out over the shady lawn of the Texas State Cemetery across the street.

Maybe it’s the sleek unfinished wood surfaces, or the cushy couches with their Restoration Hardware-esque vibe. Or perhaps it’s the layout itself — simple, clean and focused on letting as much light into the space as allowed by the building’s modest structure. Whatever the reason, Vintage Heart is full of subtle yet bright creative energy of the best kind.

There is service with a smile, an unobtrusive (yet still toe-tapping) soundtrack drifting over the speakers and an array of seating options available for even the most fickle patron. All this and not even a mention of the goods.

Like with many a favorite Austin small business, Vintage Heart is unabashedly local and proud of it. The baristas brew Third Coast Coffee’s fair trade beans and serve pastries from Russell’s Bakery and vegan donuts from Red Rabbit Cooperative (trust me, they're incredible).

It’s the type of place that has you confused as to whether you were hanging out in someone’s actual den when you walk out the door. Befuddled or not, you’ll most certainly leave with a delicious drink in hand and a calmer approach to your day.

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Vintage Heart Coffee is open Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., and stays open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. (512) 524-0583

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Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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