Stinson’s

The coffee is great some days, awful the next time. Kind of different with each person who makes it. I love the atmosphere here… just wish the drinks tasted consistent. That’s the only thing holding me back from coming more often

Loved it here! Rustic, friendly, and inviting. Chloe my bartender went above and beyond to make me feel welcome. Would hands down come here again.

I Have frequented tons of coffee shops around Austin and Stinson’s really serves the finest lattes I Have had in town. Their espresso is rich but never bitter, and their steamed milk is consistently heavy and smooth. They’ve lots of factory outlets, great natural lighting, and their service is always careful. With lunch, dinner, and drink menus accessible, Stinson’s has everything you’d ever need for a day of studying or a night out with pals! Highly, highly recommend.

Tried to call ahead to place a to-​go order, but they didn’t answer the phone. Just after I hung up, my phone rang, and it was Stinson’s calling me back. Thought that was pretty funny and awesome. Just an example of how friendly and accommodating the employees are. As far as the food goes, I’ve had a great lunch (salad), breakfast taco and buttered coffee there — all tasty! One of the walls is a garage door, which they open when it’s nice out. In addition to the service and food, the fresh air makes it a really enjoyable place to stop and grab a bite/​drink or sit down and work.

The owner of Stinson’s reached out to me and wholeheartedly expressed concern for our previous experience, we appreciated his efforts to make it right so yesterday we stopped in to give it a second shot. Our second visit was a total 180 flip, the service was great and attentive and the food came out quickly. I really do enjoy the atmosphere and what they’ve done with the location.
Their lattes are delicious, hot but never bitter. I tried the cool cucumber sandwich this time around, it was crisp and light and yummy. During this visit there were crunchy and savory home-​made tortilla chips that came with our sandwiches, we never received chips with our meals the first time so I’m not sure if this was something new or not but I dug them.
We’ll definitely be back to Stinson’s, my only slight hesitation is that the food, in my opinion, is priced a little high for what it is. So perhaps not a frequent stop, but we’ll be back nonetheless.

Great location, great service, really bad food. Sat outside and one employee kept going to the side of building to smoke. Not 15 feet away from entrance, right next to it. Made the whole meal worst. No one is on the same page there. Redo your menu, don’t have employees smoking right by the front door. Get a restaurant consultant. You have a great location

I’m a big fan of Stinson’s. I’m here pretty much every other weekday morning cranking out good work over their gloriously fast (5Ghz available) wifi and a steaming cup of almond milk latte.
Stinson’s doesn’t try to be «Austin hip», and it doesn’t need to be. If I wanted cramped spaces, wobbly tables, and fighting for plugs, I’d just head to any number of other Austin coffee shops. Instead, what you get here is a really clean, surprisingly large space that serves both coffee and real food (not the traditional panini press sandwiches coffee shops normally put out).
I will say that while the prices for drinks are fairly reasonable, food prices are a tad bit high. I honestly don’t mind though. Coffee shops don’t make enough margins as is. If that’s what it takes to keep the lights on, 5Ghz wifi pumping, and caffeine flowing, I am entirely happy to support that.

Lots of natural light, decent food, alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, and 3 tables with outlets. They have everything I need to get things done on my laptop.
It’s always a little awkward to interact with staff. It could be the food and coffee counter immediately inside the front door. They do make an effort, which I appreciate. They don’t bring you cutlery, napkins, or condiments with your food. These things can be found at the right end of the bar. No place to grab an extra napkin. Awkward.

Stinson’s has a relaxed atmosphere. I saw a few people studying and using laptops. My friend and I were able to talk easily without feeling like we were bothering anyone. Mostly everyone had their headphones in but the music was chill– think Radiohead. I had the iced coffee which was good and the egg & bacon sandwich which was only okay. The parking lot is small, but I got here at Sunday at 11:15 and there were still plenty of spaces. I would say it’s best to come alone or with a close friend.

I go here to work every couple of weeks when I want a treat. They have good wifi, a gorgeous grilled cheese sandwich, and a delicious coffee cocktail. I CRAVE their coffee cocktails. If they had comfy seating, I’d probably be in there every day.

I had the burger. It was ok. Nothing special. It’s a cool hangout. They have a nice patio. Sometimes they have a couple of people playing guitar outside. That’s fun to watch and drink beer. Wish they had more beer selections.

Really like this place. Staff is friendly, food and coffee are very good. I have one request… window coverings for the windows (not the garage doors).

I would rate this place «Alright» just alright. The guy working the counter/​cashier was far from welcoming. He never even greeted us or said hi. The food was good but EXTREMELY over priced. We ordered 2 chicken sandwiches and 1 drink our total was over 30 bucks. It was very slow and the food did seem to take awhile. Again the customer service was really lacking and I probably won’t be returning to this place. If you never stopped in to eat here I really don’t think you would be missing much!

I recently discovered Stinsons at an alumni meeting they host monthly. What a treat. The coffee and breakfast tacos are delicious. I like the lattes in the extra large cups. It is in a converted gas station garage so the space feels very open and light with tall ceilings. They are serving beer and wine here il now so I’ll have to come back and try that I the evening.

Blah food, dirty tables, please show a little hustle. I wanted to like this place because it’s close to my house. On to the next spot.

Nice atmosphere, good coffee. Only question I have: almost totally out of pastries by 9:00 am? Otherwise, nice place, friendly service.

I like the atmosphere and the food is decent. The staff are okay in friendliness and quality of service. I like all the natural light. I want this to be a great spot.

We just found a little jewel! I’ve always stopped for coffee but never realized how cute the dining area was! I needed something central for a bridal shower and this place was perfect! The Manager was so easy to work with and the staff was stellar! I’m a picky Bloody Mary girl and I gotta say it was so good! We also enjoyed sangria & mimosas and our guest all had smiles! Thank you Stinsons!!!

Tried the mocha latte this afternoon. It was so-​so. Definitely not something to write home about. They did use chocolate from Ghirardelli’s though. (The other syrups were the standard ones from Torani.) Service was pleasant.
I can see how parking would be hit or miss. We got lucky to get one of the few spots in the lot.
Live music on Thursday and Friday nights according to the barista.

Great hang-​out spot at the corner of Burnett and 45^th street.
Coffee, meals, full bar, dessert, wifi and great AC all in a converted service garage.
Lunch at 11 on a Sunday was uncrowded and the service was fast. Order at counter, find a seat and wait not too long for food to be delivered to the table. I expect that Stinson’s can get quite loud when fully occupied, since the space is surrounded with many hard services, and can pack quite a few people within its relatively small space
The arugula and cranberry salad was very fresh and a good portion. I added grilled chicken and the chicken was moist and well-​flavored.
Grilled Angus Burger was very good as well. The only complaint was that the bun was a little dry, but overall this was a very tasty and satisfying burger. The side of fries was piping hot when the burger was brought to the table.
We ordered a soy chai latte and regular latte to go. The chai mix was a very nice blend with a noticeable hint of ginger. The latte was average. But the main places that come to mind that have better lattes specialize and focus on coffee. So average for the breadth of what Stinson’s is was quite fine.
Stinson’s is a great place to visit any time of day for good beverages (for there or to go), good food and socializing.

Easy to access. Had not tried their food before.
The burger was tasty and Gabby and Boe were really friendly and helpful.

Coffee shops are delightfully in abundance in Austin, but some of them can get incredibly crowded, loud, or just don’t have outlets for your laptop. Stinsons was great in that it wasn’t over crowded at all while I was there and had a pleasant ambience. Combine that with plenty of electrical outlets and good sized tables to work on, and I was impressed!
I got a chai latte, which was disappointingly syrup-​y and had a strange taste. The pumpkin muffin is fantastic! And the coffee was really good too, some of the better coffee I’ve had in the area actually.
The barista who took my orders wasn’t smile-​friendly, and she seemed a bit brusque. I gave her a smile and a pleasant hello, and I seemed to sense the tiniest bit of thaw in her demeanor. That and the terrible chai were what knocked a star off, but otherwise, this is a great spot I plan to frequent again to do work!

Had to return with my son. We both got their 100% angus beef burger and fries. The burgers were excellent. Hands down our favorite. The meat and toppings were so fresh. You can tell the meat was not the 80% regular hamburger meat. The fries were hot and excellently seasoned.

I’m going to make this short and sweet. I am the kind of person who values customer service above cuisine — if you serve okay food and have outstanding customer service then you will have regulars lined up every day. Well, the girl who they hired as the cashier needs a serious attitude adjustment. No smile, no hi how are you… I did all the talking and she just nodded. Then when she walked over to give me my food to-​go she basically threw it at me. She didn’t say one word as she pivoted on her heel and walked back to the front to continue playing with her phone.
Shame — the burger is actually quite good, but if I have to look forward to that kind of reception I don’t think i’ll be back anytime soon.

Since my last review the owner, John, reached out to me. I cannot say enough good things about the level of customer service he provided! It was enough to make me give them another chance. They were, again, out of the first thing I ordered, which was a veggie burger. Reading Rebekah P.‘s review I wish they hadn’t been because it sounds like it would’ve been amazing! My chicken sandwich wasn’t bad though and the fries were so good!
The owner and manager, Ozzy, have gone to great lengths to change my mind about Stinson’s and they truly have succeeded. They recognize the business’ flaws and are working hard to change them. I believe that they will get it right and Stinson’s will be that much better for it. The way a business handles challenges can make or break an experience, and for me, they have truly made me believe in the future of this place.
I’m not counting Stinson’s out yet!

Wanted to update my review on Stinson’s since I spent an entire day here last weekend (ate all my meals and numerous cups of coffee while furiously working on a deadline).
Holy shit — you must all try their veggie burger. I asked for a recommendation and am really happy that I tried this one. The veggies were great — it was heavy, satisfying, and fresh all at the same time. The flavor wasn’t overwhelmingly strong, but there was enough spice to keep it interesting. The turkey sandwich was amazing as well.
Other great features? Lots of large tables! Places to plug in your computer, a bar, or the ability to move many tables together to bring in a big group for dinner. Huge fan.
Will be back again, please don’t hate me guys (I promise to buy plenty of food and not be a complete waste of space!).

After passing on the $ 14 veggie burger (really?) at what seems to want to be a sports bar (based on the three TV’s), we opted for some chips and salsa (as starter). Came way over cooked (can you say burned?!) Disappointing. Other food was good.

I love when a trailer is successful enough they can convert to a bricks-​and-​mortar hangout and not lose any of their charm. One of the benefits of these guys being in the area (Rosedale)for a while, is they know their market! Excellent espresso machines pull fabulous shots. Comfortable indoor seating with a real (liquor) bar & 2 TV screens for watching the game. It seems like they have captured a good mix of «something for everyone», without feeling like a big box chain.
Outside tables under a covered patio provide space for a gathering or place to chat and enjoy freshness outdoors. (Also another flat screen TV here.)
Located just across from Upper Crust bakery they also serve lunch and bistro food, as well as pastries Russell’s bakery.

Stinson’s is an odd case that shouldn’t work yet surprisingly does.
Stinson gets at some of the dual nature of the Rosedale neighborhood.
Rosedale is simultaneously keep Austin weird — AND Longhorn former fraternity boy/​sorority girl.
It votes left-​wing save-​the-​planet-​save-​the-​granola, yet packs them in at places like Pinthouse Pizza which cater to straight arrow types in their 20’s and 30’s.
Stinson’s is a fusion of both elements.
It is a coffee house by day and a bar by night.
That is a little bit like being a nun by day, and a showgirl by night.
It is hard to get the buzz and the ambience right.
The coffee house/​bar fusion sounds good as a business model since «in theory» you sell product morning noon and night.
However, the incompatibility of the two types of establishment may make you sell zero morning noon or night.
You want a coffee house to be nerdy — and productivity oriented.
Starbucks hits that pitch perfectly —
but a place like Epoch totally excels at nerdy/​productivity.
At any hour of the day and night you are surrounded by programmers or artists or academics or moral crusaders — all working on their computers — drinking coffee and saving the world from bad virtual architecture, inappropriate ideas about Van Gogh or whatever.
They are saving the world at 2 in the morning — so you can too. Boot up your computer and get down to it!
Stinson’s is a coffee house that goes for none of that.
ESPN is on giant screens everywhere.
The dominant visual is the bar — with a medium sized but excellent collection of fine bottles.
Never mind your dissertation! Have a drink and watch Memphis Beat Brigham Young!
This is not where people are going to want to get work done.
Further uncoolnesses are fraternity house neglect of housekeeping in the otherwise marvelously decorated bathrooms — and large self promotional placards pushing the marvels of Stinson’s Texas-​Hooey style.
So why doesn’t this place go on the reject list?
a) The coffee is excellent. Much of the coffee served in North Austin destination coffee houses is mediocre at best.
b) Table sizes are good — and if you sit against the South Wall, plug access is good.
c) The food is decent enough. I can’t judge the cooked dishes having not had them — but the hummus (a standard item at coffee shops everywhere that is always middle of the road, never good never bad) was served in small looking but generous in reality portions that left me waddling out of the shop at the end. Samuel C likes to be well fed.
d) The bar is intriguing. Interesting mixed drinks and interesting bottles. If one is doing one’s drinking in Rosedale —
and one wants to drink fine hard liquor sitting in a chair rather than drinking a beer while standing in a parking lot —
(you know the over-​rated establishment I am referring to) —
then Stinson’s is a serious place to go.
I do not always want sports events around me when I am drinking. (Most of my close friends are aesthetes rather than jocks.)
But that line of bottles appeals to me and the room is fine.
So this place has a niche.
If you prefer Starbucks to Epoch but you want something better than Starbucks, Stinson’s might do it for you.
And if you just finished your magnum opus and you want to cut back with a double manhattan and watch the game — well that can be arranged too.

Wow, it’s been a year since I wrote about this place? They definitely deserve an update: Their original trailer thing was okay, but this brick & mortar on 45^th & Burnet is great. The interior is great, the staff is great, the WiFi is great, and their plain & simple hot & black coffee is great. The parking here is not great.
Don’t know much about their food, their beer/​wine/​booze, or their history and biology for that matter. What I do know is I love hanging in coffeehouses, because I can play on my phone and drink coffee for long long time. And when there’s parking available around here, Stinson’s is a great place to do it. Lots of coffee choices up and down Burnet these days, have some fun with them.