Halcyon Coffeehouse
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown218 W 4th St
Austin, TX 78701 (512) 472-9637
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
- Best Nights: Mon, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
60 Reviews for Halcyon Coffeehouse
I love this place now! It's changed quite a bit over the years and wasn't always my favorite spot. It was once a RutaMaya coffeeshop, which I loved (now on S. Congress). Now Halcyon is a bar, coffeeshop and smoke/cigar shop. It's perfectly located downtown to go grab coffee or a drink before a show. My favorite thing about them is that they serve SMORES!!!!! I still can't get over it! They bring a cute little fire pot to your table on a tray with marshmallows, chocolate bars and little graham crackers in saltines-sized packages. Too cute and so much fun!
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Cool place, great concept. Perfect for those nights when you're in an indecisive mood and can't quite figure out what you want in a bar/nightspot. I came here on a Saturday night when a good friend of mine suggested going to a cigar bar. Thanks to the powers of Yelp Mobile, Halcyon came up in the search results. Although not a true "cigar bar", they do have a nice selection of cigars in a cigar room towards the back. Combine this little niche with a nice selection of beers, wine, and coffee, along with a few outdoor tables for 4th Street people watching, and viola, you have a great place to hang out and shoot the shit with good friends. Definitely plan on coming back to try the s'mores.
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Let me preface this by saying that I am not a coffee connoisseur. There are coffee shops that understand this, and then there's Halcyon, where I felt uncomfortable and stupid when I placed my order. I don't appreciate that, and maybe it's my problem and not theirs but I don't feel this at Bouldin Creek.
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i'm at odds at what sort of rating to give halcyon. i've been making a beeline for this place any time i'm looking for laid-back surroundings, yummy drinks, and free wifi, for several years now.
i REALLY loved the place BEFORE their renovation - the staff were especially BADASS in the way they made you feel welcome, knew everything about their menu, and played really groovy tunes.
since the owner decided to shrink the place to about 1/3 of its original size and most of the bar staff has been replaced with fresh, new faces, i have to admit that my visits leave me wishing for the good ole days. despite it not being busy, the last 3 out of 5 times i ordered something (the latest was a strawberry smoothie, about 10 minutes ago), the person who took my order forgot to make my drink. it also seems like the staff isn't sure what time their happy hours are (11 to 7, i believe) - whoever i ask has had to turn to another employee to find out. another interesting development is "bar time" which is apparently when my verizon cell phone reads 6:53 but the clock on the register reads 7:01, resulting in my beverage costing $8.50 instead of $4.00. when i asked about why happy hour was over early, the barista shrugged her shoulders and said "bar time".
so, i'll quiting bitching and just say that i hope the new staff eventually develops the seasoning, sophistication, and superior customer-service skills that their predecessors had. halcyon, although not the sprawling space it used to be, still has a lot going for it. the location is within walking distance to some of the best nightlife in austin. the furnishings and constantly changing artwork are interesting without being trendy, and their menu has several tasty offerings.
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Dear Halcyon:
You are one of the best coffee shops in America when it comes to getting work done. Lots of big windows to look out. Always a lot of people coming in and out. Your bartenders give me free soft drinks. I'm not sure what more I could want. And this place is quite trendy at night -- it's really cool when all of the windows are open and the bar is lit (or lighted) up.
Good work with the XM Radio going.
I just get nervous that I'll get in there and a power outlet won't be available. It can be tough every once in a while.
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I hate to judge a girl by her looks, but Halcyon - she's had so much work done she's just not the same.
You see, I knew her when.
I knew her when she still went by "Ruta Maya" and was a little rough around the edges and had more personality. That girl used to have a booty - but liposuction has cut that back-end in half. Her front counter? A boob job - it's bigger and perkier and curvier and more perfect. The wrinkles that used to be there? Botox and gone. The bar has been given a collagen injection - it's plump-er. And the lighting has been improved for better vision - must be Lasik.
She's hanging out with a different crowd. She doesn't seem to really have time for me (or any of her old friends). Ruta Maya has moved on to bigger and better things. And Halcyon is this pretty girl left in her place.
Sure I'll have a drink with her every once in a while. We'll smile and laugh and have a generally okay time. But the drinks just don't taste the same and the conversations aren't nearly as deep.
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Halcyon is my main haunt. I love it. First of all, they serve a wicked good egg and cheese panini (anytime, people, not just breakfast). And beer. Beer and eggs go surprising well together. Try it!
I also love the s'mores, even though s'mores don't go together so great with beer, luckily Halcyon serves coffee and tea. How fun is it to roast marshmallows over a chemical blue flame? Tons.
The only very slight drawback is that if you want to bring your laptop to work (using the reliable wifi) there aren't a ton of outlets. But I love the place so much I'm givin' it five stars anyway! Oh, and I did go there pre-remodel and -- unlike other Yelp reviewers -- I think the remodel actually improved the place.
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Paul H. said it best: "It feels like Halcyon is either figuring out what it wants to be or has lost something of what it once was."
I miss the old Halcyon. That being said, the old Halcyon was not exactly raking in the dough. It was that place you went to decompress from the endless sounds and lights and drinks and packaging of downtown Austin. A little sleepy, yes, but always there for you. Always the go-to place, man.
Now, it's all scrubbed and painted - too much white and brushed aluminum. It's IKEA. It's Eurway. People seem to like it. It's busy for sure, but at what price? It's gone from an awesome hippy hangout to a hipster hangout. I don't know if I like it.
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I always like this place. It looks like a factory garage, but located in downtown.
I usually don't like bars in downtown because they are too noisy. Halcyon is the combination of bar and coffee house.
Halcyon is the some place if you are sick of bars on 6th or 4th street, you can come here, order a cup of Latte, sit down at the corn, hold your lover's hands and talk to him/her in low voice.
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Best Chocolate Martini in town.
Actually, it's a chocolate espresso martini. But still, I never would have guessed this corner coffee shop/lounge could out-do the Four Seasons.
When I told the bartender how much I enjoyed it, he proudly said, "You won't find a better one in this city". And he wasn't arrogant about it, he was just matter-of-fact, and I agree.
The redesign of Halycon is so nice. Very modern, yet still cozy and quiet enough for all the people with the PowerBooks to get some work done. It 'out cools' it's neighboring Qua and Fado's. If I were lucky enough to live downtown, I would be a regular here.
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Great location, good coffee and very comfortable if you are lucky enough to get a booth with the big, fluffy pillows. Tonight, we were lucky and got a corner booth with tons of pillows and a view of the street. We ordered a Iced Thai Coffee and Hot Chocolate. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the music. Too much 60's and 70's music for my taste.
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fantastic!! i had such a great night last night when we went out to downtown Austin... We dropped by here after some Brat Wurst... The smores were OBVIOUSLY doable at home but it was a fun environment. Everyone's so close together yet you're still able to do your own thing around that little 2 by 2 table. You can come here with any attire!! I even saw a group wearing 80's dodgeball clothes haha! This place is just so chill :)
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Red wine, smores and cute girls at the counter. I went here with some friends late at night (just before closing at 2am) and enjoyed the low-key atmosphere while sipping a glass of pinot noir and roasting marshmallows on the table to make smores. This is my kind of place.
Free wi-fi, easygoing music, comfy couches, abstract art and pleasing decor. If I lived in Austin I think I might make this place my new office. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a slower pace than the loud bars and clubs.
I know, lots of reviews for Halcyon, so I'll make it short. Good place to meet for a study group in the afternoon or on a weeknight. Comfortable seating. I see lots of praise for the smores but the best thing are the egg panini's - at less than $3 they are filling, and tasty and easy on the wallet. Good coffee, too and yummy desserts in the case. There's also a full bar if you need it. Only drawback for me is that parking is a bitch.
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Halcyon feels like a bar but acts like a slow-paced coffee house. It's a little confusing if you're just walking in off the street on a Saturday night. The service was slow to bus the tables, so we sat with other peoples' glasses for a while. It feels like Halcyon is either figuring out what it wants to be or has lost something of what it once was. Either way, it's got potential.
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If you've ever taken Halcyon you know the name is nothing like its counterpart, and while you may fall into a twilight sleep the most important thing to know is that you aren't in wonderland. And even though you may seem to be growing into a giant, in all actuality the space around you is shrinking. What was once a grand coffee house is now a small semblance of its former self. With a smaller space and humidor thanks to the great guys at Lavaca Street and their expansion, you'll never know what you are missing. But for those of us who have lived in Austin long enough, you'll always remember sitting on the floor around bags of coffee listening to rusted root or hanging out at an 80's gangsta party.
For real you can still get a good coffee and pastries here and a modest selection of tobacco, but where else is open at 2am?
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Simply great! Love this place - low key vibe and fun people watching.
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YES! S'mores & coffee with friends on a chilly December night - how awesome is that? Four stars awesome!
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I do not like the new Halcyon. Bar service is WAY slower - where'd Adam go? - and I feel cramped all the time. No more smoke shop with Bradford's snark? Bah. There are many, many better coffee shops in town. Halcyon has two things going for it - one, it's downtown, and two, it's got motorcycle-only parking.
That's about it. I don't hate the place, but I only go when I'm being brought along.
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I go to Halcyon only occasionally -- after work, or maybe to pick up a quick little something for lunch, since it's walking distance form my office, or occasionally if I find myself on that side of downtown on the weekend & in need of some caffeine. It's not bad. It is in a handy location & there's nothing absolutely awful about the place that I've seen. Yet I have yet to find anything about Halcyon that makes me want to jump up and declare my undying love for the place.
In the evenings it seems like there's often nowhere to sit, which negates the wonderfulness of the wi-fi connection. The coffee is good, the chai is good, they do have some rockin' food, but a panini plus my favorite drink = $10 for lunch. (I get the feeling that the only difference between a $5.75 panini at a coffeehouse and a $4 grilled sandwich from somewhere else is the name "panini.")
I do feel a little self-conscious going there in my work clothes because I'm not dirty-looking enough to be a hipster and not shiny-looking enough to be a yuppie, but the staff doesn't actually scowl at me when they hand me my food or recoil in horror when I hand them money, so I guess it's all right.
That pretty much sums up my feeling toward Halcyon, actually: I guess it's all right.
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OK, I know Halcyon doesn't need yet another review, but this is my hang-out, and I gotta rep-a-zent.
The coffee here will never win any awards, but its quality is consistent.
I wish they'd buy some new freaking couches already, but the always interesting art on the walls makes up for any shoddy seating in the atmoshphere dept.
The sandwiches are solid. They are my default breakfast/lunch/dinner/late night snack and never disappoint.
Good cocktails.
Very friendly staff. Once, one of the baristas ran out to her car to get some lined paper for me. How awesome is that?
All in all, despite its aging apperance and occasional infestation of screeching 15 year olds enjoying s'mores, I love this place any time of the day or night.
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The coffee is decent, and the art is a great touch, but the staff keeps me from wanting to go back. The first time I went the cashier charged us for two drinks, but apparently only passed on one order to the barista. When we finally asked about it, both people looked like they were straining not to roll their eyes at our audacity. The second time I went in we got our drinks just fine, but it was still with that attitude from the cashier as though we had "not cool enough" across our forehead. Unfortunately, it's too hard for me to relax and enjoy the place after being treated like I'm an uninvited guest.
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Parking is hard to come by, but once you plop down in a sofa it's all comfy and goodness from there. Club music, strong Wifi, great peeps at the counter, and cooler than a Starbucks by far.
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Best part: make your own smore's!! This is also a great place for people watching, especially in the evenings, if you want to do something, but not go out. They are open late, and its a really cute little place. The only thing that really really sucks.. is the parking.
Have you ever been in the warehouse district and were jones-in' for a good latte? Well, if so, this is the place for you. This place has recently been revamped. It has been a motorcyclist techie mecca for years before the revamp, and now, things they-are-a-changin'. The new look is very lounge-like, while still supplying the great coffee and sportin' the full bar.
This is a great place for the designated driver to drink something while your friends are "getting ready" for the clubs/bars. The Halcyon lounge now has a dark mood-setting atmosphere, which is where I am right at home. They still offer the free wi-fi for the techie, the unofficial motorcycle parking is still there, and the wait-staff is fun and attentive.
People-watchers don't fret. This is a wonderful place to grab a drink, sit out on the "walkway bar," check out the passing "talent," and smoke'em if you got'em.
Since they remodeled this place ....it just doesn't feel the same...but I still go because I love that dirty martini Mr. Eric makes me... plus, if I wanna dance...Rain is right across the street....
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Location is great on the shoots and ladders stair situation in the warehouse district, and I have a love/hate relationship with the coffee dudes and dudettes who sit sprawled in a major passageway at 4th and Guadalupe, making zero effort to move out of the way.
No love inside the dirty couched area where ordering an iced tea was met with the strangest reaction. Bad swirly feminist art. Cliche' coffeehouse feel.
Coffee martinis are grand master kick-butt...fuck redbull, this shit is SO much better. Nice stop for a pick me up before fighting the crowds.
But if that zygote working in the tobacco shop tells me one more time that he's a trust fund kid that doesn't have to work, WHILE HE'S WORKING...jesus.
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This would my 3rd review on my journey to become one of Yelp's elite (insert sarcasm here).
So the same guy that told me about Caffe Medici told me about Halcyon's turkey & brie panino (better Fernando? jaja). Being that this guy lived in Italy and has had an authentic panino (again, i stand corrected), I trust his opinion. So I ventured out to check Halcyon out.
Although they were out of the turkey & brie, they recommended the hummus wrap which was absolutely huge...much like the old school Taco Bell burritos. Now, I'm 6'4" and have a big appetite and this bad boy filled me up. In terms of taste, it was very yummy (don't hate, I like that word). The ambience is cool. You can buy & smoke cigars there, sit outside and watch the other Austinites do their thing, but what I loved most were the couches covered with the sheet (those that grew up with that can appreciate it).
Finally, I'm a big believer that those who have sour attitudes get sour food and service. Those that see the good, even when the outlook is grim, get the best food and service. Although they were out of the turkey & brie, they gave me a discount on my hummus wrap and threw in a small salad for free. Damn I love it when people bend the rules! So I will definitely be back for the turkey & brie. Provecho!
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I like the comfortable, laid-back vibe of Halcyon. Yes, Ruta Maya was fabulous, but that doesn't mean Halcyon can't be great in its own way. And it is. I appreciate the fact that it's located in the middle of the 4th and Colorado area where everyone is always dressed to the nines, but it doesn't try to keep up with that crowd. It feels very, "come as you are, be as you feel" to me. I love their extensive tea selection (including a bunch of herbal varieties), especially during those times when I want a hot drink but not the caffeine. And as others have commented, their s'mores setups are just TOO cool. Some things just make me instantly happy, and making s'mores at my table in a restaurant is one of them.
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I loved this coffee place. It's very original without pretensions. Friendly staff, damn good coffee and Panini. It's crazy I have been working for one year two blocks from here, and never tried it. Shame on me....I'm happy that I found how great this place is and now I can submit my humble opinion 4 you to consider stop by for great coffee and good vibes.
p.s. This guy in the store told me about the espresso martini....I'll let you know when I try it!
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This place was so much better when it was Ruta Maya.
Now it seems to have lost its character, and is just a cement floor with a couple of couches here and there. Even sitting outside isn't as much fun. I had many good times on the sidewalk patio of Ruta Maya. Even the smoke shop was cooler back then.
OK, so I guess the best way to do a review is not to play the comparison game. So here goes: If you like coffee shops just because they are open late and are right in the middle of the entertainment district, this could be a favorite of yours. I personally haven't found this place to be much more than an ordinary place to get coffee. Maybe I'm just sentimental.
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Usually, I prefer my coffee shops to be in a convenient location with lots of parking. But in the case of Halcyon, I can make an exception.
If you're looking for a chill first date, this is THE place to go. It is the perfect combination of the downtown atmosphere with the relaxed vibe of an eclectic coffeeshop.
And the BEST part? They sell s'mores! And they don't just sell them, they bring a tiny little fire contraption to your table and let you go at it on your own. How awesome is that? VERY.
Basically, Halcyon gives you a chance to hang out, get to know each other, and then if you hit it off... who knows? Maybe you'll leave and go dancing in one of the nearby clubs ;)
My relationship with Halcyon is like that best that you grew up with who you loved hanging out with back in 2000, but now there are all grown up, they moved to LA, bought a Porsche and is dating a stripper.
I love Halcyon before they remodel, nice and cozy feel and lots of room, and fresh art almost every month.
Now it's cramped, lacks plugs for laptops, stale art, and looks like it was furnished from the "as is" section of IKEA. I can't judge too much, that pretty much what my condo looks like, but I use to come to halcyon because it looked like that warehouse/loft that you've always wanted.
It still has dirt cheep drinks and a great bartender and smores; but over all it's lost a lot of is soul. It was a good run while it lasted...(sniff)-
------Pre 2007 remodel--------
Grayson's top 6 and 1/2 reasons why Halcyon is my favorite coffee joint:
1. Fantastic atmosphere
2. Decent art work thats on regular rotation so it's always fresh
3. Coffee so strong it will make your stomach hurt
4. Indoor smores!
5. Full bar
6. Connect 4
7. Rockstar motorcycle parking right out front
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Halcyon is my favorite hangover cure. Great coffee stuff, great food stuff, great people watching stuff.
I'm sorry those victorian chairs or couches or whatever the hell they are are uncomfortable as hell. My ass was begging me to get out of there. The coffee tasted a lot like coffee. Good location though... and it's not lacking character.
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As it's name suggests, Halcyon offers a place for visitors and locals alike a place to relax in the comfort of well-worn (and very comfortable!) couches, dim lighting, and eclectic artistic stimuli.
Unlike it's nearby competition, this coffee shop has it all: 3-4 consistent wi-fi connections, a full bar, next door smoke shop, eats, and even smores (complete with fire and roasting sticks).
Local artists regularly show their work on Halcyon's wall, augmenting the already "very Austin" feel of this space, located in the heart of downtown.
Patrons tend to hail from a diverse array of backgrounds including visiting businessmen, college students, and a wide variety of colorful Austin locals.
Halcyon is a great place to chill out before a show at the open-air Cedar Street venue on 4th (where the Spazmatics, one of my favorites, preform every Wednesday).
The noise-level and overall mood of the coffee shop ebs and flows with the flow of downtown nightlife. During the day it is usually quiet but don't try to get much studying done here at night if you are easily distracted.
Halcyon is an absolute must-see if you:
-are a writer or posses any sort of creative bent
-love real vanilla ice-cream milkshakes
-are looking to step out of your usual social scene and meet people from all walks of life (you never know who you'll meet when you stop by for a cup of Joe at Halcyon)
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We had s'mores. It's more for the vibe than the taste. Just like camping. The crowd seem to stick within its own breed and involved in their philosophical conversation. It reminded me of the people from collegetown in Eugene, Oregon. This coffeehouse actually serves alcohol, which deserves another star. You kind of have to fight for seats, cuz they are limited. I think it's a perfect place to take your date. Oh! I hesitate to take away a star due to its one man bathroom situation. I was in line for about 20 minutes.
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Get it together guys! I visited after the latest remodel. I only wanted a cup of coffee and waited in line behind 2 others ordering lattes for like 15 minutes. I guess they could not figure out how to use the state of the art P.O.S. system recently installed. But more importantly, the owners or managers have not trained their baristas the most important skill-how to smile, be polite, and say thank you.
After ordering my small coffee, they forgot to pour my coffee for me and rudely asked what else I wanted when I was standing there waiting. What was left of their soy milk was was warm and chunky, I asked for some fresh cold stuff, and I felt like I was really twisting the guy's arm.
GET IT TOGETHER GUYS!!
Even with all the investor cash flow, this place still has no soul.
As for the "hipsters" hanging out here, I ask, what in the hell constitutes a hipster? If diesel jeans and a Bird's haircut makes someone a hipster to you, that's not saying much.
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Very cool spot - full of hipsters - for a coffee martini. Warehousey, soaring ceilings, and edgy. Note - there is a very cool cigar place inside the shop where locals chill and smoke their goods.
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Fantastico bar/coffehouse. If only my living room was as big with as many good looking poeople and a barista AND bar tender at my every whim.
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