Coffee Review: Baba Boudan's in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Americans love a good cup of coffee, and Fayetteville is no exception. When I visited the city, I looked around for the best coffee in town and saw Baba Boudan’s. This old-school coffee house serves great coffee and has an excellent ambiance.

Baba Boudan’s is a small coffee house in Fayetteville. It has a European feel and arguably offers the best coffee in the area. The barista is also the café’s owner, who knows how to brew an authentic cup of coffee. Baba Boudan’s doesn’t accept cards, so bring cash if you come here.

This article contains my detailed review of Baba Boudan’s.

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What Is Good About Baba Boudan’s?

I found Baba Boudan’s on my hunt for the best coffee in town. It is a small coffee shop on college street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. You may overlook the small building, but inside you will find the tastiest coffee in Fayetteville.

You get old-school European coffee shop vibes upon entering the cafe. It may remind you of those famous Italian espresso places. The place has a signature coffee aroma that adds to the vibe and stimulates your coffee tastebuds.

It’s a no-frill coffee place, unlike regular coffee shops with that big-town feel. Many locals drive out of their way to get coffee from Baba Boudan’s. The place has a dedicated small crowd, so you may find people greeting each other.

Here are all the things I loved about the place:

1. The Coffee

Baba Boudan’s coffee is arguably the best I had in Fayetteville. The coffee bar has aromatic fresh coffee beans and flavors. They roast their coffee using an old-school coffee roaster, which you can see from the sitting area. They also have an espresso maker in the back and use it to make their coffee.

They serve multiple types of coffee, including hot and cold varieties in different flavors.

2. The Baba Boudan’s Mugs

One of my favorite things about the shop is the beautiful, customized coffee mugs stacked on the shelves. These mugs are Baba Boudan merchandise with images and quotes on them. You can buy them at reasonable prices, and they make great decorations.

3. The Barista and the Staff

Baba Boudan is a family-owned business, and all family members are competent baristas. The shop’s owner himself is an expert coffee maker. He knows the proper brewing techniques and how to mix flavors.

The staff is mostly people who jointly own Baba Boudan’s. They’re friendly and may take several minutes to talk with you. You can discuss politics, weather, and of course, coffee. You can ask the owner how he roasts coffee, and he will happily talk you through the process. They’re all very friendly and helpful, which adds to the homely atmosphere.

4. Drive-Through

As I mentioned, Baba Boudan’s is a small place. But the good thing is that the owner didn’t forget to have a drive-through. It makes it easier to order coffee if you are getting late for work or it’s raining outside.

They maintain the quality and temperatures of coffee and food you get through the drive-through well, and their service is quick and efficient.

Overall, Baba Boudan’s is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee and catch up with your friends. But if you’re looking for a cool place to hang out, a place that’s in-tune with biker culture, then I recommend going to The Meteor Cafe. Check out the link for my quick overview of the place and the experience.

Food and Menu

Baba Boudan’s menu is quite extensive, and the prices are excellent. The day’s specials and highlights are on a whiteboard in the establishment.

You can find different coffee beverages, savory items, and desserts. The coffee shop offers:

Breakfast – oatmeal, sausage, and egg
Hot and cold coffee
Espresso
Flavored lattes
Ice cream
Frappes
Pastries
Brownies
Muffins
Cookies
Scones

Baba Boudan’s cookies are some of the best I have had. They’re soft, fresh, and crumbly, checking all the right boxes.

The place also has a special Saturday morning menu, offering gravy and biscuits.

Remember to take cash with you because the shop doesn’t accept cards. They have an ATM nearby if you forget the money. Even the drive-through is cash only.

Baba Boudan’s Business Hours

Baba Boudan’s remains open throughout the week and closes shop only on Sundays.

The café opens at 7 am and closes at 5 pm, from Monday to Friday.
On Saturdays, the shop opens at 8 am and closes at 5 pm.

The coffee shop also remains open on Martin Luther King Day. However, their working hours may be different on national holidays. So, it’s better to call before you visit the place.

The 2019 Baba Boudan’s Incident

The coffee shop had to close when a car crashed into the Baba Boudan’s building in 2019. To the disappointment of Baba Boudan’s loyal customers, the building repairs took months.

The locals love the place so much that they would drive by to see the repairs. According to the owner’s son, the customers lined up in the parking lot on the reopening day. They celebrated the reopening with a cup of joe.

Repairing the shop wasn’t an easy job. However, true to Fayetteville’s community-centered attitude, many people donated to the shop’s GoFundMe.

Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:

https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas

Baba Boudan’s Location

Baba Boudan’s is a small building on 701 N College Ave, and the run-down look of the building is part of its charm. The building stands alone and has a spacious parking lot. You can see it from the main road.

The drive-through window is also on the front side, so you won’t have to drive around the building to get your coffee. You can get off the road and drive straight to the drive-through window.

Similar Nearby Businesses

You can find many other coffee shops on College Ave. if you want to visit a bigger café. Unlike Baba Boudan’s, most of these nearby cafes have a more modern look and feel.

Here are the nearby cafes:

Pink House Alchemy
Puritan Coffee & Beer
Summer Moon Coffee
Doomsday Coffee and Roasteries

Customer Reviews

You can also read honest user reviews on Google, which talk about the small-town feel of the place and its excellent coffee and desserts. The staff’s friendliness is another reason for Baba Boudan’s high rating.

Regardless of where you look, Baba Boudan’s gets regular rave reviews from everyone who visits.

Final Thoughts

Baba Boudan’s is a small family-owned coffee bar with a small and cozy interior. It is famous for its excellent coffee, desserts, and friendly staff. The owner is a top-notch barista and loves to talk about coffee.

I highly recommend the place and give it a 9.5/10 rating.

Coffee Review: Baba Boudan’s in Fayetteville, Arkansas