Northwest Arkansas has no shortage of excellent coffee shops, and it can be difficult choosing one to go to. But which ones are the best?
The 5 coffee shops you need to visit in Northwest Arkansas are Third Space Coffee, Java Dudes Coffee Company, and Hip Cafe. Red Kite Coffee and Kennedy Roasters are also excellent options.
In this article, I’ll discuss what makes these amazing Northwest Arkansas coffee shops worth visiting. Let’s go!
Video:
Third Space Coffee
The first independently-owned coffee shop you need to visit in Northwest Arkansas is Third Space Coffee, near the Best Friend Center in Bentonville.
The address is 1312 Melissa Drive and they specialize in locally-roasted coffee.
Best Friend Center is a pet adoption center, and Third Space Coffee is special because it’s a vegan establishment. This means that if you’re looking to adopt a pet, you can grab some delicious coffee at the same time.
When volunteers from Best Friend Center walk the dogs available for adoption, they sometimes bring them into the coffee shop and give them a treat, much to the delight of the customers.
I’ve enjoyed a lot of coffee from Third Space, and it’s always been amazing. All their coffee is made from fair-trade beans, and you can enjoy your coffee knowing that it was sourced responsibly.
I know the owner personally and admire how particular she is about how the coffee is prepared. Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll find their vegan treats incredibly tasty. Whether you try one of their smoothies or baked treats, you’re sure to be impressed and back for more.
Java Dudes Coffee Company
I love Java Dudes in Rogers because not only are the coffee and snacks amazing, the vibe is incredible as well. This independently-owned coffee shop provides a wide range of hot coffee that’s served in a chilled-out environment that customers love.
When the weather is good (which is practically all the time in Northwest Arkansas), you can sit outside and enjoy the plants and watch the skate park across the street. A good idea is to drop the kids off at the skate park and then sit at Java Dudes and enjoy a delicious coffee and sandwich.
It’s also a great place to go for a light lunch and you’ll love the variety of pastries they offer and their impressive lunch and breakfast menus.
Java Dudes loves experimenting with their coffee, and they offer a wide range of interesting options, including different lattes. However, if you prefer just regular coffee, they also offer that.
If, like me, you become a huge fan of Java Dudes, you could always buy some of their non-coffee merchandise. For instance, they sell interesting hats, t-shirts, and mugs to remind you of your favorite coffee shop.
While in Rogers, why not quench your thirst with another kind of beverage? Uptown Kitchen and Taphouse is a great place for food and drink, with 100 drinks available on tap. For more information, check out my post for an overview of Uptown Kitchen and Taphouse’s menu.
Hip Cafe
When you’re in Fayetteville, you should definitely visit the independently-owned Hip Cafe. It’s a unique place because they’ve built a great coffee shop out of an old car wash, and the esthetics work very well.
Hip Cafe is in southern Fayetteville, so if you’re on your way to Elkins or Huntsville, for example, it’s worth stopping there for a relaxing coffee. They’re located at 2229 E Huntsville Road and serve delicious breakfasts to get your day off to a good start.
If you’re looking for a good Northwest Arkansas caterer, consider Hip Cafe because they do small-scale catering for events, and make high-quality cakes and other delicious treats.
I spend a lot of money on coffee, have tried many places, and can say that Hip Cafe is definitely one of the better ones. I love their caramel latte. Although it sounds like quite a normal drink, it’s prepared very well, and I also enjoy their mocha.
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
Red Kite Coffee
Red Kite Coffee has multiple locations in Arkansas, including:
- Springdale (their headquarters, which is off 412). This is a great location because it’s near the highway and makes a fantastic pitstop when driving in and out of Springdale.
- Fayetteville
- Bentonville (in Crystal Flats, an apartment complex that is close to Crystal Bridges)
Red Kite Coffee is a great place to grab a quick coffee, but also ideal if you want to sit and relax with a tasty drink. They offer exceptionally fast WiFi and are unique because there are so many seating places, unlike regular coffee shops. There is also a very big central table, which is perfect for business meetings or hanging out with large groups of friends.
I love Red Kite Coffee near 412 because you can hang out there as long as you want. Of course, all the Red Kite branches are great, and they all offer high-quality coffee.
I usually steer toward coffees like mocha caramel or coffee with vanilla flavoring and Red Kite never disappoints in that regard.
Kennedy Roasters
Another exceptional independently-owned coffee shop in Northwest Arkansas is Kennedy Roasters in Bentonville. I love this place for so many reasons.
Firstly, they’re very particular about how their menu is set up, and they have seasonal menus, which I love. Their pumpkin spice-flavored coffees are incredible, especially their lattes, and last fall, they served an amazing pumpkin pie latte that tasted like fall in a cup. So, if you’re looking for the best fall drink in Bentonville, Kennedy Roasters is the palace to go.
I’ve spent a lot of money at Kennedy Roasters, and it’s a beautifully-decorated place with easy access to Bentonville.
Like Red Kite coffee, Kennedy Roasters have a special room dedicated to a large table and chairs that you can rent out if you have an event, meeting or want to hang out with a big group of friends.
Final Thoughts
Northwest Arkansas has plenty of fantastic coffee shops and it can be challenging picking your favorite one.
If you’re looking for the best independently-owned coffee shops in Northwest Arkansas, you should definitely consider the following places:
- Third Space Coffee
- Java Dudes Coffee Company
- Hip Cafe
- Red Kite Coffee
- Kennedy Roasters
Each of these coffee shops offers excellent coffee and unique attributes that will have you returning over and over again.