Over the last few years, Dallas entrepreneurs have revolutionized the way local businesses look by creating one-stop shops where you can check off an errand or two from your to-do list and find sustenance under the same roof. Enterprising owners have strapped on their bar and barista aprons to capitalize on the spaces that house their shops by opening up cafes that offer coffee, tea, wine, and more.
The trend has taken off with many owners inspired by multi-functional spaces like Café Kitsuné, a coffee retailer housed in the globally-recognized French-Japanese fashion house Maison Kitsuné where art de vivre is a quality latte with a side of timeless threads. The unusual pairing, combining convenience with a caffeine boost or afternoon pick-me-up, allows for increased foot traffic within local businesses and keeps dollars in-store.
Need a new plant, vintage top, and a matcha? In Dallas, it’s likely there is a place where you can score exactly such a combo. Here is a guide of some of the city’s best cafes housed in the most unlikely places.
Verbena Parlor + Social House
Ho Chi Minh City native Ashley Tran spent a couple of years studying metropolitan areas around the U.S. and Canada to draft a salon that would check all the boxes. She opened Verbena Parlor + Social House in 2018, a non-toxic nail studio with a front of house cafe and bar, that triples as an event venue.
Verbena Parlor’s light-filled café is decorated with neutral furnishings, lush greenery, and pops of color in the way of yellow coffee cups. Settle in for a day of remote work with a cup of joe from the espresso bar, before squeezing in a lunch break non-acrylic mani, and then celebrate a job well done with a glass of prosecco. 2626 Howell St., Ste. 166, Dallas, verbenaparlor.com
Mother’s House
Owner Brieana Jones built this Oak Lawn’s gallery to be a safe and kind space for all. The 1924 home with sunshine-yellow doors is a multi-functional building decorated with bold earthy hues, geometric patterns, and walls of eclectic art. The space is best known for its all-women team of tattoo artists, but it’s also a coffee and mocktail lounge.
When it’s open from Wednesday to Saturday, the café-gallery-tattoo-studio hybrid feels like a home away from home. Breathe in the calming incense and palo santo while sipping on a pistachio matcha wellness latte in the lounge, or soak in the sun on the patio. The century-old home serves up coffee, teas, and a purple haze mocktail that pairs well with fresh ink. 2512 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, mothershousedallas.com
Good Boy Café
Career-tattoo artist Linda Bishop is a visionary. Needle in hand, Bishop created a style all her own through bold linework, expansive florals and blackout tattoos. When she’s not creating masterful permanent artwork, the celebrity-tattoo artist is building upon her Konēko empire. Meaning cat in Japanese, Bishop has grown her Konēko brand to include three distinct concepts: a tattoo shop called Konēko Studio; a beauty salon called Konēko Beauty; and a vintage store called Hēy Konēko. Inside Hēy Konēko is a place called Good Boy Café, where visitors can caffeinate while they shop.
The sun-drenched Deep Ellum café is located in a back corner of the retail shop. Step up to the green counter, accentuated with blooming white roses and crowned with taxidermy and framed art, and order an espresso beverage made with a specialty roast specifically prepared for Good Boy Café by local small batch roasters, Viewfinder. Opt for the Spanish cowboy latte, a quad shot brown sugar cinnamon and condensed milk latte, for an extra boost. 3901 Main St., Ste. 110, Dallas
Kalós & Muse
This nearly 13,000-square-foot salon is one of the largest nail salons in the Metroplex, and it packs in much more than manis and pedis. Richardson’s Kalós & Muse utilizes every square inch of its space to pamper its clients with a nail boutique, private treatments rooms, a forthcoming med spa, and a specialty Vietnamese coffee shop called Muse Cafe. No need to worry about the sound of drills or scent of polish fumes, while you nosh — the spa and cafe are separated by a wall of nail color swatches.
At Muse Cafe coffee is crafted with a specialty Vietnamese phin-drip filter, and the menu includes Vietnamese coffee, espresso beverages, Taiwanese teas and bubble tea. Nail appointment or not, all are welcome at Muse Cafe. 101 S. Coit Rd., Ste. 20, Richardson, kalosmuse.com
Common Good
Hairstylist Christopher Bermudez is a Mexico City native who has called Dallas home since he was a toddler. His frequent travels back have rooted him in his hometown’s culture where multi-functional spaces are the norm. Bermudez’s Old East Dallas concept, Common Good, embraces Mexico City’s efficient business models with an unassuming green brick exterior that houses a hair salon, coffee shop, and listening lounge within.
Along with seasoned stylists, you’ll find a vinyl selection of classics and a small, but mighty café program formulated by coffee pro and talented bartender Jesse Nava. A marble and wood counter showcases a top-of-the-line espresso machine and DJ deck. Guests can enjoy the vibey ambiance, while sipping on a subtly spicy Mexican mocha or a cardamom rose latte powered by local Leema Coffee Roasters’ espresso beans. 1619 N. Hall St., Dallas
