The Best Coffee Shops in Amarillo

Amarillo folks know and appreciate coffee, and the area has enough homegrown coffee shops with their own distinct following—whether it’s the roast, the menu, or the vibe. There are definitely Roasters people, and Palace people, and 806-only people, and residents think they can tell a lot about someone based on that simple preference.

They may or may not be correct. We’ll not stake out a position on that. But coffee shops do play an outsized role in the local culture—and the drinks themselves are only part of it. Sure, you’ll find the big chains and a few regional ones, but it’s the local spots that truly define our craft caffeine culture.

Here’s our vibe guide to the coffee hot spots:

Palace Coffee Co.

7304 SW 34th Ave., Space 2
2646 Wolflin Ave.
420 15th St, (Canyon)
806-476-0111

Palace Coffee Co. built a national reputation with big wins in a number of major coffee competitions, but locals know its locations for being kind, welcoming places where the community gathers and connections thrive. Owners Patrick and Krystal Burns are as focused on hospitality as on the roasting process, so you’re always likely to find someone you know meeting here, studying here, or playing games here. What you won’t find is a drive-thru line—because it’s hard to forge those connections on the go.

Pro Tips: Try the locally beloved Honey Badger latte, a brown-sugar Mexican vanilla latte topped with Creek House honey shaken cream. Palace is also known for the best latte art in the city, so if presentation matters along with the ambiance and service, this is your stop.

Roasters Coffee & Tea Co.

1818 S. Georgia St.
3429 S. Soncy Road
4709 Bell St.
6014 Lowe’s Lane

This is Amarillo’s O.G. roaster. It’s been around for decades and remains consistent year after year. As a perfect pair to your cup, Roasters serves Belmar Bakery pastries and bagels fresh every morning. Each of its four locations scattered across town has a drive-thru, making orders convenient and quick no matter the line.

Pro Tips: On the sweeter side, the Poor Man’s is a well-known Amarillo favorite. The drink consists of cold brew, white chocolate syrup and cream. Not a sweet coffee fan? Get wired for the day with the Headbanger—the coffee of the day or cold brew with shots of espresso.

Strata Coffee Bar

7560 Outlook Drive, Suite 100

Located in the Medical District—with the city’s hospitals right across the street—Strata serves as a study hub for med students and a fueling station for sleep-deprived docs. The “bar” part of the name is literal, because Strata also serves alcoholic beverages and frequently hosts trivia nights and live events. The atmosphere is chill, designed for hangouts and productive study sessions with edgy art-lined walls, comfy couches and a shaded patio.

Pro Tips: Customers rave over the frappes, including flavors like mint chocolate chip, horchata, vanilla bean and more. Strata also has some of the best chai lattes in the city.

Yellow City Grind

4410 Bell St.

One of Amarillo’s newest local spots also has, quite possibly, the city’s largest coffee menu. And that’s before you add seasonal drinks for holidays, trends and special events. Yellow City Grind has also built a reputation for “clean” products, including dye-free syrups and sauces, local honey, organic fruits and grass-fed protein to add to your drinks. Can’t decide between their long list of items? Try a monthly coffee flight, which includes four different coffees to match the season.

Pro Tips: Ready for pumpkin and peppermint season but it’s not the right time of year? Yellow City Grind serves those flavors all year long, including Christmas Morning Latte, Pumpkin Blondie Breve and other flavorful options.

Cliffside

4167 SW 34th Ave.
2540 Ross-Osage St.

This is a local favorite for fast, flavorful, drive-thru coffee. These aren’t hang-out coffee shops. They’re walk-up and drive-thru huts. Regardless, Cliffside is known for being personal: The staff often remembers regulars’ names and orders. This is definitely the place to go if you’re after frozen espresso-based drinks, like the Mudslide, Avalanche and seasonal frosts. And if coffee isn’t enough by itself to pick you up, you can add a Redbull infusion.

Pro Tips: With more than 25 flavors available, hundreds of combinations and rumors of a secret menu, it’s worth asking the barista what they recommend from the, um, private list. (Don’t tell them we told you.)

Roast + Toast

600 S. Tyler St., Suite 105

Located downtown in the FirstBank Southwest Tower, this coffee is ideal for weekday workers—and not just tower employees! The R+T team uses Brown Bag Roasters coffee for its fresh brews. For grab-and-go snacks, it offers quick toasted options and other breakfast and lunch items for your breaks during the day. Best of all, the pastries and baked goods are prepared locally by Scratch Made Bakery.

Pro Tips: Cafe exclusives include blackberry cold brews and matcha with flavor add-ins.

Journey Coffee

817 S. Polk St., Suite 102
3406 Fourth Ave., Suite 400 (Canyon)

Opening first in Canyon near WT, Journey has expanded north into downtown Amarillo, taking over what was once a Palace Coffee space on Polk Street. There’s plenty of seating for meetings, with lots of streetside parking and a warm atmosphere. Online reviews are positive for everything on the menu, but locals especially seem to love Journey’s caramel lattes and cold brews with vanilla sweet cream.

Pro Tips: If there is anything Texans love as much as coffee, it may be Dr. Pepper. That’s why we have to suggest you try the 1885, which interestingly blends Dr. Pepper, vanilla and nitro coffee. (It’s a nod to the year Canyon, Texas, was officially established as the Randall County seat.)

The 806 Coffee + Lounge

2812 SW 6th Ave.

Located on the city’s famous stretch of Historic Sixth Street, surrounded by funky Route 66-era buildings, The 806 is an Amarillo staple. In fact, this offbeat, arts-driven space is the closest thing Amarillo has to an Austin-like coffee shop aesthetic—complete with an inclusive atmosphere and vegan menu. Expect mismatched furniture, original art on the walls, and an authentic, no-nonsense staff. At night, it turns into more of a lounge scene, offering beer and wine along with live music.

Pro Tips: Don’t ask for a frappé or smoothie. As the 806 website says, that’s “gross.” What you should try is the 20-ounce Pothead (a blend of espresso, half-and-half, hemp milk and “secret flavors”) or the sweet, spiced Iced Thai Coffee.

Other Chain Coffee Shops:

Dutch Bros

5411 Coulter St.
8749 Bent Tree Drive
2209 Coulter St.
1600 Ross St.

7 Brew Coffee

2110 S. Western St., 479-358-9274

Scooters Coffee

3445 S. Western St., 806-703-9257
3401 S. Georgia St., 806-703-9256

Starbucks

3240 S. Soncy Road, 806-352-7695
8201 W. I-40, 806-358-4030
5140 S. Coulter St., 806-450-2002
2335 S. Georgia St., 806-358-4000
5807 SW 45th Ave., 806-353-9700
5501 Plum Creek Drive, 806-641-0400
6023 S. Soncy Road, 806-604-2182
5721 S. Georgia St., 806-641-0976
5601 W. Amarillo Blvd., 806-353-7636
8619 Canyon Drive, 806-375-4110
401 E. Amarillo Blvd., 806-703-9257
3512 E. Interstate 40, 806-373-0156
8768 S. Coulter St., 806-468-2780
2501 Fourth Ave. (Canyon), 806-651-2715