Austin's Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors might be one of the best places to grab coffee near Elan East. The space itself is welcoming and cool, with rich woods and retro accents giving it a distinctive character. The coffee itself is highly praised: regulars note that the cold brew iced coffee is refreshing and smooth, and coffee and espresso drinks receive equally high regard.

Regulars note that the atmosphere here makes it the perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee and a book, a laptop, or for good conversation with a friend. Long communal tables offer plenty of space, and there's room at the coffee bar, too.

Figure 8 is a relatively new Austin cafe, and many Yelpers note that they would not be surprised if it became quite popular (and crowded) as more and more people learn about it. If you'd like to check it out for yourself, visit the Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors website to learn more.

Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
1111 Chicon Street
Austin, TX
https://www.facebook.com/figure8coffeepurveyors
http://www.yelp.com/biz/figure-8-coffee-purveyors-austin-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr dvanzuijlekom

Ramen once had a reputation as cheap fast food for thrifty college students, but in recent years the dish has undergone a bit of a renaissance as inventive restaurants have done their part to present ramen in new varieties with fresh ingredients. Sure, the noodles of old remain — although now they're typically made with more care, served in a hearty broth made from scratch. However, they're now paired with fresh vegetables, seasoned proteins, and much more.

The area near Elan East offers a few places to enjoy this renewed version of ramen, including Austin's Daruma Ramen. This restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily, offering ramen dishes like Shio Ramen with soft-boiled egg, boy choy, seaweed, and more, and Miso Ramen with shredded chicken, bean sprouts, soft-boiled egg, and scallions. Vegetarians and vegans will find a few tasty options here, like a Veggie Ramen made with veggie broth. The stock's made from whole chicken broth.

Visit Daruma Ramen's website to find out more about this Austin restaurant!

Daruma Ramen
612-B East 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
http://www.darumaramen.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/daruma-ramen-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Joey

May the luck of the Irish be with you! How will you be celebrating today?