If you’re always on the hunt for the best coffee shops in Austin, you’ll definitely want to add Lamppost Coffee to your list of must-tries. Flavored lattes with names like the Summer Moon, Winter Moon, and Autumn Moon are delicious alternatives to your usual drip brew, but if you’re a fan of the classics, those are very tasty as well. There are fresh baked goods that pair perfectly with any of the espresso drinks, and you’ll even find savory creations that make great breakfast options when you’re in a hurry.

This warm and welcoming cafe is furnished with bright red sofas, comfortable wooden tables, and a very spacious espresso bar that makes it easy to get your drink and get on with your day. For those who live and work in the Round Rock area, the convenient strip mall location doesn’t hurt either.

Lamppost Coffee
1205 Round Rock Avenue
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 217-4962
www.yelp.com/biz/lamppost-coffee-round-rock-2

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The Thinkery takes the STEM a step further, adding an A to the mix—for "arts." With the fields of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) in mind, curators for the children's museum have designed a collection of interactive exhibits that are as engaging as they are educational.

Many families particularly enjoy the Backyard, an outdoor play area where kids organically learn about body mechanics while they play. Its jungle gym is probably unlike any you've seen at a park, enormous and accessible for kids of all physical abilities. Watch while your little one scurries up the enclosed ramp to a bulbous watchtower or as he splashes in a winding stream. Inside the museum, kids can learn about the chemistry of cooking in the Kitchen Lab, let their creativity run wild in the Innovators' Workshop, or master the art of sewing or soldering in the Space 8 area (which is only open to ages 8 and older).

Thinkery
The Meredith Learning Lab
1930 Simond Avenue
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 469-6200
www.thinkeryaustin.org
www.yelp.com/biz/thinkery-austin

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In a perpetually sunny state like Texas, farmers have ample opportunities to plant and harvest thriving crops. That's why, when looking for fresh ingredients for their dishes, the chefs at Jack Allen's Kitchen never stray beyond the boundaries of Texas. All of their ingredients come from nearby—you can even browse a comprehensive roster of the farmers, artisans, and other purveyors who provide food for Jack Allen's on its website.

The fresh, locally sourced ingredients make for a colorful and tasty meal any time of day, any day of the week, but customers say that one meal outshines the others, and that's Sunday brunch. Eaters show up in droves for the fully loaded buffet, which features everything from chicken-fried chicken to layered enchilada casserole. You can also request biscuits and gravy, silver dollar pancakes, or local eggs from the kitchen. No matter what you choose to eat for brunch, wash it down with a bloody Mary, mimosa with freshly squeezed OJ, or a glass of Jack Allen's "famous" pomegranate sangria.

Jack Allen's Kitchen
2500 Hoppe Trail
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 215-0372
www.jackallenskitchen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jack-allens-kitchen-round-rock

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Green Mountain Girls Farm