10 Gorgeous Southern Coffee Shops to Add to Your List
Come for the coffee, stay for the design! From statement lighting to striking architecture and cool artistic touches, these Southern coffee shops serve up spaces every bit as memorable as their java. Image: Onyx Coffee Lab
Last year, we explored some of the dreamiest coffee shops in the South. This time, we’re turning our attention to unique coffee shops where great design and great coffee share the spotlight. From statement lighting and striking architectural details to unexpected artwork and thoughtfully curated interiors, these Southern coffee shops prove that what’s around your cup can be just as memorable as what’s in it.
Le Café
Location: Mobile, AL
More Info: theadmiralhotel.com
Located in the heart of downtown Mobile, The Admiral Hotel is an upscale, art-forward luxury experience — and Le Café follows suit. This adorable French-inspired coffee spot features bold banana-leaf wallpaper, lots of greenery, clever lighting, and statement artwork.
Guests can grab something and go, or sit down to enjoy traditional French pastries. Coffees range from well-prepared classics such as lattes and cappuccinos to the inspired Cinnamon Bun and Honey-Lavender Lattes.
Onyx + Alabaster Coffee Lounge
Location: Franklin, TN
More Info: onyxandalabaster.com
Onyx + Alabaster is an award-winning luxury interior design studio with a dark, dreamy coffee lounge nestled inside! Tucked away just off the charming Franklin town square, this coffee shop is beautiful and restful — the perfect place to pause and enjoy a flat white, Salted Caramel Latte, or Firehouse Mocha. The owners believe that a great design begins with a desire for hospitality, and it shows in the purposeful, welcoming design of the Onyx + Alabaster coffee lounge.
Hustle & Dough
Location: Memphis, TN
More Info: hustleanddoughmemphis.com
You can’t miss Hustle & Dough — it is right in the lobby of ARRIVE Memphis, a fabulous boutique hotel on South Main. This small gem proves that a coffee shop can have the personality of a well-designed living room. Eclectic vintage furnishings, bold pops of color, artful details, and a mix of textures give the space a collected, inviting feel, while the bakery turns out fresh sourdough breads and pastries.
Settle into a cozy corner with a latte and something fresh from the pastry case, or try the signature Bourbon Mocha for a distinctly Memphis twist.
Airship Coffee at Coler
Location: Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Bentonville, AR
More Info: airshipcoffee.com
Accessible only by foot or bike, Airship Coffee at Coler lets Mother Nature take the design lead. Located in Arkansas’s Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, this small open-air café embraces its natural surroundings, letting the wooded landscape become part of the experience, enhanced by the aroma and taste of freshly roasted coffee. It’s the perfect secluded setting, allowing visitors to slow down, connect with nature, and unwind after exploring the surrounding trails.
Onyx at The Preserve
Location: Bentonville, AR
More Info: onyxatthepreserve.com
Surrounded by the trails and green space of Bentonville’s Preserve Park, Onyx at The Preserve is Onyx Coffee Lab’s most ambitious project to date. Designed by Onyx co-owner Jon Allen in partnership with acclaimed architect Marlon Blackwell, the space pairs sculptural concrete forms with carefully concealed lighting that seems to glow from the seams of the building itself, creating a warm atmosphere that also feels connected to its natural surroundings.
In fact, the surrounding trail system rises over portions of the building, while a living roof covered in native Arkansas plantings helps blur the line between architecture and landscape. Coffee is just the beginning here; a thoughtful food menu and inviting spaces for gathering make it a destination throughout the day.
And if this design-forward approach appeals to you, explore Onyx Coffee Lab’s other distinctive Arkansas locations, including the art-inspired café at The Momentary in Bentonville and its beautifully reimagined historic bank in Springdale.
Cafe de Luna
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
More Info: Facebook
A small charmer with flair, Cafe de Luna is located in downtown Hattiesburg. Combining a French Quarter-style interior with European vibes, the cafe features gallery-style walls adorned with framed art and posters, a cozy hallway layout, and a delightful tiled outdoor patio tucked into an alleyway. Handcrafted espresso drinks, signature matcha lattes, and a curated selection of artisan baked goods and sandwiches are on the menu.
Urban Foxes
Where: Jackson, MS
More Info: urbanfoxesjxn.com
Located in a converted home in Jackson‘s Belhaven neighborhood, Urban Foxes is packed with personality — from its deep teal walls and colorful furnishings to eclectic artwork, statement lighting, and cozy rooms. The wraparound porch and outdoor courtyard offer an inviting place to spend a pleasant afternoon. You’ll find all the classic coffees here, served up with small-batch sweet treats, made fresh daily.
Urban Grind Brew Box
Location: Atlanta, GA
More Info: urbangrindatlanta.com
A walk or run on Atlanta’s Beltline rewards you with a cool coffeehouse concept worth breaking your stride! Built inside a shipping container, Urban Grind Brew Box has a vibrant, well-appointed exterior and a sleek, modern space inside. The outdoor deck is perfect for a long sipping session with pastries and coffee, or for a quick fuel-up before hitting the trail. This is the second location from woman-owned Urban Grind; check out the coffeehouse in Marietta, which has a cool, plush-velvet vibe all its own.
Lottie
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
More info: thevinoy.com
Sophisticated and inviting, Lottie is located inside the historic Vinoy Resort & Golf Club’s beautifully restored lobby. Designed by the renowned Rockwell Group, the elegant space features a white wraparound marble counter with inset brass detailing, lantern-inspired sconces, and lush greenery suspended from an overhead canopy. This Parisian-inspired patisserie and café serves up house-made pastries, classic French sweets, and crafted coffee drinks.
Coffee Concrete (Form43 x Sugar Baby)
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
More Info: coffeeconcrete.com
A collaboration between design studio Form43 and local coffee bar Sugar Baby, Coffee Concrete is a fun, design-forward space that combines raw concrete textures, minimalist furnishings, curated lighting, and subtle greenery to pay homage to the artistic and industrial roots of its neighborhood, St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District.
In a thoughtful touch, custom concrete saucers and serving pieces extend the design to each cup of coffee and pastry. And the fun doesn’t stop there. Weekend DJs bring a lively, social lounge atmosphere to this community gathering space.
Happy sipping!
**********
Looking for more great Southern destinations and businesses? Subscribe to StyleBlueprint!
Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.
