Best Mexico City-Style Coffee Shop
La Bohemia
In America, more is more. Not so much in Mexico, where austerity is queen – particularly in some parts of Mexico City. From the coffee to the setting, the offerings in this Central Phoenix coffee shop are simple. And that’s the charm, alongside a freshly baked Mexican pastry. 1736 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, 480-479-5222, labohemiaphx.com
Best Vegan Coffee Shop
Dark Hall Coffee
A post-metal playlist throbs softly in the background. Dark floral wallpaper and occult-themed prints pepper the walls. Your barista is wearing a resin ring embedded with a real spider. Everything is plant-based – from the freshly baked pastries to the “mylk” used in the mochas. The whole place feels like your cool vegan goth friend’s Pinterest personified. Try the spicy-sweet vvitch – a chocolate mocha with charcoal, red pepper flakes, cayenne and ghost pepper – and pick up a tote bag or hoodie festooned with the shop’s mascot: a skeleton swimming in a coffee cup, natch. 3343 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, 602-277-5507, darkhallcoffee.com
Best Coffee & Doughnut Collaboration
Crew Coffee Co. & The Local Donut
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7-10:30 a.m., Crew Coffee parks its colorful coffee truck at The Local Donut in Scottsdale. Order an iced latte and then step inside for a freshly made doughnut, or take a dozen to go. It’s a match made in heaven. 3213 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 480-500-5236, thelocaldonutshop.com; Instagram: @crewcoffeeaz
Best place to cuddle kitties and sip coffee
La Gattara Cat Cafe & Boutique
The La Gattara story proves you can’t keep a good, um, cat, down. Despite losing their lease at the beginning of the pandemic, the dedicated team headed up by Melissa Pruitt and Carrie Seay managed to continue operations via remote shelters and volunteers. They achieved their 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation and are projected to open in a new space, featuring catification design by Hauspanther’s Kate Benjamin and local art, near Roosevelt Row in mid-July. Be sure to stop in for some kitty therapy and a smooth cup of joe from Scottsdale’s Passport Coffee and Tea. lagattara.org
Best Local Latte
LGO’s Havana Latte
You don’t need any sugar packets for this subtly sweet caffeinated beverage. The popular Arcadia brunch hangout uses whole milk and locally roasted espresso beans for this heavenly drink. But it’s the steamed condensed milk that sets this latte apart from its national chain counterparts. 4410 N, 40th St., Phoenix, 602-840-7777, lagrandeorangegrocery.com
