Jo's Coffee – Downtown
Cafe · Downtown ·
Signature Iced Turbo coffee, diner fare, and frosé.
Signature Iced Turbo coffee, diner fare, and frosé.
"This location of Jo’s is more restaurant than coffee shop. The original on South Congress only has a few food options, but here you can get everything from salads to melts to pretty good burgers. Try to snag a table inside because the grackles outside are next-level aggressive." - nicolai mccrary, adele hazan, raphael brion
"The Downtown location of Jo’s Coffee might not sport the same iconic “I love you so much” wall art found at its South Congress counterpart, but the menu still has all the same great coffee drinks, including the Iced Turbo—basically a creamy, chocolaty hazelnut cold brew. But if the OG is geared toward out-of-towners on a mural crawl, this one is more dialed in on office dwellers looking for a quick lunch or an afternoon pick-me-up. photo credit: Maggie Svoboda There’s a lot more indoor seating here, which helps with Austin’s temperamental weather, and the menu leans toward lunch, with sandwiches, salads, and tacos that all get the job done perfectly fine. You’re not going out of your way to eat at Jo’s, but it’s a solid option for a BLT and a green juice if you work nearby and don’t want to think too hard. Food Rundown Iced Turbo This is Jo’s signature drink: a sweet and creamy iced coffee with chocolate and hazelnut. We prefer The Belgian—basically the same thing with half the sugar—but if you like your drinks on the sweet side, you’ll enjoy this. photo credit: Holly Dirks Crunchy Cabbage Salad This perfectly refreshing salad is nicely coated in a sesame miso dressing, and as promised, the cabbage is indeed crunchy. Just be warned that if you add chicken it will very likely be dry and chalky. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Spicy BLT Jo's serviceable BLT is a tad light on the bacon, lettuce, and tomato, but it manages to be satisfying enough. A bit of spicy avocado mayo adds a nice kick, and the fries are nice and crispy. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary" - Nicolai McCrary
"South By San Jose is a big parking lot block party hosted by Jo’s and neighboring Hotel San Jose, and it’s one of our favorite places to be on South Congress in mid-March. Expect to hear live music and find local vendors selling arts and crafts. The party starts at noon and is free to attend. And it’s also the perfect opportunity to take a selfie in front of the “I love you so much” sign with the other 100 people waiting in line to do the same thing." - nicolai mccrary
"The Downtown location of Jo’s Coffee might not sport the same iconic “I love you so much” wall art found at its South Congress counterpart, but the menu has all the same great drinks, including the Iced Turbo—basically a creamy, chocolatey, hazelnut cold brew. This location also has a big dining room where you can grab a few minutes of air conditioning if you’re out shopping, or just post up and work for a while. There’s a walk-up window facing the street if you’re just looking for a quick cup on the go." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion
"Basically a walk-up coffee shop with a few outdoor tables, Jo’s Coffee is a great place to recharge for a bit with an espresso or an Iced Turbo (a creamy, chocolaty, hazelnut cold brew). The food’s about what you’d expect out of a street facing grab-and-go coffee window—pre-packaged sandwiches, tacos, and salads—but that’s not why you’re here. You’re here to relax on the small covered patio, take in some caffeine, and to watch the long line of people waiting to take a photo in front of the “I love you so much” wall. Then, maybe get in line yourself." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion, matthew jacobs