Mozart's Coffee Roasters

"Most things in life could be improved by being on the water. And doing work is no exception. Mozart’s has been a Tarrytown staple for over three decades, both as a place for getting work done and for casual catch-ups when the weather is nice (it’s about 60% patio). Coffee and cold brew are both self-serve and bottomless—which is great for long work sessions—and there’s a big list of housemade pastries and desserts if you need a little snack. And if you want something heavier, just head to the tiki-meets-Tex-Mex spot Hula Hut next door for some Hawaiian fajitas and a margarita. But we can’t promise you’ll get much work done after that." - nicolai mccrary

"The spacious Lake Austin cafe wins for beautiful scenery (Water! Birds! Fish!). Though the coffee, Italian sodas, and baked goods take second place to the view, they’re really quite good. There are indoor areas with big windows, but why not get right next to the water?" - Erin Russell

"The Lake Austin coffee shop will be hosting its annual holiday light show — now with installations on land and water (with boats!). It starts on Friday, November 29, and runs through Saturday, January 4. The cafe revamped its ticketing style so that people can book time slots (as opposed to the previous table reservations) from 5 to 7:30 p.m. or 7:30 to 10 p.m.; tickets are $5 with service fees for adults and it’s free for children 11 years old and younger. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas." - Nadia Chaudhury

"Buckle in for the day at the West Austin coffee shop’s expansive patio, which is right on top of the lake, perfect for leisurely drinks and snacks. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas." - Darcie Duttweiler, Nadia Chaudhury

"When all you want is a quiet place to go read a book and drink some coffee in peace, go to Mozart’s. It’s right on Lake Austin, so you’ll feel slightly more refreshed and recharged while only being about seven minutes west of the heart of South By. Besides the coffee, they also serve very good pastries. " - raphael brion, nicolai mccrary