The 23 Best Coffee Shops in Arkansas

Airship Coffee has two locations in Bentonville, Arkansas. One of their locations is near downtown. The other is one of the most unique coffee shops you may ever visit. You won’t be able to get to this second location via car. You’ll need to hop on a bike and make your way down the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve trail. There you’ll find a large, modern, open-air concrete “coffee bunker” nestled into the natural setting.

Airship has actually been around for a while, but they were an exclusively wholesale roaster from 2010 until 2018. That’s when they opened their first consumer coffee bar. It’s been a local favorite ever since. One of their signature drinks is their “Jetpack” nitro cold brew. In addition to coffee, they also have tasty baked goods and savory tacos/nachos.

Arsaga’s has 5 locations, and all of them are located in the city of Fayetteville. One is a drive-thru focused on to-go drinks and handheld baked goods and sandwiches. Two locations are smaller cafes located in the University of Arkansas law library and the Fayetteville Public Library. The remaining two locations have more full-service coffee and food options. The flagship Mill District location serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Even though Arsaga’s has wonderfully tasty food, we’ll save that for another time. We’re here to dish on coffee. Arsaga’s serves the tried and true classics: Americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, and more. What we think really sets them apart is that they make their non-dairy milks in-house (almond, coconut-cashew, and oat). But we’re also partial to the Maple Street salted maple caramel latte.

In downtown Siloam Springs, along the border with Oklahoma, you’ll find Pour Jons Coffee located in a historic former retro car dealership. The unique funky setting of the exterior architecture continues inside, where you’ll find one whole wall covered in pages of comic books like wallpaper. Pour Jons also hosts bands and other events for intimate shows.

Their tasty coffee is even better with their semi-sweet syrups. We loved a lavender latte but also know that it is a particular flavor some may not prefer. Beyond their coffee, Pour Jons also has an extensive array of loose tea. Have any questions? The friendly baristas are more than happy to help you navigate your way through their menu. They also have breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and Belgian waffles!

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is one of those small towns where strangers aren’t treated like strangers. And that’s exactly how visitors to Eureka Daily Roast will feel. The owners themselves are behind the counter, roasting and brewing some of the best coffee in the region. And they’ll be happy to enlighten you on their process if you ask some questions.

They even make their own ice cream for their affogato, an ice cream and espresso treat. Other offerings include tasty fruit smoothies, pastries, pie slices, and cookies. When we say cookies, we mean cookies the size of hubcaps. Among some quirky decor, Eureka Daily roast also sells things like local honey and handmade soaps.

Sweet Bay Coffee Co. has two locations on the east and west side of Fort Smith. They’ve been a city staple since the ’90s and are favorite hangout spots for all the city’s locals. Regulars stop by every morning for their morning brew and then sit for hours discussing the latest local topics.

Some of their more differentiated offerings include frozen mochas and Red Bull smoothies. You can imagine these are popular with the students at the nearby University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. They also have your typical array of pastries and breakfast sandwiches, but we suggest trying a panini.

Fort Smith Coffee Co. is a relatively new coffee shop in Fort Smith that resurrected a historical name. They have two locations downtown, one a converted former car service center. The other is in the new Bakery District mixed-use space. This open-air setting has expansive seating, other vendors, and neat hammock swings.

This mom-and-pop local roaster has just the right amount of sweetness in its lattes while also letting the rich coffee flavors shine through. Their pastry chef also lived in the French countryside for years learning how to make the perfect scone and perfecting the craft. Grab a bag of beans to-go for home, and they’ll grind them for you as well.

7 Brew Coffee began with its very first drive-thru stand in Rogers and has quickly expanded regionally through franchising deals. Now, there are 7 Brews in states as far away as Iowa, South Carolina, Indiana, and Florida. The bulk remains in Northwest Arkansas, with a few scattered locations in Central Arkansas and another in Jonesboro in the Northeastern corner of the state.

To call their locations a “stand” is probably a misnomer. 7 Brew is larger than a typical coffee stand that you may find situated in a parking lot. Their square central building is flanked by two large winged bays that cars can drive through. Their tasty “seven originals” brews include options like “Blondie,” “German Chocolate,” and “Cinnamon Roll.” Rotating seasonal favorites are also offered throughout the year, as well as energy drinks and teas. They especially pride themselves on their service and “cultivating kindness” philosophy.

Nexus Coffee is located right in the heart of the River Market district in Little Rock. Its corner location on a busy intersection with large windows in the front of the shop makes this a perfect place for people-watching. Many coffee lovers love their multiple nitro cold brew flavors. We prefer to pull up a seat on the comfy couch and use the french press they bring to your table.

The whole place has walls covered in art by local artists. There are also shelves filled with mugs, plates, shirts, and more offerings from community partners. They even have a breakout room with a barn door that makes it the perfect place to have a work meeting. They offer coffee to-go, but this is one place you’ll like to hang around.

Mugs Coffee Co. has two cafes, one north of the Arkansas River in the Argenta neighborhood (North Little Rock) and one south of the river in the Heights (Little Rock). Their Argenta location may look small from the front, but there is extensive space in the back with tables and couches. There’s even a small stage area and a neat driftwood map of the world on the wall. Over in Little Rock, their Heights setting is the perfect place to sip some coffee on the corner patio when the weather is nice.

Mugs Coffee always has a good rotating list of seasonal drinks, but we are also partial to the Mayan Mocha. It has a bit of a spicy kick from the cayenne pepper. They also have an extensive breakfast and lunch menu featuring french toast, biscuits and gravy, wraps, and sandwiches. Every Saturday, they have a pancake short stack with a different sweet or savory topping.

River City Coffee is nestled at one end of Hillcrest in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Hillcrest neighborhood is a strip of shops, restaurants, and bars that anchor a fun historic neighborhood of bungalow homes. You will often see people walking their dogs or out for a jog on this lower portion of Kavanaugh, the main thoroughfare.

As for the coffee shop itself, River City has a wide variety of flavors. Their raspberry mocha and lavender latte were standouts. Plus, they’re also all about promoting their baristas. You won’t get “fast food” vibes here; it’s not take-your-coffee-and-run. If you want to be a little adventurous with your coffee, they’ll help you out. River City also has a record player going and a huge collection of vinyl records to set the perfect mood.

T.H.I.N.K. Coffee is a mom & pop coffee shop that is the brainchild of John and Jo. The name stands for “THerapy IN a Kup” and comes from the couple’s experiences with their special needs son, who has a cerebral palsy and autism diagnosis. Many of the drink names take inspiration from this neuro focus with names like “Brainiac,” “Contemplator,” and “Mind Reader.” Their fun vibes are also evident in their seasonal menu that features things like the “Cousin Eddie” or “Hocus Focus.”

T.H.I.N.K. has four locations: 2 in Conway, 1 in Greenbrier, and 1 in Vilonia, and another in Cabot. Many of their locations are the drive-thru coffee stand type. However, their Dave Ward location in Conway has a quaint sitting area inside and a small patio outside for sunny days. Contributions from T.H.I.N.K. also go to resource organizations for special needs children and families.

We mentioned River City Coffee in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock a little earlier. Well, at the other end of the same street is Mylo Coffee Co. Mylo originally began as a booth at the farmers’ market selling coffee and homemade pastries. Demand continued to grow from there. Enough so that they opened up a brick-and-mortar location.

Mylo has your standard options for drink choices, from cappuccinos to lattes. But even their simple pour coffee is a tasty option. Their pastries are the real bread and butter, however. Pun intended. Mylo excels at laminated pastries, so opt for a croissant or kouign-amann. Then pull up a seat at the big windows and watch the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood.

Kollective Coffee + Tea in Hot Springs bills itself as a “3rd wave” coffee shop. These specialty coffeehouses focus on manual brewing methods and sourcing their beans from single farms. This single-origin coffee is sourced from individual farms, contrasted to larger chains which are often just countries of origin or blends.

Kollective also has a wide range of breakfast and lunch options. In the morning, you can build your own bagel sandwich or choose from egg scrambles. For lunch, the menu consists of salads, sandwiches, and soups. On the weekends, Kollective stays open later and serves wine. They also have a large array of teas.

Guillermo’s Gourmet Coffee roasts the coffee right there in-house. If you’re hanging around, you get a little education about their coffee and espresso process. They also don’t burn coffee like some other places in town. Their breakfast pastry options include substantial fare like sausage rolls and ham & swiss croissants.

For those with dietary restrictions, Guillermo’s has a whole section of gluten-free menu offerings. These items include blueberry muffins and vegan carrot apple muffins. At lunchtime, they even have paninis, sandwiches, and wraps.

As the home of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro has its fair share of coffee shops to keep students wired. Just a block away from Grounded, you’ll find Recovery Room Coffeehouse & Bistro on Main Street. This isn’t your typical coffeehouse. Recovery Room serves a full breakfast and lunch during the week. On weekends, they transition to a full brunch menu. The full bar is available all day, as well.

Besides being a coffeehouse and bistro, Recovery Room is also an events venue. At night, they often host live music, regular poetry slams, fundraisers, and other holiday celebrations. The first and third Thursdays of the month are open mic nights. Tell a story, read some poetry, play some music. Try out any of your talents!

Shadrachs Coffee is a local chain that has taken over Jonesboro with six locations. Most of their locations are drive-thru coffee stands, but a couple of their locations are typical sit-down coffeehouses. One of those is downtown, not far from the previous two coffee shops we just discussed. Another of this type is a location in Paragould. They’ve also recently opened a Central Arkansas location in Conway. Plus, there are out-of-state plans for a location in the Memphis suburb of Lakeland, Tennessee. A Mississippi location has opened in the college town of Oxford.

Shadrachs has been able to proliferate because their coffee is good. They are consistently lauded for their customer service. And while they are popular, with large lines snaking around their buildings, they are also speedy at making drinks and moving people through. Plus, their fans celebrate their quality and economical prices. They also frequently run fundraisers, donating profits to various charities. Additionally, you can submit personal prayer requests to baristas.