The city known for its trademark stretch of flashing lights, gambling, and live shows has a hidden coffee scene not to be missed.
BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE
Photos by Michaela Tomchek
When people visit Las Vegas, they typically plan their stay around The Strip for the Bellagio water show, the endless slot machines, and the bright lights. When morning comes around, the search for a cup of coffee can be challenging if searching for something local or special.
Venturing away from Las Vegas Boulevard and down toward the Arts District and old Downtown Las Vegas, will yield some remarkable coffee shops serving excellent specialty coffee. Even venturing deep into the neighborhoods outside of the city will yield some hidden gems. So, veer away from the machines, the lights, and the splendor, and head to where the locals hang out to enjoy some truly amazing coffee.
Sunrise Coffee
Just off the airplane and in need of coffee? Look no further. Opened in 2008, this is where the first high-quality, locally roasted coffee came to Vegas. Sunrise is the birthplace of Mothership, another specialty spot in Vegas, but with a different twist and altered character. The outside patio is sweet in the spring, with jasmine blossoms kissing your cheeks, tasty food, and nice coffee.
The space itself has plenty of tables, where students from the nearby university might be studying, or where locals sip on a coffee and nibble on a pastry. This quaint spot serves plenty of espresso-based options with different flavors, and offers some single origins for pourover.
Dark Moon
Somewhat hidden from the Vegas tourists, Dark Moon is in a strip mall near the neighborhood of Anthem in Henderson, Nev. You would not know there was some great coffee being roasted in this quiet shopping area. Once you enter, the sun is obscured by the dark windows, neon lights greet you, and coffee lines the shelves. In the back, a pink Loring roasts as you sip away, lost in space.
Dark Moon makes their own cold brew, which you can buy canned from the fridge. They even have instant-coffee packets you can take home and brew on the run. This is a small space, different, but serving some special coffees that you may not find elsewhere in Las Vegas.
Mothership
Head to Downtown Las Vegas and wander down the famous Fremont Street to see old neon signs and some restaurants and shops. Nestled within Fergusons, an old refurbished motel, is the brightly lit Mothership. The shop literally looks like a spaceship landed, ready to serve coffee. I love this spot on a sunny day (even in the boiling summer) for sitting outside, drinking coffee, and indulging in a vegan/gluten-free chocolate oatmeal cookie. The shops around are lovely, too, including the wonderful soap shop run by Mike.
Mothership has three other locations throughout the neighborhoods of Vegas. The roastery and bakery are based in Green Valley. Roasting began for Mothership back in 2012, when the team was roasting out of Sunrise Coffee. Now, they have created a fun experience for coffee drinkers in Las Vegas, offering an array of flavored drinks, some tasty pastries, and bright shops to hang out in. You might even run into the awesome owner, Juanny Romero, who has truly helped start the coffee community in Vegas.
Vesta
Just a few blocks from downtown is the Arts District, a vibrant hub of art galleries, antique shops, bars, and historic buildings within an 18-block radius.
Vesta Coffee Roasters opened their doors here in 2016, with home-roaster and coffee enthusiast Jerad Jay leading the crew to excellence. The name Vesta refers to the Roman goddess of hearth, home, and family. This shop is simple, and a black-and-white atmosphere greets you as you open the door. The Probat hums gently at the back of the open space, and wood tables with local art on the walls invite you to stay. Be sure to check out the coffee mural on the brick wall outside (my favorite wall in Vegas).
Vesta has another location in the Summerlin neighborhood, and shops inside the new Durango Hotel and casino worth checking out, all with great-quality coffee and excellent food options.
Writer’s Block
Craving a uniquely curated bookstore with an awesome vibe? Writer’s Block in Downtown Vegas is the perfect spot to find different reads, sip on coffee, and meet the pet rabbit inside. As soon as you enter the shelves of books, it feels as though you are deep within a forest of pages.
The coffee served here is from Olympia Coffee Roasters based in Washington. They also bake all their treats in the café.
Being able to drink coffee, surrounded by the smell of new books, with realistic birds nestled above and all over, is simply a treat. They have events next door, and it is a remarkable place to submerge yourself in local art, film, coffee, and books.
PublicUs
Situated downtown on Fremont Street, this gem houses exceptional coffee, delicious Hawaiian-inspired food, and unexpected décor. Sitting at the long mahogany tables next to the giant papier mâché plate of eggs, I am always inspired and get lost in a book here.
PublicUs has their coffee roasted by Velton’s Coffee Roasters based in Everett, Wash. The single origins are carefully curated. The 4th Wave Blend, which is offered year-round, is a beautifully balanced coffee. They even brew Kyoto Tower cold brew!
The walls are filled with unique knick-knacks, colorful objects, books, and plants everywhere. Trees are growing out of the tables, and there is a beautiful wooden map of the world. If you are lucky, you will run into Kimö Akiona, the man behind PublicUs, usually wearing a fashionable hat and glasses. This is his passion project, and you can see Kimö’s love for Vegas in this wondrous café.
Kimö opened PublicUs back in March of 2015, with dreams to “improve people’s quality of life.” He sees coffee as “a powerful tool,” and he wanted a place to bring all of his travels and passions to others. Kimö opened the shop in his own neighborhood. PublicUs makes everything from scratch—including the almond and cashew milk. All the furniture, light structures, and doors were created from Kimö’s mind and lots of sawdust. Kimö mentions that it is the perfect mix of locals and tourists that come to PublicUs—all of them eccentric and artistic. Sitting at PublicUs, you will definitely meet some interesting folks from all over the world.
The shop’s menu is diverse as well, with options including the Loco Moco, bento boxes, Chilaquiles, conchas, and some sweet pastries—such as cashew date cookies, pistachio croissants, and cinnamon rolls—all baked fresh daily. And despite the fact that PublicUs doesn’t market itself at all, the place is always packed; people find it by word of mouth. “We do what we do, and we let people interpret who we are,” says Kimö.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michaela Tomchek finds coffee an important part of life and the world. She is an appreciator of the crop, the producer, and the many cafés throughout the world serving beautiful beverages. Currently, she writes about coffee, hoping to spread her joy across the globe.
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