Northwest Arkansas surprised me in a very positive way: it is home to many excellent coffee shops.
Best Coffee In Northwest Arkansas
My first coffee was at a café called Calmo, in Rogers.
CALMO Coffee
3704 West Walnut Street, Suite 107
Rogers, AR 72758
(479) 335-2335
6:30 am – 6:00 pm (Monday – Friday)
7:00 am – 6:00 pm (Saturday, Sunday)
I loved the decor of this coffee bar and the staff was very friendly. There were a lot of people working here…it was a very cold day outside and it made sense to curl up with a good cup of coffee.
I had a cortado, which not only tasted great but was served in a cute cup.
Next, we drove to the Crystal Bridges Museum, where we spent several hours checking out what I would call a national treasure. During our stay there, we stopped for coffee, with beans sourced by a popular nearby roastery called Onyx.
Coffee Bar At Crystal Bridges Museum
600 Museum Way
Bentonville, AR 72712
Open during museum hours
The coffee was excellent again…a cortado for me and an Americano for Heidi…and what a beautiful dining room.
It was fun to sip coffee as we walked through this museum.
In hindsight, I wish I had driven a little further to Onyx Coffee Lab, also in Rogers (not instead, but in addition to Calmo). Even if the same beans were used at both Calmo and at the museum, having read about Onyx I do know that is somewhat like a pilgrimage to Mecca for coffee followers…next time.
As I said in my trip report, at least as a visitor, Northwest Arkansas struck me as a very nice place (and Little Rock did too when I visited there). I look forward to returning to Arkansas, not the least for more great coffee.
Onyx is probably my favorite coffee shop in the US. They have a few stores in the NW Arkansas area and their coffee is phenomenal. Next time, you have to go there.
What makes it your favorite?
I think it is a mix of many factors. Of course the coffee quality is amazing but the coffee shop itself is just beautiful, The beauty of their stainless steel coffee machines in contrast with the kind of industrial feeling of the shop with concrete walls, with large tables you can seat like in a cafeteria, the vibe of the place, their banana bread is amazing, etc… It is just a very cool place and you cannot imagine you are in NW Arkansas. I used to go there several times a year and it was the highlight of my trip.
Also, next time you are in NW Arkansas, have dinner at Doe´s. It is a fantastic steak restaurant and they also serve amazing tamales. Also, since you are a huge Mexican food lover, you have to try Tacos4Life. NW Arkansas is a great place for food lovers.
Thanks for the tip. Sounds great. I love both steak and tamales!
http://doesnwa.com/bentonville/
I haven’t been to Doe’s in Bentonville but to the one in Fayetteville next to the University of Arkansas. Their steaks are gigantic and so good. Don’t forget to try Tacos4Life, it is local chain with a more gourmet style tacos, everything very fresh all made at the store everyday.
Enough has been said about Onyx. I like Airship too. Heroes isn’t bad. You would have probably enjoyed reading some of the literature they have there about the NGO Lifewater International, also based in Bentonville. Though when I am forced to return quarterly, I usually just go to the Onyx in downtown Bentonville (not the two story one in Rogers). I have to go in a few weeks… Want to go in my place?
Haha. Wish I could!
Matthew, there is a coffee shop down the street from my house in the OC that sells coffee from Korea. Flip the package over and…surprise…roasted in Arkansas. Go figure…