Around 3 o’clock on Sunday, October 4, I drove to Houndstooth, which is near Lower Greenville in the Knox area near Milk and Honey. The drive is relatively easy, but parking is challenging. There is a small parking spot behind the little strip of shops where Houndstooth is located, but the spots are tight which makes it difficult to get in and out.

The area around Houndstooth is hipster from the murals artistically painted on walls to the type of shops present. Therefore, it fits in perfectly. Outside the coffee shop, there are bar stools and benches with teal accents, warmly inviting you in. It’s a great place to sit and sip your drink when the weather is just right. There is also a little patio accessible from the inside of the shop with tables and benches. The decor is sleek and the quote “The pattern of coffee and people” is cleanly printed onto a white wall. This quotes purpose and the name, Houndstooth, refers to one of the original patterns of plaid from Scotland. Plaids were used to identify regions of people within Scotland, just as coffee now identifies regions. Therefore, Houndstooth wants to be a part of people’s routine and rhythm.

Houndstooth’s coffee choices are somewhat limited to basic drinks that can be either hot or iced. I ordered a vanilla iced latte. The vanilla flavor was not prominent, and the espresso coffee taste was strong. Since I prefer sweeter coffee drinks, I added a packet of sugar. This helped to make it less bitter. I enjoyed my iced latte at one of the few long community tables. There are many seating options available, as well as an ample amount of space.

Most people at Houndstooth were on their laptops studying. The whole indoor seating area was very quiet, creating a nice study place. It usually stays open until 7 or 9. If it were closer to the Highland Park area, I would recommend studying there, but it is a lengthier drive and is not open late enough to get work done for those in sports or other after school activities.

Overall, I enjoyed the hipster vibe of Houndstooth and liked how the baristas were friendly and willing to describe the different beverage options in terms of what you would understand. Their coffee is high quality and local as well, so it is a shop worth visiting to chat with friends or indulge in a nice cup of coffee.