06/22/09

Best coffee shop ever

by TheHappyAustinite

This place is great. I love the atmosphere, it's quiet, but people still talk, the servers are friendly, and the Italian sodas are good. The only drawback is that parking can be a hassle sometimes. That however, is a small price to pay.

Throw your Starbucks in the trash and go to the Green Muse. You won't regret it.

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: Parking

03/10/09

Could be great

by JimTremoz

The Green Muse kills me. It should be so awesome. Such a great space. Especially the outside, with the movie screen etc.. Great location.

So, it all seems to fall apart right when you pull into the parking lot. First off, no parking... ever... idiot business next to it always tows everyone. You'd think they could simply work out an financial agreement? a percentage of profits for shared parking? something.

Then you get inside... and instead of a lively neighborhood coffee shop, with good music and conversation, you're greeted with dead silence... and awkward stares from the 12 or so people on HP laptops that you just disturbed. I guess they were hard at work... studying... far from UT... trying to figure out how to get on the wireless network?

Then you walk up to the bar to order a coffee. Totally understaffed. Never more than one employee. So it takes about 15 minutes to get espresso drinks for 3 people. And the coffee is unfortunately about as uninspired as the clientele in the front room.

Then you walk outside (cause you can't tolerate the stuffy, quiet, pretentious atmosphere inside) only to discover that there are about 12 seats in a space that could hold 30. Why are there so few seats?

This place has such great potential to be a really unique, wonderful coffee shop. They need to flush out the zombies with some music inside, Maybe try something with an Absinthe angle? BYOB Absinthe? Provide the accessories. Address the parking situation, and redesign the seating in the outside area.

• Pros: awesome building
• Cons: parking, weirdness

11/30/07

There is tragedy, but from the tower?

by towknight

I love this place. OHH...I am a towing professional. This place is quiet, relaxing and a great cup a jo! I am not sure how long you have been in town, or any major city, but towing is, and always will be, an issue that is a fact of life. Read the signs! It really is that easy! Property owners and tenant have the right to disallow anyone they choose on thier property. If they are having towing conducted on that property, then I am certain they had a reason to even go this far as a solution. And come off of this "I parked facing away from the business" stuff. You know where you parked and knew you were wrong for doing it. Yea, it may have been after you came back and actually read the sign, but you knew. And you know that you thre in this little bit of "the property is getting kickback" stuff of of the top of your head. They are not being paid kickbacks, not getting a portion of the tow bill, or anything like it. I bet they do not even know you were towed, which means the towing company is doing thier job right and keeping unwanted vehicles of of thier property. If it was your business, you may have done the same thing. You cannot sit here and give that answer without being in thier shoes.

But the Green Muse is a great place to socialize quietly and even to just be secluded to work on your oqwn thing in peace. I love it!

• Pros: Coffee
• Cons: Parking

10/02/07

tow tragedy #2

by noodlequeen

yeah, i got towed last night and i have to wonder: does step by step have any actual customers or do they manage to stick around based solely on their towing racket with assured? the tow trucks park across the street and watch til they can pounce. i had gone there myriad times and avoided the towing by squeezing myself into spots in the small area that officially belongs to green muse (a cafe that i actulally really enjoy, though i won't be going for a long time, despite the fact that i know this isn't their fault - just that a $200 coffee/email checking bill left a bitter taste in my mouth).

patronize green muse, by all means. there is a nice, quiet atmosphere, they serve decent drinks(the chai is great), and the people who work there are all nice. just don't park there without looking very carefully at where you're parked.

09/18/07

avoid at all costs if you must drive there & park... your car will be towed by "Step by Step" dance studio, even when they are closed!

by chaoticcreates

2 Places I will not go to in Austin::

Green Muse Coffeehouse (512/912-7789 Located behind Ace Cash or some such at 519 W Oltorf and South First) and the Step by Step School Dance {512/444-6522 located at 529 W Oltorf St @ S 1st Street).. Why do I recommend NOT doing business with these 2 places? Because apparently they are at war over their parking spots. Last night, even tho I parked by a car that was parked perpendicular ACROSS (not IN) the marked parking space, my car got towed because I was properly situated in the space FACING THE DANCE STUDIO. If my door would have been facing the building (like the illegally parked car) I would not have been towed. I got out of my vehicle @ 7:08pm and the time on my tow receipt was 7:17pm. So, less than 10 minutes after parking my car to walk inside & see if I was at the right place (the signs for the Green Muse not being clearly evident), my car was already hooked up on the tow truck's dollie & some "wet behind the ears" male was saying "Cash or tow?" The sign on the wrecker door said Assured Towing. Now, while I wont ever be calling them for a tow, I do know they are only doing their job, as they are PAID TO DO by Step by Step...that is what my receipt said. Tow authorized by "Step by Step" as as per their standing agreement with Assured Towing ... who gets a percentage of all monies paid for vehicles towed from that lot...did you know that?

• Pros: good coffee
• Cons: parking costs too much

Editorial Review

by Contributor

Earth tones reign at this peaceful South Austin coffee house and cafe, popular with students, writers, artists and entrepreneurs.

02/11/07

Small but comfortable.

by quantumsparrow

Green Muse is one of my favorite study places in town. The atmosphere is just... extremely conducive to studying and relaxing, and the coffee is great.

The baristas are cool, but... I've noticed that different baristas make certain drinks in completely different ways (but not necessarily bad ways, just... two different drinks). I don't have the heart to tell them this or to get particularly bothered by it, but I just make sure that I order my drinks in accordance with the present barista. I should probably point it out someday, but... eh. The mochacino is good... on some days... as is the mocha shake (which is still one of the better coffee-shakes I've had anywhere). Their paninis and hummus are awesome all the time.

One other problem could be the lack of seating. They have a pretty good-sized patio, but when it's cold it's no fun to be out there. Seating is pretty limited inside, and there really isn't much room for groups larger than three or four (except for the big table in the back, which is sometimes snag-able).

All things considered, it's still my favorite cafe.

• Pros: Ambience, espresso, food, prices
• Cons: sometimes parking, finding seats

07/27/06

zone out to work and relax at the same time

by paullee357

It's the only place where one can chill oblivious to the surroundings and focus freely on your artwork, reading, schoolwork, web project, or whatever. If you ever do decide to lift your head for a break and look around, the Muse has some of the coolest interior design ideas lifted from industrial art. The food choices are limited, but that is good because the few things they do create are created to perfection. The coffee is the draw that will keep you coming for more. It is consistently good. And the chai? - heaven. I have had a pint now and then and I'm so happy they carry Live Oak (yeah local). They have plenty of beer and wine to take your worries away. The music is the BEST song selection I have ever heard - Maybe a little loud in 1 spot, but nobody seems to care because the music is so great. Location is a little creepy, especially at night. Sits almost invisibly between an Ace Cash and cheap pizzaria with nearby a car repair shop, Church's chicken and more. I suppose that is good because I like the number of people. Just right. Smokers and non smokers will love the shaded patio in the back with the cool turtle pond, elevated decks and close stage make this area nice. The inside is so clean, no smoke drift. A good combo of plush and functional seating with gobs of power outlets. Two wireless antennae, front and back make the connection one of the best. The staff behind the bar is so Austin. If you're looking to be greeted with a forced smile and cheesy hello, you'll just have to go to Starbucks. the Muse baristas are so unobtrusive that you may have to gong the little prayer chime bar thingy to get one to come out of the kitchen. However, ask for a coffee and let your eyes behold the art of making a great coffee.

• Pros: Coffee, Ambience, Patio
• Cons: parking is tight but it's better to bring a bike anyway

07/03/06

great coffee, etc.

by boofany

the location is out of the way but near downtown if you're touring through austin... the coffee is great, and the chai's are better. as one of the other reviews state, the mediteranean plate is wonderful, and very filling. if you have less room just order the toasted pita which comes with hummus. the baked goods are tasty, and there's a pretty good selection of beers if that's what you're into.

• Pros: great food and drink, patio is nice, a/c is good for summer
• Cons: parking can be tight once it starts getting dark, and the neighbors tow.

06/19/06

Green Muse knows bleus

by moneyfinger

Food here is consistently very good; my fave is the vegetarian Middle Eastern platter. Excellent beer list and Thursday nite's open mic with Black Molly has become the how-to; especially with the featured 2 dollar special on selected specialty beer. If you visit Austin, or live it, meet your muse.