Sometimes, the tastiest cup of coffee is served in a Kansas café you must look a bit harder to find. That’s part of the fun experience.
The following Kansas coffee shops are located off the beaten path or in a nontraditional setting, such as the rear of a store or inside an underground building.
Tucked-Away Coffee Shops Worth Discovering In Kansas
COLLEGE HILL COFFEE – WINFIELD
I made the short drive to College Hill Coffee (403 Soward St.) in desperate need of caffeine with a side of breakfast. Located in a renovated house in a residential neighborhood, the coffee shop draws locals for its relaxed vibe. People sit on patio tables on the front porch or at tables inside a converted old house.
It feels homey and comforting like someone invited you over for breakfast.
From the breakfast menu options viewable within the glass bakery case, I chose a slice of Farmers Quiche to go with a steaming cup of cappuccino. It was made from delicious ingredients and had a flaky crust. It hit the spot.
PRO TIP: Order a dessert to go. I recommend a soft snickerdoodle cookie.
CREDO COFFEE – WICHITA
You’d likely never know this coffee shop existed unless someone told you about it. Located in the basement of St. Paul Catholic Student Center at Wichita State University, Credo Coffee (1810 N. Roosevelt Street) is a faith-based cafe that welcomes the general public to enjoy a specialty coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.
The café is student hangout between classes, so expect college-aged patrons to chat amongst themselves and play billiards. If you’re hoping to use a laptop to concentrate on work or read a book, I recommend using the overflow lounge space in the next room.
JAVA BREAK – LAWRENCE
I’ve frequented the Java Break (17 E. 7th Street) in Lawrence since my college days in the late 90s. The below-ground cafe is an excellent place to grab a drip or specialty coffee before nestling into a backroom table for conversation with a friend.
If hunger strikes during a intense book reading session, ask to review the panini menu.
THREE BEES POTTERY AND COFFEE SHOP – KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
At first glance, one might think a limestone building covered in ivy is a retail store selling pottery, but locals know Three Bees Pottery and Coffee Shop (925 Southwest Boulevard) in Kansas City, Kansas, doubles as a cafe and eatery serving handmade tamales.
I recommend sticking with the Mexican cuisine theme by adding a Dirty Horchata with espresso drink to the Two Tamale Meal. Who knows, you may spot a vibrant piece of pottery to purchase before you leave.
JUDEE’S COFFEE – TOPEKA
If someone hadn’t told me to check out Judee’s Coffee (2111 SW Chelsea Drive) while visiting Topeka, I may never have discovered it. Located inside Gods Storehouse Thrift Store, the cozy cafe serves coffee at cost “so that it can be a blessing to everyone who comes in.”
I sipped a steaming chai latté from one of a handful of seats before shopping next door for bargain finds. Most visitors choose to order a portable to-go coffee, but I enjoyed relaxing at one of the refurbished tables watching people come and go.
PACE E BENE – ATCHISON
If you think Pace E Bene (503 Commercial Street is only a Catholic booksore, think again. The family-run café is a hidden gem in the rear of the bookstore serving coffee, baked goods and panini at lunchtime.
During an early morning visit, I ordered a coffee and a single serving of imported gelato.
Cozy up with your laptop or a book in the comfy lounge or shop for gifts after coffee and a meal. If traveling with kids, board games and puzzles keep it entertaining.
CAFE EQUINOX – SHAWNEE
Start the day with a lavender latté and a warm cheddar scone amongst the beautiful flowers at Family Tree Nursery Kansas City’s Cafe Equinox. Hidden inside a plant store, the café offers seating amongst beautiful botanicals on the patio promising chill vibes.
The guest WI-FI and copious sunshine are complimentary. Kids will appreciate watching fish at the koi pond.
TEN & TWO COFFEE – BONNER SPRINGS
In a converted factory building near railroad tracks sits Olde Mille Properties, the home to Ten & Two Coffee (611 W. 2nd Street). The baristas double as bartenders at the tucked-away coffee bar.
No matter the time of day, I always find something I love on their menu. If it’s the early morning, I opt for breakfast burritos and a drip coffee. In the evening, I order a creative cocktail from the seasonal menu. When unsure what to order, I leave it up to the staff to make something inventive, like a bourbon margarita.
THE FEATHERED NEST – BELLEVILLE
Upon arriving in Belleville, Kansas, my first stop was The Feathered Nest, a store that a friend of mine raved about as soon as she heard I was traveling to the area. It’s a massive home interiors/decor shop with a coffee lounge serving drinks and pastries.
I sipped a specialty coffee, The Feathered Frenzy, and enjoyed a scratch-made scone from the espresso bar. As we talked, I noticed several locals sitting together in small groups, talking over coffee. You’ll feel a sense of community at café.
BONUS! A TUCKED-AWAY COFFEE SHOP WORTH CHECKING OUT BEYOND KANSAS
If you’re in Lincoln, Nebraska, check out Crescent Moon Coffee (140 N. 8th Street), an underground coffee house in the Historic Haymarket District.
The lower-level café is a Lincoln institution where artists, musicians, and poets take the stage to share their talents while java lovers sip on locally roasted coffee.
Part of the fun of travel is discovering new-to-you experiences, which can include enjoying a cup of java in a unique setting. Consider adding one of these tucked-away Kansas coffee shops to your travel plans.
If you’re seeking a more robust list of Kansas coffee shops worth checking out, refer to this blog post featuring over 30 cafés I’ve visited over the years.
Eventually, the invention of the telegraph ended the need for the Pony Express, which lasted 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861.
Entering the 
Once operated as a four-story luxury hotel opened in 1858, John Patee’s staff hosted travelers in 140 guest rooms. People from all over the world knew of the hotel within three years of its construction.
The museum offers numerous photo opportunities. Visitors can take photos of authentic saddles or peek through photo cutout stations.
Life-size faux horses are also positioned in the barn’s stables, making the Moment in Time exhibit a picture-worthy experience for all ages.
PRO TIP: Snap a photo of the 
As he led me from artifact stations to dioramas depicting Native American tribes who once resided in the area, I became increasingly impressed with the museum exhibits. 
Hands-on activity stations, designed for visiting children and groups of touring school kids, include animal pelts, sun-bleached bones, and cowboy apparel. Massive stagecoaches and farm equipment sit nearby, but once you venture into the original barn, it becomes clear how primitive life on The Great Plains was in the late 1800s.
PRO TIP: Mail a letter from the 
A relic of the Wild West, the museum covers the story of the town’s role as a stop on the Pony Express mail delivery trail in the late 1800s. Seneca claims the Smith Hotel was the first home station.
As you walk upon the building’s original wood floors, explore a makeshift saloon, replica schoolroom, and original artifacts for the Smith Hotel, a refuge for riders needing a break.
Don’t leave without learning the fascinating history of westbound rider, Johnny Frey. I appreciated reading about how local women fed him baked goods. Since he was in a hurry, they added a hole to each one so he could hold the food easily while riding his horse. Perhaps it was the invention of the donut?
The museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturdays. To guaranteed a tour, call (785) 294-6655 to schedule an appointment.
If it wasn’t for the brave riders who delivered mail in all types of weather around the clock for the Pony Express, society wouldn’t have experienced new innovations to replace it including faster communication via the telegraph. Today, we send messages in seconds via text and email.
The restaurant is famous for their steaks including the 
We chose instead to enjoy two cold beers at the 
Before you leave, I recommend walking the restaurants open areas to take see photo-worthy areas, including giant chairs, taxidermy, and retail merchandise. Remember, everything is bigger in Texas, so expect to have a larger-than-life good time.
The mural pictured above, 
The dining room was filled with locals even during the early dinner hour, but we were sat quickly without a reservation. Specializing in hearty pasta dishes and salads, we choose the Eggplant Parmigiana prepared with white sauce and a helping of seafood pasta. Each entree was covered with copious amounts of cheese. Bring your appetite.
Visitors bring spray paint to deface the half-buried cars making the roadside attraction a fun, immersive experience. If you forget to bring paint, you can purchase a can from the retail store trailer nearby.
Other visitors choose to bring engraved padlocks to attach to the fenced entrance to confirm their visit.
PRO TIP: It was quite windy and cold the afternoon of our May visit, making spray painting the cars a bit challenging but possible. Dress appropriately for the weather.
It’s located a short distance from Cadillac Ranch, making pulling over for photo opps at each one a no-brainer. The statue, promoting the right to bear arms, includes two pistol-shaped barbecue smokers at its base.
It’s a National Park (the smallest!) with 91 acres completed in 1965, which Thomas Jefferson envisioned as the Gateway to the West.
Q39 arrived on the Kansas City barbecue scene in 2014 and changed the game.
Consider registering for a low-cost 
The 40-foot slide in the Monogram Lounge is the only one like it in the world located in a distillery.
Don’t miss your chance to take a photo with the World’s Largest Spool of Thread in front on the museum. Bring thread to add to it.
Located on 
J.C. Penney was born and raised on a nearby farm. After touring the museum’s exhibits, be sure to view his childhood home located downtown.
Walk across the creaky wood floors and imagine a teenage Twain looking out the window and daydreaming about his future. It was there that he fell in love with writing.
President Woodrow Wilson selected Pershing to command the American Expeditionary Forces during WWI.
Look for signatures by the cave’s most famous explorers, and don’t miss the Jesse James Hideout.
Retrace their journey by taking a self-guided tour of dioramas and exhibits that showcase natural artifacts. The most fascinating artifacts on view were the geological samples (Missouri geodes) and replica journal entries.
We took the downtown shuttle from Union Station and discovered the ice cream shop by chance. The line moved quickly, and before I knew it, I was staring down a menu with flavors like Lavender Honey and Chocolate Brownie.
If you’re a foodie, enjoy a meal with a breathtaking view, an experience you’ll never forget.
Eat a tasty pimento cheese and bacon sandwich at
The show, displayed around the 65-foot ceiling, runs on the hour from 5:00 pm – 10:00pm daily.
The two-story arcade has over 50 games from the 80s and 90s, including all your favorites like Pac-Man, Iron, and Galaga, plus rows of pinball machines and carnival-like games. You’ll feel like a kid with a new Nintendo® again.
The sounds of falling water and birds are the only sounds you hear, and the setting’s tranquility envelopes you.
A number of the permanent collection pieces include sculptures, paintings, and photography ranging in styles from minimalism to avante-garde. Although smaller than the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the artwork is equally awe-inspiring.
As the sun sets, the musician took requests to play cover songs, and diners indulged in brownie desserts. For me, the best part of the river cruise was enjoying the natural scenery and taking photos of the sunset from the boat’s bow.
I recommend experiencing the interactive train raid that departs every 15 minutes. The virtual experience is like taking a Union Station train under the sea.
Purchase feed at the Ozark Fence Giraffe Outpost ($4 for 4 tokens) daily March through October from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but we didn’t wait at all for a table. The diner has entertained guests for nearly three decades.
I’ve never tasted a better homemade cookie. In fact, I saved one of my chocolate chip cookies for the drive home eventually eating it bite-by-bite over the next several days to savor it.
To walk inside the Springfield Bass Pro Shop is to be enveloped by nature. Taxidermy, aquariums, retail shelves, boats, hunting and fishing equipment, ATVs, and more surround you.
In early April, residents celebrate
St. Charles was a center for trade, so the town’s center wanted it to become a capital city. Governor McNair signed a bill confirming its status in 1820, and legislators met there the following year to debate states’ and enslaved people’s rights.
Established in 1974, the campus museum continues to wow each time I visit. After perusing its second-floor galleries, I highly recommend taking a walk on campus to discover 86 permanent works displayed in the Martin H. Bush Sculpture Collection.
PRO TIP: Cut costs by ordering the sandwich only with curly fries for $4.49.
Today, 
PRO TIP: Stop to appreciate one of several Keepers on Parade, small scale versions of the city’s iconic sculpture, Keeper of the Plains. In the Historic Delano District, Credit Union of America and Hutton Construction display a Keeper on Parade.
PRO TIP: Find choice parking at
Each meal is prepared to order using fresh ingredients, and if you ask me, they serve the creamiest, most delicious hummus in town. It’s consistent food quality and service is why I also included it in a blog post about the city’s thriving 
Bonus Date Ideas: Other romance-inducing adventures include 
