Coffee shops and walkable neighborhoods go hand in hand. And since downtown Carson City has made vast improvements in its walkability and charm, it has simultaneously developed a robust coffee shop culture. Starting from the north and heading south, here are four great coffee shops to check out in Carson City.
LA Bakery
L.A. Bakery Café and Eatery is an amazing place to get coffee, pastries, breakfast or lunch. Their cappuccinos, lattes and other espresso drinks are expertly crafted and leave nothing to be desired. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are all covered with ample options — especially the enormous lunch menu. And the big, open room lets in a ton of light (sometimes coffee shops have a cavern-like feeling that isn’t always what you’re looking for), with an extra side room that is a little quieter if you are heading there to get some work done. LA Bakery is a great location for a full sit-down meal, especially brunch or lunch. It does have a small outdoor seating area, but the indoor space is so nice that it’s hard to improve upon. 1280 N. Curry Street, Carson City
Inside LA Bakery. Top photo a latte creation at LA Bakery
Old World Coffee Roasters
Heading into the heart of downtown, Old World Coffee Roasters is the kind of spot you’ll want to visit to enjoy a morning coffee in the sun or after-dinner coffee (perhaps after Great Basin, right next door). They have excellent strong espresso drinks, their own roasted drip or pour-over coffee and an assortment of pastries and tea mixes. There is a small indoor seating area, but their outdoor space really shines with its firepit, gas heaters, lights and mix of shade and sun. 301 N. Curry Street, Carson City
Photo: Outdoor Seating at Old World Coffee Roasters
Comma Coffee
Every city needs its Bohemian coffee joint, and filling that role perfectly is Comma Coffee on S. Carson Street near the Nevada State Capitol. A Carson City favorite for almost 25 years, Comma Coffee is the place for quirky book lovers to hang out. In the Nevada tradition of Genoa and Virginia City, the walls are decked with historical and modern pictures, dressed-up skeletons, maps and other memorabilia. A ragtag mix of chairs, tables and even a piano provide charm, and there is a separate back-room space for reading, working or playing games. But Comma Coffee is not merely a coffeeshop, as there are full breakfast and lunch menus and tons of teas and smoothies. 312 S. Carson Street, Carson City
Carson City's quirky Comma Coffee
Paul Schat's Bakery
Rounding out our tour is the final stop at Paul Schat’s Bakery in the South Carson Mall. Schat’s Bakery started in Bishop, California, as a travel rest stop for people traveling between Southern California and northern Nevada. It became so popular that they eventually expanded into Minden and then Carson City. While the Bishop location is still a special treat on the road (and is a much larger store), it’s great to have it here in northern Nevada so we can savor their breads and pastries during everyday life. They serve full meals for breakfast and lunch, coffee drinks are available to pair with their European quality pastries, and there is no shortage of breads, honeys and jams that all make excellent gifts.
Baked goods at Schat's Bakery
About the Author Dan Bablinskas
Dan Bablinskas is a relentlessly curious person with a passion for travel, foreign languages, affordable food and lodgings, well-fashioned cappuccinos and refreshing craft brews. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in creative writing, he traveled through Europe and South America while working as an English teacher and travel blogger. After trying a number of different careers, he settled into technical and content writing for his day job. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the Reno-Tahoe area by foot, car, bike and ski. He lives in Reno with his wife and two kids. 
