Ascension is a Dallas-born specialty roaster with their Oak Lawn location sitting at the gateway to the gayborhood. The space is gorgeous — high ceilings, concrete floors, walls of windows — and the coffee program is one of the best in the city. Single-origin pour-overs, seasonal lattes, and a food menu that goes well beyond pastries.
After 5 PM it transitions to a cocktail bar. The espresso martini is dangerously good. A 5-minute walk from Cedar Springs, it’s the pre-game spot for people who want to be caffeinated before they’re intoxicated.