The Perch

With an incredible view of Town Lake from its patio, The Perch is an under-the-radar cafe that’s right on the trails near the Convention Center in the Waller Creek Boathouse. On a nice day, the dog-friendly deck is a fantastic place to be, but it can get busy on weekends. Go before or after renting a kayak or a stand-up paddle board, and pretend like you’re one of the fit people that rows on Town Lake every day. The food menu is broad: breakfast tacos, avocado toast, cheese boards, salads, and sandwiches. To drink, there are smoothies, beer (and beer flights), wine, and very good coffee drinks. During the week it’s pretty work-friendly—there are only a couple of tables indoors, but the deck has outlets.