Switchback Coffee + Beer

The scoop

Switchback Coffee + Beer is a South Austin coffee shop and bar at 220 Ralph Ablanedo Dr., next to Crux Climbing Center and Granny's Tacos. Mornings run on espresso drinks and matcha, while afternoons shift to draft beer, wine, and cocktails, with pastries from Texas French Bread and Zucchini Kill Bakery on the counter. Pre-opening coverage described a natural-toned interior of tan, green, and terra cotta with plants and plenty of windows, seating for 40 to 50, and a courtyard with disc golf baskets. The owners call it a community hub and local watering hole.

Switchback is run by married couple Ethan Wagner and Grace Nicholas, who bring a combined 40 years in Austin and over 20 years in the service industry. Community Impact reported that it opened May 30, 2026, after a February 2026 What Now article described it as preparing to open that spring. Wagner described himself and his wife as 'very outdoorsy' (they run, climb, and camp), and the name nods to a switchback, a 180-degree bend in a path: come in early for coffee, then 'switch back over' for a beer.