50 Fort Worth Finds
Fort Worth is the thirteenth-largest city in the nation and is growing fast. It’s full of fabulous finds that make Fort Fun vibrant and, well, fun.

These places are not just shops or cafés where you grab coffee. They are the backdrop of our lives. These businesses and the people behind them are what make Fort Worth so special. In honor of our 50th issue, we present 50 of our favorites. (Okay, so we went over 50. We got excited.)

Coffee shop
- Ostara Coffee Roasters
- Cherry Coffee Shop
- Avoca Coffee Roaster
Great days start with a little sugar and a lot of coffee. Ostara Coffee Roasters and Cherry Coffee Shop have delightfully welcoming vibes, while Avoca Coffee Roasters is a Fort Worth institution for artisanal beans.

Donut shops
- Batter and Beans
- FunkyTown Donuts and Drafts
Batter and Beans serves amazing fresh cake donuts with coffee, which is a perfect way to start your morning, while FunkyTown Donuts and Drafts is a longtime favorite of Madeworthy’s.

Bakery (Worth the calories!)
- Eduardo’s Pastry Kitchen
- Swiss Pastry Shop
- Unrefined Bakery
- Leaves Bakery and Books
If you need a gluten-free treat or just want a slice of melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness, Fort Worth bakeries deliver. While Swiss Pastry Shop has long been a Cowtown favorite, Eduardo’s Pastry Kitchen is beginning to make waves. Unrefined Bakery makes indulgent gluten-free classics, like toothache-worthy cinnamon rolls. One of my personal favorites is Leaves, a cozy bakery, tea shop, and bookshop in one.

Breakfast/brunch place (The Best Meal of the Day!)
- BREWED
- Cafecito
I don’t know if I love brunch because it reminds me of Saturdays or because I always order coffee, but something about brunch gets my heart racing. Two favorites, both highly reviewed, are BREWED and Cafecito. BREWED brings upscale classics with a Fort Worth vibe, while Cafecito serves authentic Mexican breakfast in the cutest pink diner.

Hanging out with friends
- The Shops at Clearfork
Doctors say a walk a day keeps the stress away, so we at Madeworthy recommend strolling around The Shops at Clearfork, where you can shop and enjoy the outdoors at the same time. If you’re so inclined, you can continue your walk down the Trinity Trails.

Place to relax and recharge
- Ash Spa at Bowie House
For the ultimate in rustic chic pampering, indulge in a day at Ash. Don’t miss the personalized aromatherapy!

Art galleries
14. The Firehouse Pottery & Gallery
15. Giant Runt
Housed in a former firehouse, The Firehouse Pottery & Gallery offers pottery lessons as well as art from the owner, Keith Thomson, and local artists. Giant Runt continues to showcase some of the most intriguing artists working today.

Artist
- Amy Brines “she draws on walls”
- Art by Catalina Currea
Two of my family’s favorite local artists are Amy Brines and Catalina Currea. Their murals pop up all over town and seem more beautiful every time I see them.

Musician
- Grady Spencer and the Work
If you love live music, I can’t think of anyone better than Cowtown local Grady Spencer and the Work.

Yearly event
- FW Food and Wine Festival
- Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
Mark your calendar for the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival and come dressed to impress. And the Festival raises money to support and educate local food and beverage professionals, championing the people who are the backbone of our city’s hospitality industry. Starting on January 16, Dickies Arena will host the 129th Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. It’s legendary!

Boutique
- Wide Brim in the Stockyards
- Sunday Supper
- S. The Letter
If you’re in the Stockyards, shop at Wide Brim in Hotel Drover. Sunday Suppers makes changing your vibe easy, while P. S. The Letter is your go-to for holiday and shower shopping.

Bar/ Breweries
- Grandma’s
- WineHaus
- Thompson’s Bookstore
- Wild Acre Brewing
Grandma’s is a great place to relax with friends and enjoy some adult beverages, while Thompson’s Bookstore continues to delight. The new owners at WineHaus are doing a bang-up job, and Wild Acre Brewing is one of our family’s absolute favorites. My kids love the playground, bike racing, and water trampoline, I love the relaxed atmosphere and food, and my husband loves the beer.

Sweet treat
- Leo’s Churro Bar
- Dusty Biscuit Beignets
- Hurley House
I cannot write this section without mentioning my favorite Fort Worth dessert spot that closed during COVID: Sweet Sammies. Gone but not forgotten. Thankfully, Fort Worth still has no shortage of desserts. Leo’s Churro Bar serves some of the most creative sweets from an Airstream you’ll ever have. Madeworthy friend Dusty Biscuit is still slinging incredible beignets on South Main. And you can never go wrong with the cakes and cookies from Hurley House.

Hamburger joint
- Kincaids
- JD’s Hamburgers
The oldies are still the goodies. You can’t go wrong with JD’s Hamburgers or Fort Worth’s legend, Kincaid’s.

Barbecue
- Smokey Beard’s Q
- Goldee’s Barbecue
- Hurtado Barbecue
Barbecue is a religion in Texas, and “the best” is hotly debated; local favorite Goldee’s consistently ranks among the best in Texas, and Hurtado is a North Texas staple. Smokey Beard’s Q, in the old Mamma Mia location on E. Belknap, is straight from… Riyadh? The concept opened its first stateside location right here in Cowtown, and it’s drawing raves from people like Mike Tyson. (Yep, that Mike Tyson.)

Restaurant
- BobaLou
- The Chumley House
- Danny’s Greek Café
- The Mont
- Yoichi Omakaze & Handroll
Stop by BobaLou for delightful boba creations, delicious paninis, and decadent gelato. For somewhere to see and be seen, try The Chumley House or The Mont. Danny’s Greek Café serves to-die-for Greek cuisine in the former Mr. Gatti’s off Camp Bowie, while Yoichi’s quietly opened in the former Shinjuku Station location and is drawing rave reviews.

Random Favorites
- The Virgin Olive Oiler
- Teach Me Mahj – mahjong lessons with Shannon Irwin
- Fort Worth Stockyards

Parks and Recreation
- Tillery Park
- Marine Creek Lake
- Airfield Falls
- Fort Worth Zoo
- Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
When it is not blazing hot, Fort Worth offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Hike the trail around Marine Creek Park or splash in the falls at Airfield Falls. Tillery Park is a forgotten gem, perfect for picnicking. And who doesn’t love the nationally ranked Fort Worth Zoo, one of our family’s favorite outings.

Gyms
- Smart Barre Camp Bowie
- Hotworx West Cliff
- Union Cycle + Strength
Finding time for yourself matters; moms have to take care of themselves so they can take care of everyone else! Local moms rave about Smart Barre off Bowie, Hotworx, and Union Cycle + Strength for energizing workouts.

Nurseries
- Mike’s Garden Center
- Archie’s Gardenland
Spruce up your garden or grab a plant for your kitchen window. Mike’s Garden Center and Archie’s Gardenland are neighborhood favorites with the know-how to make your garden gorgeous.

These places are not just shops or cafes where you grab coffee. They are the backdrop of our lives. These businesses and the people behind them are what makes Fort Worth so special!


