Coffee & Treats in Wells Branch

The founder of The Juice Spot found the healing powers of raw, pressed fruit and vegetables after several years of abdominal pain and his eventual diagnosis with Crohn’s disease. Today, his disease is in remission, and for that he credits his strict diet, which contains mostly raw, pressed juice. His own success inspired him to dedicate himself to helping others heal themselves with the vitamins and minerals found in pressed juices, instead of encouraging them to swallow tin cans filled with spinach.

The Juice Spot almost hums with energy, with vibrant orange, green, and yellow walls that mimic the local and organic produce that fills its fridges, such as fresh carrots, leafy kale, and tangy lemons. Guests can sip on made-to-order freshly pressed juices or smoothies, or pick up carefully curated juice cleanses that last one to three days.

Aromas of French Valrhona cocoa, Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and Sweet Treets Bakery's signature buttercream waft out of a radiant display case, which brims with saccharine delights made fresh each morning. Equally adept at creating cakey centerpieces for weddings, birthdays, and Candyland tournaments, the bakers can prepare personalized sweets from a selection of 20 cake flavors and an array of luscious frostings and fresh fruit fillings. The display case includes at least one vegan-friendly treat every day, and the staff can bake a number of gluten-, nut-, or dairy-free items upon request.

In 1984, Bob and Elizabeth Tumolo, a Philadelphia mother-son team, opened the first Rita’s Italian Ice, a modest shop that sold cups of ice water blended with chunks of fresh fruit. The smooth, flavor-packed recipe, which dates back to ancient Rome and Greece, was an immediate hit with Philadelphians and classics professors. By 1987, the Tumolos owned four shops, and by 2007, 500 locations served icy treats across the country.

Today, Rita’s Italian Ice continues blending fresh batches of Italian ice daily. Flavors ranging from tangy lemonade to sweet mango rotate based on the whims and cravings of the friendly staff. The expanded menu also serves thick frozen custard as well as the popular gelati, distinctive blends of Italian ice and creamy custard.

Froyoyo owners Joan and Dave Duce explored the limits of their creativity when they created their frozen-yogurt recipe. Seeking to make the treat healthier and tastier, they combined locally made White Mountain yogurt with imported Italian gelato ingredients. Their results led to tart and sweet varieties. The natural probiotics and active cultures in the yogurt make it a healthful snack, and the 32 available toppings such as fresh strawberries, brownies, and rainbow sprinkles add a layer of sugary sweetness and texture that hearkens a climb up candy mountain.

The salty hint of peanut butter contrasts the velvety tang of fresh cream and the bitter spice of dark chocolate and chilies within a scoop of peanut-butter mole. This type of flavor complexity is common at Ice Cream Social, reflecting Lee and Meredith Dockery’s commitment to elevating ice cream from mere dessert to gourmet delicacy. They perch a rotating cast of ambrosial ice creams and sorbets inside chocolate-dipped waffle cones, adorning them with haute toppings such as cardamom-toasted coconut and miniature top hats.

The scoops are all the more striking considering they originate from a modest bus parked on Jessie Street. Once patrons have collected their treats from the window, they can savor them in the surrounding parking lot outfitted with umbrella-shaded tables and the occasional live band.

The first thing you notice while approaching Gonzo Juice is a giant rooster head perched atop a vintage 1949 trailer, which flashes multicolored feathers painted on its sides. The gargantuan bird and his towering coxcomb cast an imposing shadow over Gonzo's wooden picnic tables and grassy lawn. The food hut's eccentric façade hints at what to expect on its menu: either an inventive spin on classic American cuisine or an omelet made out of the world's largest rooster egg. Gonzo's chefs festoon made-to-order hot sandwiches, wraps, and salads with a variety of unique, all natural ingredients including slow-braised meats, tangy carrot slaw, fruit jam, and hawaiian rolls. Earning the spotlight of 365 Things to Do in Austin, Gonzo's freshly squeezed juices catch taste buds by surprise with a tasty blend of unexpected flavors such as ginger and jalapeño.