from coffee runs to pizza heaven: my favs from autumn

I’ve been bouncing around my usual favorites and trying a few new spots lately, from Topeka to Kansas City to Manhattan. Some of these places feel like home, others feel like little discoveries, but all of them deserve a proper shoutout. If you’re chasing the perfect cappuccino, a dreamy matcha, or a slice of pure cheesy glory, here are my latest food-and-coffee finds.

1. Messenger Coffee + Ibis Bakery - Kansas City, Missouri

   
   
   

   

   

Oh my goodness. Messenger <3 This is one of those places that makes you want to slow down and pretend you read novels for fun. The atmosphere alone is worth the drive—bright, airy, three stories tall, and set in a beautifully restored 1919 building that still holds onto its historic charm. The moment you walk in, you get hit with that warm, cozy smell of fresh bread drifting up from Ibis Bakery like a personal welcome sign.

This isn’t just a café—it’s a whole experience. Messenger’s Grand Blvd location houses a full coffee roasting operation, a stone-grain mill, a cupping lab, and even a rooftop deck with a fireplace. You can actually see the bakers working, watch the roasters in action, and catch the milling process happening right in front of you. Everything about the space is intentional and thoughtful, from the open design to the quiet little “reading room” tucked away on the third floor—perfect for journaling, decompressing, or sipping slowly while pretending you have your life together.

Ibis Bakery makes all its pastries and breads with flour milled in-house—literally stone-milled on site—so everything tastes impossibly fresh. They also tie into local farms for their grain sourcing, and Messenger works directly with coffee producers, so the whole place has this “carefully crafted from the ground up” feel.

Their vanilla iced matcha is absolutely delicious. Perfectly balanced, not too sweet, smooth, clean, and always served with that simple, elevated Messenger aesthetic. And don’t even get me started on their breakfast sandwiches. Ibis does not play around—ooey, gooey fried eggs, crispy bacon, melty cheese, all tucked between fresh, warm buns made right upstairs. Easily one of the best breakfast spots in the entire KC area.

Aesthetically stunning, ethically sourced, and flat-out delicious—this is a must-stop every single time I’m in the city.

2. CoffeeHead - Topeka, Kansas

   
   

   CoffeeHead just feels like autumn in a cup. Their oat milk honey cappuccino is practically a personality trait at this point. Cozy, smooth, just sweet enough, and consistent every single time. The atmosphere is small but charming, and somehow it always smells like the start of sweater season. You honestly cannot beat it.

3. Providence By the Slice - Westport, Kansas City, Missouri

EEE. I cannot overstate this: Providence by the Slice is the pizza joint. The best. Known to mankind. If you disagree… You simply haven’t been.

Their Westport location at 415 Westport Rd is the definition of iconic pizza energy. It’s a tiny, no-frills spot—just a counter, a few seats, and the smell of real East Coast pizza soul hitting you the second you walk in. Fast, friendly service, the kind that makes you feel like you’ve been coming there for years, even if it’s your first time.

Providence is run by brothers originally from Providence, Rhode Island, and they brought that serious East Coast pizza heritage straight to KC. Their dough game is no joke—chewy in the center, crisp on the bottom, with that perfect little snap at the edge. They care about crust the way some people care about their firstborn.

Their 20-inch pepperoni and cheese? Life-changing. The cheese pulls like a dramatic movie scene, the pepperoni curls up at the edges like it knows it’s photogenic, and the whole thing has that irresistible New York meets Rhode Island flavor profile. Absolutely to die for. An elite late-night slice, period.

They also rotate in specialty styles—locals swear their Detroit-style slices are very good—and the menu includes classics like Margherita alongside more adventurous pies. But honestly? That big, glossy, pepperoni-loaded 20-inch is the one I dream about.

Small shop, big flavor, zero misses. Nirvana by the slice.

Sadly, that's all I got for today, because I had an entire post planned out, but it got deleted & I forgot about some of the gems I tried out. Enjoy these!

xoxo,

bylilyjohanna