Empire Cafe

This place is the overnight epicenter of Inner Loop chic. In a swell, saffron-hued room right out of L.A., Houston's hipsters congregate for cafe latte, killer handmade layer cakes, verdant focaccia sandwiches and baby pizzas (try the lush mushroom-and-pesto). Baked egg frittatas may sing the dry-texture blues, but hunter's-style eggs make a breakfast worth getting up for.