Hey Dripping Springs!
Grab your coffee and get comfy, because Amber and I just wrapped up Season 7, Episode 3 of The Weekly Drip, and we’re serving up the ultimate guide to your perfect day on Mercer Street! We’ve been yapping about all things Dripping Springs for years now (literally years!), and this week we’re breaking down exactly how to spend a perfect day in our historic downtown.
And yes, we air live every Tuesday at 2 PM, so if you want to watch the chaos unfold in real time, that’s where you’ll find us!
Want to watch the full episode? Here you go: Season 7, Episode 3 full video on YouTube
First Stop: The Great Coffee Debate
Let’s be real. Any perfect day in downtown Drip starts with caffeine. And Amber and I have opinions about where to get it.
Team Mazama (that’s me!) has entered the chat. Here’s why I’m ride or die for Mazama Coffee Roasters: those FREE SMELLS from their bakery. I’m not even kidding. If you’re sitting in the courtyard at Mazama on a cool morning, you’re going to smell the most incredible baked goods wafting out from their kitchen. You don’t pay a dime for that experience. It’s like aromatherapy but make it carbs.
My order? The lavender latte. I didn’t even know lavender lattes existed until I moved here almost 10 years ago, and now I’m a complete loyalist. It’s floral without being perfume-y, and it just works. Amber’s a chai girl herself at Mazama, which is also a solid choice.
Team Alchemy gets the nod when you’re trying to be healthier. Amber calls it her “health-focused” stop, which is code for “I need to balance out everything else I’m about to eat today.”
Pro tip: There’s a Little Free Library right outside Mazama. I literally cannot walk past it without checking what books are in there. I’ve picked up a few treasures and left some behind. It’s the perfect post-coffee activity!
Sacred Moon: The Store That Has My Whole Heart
Okay, if you know me even a little bit, you will NOT be surprised that my favorite store in downtown Drip is Sacred Moon. It’s my perfect little hippie store, and it has all the things that make my heart happy.
We’re talking crystals, natural stone jewelry, tarot cards, beautiful books, and an entire apothecary section. If you need a custom tincture made, they’ll do that for you. The ladies who work there are incredibly knowledgeable and so kind.
Here’s my Sacred Moon success story: I went in there dying from cedar fever (if you live here, you KNOW). My eyes, my head, my ears… everything was a disaster. They recommended cedar serum drops, and I had never heard of it before. You start taking it before cedar season hits. One drop the first day, two drops the second day, and you work your way up to like 30 drops. It introduces cedar to your system in tiny amounts so you build up immunity.
And it WORKS. I’m not a doctor, but I’m telling you, it works beautifully. (It might be too late to start now if you’re already in the throes of it, but bookmark this for next year!)
The coolest part? These ladies knew all this stuff before ChatGPT existed. They don’t need AI. They just KNOW.
Food Worth the Stomachache
After coffee, I’m heading to the east side of Mercer Street to hit up The Great British Baking Company. Their puff pastries are absolutely killer. My favorite is the chicken and mushroom one. Is it a breakfast food? Maybe not traditionally. But we’re doing what we want here!
Fair warning: It’s not gluten-free. But honestly? Sometimes it’s worth the stomachache. Every now and then, you just gotta live a little.
We could do this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The pastries at Mazama are also delicious if you want to keep it all in one spot, but I like making a whole day of it.
The $5 Mercer Street Challenge
Here’s where things get fun. Amber and I got on this tangent about doing an entire day on Mercer Street for $5. Like, how much free or cheap stuff can you actually do downtown?
Turns out? A LOT.
We’ve already covered the free smells at Mazama and the Little Free Library, but here’s another gem: geocaches! Back when I was in Leadership Dripping Springs (Class 4 or maybe 5… it’s been a minute), our class installed geocaches around Dripping Springs, with a bunch of them specifically on and around Mercer Street.
Fun backstory: We originally wanted to do a mural project, but the historic district has a lot of red tape around it. Then we thought we’d put one on a building just outside the district, but that became a safety hazard with all the traffic. So, geocaches it was! And they’re still there, waiting for you to find them.
If you want the cheat code, hit me up and I’ll show you exactly where they are. But where’s the fun in that?
Shopping Stops That’ll Make Your Day
If I’m feeling the shopping vibe, I’m hitting up Lucky Finds just off Mercer on Old Fitzhugh. It’s not like a regular store where the inventory is the same every time. You never know what you’re going to find! Go there today, go there next week, and it’s completely different stuff. That’s the magic of it.
I also love Starrs on Mercer for their styling and curated collection. They’ve got a food truck right out front, which is perfect if you’re getting hungry mid-shop.
And then there’s The Carriage House. I don’t have the design eye, so I love checking out what they’ve done with their space. It inspires me to not just put beige on everything and call it a day!
Nightlife & Karaoke: Yes, We Do That Here
When the sun goes down, Mercer Street transforms a little bit. If I’m ready for an alcoholic beverage in this weather, I’m starting at Hudson’s on Mercer. They’ve got great drinks and a really chill vibe.
But here’s where it gets REALLY fun: karaoke! You’ve got options, people.
Dog and Bone has karaoke and a totally different vibe than Hudson’s. Both are great, but they hit differently depending on what you’re going for.
And then there’s Dos Olivos. They actually take their karaoke setup all over Dripping Springs! Follow them on social to see where they’re popping up next. We’re thinking about calling them for a karaoke night on their patio, so stay tuned for that announcement.
Why Living Near Mercer Street Is the Dream
Look, I sold more homes in the Dripping Springs Independent School District in 2025 than anyone else. And you want to know one of the biggest draws for buyers? Walkability to downtown and Mercer Street.
People aren’t just buying a house here. They’re buying a lifestyle. They want to walk to Sacred Moon on a Saturday morning. They want to grab coffee at Mazama and browse the Little Free Library. They want to know their downtown merchants by name.
That’s the Hill Country magic, y’all. It’s not just about the real estate (though I can definitely help you with that at ashleytullis.com). It’s about the community, the small-town feel, and the fact that you can legitimately plan an entire perfect day within a few blocks.
Your Turn: Plan Your Mercer Street Day
So here’s my challenge to you: Plan your perfect Mercer Street day! Are you Team Mazama or Team Alchemy? Are you hunting for geocaches or browsing Lucky Finds? Are you belting out karaoke at Dog and Bone or sipping cocktails at Hudson’s?
Drop a comment on our Weekly Drip Instagram and let us know what your ideal downtown day looks like. Bonus points if you can do it on a $5 budget!
And if you’re thinking about making Dripping Springs home (or if you already live here and want to be closer to all this downtown goodness), let’s chat. I know this town inside and out, and I’d love to help you find your perfect spot in our little slice of Hill Country heaven.
Catch us every Tuesday at 2 PM for more local yapping, more recommendations, and probably more debates about which coffee shop reigns supreme. Spoiler: It’s Mazama. Fight me, Amber!
See you downtown! ✨
