Troublemaker Cafe — Restaurant in Lynchburg

I was exploring Lynchburg over the weekend and stumbled upon Troublemaker Coffee, tucked right into the heart of a charming local toy and book store. Walking into what felt like a beloved community institution and finding serious third wave coffee inside was one of those delightful surprises that make travel worthwhile.

I ordered an oat latte and watched the barista work a gorgeous La Marzocco machine with the kind of confidence that comes from real skill. You can always tell when someone knows their equipment, and this crew clearly does. The espresso pulled beautifully: rich, balanced, with that syrupy consistency that signals fresh beans and precise extraction. They use Oatly, which is hands down the best oat milk for coffee. It steams to that perfect microfoam consistency and has the richness to stand up to good espresso without overwhelming it. The latte art was almost too pretty to disturb.

The result? Absolutely delicious. Smooth and creamy, with the espresso cutting through just enough to remind you this is coffee, not a milkshake. It’s that ideal balance that’s surprisingly hard to find, even in cities with competitive coffee scenes.

But what really won me over was the atmosphere itself. Surrounded by books and toys, with the gentle ambient sounds of a well loved local shop, Troublemaker offers something increasingly rare: a genuine third place where you can settle in, read, and just breathe for a while. The servers were fantastic, warm and attentive without hovering, checking in at exactly the right moments.

I was also glad to see they sell Slowpoke sourdough loaves. Clearly they know quality when they see it.

It’s the kind of spot that makes you wish you were local. If you’re visiting Lynchburg, bring a book, order that oat latte, and give yourself permission to linger. Troublemaker will make it worth your...

Troublemaker cafe just opened inside of Givens Books Little Dickens. Such an amazing addition to the bookstore. These guys know food and have an amazing menu of sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and great coffee. I got the “Kitchen Sink” which was delicious. Melt in your mouth pastrami and the perfect medley of flavors. My wife got the “Lightweight” which she loved as well. So excited to see a new Cafe here and strongly recommend giving it a try. Cant wait to try some other sandwiches on the menu. They all...

There's not really a specialty sandwich shop in Lynchburg so this one is a STELLAR choice. Being inside Givens is a bonus fun trip for me, b/c Givens is my favorite place to go in town other than home. My partner and I went and split two sandwiches and both were outstanding. Excited to try the rest of the menu and the staff there is incredible. Also, Thank you for having hours that mirror the store and not just sitting dead and making those of us regular givens customers wish we could get...