★★★★★
Great coffee, friendly staff, and fun breakfast treats. The Mexican Mocha with a little cayenne kick is the move.
Coffee Shops · South St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg
Southside Coffee
Brew Bar
01
The place
Southside Coffee Brew Bar is a specialty coffee shop in South St. Petersburg, Florida, at 3922 6th St S, next door to Munch's Restaurant. Owner Sheila Smith opened the bar in January 2015 after more than 25 years in the coffee industry. The menu includes espresso, cappuccino, lattes, cold brew, locally brewed kombucha and kratom tea on tap, plus handcrafted organic teas and herbal drinks. Specialty pours include the Mexican Mocha, Hot Dirty Chai, Cold French Latte, Kratom Ginger Bomb and mushroom lattes. The kitchen counter rotates vegan and gluten-free pastries such as blueberry oat bars, cinnamon rolls and cronuts. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with indoor seating, an outdoor patio and free street parking near the Coquina Key waterfront.
Tucked into a converted storefront on 6th Street South next to the iconic Munch's, Southside Coffee Brew Bar has been the neighborhood's go-to caffeine stop since 2015. Owner Sheila Smith built it as a community-minded specialty bar — small, sunny, conversational — and the regulars treat it that way. It's a quick walk from Coquina Key and a five-minute drive from downtown St. Pete or the Skyway.
Order the Mexican Mocha (chocolate with a cayenne kick), the Hot Dirty Chai, or a Cold French Latte. The bar also pulls kombucha and kratom tea straight from the tap, plus mushroom lattes and the Kratom Ginger Bomb for the curious. Pastries swing vegan and gluten-free — blueberry oat bars, cinnamon rolls, cronuts and bagels rotate through the case alongside breakfast bites.
Specialty-coffee fans crossing town can find a similar single-origin focus at Bandit Coffee Co., a micro-roaster in the Grand Central District pulling pour-overs and espresso from beans roasted in-house.
Another Grand Central roaster working in the same in-house, single-origin mode is Black Crow Coffee Co, pulling espresso and pour-overs on 1st Avenue South with a dog-friendly patio of its own.
Downtown crossover drinkers chasing the same single-origin approach can pair a visit with Paradeco Coffee Roasters, an in-house roastery inside the Sundial complex pouring pour-overs and espresso a block from the waterfront.
Across town in the Warehouse Arts District, Bean Wandering Coffee works a similar specialty-bar playbook on Central Ave, pulling espresso, pour-overs and an 18-hour cold brew out of a converted warehouse with a dog-friendly patio.
Downtown drinkers tracking the same single-origin pour-over focus can pair a visit with Bad Mother, a second-floor specialty bar on 1st Avenue South pulling seasonal lattes like horchata matcha and cardamom rose alongside NYC-style bagels.
Another in-house roaster worth pairing on a downtown swing is Gypsy Souls Coffeehouse St. Pete & Gypsy Beans Coffee Roasters, roasting its own Gypsy Beans on-site at 515 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N and pouring espresso, pour-overs and cold brew alongside breakfast sandwiches.
Downtown walk-in drinkers chasing the same specialty pour-over and seasonal-latte focus can pair a stop with Daycation Coffee, a 4.8-star cafe on Dr M.L.K. Jr St N pouring espresso, pour-overs, matcha and seasonal lattes alongside light breakfast and pastries.
Downtown drinkers chasing a similar Fair Trade, single-origin focus can pair a stop with Crislip Cafe, tucked inside the historic Crislip Arcade on the 600 Block of Central Avenue and pouring organic Cafe Femenino beans locally roasted by Joffrey's.
Downtown drinkers tracking the same in-house roasting approach can pair a stop with Kahwa Coffee, whose flagship cafe on 2nd Avenue South pours espresso from beans roasted at its St. Pete roastery a short walk from the Pier.
No reservations needed — it's a walk-in coffee bar with limited indoor seats and a small patio out front. Street parking is free along 6th Street, and dogs are welcome on the patio. The shop opens early at 6 a.m. weekdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. on Sunday, and closes by early afternoon, so plan it for breakfast or a morning meeting rather than an evening hangout.
Specialty espresso and pour-over coffee
Kombucha and kratom tea on tap
Vegan and gluten-free pastries
Black-owned, woman-owned
What to expect
Expect a small, friendly neighborhood coffee bar with a tight specialty menu, fast service from the owner-operator behind the counter, and a regulars-heavy vibe. Indoor seats are limited; the patio is the move on cool mornings. Cash and cards both work, and the bar closes mid-afternoon.
Then come for the photos
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The shop, in frames
Sponsored · Florida Hidden Spots
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What people are saying
★★★★★
Small spot, big personality. Cold French Latte and a Hot Dirty Chai are my regular order — best coffee in the 'hood, no contest.
★★★★★
Owner Sheila treats you like a regular on day one. Love the kombucha on tap and the vegan oat bars — feels like a real neighborhood spot.
06
Frequently asked
Does Southside Coffee Brew Bar take reservations?
No — it's a walk-in specialty coffee bar. Mornings between 7 and 9 a.m. are busiest, so arrive earlier or after 10 a.m. for a seat.
Is Southside Coffee Brew Bar dog friendly?
Yes — well-behaved dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio. Indoor seating is reserved for service animals.
Where do I park near Southside Coffee Brew Bar?
Free street parking is available along 6th Street South directly in front of the shop, with overflow on the adjacent side streets near Munch's.
What are the most popular drinks at Southside Coffee Brew Bar?
Regulars order the Mexican Mocha (chocolate with cayenne), the Hot Dirty Chai, the Cold French Latte, kratom tea on tap and the iced matcha with vanilla.
What are Southside Coffee Brew Bar's hours?
Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bar closes in the early afternoon — there are no evening hours.
Does Southside Coffee Brew Bar offer takeout or delivery?
Yes — every drink and pastry is available to-go from the counter. The shop also lists pickup ordering through the Joe Coffee app.
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Closest spots by distance
Other places to fold into the same trip — measured straight-line from Southside Coffee Brew Bar.
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From Instagram
@southsidecoffeebrewbar