Standing in line for a smoothie I didn't want, but it was a hot day at the mezzo market, and I noticed a backdoor propped open. I got curious and nodded to my friend. She poked her head inside, she nodded back and the decision was made to visit COPA without a word. It was bustling on the inside with market goers passing through, but it was controlled chaos on the other side of the counter. The workers knew exactly what they were doing and even in busy time of the market they were quick to buss tables, get ordered items to customers fast and the bathroom was pristinely clean. The bumping A/C provided instant relief as we claimed the stools by the bar. My friends and I quickly agreed, this place is an absolute gem. So gorgeously decorated and the drinks, the mocktails, the pastry items, the food were beautiful and delicious. It really appeared they did everything well here. Service was impeccable and the side salad I ordered was so crisp and refreshing. Honestly 5 stars all around. The food, service, atmosphere and drinks were sensational and exceeded all expectations. read more

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4.5 worth rounding up to 5 stars! On a night I had my heart set on kebab (my NY roots had me craving halal truck), it was going to be tough for anything else to be satisfactory. We walked around a bit and I decided to try Copa, honestly out of hunger and a bit of desperation to also satisfy my picky kiddo (she saw coconut shrimp on the menu). This "Afro-Latin fusion" restaurant is underselling that they have the best Cuban food I've had in the city. It felt like home cooking of my favorites. The steak was perfectly tender and the chimichurri was a perfect compliment without being overpowering. The mango salad it came with was light and refreshing, and to my relief contained a few cherry tomato bits but no peppers (in my desperation I did not communicate my nightshade sensitivity). My daughter's coconut shrimp were great, my only complaint there is she would have eaten twice as many. The fries were nothing special, ask to substitute for tostones for sure. The maduros appetizer was yummy, pickled cabbage offset the sweetness beautifully. This is also a perfect Friday night spot- their happy hour is every weekday until 7:00pm, an $8 mule with my meal yes please! And it wasn't a skimpy pour, it was a nice balanced drink. My only slight disappointment was finding their black beans prepared with a ton of bell peppers, again I didn't advise ahead of time of my sensitivity so that's on me, but I strongly prefer the flavor without them anyway. And the rice was fine, plain white rice, which again is making me think I'm eating with family. This may have "fusion" on the door, but this was Cuban homestyle cooking at its best. What made this round up was the service, everyone we encountered was wonderfully friendly and genuinely helpful. I't wasn't the halal I had in mind tonight, but I'm leaving happy, and we'll come back on purpose! read more

The atmosphere is chill. Love the art work and the DJ was spinning. I had the Special - Shrimp Al ajillo. The tostones were very good. The rice and shrimp complimented each other well along with the tomatoes and avocado. My wife had the steak and was satisfied with it. The Cajun fries were very good. The cucumber salad was ok. The Hangover mocktail and the lemonade were ok. The portions were solid. Although I think the prices are a bit high. The service was on point. Overall, good experience and worth checking out. read more

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I have visited this restaurant a handful of times and have never been disappointed. I got the half off sangria on Thursday. It was good. My date decided to order a bottle of wine and he said he did not enjoy it, but he was RAVING about the jerk chicken. He told me that he would come back and order the jerk chicken by itself. We definitely have future dates planned at this establishment. They have hookah available in their outdoor seating, sometimes live music, and visuals on the TV. read more

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Another great experience in St. Pete! I visited this spot with friends for our monthly meetup and this place did not disappoint! Nice cozy spot with a Caribbean vibe. Service was impeccable! Andre tended to our every need from helping us choose the perfect beverage to start off the night to guiding us through dinner selections on the menu. Drinks were superb, apps were scrumptious and dinner was delicious! My favorite was the coconut shrimp! We even toasted the night with one of their signature shots! Can't wait to visit again to try other menu items. read more

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This is our go to spot for years. The owners are always welcoming. For a brief time the staff wasn't exceptional but that quickly changed for the better. Together with the welcoming staff, flavorful food, drinks and the music selection this place is a vibe. We were thrilled when they expanded and added the cafe. We tried a new whisky today on the cafe side. It's a new fav! read more

COPA - Japanese whisky - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Been here a few times and finally reviewing. Our waiter was super attentive. We sat outside since we had a pup. For a late lunch we ordered the salmon tacos, shrimp tacos, yuca fries, and rice and beans. The shrimp tacos had better flavor than the salmon. The only thing that was not so great were the beans, everything else was yummy. read more

COPA - Salmon Tacos and rice and beans - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

-First time here -Love the vibe! -Not packed for a Saturday night -DJ Santos set was INSANEEEEE -the conch fritters + the aioli tasted like I was at a beach side restaurant in the Caribbean -the Cajun fries weren't my favorite -great drinks at a great price point - I'll definitely be back -Taylor our waiter has been great. He's been working all of the tables in our area on top of being a bartender. Kudos to him read more

COPA - Conch fritters - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

I went for a birthday celebration and was not disappointed. The food, service and ambiance were en pointe. Jay our server was amazing read more

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COPA has a great reputation around the TB and SP area, so I knew I needed to try it! The vibe of the restaurant is really nice for dinner. Great ambiance, great music and a very casual intimate setting perfect for a few friends or a date night. Our server was so friendly and was able to give us some great recommendations. They had a nice wine selection and my friend got the white sangria, which we all liked our drinks. We shared the copa tostones as an appetizer, but went with the suggestion of swapping the mojo pork for the barbacoa (definitely recommend!). This was a really good app with lots of flavor. Two of us got the jerk chicken, which is actually a bowl instead of a plate. We both really enjoyed it and it has a great amount of spice! I added pickled red onion and it really enhanced the entire dish. My other friend decided to order the tacos app as her meal, but chose the mojo pork since we had the barbacoa for our shared table app. Unfortunately, the tacos were lacking. The toppings could have been better (mainly lettuce) and the chicken had a bit too much liquid/juice. Since the tacos are normally barbacoa, we couldn't judge this too much. Overall, I really enjoyed this spot and the food was good! I would recommend if you're looking for some Afro-Latin Carribean fusion! read more

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Service was great, and the drinks were fireee. I think a bit sweeter for my initial liking but i deff enjoyed them. i got the tostones with barbacoa but would get it with the pork next time as i think it would've been a better pair possibly. chips were insanely good n the salsa was so fresh. the vibes were so cute as well! read more

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It was just ok. I was expecting more to be honest. Didn't see the hype. Not sure if people just come here to drink but food was just ok. Had a ceviche app and it was good but not great. read more

COPA - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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The good: the ambiance, the decoration feels cozy. The location on Central ave. The Not that good: * the service was very slow last Friday, we had to ask the servers for getting order in, our check, then to get the check, we had to asked another server to assist because our server was nowhere to be found. * Food: it was ok, we got the tostones and the steak plate with fries, the fries were good. The steak wasn't very flavorful. * Drinks: I ordered a white sangria because it said it had guava, it didn't taste like it. The server brought me some guava juice to add more, because I thought I had gotten a wrong drink. The menu is very limited. I think it's changed often. I didn't even take pictures read more

The service at COPA was a 10/10, the waiter was super sweet, gave good suggestions and gave us refills before our cup ever got empty, very attentive. The seating is a little bit uncomfortable for big groups but for a party of 4 and less it's just right. Decoration is cute and ambiance is nice. The food personally i don't feel like it's worth the price. The steak is good but not crazy good for the price in my opinion. I'd give food a 7/10 read more

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Host and manager clueless - 6pm arrived. No idea how long the wait was. Good food and vibe but the front of house staff was lost and had an attitude read more

It's a pretty big difference of what their online menu offers vs what their actual menu offered. I wanted to get truffle scallops and yucca croquettes however neither were available. My husband got the steak frites however the online image is different than what he got (see images). I ordered an appetizer of maduros which delicious but small quantity or less than I was expecting since it looks like a side portion which was half the price. I liked my hibiscus mocktail a lot. The staff were kind and accommodating. There is limited free street parking nearby. Overall seems more of a drink spot. read more

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We were hoping to get into a restaurant down the block but it was packed. 45 minute wait if lucky. So, we walked away and spotted COPA. It was the restaurant of Caribbean foods from Jamaica and part of Cuba. The crowd was outside and a few tables inside. We went in and where shown a table to take. Sitting down were were handed the menus and fresh water. Making our selections, including the Red Stripe beer from Jamaica, we sat and waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. There was an event int he other room and the food was moving into it. So, we waited. 45 minutes later the waiter told us there was this event and the kitchen was slow, only a few minutes soon. We were ready to leave, but they told us it would be coming out. 10 minutes later it did. Part of it anyway. They forgot one entree. We were told they needed to re-cook the Conch Fritters. That took a few minutes and we could eat. The Conch Fritters was a nice portion. It was like eating a bread roll. Not much with the conch. It was hot in texture. There was a spice dip for it. Lots of bread crumbs. The other dishes was the special; Chicken Curry over rice. The curry was not spicy. It was dry. No moisture. There was no taste or flavor. I used some of the conch dip to add more flavor. The fried plantine was more bread crumbs and nothing else. After the meal we did have an order of Churros that were freshly made. This was the better part of the meal. It was topped with caramel and chocolate. Overall, the pricing was fine for this. The atmosphere for a Saturday night was typical on Central. The food was fair. Not like you would have in taste if in Jamaica. As for the service ---- No Comment. You can also have a Hookah here.....That is okay if you like pipe with hot air. read more

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Finallllyyy made it in to Copa! I've been very excited to visit. The day I went was taco Tuesday they have such amazing deals $4 tacos $5 tostones and $8 classic cocktails and to top it off. The vibe and the atmosphere is amazing. It's cute. It's cozy, it's warm, it's inviting. I can't wait to go back. I got the mojo pork and barbacoa beef tostone as well as the mojo pork taco, which was topped with Haitian pikliz. I do, however, wish the pikliz had a little bit more spice to it. Maybe a pepper sauce. The mojo pork however was really good and juicy, but the pikliz could've used more of a kick. Other than that, the service was great on both the restaurant and the café side. I visited both and they have multiple events which really adds to the comforting atmosphere that they've created. read more

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Stopped at COPA for the first time in DT St. Pete before a concert at The Sound in Clearwater. This place was perfect because we saw UB40 so having Afrolatin food was just what we wanted before that concert. The jerk chicken was amazing and was the right amount of heat with the amazing taste. It was super filling. Also the caipirinha was a really good cocktail that is Brazil's national cocktail (similar to a marg). My mom got a mocktail with strawberry and hibiscus which was delicious too. I will definitely be back and am curious what the ambiance looks like at night as well. Our server was amazing. He suggested two items we got with the barbacoa tacos and the jerk chicken. The flower on top was really nice and added to the visuals of the dish. read more

COPA - Jerk Chicken with coleslaw, white rice and sweet plantains. - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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This is one of my favorite spots in St. Pete for a weekend night when I feel like getting out of the house but want more of a chill lounge-y vibe than a dance-y club. Have gone twice now with a friend for a drink and a hot tea and both times were sublime. There are two sides, the "bar" side is more lively and crowded and the cafe side is more laid back but also still has a full bar so it's kinda the same. Lovely ambiance with an inspired art collection including pieces by one of Tampa's best artists, Nneka Jones. First time I got pinot noir and a blue royal Thai oolong tea. Both were great but second time there was even better. My friend and I could not decide on cocktails and the bartender overheard our long detailed discussion and offered a cocktail that wasn't on the menu - a lychee lavender vodka drink that had been a season special months ago but they still had leftover ingredients for. We both got that and it was incredible. I then got a hot "pink flamingo," a fruity hibiscus green tea and was BLOWN AWAY!!! This was no ordinary hot green tea. It was served warm, and usually I despise when tea goes from hot to warm, and in a highball glass with a mildly fruity pink foam on top. Somehow the temperature worked perfectly. It was IMPECCABLY steeped so the flavors were at their absolute best. It was also very lightly sweetened, and I almost never like sweetened hot tea, but again somehow it worked!! I haven't tried their food yet but looked through the menu out of curiosity and need to try. read more

COPA - lychee lavender vodka cocktails - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Been here more times than i can count! Love the vibes of sitting at the bar. Always easy to just walk in and get a spot. My favorite drinks are the bombay breeze, carajillo, spring fling & crazy in love!! read more

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Came here after discovering they also offer breakfast and coffee in the mornings. We were not disappointed. Excellent speciality coffee drinks and the sandwiches were fresh and flavorful as well. We also loved the decor and vibe. We'll be back soon! read more

COPA - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Perfect intimate setting for date Great happy hour selection, with well executed espresso martini. read more

COPA - Espresso martini - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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cpoais a honky tonk Barr. I had red snapper which was overcooked. While the hors d'oeuvres were tasty and the service was fine. I would rate my experience at a 3.2. read more

I've been for coffee, dinner, and just for drinks... it's always an amazing experience and vibe. The coffee is delicious and their breakfast sandwiches are great. The drinks are also delicious. When we went for dinner the staff was also super friendly. Highly recommend read more

This is a pretty cool restaurant. The menu is kind of small and there are limited gluten-free options. I had the jerked chicken with beans. The jerked chicken was fantastic in seasoning and taste and it was well cooked. The beans not so much, there was more liquid then beans in the bowl. One of the women working there noticed how watered down the beans were though and she took them and brought back a new bowl without me even asking. The drinks are very great here as well as decor. There is indoor and outdoor seating as well and a bar. The vibe was pretty nice as well on a Friday night. We had the jerked chicken, tacos, fries, and cocktails and everything was good. I would return. I just wish they had a better rice option to go with the chicken and beans. read more

We popped in for happy hour and what a great place! The specials were $4 tacos and drink specials. The chicken empanadas were delish and crisp. I had the tuna, shrimp and tofu tacos. Hubby enjoyed the pork and beef tacos! All $4 each even the tuna and shrimp. There is patio dining too! I am sure all these restaurants and business are hurting with baseball season and the stadium closed. Please support those close to us. Thanks read more

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I loved coming here it is small and intimate and has such a good vibe and great music and food the staff was super friendly and upbeat. I loved the food it was amazing words can't describe the taste of the food because everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection I look forward to coming back soon and enjoying some great drinks and food. Also try their espresso martinis they are delicious! read more

COPA - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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On Saturday nights you cannot make a reservation. We called earlier on the day and the host said just stop in later. We had a high top for 4 near the bar. The appetizers were petite but full of flavor. Would love more fresh salsa to match the portion of tortillas. The tuna was dressed well with ponzu and sesame seeds. The restaurant is hip, plenty of art work , loud music dim lighting. I ordered a white wine but my friends loved the different tequila cockatils. read more

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Ambiance good Service- not good!! we ordered a spicy margarita that was not spicy at all. Told bartender and his reply was 'really I put one slice of jalapeño in it' did not offer to remake it. Well when you order the next one I will add more jalapeños' There will not be a next one!! Will not be coming back! read more

Last Saturday, we went to celebrate my friend's birthday. They don't take reservation so we just walked in. We were a party of 8 and it seems like they were overwhelmed by such a large group. Our drinks came pretty fast and they were really good. The food took quite some time to be served but everyone was happy with their selection. Although we sat outside, I went inside to take pictures and I must say I love the decor, so many beautiful paintings. They have two sections one for hookah and one section for food and drinks. I really enjoyed their music selections. If I am in the Ste Pete area, I would definitely go back. read more

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COPA was the perfect pitstop to kick off our night in St. Pete! My friends and I popped in to support our friend who was DJing, and the vibe was on point. Great live music, smooth hookah options, and cocktails that were really well made. The energy felt chic but still relaxed, making it an ideal spot to gather, sip, and get the night started right. Definitely a go-to when you want good drinks, good music, and a stylish atmosphere all in one place. read more

The food is delicious and the cocktails are just as tasty. Great ambiance too! We sat at the bar in this groovy looking restaurant and we consistently had great service throughout our time here. If you're ordering tapes then be sure to try the barbacoa as your protein. Absolutely delicious. As for drinks, I might have had my favourite espresso Martini in St Pete here although there were some tasty modified made to it. Yet to try out the hookahs they offer here but you can only use them outside so I guess I'll have to come back when the weather's cooler. read more

COPA - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Amazing jerk chicken. Gosh I come back here just for this. It is so juicy, flavorful and authentic. A tad bit spicy though! It comes with jasmine rice and a sweet coleslaw. Unfortunately, the rice came out a little bit, crunchy and hard to chew. 5/5 The chips and salsa are also exceptional. They make the chips in house so they come out nice and warm. The salsa is savory, well above average! 5/5 It has a really nice ambience. This is the place you come to relax with your friends and just lay back on the nice pillows. read more

COPA - Jerk chicken with rice - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

My order and I ordered the churrasco and it was delicious. We also ordered the tostones and the flavoring of the shredded meat was good. The food came out fairly quickly and the ambience was nice. I would recommend. read more

Love love love. The ambiance,music, drinks and food were amazing. Felt welcomed and accommodated the entire time. Taylor was amazing - very attentive and he answered all of our questions. The owners were great and accommodated our table well for our bachelorette group! Come here if you're looking for amazing food. Taylor needs a promotion asap!!!!! read more

COPA - Copa is so cute. We love the waiter/bartender Taylor. Food is 10/10. Drinks are bomb!!!!! - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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So I gave this place a shot on Taco Tuesday and although I liked the vibe of the place some of the food items were not so good. The drinks were absolutely amazing and I would definitely come back if I'm in the area but probably only for the drink specials. They had a happy hour with half price classic drinks and this included my spicy margarita and expresso martini. Both drinks with the special came to $6-7 which is amazing especially for how good they were! The expresso martini was one of the best I've had! For food we started with the chips and salsa and it's crazy because you can tell the chips were fresh and made in house but the salsa definitely tasted like it came from a jar, which was very disappointing! The yuca croquetas sounded very promising but they were just ok. I also had a barbacoa taco that was on special for $4 and this was amazing the barbacoa beef had amazing flavor! For the Taco Tuesday special you can mix and match tacos and tostones so I also had a Mojo pork tostone but unfortunately it missed the mark. The mojo pork didn't have much flavor and it was topped with a basic dry slaw that looked like it came from a bag. Service was going great until we ordered a few tacos after having apps and a drink. After about 20 mins we decided to ask if our tacos were almost up but he had a puzzled look on his face so we could tell they were never put in. He did bring them out rather quickly once we mentioned we had not received them. Overall the vibe is cool but they could definitely do better at this place. read more

Had an amazing date night dinner. Fairly empty at 5pm on a Thursday, but the service was great. Wish we had some more salsa for 10 bucks but it was delicious regardless. The reef and beef was delicious as well. The steak was seasoned perfectly and the coconut shrimp was great. $8 espresso martini for happy hour was a plus. They have daily specials for each day of the week. read more

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Heyyyyyyy you guys!! Stumbled up upon this place by complete accident and was not mad about it. This restaurant has two sides that appears to be connected one side you can get great eats. We opted for the jerk chicken and the arepas! We enjoyed both! The other side is more like a lounge vibe you can hookah over there. There was a DJ. The music was played at a perfect volume where you were still able to enjoy the sounds and have great conversation. The service was great as well! The spot is no secret to folks visiting Saint Pete. We enjoyed our time here. read more

The vibe of this cafe is wonderful with the deco inviting you in to get cozy. Servers were friendly. Food was just ok, the barbacoa was a little dry and not super flavorful. The empanadas were ok. Maybe their dinner menu is better! read more

COPA - El Barbacoa - Latin American Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida