Awesome local coffee shop with locally roasted beans! I love the Guatemalan and Kenyan Lenana blends.

Great place. I drop in everytime I'm in Cincinnati. The coffee is delicious, I love the blueberry honey latte.

Located at the corner of fair trade and vegan-ville, Sidewinder Coffee is quintessential Northside. Unlike some hipster-y coffee shops, though, Sidewinder Coffee doesn't come with a side of attitude and the staff always seems genuinely happy to welcome a customer. The coffee + pastries are great and there's even a patio with a bunny that roams free when it's nice out. That's right...You can drink your coffee with a bunny in the courtyard (I believe its name was Violet). Sidewinder is the perfect place to start a morning/afternoon perusing Northside. Grab a coffee and just walk in and out of the shops. This neighborhood packs a big punch when it comes to charm and a lot of that is because of great businesses like Sidewinder Coffee. tl;dr: Are you in Northside? Do you Want Coffee? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you should go to Sidewinder Coffee. read more

No idea how I haven't yet reviewed one of my favorite coffee shops in town. I've been frequenting Sidewinder for years. The drinks are great, the prices are reasonable, and there are always some small things to eat in case you work up an appetite while working. There's not a ton of space inside (although more than you might think from looking at the front), so it may be tough to find places to sit on crowded days, but the temperature inside is always perfect. There is outdoor seating, too -- and who can resist saying hi to the bunny rabbits out back?! read more

I decided to stop in Sidewinder after trying to decide what to eat on Labor Day. Nothing in northside was open yet, and I was starving because it was way past my weekday lunch time. Sidewinder is less than a five minute walk to my house, and is a place I've been wanting to try for the past few weeks. I cant speak on the coffee yet, I decided that I had my fair share of coffee at home already. But I can talk about the food. I tried the Spinach Feta Croissant and a Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil Salad. Both were amazing. Having just finished the Croissant I am literally debating walking down the street to get another one because it was that good. The service was really friendly, everyone seemed happy to be at work, and the barista who checked me out seemed like she was genuinely interested in how my day has been going. Being so close to my house I will have to make this one of my regular stops, and for sure try coffee next time around! read more

This is a nice little place, stopped by on a Saturday morning when I was having a car worked on in the area. Picked up some tea and a breakfast burrito. I had the black tea and it was good and really hot, I guess I am not use to yea being that hot because I was walking back to my car before I could drink it. The burrito was good, I had to pick it out if the fridge and they heated it up for me. This seemed like the small town typical coffee shop with plenty of room to sit in the back room and I like the patio in the back, nice and relaxing read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Sitting in the courtyard outback eating - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This was my go to coffee place, when I lived closer. I've had a variety of their menu and all was delicious and tasty.

Lucky you, Sidewinder Coffee, I've chosen you for my 100th review! You are deserving of all 5 stars! Your atmosphere is cozy and comfortable and the decorations are phenom. Your baristas are super friendly and my Mexican Hot Chocolate was extra hot (just like ordered) & delish! Generally I don't buy food from coffee shops, but I was starving and I ordered the cream cheese and cucumber sandwich. The entire time I was thinking "did I seriously just order that? I could make it at home for like, 25 cents" But then it came and I sunk my teeth into it and omg - maybe it was the fact that someone else made it for me, but it was worth every bit of the multiple dollars I spent!! Thanks for rocking, Sidewinder! Sincerely, A big fan read more

I have perhaps a slight preference for the coffee at Coffee Emporium in OTR, but to me Sidewinders has the best overall atmosphere and coffeehouse experience of any coffeehouse in Cincinnati. The staff is super efficient, friendly and helpful. The coffee prices are very good-all the coffee is from the local Northside La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie. Try the Helltown Brew, my personal preference! You can also grab a bite to eat-they have baked goods from Take The Cake. I sometimes grab a hummus plate or a sandwich if I need more than caffeine. The zucchini-carrot muffin is good too. If by chance, you have had your max of caffeine for the day, they have a nice selection of other drinks sitting in the cooler for you. I enjoy the laid back atmosphere, the comfortable back room, or the relaxing patio outside during the warmer months. When your out of the patio, keep an eye out for the rabbit running about enjoying his day. Sidewinders is a great place to catch up with friends, get your java fix to start of the day, or get some work on your laptop done using their free Wi-Fi. Make sure you check out the art on the walls-there is often some stellar stuff featured from local artists. read more

Great pricing! Stopped in to get a matcha latte- spoiler they don't have that as an option. But I got a London fog and it was super yummy. The prices are amazing! I got a large London fog for a little over $3! Definitely will continue to stop by on my way to work! read more

This is by far my favorite coffee spot in Cincinnati. As far as coffee places go, this one has a good amount of seating, both in the front and back. The front seating area has just two tables and is a good spot for people who want to bring their dogs in with them. The dogs are not allowed in the back seating area, as there is a bunny rabbit named Violet out on the patio. Overall, the staff and customers coming in a very dog friendly so it's definitely a nice place to bring your dog and hangout for a little. The shop offers a wide variety of drinks and food. They have the basic drinks (i.e- mocha, latte, etc), but also have some unique drinks like a lavender mocha. For food, their croissant BLT is really good!! Parking outside of sidewinder isn't bad and I've never had to walk far. Overall, I highly recommend this place. I go out of my way just to get coffee from here!! read more

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having recently moved to the Cincy area, I'm feeding my coffee addiction by trying out the local coffee bars. Sidewinder comes on a recommendation from a friend, so here I am this morning! Sidewinder is really one of those little "hole in the wall" kinda places. Actually, I do love the atmosphere, there's comfy-cool back room in which to sit with your laptop or iPad (me), and enjoy your preferred drink and perhaps some food that they offer. They offer free wifi, and the music selection playing is amenable to a younger audience (me!). It's kinda fun visiting these places now as a sister in veil lol.... Ok, the important stuff... I ordered a triple latte.... A most excellent choice. Perfect balance of foaminess and espresso, it's a great drink and I have to say soooo much better than Sbux. But then again, Sbux really is not for coffee aficionados. I also got a breakfast burrito - scrambled egg, bacon, provolone cheese - which was very tasty despite the fact it was pre-made and blasted in the microwave. That was I guess the one disappointment was the burrito not being freshly prepped, but as I said, I tasted very good anyway, and the salsa side was a great combo. All in all, I like Sidewinder and would def recommend to friends and will come back myself. It's edgy, which I do love. It's a bit off the beaten path - or so it seems for me. It's no-frills - paper cup, no huge cup here - and that's cool too. And the crowd seems pretty cool as well. Sbux is so mainstream now, it's nice to go to a real coffee cafe. read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Triple latte and breakfast burrito... Yumminess! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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love their coffee...HOWEVER cashier is extremely rude. makes me feel bad for ordering. never says hello and just waits for you to order while giving you a dirty stare. but we will keep going back bc the coffee is so good lol. read more

2nd and last time at Sidewinders--the employees clearly don't want to be here. awful service, which creates an uptight atmosphere. the whole place is far too small to be comfortable. if they were giving away coffe, money and massages I still wouldn't go back read more

Cute coffee shop in Northside! Staff is friendly, menu is wide and they have a ton of seating! What I like most about Sidewinder is that it is perfect for working and catching up with friends. I went on a Sunday afternoon and saw a mix of both. I ordered my go-to iced hazelnut coffee and it was delicious! One of the best iced coffees I've had in a long time. It's affordable, cozy and a has great coffee! read more

I stopped in to grab an afternoon coffee to fuel the rest of the day and I was glad that I did! I had a turkish latte (cardamom and honey) and a mini whoopie pie. Both were FANTASTIC! The latte was definitely naturally flavorful and the cardamom was the perfect amount of spice. The foam on top was particularly nice as well. The whoopie pie was basically buttery cream sandwiched between two lovely carrot-cake patties that were pleasantly nutty.. and it was not too sweet.. just right! This cafe definitely captures the personality of Northside with the eclectic and charming decor and noticeable support for local organizations and businesses in the community. For a small cafe, their menu definitely packs a punch with coffee, tea, non-caffeinated drinks, cold/hot meals, desserts, snacks, and a fridge with other little healthy items such as yogurt, wraps, and bottled juices and kombucha. Their prices might be a little higher than others, but its because of the fresh quality of basically everything on the menu (even the bottled drinks are made locally). I'd love to come back again and be able to spend a few hours sipping on a delicious drink while catching up on some work or chatting with a friend. read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Whoopie pie.. nomm. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Their drinks are probably some of the most unique/special that i've come across through my exploration of Cincinnati cafes. Mexican latte? (slightly spicy but much chocolate) and french kiss? I couldn't decide!! +1 for the really nice logo design. Will say that I'm not a fan of the ambiance. It's okay but not the most conducive work environment. The music is a combo of electric and rock. I suppose it's supposed to have a white noise effect.. but it's a bit too loud and in your face for me - though this totally fits the personality of the cafe. Also. The cafe is in a kind of sketchy location. Inside looks great but the surrounding neighborhood... not so much? Though I'm sure it's perfectly safe... right? read more

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Came here on Sunday afternoon with my husband. It's nice that they are open later than a lot of other coffee shops especially on a Sunday. I ordered the unsweetened matcha latte with almond milk because they were out of oat milk. My Matcha came out promptly but had clumps of powder still in it. It also was not my favorite tasting matcha. I tried to drink down most of it, especially since I went with a medium. It was just too lumpy to get down and I ended up throwing it away. I hate wasting things but this was definitely hard to drink. Hoping they can improve on making an amazing matcha latte in the future so I can return. read more

As far as coffee houses go, this place is top notch. Although I can't vouch for the actual coffee, I can vouch for the Chai, Lattes etc.. They are fantastic. There is plenty of seating in the back, and the WiFi is free. I like to grab a table up front usually to get my Northside people watching in. The staff is always nice, and the music playing is on point 9/10 times. Perfect place to lay low and nurse a hangover. Do yourself a favor and order a pastry. read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Best way to nurse a hangover. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Full disclosure: I used to live across the street... I started coming to Sidewinder because it was convenient. However, I now live in NKY and still find time to frequent this amazing lil place. Doggies are welcome in the front of the house. Hoomins can chill in the back or enjoy the fresh air in the back patio area. Great place to do some work, catch up with a pal, or spend some quality time with Mom. They even have a few board games. A cool feature is the rotating gallery of local art available for purchase! Always something new to ogle. My go to drink is the Turkish Latte and my go to treat is the Morning Glory muffin. Honestly, everything is worth a try but apparently I'm a creature of habit. read more

I really liked this place for its ample, cozy space and nice ambience. Don't let the view as you enter, fool you into thinking it's just as small as the 2 tables you'll see in front of the counter, as I was! There's actually more sitting space if you walk past the register. Also, there are 2 tables (each seating around 4-5) and a bench on the back porch of the shop. That area is open and has greenery, which I found to be very refreshing for a change and thoroughly enjoyed being there! The service is very satisfactory and polite, while the prices very reasonable. Nothing very expensive or very cheap. Apart from a decent varieties of tea and coffee, they also have cocktails, bakery products, and other snacks. It's a perfect place for a first date, unwinding, or some inspiration to continue what you were writing! read more

I admit, I had a preconceived connotation that Sidewinder wasn't the ideal coffee shop. I'm always happy when those thoughts get disproved. Sidewinder is actually quite wonderful! With the versatile options in drinks, breakfast and lunch foods, bakery options (vegan, too!) they hold a lot that many coffee shops in the area don't. They have a little bit of seating in the front room, but then you walk to the back and there is about 12 tables set up for small groups or individuals. Plus, they have an outdoor area that is beautiful (when there isn't construction happening right next door!). Prices are good, the employees are fairly friendly. I came here twice (I had to come a second time to get an appropriate feel for the place) and I wish that they were a little more welcoming, but they do their job. A pretty cool and "hip" place. read more

I got the chai tea with almond milk which was weak and bland-I prefer my chai spicier. There is no rabbit there anymore, unfortunately. The shop wasn't crowded and seemed like a quiet, chill place to work until I smelled mold in the back room. I have an allergy so that didn't work for me. I sat on the back patio, which is nice and intimate. read more

Sidewinder is your perfect example of a neighborhood coffee house. They serve fairly standard coffee and tea, local baked goods, seasonal prepackaged salads (from The Kitchen Factory around the corner), and soups and sandwiches. They have bottled sodas and kombucha, as well as a selection of cocktails. Northside is very much a "community", people are quite neighborly, and I always bump into someone I know. There are always people in front chatting, an assortment of people working silently or catching up with a friend in the back room and patio area. The interior is decorated with art from local artists, and the staff is friendly & knowledgeable. They don't wear uniforms and play their own music. Do be aware that they have a $3 credit card minimum. read more

Great spot to chill and enjoy warm caffeinated beverages and work on your laptop. The staff are laid back and cool, very Northside type of vibe. I had the Ying Yang Mocha on my most recent stop and wanted to order another one after the first sip. Ha. The WiFi was fast and the bathroom was clean. Price wise, the drinks and food are reasonable and worth it. #ShopLocal Parking is either right outside on the meters or if you go a block or two around the corner there usually are plenty of free spots. read more

I've been coming here for quite some time. The coffee is great. I've ordered several variations of drinks, all very good. What Sparked me to give a rating after such a long time here is the breakfast Tofu Breakfast Burrito. It was delicious and I had to share the joy! And I'm not a vegan/vegetarian, I just enjoy flavors of all foods. The reason SW won't get a 5 star just yet is because of outlet availability. Seating is plenty yet limited when looking for a power outlet for your device. I would suggest a power strip be installed along the pew. Nonetheless, SideWinders is an awesome spot and I will continue to invest in this local asset. read more

It's really hard to give a place whose staff is consistently unfriendly more than two stars. I live right around the corner from this place and out of convenience, we go there a lot. The coffee is really good. But, come on! The staff is downright unwelcoming, unhelpful, and snotty. The staff at the University Starbucks gives better service, and that's saying something. I happen to think that being rude to your customers isn't part of any place's experience. You have to be much better than Sidewinders for that to be okay and acceptable. Some specifics: they never smile at babies, most of the baristas are lacking in the hygiene department enough for the smell to waft over the counter, and there's too much grumbling about other customers. True story-- my husband and I were in there while two staff members were complaining about a customer they had just waited on. Northside desperately needs a new coffee house. read more

Came here because I wanted to try their Turkish latte because it sounded very unique with the cardamom in the drink. Ordered it and the presentation of the latte was terrible. Looked like the barista just poured the milk into the espresso without any care in the world. Normally baristas try to make their drinks a bit of art because that's their signature on the drink. The latte had a very mild espresso flavor with over half the cup being foam. The cardamom was barely noticeable until the very last drops where there were chunks of the cardamom. Overall the drink was not impressive but it is a great place to study with an entire back area plus outside seating. Had available wifi which I was not able to get it to work. There are other coffee shops in Cincinnati that I think would be better to study at and drink coffee at read more

I've only been here five minutes and that's really all I need. The staff is rude and ignorant. They were annoyed at me from the minute I asked for a small Latte. For who knows what reason they started to pour a small coffee, I corrected them as quickly as possible. They proceeded to say it was fine but continued to slam anything they could. I don't know how I could have offended the servers in our twelve second interaction. I've asked around with some people I know in the area. I must have made a poor decision to come here. Part of the "experience" is the rude service. But let's talk about coffee. My latte involved steamed milk with a shot poured on top. They have a beautiful manual machine and they didn't even try. They used milk that sat out, my drink was cold, and they failed at a very simple recipe. Shots...then milk. Easy enough. I asked them about this, according to the woman with the cap who looked like she wanted to cap someone their method "preserves" the crema. It's a shame because the espresso itself might not be bad. Perhaps under the supervision of someone who showed that they cared and had some sort of tact. The one star is for the decor, exposed brick and a clean shop. I would have liked to stay but I just couldn't sit through it. I tried having them remake my drink but that just ended up with a scorching hot drink. My mistake for saying the previous drink was cold. I recommend the Alley coffee shop or Taza (also uses La Terza) over this any day. Don't waste your time. read more

Non-tippers beware: the staff will call you out in front of a crowd of people if you don't leave something in the tip jar. They use the terminology "code 2" and then comment on how their tip jar sign must not be working. Very rude and entitled. I didn't leave a tip because the service was poor! Employees need to learn some etiquette, or at least learn to be discreet when complaining about customers right in front of them. read more

There's lots of birds outside. So much flapping. I got swept up in a tornado of birds. It's been 2 fortnights and I can still hear the flapping. read more

I was so looking forward to my first visit to this hip, local coffee shop. It's located in the heart of Northside. When you walk in the storefront is small but inviting. There's a lot to take in, especially if you've never been. The barista was very friendly and nice. I decided to go with an iced coffee since it was a HOT September day. The iced coffee was tasty and I enjoyed it. If I was rating them for the drink quality & baristas I'd give them four or five stars. However, they lost it with the wifi situation. They only give you 1 free hour of wifi which is so frustrating! As someone who likes to get work done at coffee shops I was appalled that after 1 hour I'd have to pay for it myself! Are you kidding me?!? I just spent money on a drink & still only get an hour of wifi! I think this coffee shop needs to get with the times and offer free wifi to all their paying customers. Until they have unlimited free wifi, I unfortunately will not be back. read more

Amazing coffee selection and pastries. Great little shop and cozy feeling. Will be returning next time I'm in town!

I'm not from Cincinnati, but when I'm there, this is my coffee shop. The coffee is good. The ambience is chill. And it's in a cool neighborhood. What more could you ask for? Well, I'll tell you what more you could ask for! How about a place that lets you use the bathroom, even if you're not a customer at that particular moment?! I finished my coffee, took a walk, and -- as physiology would have it -- that's when it hit me. You'd think that having been a customer 30 minutes ago would still count in the world of "I'm sorry sir, but the restroom is for customers only." But apparently, not at Sidewinder. And another thing: I've got nothing against hipsters. I mean, I enter their habitat of my own volition, and I generally know the risks. But there's just something edgy and uncomfortable about the native fauna at this place -- whether it's the full body camouflage of the inhabitants, their vegan diet, or the protective spikes protruding from the rim every orifice. There's something 'raw' about this place, and I'm not just talking about the pastries. Look, Ms. Hipster-Visogoth-Hippie-Punk behind the espresso machine, I know your tattoos, piercings, and gluten allergies make you a better person than I am, but can I please just have a coffee? And spare me the lactose-intolerant attitude that comes with it. read more

The coffee and treats are always delicious (I've taken a liking to the chai tea latte-esque beverage) but after experiencing poor service time and time again, I won't be going back. I really don't expect too much from baristas or cashiers but not even mustering up a smile or a quick hello just turns me off from this business. I kept coming back thinking, "Oh it was just that person" or "Maybe they are having a bad day" but when it keeps happening every single time I go in, I know it's just the way it is. read more

This is a great place! They don't do frapp type drinks so if that's your thing this isn't your place. I love their vegan options and their coffee. The place is relatively calm and quiet, which I also really appreciate. read more

I spent an afternoon here with my laptop and found the place to be delightful. I had a ginger peach yerba mate tea that was well balanced and the Kentucky Royal, which is a boozy coffee drink topped with whipped cream. Both drinks were hot and fresh. I also had the pleasure of eating lunch here. The black bean soup was some of the best I've had (and I've had a lot!) due to the variety of other vegetables used in the recipe. The tuna salad sandwich was wonderful and served on delicious and light flax seed bread with cucumber and greens. Later in the afternoon, I ordered an everything croissant which is something that I have not seen elsewhere. I had a good, productive afternoon here and due to the delicious food and drink options, I would be happy to return. read more

I don't like coffee... but I love Sidewinder! That said, the special lattes here are so good that I am THIS CLOSE to liking coffee (I've had the Mexican and the French Lavender mm mm mm). For tea drinkers like myself, they have a solid offering of blacks, greens, and herbals. Sidewinder is the perfect place to hit up for caffeine to-go. Given the many restaurants in Northside where you could easily stuff your face, you'll find yourself needing it! But it's also a relaxing place to chill or get work done. Free wifi and seating in the back with plenty of outlets. If you get hungry, the Tarragon Chicken Salad is so simple and good (chicken from Take the Cake--can't go wrong there). You get a huge portion with cucumbers and grapes or chips. In my experience, this chicken packs a serious punch. I've been able to eat it over a span of two hours and not feel hungry at all for the rest of the day. Yummy and filling. read more

Decent coffee, I can appreciate the atmosphere though usually I take my drink to go. Even as a local + somewhat frequent customer, I never got a super friendly vibe from the staff. It seemed like there was a lot of talking over my head to a friend or more frequent customer. Sorry to be in your way giving you money + business! Didn't bother me enough to 'not' go, but I definitely would've been more often if that wasn't the vibe I got. On a positive note, they usually have specials and are consistently tasty. Try the mexican latte YUM! read more

Alright, so here's the deal... This coffee shop rules. It's got a good atmosphere, nice area and great decor. My biggest problem being that, despite me living across the country, I manage to come here and get the same rude barista. Ever time I've been to sidewinder, the blonde girl at the register has been an unnecessarily condescending coffee snob to myself and whoever I'm with. We get it. You know coffee. But not everyone going in there and ordering is a regular at Starbucks. I always enjoy coming here when I'm in Cincinnati, but I can do without the 'tude. Especially when it's also directed towards people who actually live here and would frequent it. read more