I don't drink coffee. After a bad experience when I was younger, I have never been able to drink coffee without immediately feeling nauseous. All that changed today, thanks to Sidewinder. My husband and I stopped in looking for a sweet snack after our lunch at Melt. I had heard good things about Sidewinder, and seeing that they had some treats from Take the Cake, we decided to give it a try. Looking at the menu, I noticed there were no non-coffee drinks. I didn't want to be that annoying anti-coffee drinker, so I just ordered the first thing I saw that sounded like it might not have coffee (the French Kiss, which has chocolate & lavender in it). Soon after, we received our drinks & cupcakes. The sweets were delicious, of course, but my coffee was the real surprise. I actually liked it! For the first time in years, I didn't throw out my coffee after just one sip. I actually couldn't STOP drinking! Whatever Sidewinders is doing, it's amazing, and I plan to go back very, very soon. read more

We were in Northside, saw Sidewinder, and stopped in. Our experience was very different than other reviewers (except maybe Kim S). Perhaps because it was Saturday afternoon? Mediocre espresso made into an incorrect macchiato (more like a latte). I see other reviewers rate the coffee here as excellent; either I got a very different cup or we'll just have to agree to disagree about what good coffee (or espresso, in this case) tastes like. [As a comparison, please see my review of BLOC coffee in Price Hill/Fairmount. ] Genuinely poor tea (either stale or horrible-quality Lapsang Souchong in a small teabag, couldn't tell which). Also guessing the water was not hot enough to brew properly. (It was my wife's tea and I didn't try it until she asked me to have a taste to see if it was really as bad as she thought it was. It was.) For reference, these were sub-Starbucks-quality drinks, by a large margin. I'm not a Starbucks fan; prefer independents. But at least the Starbucks baristas are friendly. Staff neither pleasant, nor professional, nor cordial; woman at the front would just say "You ready to order?" or "What can I get?" you to customers. This was on a Saturday afternoon and the place was less than half full, so it's not like they were slammed. Only plus was the pastry: we had a slice of chocolate pie that was pretty good. Lousy coffee, lousy tea, lousy service. That's three strikes, Sidewinder--you're out. If you need to find us, there is much better coffee and tea in this city, and that's where we'll be. Note to the owner: I'm not of these people who talks smack about everything. Check my other reviews. read more

My FAVORITE coffee spot in Cincinnati. Their iced caramel latte is so yummy! But, if you're feeling adventurous try the Mexican mocha. It was DELICIOUS!! Just be careful when you take your first sip cause that Cayenne pepper hit me in the back of the throat the first time. Their iced dirty chai is my FAVORITE!!! As far as food goes, they have a pretty good selection, both sweet and savory. I recommend their cream cheese, cucumber and dill croissant sandwich. But you MUST TRY their vegan zucchini carrot muffin!! read more

This is the ultimate local home town coffee shop. Right in the Northside business district, street parking and neighborhood folks just stopping in to say hi, this place is the best. First things first, the coffee is to die for. The drip coffee types are hanging from the main board and can change and are all good. The baristas REALLY know how to make a good drink. They have multiple milk options(almond milk ftw!) and they have great flavors to jazz your drink up if you want. They have food all day, from grab and go snacks in the fridge to fresh made sandwiches and homemade soups, they have it all. They are very vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free friendly. They also have a lot of locally made meals and treats. They feature art from local artists on the walls and are always in the know about what is going on around town. It is definitely worth stopping in and checking out. read more

Excellent coffee! I got an iced lavender latte and it was amazing. A bit pricy, but worth it. The food is decent. I got a bean burger which was good, but kind of dry. The tuna melt wasn't good at all. The space was super cute and cozy. read more

This is a very unique coffee shop...they have a bunny in the back that hops around in the warmer months. They have alcoholic beverages, as in Baileys in the coffee. I tried the hazelnut macchiato and it was pretty good. Didn't really expect such a little cup, maybe I was thinking Starbucks? I would definitely keep coming back. The staff is pretty good at suggestions. read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Hottie Toddy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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1) Hipster coffee in the center of hipsterville. 2) They serve pretty decent tea as well. 3) I went on national oatmeal cookie day, so having bought an oatmeal cookie... my review my be skewed a bit to the positive swing of things. I arrived at Sidewinder to meet an old high school buddy I'd borrowed something from. It's a tiny shop. Two tables up front, a couch and four tables in the back and some outside patio seating... but it was completely PACKED. It took fifteen minutes of waiting to end up with a seat when someone actually left instead of loitering. I'm sure the coffee was good, but I'm more of a tea guy myself. I ordered a nice smoky Lapsang Souchong on this drizzly rainy day and it did not disappoint. The one actually disappointing part: A refill on my water cost me money. It's hot water people, not extra tea, or an extra cup. You can give me free hot tap water. Oh, and I did like some of the artwork. read more

Stopped in here while running errands so I could refuel and use their restroom. Their cash register went down right when my Americano order went in, but they handled it very smoothly while keeping a good sense of humor. My friend tells me about the cute rabbit, but so far I haven't had the chance to meet him! Maybe next time. read more

I was pleasantly surprised to visit sidewinder coffee and find a good amount of seating. I was really not sure about how much room they would be inside, especially because the storefront is quite small. I also know that the shop is in North Side, which I have found to be a hit and miss type environment when it comes to businesses; some are very customer friendly, some have good products, and then others are just terrible at both. I'm not sure where they get the coffee from, I did not recognize the bags that they had on the shelves. It seems that they have a variety of options available to customers to choose from: some dark roasts and some medium roasts to name the ones that I was able to browse at while I was there.they keep two options on tap, a medium roast and a dark roast, and the medium roast Single origin Ethiopian that I had - while it is on the darker side of "medium"- Was very tasty. From what I saw, they had some food options, and free Wi-Fi - the standard offerings for independent coffee shop that wants to make it. Pleasantly surprised by this place, I shall be back when I had a meeting in North Side, sidewinder read more

Love getting an iced dirty chai here w/oat milk. They were out of oat milk once so i dont recommend the almond milk to be honest i went home and added my own oat milk for it to taste better read more

It is extremely dangerous for a caffeine-a-holic to live right around the corner for the treat that is Sidewinders Coffee House. That being said...I absolutely love it! Siderwinders offers some truly delicious coffee without the big business feel of Starbucks and the like. Not only that but they also offer snacks and treats from Take the Cake...YUM! The prices are comparable to Starbucks, but I find the coffee much more delicious and I like supporting small businesses. Now...as for the service I did have a similar experience to some of the other reviews I've read. I ordered something straight from the menu no special instructions just a carmel latte, and the woman making it seemed less than thrilled. She didn't say anything to me (despite us being the only two people in the place at the time) and there was a lot of slamming things around and grumbling. I have a higher tolerance for this type of behavior having worked in customer service of some form for the past 8 years. Even for me this was a bit over kill. I know your job probably sucks and I'm not asking you to be super friendly with me, but all the slamming and grumbling was a touch outrageous. That being said it doesn't keep me from going back. I do live around the corner, but I honestly just REALLY like their coffee and won't let a bad experience keep it from me. As long as I get my latte I'm a happy customer after the first sip. read more

Best Feature: Great coffee, love the atmosphere + location! Worst Feature: - - - - One of my favorite little places in Northside is Sidewinders. I've been here several times and every time I go, I get that cozy warm feeling inside where I know I could probably lose myself for hours in this place. At first when you walk in, there's a small front room that might be a bit off-putting for those looking to lounge - it can get busy and hard to grab a seat. Luckily they have seating in back as well that accommodates many. Not for really big groups, necessarily, but definitely a decent amount of people. I also love that they have free wi-fi! I had a hard time connecting when I stopped in last but I'm blaming that on user error. When I visited, I usually was using it as a good meeting point for other creative folks who were armed with a laptop and desire to sit for a while and chat. I love having this in the area as it's a fantastic place to meet up, grab a good coffee as well as some food treats. (Yes, food treats. I'll stick by this phrase.) The staff has always been very friendly and helpful as well, which can be a make-or-break point for me. I love the couch/cushioned seating options in back and I also think it has a cute quirky charm about it. They have a variety of drinks / items to choose from, so that's also a nice plus. I love a lot of options. Also customized my drink just fine. If you're around Northside and are wanting a caffeine fix, stop in! :) It's definitely one of the highlights of the area. read more

We came up to Northside to check out some record stores and stopped in for some coffee. Awesome vibe inside, and super reasonable prices for coffee. I got an iced coffee ad was happy to see they had different selections of creamer to chose from, including skim milk (bonus!). Went out back to enjoy the patio, and try to find this mysteriously cute rabbit everyone ha seen talking about. Overall awesome experience, can't wait to come back and try one of those cupcakes they have upfront! read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Best place for coffee other then the big name shops. They greeted you with a smile, and have internet if you need to stay connected. I had the White rabbit, which was very good. The server said to try the French Kiss next time I come in. I will be back. read more

Sidewinder is definitely a favorite coffee spot of mine. The coffee is always brewed to perfection and the speciality drinks are flavorful and unique. The decor is quirky and fun and there are lots of spaces to sit and get work accomplished. Bummer that you only get one free hour of wifi - so if you're looking for somewhere to work all day, this might not be your jam. The ONLY reason I'm giving this place 3 stars instead of 4 is due to the inconsistent service. Sometimes the staff is super welcoming and cheerful, and others they almost seem annoyed at having to work. read more

Been here a couple of times. I like their coffee, though they offer more on the blend side of things and not single origins so much... The second time that I went, I ordered a latte. Let me just run through this experience real quick. Service: absolutely rude and impersonal. Unprofessional even, to act in this way. I've read some reviews that have said that's kind of their trademark. If their coffee was worth my money, I might put up with it, but frankly their drinks are TERRIBLE. (And expensive! 4.35 for a small soy latte) I asked for a soy latte with half the flavor shot. The girl didn't try to accommodate my request whatsoever. There were no pumps on the syrups, she just eye balled it and dumped a bunch in there. Needless to say, it was sickeningly sweet. She slammed the steam wand in the milk pitcher, and then let it sit there while she got the rest of the drink ready. This is the worst way of all time, to steam milk. It was nasty, not frothy and delicious. It was lukewarm and just gross. Then the espresso.... The shot she pulled sat there and was freaking black. No crema or anything. YUCK! What really topped it off for me? The lady who rang me out and was working behind the counter had a black sweatshirt that was literally COVERED in white animal hair. WTF. Will not be back. The staff is AWFUL! And their drinks suck too. Sugar sugar and more sugar. No real quality of coffee! read more

Not only do I love, LOVE this neighborhood - but the coffee is superb! Sidewinders caters to coffee drinkers of all types, from exquisite lattes, coffee with cream or delicious iced tea or chai, but what all these drinks have in common is a fantastic bean and ingredients that matter. My favorite delight from this small coffee haven of cuteness is the Turkish Latte - yeah, try finding this ANYWHERE else. It is an infusion of spices used in the traditional Chai tea with espresso and milk (my case, light skim milk - it's fluffier, what can I say...) Not only are the drinks amazing but the snacks are carefully chosen home baked goodness accompanied by wonderful products by organic companies including granolas and cookies! The atmosphere is cozy and warm and you won't be hard pressed to find any new activities on the rise in Northside with flyers and posters set out for your perusal at any time. Enjoy and don't be afraid to personalize that drink or bask in the beautiful, full flavor of the Sidewinder bean! read more

Sidewinder has great coffee and personable baristas. I have not tried any food offerings as of yet, but I'll update this review when I do. It's a bit eclectic as far as coffee shops go, kind of a laid back style though. They have a small space in the front, but a larger seating area through the hallway and THEN a small patio space outside with 2 bunnies that just hop around and welcome you. It's pretty much the best. They also sell great local coffee by the lb. if you feel like just making your own. read more

The WiFi ain't free. Is that par for the course these days in da 'Nati? I haven't lived in this town for I while, but I thought that SOP for coffee shops worth their salt was to provide free WiFi. I guess it is free if you are already a customer of a certain local ISP, otherwise you've gotta pay via CC online. Yelp told me it was freeI asked specifically if it was free before I ordered. Liars. They do make a mean Americano, so +1 for that. read more

On a recent trip to Cincinnasty, I headed to the Northside, so my buddy Randy could check out the excellent "Shake It" records. While we were up there, I walked across the street to get some coffee at Sidewinders, which is a hip, bohemian kind of place in a hip, bohemian part of Cin-City, which is made even cooler by the fact that sort of average Cincy life permeates the Northside area. So what to make of this place? Well, the coffee was 'okay' in a good way. It's not anything to write home about, but it is definitely good and I would rather go here than a Starbucks (which I always think of as a solid 3). Really this place should get 3.5, but I will give the benefit of the doubt on this one. Having had a latte there, I can say that they have very serviceable coffee, if the baristas are a bit aloof (though, Cincinnasty has a very strange vibe, so it could just be a product of that) and the selections were plentiful. It seems like a smaller place than it actually is because it has a big back room to sit in (which I didn't really check out), but the overall urban hippie vibe was pretty great. They were also having a children's art exhibition when I was there, which was a bonus for me because I like children's art. Overall, pretty good. read more

I've only been at Sidewinders for 15 minutes but I'm liking what I see. As someone who does their best work out of the house and with a very strong latte, I need more places in my life like Sidewinders. There are three small tables when you first walk in, which threw me off a bit. There's more space in the back so don't panic. The back room is softly lit in true coffee house fashion. You can get a feel for how indie a place is when the decorations are primarily houseplants. I dig the exposed brick walls and there's a corner that looks like it's set up for performance. I could see a little poetry slam going down here. There's a long couch for lounging and little tables you can arrange in front of you. I also see a door that leads outside, which could be a pleasant spot to set up shop in the spring and summer. My issue is the lack of outlets. Battery life is worth its weight in gold (does it weight anything?) and that's one of the main draws in a coffee house for me. I'll be happy to trade outlets for stars. Oh, and my latte is wonderful. read more

Much better than Starbucks! I've come to Sidewinder for morning meetings a few times recently and I'm always impressed with their coffee. I always admire their delicious-looking pastries but I've been strong enough to stay away. There's a great sitting area in the back for meetings or to do work. Pretty quiet in the mornings. The only reason I'm not here more often is lack of parking. The staff is friendly and the place has always been clean we've I've come in. read more

I really liked this place. I'd much rather support a local small business than the big guys anyway of the week. I've been here a few times and each time have tried something different. It's definitely a unique place but a magnet for hipsters and hobo chic types. This is not necessarily a bad thing due to the mix of YP's and elderly that stream in. After all they got 4 stars. They don't give off that weird vide you get at similar places and seem relatively content with what they have to offer which is tons of regular, vegetarian and vegan options. Lots of delicious pastries and rolls, typical breakfast sandwiches and my recent favorite spinach and feta croissant. I stopped in for a red eye the other day and kombucha this morning and have not been let down yet. I only stop in when my wife doesn't go grocery shopping and I have to spend money on food. So far it's been money well spent. Because the food is good quality, It can be pricey but you get what you pay for as they say! read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Pecan roll. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I've been here a few times now. The first was to see a friend's art on display. That was pretty cool, and I love the chill hang-out spot in back. No pressure to pick up and go. Plus, wi-fi isn't great, which I think makes for a better study environment than when I've got wi-fi. The service is less than impressive. But the drinks are reliable. Moreover, it's a treat to order something to-go at Melt and walk down for a specialty coffee beverage. It's a little odd when the staff doesn't seem to know about the thing being advertised front and center on their little counter, but they eventually get it when you point to it. Or hand them the darn sign. read more

Was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my capp here! Not bad cinci! They have a pretty big small menu. I noticed they have a few different fresh brews of coffee for plain drip coffee - immediately regret not getting a cup of one if those instead of my cappuccino...next time! There is more seating in the back of the place. The front only has two tables... I'm yelping this place on the free wifi they have here! Stopped in here after a yummy lunch at Melt a few doors down. This was a winning combo for a Sunday afternoon!! read more

What a wonderful coffee house in northside! Great iced coffee and their food looked really good as well! We sat on their back patio and we hear there is a rabbit around somewhere but we have yet to meet him/her! Definitely stop by this place for a quick coffee or sit and talk for a while! read more

Sidewinder Coffee - The rabbit has to be here somewhere!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Sidewinder is what you picture when thinking of a local coffee shop. There is quiet sitting area in the back if you want work or simply read a book. If you are feeling adventurous, order the Mexican Latte. There is a delightful sweet/spicy taste to it, and I highly recommend it. read more

Sidewinders seems to have become the Northside standard for coffee shops. The interior is inviting, interesting art hangs on the walls, the menu includes good coffee, good teas and good food. I've visited several mornings for my caffeine fix but really taken in the atmosphere when friends have played music in the back room. If the audience is larger than 15 people, seating can be a little tight. If you can find a place on one of the couches or benches you are set. The courtyard is small and sweet, a good place to catch a smoke. If you try the spinach croissant ask your barista to make sure it is warmed all the way to the center. read more

The funky monkey tho!! It's not on the menu anymore but you can order, banana mocha. Usually good art, been going here for many years and the strip just keeps growing. Now there's a Hemptations next door, so tag team those errands here. Lol read more

One of my favorite places in Cincinnati. I go here all the time. Their signature lattes are something special.

This place is great to sit and lounge, but if you want to get in and out quickly you're better off going somewhere else. The food is great and I love LOVE their french mocha, which has lavender. All the food I've tried has been fantastic. Especially, the rye bagel. Yum. read more

This is an easy walking destination for me and my four year old. I love the mocha, she always gets a kid's hot chocolate and a yummy cookie. It can be hard to find a seat, but when the weather is nice, we enjoy the patio out back. Especially when Patrick Swayze is around to hang out with us! I love coffee, and it is pretty good at Sidewinder. read more

Great ambiance; cozy back room! Awesome non-dairy, caffeinated beverages! Right next to Melt! Amazing staff! What more can you ask for from a local cute little coffee shop?! (Their drinks are usually not that hot, so you have to often ask them to reheat in the microwave right when you get the order.) read more

I came here one afternoon before heading downtown to watch the Reds. I wanted something sweet after eating dinner at Django and Sidewinder was the closest place. The atmosphere is eclectic and fun; your pretty typical local coffee joint - pretty, clean, relaxing and has local art up on the walls. I had an iced coffee that was praline flavored, but I cannot remember the name. I apologize! The flavor was great, the prices were reasonable but my coffee unfortunately had a large amount of coffee grounds in the bottom. Not pleasant. At least I know there's actual coffee in it! Love the courtyard in the back. The baked goods on display looked amazing! Despite the minor slip up with my coffee, I'll give it another try. read more

Nice little coffee shop. We went there for coffee after having a burger at Tickle Pickle. We both had regular unadorned coffee. It is really, really good without being bitter. (Yeah. I am not a Starbucks fan.) I had an orange/chocolate chip scone. It was delicious. There is a back room wired for wi-fi. There is a courtyard with tables. Nice atmosphere; good coffee; great pastries. I'll definitely be back. (Don't tell anyone, but I like it better than the other coffee shop further up on Hamilton Avenue.) read more

Very good iced chai latte. The area out back is nice to sit in. Employees were friendly. Will return.

Great neighborhood business. Live music on occasion is nice. Friendly people and delicious drinks. Vegan Banana Muffin FTW!

We stopped here on our way to Downtown after we ate at Bridges down the street. We were not disappointed in their coffee. Very good coffee and chai. We also got he gluten free peanut butter bar (not sure if its called that but its in the cooler in the front) and omg! so delicious! read more

love sidewinder! their iced coffee is the best, and I love their tea options too! cool northside vibe. board games in the back. the baristas are all really nice too. great community opportunities to find out about here, love that it's open late. read more

Sidewinder Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The coffee is excellent. The eats are good. The parking is generally on street. The store is larger than expected. The back room has wonderful natural light and is cozy. I wish there were more coffee houses like Sidewinders. read more