The Blind Tiger Cafe - Ybor City - Coffee Shop

Reviews 6

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C Lee

Too cool for you? I live in Ybor and have been to this coffee shop more than 10 times. I was off work for a while, would walk here several times a week and get a coffee drink. However, I now walk past and head over to The Bunker coffee shop instead. Decor is great but not entirely comfortable. There is one couch and two leather chairs that are lounge worthy. The rest are normal leather chairs comfortable but not "chill here for a few hours" type. There is a bar top with stools around it which are really awkward to sit on and make you feel like you are in the way of people who are in line to order when it gets a little crowded. After you order your coffee they dont really say anything like "please relax and we will let you know when your order is ready" so at first I would just stand and wait until I realized they take a while to make it. They are polite but not friendly baristas. I really wanted to make this make my go to shop where people knew me but they arent very sociable even when your standing there waiting for a coffee. They like to talk amongst themselves and honestly I felt like they were "too cool" to talk to me since Im not dressed hipster-ish. I tried but the only really friendly person I encountered was the actual owner one day. For $5 plus dollars a coffee, I want the whole experience not a bad & more expensive version of Starbucks. Also this is an old building so there is no ADA accessibility. If you have a wheel chair (forget it)or stroller its a pain to get in the doors. They are narrow & you have to have someone open both doors if you need more space to get in, with no ramp. Frankly I get FRIENDLY service, great coffee, more lounging space and easy accessibility at The Bunker. If you want to buy an expensive coffee and take some cool pics on your phone for social media stop by. Otherwise, I skip it.

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Dennis Lemmermann

This coffee shop is much more than just a coffee shop, its an experience, plain and simple. The authenticity and originality emanating from the entire establishment is so genuine and embracing that you cant help but get lost in the immersive culture that is The Blind Tiger. The staff is unbelievably Helpful and energetic, even to those who may not be avid coffee/tea drinkers (if you are looking to get into it, THIS is the place to start). The Coffee and Teas are TOP NOTCH and brewed with such care that they can easily turn a coffee hater into a bean grinding aficionado. The owners are hands on in this business and their passion is oozing out of every intricate fabric woven into each American made T-shirt. The Designs from Black and Denim have a beautiful aesthetic and attention to detail that BEGS to become a high fashion staple, and even better an AMERICAN MADE FASHION! On top of all this, you can actually become a part of the culture yourself in the Co-Work spot, connected to the establishment, dedicated to the bootstrap grabbing entrepreneurs of the city. One of the best networking opportunities I have ever been honored to be a part of. Plus they open their rooms for meeting spaces as well as community events. I can literally write pages on how amazing this establishment and its curators are, but nothing can speak louder that experiencing for yourself. I PROMISE YOU, It will NOT be something that you regret!

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Ric Rini

This is one unique place serving up some great coffee, teas and pastries all alongside a clothing store highlighting quality jeans and tops. Very different space and atmosphere. You can stop in for a relaxing cup of coffee or tea and do some leisure shopping at you own pace or sit and enjoy a break. There is nothing like it in Ybor or Tampa. The interior is well decorated and as soon as you enter the establishment you feel welcomed by the inviting atmosphere and set up of the floor space. Its not crowded and has a nice cozy feel. I ordered the 16 ounce cafe con leche. Wow, no kidding one of the best tasting I have ever had and have had a lot of cafe con leche in my time. Only issue is that it had a lot of foam (therefore I think it may have really been 12 oz of actual coffee) and it could have been hotter. But I can look past all that since it tasted so good. My wife had the Florida Orange Blossom iced tea and that too was tasty. Service was friendly, courteous and prompt. We had a great experience here. Its worth the trip to venture down to the East side of the 7th Avenue strip. **TIP/NOTE** Unfortunately, they do NOT serve decaf!

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allison nielsen

I like Blind Tiger and foresee it becoming a go-to coffee spot for those in the Ybor area. The service is friendly, the coffee is strong and the vibe of the place itself is really hip and unique. Blind Tiger is located further down 7th Avenue closer to Columbia so its a little out of the "busy" part of the street. I think this is a good thing since it means the shop can be a little getaway from the craziness of Ybor. The coffee itself is really good. I generally dont tend to like Buddy Brew all that much, but I have had several lattes here and they are pretty well-made. The girls usually working here are always very friendly and seem like theyre having a good time. The inside of the shop also has a clothing/store area which is really cool! Its not too commercialized though so its all local stuff and really has this Americana vibe that almost reminds me of being in Nashville again (which has lots of hip coffee spots). Definitely a good little addition to the Tampa coffee scene.

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Chris Gunn

I stopped in recently for a latte. I had passed The Blind Tiger many times, and frankly, I didnt even know it was there until my manager asked to have a meeting there. I was very pleased with the staff - very friendly and cordial, but let me get to my seat without being hounded with the need to socialize. It wasnt too busy in the cafe when I came in, but busy enough to want to grab my spot next to a plug. The coffee was very nice. My issue with coffee comes when it is overly acidic. For whatever reason I get a sore throat after coffees that are too acidic, and TBT passed the throat test! It had great flavor, was bold enough for me and the design with my milk was nicely done (always a big deal for me when Im spending a little more for a latte. I did eat a bagel, and although it was a little dry because it was late in the evening, it was a great, unique flavor to try. Only con in my sight would be the 2-hour parking if you dont pay somewhere else. #ybor #tampa

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Moises Hernandez

This is one of those places that people love stumbling upon when visiting a new city. This Coffee Shop is an experience into itself. Behind the counter they have experienced and friendly baristas. Not only do they have great coffee and tea but they have the best pastries which happen to be vegan and you wouldnt know it. Try the cheesecake! While you wait for your coffee which shouldnt be too long you can browse the selection of American made and Tampa designed clothing and accessories. There is a Cowork space for people to collaborate on projects or just work on their own; just like you see in cities like San Francisco.

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