Start your morning in Clearwater Beach the right way, with a perfect cup of coffee. Whether you are fueling up before a day of beach adventures or looking for a cozy spot to relax, these coffee stops in Clearwater Beach have you covered.
The good news for early risers is that the best of them sit within a few minutes’ walk of Pier 60, so you can grab a cup and be on the sand before the crowds. Some are quick walk up windows, some are proper sit down breakfast spots where the coffee keeps coming, and one stays open until midnight if your coffee habit runs late.
We have listed each with its address, opening hours from its own website and how far it is from Pier 60, plus a few tips on parking and timing. Hours change with the seasons, so give a quick call if you are planning around an early start.
| Cafe | Best for | Street | From Pier 60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barefoot Beach House | Walk up coffee and ice cream | S Gulfview Blvd | Short walk south |
| Beach Shanty Cafe | Breakfast and brunch | Mandalay Ave | Across the street |
| Ryan’s Island Cafe | Breakfast, lunch, drinks | Poinsettia Ave | 0.3 mi |
| Clear Sky Cafe | All day, breakfast to late | Mandalay Ave | 0.4 mi |
Barefoot Beach House
Barefoot Beach House is a haven for coffee lovers, combining quality coffee and tea service with ice cream, frozen yogurt, and beach necessities like sunscreen and toys. It’s the perfect one stop shop before hitting the sand.
It sits at 332 South Gulfview Boulevard, right by the beach just south of Pier 60, and the county tourism office describes its walk up window as a place where no shoes are necessary, which tells you everything about the mood. It is also one of the two places the City of Clearwater sends visitors for beach chair and cabana rentals, so you can sort out your coffee and your shade in one stop. Rentals are first come, first served: an umbrella with two chairs is $40 plus tax and a deluxe cabana with two chairs $50 plus tax from 9 am to 3 pm, with lower prices from 3 to 5 pm. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.
Come back in the afternoon for the ice cream. Kids who have spent the morning in the Gulf will thank you.
Good to know: 332 S Gulfview Blvd. Chair and cabana rentals run 9 am to 5 pm daily, weather permitting; the city’s vendor, Fields, Inc., answers questions on 727-461-7732. City of Clearwater beach rentals.
Beach Shanty Cafe
Operating from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Beach Shanty Cafe is a casual spot offering American breakfast and brunch with expertly brewed coffee in a welcoming atmosphere. It’s the ideal place to start your morning in Clearwater.
You will find it at 397 Mandalay Avenue, practically across the street from the Pier 60 area at the south end of the beach’s main shopping strip. That makes it the easiest sit down breakfast on this list if you are staying near the roundabout or plan to spend the day on the main beach.
Get there early on weekends and holidays, when tables fill fast, and order a refill while you plan the day. Because it closes at 2 pm, think of it as a breakfast and lunch place rather than an afternoon coffee stop.
Good to know: 397 Mandalay Ave, 727-443-1616. Open 7 am to 2 pm every day according to its website’s hours listing; one other page on its site shows 4 pm, so call if you are cutting it close. Beach Shanty Cafe.
Ryan’s Island Cafe
Ryan’s Island Cafe is an informal eatery serving classic American breakfast and lunch plates alongside craft beer and quality coffee. With an emphasis on fresh ingredients and family traditions, it’s a Clearwater Beach staple.
The story behind it is a good one. Owner Ryan grew up on Long Island, New York, working in his uncle’s and grandmother’s delis, and moved to Florida in his twenties. After managing a large sports bar, he opened his own cafe in Clearwater Beach on June 1, 2018, with a menu aimed at locals and visitors alike. Our Story.
Expect hearty plates: two egg breakfasts, omelettes, avocado toast, steak and eggs and a breakfast burger, with sandwiches and seafood bites at lunch. It sits one block back from the beach on Poinsettia Avenue, which tends to be a little calmer than Mandalay, and it also offers online ordering and delivery if you would rather eat on your balcony.
Good to know: 432 Poinsettia Ave, 727-240-4799. Open seven days a week, 7:30 am to 3 pm. Ryan’s Island Cafe.
Clear Sky Cafe
Clear Sky Cafe features an extensive menu ranging from breakfast with cocktails to tapas, pizzas, paninis, and seafood. Their coffee beverages are available throughout the day, making it a versatile dining destination.
The beachside cafe at 490 Mandalay Avenue is the night owl of the group. It opens at 7 am every day and serves breakfast until noon on weekdays and 1 pm on weekends, then runs right through to late evening, with happy hour from 2 to 6 pm and live music from local musicians. If half your group wants an espresso and the other half wants a cocktail, this is the place.
Clear Sky also takes table bookings, and groups can reserve its cafe dining room for celebrations, which is handy if you are planning a birthday breakfast for the whole crew.
Good to know: 490 Mandalay Ave, 727-442-3684. Opens 7 am daily and stays open late; check the site for that night’s closing time. Clear Sky Restaurants.
Two cafes, one walk: Beach Shanty and Clear Sky are on the same stretch of Mandalay Avenue, about a block apart, so you can breakfast at one and come back to the other for an afternoon iced coffee or happy hour.
Planning your coffee run
If you are driving onto the beach for breakfast, the City of Clearwater’s public lots charge $3.50 an hour, and the Pier 60 lot at 160 South Gulfview Boulevard has no time limit during its 6 am to 11 pm operating hours. On street parking is $4 an hour with a five hour limit. You can pay at the kiosks, through the ParkMobile app or by text.
Smaller city lots at 429 and 461 Mandalay Avenue are handy for the Mandalay cafes, though they only have about two dozen spaces each, so arrive early. City of Clearwater beach parking.
The easiest option of all is to stay close enough to walk. Mornings on the beach are cooler and quieter, and a coffee in hand on the sand at sunrise is one of the simple joys of a Clearwater Beach trip. For more ideas on how to spend the rest of the day, see our things to do in Clearwater Beach guide and our picks for Clearwater Beach restaurants.
Homes within a stroll of your morning coffee
Every home we manage has a kitchen, so you can brew your first cup before you head out. Here are four of ours on Clearwater Beach, three of them on the quieter north end near Mandalay Avenue.
Sandy Shores 2 is a two bedroom beach house that sleeps seven. Seas The Day is a two bedroom, two bath home on Mandalay Avenue that sleeps four. Sunny Escape has three bedrooms and a sunny patio, and Gulf Breeze is a four bedroom beachfront home that sleeps eight. All four welcome pets, subject to our pet policy.
Sandy Shores 2
Seas The Day
Sunny Escape
Gulf Breeze
Questions we get asked
What is the closest coffee shop to Pier 60?
Beach Shanty Cafe at 397 Mandalay Avenue is practically across the street from the Pier 60 area, and Barefoot Beach House at 332 South Gulfview Boulevard is a short walk south along the beach.
Which Clearwater Beach cafes open earliest?
Beach Shanty Cafe and Clear Sky Cafe both open at 7 am every day, according to their websites. Ryan’s Island Cafe opens at 7:30 am.
Where can I get coffee in the afternoon or evening?
Clear Sky Cafe on Mandalay Avenue serves coffee all day and stays open until late, with happy hour from 2 to 6 pm. Beach Shanty closes at 2 pm and Ryan’s at 3 pm.
Is there parking near the beach cafes?
Yes. City lots on the beach cost $3.50 an hour, including the Pier 60 lot and small lots at 429 and 461 Mandalay Avenue. On street parking is $4 an hour with a five hour limit.
Let’s plan it
Plan Your Visit
After discovering the best coffee spots in Clearwater Beach, make your stay even better by booking one of our vacation rentals. Sunny Orange Stays offers comfortable accommodations just steps from these great coffee shops and the beautiful beach.
See you on the sand.