St. Petersburg has long been known as a dog-friendly, animal-loving place. Last year, the Sunshine City was named the most dog-friendly city in America. We have a dog bar, a dog water park, a dog bakery, and early next year, downtown St. Pete is getting a dog-themed coffee shop. 

Sage’s Playground, located at 218 4th Street North in downtown St. Pete, will offer a massive two-story, 3,500-square-foot space for dog owners to hang out with their furry and human friends while grabbing a cup of coffee and a bite to eat.

The space was formerly home to the Lynn Merhige Gallery and Orange Blossom Catering. Melinda Kulpa and Joe Esposito of KW Commercial represented Sage’s Playground and Jon La Budde of KW Commercial represented the landlord in the lease transaction.

“It has been my dream to open a coffee shop for a few years now and I’m so excited to have my dad by my side,” said Dyllan Allen, who is opening Sage’s with her father, Roy Allen. “We can’t wait to share our love of coffee with everyone.”

The new coffee shop is named after their 14-year-old Australian Cattle dog, Sage, who was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer.

“We originally had a different name for the business, but we changed it to Sage’s Playground a few months ago because we want her legacy to live on forever,” said Dyllan.

Dyllan, who earned her marketing degree from FSU, has been working diligently on planning Sage’s Playground for the past few years. Roy brings a wealth of customer service knowledge to Sage’s from his experience as a bartender at Eddie V’s, a fine dining restaurant chain serving steak and seafood. 

Sage’s Playground will offer a dog menu of puppaccinos and made-in-house dog treats and snacks.

For humans, Sage’s will serve espresso-based beverages, such as a lattes, cappuccinos, and cortados. Drip coffee, cold brew, and pour overs will also be available.

Otus Coffee, a family-run small-batch coffee roaster based in Winter Garden will supply the coffee beans for Sage’s Playground.

Additionally, the drink menu includes a variety of brewed teas as well as a Matcha Latte, Chai Latte, and London Fog.

As for food, Sage’s plans to offer more than the typical selection of baked goods commonly found in local coffee shops. Patrons will be able to enjoy a variety of made-to-order brunch items, such as breakfast sandwiches, and possibly a Tex-Mex-inspired lunch menu.

“Sage’s will have a pop-up kitchen, so we are going to have an array of food available,” said Dyllan. “If anyone is interested in having their business at Sage’s Playground, please contact us!”

Prior to the café’s grand opening in early 2024, Sage’s Playground will debut a coffee cart outside their future home at 218 4th Street North on August 28th at 7 am.

Be sure to follow Sage’s Playground on Instagram and Facebook for adorable dog content and to stay up-to-date on grand opening plans.