Sophie’s French Bakery & Café

It’s been years since I have been to Hyde Park. Was looking for a café experience on a Sunday morning to have a leisure lunch and exceptional ambiance. Found it here for sure.
My husband had the Jambon and I had the Toasty Roasty, both on a baguette. He commented that the combo of the baguette and ham was so perfect that it really didn’t need anything else. My Toasty Roasty was just tasty and unforgettable.
The one thing I wish was different was that everything was ala carte. Chips were separate from the sandwich entrees.
It’s definitely a nice weekend joint to sit down, enjoy breakfast/​lunch, read the paper or hang out with friends. Will be back for sure.

I like Sophie’s, I really do. But it’s an on-​again, off-​again relationship I have with this place. Here’s why:
It’s a non-​chain, locally-​owned coffee shop (YAY!) and super cute on the inside. I’ve seen the décor described as Anthropologie-​esque and yep, I would have to agree. It’s cute and charming in a mismatched sort of way: old vintage sofas and card tables like your Grandma might have, crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and funky mirrors and artwork deck the walls, you get the picture.
I also love their dog-​friendly covered patio outside. Any place that lets me bring my sweet, well-​behaved dog along for the afternoon is cool with me. I could spend hours just sipping their iced coffee, nibbling on baguettes and using the free wi-​fi.
And last on my list of things I like about Sophie’s are their baked goods, which are generally tasty, if not overpriced. OK, fine. I can live with that. (Except I’m not really a fan of their macarons, Le Macaron at International Plaza are much better).
Here are my issues with them: First and foremost, they have crappy hours: 8 am-​4 pm, 7 days a week. That might be great for housewives, retirees, people on vacation or people who don’t have regular work-​hours, but it pretty much leaves the rest of us out of luck if we want to come by for any sort of cake, pastry or light dinner during the week. I guess I was spoiled by their hours when they first opened — they used to stay open late (until at least 9 pm) and were BYOB. My husband and I used to enjoy coming by in the evening for a light dinner or some dessert with a bottle of wine, especially on Friday or Saturday when they had live music in the evenings. Honestly, we haven’t been back more than once or twice since they started closing at 4.
My other issues: While they do have excellent iced coffee, I have found their espresso drinks and regular brewed coffee to be hit or miss, depending on who makes it and what time of day you arrive. For a coffee shop, they should be much more consistent. And the food: just OK, if you ask me, plus it takes quite a long time to be served which confuses me because I’m pretty sure they’re not making the quiche or the soups to order. They would benefit from greater variety in the menu, as well.
So there you have it. My love-​hate relationship with Sophie’s. I desperately want to love this place but no matter how hard I try, I just can’t bring myself to feel more than a lukewarm ambivalence toward it.
I hope they improve, I really do, because the location is great and I truly do want to love it.

I’ve been meaning to come here for almost a year now after visiting a similar bakery in Charlotte, NC. Finally, my wish was granted for my birthday lunch. :)
Love the décor and how cozy/​casual it makes the place feel. Among my group, we had the roast beef sandwich, turkey bacon sandwich, curried chicken salad sandwich, and a house salad. I wouldn’t go for another round on the curried chicken salad sandwich, but DEFINITELY want to come back for the roast beef and turkey sandwiches. I wished I had ordered one of those. For dessert? Probably the best tiramisu my taste buds have ever touched. MMMM.
The only thing about Sophie’s that I shake my head at is their business hours. They close at 4pm every day, making it impossible to pick up sweet goodies after work. Eventually, I’ll find the time on another Saturday to return.

Went to Sophie’s not sure what to expect and really enjoyed it. The bakery items were delish and the iced coffee was one of the best I’ve ever had, ever! The ladies working were very nice and welcoming. It was a quick stop today but I look forward to going back to spend some time with friends catching up or even just with a good book. Highly recommend. :)

The ambiance of Sophie’s is definitely the best part. The people there are super friendly and cute and they decorate their place super friendly and cute. I love all their drink options, although I usually go for a tea when I’m there. I tend to stay awhile because it’s so comfortable there so if I start with the coffee it’s not a good idea.
One of my favorite things to do besides study at Sophie’s is go there after the hyde park farmer’s market. Even though it gets kind of crazy in there the staff does a great job of getting your food out on time. We like to bring our dog and sit outside on the patio.
My only qualm is that I wish the menu was bigger and that they had healthier options (such as whole wheat bread). I always get the make your own omelet or the soup when I go and I wish there were other options!

Lovely ambiance! Although I was not in this sweet café for long, I just had to rave about the atmosphere! The owner must be a designer because the hodge –podge of overstuffed couches, doors, café tables, flowers, etc just made for a sweet Parisiangarden café. They even have card racks with artistic notecards for sale.
I had an iced coffee that was perfect– just strong enough with a splash of soy milk. They had samples of their chocolate eclairs out. I have always loved samples because it shows the customer that the restaurant has enough faith in their product to trust that once people taste it, they will not be able to resist buying it. although we didn’t indulge this time the éclair was perfect, just sweet enough with a real chocolate flavor and a crispy shell.
If I lived in FL, this would definitely be a frequented spot… I can just see myself doing work at the charming tables!

Definitely overpriced. Me and the bf were wandering the area for lunch and stumbled upon Sophie’s. My first impression was «ohhh! This place is soooo cute!» It has the European bakery-​café vibe yet is not even close to being small on the inside. We had the curry chicken salad croissant and although it was tasty, I was expecting a little something on the side like a small salad or maybe even some grapes? Nope. Just the sandwich. Our total came out to almost $ 30 dollars for 2 sandwiches and 2 sodas. I don’t know if we were paying for the «atmosphere» or what but it’s not some place I would go on the regular.
That night we had a sushi roll, wings, pizza, and beer for only $ 6 more at Cheap in SoHo (and they’re known for not being cheap!?).

Anthropologie is around the corner, but I think that some of it overflowed into this café. The staged furniture and décor reminds me of a vintage furniture store, but I never checked to see if the stuff I was sitting on was actually for sale.
The disorganized coffee counter only takes up a tiny corner of the vast space. The pastries do not taste fresh. However, the partially frozen Napoleon is still delicious. The coffee is strong, with a chicory bite, and the prices are high. They have to pay for this square-​footage somehow. Location, location, location— oh, and bad acoustics. But, hey, at least it is local! And a good place to sit a relax for a couple of hours while feeling rich at the same time.

The good: Such charm! So many seating options to choose from! Shabby chic French design… And a big, beautiful patio full of green plants. It could be on the Gilmore Girls set.
The average: I haven’t had the pastries yet, but the sandwiches are hearty. I had the Breakfast Sandwich and it had nice fresh spinach and tomato on nice french bread.
The ugly: Like another Unilocaler pointed out, it is not cheap to eat here. Actually, the coffee is so expensive, it’s not even cheap to drink here. I would give this place four stars but I don’t think it’s very good value for your money.
Also, the service seems to always come with a ‘tude like you’re interrupting them.
Having said that, they’re the only coffee shop that’s big enough to spread out and read, work or meet up with friends in the area. So I guess they can charge what they want. Well played.

I had a sandwich first, the roast beef and horse radish on a croissant. This croissant led to another purchase for another croissant, this time one filled with chocolate. I’d definitely eat here again. The atmosphere’s really simple, it’s spacious, quiet, and they have free Wifi.
The service is great, and the owner Carol is lovely. Definitely worth a visit for something fresh and flaky.

such a cute cute place with yummy drinks and yummy treats. You can sit outside with your lap top and of course your doggy, or you can sit inside in the cute shabby chic, paris themed inside. You can also BYOB, that’s pretty cool. I had a cappacino, and it was yummy and a pretty good price. They also had soup, sandwiches, and yummy pastries and desserts.
I think a fun rainy day plan would be this place, and the paint ceramics place which is right next door. Love it here. Especially since it’s not a chain, but I still love my Starbucks too! I’ll be back bright eyed and bushy tailed!

Coffee — average
Pastries — great
Atmosphere — great
Service — slow

I had a breakfast sandwich and coffee at Sophie’s for the first time today. After a few minutes (maybe 10 – 15) i went up to the counter to inquire on the status of my order.
The lady behind the counter is either the owner or manager.(I would assume someone of her age would not be a cashier) She responded she would check on my order and let me know.
Not one minute later, She came right out to my table with my order and a lecture:
«For future reference, this sandwich takes 15 minutes to prepare. If you are in a hurry, i would not recommend you place an order for this item»
Never did i mention I was in a hurry, not was i rude or short with her. I simply asked for the status of my order.
i think she took this request too personal. If this shop doesn’t work out, might I suggest a position as a TSA at Tampa International :)
— Poor service

Pros: Great meeting spot, room for conversation, wifi for work or study, great antiques and art everywhere for a cool vibe. Fabulous food with amazing flavor for lunch or desert — really try it!
French press is strong, Good place for meeting area in the back.
Cons: A bit pricey. They don’t open unti 8am. Wifi is not reliable.

Admittedly, I have only had one iced coffee here, but I enjoyed the ambiance so much that I am giving this joint four stars. Housed in a huge, airy space on Snow Circle in perennially-​struggling Old Hyde Park Village, Sophie’s is kind of a throwback to the late Blackhawk coffee shop that used to occupy a similar space nearby.
Sophie’s main claim to fame is its furnishings, a nice collection of thrift shop sofas, chairs and tables, all lit up with cast-​off chandeliers and funky old lamps. It’s all very comfy, and you may fall asleep here if you are so inclined. I have no idea how they afford the rent on this much square-​footage. One hint may be the prices which are on the high side: $ 2.25 for a plain cup of coffee. I thought $ 1.50 at Starbucks was bad. However, the iced cup I had was good. And they do free refills which makes up a little for the high mark-​up.
I didn’t try the food, but the sandwiches look like they come on very good bread and they appear to be hand-​made with care. The soup list looked very interesting, too. Of course, desserts are ample, if priced on the high side.
This place may not be around for long. Nothing else has ever survived here. Hyde Park Village is a wasteland of piped in music and no customers, while overstaffed by roving security guards who have nothing to do. If you are looking for a coffee house with a little more panache than Starbucks and even the competing — and similarly over-​priced Indigo Coffee across the circle — then give this joint a try the next time you are in that neighborhood.

Great location in the middle of Hyde Park Village with a ton of comfortable space. The wifi is fast and the couches are comfortable. And I got a lovely croissant that was really tasty as well. It’s got a really eclectic vibe and there were all kinds of people around. And a staff member actually came over and told some kids to keep quiet while playing with blocks when a parent wouldn’t do his job. I like a place that does things like that to enforce the happiness of other customers.
But the coffee wasn’t so hot. I asked for a café con leche, got a cappuccino, and it wasn’t very good. Maybe I’m a coffee snob, but I’m looking for something with some full flavor and a little kick. This seemed like Folgers with a bit of froth. Might just have gotten a bad cup, but it struck a bad chord on what was otherwise a lovely place.

Apparently around the time of my last update, trouble was brewing for the HPV wannabes. If you go to my original review, you will find my prediction that this business (under any name) will be closed by the end of the year.
I feel much better about that prediction now that I see the local owners have turned their backs on the only thing they had going for them.
Tsk, Tsk…

Just moved to the area and was happy to find Sophie’s in Hyde Park. Popped in for breakfast with the boy and my little Yorkie, who was welcomed on the patio. The pecan sticky bun was a sinfully delicious breakfast treat and went well with my iced coffee. I wish they had some flavored syrups, but my boyfriend enjoyed his chocolate decadence iced latte.
There’s plenty of seating and clean bathrooms. I’ll definitely be back to try more of what they have to offer.

If anthropologie was a bakery, this is what it would look and feel like…
First: No longer Amelie’s — apparently that was a franchise deal that fell apart due to too many constraints on the menu from the Amelie people (heard this second hand). Business was brisk while I tarried for about an hour or so.
So — now it is known as Sophie’s. Regardless, neat little place.
Template: Shabby chic décor, lots of friendly chairs and mismatched tables and whatnot. Yummy foods.
I had the Jambon baguette + an iced tea: 9 bucks. Should have opted for some added lettuce and tomato as the sammich was pretty single note (ham + butter on bread) A classic European style sandwich you can get at any subway stop in any major city on the Continent. Good quality too. I forgot to ask if they do refills on the tea.
After I had a cream puff slathered in dark chocolate (another 2.75) and they helpfully have a station with lemoned water for you to help yourself at any time.
Looks like they have wifi, as I saw lots of lappies getting banged on whilst there. Friendly staff too. Pricing seemed a tad steep but it is Hyde Park and the rent is … wait for it… Too Damned High!

This bakery just opened over the weekend so I went to check it out. I had two kids with me who were impressed visually by all the pastries, however the flavors of the peanut butter petit fours they insisted on having were a bit strong for their palate. When I asked the owner for a box figuring someone at home would eat them. She insisted on giving the kids something they did like. She gave us four cream puffs for free. The kids were thrilled and I was grateful.
Everything I sampled was delicious. A little pricey, but to be expected for Hyde Park Village. The ambiance is great, it’s comfortable and inviting. The owners did a great job decorating and creating a space where you can sit and enjoy your pastry, coffee and a good read. I will return for sure.