Local Business Spotlight: Royal Flamingo Coffee, Grandview Heights
If you've spent any time in Grandview Heights, you've probably heard someone mention Royal Flamingo Coffee — and if you haven't stopped in yet, this is your sign to.
Why I'm Featuring Royal Flamingo
Royal Flamingo started in 2021 as a micro-roastery, built by husband-and-wife team Bryan and Beth Brzozowski around a simple idea: "serious coffee for unserious people." It's a line that sums up the whole vibe — genuinely excellent, carefully sourced beans without any of the pretension that sometimes comes with it.
The roasting side of the business built a real reputation fast, picking up multiple medals at the Golden Bean North America and Golden Bean World Series competitions — among the most respected coffee competitions in the industry. Their CM Red Fruits roast even took home Best Espresso at Golden Bean North America in 2023.
In July 2024, that reputation turned into Royal Flamingo's first physical café, tucked into Grandview Heights at 945 King Ave. — inside I Like It Like That Bar, an extension of Natalie's Grandview, the neighborhood's well-known music hall and kitchen.
What Grandview Locals Love About It
- A genuinely unique setup. By day it's a coffee shop; by evening the same space transitions into a cocktail bar — a layout that gives it a different personality depending on when you stop in.
- A menu that keeps things interesting. Offerings are split into "daily greats" and a rotating "super fun" specials list, plus batch brew, espresso, and cold brew for anyone who just wants a reliable go-to. Pastries come from Three Bites Bakery.
- Award-winning without the attitude. It's rare to find a roaster with this level of competition pedigree in a space this unpretentious and walkable.
Royal Flamingo is open Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. — worth building into a Grandview morning routine, or a stop before a walk down Grandview Avenue.
Why This Matters If You're House-Hunting in Grandview Heights
Places like Royal Flamingo are exactly what make Grandview Heights feel like a destination and not just a commute — a walkable, independent-business-driven community where a coffee shop can also double as a live-music-adjacent cocktail bar and still feel like the neighborhood's living room. If you're considering a move to Grandview, I'd love to show you around — both the homes and the hangouts.
The Bottom Line
Grandview Heights isn't just a convenient location and solid home values — it's businesses like Royal Flamingo that give the neighborhood its character. Next time you're in the area, stop in and tell them Wayne sent you.
See homes for sale near Grandview Heights → [link to Grandview Heights listings]
