Biagio’s Italian Coffee and Espresso Bar

I’ve been meaning to pay a visit to this little place in the heart of downtown Jacksonville since hearing so many of my friends rave about it. Anxiously searching for a bit of productivity on one of my Monday mornings (aren’t we all), I decided to finally bite the bullet and see what all the hype was about for Biagio’s Italian Coffee and Espresso Bar. Spoiler alert… it did not disappoint.

Upon arriving, I instantly felt welcomed by the modern, yet rustic charm of this coffee joint. You have to park in the back, but it’s no biggie since there’s a side door that leads to the main lobby. Inside, its beautiful brick walls were adorned with the usual coffee sayings, and the whole place seemed to have a contemporary feel to it. For my first trip to Biagio’s, I brought along my friend, Angela (hoping to steal some of my productivity, eh?), and we chose a couple of cozy chairs to begin our work.

Now on to the good stuff – the coffee – of course! I chose an iced vanilla coffee that was supposed to come with coffee iced cubes, but my coffee had regular ole’ ice cubes. I overheard someone say you have to ask for them specifically, even though the menu says it comes with them. No matter though, my drink was delish! I was able to skip my usual dumping of spoonfuls of sugar because it was just that good. Angela opted for a more weather-appropriate beverage, a hot Cafe Mocha that came in a cute little mug (as if I wasn’t already imagining myself sitting at Central Perk with gal pal Rachel Green). She loved her choice as well.

Biagio’s Italian Coffee and Espresso Bar serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner on some days, so we decided to give their lunch menu a try since we were so pleased with our coffees, and I had a gift card! Well, they’re more like gift tokens. Which I found super unique! The two of us decided on the soup and sandwich combo. Biagio’s was featuring a Cheddar Spinach soup that day, and it pretty much rocked my Manic Monday. My club sandwich was also pretty good, even if it wasn’t exactly what I had expected. More like a Panini perhaps? Angela scarfed down her gourmet grilled cheese, so I’m guessing she enjoyed hers, too. All in all, it wasn’t a five star meal, but it was reasonably priced, and the soup was totally worth it. I’d probably go back just for that reason!

The place was a bit slow when we first arrived around 10 am, but soon picked up as the day went on. We were bummed that they close at 3 pm Monday through Wednesday, so our super productive day had to come to a super productive halt. It was a great, distraction-free venue to work in though, so maybe next time I’ll consider getting there earlier to really make the most of my time. One other thing I really loved about this coffee bar is the layout. There’s a big, spacious room filled with couches, chairs, and tables for those looking to work, eat, or just hang out. What’s great about this room is that it’s separate from the main lobby, so you don’t get distracted easily by the hustle and bustle of people coming in and out ordering drinks. My spacey self appreciated that. Being that it’s not the prominent place for all coffee goers in Jacksonville at the moment, the service was a tad slow at times. We were so focused on our work that we didn’t mind. But if you’re looking a quick, in-and-out type of place, Biagio’s isn’t quite there yet.

Downtown Jacksonville definitely has some potential to be a hot spot in the area, so I’ll be anxious to see how that stretch transforms over the next few months with the addition of Biagio’s. I’ve heard that Biagio’s also has cocktails and live music on the weekends, so I may be returning soon to scope out that scene as well!

Have you ever been to Biagio’s in Jacksonville, NC.?  Do you have a favorite local coffee shop in your are? If so, tell us about it in the comments below. We’d love to check it out if we’re ever in the area.

About Ragan

Originally from Millbrook, Alabama, Ragan now lives along North Carolina’s Crystal Coast with her husband and adorable Mini Pinscher, Bammer. When she’s not working on Brand Influencer Campaigns or planning events for the North Carolina Blogger Network, she loves practicing the art of calligraphy, exploring and kayaking the beaches of Emerald Isle, and hitting up the slopes in Beech Mountain with her husband.

NC Blogger Network is North Carolina’s premier community for bloggers. We bring bloggers together for events, education, networking and paid opportunities working with relevant brands. Join today!