New in Old Town: Sola Coffee Bar

Nestled in that stretch of 5th Avenue between Scottsdale Road and Stetson (7124 E. 5th Ave.), Sola Coffee Bar struck me as a refreshingly indie antidote to typically Southwestern-y Old Town businesses nearby. When I stopped by a couple days ago, they were blasting Bright Eyes -- on vinyl. And...

By Michele Laudig

March 18, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Nestled in that stretch of 5th Avenue between Scottsdale Road and Stetson (7124 E. 5th Ave.), Sola Coffee Bar struck me as a refreshingly indie antidote to typically Southwestern-y Old Town businesses nearby. When I stopped by a couple days ago, they were blasting Bright Eyes -- on vinyl. And they proudly displayed their Cartel Coffee, delicious boutique java from one of the Valley's top roasters.

If you're up for a snack, they feature pastries from Lux, including cupcakes, scones, muffins, and (of course) coffee cake. Free wi-fi is yet another reason to linger.

And get this: Sola's a non-profit, affiliated with the Old Town Bible Church. In January, all profits and tips went to benefit Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Currently, they're helping the Kate McCrae Fund, which helps a local family pay for medical expenses; their five-and-a-half-year-old daughter Kate has a brain tumor.

Business hours are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (til 10 p.m. Thursdays, when there's live music).

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.