Trans Am PHX

I feel like there's something for everyone in this cute little shop - you want food? They have it. Smoothie, coffee, tea? Right here. Beer, wine, spirits? Yep. Feeling like visiting an art gallery? Here you go. And if you play the guitar, they also have Acoustic Sundays. I stopped by with a friend for coffee and tea on a weekday. Loved how quaint it felt, and all the neat art ont he walls really adds to the atmosphere. Service was fast and friendly. Drinks were good. Prices were reasonable - all the more so since we got free refills!

Stopped here for a caffeine cruise and it was our first stop! I absolutely loved all the art in here and we learned they open it up for first Friday too. My husband liked all the Alien memorabilia. They gave us cold brew which isn't my fave but my husband liked it and I like that they make their own almond milk. Also the food menu looked delicious, I'll need to come back and try some of their vegan options!

I love how spacious it is, there's comfortable chairs, the music is not loud which helps for studying/focusing, & the guy at the bar is friendly : )

When I first moved to Roosevelt Row in 2013, it was commonplace to find spaces not unlike Trans Am. And in fact you can still find a number of coffee houses and cafes on Roosevelt Row that showcase local art on their walls and shelves. But rarely do you find one these days where the art gallery is the main draw. That said, I'd heard the food was a pretty good too. So on a Saturday around lunchtime, I made my way inside.Look for Trans AM next door to Bikini Lounge just north of the intersection of Grand Avenue & Roosevelt Street. It occupies what used to be the old Trunk Space. When you walk in you're immediately met by a spacious art gallery and cafe with a vast array of art work on the wall. There's also a fair number of books spread throughout the space to quench your literary thirst. Speaking of thirst, the cafe is towards the back of the space. Oddly, despite the relatively large footprint of the space, there isn't a huge amount of seating for cafe customers. Perhaps a nod to the fact this is a gallery first? At any rate, Gabe Hernandez and Brad Still are the owners running this place and today Gabe was in charge of making my meal.The menu is displayed at the counter in sections. One section gives you your food options, while the other displays your beverage choices. In addition to coffee and tea, there are fruit drinks and smoothies as well. I opted for a house lemonade to start. On the food end, I started by channeling my inner millennial with some avocado toast on multi grain bread. And for my main dish, a caprese sandwich. Gabe whipped up each of these for me himself. Total cost for everything including tax and tip came to $18.The lemonade was a pretty standard version you can probably get anywhere, but it was nevertheless a refreshing start to the meal. The avocado toast was served with some orange slices and the avocado topping itself had a slight citrusy kick as well. Bread was perfectly toasted and the portion of avocado on top was generous. The caprese sandwich was a solid finisher incorporating the mozzarella, tomato and lettuce and I believe some olive oil as well. Also served on perfectly toasted multi grain bread, by the way.The food here certainly got the job done. Though I will say the bigger reason to come here is the space itself. Check out (or maybe even buy) art on the wall, read one of the books on the shelves, or listen to some live music from local groups and individuals. Or do as so many other patrons did today and just hang out while working on your laptop. Chances are Gabe will engage with you in some friendly conversation and offer you a refreshment. Another cool spot you can add to the flourishing historic stretch of Grand Avenue. A space that invites you to slow down, kick back, and observe.

Great spot for a bite on Grand Avenue! There are tons of things to see and play with while waiting on your meal and it's a great music/art venue. They make their own almond milk in house and I highly recommend ANY or their smoothies. Their Sammy is my wife's favorite and I'm happy to pick up from Trans Am a few days a week because the atmosphere is funky and you never know what new friend you may make or old friend you may run in to there. Gabe + Bradford are the tits!

Loving this coffee shop (with smoothies and food as well!). Grand Ave has needed a place of this caliber for some time, since Paisley Violin went away. Had a smoothie and coffee! Excellent ingredients! The owner was a great conversationalist. Wonderful ambience and great art! I hope Phoenix keeps this place going!

My husband and I had the pleasure of meeting Gabriel at a bar where he used to work and we loved his customer service. When he told us he was leaving because he was opening a coffee shop, we definitely wanted to check it out. Trans Am Phx has excellent space, art, natural light, great coffee, smoothies, and even pressed ginger! This was everything I needed to get some work done. I'll definitely be going back! Be sure to try the pressed ginger

Artsy, eclectic and lots of natural light. There's a small parking lot, a good amount of table space, wifi, solid food options and a quirky atmosphere. 10/10 study spot - a hidden gem!

Great time, great food, great environment! Came with a friend with both of our babies and there were high chairs for them to be able to use (I was worried there wouldn't be, so it was a pleasant surprise). Gabe was cool and kind, and we will definitely be back soon!

This review is conflicted. The place is very cool inside. The art collection wall you can see through the window, caught our eye to stop in. The coffee drinks that only come in one size, are reasonably price. The oat-milk latte was good and a bargain at $4 and some change. We did not try the food, but the options looked interesting and not too spendy. Where the review goes south was the owner's attitude. Too cool for school. Uh, you're really not. Cool is kind. Treat your customers, even the ones that don't meet your targeted demographics, like you want, not need, their business. Two words for him and hopefully he reads his YELP reviews. Chris Bianco. Actually 2 more, Craig DeMarco. Success is a bi-product of getting over yourself. I was in Arcadia Postino when it had been open for 2 weeks. Craig couldn't have been any nicer and we are still regular patrons almost 2 decades later.Had he been aloof and arrogant, he wouldn't be targeted for 55 restaurants by 2024. Say it slow, 55. Chris goes without any explanation. I was in his original Town and Country location in the late 1980's. Everyone knows he's the nicest guy in town and his recent James Beard award hasn't changed that. He's so grateful for everyone's business and he tells you so. Realizing that you nor your dream are that unique or special is the first step to entrepreneurial success. You can't swing a dead cat around Phoenix without hitting a coffee house. And many are just as hip, if not more, than Trans Am Cafe. Many, if not most have owners and employees that are nice and welcoming. We don't need any more coffee houses, but they do need customers. The business savvy ones recognize the competition and behave accordingly. And the owner, he wasn't just having a bad day. Although as a business owner, there is no such thing as a bad day to patrons. He was giving me one-word answers but was very friendly to the much younger 20 something female patron. Oddly he's not young, and she wasn't paying. I was. As a side bar, if you're in the neighborhood try Irma's Mexican Kitchen across the street. It's spotless but very bare bones decor and no "it" people in there. But the food is amazing, and they are so friendly to everyone, not just the "cool kids." We aren't in 7th grade anymore. Successful business 101. No charge.