Downtown Credo

A review update is in order, and I’m officially a fan… The roasts I’ve had during the past several visits have been very well balanced and varied. The service is exceptionally friendly, and this seemingly unlikely location is generating a nice community feel and steady traffic. Some of the art originally in this location has sadly gone away in favor of tasteful but more formal-​feeling corporate pamphlet displays, but there is good coffee at a Florida Hospital. Longtime Orlando residents, let us not lose sight of how huge that is!
I definitely prefer the upstairs area in terms of comfort. It’s a bit loud, but it blends into pleasant background white noise with a beautiful view if you’re working by yourself or visiting with one or two friends.

This is probably my fav café in downtown. Credo is a donation based café, in that you can pay a suggested price for their service or not at all if you wish/​having a hard time. This makes it so great and makes you want to appreciate them so much. Very friendly atmosphere, that you’re always welcomed with a smile. I come here often to review material, study and get inspired. Located overlooking the buildings of Florida hospital, train tracks, ambience is full of energy which makes one focus yet not get worked up/​feel stressed out. Credo makes world such a hopeful and beautiful place!!! Love Credo!

The space that this team created has to be one of the most modern & imaginative spaces in all of Orlando. I come here to work and live inspired. I’m all about imaginative minimalism and this location does not disappoint. From the beautiful artwork, to the 2 story windows that surround 50% of the space, to the passing trains 10 feet in front of the window, this place is an absolute dream.
I’m also a fan of their espresso. Credo’s cortadito is always on point. Their espresso has hints of toffee, chocolate, and vanilla (at least to my tastebuds) and it’s addicting.
If you’re looking for a place to get stuff done, dream a little, or just hang with a friend, this is your place. I love you Credo! You make Orlando a better place.

Artisan, fair trade coffee just like the original Credo. But this building is a big step up. Brand new. Lots of seating space. Second floor seating area with view of the hospital compound. Great environment. This place has much more character than a Starbucks.

I like the new spot! It is super contemporary and café mocha was delicious as usual. I look forward to coming back here and getting some work done.
Tip: Park in the garage and bring your parking ticket to get stamped at Credos for free parking.
Tip: If you go down the elevator on the north side of the garage to door to Credos will be on your left.

This part of Orlando has been lacking a coffee shop presence for a long time, the Loch Haven Park area in particular. Thankfully, the new-​ish Credo location has filled the void. I can’t get enough of this place. I stop in at least once or twice a week while on my lunch break. Thankfully I work within walking distance to Credo.
The staff is extremely friendly and the coffee is addicting. I get their cold brew just about every time. I’ve also sampled a variety of their pastries and I always leave happy. The only request I have is for them to be open on the weekends. I think they close up their shop on the weekends for events but it would be awesome to bring weekend visitors here to enjoy their space and coffee. One of these days maybe!

Cool place, love the donation based prices. Very modern coffee shop. I was looking for some alternatives to Austin’s coffee and this is one of them!

So I am a huge fan of the original Downtown Credo. So when I heard of the Health Village location opening right where I work I thought «awesome a Credo without Hippies.» So I went expecting it would be filled with hospital employees and business people. But what did I find? Hippies, hippies everywhere. How did they even find this place. Seriously, one guy had a typewriter.
But the coffee and treats are just as good as the original. The atmosphere is better (and cleaner.) There is more seating, an awesome upstairs area. And phone charging stations all over the place.
I highly recomend.
Tip: you may find parking by the railroad tracks across the street.

Downtown Credo is a hidden gem near the Science Center and Florida Hospital. This trendy little coffee shop is located on rollins street on the side of the McRea parking garage after the tracks. Although on the same street as Panera, Credo is worlds different.
They use fairtrade coffee and support so much of Orlando’s local businesses. Their coffee taste fresh, robust, and their bakery treats are the perfect compliment to the trendy atmosphere. This is the perfect place to lunge around any morning if you want a true Orlando experience.

Big fan of the College Park Credo so I stopped by this location and was pleasantly surprised.
I found it hard to find because of all the construction so take my advice and just park in the McRae parking garage (Credo validates so free of charge!). It’s basically located on the train tracks in a huge glass building. Follow the sidewalk towards the hospital and you can’t miss it.
The coffee and sweet treats are outstanding and awesome service with some of the same baristas at both locations.
The difference is that the College Park location is dark, intimate and filled with hipsters, creatives and what I presume to be vegans. This location is bright, industrial and chic (appeals to the medical professionals who don’t want to sit on a rump-​sprung sofa). I find the clientele at both locations to be super friendly and a perk of coming here over Starbucks.
Definitely a great workspace that is less crowded than its College Park counterpart, with more electrical outlets and a different vibe. Plus there’s the view of the trains passing by which is super cool to watch.
Enjoy!

Coffee: everything is made so fresh! probably like any other coffee shop place but with the plus of a pour over option! gotta try it!
Customer service: at this particular location, I think it’s fantastic, probably as good as it’ll get. Typically day: walk in, barista is busy making someone else’s order but still glances over to ask how I’m doing and take my order. Then I take a seat, and wah-​la, drink brought up a little while layer. What other coffee shop has brought my coffee over to where I’m sitting?
Setting: nice and quaint. Downstairs has the typical coffee shop feels. The upstairs has the plus of coffee shop music and lounging area with a street view. Also the amtrak passes by occasionally with a honk to keep you from falling asleep while studying.
Location: connected to a hospital parking lot. It’ll do.

An excellent place to enjoy a great cup of coffee and some snacks. The décor and design of this place is sublime! Watching the trains pass adds a charming touch to the ambiance of the shop.
The staff is always kind and helpful and you gotta love the donations-​based model.
Park for free (with validation at the shop) in the McRae parking lot.

Cool, clean interior, donation based pricing, and great coffee…
What more could one want?
Our very own, Ms. Andi P, invited Jacksonville and Tampa to Orlando for a co-​working day, and this was our little office for the day. I followed my given directions and parked in the McRae garage, and ventured down for some «serious» work.
Andi let me know this was a donation based kind of situation (how cool is that?!!) and I ordered up a pour over and a muffin. Pour over was fantastic, and the muffin, was sweet and the perfect little coffee companion.
We continued to work in the space for a bit, then ventured to lunch, but then returned, so an ice coffee was needed for an afternoon pick me up. Strong, cold and delicious, it gave just the right amount of perk, haha, for the long drive home.
This was actually my first time at a «donation» based type of establishment, and I’m still a little blown away by it. I hope everyone is taking good care of this place, just like they took care of us and even got free parking.
Win, win, win!

Why 5 stars? Because every city needs this.
— — —
I spent the majority of my day at Downtown Credo recently, and I have to say that I wish we had one here in Tampa. The concept is great: pay what you can for each item. They offer a suggested price for each item, but they rely on the community to be fair. It wouldn’t surprise me if they end up making more money this way, as the concept tugs at your heart strings a bit when you’re deciding what to pay.
My chai tea and latte were delicious, but I really enjoyed the comfort of being able to set-​up shop and get some work done for a few hours. The sleek design of the entire building was really great. I love things that are new and shiny.

This is my first visit to Downtown Credo. This particular location is next to Florida Hospital.
Parking is done right next door in the McRae garage, and after spending about 4 hours there I only spent $ 4. Cheap. Could be even cheaper though — I have heard that Downtown Credo will validate, so I will have to try that next time.
There’s a bunch of construction going on nearby right now but noise is not an issue inside the shop. (Even with trains coming and going). Inside, Downtown Credo is very spacious, modern, and bright. You can go upstairs and take some tables — it’s a very good co-​working space.
The coffee is also pretty good. I had a pour-​over along with some pastries. The people working behind the bar are extremely nice. In addition, prices are cheap. They are a donation-​only non-​profit, but the menu has suggestions of what to offer for their different items. Even if you donated at the high-​end range of their suggestions, it’s still a good deal.
Downsides: they do not have wifi. This is a potential deal killer. Oh sure, you can login to the nearby FH wifi network, but no matter what I did I could not get that network to connect. (The FH network is definitely not ready for prime time — unless I was just unlucky enough to come on the day when it had problems). In any case, Credo desperately needs to install their own router. Especially if they want to be known partly as a co-​working space.
I might also suggest offering up food other than pastries (sandwiches, etc).
In any case, I will be back. This is a beautiful space and it’s perfect for coffee + laptop working (or reading or what-​have-​you). If wifi is working again I will bump up my rating for sure.

This place does coffee right. The owner, Ben, and the baristas love what they do and they love the customers they serve, and it comes through in their drinks. The baked goods that come through are homemade and seasonal, and one of my favorite aspects of hanging out at both locations is to have a great breakfast of coffee and a surprise pastry on the weekends with friends.
The more that you come here, the more that you feel like you’re a part of something bigger, via their «pay as you wish» system of payment. They offer suggested prices on the menu in case you feel unsure of how much to give. Credo is so involved in the youth and artistic communities of Orlando, proving that they’re more than just business. A lot of the regulars and baristas have become friends like family to me, and with the top notch coffee, tea, and pastries, I’ll always be so grateful for these two little corners of the world.

Instantly my new favorite spot! I love the top to bottom glass acting as the circumference of the shop to provide maximum natural lighting. I can easily spend several hours here studying, getting some work done, or just hanging out. Besides the new location, everything about Credo remains the same.

Jumping on the bandwagon, but I’m very impressed with the new location of one of my favorite places in Orlando.
First off, getting here would not have been possible without Colleen’s directions. I knew it was the hospital, but that can mean many things. The McRae Ave Parking Garage is your friend here, and they validate parking! All the love and respect for that. Find your way out heading toward the train tracks, then cross the tracks near the construction at Rollins St. You’ve found your new home.
Like other reviewers have said, the location has a city feel, much more industrial. I don’t know if I have a preference for location since the College Park is so cozy, but I love the sleek design and 2 story windows. Growing up in the DC area, trains were always around, so having the tracks nearby is something I like. (Hi, Sunrail!) There are two stories and many, many outlets. Not as much seating as the CP location, but there’s plenty to go around.
Same coffee, pastries, and teas. Credo coffee is some of my favorite for the quality and sourcing as they use organic, Fair Trade Guatemalan beans and are paying the farmers living wages. Still a donation-​based model, which I really admire and respect. I put this in my review of the Credo, but I think it bears repeating, the gift economy model of Downtown Credo is really quite special. There’s something about being a part of something bigger than yourself and, at some level, receiving rather than just paying. I’ve never felt shamed or judged for what I pay, which is unique.
The baristas are friendly, knowledgeable, and overally just interesting people. If you get a chance to chat with the people working, I recommend taking it.
Congratulations to Ben and the Credo community!
Also, succulents. Happy succulents to boot. Must be all the light.

5 Stars for a new location of an Orlando favorite! Coffee, pastries, coworking, conversation, local art, etc. This place is a brand new gem and you should check it out now. Like right now. Go.
Still there? Fine, let me explain…
I was nervous at first as to where exactly the Credo shop was inside the behemoth that is FL Hospital. Luckily, I read a review ~cough cough~Colleen B~cough~ and knew that I’d need to park at the McRae ave garage (find McRae ave. Go there. You will see the garage!). From there I just walked out and crossed the railroad tracks finding myself staring into the shop!
There are similarities that will remind you that you’re in a Credo coffee shop– the suggested prices since everything is pay what you feel like paying, the seasonal homemade syrups for your yummy coffee, the altogether amazingly nice staff. But there is a different vibe to this shop. Whereas the College Park location is like grandma’s house (hip grandma who knows old is in and has outlets everywhere for your devices) this location is your Silicon Valley uncle’s house. Sleek, clean, slightly industrial– I was digging the amount of space and light from the two story high windows.
Grab your coffee/​pastry downstairs and head upstairs to a dedicated coworking space. You’ll be sitting next to strangers and you’ll love every minute of it. I thought I’d stay for an hour and the next time I looked at the time on my computer it was 5 hours later and I had gotten through a TON of work. By the time I left one of the baristas reminded me that they validate parking and there’s no max time for that compd. parking. YUS.
And last– a big shoutout to Shannon Staunton. She’s the awesome artist behind the map wall at Credo’s first location, and now several B&W pieces of art melding the buildings and iconic spaces of Orlando and Guatemala hanging at the new Credo.
This is the place to go if you need a reminder about why this city is so freaking great.

You guys, this is why I love Orlando as much as I do… Community! People making amazing things happen.
Come here!
It has been a true pleasure to watch the small Downtown Credo location in College Park becomes so successful and impactful throughout the years. Now, they are expanding and it couldn’t be anymore gorgeous. Yes, I am writing this review from their upstairs seating area.
Check out some reasons why you should check this new location out:
— Validated Parking in McRae Ave. Parking Garage.
— Free WiFi.
— Donation based prices on all coffee and sweets.
— Tons of space to lounge, work, connect, and just relax.
— The views are amazing, so much light.
Compared to the College Park location, picture that is «home» with their cozy feel and welcoming vibe and move on over to this spot I call «co-​work» with an open, industrial feel that is still welcoming but more of a city feel with the hustle and bustle of surrounding construction going on, hospital foot traffic and SunRail. It’s a bit loud as the acoustics are not great so I wouldn’t suggest phone calls from here but if you want to get out and chat, this is your spot.
Loved that they could mold Credo’s visions to another surrounding and get everything across that they have grown into. In line with their vision of «improving the quality of lives in our nations cities by cultivating networks of meaning, impact and community,» they source all of their coffee from a network of growers in Guatemala. So come in here and name your price for the goods you get and the ambiance it brings and walk away knowing you made an impact far beyond your normal reach.
They also put on events such as the yearly Bike Rally and monthly workshops. Downtown Credo really puts a true meaning into the word Community. It’s uplifting and inspiring.