PonyCoffee sits in a century-old building on South Main Street, a short drive south of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, where creaky wood floors and walls hung with old bicycle frames hint at the address’s former life as a neighborhood bike shop. It’s a working coffee roaster with a small, focused menu — and one of the rare coffee shops in town set up with kids in mind.
My wife took our son there and two things stood out right away: the space is huge, and there’s plenty here to keep a kid busy.
A Kid-Friendly Play Space Inside PonyCoffee
The kid-friendly setup at PonyCoffee goes well beyond a token toy bin. Toys are scattered throughout the shop, tucked onto bookshelves around the seating, so there’s something to grab no matter where you land. The centerpiece is out back — a large play area on the covered patio, fully enclosed so kids can roam, climb, and just be kids without a parent tracking a wandering toddler. Out there, they’ll find a horse spring rider, a toy kitchenette, a little car to ride in, a basketball hoop, and more — enough variety to keep them busy through a whole visit.
For parents who’ve spent more than one coffee run negotiating with a restless little one, that setup changes the whole visit. Jordan had room to move and plenty to keep him busy, so the trip didn’t end the moment the coffee hit the table.
Most coffee shops never make room for something like this, which puts PonyCoffee on a short list of spots where a parent can bring a young child and settle in without a second thought.
A Building with Bike-Shop Bones
PonyCoffee opened in October 2024 in the 100-year-old building that locals knew for years as G. Oscar Bicycles, a longtime shop run by photographer G. Oscar Herron. Rather than scrub that history out, the owners leaned into it.
Co-owner Micky Payne curated a mix of reframed Herron photographs, salvaged bike parts, and odds and ends from the building’s past, so the décor reads like a love letter to the space it occupies. The bike theme runs in the family, too — co-owner Joshua Gifford also co-owns Soundpony, the bicycle-themed bar elsewhere in Tulsa. Rounding out the ownership is Clay Welch, a familiar name in the local coffee scene.
The renovation kept the original wood floors while adding a vaulted, shiplap-lined ceiling upstairs and bright tile behind the ground-floor bar. The result feels lived-in and new at the same time.
Plenty of Seating, Inside and Out
There’s a lot of room to spread out. The shop runs across two floors, with seating downstairs near the bar and more space upstairs, plus the covered patio out back.
That range of seating makes the shop flexible. A parent watching the play area, a student with a laptop, and a small group meeting over coffee can all find a spot that fits without crowding each other.
House-Roasted Coffee and a Short, Focused Menu
PonyCoffee roasts its own coffee, and the menu is built around doing a few things well rather than offering everything. Expect espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, teas, and matcha, alongside a small rotating selection of pastries.
The house espresso blend is called Giddy Up, a mix of beans from Costa Rica, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. The team has said the short menu is intentional — the focus is on quality in the cup rather than a sprawling board of options.
Planning a Visit to PonyCoffee
You’ll find PonyCoffee at 1623 S. Main Street in Tulsa. The shop opens daily at 6:30 a.m., which makes it an easy stop for an early start, though hours can shift — checking ponycoffee.com before you go is the safest bet.
Beyond the coffee and the play space, the shop offers Wi-Fi and a loyalty program, hosts the occasional food truck and live music, and is available to book for private events.
Frequently Asked Questions About PonyCoffee
Where is PonyCoffee located?
PonyCoffee is at 1623 S. Main Street in Tulsa, on South Main just south of downtown.
Does PonyCoffee have a play area for kids?
Yes. Toys are spread throughout the shop on bookshelves, and there’s a large, fully enclosed play area on the covered patio, so kids can play safely while parents relax.
What time does PonyCoffee open?
PonyCoffee opens daily at 6:30 a.m. Hours can change, so check ponycoffee.com for the most current schedule.
Does PonyCoffee roast its own coffee?
Yes. PonyCoffee roasts locally, including its house espresso blend, Giddy Up, made from Costa Rican, Tanzanian, and Ethiopian beans.
Is PonyCoffee a good spot for remote work or small meetings?
It can be. The shop has Wi-Fi, two floors of seating, and an outdoor patio, leaving room for solo work or a small group.
