Coquito, a compact coffee shop by day and DJ-driven bar by night, has quietly set up shop along Austin’s East Seventh corridor. The newcomer folds its signature Loquito latte and a tight Latin American-leaning menu into a plant-filled room, with both front and back patios and a DJ booth that already feels like the heart of the space. Neighbors are treating it as yet another third place on a block that keeps filling in with cafes and late-night hangouts.
As reported by The Austin Chronicle, Coquito opened at 1407 E. Seventh right before SXSW, launched by Sussie Ramirez and Brian Almaraz. The outlet notes that the name nods both to Ramirez’s dog Coco and to Almaraz’s Coconut Club, and that the concept is built to switch from a daytime coffee program to a nightlife venue once the sun goes down. Ramirez and Almaraz bring a history of music-focused hospitality to the project, so the after-dark personality is not an afterthought.
Owners And The Scene They Built
Ramirez, who performs as DJ Suxxy Puxxy, built her following through the long-running Peligrosa collective and later founded Perreo Club, a regional Latin dance party that helped define her audience, according to Peligrosa. Her partnership with Almaraz grew out of their work in Austin’s small-venue scene, which gives Coquito a ready-made roster of DJs and a clear mission to operate as a welcoming community hub rather than just another bar.
Food, Coffee And The Loquito
The food menu leans into Latin American comfort: torta del chavo, grilled cheese with honey-chipotle dressing, pollo pepiada, a torta cubana, and sides like fried yuca and plantain chips. On weekends, marisco specials show up in the form of shrimp tostadas and seafood broth shots. The shop’s signature Loquito, a latte built with coquito, the Puerto Rican coconut cocktail, anchors the drink list, while coffee beans come through a partnership with Mercado Sin Nombre, according to The Austin Chronicle.
What It Means For East Seventh
Coquito slots in among recent additions on the block and helps stitch together more daytime and nighttime energy along this stretch of East Seventh, complementing nearby spots like Cenote and Granny’s Tacos. Mercado Sin Nombre’s profile as an East Austin roaster and masa-forward cafe adds extra heft to Coquito’s coffee program, a pedigree highlighted in local coverage by outlets such as Eastside ATX.
With largely Latin American ownership and staff, the owners say Coquito aims to function as a safe, inclusive spot where music and community come first, a priority that shows up in the shop’s programming and late-night bookings. Whether it is a Loquito on the way to work or a DJ set after dark, Coquito is staking its claim as another East Austin third space.
