Smell it? That sweet wave of just-picked berries drifting across U.S. 98 isn’t your imagination—it’s Cat Island Coffee Roasters rolling out their once-a-year strawberry shortcake. Soft, buttery biscuits, ruby-red Gulf Coast berries, a cloud of whipped cream, and a sidecar of small-batch espresso sit five minutes from your campsite, waiting to rescue Saturday afternoons and post-paddle cravings alike.

Key Takeaways

• Cat Island Coffee Roasters makes a once-a-year strawberry shortcake when Gulf Coast berries peak (late Feb – mid Apr).
• The café sits 3 miles west of Navarre Beach Camping Resort on U.S. 98 and has RV parking, bike racks, a dog bowl, and strong Wi-Fi.
• Fresh shortcake is announced with berry emojis on their social stories; slices can sell out, so check online and call ahead.
• Biscuits are buttery; choose regular, dairy-free, or sometimes gluten-free options, plus oat or coconut whipped cream on request.
• Coffee matches: light Ethiopian for bright zing, honey-sweet Guatemalan for mellow, or smooth cold brew if you want low acid.
• Tips for four visitor types: families (morning, kid forks), RV couples (after paddling, rinse shower), snowbirds (quiet weekdays, cushions), laptop nomads (outlets, photo wall).
• Take-home hack: keep biscuit and cream separate in a resealable bag with a dry packet; it’s only a 5-minute ride back to camp.
• If berry season ends, look for house-made syrups or freeze-dried crumbles to keep the strawberry flavor alive.

Why click away now?

• Mom on snack duty: kid-sized forks, stroller-wide aisles, dairy-free whip on request.
• RV duo on the move: dog-friendly patio, easy pull-through parking, GPS says 2.4 miles.
• Snowbird with time to savor: low-traffic weekday mornings, extra cushions, gluten-aware bakers.
• Laptop-toting surf chaser: strong Wi-Fi, oat-milk cortado, #SpringBerries photo wall.

Fresh berries fade fast—keep reading to map the shortcake window, snag peak-ripeness tips, and pair that slice with the perfect roast before you head back to Navarre Beach Camping Resort.

Why the Dessert Isn’t on Google—But Everyone Talks About It

Cat Island Coffee Roasters operates the way many independent Gulf Coast cafés do: limited menus, seasonal surprises, and more Instagram hints than formal listings. Locals swear a strawberry shortcake materializes as soon as Northwest Florida berries reach peak flavor, yet a quick web search shows no trace of the dessert or, in fact, the café itself. That gap fuels curiosity and lines at the pastry case because scarcity—intentional or not—creates momentum.

Small roasters frequently tweak offerings based on farmers’ deliveries and kitchen space. A rotating shortcake lets bakers honor the fruit’s short season without over-committing refrigerator real estate. If you arrive during a berry lull, baristas pivot to freeze-dried berry toppings or drizzle house-made syrups onto lattes, proving flexibility is part of their charm. Follow their social stories in the days before your visit and you’ll spot subtle emoji clues—a berry here, a biscuit there—revealing bake times and slice counts.

Navigating to Cat Island Coffee Roasters from Navarre Beach Camping Resort

Leave the resort, turn west on U.S. 98, and let your odometer tick just over three miles; a surf-shop sign and bright turquoise Adirondack chairs mark the entrance. The lot offers two dedicated RV-length spaces and a curb cut wide enough for stroller wheels. Early arrivals claim the shaded picnic zone under canvas sails, but an air-conditioned bar with ten seats welcomes anyone melting in the spring heat.

Amenities lean practical. A rinse-off shower hides on the east wall—perfect after a paddleboard session—while a weathered wooden rack keeps beach bikes upright. Dogs lap water from a stainless bowl near the door, and free Wi-Fi reaches every table, making quick map checks or remote work sessions painless. Call ahead if your crew needs more than four desserts; staff can stash biscuits until you roll in.

The Science of Northwest Florida Strawberry Season

Panhandle berries ripen a touch later than those in Central Florida, usually from late February through mid-April. Raised-bed farming and plastic mulch shed most rain, but sudden hot snaps can end the party early, so local growers recommend visiting on the front side of the window. Peak fruit sports a glossy sheen, uniform red color, and a perfume you notice before slicing; cafés like Cat Island buy those flats the same morning.

If you miss the fresh harvest, don’t shelve your dessert dreams. Roasters often convert surplus berries into syrups or freeze-dried crumbles that stretch the flavor well into early summer drinks. For campers hauling treats back to an RV fridge, ask for berries and cream packed separately so biscuits stay flaky until assembly at sunset.

What Makes This Shortcake Different

Sightings describe a flaky buttermilk biscuit that splits cleanly without crumbling, creating a sturdy platform for macerated Milton berries. The filling rests under a light Chantilly that balances sweetness with a faint salt finish. Portions come in kid-hand-sized halves around four dollars or a full shareable plate for seven, and staff gladly tuck berries and cream into mason jars if you need fridge-friendly travel.

Dietary tweaks aren’t afterthoughts. A small stash of oat or coconut whip lives beside the standard heavy cream canister, ready for dairy-sensitive visitors. Gluten-free biscuits appear sporadically—call the morning of your visit for status—and seniors can request a split plate to trim sugar and still satisfy a sweet tooth.

Coffee Pairings That Let the Berries Sing

Light Ethiopian pour-overs with citrus and floral notes mirror the strawberry acidity, creating a bright, almost sparkling bite-for-sip rhythm. If caramel sounds more your speed, a honey-processed Guatemalan roast layers gentle sweetness without overpowering the fruit. Cold-brew diluted over ice offers a softer, low-acid alternative appreciated by campers monitoring heartburn and hydration.

Baristas suggest tasting any coffee black first; just a splash of sweet-cream or oat milk after the initial sip preserves the berry’s high notes. Whole beans travel best in an opaque, airtight canister kept out of direct sun inside your RV pantry. That one small step keeps flavor lively for the next sunrise brew on the resort boardwalk.

Four Traveler Types, Four Game Plans

Local Family Foodie Moms should aim for Saturday between nine and eleven in the morning when lines run short and baristas still have half-portion biscuits. A chalkboard nook keeps crayons busy, and two playgrounds sit within a five-minute drive, saving car seats from sticky chaos. Dairy-free whip turns shirts into safe zones and earns enthusiastic nods from pediatricians watching lactose intake.

Vacationing RV Couples can detour after paddleboarding at nearby Soundside Park, rinse sandy toes at the café shower, and settle under the shade sail with a leashed pup. Pull-through parking removes reversing stress, and Wi-Fi in the lot downloads trail maps before the Blackwater River run. Portions pack neatly into the freezer chest if sunset cravings strike later.

Retired Snowbird Sweet-Seekers find weekday afternoons around two the quietest, with senior-friendly cushions on every bar stool. Staff automatically slice a full biscuit for sharing and happily swap to cold-brew if hot coffee feels too bold. Call early for the occasional gluten-free option to keep joints happy and dessert inclusive.

Young Adventure Coffee Nomads grab an espresso flight, plug laptops into outlets under the bar, and chase natural light by the east window for envy-inducing photos. Oat-milk cortados pair beautifully with berry juice, and a quick left turn at Soundside Park puts bike tires directly on the café rack. Strong 50 Mbps Wi-Fi anchors remote work sprints between surf sessions.

From Pastry Case to Campsite Without a Crumb Lost

Cat Island Coffee Roasters lies just five minutes from Navarre Beach Camping Resort, so timing pickup before a sunset pier stroll is painless. Place the biscuit in a resealable bag, hang it from a gear line, and drop a silica packet inside to fight coastal humidity. Campsites with electric service power a handheld mixer; whipping cream seconds before serving transforms texture and turns nearby campers into fast friends.

For larger gatherings, order multiple shortcakes an hour ahead and let staff stage them in lidded boxes. Compostable cutlery and plates prevent runaway trash on breezy nights, and the resort boardwalk benches overlooking Santa Rosa Sound make ideal dessert stages. Missed berry season? Ask the front desk for local bakery discount cards; partnerships often knock a few dollars off off-menu treats and keep the sweet vibes rolling.

Strawberry season will slip away faster than a tide line at sunrise, so let’s turn sweet inspiration into real-time memories. Reserve your waterfront RV site or breezy cabin at Navarre Beach Camping Resort, wake up to Santa Rosa Sound, and be biting into that legendary shortcake five minutes later. Book your stay today, pack an extra spoon, and taste spring the way locals do—fresh, relaxed and wonderfully close to home base.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is the seasonal strawberry shortcake actually on the menu?
A: Cat Island Coffee Roasters begins serving the shortcake as soon as Northwest Florida berries hit peak flavor, typically late February through mid-April; after a hot snap the dessert can disappear quickly, so checking their social media for the berry and biscuit emojis they post the morning of a bake is the safest way to confirm availability.

Q: Do they ever sell out, and how can I make sure a slice is waiting for us?
A: Yes, because the café makes only as many biscuits as that day’s berry delivery allows, whole trays can vanish by early afternoon on weekends; calling ahead or sending a direct message the day of your visit lets staff set a few portions aside under your name for pick-up.

Q: How far is Cat Island Coffee Roasters from Navarre Beach Camping Resort, and what is parking like for large vehicles or strollers?
A: The café sits just over three miles—about a five-minute drive—west on U.S. 98, where you’ll find two pull-through spaces long enough for RVs, a wide curb cut that lines up nicely with stroller wheels, and plenty of regular spots for cars.

Q: Is the shortcake kid-approved and are smaller portions available?
A: Parents report easy smiles thanks to a half-portion biscuit that fits little hands, kid-sized forks on request, and a chalkboard corner inside that keeps children occupied while adults place orders.

Q: What if someone in our group needs dairy-free or gluten-free options?
A: Baristas keep oat or coconut whipped topping chilled beside the heavy cream and will happily swap it in, while gluten-free biscuits appear sporadically; a quick morning phone call confirms whether that day’s batch meets gluten-free needs.

Q: Can we bring our dog to the café?
A: A shaded