The Best Coffee Shops in St. Paul

The Twin Cities have a great coffee scene, don't get me wrong. Minneapolis usually gets all the fun, and I get it; it's bigger and shinier and often where people go first. However, take it from me; don't sleep on St. Paul. Skip the downtown chains. The good stuff is in the neighborhoods.

I am a coffee shop person through and through. Give me a window seat, a good drink, and a reason to stay three hours longer than I planned, and I'm happy. As a college student, coffee shops are basically my second office (and my second home during finals, no shame).

And in Minnesota, a cozy coffee shop is a survival skill. When winter decides to last half the year, you need places that feel warm the second you walk in.

So this guide is for the students hunting for a new study spot, anyone visiting who wants to see the real St. Paul, and the locals who have been stuck in the same Starbucks drive-thru for way too long (you know who you are). Some of these spots are for working, some are for catching up with friends, and one of them turns into a bar at night. Something for everyone!

Yellowbird is on Selby in the Lex-Ham neighborhood and looks like an old schoolhouse someone turned into the coziest living room ever. Raw wood, chalkboards, a big vaulted ceiling, and the cutest mustard yellow mugs. The owner is always around, so if you see John, don't hesitate to say hi; he's great! 

The drinks are named after the neighborhood, which I love. The Hamline is lavender, honey, and espresso, and if you're a floral latte person, it's a MUST.  I was hesitant at first, but it's really good. The Lex is caramel and chocolate, so double yes. And the Yellowbird comes topped with ice cream from a Minnesota farm. It's an affogato, and it works if you need a sweet treat. 

Over in Minneapolis? They have a second spot in Northeast, so no excuses.

Ginkgo has been on Snelling since 1993, which, thinking about how fast some places close down, sounds insane. They've got seasonal specials that make me come back constantly. 

It's close to a bunch of colleges, so expect laptops everywhere and get there early if you want a table for a study session. And keep an eye on their calendar, because they host concerts and a holiday maker fair. Live music in a cozy coffee shop on a freezing Minnesota night?  It's great, I promise. 

Nina's sits right on the corner of Selby and Western in Cathedral Hill, which is, in my opinion, the prettiest neighborhood in the whole city. Victorian houses, big windows, and the Cathedral of Saint Paul just a short walk up the street.

This is where I'd send you if you actually need to get work done. It's laptop-friendly, it's cozy, and nobody's going to rush you out. When your brain needs a break, take a walk! It's a beautiful neighborhood with some of my favorite spots. 

Calling all coffee snobs, this one's for you. This is for when you want really, really good coffee. Spyhouse is a Twin Cities roaster, and their St. Paul cafe lives in a building that used to be a grocery store back in the 1930s. Now it's a big, open, light-filled space with seriously good coffee.

They work directly with farms, and you can taste the difference. My advice: don't drown it in syrup. Order something simple like a pour-over or a cortado and try the coffee! (The syrups are good too)  It's right by Macalester, so expect a lot of students cramming for something. Very motivating or very stressful, depending on your week.

Have a friend who "doesn't even like coffee"? (weird). Bring them here. Cafe Astoria's menu goes way past lattes: fruit teas, smoothie bowls, and crepe cakes. If you've never had a crepe cake, picture layers and layers of thin crepes stacked with cream. It's super light and SO yum! 

It's on the east end of Grand Avenue, so make an afternoon out of it. Grab a slice and a fruit tea, then walk down Grand and pop into the little shops along the way. It works for a catch up with friends or a cute lowkey date and it'll make your day sweeter! 

Lost Fox is the best of both worlds. During the day, it's a coffee shop with breakfast and lunch sandwiches. At night, it turns into a restaurant with a full bar. Brick walls, local art that rotates every few months, peak Lowertown energy.

If you want one spot that covers your whole day, this is it. Start with a latte and a sandwich, go explore Lowertown (the St. Paul Farmers Market is right around the corner on Saturdays in season), then come back for happy hour. And the kimchi chorizo queso fries are my favorite. 

If you only have time for one stop in downtown St. Paul, make it this one.

Here are a few more from my collection:

• Quixotic Coffee in Highland Park. Everything here is local, from the beans to the milk to the pastries.
• Karol Coffee Co. near Como. Fun fact: the owners started out roasting coffee and running a coffee camper.
• Phê Coffee in Lowertown. Vietnamese coffee, strong and sweet. Pair it with Lost Fox and you've got yourself a Lowertown coffee crawl.
• Catzen Coffee on Grand. Coffee. And cats. Need I say more?

And that's my list! St. Paul doesn't get nearly enough credit, so I hope this gets you out of downtown and into the neighborhoods, because that's where the magic is.

Quick tip before you go: save the collection now. Future you, standing on Selby in January with frozen fingers, trying to remember the name of that one cafe, will thank you.

If you have a favorite I missed, tell me! I'm always adding to my collections, and I'm always looking for an excuse to try a new coffee shop.

Till next time :)