This post was originally published in April 2019 and was most recently updated on October 6, 2026.
Looking for coffee flights? Check out my post about where to find coffee flights in the Twin Cities.
For the past several years, my husband Mike and I have had a standing coffee date on Sunday mornings. Thanks to all of our coffee dates, we've developed a rotation of favorite local coffee shops. I update this post periodically with new finds—there are so many great coffee shops in the Twin Cities, and this is only a sampling.
Coffee shops are listed alphabetically within each geographical category.
Minneapolis—Northeast
Momo Cafe is a serene space decorated with the owner's collection of Tibetan art and antiques. Their unique specialty drinks feature Asian flavors like sesame and ube, as well as Tibetan butter milk tea. The food menu includes pastries, croissant sandwiches, and momos. A few streetside tables are are available.
3035 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis; 612-446-3483; momocafemn.com
Walden Coffee is a bright space with lots of natural light, retro decor, and a lived-in, friendly feel. Their espresso drinks are top-notch—I especially like the cortado, which comes with a little glass of sparkling water. In addition to plenty of indoor seating, there are a few streetside tables.
520 Lowry Avenue NE, Minneapolis; 612-208-1253; instagram.com/walden.coffee
Local chains in Northeast Minneapolis: Dogwood Coffee, Five Watt Coffee, and Spyhouse have Northeast locations. Further information is listed in the "Multiple Twin Cities Locations" section at the bottom of this post.
Minneapolis—North Loop
In the Loop Coffee Co. is a little coffee shop with a lot of heart—baked goods taste homemade, and there's a photo wall of customers' pets. It’s the kind of spot where you feel like a regular even if it’s your first visit. Most of the signature drinks veer towards the sweet side of the spectrum. Mike enjoys the toffee crunch, a mocha garnished with toffee bits. There are also traditional espresso drinks, pour over coffee, and paninis. In addition to seating in the shop itself, there are a few tables in the adjacent lobby and streetside.
708 N 1st Street, Minneapolis; 612-479-9300; intheloopcoffee.com
Local chains in Minneapolis' North Loop: Backstory Coffee Roasters, FRGMNT Coffee, and Spyhouse have North Loop locations. Further information is listed in the "Multiple Twin Cities Locations" section at the bottom of this post.
Minneapolis—South
Fireroast Coffee & Wine Bar has a cozy neighborhood cafe vibe, and they make their own baked goods in-house. The scones are very fresh, since they're baked throughout the day in small batches. In addition to fair-trade, organic coffee, there's a nice selection of loose leaf teas, and Mike likes their chai lattes. Fireroast also serves a breakfast and lunch menu, and the spacious covered patio is open year round.
3800 37th Avenue S, Minneapolis; 612-721-0039; fireroastcafe.com
Northern Coffeeworks serves tasty house-roasted coffee in a spacious, laid-back atmosphere inspired by Minnesota's great outdoors. There are usually a handful of seasonal beverages available, and the regular latte plus maple is incredible—it has an intense maple flavor without being too sweet. There are a few picnic tables along the sidewalk.
4208 S 28th Avenue, Minneapolis; northerncoffeeworks.com
Local chains in South Minneapolis: Dogwood Coffee, Five Watt Coffee, SK Coffee, and Spyhouse have South Minneapolis locations. Further information is listed in the "Multiple Twin Cities Locations" section at the bottom of this post.
St. Paul
Café Astoria is Instagram-famous for drinks that taste as lovely as they look. My go-to is the rainbow latte, which is flavored with peppermint and chocolate. It's not as sweet as you might expect, and it makes for a stunning photo. There’s also a 24K latte with edible gold and a campfire latte garnished with a toasted marshmallow. The cafe has a food menu that includes crepes, smoothie bowls, salads, and sandwiches. Outdoor seating is available.
180 Grand Avenue, St. Paul; 651-340-9471; cafeastoria-stpaul.com
Quixotic Coffee has a neighborhood coffee shop vibe, with top-notch drinks—their cold brew options are especially good. I'm a big fan of the Marko Polo, a nitro cold brew drink with housemade caramel and vanilla syrups, and if you want something desserty, the De Niro, which combines nitro cold brew, chocolate milk, and almond simple syrup. They also have espresso drinks and on-tap kombucha. Streetside outdoor seating is available.
769 Cleveland Avenue S, St. Paul; 701-484-3375; quixoticcoffee.com
Local chains in St. Paul: Backstory Coffee Roasters, Dogwood Coffee, SK Coffee, and Spyhouse have St. Paul locations. Further information is listed in the "Multiple Twin Cities Locations" section below.
Multiple Twin Cities locations
Backstory Coffee Roasters has a curated menu of coffee drinks made with care, and they roast their beans in-house. The seasonal drinks are always interesting, and I also like the Maple Standard, a cold brew drink flavored with maple syrup, cream, cinnamon, and sea salt. Backstory Coffee Roasters has three locations: St. Paul West Side, Minneapolis North Loop, and Bloomington Central Station. We love the North Loop location—it's in a historic industrial building with high ceilings, lots of plants, and decor that reminds me of a fancy hotel lobby.
Dogwood Coffee is a Twin Cities standby—they've been roasting coffee since 2010. They have Minneapolis locations in Northeast and on East Lake Street, plus St. Paul locations on University and Grand Avenues. I love the colorful, modern aesthetic of their cafes (especially the Northeast one). Their Zamboni cold brew is especially good, in part because it's served in a beer goblet.
Five Watt Coffee has a quirky sensibility that I love—every fall the menu features the Pumpkin Spice Lawsuit, and their website claims that they offer a rent-by-the-hour unicorn stable. Many of the intriguing craft cocktail-inspired espresso drinks feature bitters and savory spices. Mike's favorite is the Busy Beaver, which is flavored with maple syrup and blackstrap bitters, dusted with cinnamon and black pepper, and finished with a drizzle of molasses. I usually try one of the seasonal specials, and have consistently been impressed. Five Watt has three Minneapolis locations: Kingfield, Lyndale, and East Hennepin. We like East Hennepin, which has lots of outdoor seating.
FRGMNT Coffee features coffee from an ever-changing lineup of roasters. The menu is short—a couple of seasonal drinks, a handful of traditional espresso drinks—but you can count on an intriguing, exquisitely crafted beverage. FRGMNT Coffee has four Minneapolis locations: North Loop, St. Anthony Main, the Mill District, and in the downtown Skyway (there's also a suburban outpost in Eden Prairie). Our favorite is the North Loop thanks to the large indoor and outdoor seating areas and cozy fireplace.
SK Coffee has a minimal, Nordic vibe, and they roast their single-origin coffees in-house. I recommend getting a simple drink, like a flat white, so you can fully appreciate the nuanced flavors in the coffee—it's quite flavorful and unique. SK Coffee has three locations: Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood, the downtown Minneapolis Skyway, and St. Paul's Vandalia Tower.
Spyhouse is one of the Twin Cities’ original third-wave coffee shops, and the industrial chic hipster aesthetic is a huge draw for me. My favorite drinks are the Spygirl (a lavender honey latte) and their fall/winter special, Sage Against the Machine (a pecan sage latte). Added bonus: there isn’t an additional charge for alternative milks like almond, oat, and soy. Spyhouse has five locations in Minneapolis and one in St. Paul. On Sunday mornings, we prefer the North Loop location because it isn't as busy and there's free street parking nearby on 10th Avenue. For weeknight coffee dates, the Northeast location has an intimate vibe and an adjacent free parking lot.
Further reading: Where to find coffee flights in the Twin Cities
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