Coffee lovers have every reason to visit St. Paul. While Minneapolis often gets the spotlight when people talk about Minnesota’s famous Twin Cities, St. Paul is a vibrant city with its own unique charm.
One thing St. Paul excels at is its coffee scene. With so many cozy cafés, family-run spots, and trendy coffee bars, the city offers plenty of options for anyone looking to enjoy a great cup of coffee.
Image Credit: Sam Wagner / Shutterstock
There’s nothing more comforting on a chilly Minnesota morning than a hot cup of coffee in a cozy St. Paul café. Even when the weather warms up, these coffee spots offer delicious caffeine fixes in inviting and unique environments.
From traditional cafés to trendy, modern coffee bars, St. Paul has a wide range of options for coffee lovers. Below, we’ve rounded up our top 10 favorite coffee shops in the city—a perfect starting point for exploring St. Paul’s thriving coffee culture.
The 10 Best Coffee Shops in St. Paul, MN
1. Yellowbird Coffee Bar
(Next, you can highlight the café’s address, hours, vibe, specialty drinks, and any unique features to give readers a full sense of what makes it special.)
1. Yellowbird Coffee Bar
Address: 1168 Selby Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104
Hours: Monday – Friday: 7 AM – 5 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 8 AM – 5 PM
If you’re looking for one of the coziest coffee shops in St. Paul, Yellowbird Coffee Bar is a top pick. The café exudes a genuine sense of family and belonging. The owner’s vision was to create a warm, welcoming space filled with kindness—and they’ve absolutely achieved it. You’ll feel right at home from the moment you walk in.
All of Yellowbird’s drinks are made with locally sourced ingredients, including coffee from local roasters, dairy, and more. Their menu features a wide variety of hot and cold brews, espresso drinks, teas, and cocoa.
The café also offers a delightful food menu, with breakfast pastries, sandwiches, and soups—perfect for a meal or a snack alongside your coffee. The interior is charming, with miniature booths, wooden accents, and pops of yellow adding a cheerful, inviting touch.
2. Claddagh Coffee Café
(Next, you can describe Claddagh Coffee Café’s address, hours, specialties, and what makes it unique in the St. Paul coffee scene.)
[Upload failed]
Address: 459 West 7th St, Saint Paul, MN 55102; 612 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Hours: Mon – Fri: 6:30 AM – 4 PM; Sat – Sun: 8 AM – 4 PM
Claddagh Coffee is another of the homey coffee shops St Paul does so well. A place with an Irish theme, the shop is named for an Irish symbol that represents friendship, loyalty, and love.
True to form, its lovingly hand-crafted drinks and cozy baked goods feel like a warm hug. They serve all sorts of coffee. This includes brewed, cold press, pour-overs, and espresso. Additionally, they have hot cocoa, smoothies, teas, and more. We recommend the Black & Tan, which is great either hot or iced!
You can also go here for a lovely meal. They serve a variety of paninis and Irish oatmeals, as well as a scrumptious breakfast sandwich.
Stop in at either their café on West Seventh street, or their smaller location on Selby. Either place you’ll get to experience all the charm of this quaint Irish establishment, and sample their delicious drinks.
3. Creator’s Cup
Address: 218 7th St E, Ste 100, St Paul, MN 55101
Hours: Wed – Sun: 9 AM – 5 PM
Some coffee shops are more than simple coffee shops. St Paul has a great example of this in Creator’s Cup, which sells delicious coffee but lots more to boot. And no, we’re not talking just food, although they have great bread, too!
Creator’s Cup is actually an art and knick knack shop and studio in addition to being a coffee shop. You can have a cup of their delicious coffee while perusing art, paintings, clothing, jewelery, and tchotchkes!
It’s an incredible artsy environment that holds events and classes, from live drawings to pottery design to meditation. It’s an amazing way to partake of St Paul culture and community while enjoying your hot cup of caffeine.
Speaking of which, they have a huge number of great drinks. But we think you’ll particularly enjoy the on-theme Creator, which is a latte made with coconut milk and maple syrup.
4. Café Astoria
Address: 180 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Hours: Mon – Sun: 7 AM – 3 PM
If you’re hoping to find some women-run coffee shops, St Paul has a great one to support! Café Astoria is a cozy spot to unwind with a hot cup of coffee or even brunch if you’re hungry.
Café Astoria has all the regular coffee drinks you might expect, from both hot and cold brews, espresso, and more. But it also has some fun twists on the norm. You’ll love the rainbow matcha or unique espresso made with rose syrup and meringue.
We can also recommend the Bee Sting, which is an espresso drink blended with bee pollen and wildflower honey. Unique and delightful! They also have a frozen hot chocolate that’s truly to die for.
And we haven’t even mentioned the food yet! From flaky pastries, crepes, and oatmeals to fruit plates, smoothies, salads, and more, it’s all light fare but mouthwateringly delicious.
5. Backstory Coffee Roasters
Address: 432 Wabasha St S, St Paul, MN 55017
Hours: Mon – Sun: 7 AM – 3 PM
Hiding off on a small side street on St Paul’s west side, Backstory is a much loved and well reviewed shop. They have indoor space, or you can order at their window, which provides and easy and efficient way to get your drink on the go.
On a hot day, you could have any of their delicious hot brews. Most of them have fun, narrative-related names such as Narrator, Legend, Wayfinder, and Hearthside, befitting their story theme.
They also have some refreshing cold drinks. In summer, you might enjoy Maple Standard, a cold brew mixed with maple syrup, cream, and cinnamon over ice. Not to mention their many other tasty cold options.
Open since 2014 and at their current location since 2019, Backstory is great for coffee, pastries, conversations, and more. You can also order in advance online and pick up at the window.
6. Quixotic Coffee
Address: 769 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116
Hours: Mon – Sun: 7 AM – 3:30 PM
One of the most popular coffee shops St Paul has in its vicinity, Quixotic Coffee is known for its rustic ambiance. Rather than the trendy vibe you often get in coffee shops, Quixotic feels traditional yet homey.
It has a beautiful interior, with light wood and white tiles, giving it a clean, minimalist feel. Quixotic is a great place for hanging out or even for business meetings.
It’s best known for serving delicious coffee that’s been locally roasted, and for its delicious menu. They serve all the breakfast items you might expect as well as deli sandwiches if you’re there for lunch.
You’ll also find a nice variety of soups and salads, pastries, parfaits, and other goodies. And unlike many coffee houses, they also have a menu of alcoholic drinks. They have wine, and an assortment of beers both on tap and bottled.
Recommended Reading
Best Brunch Chattanooga | 15 Delicious Cafes & Restaurants
Romantic Things To Do In Duluth MN – Special Complete Guide
7. Cahoots Coffee Bar
Address: 1562 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55104
Hours: Mon – Sun: 7 AM – 7 PM
When it comes to coffee shops, St Paul, MN has many of all different sorts. Some are on the trendier side, some are more homey. But overall you generally know what to expect when you come. Cahoots Coffee Bar, however, is one that manages to stand out for many reasons.
One of the most prominent is that it’s a Turkish coffee house. Turkish coffee is know for being smooth, simple, and unbitter. This means you won’t necessarily need cream to cut it or sugar to sweeten it.
It’s also served in an lovely atmospheric environment. Inside is surprisingly dark but very warm and inviting. Outside, they have an inviting patio, which is particularly nice a spring or summer day.
Compared to many others on our list, Cahoots Coffee Bar is also particularly low priced but no less high quality. Friendly baristas, delicious brews. Don’t miss it.
8. Golden Thyme on Selby
Address: 934 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55104
Hours: Tues – Sat: 8 AM – 1 PM
Lots of America’s cities these days have charming theme coffee shops. St Paul is no exception. And one of our favorites in this category is Golden Thyme on Selby. They have great coffee and a cool jazz theme.
In fact, every single one of their drinks is named after a famous or prominent jazz musician. They range from the beginning of the music genre to today. Jazz music is always playing there as well.
And you can buy any of these delicious hot drinks or cold brews for a very affordable price. Because of this, it’s a very popular place amongst students, even those less inclined to be jazz enthusiasts.
They also offer a wide variety of breakfast options from bagels, croissants, and omelettes to burritos, hashbrowns, and even noodles! You’d be hard-pressed to find a hipper coffee place in all of St Paul!
9. Nina’s Coffee Café
Address: 165 Western Ave N, St Paul, MN 55104
Hours: Mon – Sun: 6:30 AM – 4 PM
Another of the most charming coffee shops St Paul has to offer, Nina’s has great coffee and perfect ambiance. Located in a beautiful old building, it boasts high ceilings, exposed brick, and mirrors, and is full of comfy sofas. You couldn’t ask for a more inviting spot.
On Saturday mornings, don’t be surprised to see long lines out the door! This is thanks to their delicious coffee and food. Their former options include espresso, cold press, batch brew, cocoa, teas, kombucha, and more.
As far as food, they have an extensive menu for breakfast and lunch. It includes all sorts of salads, sandwiches, and wraps. All food and produce is locally sourced, fresh, and delicious. We can particularly recommend their chicken salad croissant and the pulled pork sandwich.
Because of the crowds, though, you might want to pick a less busy time to stop in, such as weekdays in mid-afternoon.
10. Kopplin’s Coffee
Address: 2038 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN 55104
Hours: Mon – Fri: 6 AM – 8 PM; Sat – Sun: 7 AM – 8 PM
Kopplin’s Coffee – St. Paul, MN
Rounding out our list of St. Paul coffee spots is Kopplin’s Coffee. Though it’s on the smaller side, the café makes up for it with a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. It’s perfect for meeting a friend for a relaxed afternoon chat or even settling in to work on a novel.
Kopplin’s Coffee is ideal whether you’re stopping by for a delicious cup of coffee or a light meal, whether breakfast or lunch. Fully run by a single family, the café prides itself on sourcing ingredients locally and preparing everything in-house.
All their coffees—hot or cold—are roasted on-site, and they also bake fresh pastries and bread every day. Beyond food and drinks, Kopplin’s sells coffee tools, accessories, and gifts, so you might leave feeling like a coffee expert!
Recommended Reading
-
Amazing Charlottesville Coffee Shops | Best Cafes – Full Guide
-
15 Delicious Coffee Shops in Addison, Illinois You Must Try!
-
Coffee Shops in The Woodlands, Texas – Ultimate Guide
Conclusion
There you have it—our 10 favorite coffee shops in St. Paul. But this is just the beginning! The Twin Cities are full of incredible cafés waiting to be explored. So grab a cup and start your St. Paul coffee adventure today!