The biggest standout here is definitely the space. It's set inside a beautifully restored old police station, and the design is honestly one of the most unique café environments in the city. The old jail cells turned into seating areas are super cool and give it a vibe you don't really get anywhere else. Coffee was not bad. Not overly experimental, but definitely reliable and enjoyable. I've been to a lot of cafés where the atmosphere outshines the drinks, and this is kind of that situation, but the quality still holds up well enough that you're not just coming here for the aesthetic. Service was friendly and welcoming, and the overall vibe is relaxed but still lively. It's a great place to work, read, or just hang out for a while. They also allow dogs! Compared to other spots I've been to, Antagonist really wins on character and atmosphere. It doesn't quite reach "destination coffee" level in terms of complexity or standout drinks, but it absolutely delivers a memorable experience. The cafe itself does not have any food other than pastries but it's connected to a board game cafe so if you want to get a quick bite, it's right next door! read more

Antagonist Cafe - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Came on a Wednesday to meet up with a friend. I love that they are open late. They also have street parking but lots of open tables for people to sit once inside. I got the muffin and a special matcha. The matcha and muffin were both really good. They had lots of cool seating options but those were taken. I loved the decor though. read more

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Just go! Try it out and love it. The vintage vibe is everything and I cannot wait to eat on their patio. It's connected to Board Game bar and that also looks like a good time. The people are knowledgeable and friendly. Cant wait to go back read more

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We ordered the Checkmate Chai Latte and the Sonic Latte. The Checkmate Chai Latte has white chocolate and chocolate drizzle and topped with cold foam. The Sonic Latte has blueberry white mocha. It was fun sharing the drinks. We both enjoyed the Sonic Latte. It was very smooth and tasty. The Checkmate was way too sweet which took away from enjoying it. We took a risk ordering both and the Sonic was the home run. This cafe is very unique and a lot of fun. I think there are 4 jail cells that you can sit in to enjoy your food and drinks. This cafe has a friendly and fun vibe. read more

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What a great spot for coffee! If you are in the area, you have to check it out! I am limiting my caffeine intake so went for some tea, it tasted great and I feel like I got a lot of bang for my buck! The Samoa cookie is the perfect amount of coconut and chocolate, my friend got a brownie and loved it. She also ordered the coffee special for October, I didn't try it, but it looked DELIGHTFUL. I would fully trust the special drink in the future. I did not realize that Pieces moved here also, but it makes sense since the back end of this building is really big. My friend and I got to sit in a jail cell, which would also be perfect if you had a large crowd, the booths would easily fit 6 on each side, maybe even 8 people on each side! They are so big! read more

Antagonist Cafe - Tea in a fun mug - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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I heard about this place months ago, but didn't get a chance to actually check them out until recently. They are located in a former jail and incorporate this into the theme of the shop, so it's got a lot of character. It's also in the same space as a board game place, so not only is there plenty to do, but there were also plenty of people when I got there on a Sunday late morning. Still, they were reasonably quick about getting through a substantial line, without letting the quality suffer. It's Soulard, so parking is an adventure, but if you're in the area, I'd recommend the place for the coffee as well as all the photo opportunities in their space. Great theming! read more

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This old Jail now turned into a coffee shop is very clever. It was my first time here and while walking around there is a little area in the back where you can sit and enjoy your coffee in what is a cell. There are three of them and all have long tables, so it is great for larger groups too. As for the coffee they had interesting ones. I went with the one called The Wentworth iced Latte. It is a latte which you can get iced or hot with Honey and Cinnamon. It was very tasty. My two other friends had the dirty chai iced latte and the The Fitzgerald which is Espresso, turmeric and ginger spice mix, and vanilla. We all enjoyed our drinks and the atmosphere of this coffee shop. If you are visiting St. Louis this is a place that should be on your list. Even if you are not a coffee drinker just for the vibes of the place. Locals themselves love it too. read more

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Popped in for a little pick me up and had heard so many fun things about the Antagonist Cafe inside a former police station. Really nice exterior and repurposed jail cells that serve as a more intimate seating area for larger groups. It was busy but we were able order and got our ice caramel latte and spinach and feta croissant. The croissant was beautiful and perfectly buttery and flaky. The latte was perfectly sweet. read more

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This place is awesome! Gluten free and gluten filled options for delicious treats are available! Great drinks! Plenty of cool places to sit! Very nice staff! HIGHLY recommend coming here - even just to have a coffee in the vault. Super cool place. read more

Antagonist Cafe - Inside - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I am so happy to finally have made it here! What an AWESOME place. From what used to be a police station to what is now a tasty coffee spot that brings the vibes. There's a new view each direction you look with awesome deco vibes and little nooks and crannies to take a seat in. I am a big fan of protagonist (their twin coffee spot on the north side of Soulard) so to no surprise I loved my latte. I love the intention that is behind this spot and I'm so excited to go, order a drink, and post up and get some work done. Definitely recommend going- you won't regret! read more

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Love this coffee shop that's in the old jail cell! What a unique place. My cold brew coffee was delicious, and we loved the gluten free food! I had egg bites and my mom had a gluten free mini lemon Bundt cake. We met the manager, and she's so sweet! read more

First time coming and I love when two amazing stl business come together! I got a white chocolate raspberry latte and did some work for a few hours with friends. We were even able to grab a jail cell table so that was pretty cool! read more

I saw photos of this new coffee shop posted on social media and the uniqueness of it definitely caught my eye! A coffee shop inside a bank!! This spot is like no other coffee shop I've ever seen before and by far beats all the others by design. The interiors are elaborately designed and you can tell that the owners took their time in creating a unique experience for their customers. There's several decorated vaults with booths inside, which contains board games and seating for about 6 people. The shop sells pastries and coffee/tea. I tried the Parmesan leek croissant which was delicious and had a flaky crust. I also tried the Wentworth Latte. I'm not a huge coffee drinker since I'm very particular about type of coffee that I drink, but I decided to try it since it sounded interesting, and to my surprise I loved the taste of the coffee, and I don't say that about all coffee. read more

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Well repurposed old police station now cafe and board game businesses occupy this space. Got a Café au lait with a nice creamy foam on top. First time having one of those and it was pretty delicious straightup. Baristas were very welcoming and full of morning smiles, which always help to make mornings better! Also included: nice patio seating! read more

Antagonist Cafe - Entrance to Antagonist Cafe - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

My coffee shop bucket list continues with Antagonist. I have no idea if it actually used to be a jail, but the jail cells are dope as hell. It is still new so it's super busy, but with patience you can find yourself a seat. I came and shared a table with some strangers. It seems all of the patrons were open to sharing the space give. How busy it is. The decor, vibe, and interior are immaculate. Super clean, well executed, and great design. Let's not forget the coffee. I had an amazing iced latte which has been my staple as of late. I am no coffee nerd but I know when one latte tastes better than another. This one was super well executed. This place is new, and the sister to Protagonist, but it will quickly climb the ranks of St. Louis staples adored by locals and visitors alike. read more

Antagonist Cafe - Latte and my book - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Service was quick and friendly. I came at 10 and it was steady and I easily found a table to sit at. People started coming around 11pm where it was a lot harder to find a place to sit. I came for the 'behind the bars' style seating (many photos on their Instagram if you want to check it out, I didn't want to get any strangers in my photo) but each cove was already filled. I'm assuming you have to get here early or a snag a spot quick, it seemed like a lot of folks were there to camp. My iced latte was just fine, I actually only drank half. I don't think I'll be back for the coffee, rather just a cool place to be. My friend said her pour over was ok too. Very small pastry selection. A water jug was out for you to get water if you wanted. Plenty of street parking. It's worth a shot if you're nearby! read more

Antagonist Cafe - Inside - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Love the building and how the space was utilized! Came on a Sunday with a group of 5. It was so busy, I was concerned about seating but after we all ordered coffee and pastries, we found a table against the wall in one of the rooms with converted cells from when the building housed a jail. Prior to our drinks being ready, one of the groups was leaving a cell and we moved in. So cool, with the long bench seats and large table, decorated with old time game of Clue items and posters. Everyone enjoyed their coffees and pastry. I was boring and got a white mocha. I'll have to go again and be adventurous and go with the rosemary sage latte. They stayed steadily busy while we sat with our drinks. Great spot to sit and enjoy the cool vibe! read more

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Shout out to the sister store of my favorite coffee shop Protagonist. Having a dark twin is so cute and I love that they used what was previously a jail house for it! There's ample study room, good WiFi, and even better drinks. Someone made me the cutest bear latte art after a hard day and I couldn't be more grateful for the friendly, kind service. 10/10. read more

Visited Antagonist Café STL on January 3rd and really enjoyed it. We had a matcha latte and a cortado, and both were excellent. Smooth, well balanced, and clearly made with care. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, making it a great spot to sit and enjoy good coffee. Would definitely come back. read more

Antagonist Cafe - Matcha white chocolate latte and cortado - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I'm a drip coffee drinker so I got the Guatemalan dark roast, very good. Staff is friendly, cafe is large, pet friendly, board game friendly!!! Outside seating is ok, inside has so much character and charm my friends and I enjoyed being there. One got a matcha , she said it was delicious another got some ginger turmeric drink she said it was good. The cinnamon rolls are out of this world!!! read more

Antagonist Cafe - Bail me out please. - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This new coffee shop is an absolute must to visit in St. Louis. The fact it use to be a jail cell is unreal. From the first step in the door the decor caught my eyes. Not only was the branding on point the coffee was also a highlight. They offer so many options but their specials for the month are a must. I ended up with a churro mocha. This is my new go to! The workers were nice and treated me with respect. 10 out of 10 coffee/ meet up spot! read more

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This is such a cool place. There are lots of places to sit inside & outside of the cells. We got a mocha latte, stroopwafel latte, & a blueberry muffin, all of which were incredible! It's easy to find too, right on a corner with lots of street parking. It was pretty busy at 10am on a Sunday. read more

Antagonist Cafe - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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A fun spot connected to Pieces (game cafe)! I like how they rehabilitated the space from a bank into a cafe. Their baked goods and coffee/tea is very good. Nice staff, good vibes. Would recommend for sure. Plenty of street parking and it's right next to the Busch brewery. read more

Really cool spot. It's essentially a repurposed police jailhouse where you can hangout in the old holding cells. Pastries weren't anything of note but they had the best cold brew I've had in St. Louis so far. Favorite dishes: Cold brew read more

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Really cool place that was converted from an old jail house. Staff was very friendly and quick with making coffee. They had a variety of seating options and looked to be dog friendly inside read more

Antagonist Cafe - Decaf latte - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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THIS PLACE IS SO COOL. Such an awesome addition to the Soulard neighborhood, and love that its so close to AB. It's awesome that they kept a lot of the original charm of the building, you get to see so much historical presence. We just came for a coffee drink and they have a really great menu with awesome syrups to choose from. The espresso was great in my opinion, definitely better than Starbucks. We love local coffee shops and this one is no different. If I worked from home, I would be coming here on a regular basis. A must see in STL at this point! read more

I love this place and have been coming since it opened. I love to sit in the jail cells and study, I love the creative coffee concoctions, and the staff is very friendly...BUT, lately it's gotten SO LOUD!! One can hardly study, read or think with the music volume and voices of patrons competing to be heard at their own table. I would love if they dedicated a quiet space for people who want to come and sit quietly and work. read more

Love it!!!!! It's expensive but such a cute place to go to study. The ambience is fantastic and the workers are friendly. Just be warned -- it can get quite loud! read more

Antagonist Café: A Beautifully Broody Birthday for Shea For Shea's birthday this year, we skipped the balloons and brunch clichés and instead wandered into something a little more moody magic--Antagonist Café in Soulard. And y'all... it was vibe city in the best way. This place is what happens when a coffeehouse and an old bank have a baby and raise it on poetry, dark academia, and espresso shots. You walk in and feel like you're about to have a meaningful conversation with a mysterious stranger--or at the very least, write your novel in a velvet booth. We laughed, we caffeinated, we people-watched (as one does on a birthday), and Shea got exactly what he wanted: a chill, beautiful space to just be--surrounded by gorgeous vibes, good coffee, and someone who loves him a whole lot. Antagonist Café isn't just a coffee stop--it's a mood, a moment, a soft-spoken celebration for people who love their birthdays with a touch of mystery and a whole lot of espresso. We'll be back. Probably in black. Probably writing sonnets to our lattes. read more

Have been to Protagonist Café before and one to try the new spot called Antagonist Café. They are doing it right as the Parmesan and Leake pastry. I got hit the spot. Warm perfectly and incredibly tasty with good flavor. Love the interior as they've converted an old building, which I believe was a bank? Might be wrong about that- but either way the ambience and vibe make this a cool place. Definitely not cookie cutter. Got myself a small Cubano coffee and the flavor was outstanding. Service was quick and courteous and I would highly recommend. The place was hopping on a Saturday morning and from my experience I can see why. read more

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Great new coffee shop in the former Mad Art Gallery location. Pieces Board game location will open here in January. This is an old police station with jail cells and art deco charm. Recommend read more

Good coffee and treats will definitely come back love the vibes and the service is very good and nice

I love the atmosphere!!! There are so many great things to say about Antagonist cafe that I don't know where to start! They have great freshly roasted coffee! Like actually roasted right there! The staff is always friendly and helpful and I LOVE their specials! The baked goods are amazing too! I can never decide between the brownie or the spinach croissant so I usually get one or the other Togo! Must try! read more

Went there with a group. The cinnamon role was warm and awesome ! The ambiance was incredible and the staff was very friendly. A+

This place has a very cute atmosphere and vibe! It's not the biggest inside so there's limited seating, but good to do work or homework at if you can snag a spot. The iced latte wasn't great in my opinion but I'd like to go back and try something different. read more

Absolutely favorite coffee house in the city! The best coffee and the coziest environment. I love that they also have gluten free options and all different types of milk (with dairy free options). They also have seasonal drinks which are always fantastic. Highly recommend! read more

Brought my sister in law and our kids here during her visit to STL right after Xmas, since I had visited this space prior to the coffee shop taking over. Decorations/styling of the place is wonderful. Pastry selection was very good- nice mix of savory and sweet. We ordered a cinnamon roll, spinach and cheese pastry, and I think Apple pastry or banana bread for the kiddos. Everyone liked their food, but the cinnamon roll was not warm though it was requested/ on the ticket. Not a huge deal, we just asked after the fact to have it warmed. My SIL had a mocha type special on the board and loved it. I had the fitzwilliam and it was wonderful. Just need the recipe now! Overall, great new gem in a historic building downtown. Prices seem average for coffee joints and their coffee and food items are very tasty. I've thought about going by again for another Fitzwilliam latte, but unfortunately I don't live very close so it's difficult to get there. The only downside was that it took over 20 minutes to get our food and drink. Understandable that it's new and maybe we just came at a bad time- only saw two people working behind the counter... with how busy it was, I would think 3 would be a bit better. But again, it could have just been a mid morning rush. read more

Such a cool atmosphere! We sat in the old jail cell that had some old timey cat art so we were in Heaven. Great latte and feta and spinach pastry. read more

Cool vibe. Way to repurpose space! Good coffee. Wish they hade more breakfast options. Pastries only

In a world of mediocre coffee haunts, the Antagonist is a refreshing place. Set in a decommissioned mid century police station, the Antagonist offers a variety of coffee, tea, cocoa, and soda. The bakery goods are outstanding. Better still is the cozy and welcoming environment. Cells boast long tables, (the doors actually do close if you want a hint of privacy) and large and small tables are scattered throughout for lots of places to sit, work, and chat. read more

Antagonist Cafe - Desserts Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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