Cancel

Open app

Search

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

4.1 (222 reviews)
Closed 6:30 am - 6:00 pm

Order Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea Takeout or Delivery

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea Photos

Business Info

FAIRGROUNDS COFFEE AND TEA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Intimate

You might also consider

More like Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

Recommended Reviews - Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos - Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

Oatmilk Latte Avocado Toast (w/o shallots & radishes)

I am a UMN student & a regular for a few years at Fairgrounds! Their rewards program is awesome, & their drinks & food are consistently delicious. Customer service is good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super comfy seats for studying or remote work[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], & [[HIGHLIGHT]]the space is well-kept & bright.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Love it!

Grilled Cheese and Vietnamese Cold Brew
Tiffany H.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This was a nice coffee shop with food available and an abundance of open tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a nice gathering spot to hang for a bit especially with the rain.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Coming from the Bay Area, I'm not sure if I just have higher expectations on food but overall, I was not impressed. Starting with the coffee. I don't think the viet coffee was anything special but it wasn't terrible. But I may also have high standards. I expected a stronger caffeine dose but it wasn't pretty mild. The grilled cheese itself was good but the tomato soup was extremely sweet. If you used it as a dipping sauce, it's ok but it's not something you can have on the side alone. I feel like if you searched up the Disney grilled cheese and made it at home, it would definitely taste better than this. But again, it was alright. The tomato soup is a different story. I would probably rather open something from the can then have that again. I've gotten better grilled cheese and tomato soup at a food truck.

Bob A.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Really quite a pleasant coffee shop.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Most memorable for me is the service. The crew behind the counter are really fun and nice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also the environment is cool, with sort of a "retro amusement" theme and plenty of comfortable seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got a Vietnamese cold brew that I thought tasted great. I have also come in for lunch and I got a club sandwich that was really tasty as well (although kinda messy with the sauce). It came with tater tots that I didn't like as much. And I got a hot banana date latte that was okay. They are open every day until 6pm and they serve food, including breakfast food, all day, so there is definitely enough reason for me to return for food, coffee, and hangouts. I want to try their breakfast, but also I want to return for one of those sloppy club sandwiches and Vietnamese coffees. Yeah, I definitely like it here.

Cafe miel
uma p.

Really great coffee shop in downtown Minneapolis! I loved the options they had on the menu, and the service was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The cafe has a decent amount of space and was great to work from.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Interior
Vivienne C.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cozy little coffee shop place with lots of seating, ample sunlight, and free wifi![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Came here for a little work from home break during a weekday and was surprised that there were still so many open seating available.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also, I want to note that I love this Minneapolis coffee shop culture. I think the interior of a lot of coffee shops here are unequivocally the best in the US.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered a Matcha Latte and I wasn't very impressed with it. The latte seemed a bit watered down although you could definitely taste the quality of the matcha powder. I wonder if they foamed it a bit more would the milky taste be more evident. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great place for a work from home session.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I also really appreciate that they have both sparkling and regular water option. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The wifi was also very quick![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Breakfast Bowl and Shaken Espresso

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute coffee shop w outdoor and indoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Reasonably priced food, great for studying, relaxing or a quick caffeine fix. Love that they have a mounted menu and card menus, allows for the vision impaired to read over the menu without issues.

Déjà J.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a cute fair themed coffee shop.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love that they have a sidewalk patio area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I went on a Sunday afternoon & it was pretty busy. It was a bit loud as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They had pretty decent offerings for drinks and food. We ended up just getting spring seasonal drinks. I got the Tropical matcha lemonade and my mom got the Ginger honey latte (iced). Both drinks were very good. Staff were friendly and drinks came out daily fast considering how busy it was. Personally parking in the Northloop is extremely hard unless you get lucky catch someone leaving a spot but it's for sure worth getting out and checking out the businesses in the area. Or when it's nicer out park DT and walk over.

Salted honey cold brew
Chloe A.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Fairgrounds is such a fun coffee spot with a great mix of cozy indoor seating and a relaxed outdoor patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The salted honey cold brew is outstanding, and the breakfast options are just as good -- the breakfast bowl with aioli is a standout. They also have cute little items for sale and the coffee passport program, which is a nice touch. Staff is warm and welcoming, making it an easy place to keep coming back to.

Jonna L.

I would 100% come back here! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor and aesthetic is so cool![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's good indoor and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a good place to meet friends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]if you are going there to work, it's a bit loud so if you can work well with noise, it's a great spot![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I was able to read while I was there. I got a latte with honey and cinnamon and it was great! The service was really great, the baristas are nice, and the coffee wasn't too expensive!

Charley B.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute coffee shop in the north loop! The interior is cute and inviting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has tables for work, as well as some swings in the back overlooking the coffee bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu is really unique and fun, with tons of options for coffee, matcha, tea, cold foam, pour overs and more. More of a limited option for food/snack. The drinks are very good!

Alan P.

Make this you go-to in Minneapolis! Coffee is the best and the choices are amazing! Order the chicken melt and you will have an out of body experience!! And the cold brew is unmatched!

Cute chemex lights
Stephanie H.

I love this place! I used to go here multiple times a week to work remotely, because the interior feels so warm in the winter with the large windows with sun shining in. Now that I live further away I come here every Saturday morning on my morning walk. They let my dog come in while ordering (but dogs aren't allowed for an extended time), which I really appreciate. Their cold brew and pour over coffee are amazing, and I really appreciate that they offer a free coffee with purchase of a bag of beans. The food is just okay, but not bad for some basic breakfast food. Everyone that works there is really nice, and it's just a welcoming cafe all around.

Bad Hass Avocado Toast
Jason H.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Fun coffee spot with some breakfast items.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall we loved the coffee and vibe . The food was ok but better than most . I enjoyed our coffee . I had the Vietnamese cold brew which was awesome. Tbe avocado toast was flavored well but the toast was too hard almost inedible. The avocado spread wasn't bright green but the radish and tomatoes were nice . My wife's breakfast bowl with tater tots was ok tbe sauce was great . We'd be back but for coffee . Lastly the service was chill almost too.

Breakfast bowl

See all

Review Insights

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

29 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 1

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Nick B.
6
398
25

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Food isn't great, but their chai is! The lattes are just okay. There is never a wait which is nice!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 25
Thanks 0
Love this 26
Oh no 0
Photo of Saadi Y.
438
36
6

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Christina M.

Christina M.

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Christina M.

Christina M.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Dan C.
1088
1425
782

6 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 6

Ask the Community - Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

You might also consider

Backstory Coffee Roasters

Backstory Coffee Roasters

4.5
(161 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$

Backstory may have the most beautiful coffee shop interior I've ever been in…read more The second I walked in, I actually laughed because it felt way too gorgeous to be "just" a coffee shop. The soaring industrial ceilings, massive windows pouring in natural light, dark wood shelving, plants everywhere, books, artwork, vintage decor, and incredible lighting somehow make the whole place feel both grand and peaceful. It's the kind of space where you immediately want to cancel your plans and spend the entire afternoon reading, working, or simply existing. Every direction you look feels thoughtfully designed. One thing I couldn't find online beforehand was whether there would be places to plug in my laptop. Thankfully, there are plenty of outlets, making it a fantastic place to work. Even better, despite its size, the atmosphere stays calm and quiet. It never felt loud or chaotic. The drinks were excellent. I tried the Lime Creamsicle Iced Matcha and later ordered a hot matcha, complete with a beautiful heart poured into the milk. I especially appreciated that they use what tasted like genuine, high-quality matcha rather than the overly sweet, filler-heavy mixes that so many coffee shops rely on. You can absolutely taste the difference. I also picked up two pastries: an artichoke and cheese croissant (I think it was Gouda?) and the coffee cake. Both were delicious, but that coffee cake deserves its own paragraph. It was huge, incredibly moist and rich, and served in a large paper liner almost like an oversized cupcake. I'd happily go back just for that. If I had one wish, it would simply be for the menu to match the creativity of the space. The coffee, tea, and espresso selections felt a bit limited considering how unique everything else is. This seems like the perfect place to experiment with fun specialty drinks and elevated touches. Imagine pink peppercorn on a cortado, mint dust on a cappuccino, unique flavored cold foams, rotating seasonal teas, or other creative finishes. The environment practically begs for a menu that's just as imaginative. The staff interaction was fine but didn't really stand out. When I asked whether they recommended the Lime Creamsicle Matcha, the response was basically, "I mean... it tastes like a lime creamsicle." It wasn't unfriendly, just not especially engaging. The prices are definitely on the higher end, but between the stunning atmosphere, quality ingredients, and excellent pastries, I'd happily return. Backstory isn't just somewhere to grab coffee. It's somewhere you want to linger. If you're looking for one of the most beautiful, calming coffee shops in Minneapolis, this belongs at the top of your list.

Cute spot for coffee and hanging out! The line went fairly quickly, and the barista was patient and…read morethorough when taking my order! The Americano I ordered was ready quickly and very hot! I would come back with friends and/or to hang out to get work done! FYI: There's free parking on the road behind Backstory, parallel to Washington.

Photos
Inside of coffee shop
Inside of coffee shop
Interior of Backstory Coffee and their iconic fireplace with their plant wall
Interior of Backstory Coffee and their iconic fireplace with their plant wall
So cute!

See all

So cute!
Fawkes Alley Coffee

Fawkes Alley Coffee

4.9
(34 reviews)
1.2 mi

Was attending Twin Cities Pride over in Loring Park and was in desperate need of caffeine (we woke…read moreup at 6AM to attend the Rainbow Run 5K). This place was practically across the street, so we decided to take a breather from the hectic festivites and come here. Immediately we were greeted with cooling A/C and much-needed silence. Cool and quiet... the perfect escape. The place was decked out for pride with lots of colorful flags representing many of the wonderful ways to be queer. Definitely get bonus points for their allyship. I got a bottled Coca-Cola and my hubbie got a simple cup of brewed coffee. They had a reasonably-sized menu with even some smoothies and such listed, as well as a display of bakery items. A chalkboard showed their three seasonal beverages, which looked fun (though not my cup of tea). One of the employees was very helpful when I requested a cup of ice to go with my Coke; I needed the extra cool down after all the time we'd spent in the sun in the heat! We sat at one of the tables and appreciated leaning back into the chairs with back support for several minutes. Whew! Perked us back up nicely. There isn't a ton of space/lots of places to sit and I was kind of shocked the place wasn't flooded with queers, lol. There was quite the line for the bathroom though, according to my husband. The decor is nice and neat. I think I spotted a small selection of board games you could break out if desired too, which is fun.

First of all, their mission is awesome: supporting an organization that provides scholarships…read morelocally for athletics for kids. I believe graduates of that program also work here as young adults. The alley walking up to it is so cute. I love historic Mpls! The coffee shop is small but fun, and there's a nice cozy seating area outside I'd come back for. The coffee was good (though not in my top 10), with some unique flavors. I got the breve capp and it did taste a bit scorched. My daughter's LAB iced coffee was delicious. Service friendly and prompt. Bathroom a bit dirty but shared with other businesses.

Photos
Coffee and merch
Coffee and merch
Affogato delicious
Affogato delicious
Fawkes Alley Coffee

See all

FRGMNT Coffee

FRGMNT Coffee

4.5
(117 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

This place is fantastic! I went here prior to getting my hair done across the street for a meeting…read more There is huge space that is set up perfectly for working from coffee shop, which i truly love and appreciated. I had a hard time selecting a place to sit since I wanted to sit in many of the places. The staff was amazing! I ordered a cortado for here, and it was perfect and gorgeous. I ended up spilling it all over the floor (totally my fault). I went up to order a new one (planning to pay because again..my fault!) and the staff refused to let me pay and even brought me my new drink to the table I was at. Talk about customer service! It was my fault I spilled it and they would not let me help clean it up or buy a new one. Consider me a fan of this place!

This location is a little hard to find initially because it's located off the street between two…read morebuildings. The space itself is enormous with a clean, modern Scandinavian aesthetic. It gets an incredible amount of natural light, which makes it a pleasant place to spend some time. I also loved that it's dog friendly. The seating, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. There's a decent amount of it, but it's not really comfortable and it feels like there's plenty of room to add more seating throughout the space. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. The menu is a little limited, but what I had was excellent. I ordered the light roast coffee and it was super good. I was also happy to see they carry Cardigan Donuts. If you have not had one before, they are absolutely worth trying! The biggest drawback for me was the WiFi. It was so unreliable that it made getting work done almost impossible, which is a pretty significant downside for a coffee shop. Overall, I enjoyed the coffee, the atmosphere, and the friendly staff, but the limited menu, somewhat uncomfortable seating, and especially the poor WiFi kept this from becoming one of my go to coffee shops.

Photos
Coffee and poptart
Coffee and poptart
Iced vanilla latte with oat milk
Iced vanilla latte with oat milk
Donut and almond milk latte

See all

Donut and almond milk latte
Caffetto Café

Caffetto Café

3.9
(129 reviews)
1.9 mi
$

Caffetto is the quintessential Minneapolis coffee shop--they've got tasty, reasonably priced drinks…read more(including a robust selection of teas both hot and iced), good hours, and a real fun punk cafe vibe (lots of fun graffiti and vintage pinball machines). I think Caffetto kind of corners a market that no one else has by being open so late--most coffee shops are barely open past noon, and they're open until midnight! I've personally spent many a late night there finishing up work--it's a really cozy atmosphere, and the selection of pinball machines in the basement are the perfect study break activity. The staff are all great and even when there's a line, they get through it quick and are still able to offer great recommendations--while I usually prefer an iced green tea with no ice, I've tried the lattes, cold press, Thai coffee, and hot chocolate and have genuinely never had a bad drink here. The only thing is to make sure you watch your step if you're walking in the basement--even though it has seating and pinball and the bathroom, it's more of an unfinished space with uneven flooring and I personally rolled my ankle and fell there last year haha.

I jetted from work early to try this coffee shop because I needed a change of scenery and…read more.. well... it's Tuesday. :) I was surprised to find that the cafe was packed at 2:30 in the afternoon, but got lucky enough to snag an intimate table in the corner, perfect for reading a book in peace! I had a triple decaf almond milk latte that tasted like it was caffeinated to me but didn't give me the buzz I'm so addicted to, that's when you know it's a good decaf. I love the coziness and the unique artwork in Caffetto. I look forward to coming back at an earlier hour to feed my addiction. But it's great to know I have a go to coffee shop for those afternoon cravings where the decaf tastes just as delightful! UPDATE- 2 hours later: there's additional seating and a pinball machine room in the basement, glad I went downstairs to the bathroom.

Photos
Down th stairs for pinball, another secret door below that.
Down th stairs for pinball, another secret door below that.
Caffetto Café
Caffetto Café

See all

Moona Moono

Moona Moono

4.4
(60 reviews)
3.0 mi
$$

Really cute spot:)…read more It's super adorable in here with all the local stationery and trinkets! There's a good assortment of imported goodies, ceramics, stickers, blind boxes, and more! Be prepared for an amazing drink and cute ambiance, the workers are always very kind as well! I like the matcha, but could've used more sweetener in mine! Overall, you can tell it's the good quality matcha, and included real strawberry pieces! I also love this neighborhood-it has Magers and Quinn right next door:)

Finally, I was able to stop by the store. At first, I noticed there were a lot of people hanging…read morearound and sitting on the window sills, which made it difficult to navigate around the product tables while shopping. I didn't realize until after I left that there was a silent reading event taking place. I was most excited to try the matcha drinks from the drink bar in the back. I ordered the strawberry matcha, and my friend ordered the Banacha (banana matcha). Since it was so busy, we waited until we got back to the car to try them. I honestly wish I had tasted mine before leaving because, unfortunately, it was some of the worst matcha I've had around here. It was extremely watery and ended up tasting more like watered-down strawberry jam. The Banacha drink was similar -- just watery banana flavor. The employee who made our drinks was extremely kind, and I'm sure they would have remade them if I had asked. However, by the time we tried them, we were already back in the car and it was raining. The store itself is cute and has a nice atmosphere, but I'll probably take my business elsewhere in the future.

Photos
Cafe Area and Seating
Cafe Area and Seating
Latte
Latte
Inside the Store

See all

Inside the Store

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - cafes - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...