The May Day Cafe is a small, crowded, worker-owned cooperative coffee shop in the Powderhorn neighborhood of south Minneapolis. We arrived mid-morning, and the place was packed with what were clearly repeat customers who call the place "home". It's easy to see why: the service is quick and friendly, the pastries are excellent, and the coffee is exceptionally fresh. There's also a nice selection of teas. If you come hungry, May Day offers breakfast burritos and the tallest quiches I've ever seen. A word of warning: the place is always busy, so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. The noise level is high, so be prepared to struggle to hear your tablemate. Overall, May Day is what a neighborhood hangout should be--highly recommended. read more

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I love May Day Cafe. It's not just for one thing though. The vibe is just perfect for this neighborhood. It's always filled with locals and regulars. The pastries, especially the almond croissant are quite good and reasonably priced. I love their breakfast burritos. And their black bean burrito. It's all good! read more

About a month ago, my landlord suggested I check out May Day Cafe, saying that it would "match your vibe". I finally got the chance to go last week, after volunteering with a friend at Powderhorn Park. I've already been back. What exactly is my vibe? The May Day Cafe is small and cozy, with walls painted the same pale yellow as my mothers living room. It was busy inside with a line, which makes sense for a Saturday. The line moved quickly though and our food came out at a reasonable time. I got a turkey sandwich and a large latte, and it came out to barely $15. I appreciated that. The latte was delicious and the sandwich was good-- the portion size was generous and it came with a bag of chips. I was happy with what I paid for. Only one detail irked me-- when I went to the bathroom, two different individuals came up and started pulling on the door and rattling the doorknob. In polite society, we knock. read more

May Day Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Small cozy cafe on a relatively busy street. There's is plenty of free street parking. A was a bit taken back by how busy it was once I got inside. It was loud and I did feel a bit overwhelmed (which I never am). For the food, it was under $9 which I would say was decent. I had the red curry salad (I think that's what it's called) and it was just from a fridge they have there. Wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either. It was okay. They have one single bathroom and it could've used some cleaning. Overall I didn't enjoy my experience there, but stayed just to finish my food and try another place out. read more

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Love this little cafe! The Quiche is amazing! The portion is generous and I love the mixed greens as a side. Don't skip the coffee, definitely know how to make a great cup of coffee. read more

Had a quick breakfast here today. Service at the counter was efficient and staff was nice! Zucchini bread was awesome as was English Breakfast iced tea. My friend had a breakfast burrito which also looked good. Cute ambiance indoors and loved the outdoor seating. Look forward to my next visit. read more

Two separate employees were rude, was ignored by another. I really wanted to like it but I'll never go back. The coffee was okay.

This is my second time coming to May Day Cafe. This time I got the Vietnamese Iced Coffee and a Cinnamon Roll. Both were very scrumptious!! The coffee was the perfect amount of sweet and bitter. I also love the atmosphere of the cafe. It gives a welcome to my living room vibe. There was enough space between customers but still a cozy "I'm not alone feeling." read more

I love everything about this place, staff are kind food is amazing, everything is so tasty! I usually get it to go but it's a casual place to hang out too. Has good vibes with art on the walls. read more

I ordered coffee and some pastries. The person working at the counter was so patient and kind to the guests even though the place was very busy. The pastries were amazing and the coffee was pretty good too! I want to go back and try their breakfast sandwich and burrito sometime! Also, the place is very inclusive and a respectful place for all genders. It's a place you can be free to just be a person. read more

The pastries and chai is so, so good!! The croissants are flaky perfection. Everything is made fresh in house. You can taste it. All the servers are so kind. This is the neighborhood spot. You will need to park on the street and it can be busy, especially on weekend mornings. Great place to work too when you want to be around others. read more

A former bakery, May Day Café evolved into a bakery/cafe retaining their baker's talents. There's a moderate but quality selection of barista made coffees, some teas, homemade bakery goods, an incredible spinich/riccota quiche (with spring salad), & more. Prices are $, ie, exceptionally reasonable. Emerging from the pandemic, May Day's sustainment is clearly deserving of community support. read more

I went here with my daughter and her fiance for a simple breakfast and coffee, so my needs were met as soon as we walked in the door. They have a bunch of small tables - not enough for a group, but plenty of space for groups of 4-6. The coffee and pastries were great, as was the atmosphere! read more

Nothing like taking time out of you day to go somewhere for lunch. It already sucks going for lunch at 2. I get there at 2:25 and ask for a breakfast sandwich... nope we close in a few minutes. I get it, I run a small business, but at least put kitchen hours up or serve until you close. While it might be less than ideal to tale an extra 5 minutes past 230 to get the sandwich to me, I now have to spend another 20 or so going somewhere else. read more

I love May Day Café, because everything is freshly made to order, and all their baked goods are made that day, and very nice employees!

First time visiting here the other day- and was pleasantly suprised. I had been meaning to go for such a long time. What really drew me in was the plethora of vegan options. I arrived with a friend and there was nobody in line. The blonde woman behind the counter was patient and friendly. I asked a lot about the items in the cooler and she was very knowledgable. I ended up getting the kalamata olive/quinoa salad. It comes with a side of bread, chips, or salad greens- I opted for the salad greens. The quinoa salad was packed with flavor, and it came in 2 sizes- cup or bowl. I'm glad I ordered the cup because it was A LOT of food. It was very well made and the flavors were excellent. What suprised me the most was the price point. Along with the salad, I ordered a large iced cofffee, resulting in a grand total (food and bev) for around SIX BUCKS!!! You will not be able to find prices like this anywhere, especially for vegan food. I usually can eat a lot- but this sm. cup of quinoa and lg coffee was perfect. I really again condone this place and these prices. The only downside was the lack of outdoor seating, which probably is not entirely the cafe's fault. There are only about 2-3 tables and a bench. My friend and I waited about fourty minutes to be able to sit outside. The crowd here is lax and slow moving- sort of a place where you sit and do homework/read a book/ chill and unwind. I will definitley be back and with more friends. Thanks! read more

May Day Cafe - Small quinoa salad (vegan) & greens. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love their coffee, danish & cake. Great staff! Parking is slightly tricky but side streets parking are plenty

Top quality pastries, good food and decent coffee. Kind of an old hippie vibe. Downside is they need more outside seating. read more

Hello from Park Ridge, IL! I'm currently seated 400 miles away from my favorite coffee house. Lucky for me, I fly alot: 334 Miles from ORD is only a 45 minute flight. Anyway, The coffee is cheap and never burnt. The pastries, cookies, cakes, quiches, burritos, and everything else are AWESOME! Recommendation: Coffee and 7 Layer bar... or a Date bar... or a Burrito... or a Cookie... Or a Burrito and Cookie... and a 7 Layer Bar... Yeah. That'll do it. read more

What a nice neighborhood cafe! I came here on a Monday late morning, and the place was hopping busy. The line of about 5-6 ppl was already forming when I was there, but the line moved fast, so the wait wasnt long. I got the lemonade and spinach quiche. The lemonade was very good and tasted home-made. The quiche though was WOW! First of, it was a huge piece, and it also came with a small side of mixed greens. The quiche was fluffy but also dense at the same time (i know .. weird comment but that was how i felt!!! :P), and of course very tasty. I agree with Annie D. that this is not the type of cafe that you would camp out all day with your laptop. However, during the time I was there, there were still like 4-5 ppl occupying 5 whole big tables with their laptops, while a lot of ppl were kinda glancing around as to where they could sit so that they could leisurely drink and eat. It was pretty stupid when a lot of ppl ended up sitting crowded together at the same table, while a handful ignorance people with laptops and just a cup of coffee took like half of the restaurant table spaces. read more

May Day Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The best bakery in Minneapolis. Fantastic goods including lunches at very affordable prices. Kind people behind the counter.

I was not a fan. I just needed a little pick me up. I got the chai tea and it was not good. I tried hard to say I should give this place another chance, but the bad taste still lingers in my mouth. This place is a little too grungy for my taste, but it is fortunate to have little competition in the area. Plus this place is really slow with their customer service! I would think during the morning rush is when the staff would be fully on deck, but no, so that really killed it for me. FYI, there is a credit card minimum, so look for the hand-written sign when you enter. read more

My wife and I have been here twice, but every time we come there's always a weird vibe with the staff. They often come off as unfriendly and stand offish towards us, even when we go out of our way to try and be friendly to them. As a visibly queer and BIPOC couple we take this as a red flag.... Feels very performative for staff to be wearing a shirt that says "ACAB" and have signs around the store saying "all are welcome here" and "Black Lives Matter", when the staff on multiple occasions has been unfriendly to my spouse and I as a BIPOC queer couple. It's giving Minnesota nice aka Minnesota I know how you really feel. I always try to write my reviews about establishments honestly about establishments in order to allow people of color to know what they're walking into when they come into spaces like this. Got to keep it real ! read more

Q'vo... for those who know me, y'all know that I am all about soical justice and tearing down systematic issues of oppressoin, and if you really know me, you would know that I grew up listening to old punk rock music, heavy metal, hardcore punk, thrash and all that sweet goodness. Well here I am at May Day Cafe in the chill hood in Minniapolis and this place is all that. Good fresh food, very fair price, good coffee, and the human behind the counter, what a gem. The food is delicious, funky kick vibes, and great seating. There are signs that ask folks to use gender neutral pronouns for the staff, gender neutral restroom, and an all around activist kick to it. Check it out check it out... its a kick back spot, now that I know, when I make it to "Tiny-Pop" again, this place beats Peace coffee... Orale. read more

May Day has been on my radar for awhile, seeing as Yelpers love it so. I finally dropped by last Friday...and I get it. The place has a complete "Central Perk/we-all-hangout-here" vibe--I'd even wager that it's the most "neighborhoody" café in the Twin Cities. EVERYTHING was eclectic: the décor, furniture and even, the patrons. At 8:45 a.m. there were literally people of every age (including a baby that kept crawling towards us) and it was packed. May Day's menu is not extensive by any means, but they had a lot of good options to choose from, including a nice assortment of baked goods. Annie D. enjoyed the quiche and I had one of the freshly-made cinnamon rolls which was quite tasty. It's a charming place. read more

May Day Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Located near Powderhorn Park, cute restaurants, art galleries, and shops, May Day Cafe is a great little coffee shop! That is... if you don't mind standing in a line out the door. I still have yet to figure out their rush times. Sometimes that place is packed and other times its very quiet. I don't want to be that person who complains about a cafe being too busy or popular, but its inconvenient to have your customers wait more than 20 minutes for a cup of coffee. Perhaps it would be a good idea to invest in a second register? Regardless, their coffee is very good and affordable. One of the few cafes where you can still buy an ice coffee for $2.00. Along with normal bakery choices, they also do gluten free options which is great! I bought a gluten free blueberry scone the last time I visited and it was so good. The staff are always friendly too which is nice. While May Day is not my go-to cafe (mainly due to wait times), I love to stop in when its not busy and treat myself to delicious coffee and baked goods. read more

We stopped in a few days ago for a quick coffee and a pastry. It's right next to Powderhorn Park which was convenient for us. The decor is thoughtful and the cafe feels like it is used thoroughly by its patrons, which is how I want cafes to feel. Big tables to share plus a few smaller tables dot the floor. My cappucino was just okay and I definitely ordered a size bigger than I needed. The pastries though, were fantastic. Super fresh, buttery, and packed with flavor. That chocolate croissant was everything I want in a chocolate croissant, and the cheddar and dill scone absolutely delivered on flavor. I appreciate the cafe going out of its way to advertise its inclusiveness as it opens people to thinking more critically about how to speak and interact with people - there is a sign at the register asking for patrons to use gender-neutral language with employees. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would be here for breakfast all the time. read more

Part of my Memorial Day Minneapolis experience. VG coffee. VG quiche. Sandwiches. Limited menu in a hippie atmosphere. You get your table, then you make your order. No table service. We were there on a Monday at 11, and there was a steady stream of people rolling in. The all female staff worked hard and was friendly. They were on a roll. Quite the neighborhood event place! The floors, tables, and chairs need some cleaning. No report on the bathroom since it was not in need. Matt's Bar and the infamous Jucy Lucy is near by. read more

This place has the best baked goods (both savory and sweet)! Everything's baked daily and is priced usually under $3 a piece. There's also day old baked items for $1. I love coming here to be surprised by whatever special they've made for the day. It's always tasty! There's also always a vegan option that tastes amazing. My go-to drink is the Vietnamese coffee (iced). The vibe is a little hole-the-wall with wobbly furniture but this is the place to go grab a snack, coffee, & just read. I can't iterate enough how tasty the food is. read more

I've been to this neighborhood cafe several times and have never been disappointed. Order the spinach ricotta quiche (with spring green side salad), add a tall, dark coffee and your day from here on out is set. You'll be golden pony boy! Bear in mind, there may be a little line depending on when you stop in, tables can fill up quickly in this cozy space but someone will be happy to share a spot and the Variety section of the newspaper if you ask. There is also a little patio seating out front to enjoy people/sparrow/dog watching on a warm day. Or get your chocolate croissant and coffee to go for a stroll in nearby Powderhorn park to listen to the ducks quacking up. read more

May Day Cafe - This used to be a quiche, I couldn't wait for the before picture. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

When you go to a cafe in Minneapolis, you get: good food at an expensive price or good prices but crappy food. May Day cafe delivered on good food with good prices. Seriously. My friend and I got a slice of vegan pizza, a zucchini bread slice, and two of the large lavender lemonades for $11! I've paid $11 for a SMOOTHIE (angrily) before so this was fab. It was a smaller space but had plenty of table space and lighting. Their food itself was delicious, their zucchini bread was amazing, and the service was friendly. I really enjoyed this and if I lived closer, I'd be there constantly. read more

While traveling in Minnesota, I stopped here for brunch two days in a row because it's that good. The staff is super friendly and nice. The pastries are unique and really good. I got the breakfast sandwich one day and the quiche the other day. Both awesome! read more

May Day Café is one of those places that I wished I could love and a solid 2.5. It is a quaint little café off the corner of a busy road and convenient to other places I frequent. The locals that come in to enjoy a cinnamon roll or sip a glass of homemade lemonade make this place much more welcoming. Food Presentation: 3/5 - The presentation of the food was decent. I could make out what was in it but the food wasn't plated well as our food was mixed up a bit when we received our plate. Cleanliness/Atmosphere: 3/5 - The café is reasonably clean. There were crumbs on some of the tables from previous guests here. The vibe here is actually pretty great here. The people actually would make casual chit chat with you or smile and return to their own business at hand. It was different. Food: 2/5 - I ordered the cheddar and broccoli quiche(2/5) with a mixed greens salad topped with balsamic vinaigrette (3/5). For a drink, I ordered the lavender lemonade (2/5). The lavender lemonade would have been good if it was lavender lemonade but instead, we were given a raspberry lemonade. The raspberry lemonade was far too sweet and far too sour that it had me gagging. It would have had a decent flavor but it wasn't something I could practically drink. The quiche would have been abysmal if it weren't for some of the internal structure being liquid-like. The flavor was like that of eggs that sat out for a day absorbing the scent and taste of everything else around it. The mixed greens were basic and get the job done if you're hungry. The vinaigrette was balanced well. Price: 3/5 - The price is exceedingly low in comparison to other vintage/cute cafes near by. This place will certainly not break the bank.. Service: 2/5 - Our server didn't need to be at work that day. She tried but she seemed as though she was sick or hung over. While we were ordering food, she seemed barely intelligible when she spoke to us and in a deep daze. If anything, I felt concern for her. The food wasn't that good at all but the place was cozy in a good way. I wouldn't eat here but if you're looking for a low cost and cozy environment to enjoy a cup of coffee, this place might be it for you. Otherwise, you can pass on it. There are plenty of tasty cafe's to check out in Minneapolis. read more

This place is great! Went to the may day to meet a friend. Was my first time and the coffee was amazing. I was rather surprised to see they served pizza as well as other coffee shop staple treats. A wonderful place to sip a coffee and collect yourself before facing the day or relax and read on a day off. read more

One of the best cheaper spots around town! The bacon swiss quiche is simply amazing and customer service.. beyond amazing!!!

They have the most delicious savory scone that I've ever tasted. I ordered the jalapeño and cheddar scone. It was heavenly. This place has a great atmosphere, friendly staff and amazing food. read more

This is probably the best cinnamon roll I have ever had! The breakfast sandwiches and quiche are amazing, and so are most of the other baked goods I have tried. Warning, this is not a Starbucks. This is a caring, genuine and unique local run cafe. If you are expecting any of the things you get from a Starbucks, go there instead. Such as: fast/bad processed food, fake and generally unfriendly service, and customers that are cookie cutter images of you. read more

Thank you Yelp. Once again, you proved your usefullness. The Powderhorn area isn't very convenient for me, but it's not that out of the way, and I just don't seem to be around here very often, which needs to change. But today, I decided to explore the well-reviewed coffee shop/cafe, the May Day. Well worth the minimal effort it took to get me there. Totally adorable. Fantastic neighborhood spot with lots of people greeting each other, like they all bump into each other quite regularly. Made me want to become a regular. I didn't eat today, but will soon, as the plates looked great. My mint iced tea was minty and a little spicy and overall top notch. I appreciated the bottle of sugar water they had for iced coffee and tea drinks. This seems to be a hard concept for most cafes to grasp around town and it kills me. May Day, you've got it going on. read more

It feels almost wrong to write a review about May Day Cafe. There's so much heart and love underneath the surface of this cafe that it's more than just a cafe and more than mere words can portray. But I have to put my 5 stars into the Yelp world so others can share in the knowledge. May Day has been a main stay since 1997 - which in the restaurant world seems like forever - and it will likely be there for years to come. Why? Because May Day is more than just a coffee shop. May Day is a community hub. Here are the things that -I- love about May Day: 1. The Pastries. The Day Olds. The Food. ---------------------------------------------------- May Day rolls the pastries out of the oven like there's no tomorrow. And they're all SO GOOD. The huge fresh cinnamon rolls on weekends are a community favorite. I love the date bars, they're something different. The pastries are very fairly priced compared to most coffee shops, but if you get there close enough to open they always have a basket of day olds for $1. The other food is also exceptionally good. The pizza and the breakfast sandwich are my favorites. The greens they serve with the sandwich are possibly the best dressed greens in town (and you can order a plate just of them!) 2. Affordability ------------------- You can get a coffee and a pastry (day old) for $2.08. When you're ready for a refill, just drop 50 cents on the counter and fill up--no need to stand in line again. Enough said. This is not a white collar neighborhood, and May Day makes it affordable for the people who live here. That is a very honorable and rare thing these days. 3. The Community ----------------------- This is the #1 reason I am a regular here and keep coming back. Nowhere else will you find such a eclectic mix of patrons - and many of them are from within a few blocks. Sure, you can come to May Day and plug in your laptop and work, but good luck keeping yourself from all the wonderful distractions. May Day has very few 2-person tables, and the rest of the tables are FAIR GAME. You sit with other people. You talk with other people. You make new friends. You flirt with babies. Imagine that. It's a beautiful thing. They also have a copy of the newspaper (and at least on Sundays the New York Times) - but you have to share. Pass those sections around so everyone can read them. Be sure to check out the bulletin board above the bus tubs. You'll find all kinds of things to do in the neighborhood, cats to adopt, concerts to attend, protests to join, clubs to join. You really should never leave without stopping to check it out. ---------- May Day holds a very special place in my heart. Know that when you come here, you're visiting a community, a family, a place that people love. You'll probably be stuck in line for awhile (unless you're smart and come right at open). Enjoy your time in line. Smile and say hello to someone. This is more than just a coffee shop. read more

I want to like this place because it's one of two coffee places walking distance from my home. However, I really don't think I can support this business. The staff is rude, I felt like they were extremely annoyed when I amended my order to a decaf drink (they hadn't started making it yet). Service was slow & there seemed to be only one person working up front despite a line of customers. The more disturbing aspect of this place is that it's dirty. After many years in the food/bev industry I know the standards for cleanliness & when I see glaring violations I immediately get nervous about food bourn illness. Examples: a bucket of homemade simple syrup was clearly dated months old, a common spoon was used to stir every espresso drink being made & was kept in a dirty mug in between stirs, there were grounds in the bottom of my drink (a telltale sign of an uncleaned machine) & the floors were filthy. Not recommended.... read more