Amazing baked goods (grab a vegan cinnamon roll if you get there before they sell out), drinks that warm the heart made by friendly, speedy baristas, and a cozy ambiance that encourages you linger among their bookshelves. Went here once on my initial ramble through Saint Louis, came back a few days later because my first trip was just that good. Entirely worth the Lyft there. read more

Protagonist was my favorite coffee shop in town since I moved to STL. Today I witnessed an awful, racist behavior from the manager and will never go back! They requested a black man who was sitting in the corner and sketching some artwork leave because he didn't have a drink in front of him! (he was the only black person there and the coffee shop was not busy at all!) read more

The ambiance is out of a book or sitcom--a little community gathering place where people are friendly even if you've never met them before. The food and drinks are delicious. The iced London Fog, the orange scone, and cinnamon roll were all favorites (say yes if they ask if you want them heated up). read more

Protagonist Cafe - Iced London Fog - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

The protagonist instantly won me over with the combination of great coffee, friendly staff, and bookstore vibes! I have been here a few times now and always enjoy chatting with the baristas! I hope to return for an event soon! read more

This cafe is adorable, super clean, great merchandise. It also has a lending library so it's super unique. Their coffee is amazing. It also allows dogs. Highly recommend. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Main sitting area. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Love this new addition to soulard. It makes me so happy knowing this spot is close to work. I love stopping in for a warmed muffin and Chai. Their pastries change frequently and all are fantastic! read more

This is an awesome place to get coffee pastries and or just sit and enjoy the show. Rhubarb yogurt Muffin w/ an espresso and a tall water. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Protagonist coffee after a few adjustments - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

What left me hanging here was how loud it was. The food and service were great but I just couldn't find space to study

If you are a coffee lover, bookie, and dessert/breakfast sugar fanatic, this is your place. I honestly didn't want to leave. Coffee was AMAZINGLY delicious. Library for browsing. Cute little gift section. And adorable little space for lounging, chatting, reading, sipping, etc. Customer service was amazing. Highly recommend their blueberry muffins (warmed up) and oatmeal cream pies read more

If you like good coffee and an awesome chill place, this is it. Their chocolate chip cookie wasn't as soft & moist as I'd hope, but the espressos and atmosphere more than made up for it. read more

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This is my idea of what a coffeehouse should be. Lots of space to sit on with some couches and comfy chairs. Community tables and tables just for two people. A nice big space when you come in so that a line can form and there's still somewhere to stand if you're waiting for your food. And music that is conducive to study, reading, or just hanging out. I don't want dance music or rap in my coffee shop! I would love to have more food options but the coffee is decent and that's the main affair. I was definitely the oldest person in the joint but at least it wasn't all white people! Could The Lou actually start looking like a "real city"?? read more

Wonderful place. Cozy atmosphere, pleasant music, nice to study in. Spacious, doesn't feel packed. I got a caramel delight latte and an orange scone - both would recommend. The scone wasn't as sweet which was a huge plus for me personally. Definitely will come back here. read more

Great coffee shop and very pretty inside and out, love their matcha and truffle mocha drinks 10 out of 10 experience

Fabulous spot for a good cup of coffee or a fancy smancy cappuccino or chai latte. Inside is like library quiet -- even has books everywhere -- but you won't get in trouble for talking. Just a chill group. There are a few old school wood picnic tables on the sidewalk outside that are mostly in the shade until about 3PMish. They're great for kicking it too. read more

Loved this place! Excellent coffee and great service. Loved the theme and books for sale. A neighborhood gem.

My current review is based on atmosphere and the coffee that I got while there. I appreciate the literary theme and casual, serene environment conducive to reading, work, and study. There are a number of books on the shelves, though I didn't peruse them. The general size of the establishment leaves me to assume that reading options are considerably limited, but there are visibly options. You can also BYOB (book). I also saw some board games sitting about, which made total sense when I learned that the establishment was owned by Pieces, another beloved establishment of mine. There was a section somewhat walled off from the split-level main open area, which seemed to be an ideal place for casual hanging out. The coffee was tasty, and I love that they serve vegan baked goods, savory and sweet, though I cannot yet attest to their flavor. I can, however, vouch for Pieces' food, which also has vegan options, so I imagine it's from the same vein. I'll definitely try the baked goods and spirited beverages on a future visit. I only deducted a point based on lack of accessibility. It was somewhat challenging to get a walker in the door located at the top of a small set of steps, and from what I could tell, their was no way to get a wheelchair in. read more

Love the vibe, the selection is great, tastes great, and many vegan options too! I had the blackberry Arnold Palmer and a warmed double chocolate cookie and was not disappointed! COVID safety observed inside and plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Blackberry Arnold Palmer and Double Chocolate Cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Finally, a comfy coffee shop in St. Louis! The staff was friendly, the prices were good, and the atmosphere is perfect. It's like Central Perk meets book store. Two minor criticisms: the chai latte was better than Starbucks and Kaldi's Firepot blend, but it still doesn't compete with Blueprint Coffee chai blend. And why can't we have a late night coffeehouse in St. Louis. I get that it is better to have a coffee house close at 7 than 2 like most cafes around here, but why not open until 9 or 10 a couple nights a week? Again...minor complaints. Love this place already! read more

Was able to finish my book here, wasn't loud. Really enjoyed the coffee, food and atmosphere. Will definitely be coming back.

Great new coffee shop located in Soulard across from Soulard Farmers Market in the old "Porch" boutique. Thousands of used books to read from and they roast their own coffee. Delish!!! They were handing out samples at the Soulard Holiday walk and allowing people to tour the facility. Now they are open for business. Very cozy and comfortable setting. They offer baked goods to munch on. Great addition to the Soulard neighborhood! read more

Super chill and friendly staff. Always pretty fast as well, even on their busiest days there's never much of a wait. Great coffee selections and a variety of books as well. Also they have food, their cinnamon roll is fire! I go to Protagonist at least once a week, my favorite coffee shop in STL. read more

Such a cute place. Coffee was good, but nothing to call home about. I worked here for several hours though because the barista was very friendly and the vibe was great. read more

I love this new cafe in the heart of Soulard! They have a large drink menu and even some bites to snack on. The location is amazing. Perfect to get around all of Soulard. The decor is awesome. It has a library feel so its great for getting worked done. They have so many different books so chose from and they even have a "take one leave one" little table as well. They have a large array of mugs for when you get a drink and stay which is corky and cute. I highly recommend checking it out! The staff is super sweet & the atmosphere is so inviting! Happy to have them in my neighborhood. read more

The ambiance alone is worth 5 starts but the array of non-dairy milks is a close second on why I love this place so much. I got the seasonal mint mocha latte and it was delicious. I'll definitely be back again! Also, free WiFi!! read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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A perfect cafe! Wonderful light, comfy furniture, classy decor. The book collection is brilliantly curated, a nice mix. Coffee drinks are excellent. Baked goods are surprisingly ok for this sad cowtown that still doesn't know what a muffin or scone is supposed to taste like. (Why are muffins always so sweet in St. Louis? It's a muffin...not a cupcake.) Look forward to trying other stuff. Love the location. Friendly staff. A winner all the way around. read more

OMG yes!! This place is awesome. Not your run of the mill coffee shop with pretentious vibes and expensive brews. This place has so much space for activities!! But really, there are so many seats- tables and couches, depending on your preference...you can't go wrong. I was in town on business and just needed a place to squat and do some work- a quiet place with wifi and delicious snacks/drinks, and this fit the bill! Everyone working here was so welcoming and awesome. I wish them the best of luck with this place- I see it really working for the area! read more

BOOKS!! This place is SO cute! It's a nice and quiet spot to get work done. Would give it five stars if the latte was not mediocre -xoxo Sweshy read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Amazing atmosphere and I love that dogs are welcome! This is a great place to study or catch up with a friend, though it fills up fast! The staff are also always so friendly and welcoming. I only wish that there were more food options. read more

Love love love everything about this adorable place! Flight delay prompted a drive down to see the arch which led to a search for a nearby coffee shop. Protagonist is everything I love in a coffee shop...great coffee (love the choose-your-own-mug with bottomless option!), warm, cozy space and excellent service! A breath of fresh air in a sea of pseudo industrial coffee shops. So much love for this place! Hope to make it back another day! read more

Delicious! I got the latte with honey and oat milk, and a blueberry muffin. Both were amazing, I don't think had a blueberry muffin quite as tasty in the, I would have never guessed it was vegan! I will definitely be coming back! read more

Delicious coffee and tea, and a variety of vegan pastries with a couple of gluten free options. I enjoyed my hot tea and oatmeal cream pie cookie on a rainy Saturday. read more

What a cute little find! I was there pretty early in the day, so there were only a couple other people there. I couldn't get over how cute the decorations and ambiance were. I got a scone, which was delicious. They have a full wall of books, so I grabbed on and flipped through it while I relaxed for a while. Definitely a wonderful place to hang out and recharge for a bit. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Cannot get over the adorable interior! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Great for book lovers and excellent pastries. The employees were attentive and friendly. Sometimes funny music but overall cool especially the Gilmore Girls references. read more

Love this place. Come regularly to study and relax. There are various seating options and the coffee is really good.

the atmosphere is very warm and cozy and there's plenty of seating and books to just grab off the shelf and read. the cinnamon rolls are absolutely insanely good and the poptart is so soft and good plus they will warm them up for you and it's delicious. workers were super friendly and helpful. would come back for sure read more

Protagonist Cafe - poptart pastry, cinnamon roll, iced samoa mocha latte, truffle mocha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Amazing mom and pop coffee shop. I'm picky about my coffee. I look for something not like Starbucks....and this place fits the bill. Eclectic book nook meets coffee jem! I'm obsessed with the dirty chai latte with oat milk. Soooo yummy. And the baked goods are awesome! The have the yummiest leek and parm croissant and spinach and feta!!!! I'm from LA visiting and if this was in LA I'd be a regular. I've already been back twice!!!! read more

Nice coffee shop in Soulard. I ordered a Parmesan and leek croissant and a cappuccino. Both were delicious. The cap didn't have any latte art but the consistency was light and foamy and the coffee was roasty and not very acidic - just the way I like it. The atmosphere is very charming too. Plenty of tables to choose from and many books to browse through. It's also rather quiet as most people were reading or on their laptops. The people that were talking were also keeping it low volume with indoor voices. Chill jazz music played over their speakers. Great coffee, relaxing environment. Bring a book or a friend and keep the conversation quiet as to respect the chill atmosphere. read more

We came because it was rated five stars, and were disappointed by the incredibly long wait for an overly sweet coffee. The pastries were a little bland and too pricey for what it was. The cashier wasn't very friendly and forgot one of our items. The store itself was very beautiful with lots of books on the shelves to browse from. There were a lot of comfy places to sit while you drink your coffee. There are also cute handmade crafts and cards for sale at this shop. read more

This was an absolute gem of a find. I was visiting Soulards Market for the first time when I spotted this cafe across the street. I'm a little bit of a coffee addict so we decided to pop in. I instantly fell in love with this place and the entire atmosphere. The staff was incredibly kind and super knowledgeable. The menu was expansive with both coffee and tea options and even some cocktails! Talking to the barista we discovered that the cards we were admiring displayed on a table (along with other cool art to buy) were made by one of the co-owners of the cafe. I ended up getting an iced lavender vanilla latte with oat milk (and a super cute pair of clay earrings). The latte was awesome, low acidity, great flavor, and creamy. I loved that the straws were made with agave plant and biodegradable too. In terms of atmosphere this cafe was adorable. Lots of space and tables (both indoor and out) and books everywhere that you can borrow. Plus, like I mentioned, there was lots of cool art around, some available for purchase. If you're by Soulards this place is definitely a must for coffee, tea, and book lovers alike. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Interior of the cafe facing away from the barista and ordering area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This is not the closest coffeehouse nor is it open 24hrs. It doesnt have a secret menu or some special that has people talking. But besides all of these slights, it has become my favorite place to drink coffee and work on my laptop. The space is large, with an eclectic mix of tables and seating areas. i have only been here a handful of times where there was trouble getting a place to sit, which is never a bad thing for a business. But the layout is only part of the success. the menu is large and somewhat daunting even though I almost always get a bottomless coffee. My wife has more of a sweet tooth when it comes to the caffeein and I can say that everything that she has drank has been really good. And if you ever have a question, the staff is always there to help you. I seem always be there when there is a different barista, but they never fail to be friendly and make you feel welcome. It doesnt matter if you are a regular or a first time customer, they make you feel at home. But that is ultimately what this place feels like. The bookcase along the back wall along with the couches and backround music make it seem more like a home than a business. Its coziness in a large space and that is not an easy thing to achieve. It's reminiscent of home even though it is a new place. The natural architecture along with the playful colors play off of each other to embrace a whimzy that is missing in so many places. The entire space is a testament to the personality that it is trying to project. Nothing quite goes together, but it all fits together. It is an appeasing chaos that makes the space feel more wam than other places in st louis. I re-iterate what others have said in that this is the coffeehouse that I have been waiting for in St. Louis. The strong ties to Soulard neighbourhood, great atmosphere, reasonable prices, friendly staff, and even dog friendly interior make this some place that I look forward to coming to whenever I get the chance. read more