A small but mighty coffee shop on the west side of Saint Paul. The menu is nice with a little bit…read morefor everyone. I tried the Lemon Bar Latte and it was AMAZINGLY good! It was smooth and not overly sweet. I also tried the French Toast Breakfast Sandwich and it was quite good. Total was a little over $$22 for the two items and a 20% tip. Free street parking available. They are also doing great things for the community and that is worth so much more than great coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

Totally forgot how close I live to this spot! Backstory Coffee was the perfect little stop before…read moreheading to the MN Yacht Club Music Festival with my bestie. We rolled in a little before 1:00 PM and had no trouble finding easy street parking (huge win!). The vibe inside? Mixed. While the space was cute, relaxed and inviting, the service was... not so much. The guy at the front counter barely looked up from his screen, and let's just say, enthusiasm wasn't on the menu. Definitely not the warm welcome we hoped for and very unfortunate. BUT--shoutout to my bestie for treating us to a coffee date, because the drinks were solid. I had the piña colada cold brew, which was super sweet at first, but after a quick stir, it hit just right. My bestie went with the strawberries & cream cold brew and a matcha lemonade. Both were surprisingly good, but the matcha lemonade really stood out to me; so refreshing and unique. All in all, Backstory was a convenient and tasty pre-concert stop. If the service matched the drinks, this would've easily been a 5-star visit.

I ended up at this coffee bar after a little digging. I learned that Curioso Coffee Bar's approach…read moreto sourcing beans was shaped by the founder's time in Panama, where he roasted his own coffee using beans sourced directly from local producers and sold at his café. I know firsthand that coffee is king in Panama, so I figured anything inspired by their incredible coffee culture had to be worth trying. I visited Curioso on an early Sunday morning and immediately found it special. Not just for its coffee, but for the ambiance, service, and overall vibe. Curioso is a large, welcoming space that's part coffee bar, part brewery. I was immediately impressed by the variety of entertainment for all ages: arcade games, pool tables, dart boards, a skee-ball machine, board games, and even claw machines. Seating options are abundant, from cozy couches to tables and high-tops. There's a toddler play area and a library filled with books for all ages. The space feels family-friendly and is warm, welcoming community gathering space for all. I noticed flyers for free community events Curioso hosts, like Sunday Morning Yoga and Tuesday Trivia nights. The service was equally warm! The barista, although managing a busy Sunday morning solo, took her time to explain coffee options, highlight weekly specials with her own recommendations, and describe the pastries in partnership with Fruit & Grain and Bagels from St. Paul Bagelry. Oat milk is the standard for all their drinks! (Which I loved) We tried two speciality lattes: the "Butter Luck Next Year" (iced) and the "Blue Ribbon Peach Pie" (hot). Both were exceptional! Strong, robust, and delicious. Alongside, we also enjoyed an "Everything" handpie and a "Blueberry Lemon Curd" pop tart. Both pastries were out of this world delicious! I loooooved this pairing. I'm a sucker for savory, so the "Everything" handpie reigned supreme for me. Although I don't have a fur-baby (yet), I would like to include that Curioso is fur-friendly. I'm looking forward to returning several more times!

I visited Curioso recently as part of my 'Sip Scouter' coffee passport book…read more Knocking off just one star because the barista didn't know anything about this coffee passport book (but also giving them benefit of the doubt as they may have been new) and it seemed to take a bit for my drink even though the place was empty. I ordered one of their seasonal specials--the banana cream pie latte. It was very good. The ambiance was OK. Smaller seating area and located in a strip mall. Although my drink was good it wasn't necessarily something to write home about. I might come here again if in the area and in need of a coffee, but probably not a place I will necessarily seek out.

Ordered their coffee online after having it at a local restaurant. Love it! Don't know anything…read moreabout the actual place just that their product is tasty!

Accidentally stumbled into the Day 1 opening of the retail location of True Stone Coffee Roasters…read morein St Paul today. Food menu won't be in full swing until next week but the cold brew, pour overs, coffee menu and whole bean options are fantastic. My personal favorite was the pour over. The aesthetic of the presentation put it over the top. Pay them a visit!

I am and have always been a huge fan of Jones Coffee. I've been to a few of their locations (My…read morefavorite being their Chaska location), but the Southwest Minneapolis one did not disappoint. It's the perfect place to chill, get some work done, or just sip on really good coffee. Not to mention the staff are always so friendly. I stopped in to check out their seasonal menu, but ended up ordering my usual Brown Sugar & Spice Latte and topped it with their new cheesecake cold foam. Total game changer, and you should seriously try it out. I also grabbed their new California-style breakfast burrito, and I'm really hoping it becomes a permanent item since the avocado takes it to another level. Maybe I am a bit biased, but Jones Coffee is always worth the stop. Great coffee, great vibes, great people.

Disappointing first visit. Waited in line (8 mins) to order and then 25 mins to get my coffee. I…read moreordered an iced cafe miel. Sad to say it was not good, perhaps I won't get my fav drink in its iced version? Mostly tasted like milk. No sweet hint from the honey and couldn't really taste much of the espresso. Only had two sips and tossed it out. I'll probably give it another shot later on since there are so many good reviews on it.

Quixotic is such a cute little coffee shop in St Paul. I fell in love with it when I was in grad…read moreschool. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Plenty of space to read, study, or catch up with a friend. The baristas were all super friendly. I love their fall seasonal menu right now. I also appreciate how many decaf options they have! My husband always orders a vanilla latte whenever we go to a coffee shop, hot or cold depending on the season. I ordered the decaf pumpkin latte cold brew. Their flavors are so so good! Not synthetic/fake tasting like some others. The shop is located in a great spot where you can easily take your coffee and walk around the area. Or you can drive a few minutes down the road and explore Hidden Falls along the river. Highly recommend this spot!

We've been travelling around the Cities to try new coffeeshops and the latest trip was to Quixotic!…read more Cute and buzzing coffeeshop was filled with energy on our Saturday morning trip! There was a small line but it moved quickly. There are some tables and booths for small to medium groups, but they fill up fast! We were lucky to snag one! Staff was quick and efficient at taking our orders and getting everything out to us! Enjoyed a latte and a breakfast sandwich on this trip, and both were delicious! Super solid coffee shop for those in the area needing that caffeine boost!

I visited Up Coffee before work Friday morning and got the iced black salted caramel latte as well…read moreas tried a matcha with pumpkin syrup and oat milk. This place has a casual local coffee shop feel that has both indoor and outdoor seating. Although it was fairly busy at the time I visited, service was still relatively fast. I particularly liked my latte drink because you could taste the unique salted caramel flavor without it being muted with the espresso and milk. The flavor came through clear and I would definitely order it again. Additionally, I liked how they had a rotating seasonal menu. I would visit again to try some drinks on their "Trick or Treat" menu.

I went right when they opened at 8 am on a Sunday's morning. Small parking lot, but plenty of…read morestreet options. We got our order to go and were in and out in less than 10 minutes. Food 4/5: we got the breakfast sandwich (sausage,egg,cheese,spinach on a croissant) and plain bagels. The breakfast sandwich was well seasoned and flavor balanced and I'd absolutely come back for! The bagel didn't seem the most fresh, but they did have other pasties I'd try. I also got the cold brew with maple syrup and a splash of milk and would absolutely come back for! Service 5/5: the ladies that helped me were so nice and helped answer all of my questions. The food/drink was made quickly. Ambiance 5/5: this place has plenty of seating inside and out and has a more cozy aesthetic. Definitely worth a try if you're on the neighborhood! I love that they have more than just pastry options for breakfast and we will definitely be back.

Another coffeeshop that I've discovered on my routine drive to work!…read more There is a dedicated lot available, as street parking in the area can be tough! Follow the signs to the lot! The space itself is quaint, but welcoming, with seating for individual work or small groups. The baristas have always been efficient and friendly on my visits! I love that they have rotating seasonal lattes! The Almond Nutmeg Latte was delicious: subtle sweetness balanced well with the nuttiness of the almond. The perfect pick me up on the cold, winter morning!

Love me some Hola Coffee! The staff are always friendly!…read more Coffee: Vanilla iced coffee with coconut milk - tasty Food/Pastries: look good! Parking: free lot (by the Jimmy's bakery sign) *NOT Aveda parking lot* and paid metered street parking Small but cute! Love the story behind Hola.

Cozy! Comfy! Local! Lovely! Claddagh instantly sparks joy in my heart. St. Paul is beyond blessed…read moreto have this local community shop. The baked goods, friendly staff, coffee drinks, "wisdom of the day" chalk board quotes, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, doodle journals at the bar area, etc. are all around amazing. Thank you for making each visit so magical!

Great place for coffee. I was visiting the area and found this gem while hunting for local coffee…read more I wasn't expecting to find GF options but they had them (Sift bakery) and they were separate from gluten items. Great place to chill, do work, and socialize. Staff was friendly.