Sencha Tea Bar

This was my first time at a Capital One Café, and I really love the experience!…read more Being a Capital One credit card holder I get half off on drinks and personalized banking here. At this location, I was given a nice little drawstring bag and bag of popcorn for being a member . I still have the bag and use it constantly during my travels, which is nice ! I love going to Capital One cafés and checking them out when I'm traveling !

I had no idea we had a Capital One Cafe in MOA until I walked past this recently! I had to stop in…read moreand see what it was like. I've been into one other Capital One Cafe before, so I knew that as a cardholder, I got 50% off any drinks. Not a bad deal, especially if you're looking for a bev or somewhere to hang for a bit in MOA. SERVICE The staff at the front are very cheery and welcoming and immediately begin asking if you've been before, if you have a card, etc. They directed me to the counter to order. During my visit, the staff member at the counter was quite the opposite of energy from the front staff. They were quite backed up with a few other people's orders in front of me, and it took ~10 minutes for me to get my drink. COST I was surprised that my small matcha with oat milk and a half pump of sweetener came up to $10, so I ended up still spending $5. DRINKS They have some nice drink options, but unfortunately were out of a few of their seasonal menu items, so I opted for a matcha latte. Note that they do not sweeten their matcha so you'll need to add a pump of sweetener if you prefer that. SPACE The space is the big win here! Lots of tables, and even a few nooks that can be booked by cardholders. It was very clean and comfortable, well designed, and a great place to work for a bit or hang out. Not too loud, and plenty of seating available on a Friday. This is a good option to get a reduced-cost drink if you're a cardholder while you're MOA shopping!

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Niko Niko

3.9(181 reviews)

Self check out makes it so easy to customize and view the menu. I like that you can see the prices…read moreon everything. It is nice that they have classic flavors but seasonal ones like a pumpkin matcha. I like that the jasmine milk tea is fragrant.

Was walking around the mall only to be met with three seperate locations of this chain in my face…read moreand everyone carrying a cup with the logo. So of course I had to check out what the hype was. The self order kiosk is a cool addition and speeds up the progress of ordering. I like how there additional toppings, but there wasn't much variety. Service was fast and I got my drinks quickly. They were average priced. I am so grateful I got 0% sugar, it wasn't too sweet and the tea was full of flavor. I loved the crystal boba and the coconut jelly was tasteless. I liked this place, but considering the price and how small the drink came out, I really wouldn't again.

Outside

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CupBoard

4.2(5 reviews)

0.9 mi

Cupboard is located within the lobby of a hotel in Bloomington, MN. I was excited to try a new…read morecoffee spot and chose Cupboard as my Saturday place to try. The parking was a little confusing and I chose to park in a ramp close to the hotel. There were not many other customers at the time of ordering and I chose the matcha. My drink was very tasty and fairly priced. In addition, the service was very friendly and timely. We chose to enjoy our drinks on a nearby walking trail.

Service was quick and our barista was very kind. It was in a hotel which I was surprised by. I got…read morea vanilla latte, it wasn't my favorite latte but it was fine. There was some seating and a parking ramp.

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Choco chip cookie iced espresso

Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station

4.1(41 reviews)

0.7 mi

First time in this location and it was amazing! Coffee has the same quality as the other Backstory…read morelocations. This one is a little tucked in the back of Bloomington. But it's the perfect spot to study. Not super busy, and lots of seating outside and inside. I'll definitely be back here!

I recently stopped here while in the area for work - I had an early morning flight and desperately…read moreneed coffee and a quick bite to eat. Coffee was fine - pretty standard. I got a latte. I did also did their sausage egg bites and they were truly delicious, probably the most flavorful egg bits I've ever had. That said, the customer service was a bit lacking. While I always try to be kind and ask how they are - rather than just getting straight to my order - the individual that checked me out, as well as prepared my order, was a bit grumpy to respond and I felt a bit of a nuisance when I asked a question about one their seasonal coffee drinks or for cinnamon to add to my latte.

Backstory Coffee Roasters - Bloomington Central Station

Seasonal Sweet Danish (left) & Ham and Cheese Croissant (right)

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Entrance

Nomadic Cafe & Desserts

4.4(14 reviews)

0.6 mi

Came to Nomadic Café for a quick "let me get my life together" study session... and ended up…read morestaying longer than planned. That's usually how you know a spot did its job. First things first--the vibe is chef's kiss if you're into cozy, low-key, intentional spaces. It's quaint without trying too hard, and it doesn't have that loud, chaotic coffee shop energy. I was actually able to focus, which says a lot. Now what really sets this place apart? It's tucked inside Zawadi Center, and that matters. This isn't just a grab-your-drink-and-go type of café. You're surrounded by culture, community, and a space that feels like it means something. Between the event space, the restaurant, and the overall energy, it feels layered... like you accidentally found a hidden gem that locals want to keep to themselves. The refresher? Solid. Did what it needed to do. No complaints there. If I had to give a little Yelp Elite honesty: seating can be a bit limited depending on timing, and if you're someone who needs complete silence, this might not be your spot when it gets busier. It's more "focused but alive" than "library quiet." Overall, this is the kind of place you come to reset, get a little inspired, and maybe romanticize your life for a couple hours. Will I be back? Absolutely.

Yummy! The drinks are always good here. I got the Matcha today…read more Service is usually slow-because they usually have one person staffed. You also usually have to be overly nice and funny to get a smile out them. It's a well spread out dining area. Usually frequented by working professionals and not families-which is why I enjoy it. Quiet.

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Caribou Coffee

2.5(17 reviews)

We needed to sit down for spell after walking around here for over a few hours…read more We ordered a bottle of water and got a cold brew vanilla latte. The water is as expected. The cold brew latte is good with milk. It's a super busy stop inside the mall. Pop music in the background. Service was convenient and easy.

After spending some time shopping at Community Commons, I was ready for a beverage on a Sunday…read moreafternoon. I found this Caribou Coffee that was also on the second floor and headed inside. Being at Mall of America, you are never terribly far from a Caribou Coffee. There are six of them. The problem? Trying to figure out which one to check in to on the Yelp app is super confusing. My second check-in attempt was correct. Yay! This cafe is steps away from Radisson Blu Hotel, which is connected to the mall. I would find it both cool and deadly to roll out of bed in the morning and head over to this Caribou Coffee. It's also next to J. Jill, by Nickelodeon Universe. If you spot any one of these three places, you're near this cafe. The downside of this cafe is that it closes at 3 pm on weekdays and 4 pm on weekends. Considering that the stores at this mall tend to stay open between 7 and 9 pm, cutting it short so early is a concern. There was a lineup when I got to this cafe. I stood in line. It did move relatively quickly. I got a friendly woman at the counter. She took down my phone number associated with my perks points. I then ordered a large sparkling peach black tea. I paid with a credit card. I also tipped. Done! As I waited for my drink, I browsed around. I liked the drinkware and mugs at this store. There were plenty of snacks that looked yummy and intriguing. My drink didn't take long to be prepared. I thanked the woman when I got my drink in a Christmas-themed cup and looked for a place to sit. I oddly didn't feel cozy sitting on padded stools without any back support. Instead, there were comfy couch chairs in front of this store, so I sat there and enjoyed my drink. I loved my drink. It was perfect and fizzy. I actually sat in this cozy chair for an hour, casually sipping on my drink and figuring out which stores to shop at next. My experience was positive at this cafe. I'd return whenever I'm on the second floor and in this part of the mall. (469)

Staff profiles

Storefront

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Storefront

Coffee & Tea Limited

4.0(2 reviews)

Best coffee by far in town!!…read more Good beans and they roast beans to perfection old-fashioned way. Coffee has flavor galor --plus they LOVE dogs!!!

Meh, run-of-the-mill-coffee. Added cream to skim milk to make it 2%? Not sure where the grinder…read moreis/was with the pre-ground coffee, but not impressed. Beans were still roasted too dark for my taste. Could have gone to Starbucks or Caribou for the same taste. Oh well. Happy to keep a smaller business afloat. Barista was nice and friendly. Work on having the right milk and grinder next to the machine so it's at least fresh fresh.

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Their menu

Beard Papas Mall of America

4.1(77 reviews)

So delicious!!! One is large enough to share with another person but we both wish we'd gotten our…read moreown!

Cool concept. I was really excited to try these because I love cream puffs. The taste was just…read moreokay, which was disappointing, and the price ($40+ for a custom 6-pack) was not worth it for the disappointing quality. Each cream puff is made to order and the staff person helping us did a fine job. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be back.

Honey and Honey Butter Shell with Vanilla Cream

The front case showcasing their excellent selection!

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Mugshots Coffee Company

4.4(160 reviews)

5.3 mi

Stopped by to spend some time before my flight. Coffee came out quickly, and the place was nice and…read morerelaxing. Wasn't crowded so that helped. Great place to sit down and study or spend time.

Really fun coffee shop with a great rotating specialty latte menu. There were plenty of drink…read moreoptions and everything we tried was delicious. The space itself is great for hanging out. They have lots of different seating options along with games and books, so it feels like somewhere you can actually stay awhile rather than grab your coffee and leave. My only complaint was the service. It felt a little low-energy and wasn't overly friendly, so the experience could have been better on that front. Still, the coffee and atmosphere make it a nice place to relax, work, or catch up with someone.

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Bar seating

Starbucks

3.1(35 reviews)

0.0 mi

Cool Vibe Very…read morerelaxed vibe inside, a nice departure from the noisy mall. Grabbed an ice cold water and a dark roast.

Darkest coffee is stellar I love it so much. I like to get their hot coffee and go to Laderach for…read moresome Swiss dark chocolate. Such a fabulous combo.

Aerocano

Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso

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Pecan Cortado

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3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Katia P.

321

9 years ago

Tea Garden/Sencha used to be my go to place for anything smoothie/bubble tea since I moved to Minneapolis. The location at the University of Minnesota campus was definitely one of the best study places I've been to however this location. The Mall of America location is the worst one I've seen yet! Their workspace always looks so dirty and messy with syrup and stuff spilling everywhere without even a hint of being wiped of since they open in the morning. They're always understaffed and employees are unconsciously unsanitary. I've watched one employee run their hands through their hair and continue to make drinks. Not only that, they have no sense of urgency as despite long lines and irritated customers, employees will stop what they're doing and chat and gossip with one another. These are only a few of what I've seen so far but I definitely would not recommend this store even to anyone I hated. read more

Aphrodite L.

12 years ago

I guess that maybe I'm spoiled with my hometown tea place Serenity Leaf, but I just felt like another person in line at this place. It wasn't even busy. I am new into tea and the person helping me treated me like I was dumb for not knowing what kind I wanted to try, rather than helping me find something I might like. Probably wont go back again. The tea wasn't terrible, it just took so long to get. read more

Aly F.

9 years ago

Sencha treats their employees very poorly, I have several friends who worked here who have told me countless horror stories. This mistreatment of their employees then affects the quality of service and most importantly the product. To Sencha, invest in your employees or your company will fail. To tea lovers, don't support a company like this and take your money elsewhere. read more

Sencha Tea Bar - coffee - Updated October 2026

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3.0

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Quick and efficient service. Love coming here after work for cozy vibes. Drinks were always hot and…read moreaccurate

Tag Cafe

5.0

(2 reviews)

Brand new boba tea shop adjacent to the golf course in Lake Phalen. They serve coffee, tea, bubble…read moretea, pastries and simple sandwiches. There are board games to play as well. I liked the stickers they sold.

Ordered both the lychee milk tea and the Thai tea milk tea with boba pearls and I must say it is…read moreabsolutely delicious! The lychee milk tea was great! My 4 year old loved it! This place actually beats Sencha's Thai tea in my books! The flavor is more distinct and the boba is really delicious! It is a cute place to grab a boba tea and relax or grab and go. They also have simple sandwiches and wraps, along with some breakfast items. Looking forward to trying more from Tag Cafe!

Caribou Coffee

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Boba X

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This cafe is also new addition to the Potluck foodhall at Rosedale mall and connected to Legendary…read morespice foodstall. Order at the counter or the kiosk, whichever is convenient. Once the drink is ready the barista will call your order number. Brightly lit foodstall in the front of the foodhall. Mural of their unique boba bottle. They have a wide variety of different drinks.

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