Favorite Coffee Shops in St. Paul, Minnesota
There are few things I love to do more in a new city than explore their coffee shops! Any time I’m planning a trip, I always make sure to check local blog pages and Pinterest guides for new cafes to check out each day. Or let’s be honest, multiple in the same day… When it comes to a busy day of exploring, “but first coffee” sums up my approach pretty accurately!
Now that travel is more restricted, I’m missing the little things like latte art more than I expected! Before Covid, a typical day usually found me holed up at a local coffee shop, working hard (or hardly working) on my latest creative project. As we’ve slowly opened up, I’m still frequenting my favorites, but taking my coffee to-go and with a whole new appreciation for something I regrettably took for granted.
I’m so fortunate to live in a city with a ton of great coffee shops close by. From the ambiance to the espresso shots, these are the coffee shops that top my list:
Claddagh Coffee (and Wee Claddagh)
Claddagh and Wee Claddagh, their smaller shop on Selby Ave, have been a staple of mine since I moved to the neighborhood five years ago! I used to work next door to Wee Claddagh and their homemade ginger cookies are so good, I ended up making a special trip any time I could smell them baking! (Great subliminal marketing, Claddagh!)
The shop on Selby is pretty small but very cozy and I love stopping in for a latte on my way home from a neighborhood walk. The larger shop on 7th Street is one of my favorite places to post up and get some blog work done. With wooden booths and large windows overlooking the street, it’s cozy and homey with enough activity to keep my creative juices flowing. I also love popping in for a to-go cup after having brunch next door at the Day by Day Cafe.
The Irish Claddagh symbol represents love, friendship and loyalty. These are the exact ideals Claddagh owner Mary has fostered in the St. Paul community through good coffee and great company.
Recommendations: black and tan latte with oat milk, lavender latte, ginger cookie
No matter what day of the week it is, Cafe Astoria is always packed! Although they have two rooms, both are fairly small so I recommend visiting on a day you aren’t in a hurry and having a friend secure a table while another waits in line can be helpful!
I was never a big crepe person until I started visiting Cafe Astoria. I didn’t dislike them, they were just not something I ever sought after. But gluten free crepes with Nutella? I’m here for it! If crepes still aren’t your thing, they also have smoothie bowls and oatmeal bowls!
Because of the smaller space and buzzier atmosphere, Cafe Astoria is great for catching up with a friend or celebrating with a small group but I tend to go elsewhere when I’m looking to get work done.
Recommendations: ask for the (not so) secret menu! 24k latte, matcha 2.0
One of my favorite things about Spyhouse is that each cafe across the Twin Cities has its own decor and vibe! While the Northeast location is probably my favorite in terms of aesthetic (think exposed brick, chandeliers, greenery and rustic wood), I spend more of my time at the St. Paul shop. My favorite part is the large map mural on their back wall, further instilling feelings of wanderlust.
I also love that they are a company with a cause! Through local partnerships, they focus on overcoming many of the challenges that climate change has brought to the coffee community and seek to lessen their environmental impact. I’m passionate about supporting local as often as I can, especially now that small businesses have been disproportionately affected by Covid, so I love that they use primarily compostable and/or refurbished materials, practice energy conservation and partner with other local and organic businesses.
Recommendations: spygirl (hot or iced, it’s my fave year round)
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in my neighborhood and lived in a house just a few blocks from my apartment. As a writer and aspiring author myself, I feel even more connected to my neighborhood because of it. From the catchy drink names to the old school typewriters painted on the wall, Nina’s is exactly the type of place I envision myself writing chapters of my first novel. Located in the historic Blair Arcade, Nina’s exudes the charm I’ve always loved about Cathedral Hill.
Nina’s also tends to be very busy, especially on the weekend, but with a very different type of crowd than Cafe Astoria. Nina’s can be a bit on the hipster side but even when it’s busy, it’s still quiet enough to read, write or have a quiet chat or meeting. Although their menu is a bit small, the food is delicious and they use a lot of local and organic ingredients!
Recommendations: chai latte, madam nina
Caydence is unlike any other coffee shop I’ve ever been to, in the best way possible! I received a coffee shop passport for Christmas and this was the first coffee shop we visited that we hadn’t been to before. I also recently got a record player so being able to browse through old vinyls while waiting for my coffee is a true win-win. In addition to shopping for new music, we got a live performance as well! I’m not sure if it was planned or an impromptu show but the woman’s voice was as beautiful as the music coming from the piano she was playing.
In addition to serving up coffee and records, Caydence offers live music on their patio and curated music packs tailored to your budget and musical preferences! They also had some of the most unique merchandise I’ve seen at a coffee shop. I’m still thinking about their denim jackets… Call me basic but their fall drinks just released and I can’t wait to try the pumpkin spice latte and east cider.
Recommendations: caramel creme brûlée, gluten free cookies
What are your favorite coffee shops? Am I missing any in St. Paul?
Pin this post using the photo below to share or save for later!
