There are almost too many St. Paul coffee shops to count. What’s even crazier is how these specialty cafes leverage in-house roasting, single-origin sourcing, and boundless creativity to set themselves apart from each other.
There are just as many Minneapolis coffee shops too. This fact makes Minnesota’s Twin Cities unexpectedly dense in the specialty coffee arena.
Today we’ll focus on 7 Saint Paul coffee shops I visited during the 5 weeks I worked remotely in the area.
#1 Cafe Astoria – Best Latte Art
Cafe Astoria wins for the most beautiful latte art in the city. Located near a popular breakfast spot and within walking distance of a couple of thrift stores, Astoria is the weekend stop you didn’t know you needed. Just be prepared to walk a couple of blocks, the parking is admittedly lacking. Order a Rainbow Latte for a splash of color, or keep it simple and get a Vanilla Latte. I enjoyed both.
With a bustling atmosphere, friendly staff, beautiful coffee, and more food options than you could ask for, Cafe Astoria has something for everyone. Try a smoothie bowl, loaded oatmeal, sweet or savory crepe, or even a sandwich or salad if you’re feeling hungry.
Astoria has adequate seating, but the number of available power outlets could be a limiting factor if a remote work session is on your agenda. Read the full review here.
#2 Quixotic Coffee – Best Nitro Cold Brew + Double Ristretto
If you’re into cold brew, Quixotic Coffee has the best cold brew of the St Paul coffee shops. I’d highly recommend trying the Marco Polo nitro cold brew. And for my espresso lovers out there, be prepared for your latte and/or cappuccino to be served with a double shot of ristretto, by default.
Quixotic has a chill vibe with lots of seating and cool interior design. This spot is truly loved, so be prepared for busy mornings, especially on the weekends. Food options include smoothies, sandwiches, light salads, overnight oats, and an assortment of baked goods.
A remote work session can be a bit high energy here, with many cozy booth seats filling up before 8 am, but there is an overflow conference room at the back of the shop that can be used if no one is renting it.
#3 Five Watt Coffee – Best Specialty Latte Ft. House-Made Cocktail Bitters
Five Watt Coffee definitely makes my favorite hot specialty latte in this round-up. The menu is filled with cocktail-inspired lattes. Think house-made bitters and simple syrups, just packaged in a latte and not an Old Fashioned. Order the Kingfield or the Pollinator for a true flavor-bending experience.
While Five Watt has 4 unique locations, I spent my time at the only St. Paul location. Keg and Case is a warehouse with cute craft store booths and restaurants. Five Watt is conveniently located near the entrance. Expect ample seating, a quiet atmosphere, and colorful decor.
The space is one of the more remote work-friendly spots on the St Paul coffee shops I visited.
#4 Dogwood Coffee – Best Zen Spot with Single Origin Brews
If you’re into a zen atmosphere and good coffee, Dogwood Coffee is the place for you. Tucked a couple of blocks away from a busy part of town, Dogwood coffee is a haven with lots of seating, adequate outlets, and an industrial interior.
Street parking was easy to get and close to the shop and the staff was really nice and helpful. Try the Spumoni Latte. It is a honey pistachio-flavored drink that lets the nutty flavors of the coffee shine. I ordered it half sweet and I really enjoyed it. You can also buy whole or ground coffee online or directly from Dogwood. They pride themselves in fostering long-term relationships with farmers and have a wide selection of single origin coffee as a result.
#5 Spyhouse Coffee – Best Atmosphere and Interior Design
Spyhouse has a way with interior design. The 2 Spyhouse locations I visited created an enjoyable space to grab a latte and get some work done. I highly recommend you try the Spygirl latte. I tried it iced and really liked it. The Vanilla latte I had was okay. I typically prefer a deeper flavor in my medium roasts, but the latte art was stellar.
The Spyhouse in St. Paul is located on the corner of a spacious neighborhood with lots of available parking and good seating. I especially enjoyed the amount of natural light in the shop and the option to sit outside.
For a moodier experience, head to the Spyhouse in downtown Minneapolis. This shop is a social media favorite due to the size of the space, the number of indoor plants, and the masculine design throughout. I’m sure this spot is a winter favorite among the locals, with a larger than life fireplace stretching across the den area. The Spyhouse is tucked in a corner of this space that makes up part of the loft of the Emery Hotel downtown.
#6 Black Sheep – Best Scone + Whipped Sweet Cream
Black Sheep is a quaint coffee shop with a variety of seating and a pretty standard coffee and food menu. I can vouch for the cappuccinos and the scones. Definitely try the whipped sweet cream that is an optional side with every scone. For a more savory item, try any of the breakfast sandwiches, which are absolutely perfect.
I frequented this shop the most during my stay in St. Paul because it was within walking distance of my hotel. The atmosphere is nice and the space is pretty well set up for working remotely.
#7 Amore Cafe – Best Neighborhood Coffee Shop
Out of all the St Paul coffee shops, Amore is the quintessential neighborhood pit stop. This shop is truly loved by the community and that’s coming from a girl who only spent a couple of hours working remotely at the spot on a Wednesday afternoon. This is a spot for the locals.
Try the Chai Latte for something satisfyingly spicy. I can’t vouch for the coffee this time because I opted for Chai, but I will say the food menu is refreshingly expensive with a soup of the day and a whole list of other sweet and savory treats.
If you’re looking for somewhere to focus, the back overflow room is a quiet spot with lots of windows.
Too Many Coffee Shops, Too Little Time
I had so many more coffee shops on my list to visit while in St. Paul, but I had two things working against me.
First, I was trying to stick to having coffee only a couple of times a week to prevent a relapse into caffeine addiction. Second, while my husband was working nights and I had free reign over our one vehicle during the day, I was also working full time during the week.
This meant I wasn’t brave enough to visit a new coffee shop during most weekday mornings. You never know what type of space will be available when working remotely in a new place. My priority is always ensuring I am ready to work without issue, which is why I spent some extra time in each coffee shop review to discuss how remote work friendly each space is.
If you’re into coffee, I’d recommend visiting St. Paul during the summer or fall. A quick Google search of the area will show more coffee shops than you could visit in a month. I imagine the reason being is how harsh the winters in Minnesota are.
