As a busy mom and an avid coffee lover, I’m always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop: one that serves amazing coffee and where no one seems to bat an eye when I show up with my kids in tow.
Minneapolis is absolutely bursting with amazing coffee shops that invite you to stay awhile and enjoy your delicious coffee while hanging out with your family or the children you care for.
Here are 10 of my favorite coffee shops around Minneapolis for when I’m looking for a java-filled, kid-approved outing.
Humble Cup
Address: 1851 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 612-208-0434
Humble Cup is a warm and friendly coffee shop that strives to be a hangout place. In other words, they welcome families who want to relax with their kids, great coffee in hand. They not only serve one of my favorite pour-overs, but they also have fun events, like game nights and art shows — a total family outing win.
Humble Cup’s brew comes from True Stone Coffee, a local roaster with quality coffee beans that are extraordinarily fresh. Their menu is also filled to the brim with traditional favorites, such as lattes and cappuccinos. My personal favorite is their Dirty Chai — a shot of espresso mixed into a chai tea (or masala chai).
Don’t worry about showing up with hungry kids at Humble Cup. Not only do they offer soups, salads, and sandwiches (the build-your-own is our family’s favorite), but they also have healthy and fun treats for kids, such as yogurt parfaits, veggie packs, and protein packs.
Good Day Cafe
Address: 5410 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley, MN 55416
Hours: Monday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Phone: 763-544-0205
Good Day Cafe is a family-owned business that is absolutely known for its amazing food and coffee. The atmosphere inside and out can best be described as friendly, there’s ample free parking, and they can accommodate your gaggle of little people with ease. The cafe’s outside seating feels like a garden oasis and is my personal favorite.
When you step inside Good Day Cafe, the air is filled with aromas of freshly brewed coffee, homemade sticky buns, and cheesy egg bakes.
Good Day serves an excellent and flavorful black coffee that pairs perfectly with their treats, like the famed wheat toast and homemade jam. But it would be a mistake to not call out Good Day’s Spiked Hot Chocolate — hot chocolate spiked with almond and coconut. It’s divine. And you can also get yummy mochas and lattes to sip while your littles devour that toast.
Sparrow Cafe
Address: 5001 Penn Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 612-353-5177
Sparrow Cafe values sustainably grown, fair-trade coffees and teas and also serves handcrafted espresso drinks and gourmet pastries from some of our favorite local places, including Chez Arnaud and Angel Food.
Its décor is calm and friendly and made complete with a big mural of sparrows that kids love to see up close. They’re super welcoming no matter what your reason is for visiting: morning meetings, grabbing a cup of coffee to have in hand while walking the dog or while rushing to work, or just hanging out for a while with the kids.
The Sparrow House Blend is their custom blend of 100 percent organic coffee from around the world. They also serve handcrafted drinks, like cappuccinos and espressos, and their Caramel Latte and White Chocolate Mocha are both divine.
A bonus treat is that Sparrow House also serves Cold Spring Strawberry Soda, which is made in Minnesota!
Riverview Cafe
Address: 3753 42nd Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, 6:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Thursday, 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. | Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 612-722-7234
The Riverview Cafe is made for families. They say they welcome laptops and kids, and they make good on their promise with plenty of table space for working and cozy couches for chatting with your girlfriends while your kids play in the super-fun play space made just for them.
Riverview’s coffee is absolutely delicious and the atmosphere is perfect. Our family also loves sitting outside on their patio, and being right across the street from the Riverview Theatre is a family outing bonus.
Riverview’s coffee is super flavorful. It’s a short menu filled only with things that they make really well. For traditional fare, their black coffee is bold and flavorful and their flavored lattes are smooth and creamy. My favorite is their Vanilla Latte. I also I love their more unique flavor options, such as their Maple Cinnamon Lattes. And if you happen to be in the mood for tea, their London Fog Lavender is Earl Grey tea, lavender, and steamed milk. It is truly so delicious!
Peace Coffee Shop
Address: 3262 Minnehaha Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Saturday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 612-877-7760
Peace Coffee has been setting the standard for delicious, high-quality coffee in the Cities since 2010. This location is considered their flagship coffee shop, and it’s seriously so much fun to be here. It’s spacious and colorful and one of those neighborhood spots that everyone knows. Peace Coffee welcomes kids and others who like to linger and just hang out. The shop also features a lab space for coffee classes. How fun is that?
Peace Coffee is organic, free trade, and has a lot of local loyalty. You can order whole beans for home and to give as gifts. While their Twin Cities blend is my personal favorite because it’s smooth and flavorful and just as delicious served black as it is with a splash of cream, I have truly not had a bad cup of coffee here.
Peace Coffee also serves amazing cold brew and releases new, inventive coffee flavors regularly. For example, this spring they welcomed Alchemy #20 and described it as “bright acidity complimented by baked apple sweetness,” and from the very first sip to the last, it totally delivered on this (yummy) promise. If you’re looking for high-quality coffee in inventive flavors with a social responsibility business side, Peace Coffee was made for you.
Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop + Coffee Bar
Address: 4208 28th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Bike shop opens at 8 a.m.
Phone: 612-722-1538
Angry Catfish opened in 2008, when the owner decided it would be cool to be surrounded by bike and fishing gear forever. So he bought an abandoned Ace Hardware, and he and his buddies created one of the most unique and fun spaces to get fabulous coffee in Minneapolis. Patrons are surrounded by bikes, and the coffee is absolutely stellar. This shop is such a win!
On the coffee side, Angry Catfish’s menu is short and divine. Every item is carefully made in high-quality coffee “machinery” — this really is the perfect word to describe their high-powered coffeemakers — or via a variety of hand-brew methods.
They serve coffee from Intelligentsia and Ruby Coffee Roasters, organic cream milk tops, and single-origin chocolate for decadent flavoring. Angry Catfish’s “Fancy Lattes” are a must-try. Flavors change seasonally and include iterations such as Vanilla Molasses and Maple Cardamom. My husband’s favorite speciality drink is their Smoked Sea Salt Mocha, and I wouldn’t be giving Angry Catfish its due if I didn’t at least mention the Canadian — a nitro cold brew made with premium maple syrup and milk, shaken, and served over ice. Amazing!
Birchwood Cafe
Address: 3311 E. 25th St., Minneapolis, MN 55406
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 612-722-4474
Decades ago, Birchwood Cafe was actually a dairy. Today, it’s a destination coffee shop focused on freshness and community, and everything about it is welcoming and delicious. It’s a fun place to get a great meal where the kids will eat good, wholesome food, or just to grab an amazing cup of coffee and a slice of pie. (The coconut is our favorite!)
Birchwood Cafe’s menu boasts locally grown, healthy, made-from-scratch gems, including everything from their Tofu Hash to Wild Rice Pancakes to their amazing Avocado Toast — avocado, radish, lime, fancy salt, and “garden doodads.” Everything Birchwood serves pairs well with their coffee.
They only serve smooth, fresh, and delicious coffee. Their flavored coffees are a treat, as well. For example, their Almond Milk Latte is divine and their Mexi Mocha has a perfect kick.
Because Birchwood tends to be a popular brunch destination, as an added touch, they’re known to offer coffee and samples while waiting.
Isles Bun & Coffee
Address: 1424 W. 28th St., Minneapolis, MN 55408
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 612-870-4466
Isles Bun & Coffee’s tagline is “Hot coffee, warm buns, and the all the frosting you can eat,” and they definitely deliver on that promise. They’re located in the heart of Uptown, and you are completely drawn in by the smell.
The coziness continues when you walk inside as you and the kids watch the baking unfold right in front of you. Their signature buns are called “Puppy Dog Tails,” which couldn’t be more delicious.
Isles Bun & Coffee offers a full espresso bar featuring locally roasted, organic, fair-trade coffee beans. Their baristas use a manual espresso machine, so their drinks are as good as their buns, and that’s really saying something!
I personally love their Americano, because it’s smooth, strong, and made with with perfect amount of crema. Their lattes are also a local favorite, and I have to admit I’m a sucker for their plain, black coffee. It’s really delicious and pairs perfectly with Isles’ decadent treats!
Glam Doll Donuts
Address: 519 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 7 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Sunday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: 612-223-8071
Glam Doll is a funky, fun, and delicious hot spot. From the second you walk in, you want to stay awhile. Their motto is “Treat yo’self (glamorously), and life will be sweet,” and that’s something I can definitely get behind! Not only are their treats amazing, but their coffee is perfect every single time. And don’t let the glamorous décor scare you away. Kids are absolutely welcome at Glam Doll, and they love being in this fun, open, colorful space.
Glam Doll’s coffee menu is short and sweet. My favorite is actually their pour-over and drip coffees, because they’re slowly and manually made to perfection. But Glam Doll, of course, also offers traditional favorites like Espressos, Americanos, and Macchiatos that are truly delicious.
It should be noted that every coffee is made to pair beautifully with Glam Doll’s decadent treats. The food menu includes items such as the Hot Chick — fried chicken on a waffle donut, the Glam Slammy — eggs, bacon, and cheese on a fresh glazed donut, and the Showgirl — maple buttercream donut with caramelized bacon.
Five Watt Coffee
Address: 3745 Nicollet Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Hours: Open daily, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 612-259-7519
Five Watt Coffee somehow blends high-quality, upscale coffee with a total “everybody knows your name” Cheers-style atmosphere. It’s a fun place to be, to hang out, and to bring the whole family. They offer unique coffee drinks, such as a cold press made with juniper and basil simple syrup, grapefruit bitters, and cream — seriously, so good! — and their espresso is swoon-worthy.
Five Watt roasts and serves its own coffee, along with a short-listed lineup of roasts from around the country. While their black coffee is truly wonderful, it’s their specialty coffees that are truly memorable. Their signature combinations are espresso, traditional syrups, and a splash of cocktail bitters.
Some examples include the Kingfield — vanilla, Big Watt coriander bitters, espresso, milk, and Black Hawaiian sea salt; the Big Easy — cold press, chicory and nutmeg simple syrup, black walnut bitters, and cream; and the Hibernator — cold press, toasted almonds, honey, and milk.
If you’re looking for a truly unique and decadent coffee drink, even with your kids on hand, Five Watt is where you need to be!
