Backstory may have the most beautiful coffee shop interior I've ever been in…read more The second I walked in, I actually laughed because it felt way too gorgeous to be "just" a coffee shop. The soaring industrial ceilings, massive windows pouring in natural light, dark wood shelving, plants everywhere, books, artwork, vintage decor, and incredible lighting somehow make the whole place feel both grand and peaceful. It's the kind of space where you immediately want to cancel your plans and spend the entire afternoon reading, working, or simply existing. Every direction you look feels thoughtfully designed. One thing I couldn't find online beforehand was whether there would be places to plug in my laptop. Thankfully, there are plenty of outlets, making it a fantastic place to work. Even better, despite its size, the atmosphere stays calm and quiet. It never felt loud or chaotic. The drinks were excellent. I tried the Lime Creamsicle Iced Matcha and later ordered a hot matcha, complete with a beautiful heart poured into the milk. I especially appreciated that they use what tasted like genuine, high-quality matcha rather than the overly sweet, filler-heavy mixes that so many coffee shops rely on. You can absolutely taste the difference. I also picked up two pastries: an artichoke and cheese croissant (I think it was Gouda?) and the coffee cake. Both were delicious, but that coffee cake deserves its own paragraph. It was huge, incredibly moist and rich, and served in a large paper liner almost like an oversized cupcake. I'd happily go back just for that. If I had one wish, it would simply be for the menu to match the creativity of the space. The coffee, tea, and espresso selections felt a bit limited considering how unique everything else is. This seems like the perfect place to experiment with fun specialty drinks and elevated touches. Imagine pink peppercorn on a cortado, mint dust on a cappuccino, unique flavored cold foams, rotating seasonal teas, or other creative finishes. The environment practically begs for a menu that's just as imaginative. The staff interaction was fine but didn't really stand out. When I asked whether they recommended the Lime Creamsicle Matcha, the response was basically, "I mean... it tastes like a lime creamsicle." It wasn't unfriendly, just not especially engaging. The prices are definitely on the higher end, but between the stunning atmosphere, quality ingredients, and excellent pastries, I'd happily return. Backstory isn't just somewhere to grab coffee. It's somewhere you want to linger. If you're looking for one of the most beautiful, calming coffee shops in Minneapolis, this belongs at the top of your list.

Cute spot for coffee and hanging out! The line went fairly quickly, and the barista was patient and…read morethorough when taking my order! The Americano I ordered was ready quickly and very hot! I would come back with friends and/or to hang out to get work done! FYI: There's free parking on the road behind Backstory, parallel to Washington.

One of my favorite coffee shops!!! I have never had a drink I didn't enjoy. They always have…read morespecialty drinks which are my favorite. I've had the matcha, a flavored latte, and even the baked goods. Normally I just get to-go, but there are couches and tables for people to sit at. There is free street parking as well which we love!

Really cozy cafe for study break, quick bites, fun coffee drinks…read more The place is kids friendly and has games and coloring books. Also has many options that are Asian inspired. We ordered gochujang latte and lychee matcha. Both are interesting and good. Sandwich are filling and sizable. Wish they have stocked with silverware as the sandwich could get messy. We went ahead and used chopsticks Lovely place and will stop by again and again

Was attending Twin Cities Pride over in Loring Park and was in desperate need of caffeine (we woke…read moreup at 6AM to attend the Rainbow Run 5K). This place was practically across the street, so we decided to take a breather from the hectic festivites and come here. Immediately we were greeted with cooling A/C and much-needed silence. Cool and quiet... the perfect escape. The place was decked out for pride with lots of colorful flags representing many of the wonderful ways to be queer. Definitely get bonus points for their allyship. I got a bottled Coca-Cola and my hubbie got a simple cup of brewed coffee. They had a reasonably-sized menu with even some smoothies and such listed, as well as a display of bakery items. A chalkboard showed their three seasonal beverages, which looked fun (though not my cup of tea). One of the employees was very helpful when I requested a cup of ice to go with my Coke; I needed the extra cool down after all the time we'd spent in the sun in the heat! We sat at one of the tables and appreciated leaning back into the chairs with back support for several minutes. Whew! Perked us back up nicely. There isn't a ton of space/lots of places to sit and I was kind of shocked the place wasn't flooded with queers, lol. There was quite the line for the bathroom though, according to my husband. The decor is nice and neat. I think I spotted a small selection of board games you could break out if desired too, which is fun.

First of all, their mission is awesome: supporting an organization that provides scholarships…read morelocally for athletics for kids. I believe graduates of that program also work here as young adults. The alley walking up to it is so cute. I love historic Mpls! The coffee shop is small but fun, and there's a nice cozy seating area outside I'd come back for. The coffee was good (though not in my top 10), with some unique flavors. I got the breve capp and it did taste a bit scorched. My daughter's LAB iced coffee was delicious. Service friendly and prompt. Bathroom a bit dirty but shared with other businesses.

I am a UMN student & a regular for a few years at Fairgrounds! Their rewards program is awesome, &…read moretheir drinks & food are consistently delicious. Customer service is good. Super comfy seats for studying or remote work, & the space is well-kept & bright. Love it!

I had a great experience here! I was in the area and needed to do a few hours of work, so stopped…read morein for a drink and a seat. SEATING I love the variety in seating here! Several 2-4 person tables, a couch area near the fireplace, a handful of barstools looking out the window, and a communal table. They even have a few fun swing chairs! AMBIANCE I'd say this is a pretty buzzy spot - at least it was when I came in. The folks meeting and chatting outnumbered the folks working remote/solo, but with headphones on it wasn't too loud. DRINKS I got a hot chai, and it was good! Only downside is I ordered for here and they served in compostable cup - I prefer when ceramic / reusable mugs are given for in-store drinkers. FOOD I didn't order food, but saw several people getting lunch here and looked good. AMENITIES There's a bathroom attached within the building, and a water station. The outlets are a bit more sparse since not all tables are against the walls.

Great space, awesome vibe, and fun games. Had a great Hazy and Amber while we played darts! Can't…read morewait to come back and do the axe throwing and board games! Also LOVE that they have free parking for customers

For gamers, by gamers. Spacious, made for community and hosting events. Paintings by local artists…read moreline the bar wall, ready to be purchased. Axe throwing area. Super dog friendly. Warm, welcoming beertenders. Very try-friendly, with flights of everything, even coffees and N/As. We tried the N/A flight - I'd suggest they switch to offering a flight of kombuchas. As a friend put it, every variety felt like "the flavor is being shouted from the next room over." This space is minimal on food. Lotzza motzza pizzas, beef sticks that are an upgraded Slim Jim, bagels, and other random-ish offerings. Drop by early enough on the right days and visit the taco truck if preferred.

Absolutely loved the vibe here - it's so cute, peaceful, and relaxing. I tried their Kyoto blend…read morecoffee, which was a bit strong for me, but my friend loved it! They use really good-quality milk, so I can imagine their lattes and cappuccinos are amazing. My husband had a hot latte and said it was perfect. It's a nice, calm spot to study or chat, definitely on the quieter side which I loved. I'll be coming back for sure!

WA has always been one of mine and Michaela's favorites. So sad to hear they're closing at the end…read moreof the year! Thanks for the memories and the tasty drinks!

This location is a little hard to find initially because it's located off the street between two…read morebuildings. The space itself is enormous with a clean, modern Scandinavian aesthetic. It gets an incredible amount of natural light, which makes it a pleasant place to spend some time. I also loved that it's dog friendly. The seating, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. There's a decent amount of it, but it's not really comfortable and it feels like there's plenty of room to add more seating throughout the space. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, which made for a great first impression. The menu is a little limited, but what I had was excellent. I ordered the light roast coffee and it was super good. I was also happy to see they carry Cardigan Donuts. If you have not had one before, they are absolutely worth trying! The biggest drawback for me was the WiFi. It was so unreliable that it made getting work done almost impossible, which is a pretty significant downside for a coffee shop. Overall, I enjoyed the coffee, the atmosphere, and the friendly staff, but the limited menu, somewhat uncomfortable seating, and especially the poor WiFi kept this from becoming one of my go to coffee shops.

This place is fantastic! I went here prior to getting my hair done across the street for a meeting…read more There is huge space that is set up perfectly for working from coffee shop, which i truly love and appreciated. I had a hard time selecting a place to sit since I wanted to sit in many of the places. The staff was amazing! I ordered a cortado for here, and it was perfect and gorgeous. I ended up spilling it all over the floor (totally my fault). I went up to order a new one (planning to pay because again..my fault!) and the staff refused to let me pay and even brought me my new drink to the table I was at. Talk about customer service! It was my fault I spilled it and they would not let me help clean it up or buy a new one. Consider me a fan of this place!

Nice spot in the Mill District to grab a coffee to go or hang out for a while and browse the…read morebookstore next door. Service was friendly and efficient, and my cold brew was rich and dark but not even a little bit bitter. Plenty of seating in the bright, light interior.

This was one of the best banana coffees I've ever had! The chimp in orbit was so good, and it's not…read moreeasy to nail the banana flavor but FRGMNT found the right way to do it! The apple pop tart was nice and fluffy, too! The area is really cool to check out! There's a book store and art shop in the building, which makes for a fun coffee date! My only complaint is minor, but the barista taking out orders seemed very closed off and potentially frustrated that we were there. But maybe they were having a rough day?