I've been here a few times and I love the atmosphere and the variety of drinks this place has to offer! The most recent time I was here, my friend and I ordered drinks to-go from the Elixir menu, the Maple Cinnamon Matcha Lattes. While it tasted delicious, we only tasted the matcha and didn't get any of the maple or cinnamon flavor. I asked what the "choice of matcha" in the menu meant, and barista seemed either unsure or felt rushed by my question, but I didn't get a clear answer and didn't want to take up anymore of her time, so I said "whatever normally comes with it". So I'm still wondering what my choices of matcha could've been, but this uncertainty is definitely not keeping me up at night! :) This is a very social-distant friendly place and I felt comfortable being here! read more

This place has a nice vibe to it. Decor is pleasing. Nice place to sit and sip a hot drink on a cold morning.

Cute spot! Coffee was honestly great. You can definitely come here to work or to hang out with friends or family. It is pricey so make sure to do your research before coming to buy coffee or breakfast/lunch. The breakfast was great! I will definitely come here again. read more

I live a couple of blocks from this place. Wanted to try and support a local coffee shop and visited at least 3 different times. Food options are ok. Definitely better than their drinks. However, I walked in today around 3pm, and knowing that this place closes early, asked one of the employees about their closing time and was told it was 5pm. Music was turned off 30 minutes before closing, but in a shop with at least 4 other customers sitting in it, was the only one approached by a different employee to be informed that they were closing in 15 minutes. The same employee was also the one who took my order was short and seemed rather unhappy since I spoke to her. Have been in the service industry, and because of that, can confidently say that I won't be returning to this business. read more

The atmosphere was really warm and comfortable! Staff and guests were all so nice. And the coffee was amazing, I had a toasted marshmallow latte and I 100% recommend!! read more

This place is cute! Even though I went on a rainy day, it still seemed to have so much natural lighting. The decorations are both cute while also having a good amount of "Midwest/Milwaukee" style. I had a latte and bagel on a Saturday morning. Although it was pretty busy, there was plenty of open seating and there was no line. This bagel tasted F R E S H. I'm not sure if they are made in house, but I definitely would not be surprised. They had a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options. It was obvious they due their part in attempting to be sustainable by having reusable water cups, and having food come out on metal trays. I would love to have seen my "for here" coffee come out in a reusable mug. I wish I still worked from home, as this would definitely be my daily office. I also really enjoyed the swing seating by the coffee bar, what a fun touch. This will be added to my normal rotation of coffee shops for sure read more

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This was a nice little coffee shop, with decor and an ambiance to match. The gentleman taking care of us was really nice and able to offer up recommendations. My wife and I both decided to go with the hot Hazelnut lattes. We were able to find street parking, and from the looks of it there is an ample amount of street parking in the area. read more

I was reading the reviews of Fairgrounds, mostly the negative ones because they are most impactful to people unfortunately. I live in the neighborhood and when Fairgrounds first opened in 2019, I was one of their first customers, I met Vanessa who I assume is the manager of the store, from the very first day she has always had a smile on her face and greeted me by my first name. That is true hospitality, have things been perfect, not at all but what makes Vanessa and her team stand out is their level of commitment to the customer experience, someone said that "these kids" haven't been trained, that may be the case, but they sure are doing quite well for not being trained. In hospitality you either get it or you don't and I can attest that Vanessa gets it! read more

Really liked the coffee and breakfast sandwich I got. I am giving three stars because I witnessed what seemed like the manager as he was telling other staff what to do, (larger guy w red sweatshirt,) go up behind another male staff member and fake grind up against his butt while dancing. The employee seemed very uncomfortable and even called him irritating, the managers response was "you have not seen anything yet!" In this day and age, this kind of behavior is alarming and unacceptable. There is no room for sexual harassment in the work place even if it is not "sexual" to the person doing it. This was on 10/24/19 at around 11:00 am read more

This modern coffee bar has all the goodies you could want in the morning. We tried out the Limitless on tap salted caramel cold brew (holy cow was this delicious!) and the Four Letter Word light roast. All of their coffees are pour overs which we're a big fan of. We are so happy they expanded from Chicago to add to the robust Milwaukee coffee scene. One really cool thing to note: they have 3 swings at the bar! Overall, this place is beautiful and very inviting and will no doubt be a hit for years to come! read more

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This place is genuinely one of my favorite places in this city for a variety of beverages, food, space, energy, staff, AND parking! I actually live next to two coffee shops but take the 10 minute drive here because I like it so much. The variety of coffee and beverages is grand which makes it overwhelming but good news! The staff will put up with your 4848292 questions like they did for me! After many questions about beverages and food I actually asked them to make a drink for me that was not on the menu at all by combining different items they had and they accommodated to it- rad! The food selection ranges in variety and there is something on the menu for everyone- even kids! The space itself is big to accommodate a large amount of people in various sitting arrangements but cozy enough to feel at home. The big windows bring in fantastic natural light which in return creates a great energy in the space and in my experience- aides in motivation. Their bathrooms are also always clean and gender neutral which honestly is the right thing to do and also convenient. Lastly- they have a great rewards program! read more

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Nicely decorated and welcoming atmosphere. As others have mentioned, plan this coffee shop for reading, writing, or (gasp!) conversation. Or make sure your tech is fully charged. Few or no outlets. The employees are friendly, and it's fun to find coffee from various best coffee shops in other cities! Nice drink options. I do think they could make the lattes hotter (those are all I've tried so far). Good location for grabbing a cup of coffee and walking with beautiful views of the lake. read more

Ok how freaking cute is this place?! I mean they have literal swings that you can sit on and enjoy your coffee. Not only does it offer coffee flights and have an impressive amount of brews on tap, but it also has an impressive breakfast/lunch menu. I highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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Need some coffee quick before you head to work? Then maybe you should go somewhere else. Fairgrounds specializes in drip coffee, which is awesome...if you have the time. Their selection is phenomenal; however, when I went the person taking my order did not tell me it was drip only, so I wound up waiting 10 minutes for coffee. 10 Minutes I didn't have to spare. Perhaps they have gotten better at telling people how they make their coffee, and the time it takes. Still, if you are in a rush perhaps go elsewhere. As for vegan options (food) they had one which was the pumpkin cranberry muffin. read more

I can't rave enough of this place. So. Stinking. Cute. You can get multiple cold brews on tap from various different coffee roasteries. I got a flight which had three brews of my choice. There are swings to sit on while you wait for your coffee/food. Complimentary sparking and still water. Adorable succulents everywhere. Can't wait to come back and try something larger to eat. (I had a sprinkle cookie which was delicious.) GO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT!!!! read more

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Cold brew coffee flight and sprinkle cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This is my favorite coffee shop! I love the idea of being able to try different roasts from popular coffee shops around the country! I also LOVE that there are no outlets! Keeps us talking to each other. Awesome Baristas and staff!!! I'm so glad that we have Fairgrounds in MKE read more

What a great place! Love the location, upbeat vibe, passionate staff and delicious food and coffee. Lucky Milwaukee to have this Chicago based Fairgrounds! read more

I stumbled onto this place while walking through Yankee Hill area to Juneau Park. I was totally surprised. Nice atmosphere and pretty delicious food. The ham sandwich is really tasty and the baked goods looked amazing but I was too full to indulge. The staff is very friendly. I met the manager Vanessa and she really makes sure everything is running smoothly and efficiently in there. It has both inside and outdoor seating and just a really good vibe. read more

They only have pour over coffees. The temperature is not the standard for coffee, not hot enough. Pastries are wrapped in plastic wrap. Not for the coffee aficionado. read more

Stopped by Fairgrounds for a quick lunch. It was pretty busy but thankfully there was room to sit at the communal tables. Got a breakfast sandwich and a chai latte- both were good. The cafe itself is super cute and welcoming- a great environment to hang out and study. A great addition to the neighborhood. read more

Great location and cool interior setup. Coffee is okay, food is not great and overall it's pretty overpriced. Workers also aren't very happy. It's fine. read more

This place is beautifully esthetic and the coffee and food are so modern and innovative. Everything a millennial loves! BUT there are no outlets. This is extremely frustrating when going to work on some things for school or others for work. Also there were two employees working at the front when I was there. One was very nice and kind to the customers while making the drinks. However, the other was the one running the cash register taking order and was very rude. They did not want to wait as I looked at the menu to order and was very short in answers when I would ask questions about the menu. I do plan to go back here because I want to give this place another chance because it was so beautiful. read more

I am not one to write reviews because I am a server at a restaurant and I understand stuff can happen... but my friends and I went to fairgrounds to study and we all bought food and coffee. One of my friends received moldy fruit in her yogurt cup and couldn't eat it. She then told an employee and they made her get a bakery item, pay for it and never gave her a refund. I don't think it's fair she had to pay for the coffee shops mistake. read more

I made my first stop to Fairgrounds when it was suggested by the person I was meeting with and wasn't sure what to expect. I had seen great photos on Instagram but didn't know and the experience was definitely worth the visit. Great variety of coffees to try and while we didn't get food, all of it looked amazing. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

My first time here and I love it! Love how everything is GF and even the eggs are cage free read more

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Ordered the Jasmine Tea. Flavor was not to bad. I would go back :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Had the burrito. Did not add cheese, but added chicken sausage. It was super yummy, but wrapped very weird. Definitely not a burrito burrito as it fell apart as soon as I picked it up, which is frustrating! Otherwise I thought everything tasted good, extra plus for how hot and fresh it was. Staff was accommodating to substitutions, but not most friendly (worked in service tho, I get it!!) Wish the side of fresh fruit didn't cost more than half my burrito though! read more

They have a lot of coffee selections, nice environment and lots of interesting drinks they call elixirs. I came in to try this place out and they mixed up my order. I came back because I received the wrong coffee but the staff was not very nice about it. They looked at me as if I was inconveniencing them! It was a simple mistake but I did not appreciate their response. read more

I had the Açaí Bowl. It would have tasted 100% better if the fruit wasn't frozen. Such a small detail that can make a world of difference. All the fruit was frozen, too. Not just certain pieces. read more

Been going here for years simply because of the convenience. The coffee is great actually, but the manager is terrible. She looks upset constantly and refuses to make eye contact, smile or even speak to me. If I order from her she'll be as short as humanly possible and never directly hand me anything. Not sure what the deal is, but as someone who worked about five years as a barista I simply cannot understand not being friendly and learning the names and being welcoming. The only time I feel welcome here is when the manager isn't around. Tired of being looked at like I'm scum. This spot could be nice if it was run by someone friendly and passionate. I waited so long because I wondered if maybe I was just imaging it but no I've probably been here 50 times and have never been treated with respect from her. Thanks. read more

Hip vibe, great coffee selections, ample natural light and the mix of people is quite refreshing. Service is great. Didn't try any food. Big downfall that's easily remedied are the stools. They look cool but have no foot rests making tables more valuable. We had quite a few people comment to us about the uncomfortable stools which became comical almost. Would up my rating to 4 stars if more comfy seating is added. read more

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - No one likes a bad stool. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great space! Good WiFi! Food and drinks were good but not quite warm enough. I'm assuming they're still working out the kinks, as they just opened this week! Excited to see this place flourish in our neighborhood. Will definitely come back again and give them another try! :) Btw, we didn't see any outlets available for customers to use, so keep that in mind if you're coming here to have a bite/drink and get some work/study time in. They definitely need to add some outlets. read more

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - 16 oz Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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In a year of ordering takeout, I have to say Fairgrounds is my go-to for lunch. The breakfast burrito & Truffle Mocha are match made in heaven. I have it at least once a week and will continue to do so! read more

My daughter insisted we stop by her new favorite coffee shop, Fairgrounds, for a quick cuppa and a snack. I chose my traditional iced tea, and she ordered the Vietnamese cold brew. We both had the bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich which comes on a brioche bun, a choice I normally associate with a burger. The overall flavor was decent, and the eggs were fluffy and really good tasting. The bacon wasn't something I would order again, though; it was minced up into little bacon bits, and I just didn't appreciate the texture. While I did eat it all, I knew inside that this version just couldn't compete with my favorite breakfast sandwich served up at the golden arches. Even so, I will go back to Fairgrounds sometime soon to indulge in the Vietnamese cold brew; I took a sip of my daughter's, and I immediately knew there was something very decadent in this little cuppa magic. It turns out it is the sweetened condensed milk--of Magic Cookie Bar fame from the 1960s-- that is the star here. I consider it this cold brew's liquid gold, and while I am tempted to try spooning some into my morning coffee, I will more likely enjoy it at Fairgrounds the next time I visit. read more

A fun artsy cafe with unique menu options I haven't seen anywhere else like a butterscotch Chia and turkey brie sandwich. The turkey sandwich was very tasty and the it came with chips. They had a variety of seating from a bar with swings to high top long tables. Finding parking was very hard on Sunday at 1pm (very crowded street parking), and it was spendy. I got a small mocha coffee and the sandwich totalling $15. read more

I think it was pretty good. I was a little disappointed walking in because I had visited a location in Milwaukee that was larger and seemed to have more options but I decided to go with it and it turned out better than I expected. I expected there to be more breakfast options, but I ordered the scrambled egg tacos and an iced Cortado with a splash of hazelnut syrup. Well, both were delicious! I was really pleasantly surprised at how well the tacos were prepared. They were gourmet with queso fresco and pickled shallots! Really? at a coffee shop? They were so good and the ingredients were so fresh! My coffee was prepared so well I bought a second one. I was really impressed. I would eat here again. read more

Good foods, one not-that-great morning staff. They don't seem to pay attention to their online order in general. Wrong order three times out of ten orders during my short stay. Maybe, I was super unlucky. One time, I didn't even bother and take what she gave it to me. They always keep you waiting even if you have placed an order in advance-- whether is was 20 mins earlier or 5 mins earlier. I went there as it was only option around and foods were good. read more

We have very much enjoyed stopping in here after church on Sundays. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the scrambled/bacon breakfast sandwich. Reminds us of a similarly delicious sammy we enjoyed in NYC. The matcha latte is delish and I appreciate the options. TWO stars off for the bathroom alone. In using the bathroom before I left on our last visit, I started having doubts about the cleanliness of the whole place. This was not a chance encounter with a messy "moment" in the restroom, but a restroom that has not been touched in a long time. The floors were absolutely disgusting, with hair and dirt accumulated along the edge of the room. Really really needs some attention, guys. Otherwise seems like a great place! read more

A lot of options. Clean bright environment with a nice location on the street corner, giving you a nice view of Milwaukee. Service was good for me however the line gets a little more back up in the late morning. Food and drink were good though. read more

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Maple Cinnamon Matcha Latte, chocolate chip scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Tried on a Monday 1pm, very enthusiastic about the atmosphere and menu as well as rave reviews; went up to counter, no greeting, my wife enthusiastically commented to our little one that they have smoothies. The employee must have been the same as the other rare one star review's one - she did not lift her eyes to look at us just said "we're out of smoothies." I then noticed the almond butter and jam sandwich and mentioned it to my wife, who told our kid "they have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich," which was again sombrely corrected by the employee "it's almond butter and jam, and we're out of it." Given the enthusiasm and the match-up with that other prior one star review, we decided to leave at this point, so I cannot comment on the actual quality of the food (if indeed they have any on Mondays) or drinks. read more

Great selection of nitro cold brew on tap, along with kombucha and matcha. They have tons of large tables for studying. Really like how many options they have. read more

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Study area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin