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    Flava Coffee & Cafe

    4.6 (25 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    FLAVA COFFEE & CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Flava Coffee & Cafe

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    Rob C.

    Love the neo-soul vibe and ambiance. The place has a very comfortable presence - a place to relax. The service was standard - quick and my purple haze was deliciously refreshing. I also got a peanut butter and chocolate muffin, which was okay. Overall I would definitely recommend!

    Bob A.

    This is a really nice cafe with great food and GREAT coffee! It's in a part of St Paul that is unfortunately avoided by the kind of person who prefers a coffee shop chain in a suburban gated community. The location is right nest to the Dale Street light rail station; I know people who will immediately think of that as a negative, but you guys, if you are doing a Green Line trip to or from Downtown St Paul, it is a really good idea to make a stop here for some grub! The coffees I've had are all really, really good; each one is good enough to get again, but my favorite is the Nina Simone, which is probably the best mocha I've had in the Twin Cities. I also had a lunch sandwich with chicken and chipotle mayo that tasted absolutely fantastic, it was made fresh and super yummy. And I've had a pastry from their pastry counter that had a modest swirly-bun look but it was a totally excellent baked wonder, sorry I don't know what it was called but I would like another one please. The service and the atmosphere are top notch. It's quite spacious and sunny and nicely decorated, plus there is a good amount of outdoor seating along the University Avenue side. Parking is challenging, but I've been able to track down a spot on the street each time I've visited. I think you can park in the building's parking lot in back, but it's always been full for me. A couple of other caveats: they have a breakfast menu and a lunch menu and I still don't know when they stop offering one and start offering the other, but they definitely do have a cutoff. And one more thing: they are closed on Sundays. None of this should prevent you from at least getting a coffee here. This coffee is on par with the best cafes I've been to.

    Dan C.

    I came here a few weeks ago for a meeting. I like the vibe - small, local business serving the community. It is located in a corner retail spot in what seems to be a new-ish building, so the place has high ceilings, floor to floor-to-ceiling windows, which sends lots of light into the space, making it feel light and airy. They have lots of seating areas to park yourself for a coffee or a meeting and there are some tables that you can hunker down and do some work, too. The staff are chill and friendly. I got an espresso, which was solid and my friend went all in for a breakfast burrito type of thing. It looked excellent - a hearty, big portion for a reasonable price. I was not expecting it to look so good. He devoured it instantly.

    the interior of a coffee shop
    Dani G.

    A cute new cafe located on a busy area. I did struggle to find on street parking behind the cafe and ended up parking at the library across the street (also a safer option for myself). At first, I thought it was closed due to the dim lights. I verified the time and they were still open. It was just really dark inside which was nice considering the day was coming to an end. It had a calm and peaceful vibe. I was greeted once I was at the counter. The prices are a bit pricer than I expected. I got a smoothie and a wrap (not pictured) but it was good. I would love to come here during the day just to see if there was a change of the vibe and to also try out their coffee drinks.

    Tierra SheReviewz Z.

    I stopped here for an open mic night. Loved the atmosphere. The service was great. I parked in the back parking lot but there's also street parking. The seating arrangements are open and fun. Felt cozy!

    This is the Miss Thang bowl with added chorizo.  Delish!!  To drink, an MC Lyte...espresso, steamed milk, foam, cinnamon.
    Alison H.

    I so love Flava! They have a cool vibe and friendly staff. It's a great place to meet up with friends or to hang out with a good book. They have creative drinks, like the Marley, and interesting food options always deliciously made. Definitely recommend!

    Dining and study area.
    Autumn A.

    I loved the bel Hooks drink. It was sweet and flavorful and tasty. I really loved the ambiance of this place. It's a small/medium sized shop on a busy corner with lots of windows. I also had a panini which I though was a nice option to have so I didn't have to leave to go get lunch. The staff/owner were very friendly, the seating is mid century modern and it's a cozy and inviting space. I'd highly recommend and can't wait to return to this spot. There is parking in the back of the building which makes it easier to access. There are some outlets but some of the seating is not near outlets, just an fyi for those that need to charge up for work.

    Interior space
    Annelise E.

    Light airy coffee shop, had the bell hooks coffee and it was marvelous! Space for study, work, chat. Menu pays homage to Black icons in literature and culture; really nice touch! There is a dedicated parking lot too.

    a group of people sitting at tables
    K G.

    Love it! The ambiance is vibrant and welcoming, with a nice variety of seating options to accommodate working , meeting up with friends, or just relaxing. Great drink and food menu. My favorite is the bell hooks (espresso, a touch of brown sugar and maple syrup, steamed milk, and a light dusting of cinnamon), but the Audre Lord (cold brew, vanilla, honey) is a close second. Several vegetarian and even vegan food choices (sandwiches, creative bowls, etc), plus a few baked goods. Service is friendly, although it's been a bit slow when I've visited. Not a dealbreaker for me, but it might be for some folks in a hurry. Be sure to check out their website to learn about the founder and her vision and mission - Flava has super good coffee, but it's extra special because your purchase helps build community and opportunity for youth in an innovative way.

    U.N.I.T.Y Sandwich

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    Ask the Community - Flava Coffee & Cafe

    Are there gluten free & dairy-free options for breakfast? Are there substitute options?

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    Review Highlights - Flava Coffee & Cafe

    The inspiration for the place is beautiful and very much needed in the community.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Bread and Chocolate

    4.2(210 reviews)
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    I finally came in on a weekend morning to meet up with a friend. I enjoyed my coffee and the…read moredifferent options for treats. There is a decent amount of seating for a place in its location which was nice so I could visit for a couple hours with my friend. I am still surprised I never went here when I was living in St. Paul for so many years. The somewhat annoying thing is that there used to be a free parking lot, and now they charge for it.

    This place is absolutely amazing. I genuinely think this was one of the best places I found while…read moreliving in the cities. The staff is always pleasant and helpful. The paninis are tasty. The bakery section is so delicious that there should be an addiction warning taped to the pastry display case. They've got all different sorts of coffee orders too, so if you need your morning fix, you're set. The place is always crowded, which is a sign that it's a well-loved hangout and eatery of the community. However, it does mean that you could be standing for a little while until a table opens up. Space always does open though, it's just that sometimes patience is required. However, it's always worth it to enjoy the good vibes and delicious food. Free parking can also be hard to find as most street side parking is full all hours of the day. Be prepared to walk a little ways or to pay the small fee to park behind the building. This is the heart of the Twin Cities though, so this should not be surprising. If I could give this place fifty stars instead of five, I would. The only reason I had to stop eating here was developing celiac disease. For those of you with free will and without gluten troubles, definitely make your way here. I cannot say enough good things about this gem.

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    I typically frequent the original shop on West 7th, yet today was my first visit to the Wee shop…read moreeven though I've driven by it a million times. Parking - tough! Give yourself extra time as there is no designated lot. Contrary, there are plenty of street spots but there's no guarantee you'll get a close spot. Exterior- easy to spot! Cute signage and bonus exterior patio and tables during the warm months. inviting plants and lots of commotion with the surrounding shops and restaurants including the co-op. Interior - cozy! Large window allows natural lighting along with a long horizontal bar with plug ins for remote work. Caution: it's small hence the wee name. If you're looking for large and intimate, travel down to West 7th. Drinks - parallel menu to the original shop. All the Irish favorites and more. Iced, hot, whatever you desire. Food - breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and rotating menus. Service - attentive and quick 4 stars due to parking and sadly my iced americano was a little watery today. I'll still be back. Thanks, Wee Claddagh!!

    Cute spot, small space on the inside but they have a handful of tables outside that fit 1-2 people…read more I got their fall special, an iced brown sugar cinnamon latte. It was good but it did lean a bit milky. They are right on Selby so parking can be tricky but I parked a block or so away and walked in which was fine.

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    Backstory Coffee Roasters

    Backstory Coffee Roasters

    4.7(84 reviews)
    2.6 miWest Side

    A small but mighty coffee shop on the west side of Saint Paul. The menu is nice with a little bit…read morefor everyone. I tried the Lemon Bar Latte and it was AMAZINGLY good! It was smooth and not overly sweet. I also tried the French Toast Breakfast Sandwich and it was quite good. Total was a little over $$22 for the two items and a 20% tip. Free street parking available. They are also doing great things for the community and that is worth so much more than great coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

    Totally forgot how close I live to this spot! Backstory Coffee was the perfect little stop before…read moreheading to the MN Yacht Club Music Festival with my bestie. We rolled in a little before 1:00 PM and had no trouble finding easy street parking (huge win!). The vibe inside? Mixed. While the space was cute, relaxed and inviting, the service was... not so much. The guy at the front counter barely looked up from his screen, and let's just say, enthusiasm wasn't on the menu. Definitely not the warm welcome we hoped for and very unfortunate. BUT--shoutout to my bestie for treating us to a coffee date, because the drinks were solid. I had the piña colada cold brew, which was super sweet at first, but after a quick stir, it hit just right. My bestie went with the strawberries & cream cold brew and a matcha lemonade. Both were surprisingly good, but the matcha lemonade really stood out to me; so refreshing and unique. All in all, Backstory was a convenient and tasty pre-concert stop. If the service matched the drinks, this would've easily been a 5-star visit.

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    Backstory Coffee Roasters - Gorgeous spot outside!

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    I wish I could give this place more than three stars. The space is great, with an indoor/outdoor…read morefeel. And it's located in a neighborhood that I'd like to support. But the food is average to meh. Likewise with the service. For $35 entrees and $20 cocktails, I expect better. A small example: if your menu is going to offer "frites" with bearnaise instead of plain old "French fries," it might be a good idea to actually serve them with a side of bearnaise rather than plain old ketchup, which came with our meals (even if the ketchup comes in a little ramekin rather than a bottle). In other ways, as well, our meal didn't walk the talk that the menu suggested. It felt overpriced for dishes where lots of salt and fat seemed to take the place of truly complex, well-harmonized flavors. Service: at the time I made our reservation, I referenced that my party would be celebrating a family birthday. There was no acknowledgment of this by the restaurant's staff at any time during our visit. Even little things like this matter. After being seated, no one poured water for our group. Appears that this is a "self serve" thing; if you're thirsty, pour your own water. We waited at least 10 minutes for our server after being seated. After our meal was served, our server did not come back to check in until it was time to ask if we were ready for dessert. We decided to skip dessert. We probably won't be coming back anytime soon.

    A side is increíble! I love coming here for the vibe of the restaurant and quality of the food!…read more The chicken dish, I can't remember what it's called is sooooooo good!! It's incredibly comforting and just hits the spot if you're looking for a rich meal!! The ribeye is incredible, honestly all the food I e had here is great! They have an outdoor dining area and they open up the garage doors on nice days! The service is great! Everyone is so nice and gives great suggestions on the different drinks and food.

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    Quixotic Coffee - Whipped honey cold brew

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    4.4(296 reviews)
    4.0 miHighland
    $$

    We've been travelling around the Cities to try new coffeeshops and the latest trip was to Quixotic!…read more Cute and buzzing coffeeshop was filled with energy on our Saturday morning trip! There was a small line but it moved quickly. There are some tables and booths for small to medium groups, but they fill up fast! We were lucky to snag one! Staff was quick and efficient at taking our orders and getting everything out to us! Enjoyed a latte and a breakfast sandwich on this trip, and both were delicious! Super solid coffee shop for those in the area needing that caffeine boost!

    If you are looking for a great iced coffee, look no further!…read more This place is located in a bustling area of St. Paul! It's street parking but it is free. Walking in, there are lots of wood accents, stools, booths and PLENTY of plug ins if you want to come here and study/get work done! The service was disappointing to be honest. This place had the vibes to have such a fun crew working and instead we barely even got 2 words for the person who rang us up. The person who made our drinks also had zero interaction. Such a missed opportunity! This is why I removed a star. The coffee: This is one of my new favorite coffees I have ever had! I got an iced whipped honey latte and it was DELICIOUS! The coffee wasn't overly bitter, had good flavor and the whipped honey was definitely a unique treat! Overall, I really did enjoy my time at this coffee shop! It definitely can get busy but don't let that deter you from getting a delicious coffee from these guys! Oh and yes, they do have some snack/lunch/bakery items here to if you get hungry!!

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    Menu

    Flava Coffee & Cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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