A hidden gem near stone arch! They have a large parking lot with free parking which is amazing since everything else over here is usually only paid parking. There's lots of open seating all throughout the building with comfortable chairs. Music plays lightly in the background so it's still great to come and get some work done here. They also have a FRGMNT coffee shop which is great for a little pick me up. read more

Open Book - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I just wanted to take a moment to share my experience hosting an event at Open Book--specifically from a catering and event-planning perspective--and I have to say, they exceeded all expectations. From the start, Wini, the event coordinator, was absolutely phenomenal. Her communication, flexibility, and attention to detail made the entire planning process seamless. The space itself is beautiful, well-equipped, and incredibly accommodating, making logistics a breeze. We hosted a business event for 40-50 people in the Performance Hall and catered through FRGMNT Coffee downstairs. Everything ran smoothly, and we received nothing but compliments on both the venue and the service. I highly recommend Open Book for nonprofits, small businesses, or anyone looking for a versatile, well-managed event space. Supporting local businesses while hosting a fantastic event? A win-win! We'll 100% be back in the future. read more

What a pleasure to come back to this place after a cold winter. So important to find a quiet place to browse and find a special or specific book. Came home with a couple of beauties. Be sure to become a member. read more

Open Book - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I love how this building has so many things to it. Not only is it a gallery, but a local book store and coffee shop. I adore the artwork that was displayed and how they use two air purifiers. Customer service was great and parking was no problem. It is street parking so do have the app ready read more

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VEGAN REVIEW FOR FRGMNT CAFE was staying at the Aloft hotel a few doors down. this was a great option for morning coffee & vegan pastries! very friendly staff. open, clean & modern space. wish I was around during business hours for the other spaces! read more

Open Book is so unique, it's hard to describe! A center dedicated to books? A marketplace of vendors relating to books? The Open Book building has several tenants: a coffee shop (FRGMNT), Milkweed Editions (a bookstore that has Milkwood books as well as books by other publishers), the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and others. My friend and I stopped by this weekend when we were visiting Minneapolis, and we had some drinks at FRGMNT and did some shopping at Milkwood and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. It's a great place for booklovers. Check it out. read more

Only my second time here. My understanding is that there are many services offered, but I've only visited for private meetings after which I stuck around to get work done. I like that in addition to drinks and smalls snacks they also offer light foods (breakfast and lunch) to keep you sustained as you get work done. Huge perk being it really sucks when you're in a groove, but need to cut things short because you're starving and need more than a muffin. I also like that there's a free parking lot and ample seating on the first level, including a large table (behind staircase) that seats 10people. Speaking of seating on the second level are some more seats. While it's quieter up there, I'm not a fan of the seating (in the open area) . The chairs are low, and the desk a bit too high (for the chairs) which results in shoulders being positioned uncomfortably high. Perhaps a taller person may not notice, but at 5' 4"....I do. The tried working with my laptop on my lap, but that's also uncomfortable, given how narrow then wooden armrest is. I feel confined and find that my elbows really don't have much room. That said, my point is while upstairs is quieter, ergonomically speaking it's not the better.... so work downstairs. read more

This uniques establishment has an awesome coffee bar, gift shop, art gallery, and paper making library. You will be amazing by the creativity this place showcases. read more

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I enjoyed a triple author reading on a Friday night. They have a parking lot right next to the building which was a delight for this suburbanite in the city! An open spaces coffee shop is on the right as you enter the main doors and a book store is on your left. After asking the security guard where to go I saw the sign for the Open Book readings at the bottom of the cool curved staircase. Upstairs had a cozy area with some chairs and couches for reading. For the event they had tables set up to sell books by the author's from Maher's & Quinn booksellers ( a wonderful bookstore!), for snacks I found out later, and the ticket table. Purchasing my ticket online beforehand made it quick and easy to check in. There was ample seating and a good turnout! I was actually glad I showed up about 10 minutes late because I initially felt like I was crashing a private meeting. The announcer was listing off names of people in the audience. I gathered it was for the writing workshops they do at the Loft Literary Center which is a part of the Open Book. I really enjoyed each author's reading of their own works. They were all so talented! Vulnerable and yet strong in telling their personal stories in their prose! I would definitely attend another one! I was a bit uncomfortable during the Q&A, yet briefly considered beginning a writing career of my own. I almost asked how one procures a mentor through their mentor workshops anyway! I decided to just turn a notebook into a journal when I got home and see how I often I would write first. My Yelp reviews and Facebook posts might get more interesting...Or entertaining! Afterwards I made a mad dash for the lobby to purchase the short story collection that had drawn me here in the first place. I was taken aback with the fancy sammies, wine, and water offered. I again felt like I was crashing someone's graduation party or something! I think because it seems to be such a close knit, supportive community of artistic writers I felt a bit out of place. But I would definitely venture into this fascinating world again for another peek! read more

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A quirky establishment for sure! A great range of drinks with a lot of cool and unique options. Food and drink options were very reasonably priced in comparison to a lot of MSP coffee places, and no sacrifice of quality or quantity was made. The seating fills up super quickly so watch out for that. Pictured below is their vegetarian (can be made vegan) reuben. In place of the meat, they used tofu. The sandwich was like $7-8 and came with a side of chips. I've never had a reuben (i don't eat pork or beef) but it tasted just fine. read more

Open Book - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The in-between is always better than one or the other. The first floor common area at Open Book is an ideal in-between place for people who want to study and work outside library or workplace: it's neither a full-blown coffee shop nor (although all about books) a library study place. Have you ever dreamed of a coffee shop with low noise levels and absolutely no music playing? Have you ever dreamed of a library study place that's more relaxed than a real library? A place that doesn't remind you of all your sleepless exam nights? Open Book is the realization of your dreams! It's quite but not solitary confinement deep quite. It's well-lit, has large windows and high ceiling. Parking is free. Coffee is good. Displays and artwork are nice to watch when you want to take a break. The Minnesota Center for Book Arts shop is fun to explore and the Internet speed is acceptable. What's your excuse now to not get your work done, Amir? read more

Open Book - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I was back at Open Book yesterday to revisit the scene of my first (and hopefully not only) ROTD. This time I brought Gayle and my son with me. There is so much to like about this place. This Warehouse District building (near the Guthrie) is gorgeous on the inside with the various spaces that encourage collaboration, learning and book arts. I continue to enjoy the art and creativity, the old printing presses, the coffee shop, and of course the gift shop. This is great place to come back to again and again..... read more

I've heard a lot of great stuff about Open Book/MCBA for awhile but I was never motivated to check it out until recently. I found out that my future faculty advisor at MCAD was having his work shown there in conjunction to some other graphic design specific events and since nothing beats starting a fresh new school as the over enthused bordering on stalker student I decided to check it out. One star for parking and a bazillion more stars for how fantastic the space is. There's a great coffee shop inside and a cute book store where you can find awesome handmade books, prints (awesome ones from Aesthetic Apparatus), and book making material. There seems to be a lot going on, definitely more than meets the eye. I think you can even rent out studio space, I'm not sure. This is the kind of place I can imagine myself holing up in during the winter cold, sucking up their wifi bandwith, and drinking endless amounts of hot coffee. read more

Open Book - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Would I be lawyer if I had not discovered Open Book? Probably. Would I have become INSANE over the course of three years on my path to becoming a lawyer? Definitely. Ok, lets back up. I first had a delicious latte at Open Book's cafe on the suggestion of a law school classmate who wanted to catch up before the end of a harrowing 1L year (shared trauma bonding). Since then, I logged at least 300 hours (conservative estimate) studying, meeting, eating and drinking here. First, the space: a wide open industrial building, with an open facade of windows that stream sunlight all day. The floors are wood planked, and everything is somehow understated and arresting, industrial but warm. The cafe has little clustered work areas of small leather booths, medium size wood tables and chairs, and long tables for large groups. There are ample outlets around much of the space. The ground floor features a cafe that makes various lattes and features a small but decent selection of salads and sandwiches. Not gonna lie, my favorite feature as a budget conscious, half-dead law student was the 3PM daily happy hour featuring 3 local beers on draft and an equal number of wines. I always told myself I had "earned" it after a grueling study session. As a bookworm I especially appreciate the writers workshops and rotating book-related free art gallery. Finally, my favorite little-known feature of the place? The MAGNIFICENT patio upstairs commanding a view of downtown and the new vikings stadium. Perfect for procrastinating for an exam or sipping a cold brew on a gorgeous Minneapolis summer afternoon. read more

Open Book is home to the Loft Literary Center, which hosts literature readings, educational series for readers and writers, and sponsors the McKnight Prize for Writers. Also in the mixed-use center is the cooperative Rosalux art gallery, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (very cool! you can take book-making classes and they often have exhibits up), a non-profit publisher, Milkweed Editions, and the Coffee Gallery. The space is BEAUTIFUL. High ceilings, wide plank floors, a really cool spiral staircase. You can rent the "Book Club" room for meetings - it has a deck! There's also several other classrooms and meeting rooms, for public lectures and meetings, and a performance hall for book and poetry readings. The little coffee shop is an excellent place to work, read, write, or socialize. You can look out onto Washington through the huge windows. Delicious sweets like Special K bars. Soup, sandwiches, coffee. Open Book should be on your radar if you have any literary inclination. And the space is a must-visit for folks wandering along Washington, or looking for a place to sit down in the Mill District. read more

Open Book - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Very cool place to be. I enjoyed looking around at everything. I also tried the poetry gum ball machine. Which is a gum ball machine filled with poems. I loved how welcoming and warm the energy was in the store. It felt very personable there. Definitely found my happy place. read more

Open Book - Poverty gumball machine - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fell in love with this space upon my first visit to Minnepolis. I almost missed it too had I not just looked up while walking down the street from my hotel. While I wish I would've been able to be in town when they were having an author reading, I explored the upstairs space, got a free poster, had the best coffee drink (The Novelist), and bought a couple books from the bookstore. If I lived in the city, I would be a regular here and to the events they have. read more

Amir didn't get rotd on this place for nothing. This place reminds me of the Art warehouses around Mpls. The coffee shop makes a great hot chocolate and uses whole milk.They have a nice display of all your eating and drinking needs. I hung out for awhile on the second floor in a room that a group reserved. Everywhere you turn the place reeks of atmosphere. I was never a library person, and with this type of place there's no need. read more

Open Book is a combination of many things I love and appreciate: design, tall ceilings, art, cheery ambiance, free parking, free Wi-Fi and of course, caffeinated beverages. Besides the aforementioned aspects, I also love that Open Book has a lot of soup and sandwich options. When I go to a coffee shop I tend to stay there for a long time so it's nice to know you can have more than a muffin...(and while we're on the subject, go for the Mediterranean sandwich--especially if you're a feta cheese fanatic). Also, I'm fully aware at how odd this may sound, but I really appreciate a place that has cardamom, cinnamon, etc. at my disposal. I drink my coffee black, but every now and then I like to toss a little cardamom in it to (literally) spice it up! I don't remember the specific hours, but try to go when the Minnesota Center for Book Arts shop is open. I am a sucker for pretty things, school supplies, cards, journals, etc. and they have a ton of options! read more

Currently sitting at this place and writing this review. Very sweet and cute coffee shop. Has a a bookstore with lots of other cute things like notebooks, bookmarks, and etc. The gallery is sweet and showcases some modern art. Lots of seating on the main floor and FOOD! Love it when coffee shops serve food! There's free and super fast WiFi. I got a vanilla latte because I am basic and then I found this AMAZING deck with this lovely view of my lovely city. There's free parking lot on the side and lots of street parking if there's no room. The second floor has more seating and is very comfy. The entire building is decorated with the theme of books in mind which made some very interesting and beautiful decor throughout! Very impressed by this place :) read more

Open Book - the view from the deck :-) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I visited Open Book for the Book Arts Fair. It is a beautiful space that holds a nice and cozy cafe, the Loft Literary Center, workshop space, small boutique, and a small museum. All pay homage to the written word and book arts. It's a special space in the Metro area; we are truly lucky to have this space. I love the fact there is a digital marquee outside announcing the upcoming and current events along with other information. Very movie and theater like. read more

Great place, with wide plank floors, cafe, internet, beer, gallery, paper making. All included. Did I mention the readings they host here? We saw Jonathan Franzen read from his latest book on a sunny sunday afternoon a few weeks ago. It was free. mixed use at its best. read more

This review is about the cafe portion of Open Book, not the other parts of the building. I like the open atmosphere and layout of the cafe. This is a good place to get a cup of tea, read a book or consider making one of your own (in the book arts center a few feet away). When I went they had one vegan soup (artichoke) and some vegan rice crispie bars from French Meadow, but no vegan sandwiches. Unfortunately, they only carry Oregon Chai, which is a serious negative point, in my opinion. If they had some vegan cookies or cupcakes, along with a tofu or tempeh sandwich, this place would merit an extra star. As it stands, it's pretty decent. read more

If you read enough of my reviews you may be able to pinpoint exactly where I work, but you won't, because you're not that creepy, right? Open Book is currently my favorite place to escape for lunch. Their soups are made from scratch, and you can definitely tell. Try the Spinach & Kale Florentine, and the Ratatouille, and the Tunisian Spiced Pumpkin, and the Minestrone (get my drift?). I've never had a bowl of soup I haven't loved here. They also have a large selection of sandwiches. I've never tried one cuz I'm not the sandwich type, but if I was, I'm sure they are also amazing. They throw together a mean mixed green salad with an amazing mustard vinaigrette. Dessert lovers, do not fear there's always a plate full of Ghirardelli browines and biscotti waiting to be devoured on the counter. Besides all of the amazing food - there is also a SUPER cute little paper store. I have to restrain myself from going on a spending spree each time I enter. If you're in the neighborhood, you should defiantly check out Open Book! read more

Open Book is such a gem! The short distance from the U keeps most of the student crowd at bay. This place offers free wifi, coffee and tea, lunch, delicious Ghirardelli brownies (must restrain myself from getting another), lovely artwork, open airy space, a small bookshop, and the comfort of a thought out place for individuals to get their reading and thinking on. It's unique, relaxing, and doesn't have the hustle and bustle of most places that contain a coffee shop - first and formost Open Book is dedicated to literacy. read more

Part museum, part bookstore, part community center, part cafe... this multi-purpose space stitched together through a love of the book (the physical object itself, not just it's less tangible purposes) was a fascinating spot. I was here for two purposes, and Open Book did a good job facilitating both: I had a rehearsal in one of the upstairs rooms at The Loft, and I attended the closing party for the National Asian-American Theater Conference. The facilities were well-maintained and gorgeous. It was also great to stroll through the art exhibits and flip through all of the small press publications. I have a friend who binds books, and I bet he'd love this place! All in all, a comfortable, low-key multi-purpose spot. read more

This is a really cozy place that is really nice to visit. They have a nice little cafe located in the building with really nice people working everywhere. I actually came here on a class field trip, we came to learn about letter pressing and book binding. We were able to get a full tour of the building and the lady guiding us was really informative about the whole process that goes into books. Apparently they have a book club meetings here, as well as a bunch of book signings, I haven't been to any of those, but they seem like it would be really interesting.. I will definitely come back, not sure when though. read more

I have fallen in love... This place is truly a needle in a haystack! I've driven past Open Book for probably 5 years and never went inside until today. The place features over 3 levels of book-related wonder, including a coffee shop, resource libraries, galleries, meeting spaces and cozy common areas (so basically a little mothership). I love to work in a quiet cozy area that isn't my stuffy little office, and this place did the trick. I went upstairs and found a cute little stone table that had some funky but comfy chairs (equipped with a (p)leather pillow for lumbar support ). My biggest draws above all were that Open Book offers free wifi (and I mean FREE as in you don't have to buy a drink or pastry in order to get the wifi password) and that there is FREE parking on the east side of the building. I asked the barista about the time limit for the free parking lot and he said there wasn't a limit... WHAAAAATTT?! Yes, Yelp. FREE and UNLIMITED parking in downtown Minneapolis. Thus I conclude that this place has shot right to the top for places Miah can work for free. read more

Really great gift ideas, and amazing food! People are super sweet also. I'm a huge fan! read more

Open Book - I adore this place! Super sweet people! Really funky gift ideas, and Really amazing food! The vegan Rueben was Stellar!!!! Bravo! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I work in the area and whenever I have a chance I walk to Open Book to browse their bulletin boards with the local arts and literary happenings. The ambiance is arty and underground which inspires me. The cafe is so cute and the service is great. I really would like to spend some time there writing and additionally there is an attached art gallery that I would like to frequent. Great place to hang out. read more

Kudos as usual for making such great writing events possible. We're a very lucky city to have so many writers, indie publishers, and publishing folks here. And when events like "Guttenberg Meets Google" happen, it's further confirmation that MInneapolis/St. Paul will always be a place for good literature AND a place where the future of books will continue.... Still buzzing from today's presentations...and loving my job even more! read more

How did I not know of this place throughout my two years of studying in coffee shops?! It is so close to campus being a 15min light rail and a 4 block walk. The first thing I noticed when I came to Open Book was that they had a handicap door that works! Well when they remember to turn it on and which the owner apologized for forgetting that day but I really did not mind one bit. The pictures can be confusing about what this place really is. When you walk in there is a book binding workshop/display to the left and on the right there is a cafe. In the cafe area there is about 10 tables and a couple booths where you can work, eat, drink coffee, and people watch the people of downtown MPLS. There are two large group tables when you walk farther in which I really loved using to study as well as a couple more higher tables. There are stair/elevator to go upstairs and on second floor there are some more comfy chairs and small tables that you can roll up to you to do work or read. Upstairs I believe they have more rooms for meetings and workshops as well. The noise was not too loud most of the time. It can get noisy around lunch time when people have business meetings there, as well as when kids circulate through for a field trip. But it all blends together nicely as cafe noise. I have tried the Miel and a Vanilla Latte. Both of which I really loved. The miel was a bit strong, but I think the coffee there is a little on the stronger side. I also have eaten there both times I studied. They have a wide selection of sandwich, wraps, salads and soups. I have had the tuna melt and the grilled cheese with a soup of the day combo. Both were very good and satisfying for a lunch. The prices were also pretty reasonable for what you expect. Students even get a 10% discount! I thought the service here was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly, from the book binding owner who forgot to turn on the handicap door to all the baristas at the cafe who always greeted me kindly and made an effort to ask how I am doing during a stressful time of my life. This place had the perfect combo of it all from food, coffee to decent workspaces and beautiful aesthetics. I definitely will think to come here when I have to get into major study mode again. Or just to catch up with friends. read more

Art museum meets book-making meet stationary store meets coffee shop. The building is gorgeous (and has won awards for being stunning). Large windows look out onto Washington St. and offer some pretty nice people watching. The coffee is great, the food reasonably-priced and delicious. My only complaint is that this place seems to have a pretty tight demographic: middle aged white women in yoga pants. But that could just be the times that I tend to frequent this location. read more

It's worth moving to the area just so this can be your sparsely populated polling place. Besides that, the coffee here is pretty decent though really expensive. There is a great gift shop in back for all kinds of paper/fiber arts. I'd recommend checking it out! read more

This place kind of has everything. It's a cafe with a liquor license, a book store, a gift store and they have workshops/events upstairs. I think most of us discovered this gem while voting since they are the neighborhood polling place. Such a fun place to hang out and get wine drunk while reading. If you haven't checked out Open Book, you really should! read more

This place is really cool, great art, posters and books to look at and explore. Lots of seating for groups of six or smaller. It's spacious and a great place for meetings and chats. I tried their caramel frappe, it's super coffee strong so be aware as I am not so much a coffee drinker. However, they have great muffins that I enjoyed. They were super unique and moist as well as great and fast customer service. read more

I'm sitting in the upstairs loft area as I write this, and boy am I glad I found this place! Though I just stumbled onto this place, even though I only live a couple of blocks away, Open Book has quickly become one of my favorite places in the city to sit down with friends, read a book, or do some studying. I tend to hang out on the second floor where it's a little bit quieter if I plan to do any studying or work, though there is less seating. The cute little coffee shop is good and reasonably priced and I love the bookstore and adjoined card and trinket shop, but the open seating is my favorite part. I haven't been to any events as of yet, but am hoping to soon! read more

Along the busy fast-paced street of Washington Ave I spotted a historic building called The Loft Literary Center whose purpose is to inspire a passion for literature. I read the reviews on the internet, which were mostly positive except for one young woman who stated "the demographics were mostly middle-aged women in yoga pants (sad face)". "Perfect!" I thought "That's for me!" So I bravely dressed in my black yoga pants and seasonal, fall jacket and headed for Open Book's 7PM Book Launch Event. The Loft is a historic building with an industrial feel. Cement floors, high open ceilings and rough wooden beams that give the structure strength. As I climbed the iron staircase I began to mingle with a gathering audience. Free wine and plates of carefully prepared appetizers were graciously offered to guests pre-show. Unsure of how to proceed, I asked a conservative looking young man if this event was open to the public. "Yes" he assured me it was. I moved into the intimate auditorium and took a comfortable seat. I overheard the people behind me discussing the featured book. The author was an inmate, and still in prison. What happened to the middle-age yoga pants, I wondered, and cautiously looked around. First the author's mother took the podium to thank those who made the book possible. Then a former inmate (the guy I asked about the event) read one of the author's letters so skillfully all I could say was, "WOW". As reader after reader continued to read chapters from the author's book, I was drawn into a circle of understanding that was so moving I had to blink back tears. I began to realize that the audience was mostly friends or teachers of the author. They had been in prison or worked with inmates to breathe new life and offer hope. The book, THIS IS WHERE I AM by Zeke Caligiuri is deeply honest and straight from his soul. I bought the book, of course. read more

This place is like an open book, everything is wide open (I'm struggling to come up with some good word puns) Open Book is a building with huge glass windows in the front, and inside contains a coffee area, a stationary store, and presumably meeting/class rooms somewhere. I mainly stayed in the coffee area. The area has high ceilings that gives off a nice open feel. Much better than being in a library with fluorescent lights right above you. The menu is straightforward but there are some intriguing items. They have something containing graham crackers inside; I did not try that unfortunately. I went with the iced green tea latte - creamy, with a good green tea flavor. Kind of like eating green tea ice cream but without the feeling that I'm over indulging. In terms of productivity, its quieter than a normal coffee shop, but not as sterile as a library environment. They do have music playing overhead, but it is unobtrusive. If I had any talent whatsoever as a writer, I would definitely come here to pen the next great American novel. As is, I'll come here to try some different types of drinks, to get some work done, and maybe crack open a book. Note - the coffee shop portion is open an hour later and closes an hour earlier than the rest of the building. However, you can continue staying in the building for an hour more. read more

Many moons ago I ended up on an Emirates flight to Hong Kong (this is related don't worry). It was the cheapest option from Bangkok. I'd never flown Emirates before, but I had heard the rumors. Most amazing airline. Best airline food. Outstanding service. Blah blah blah. One thing they don't tell you is the level of attractiveness of Emirates flight attendants and pilots. Open Book reminds me of Emirates in that way. Everyone that works here is really, really, ridiculously good looking (to borrow a line from Zoolander). Although the food and coffee are excellent, I am really only going here to gawk at the beautiful specimens that wander Open Book's floors. read more