Very welcoming & great customer service ( the young man told me about their book selections,pastries, & happy hour). And the coffee was the best! My Wentworth Lavender Latte was delicious! I'll definitely be back! read more

Quiet, cozy, relaxing. Great little coffee shop with some comfy chairs and outlets to do work. The staff was very nice, and the drinks came out great, and fast. I would get rid of the purple/green color scheme, but still a great place to hang out. read more

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One of my go-to coffee shops!! I bring everyone who visits me here just to have coffee and a pastry. Would recommend the brownie or spinach leek croissant. It has a bookshop vibe with plenty of seats. They also added so many outlets for WFH or studying which I appreciate a lot. If you come on the weekends it will be louder and busier but you can get the most massive meat or veggie burrito, made in-house! We look forward to burrito days. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Burrito!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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The Protagonist Cafe is one of the coffee shops where you will want to grab a book and sit in the peacefulness while sipping a freshly made cup of coffee, I loved the ambiance of this place and believe me it's hard to impress me in that area. They are big on the gender affirmation here so if you want a more conservative coffee then don't go in here. The workers were very nice and had great attitudes. If I'm ever back in the area, I believe I would revisit. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Came here for the yelp event! DRINKS: - The iced caramel macchiato was refreshing, albeit slightly bitter. I didn't mind, it still tasted very nice, it's just not a very sweet drink. I still enjoyed drinking it and would get it again. - I unfortunately did not try the cake or cookies but there are vegan options. The people who tried the cake said it was very soft and not overbearingly sweet. - They also have some alcoholic options! - Not sure where to put this but I love how friendly this place is to local businesses. They go out of their way to promote local authors, local grocery stores etc. What a fantastic work ethic. Hats off to you guys AMBIENCE: - This is an adorable little coffee shop lined with book shelves. It would be a nice cozy place to get some work or studying done, while enjoying a sip of coffee. It seems like it is relatively quiet, so definitely a nice contrast compared to the rowdy bars Soulard is more commonly known for. I think something like this was definitely needed in the area! - Attire is pretty casual, like a comfy casual. - Dogs are welcome YAAAAY!!!! Seriously any place that does this is such a winner in my book. - Family friendly but i have a feeling young adults and working adults will just be more drawn to a place like this, kids will probably be a little bored. - What else is cool is in the summer they will open all their doors so the inside and outside will mesh together. I LOVE when places have the accommodations to do this. Can't wait! SERVICE: - The staff was very kind, gave great suggestions and can adjust your drink order to accommodate all your dietary needs (almond milk vs regular vs soy vs other). - Drinks were served pretty quickly. I think this is exactly the kind of place needed in Soulard. Gives me a very FRIENDS (TV show) vibe. and honestly what could top that? read more

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Wonderful place to sit and have a warm drink on a chilly day. The coffee was good, the muffin and Somoa coffee were yummy. I'd be here alot if I lived in the area. read more

What is not to love about Protagonist? *Welcoming, fun exterior and easy parking *Open at 7am, a rare city find! *Books galore *Sweet baristas who love where they are *A smooth, balanced cup off coffee *A massive shortbread thumbprint that was buttery and rich *A welcoming, inclusive vibe Thank you for making my Thursday morning! read more

Quiet, cozy, relaxing. Great little café with some comfy chairs and outlets to do work. The staff was very friendly, and the drinks came out great, and fast. I would change the purple/green color scheme, but still a great place to hang out. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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This has hands down become my new favorite coffee shop. It has loads of seating with comfortable options as well as hard back. The baked goods were incredible - I had the cinnamon roll and the leek Parmesan pastry... both were very tasty, but holy hell, I will 100% get the pastry again. I also got the white mocha raspberry latte with oat milk and asked for only 1/4 to 1/2 the normal amount of syrup bc I don't like sweet drinks, and it was perfect. All the flavor without the artificial sweetener. They also sell booze, and have bottles of wine out for purchase. I would definitely come back for a low key study/work session. They have street parking, but it was easy to grab a spot. read more

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I'll cut to the chase... this is the best coffee shop in St. Louis. They don't serve a full breakfast/lunch menu like some cafes but they don't have to. Tons of free parking on the surrounding streets. Plenty of seating. Great coffee. Somehow manages to be equally a place to meet a friend for a chat and a place to lock in and study for 5 hours. Bring headphones if that's you since they play music. Plenty of outlets. Natural light. Outdoor table seating. Protagonist Cafe may be single-handedly responsible for my completing both my undergraduate degree and master's... get here! read more

Wow! Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW! This place has such a good breakfast burrito - maybe the best I've ever had! The Protagonist Cafe is a coffee shop, but on Saturday and Sunday mornings, they sell breakfast burritos. (They also sell booze and some small gifts.) I ordered a breakfast burrito with chorizo. They took a while to cook it bc they made it with love. It was outstanding, and it was huge! You can get two meals out of the burrito. I recommend getting the burrito to go bc after all that chorizo, eggs and cheese, it's time for a trip to the hopper, know what I'm saying? :) Plus, there was no room to sit inside or outside that Sunday morning. The place was packed. (Lots of cute ladies in there. :)) The staff was incredibly nice. They couldn't have been any nicer. read more

I noticed this spot at the beginning of the Pandemic, and they had weird hours implemented, so I've been waiting for a good chance to check it out. It's right by the farmers market, so it's super convenient for Saturday morning shopping. I walked in and was instantly in love. It's SO CUTE. When I read "Protagonist" I imagined a sweet little European coffee shop, and this was it. Books lining walls, homemade stationary, very antique furniture, and comfy spots to sit and chat with friends or read a book yourself. Very welcoming and comfortable. They had tons of coffee, pastry, and breakfast options, including vegetarian options. Their staff all wore masks, which was awesome as we're seeing less and less of that, I felt extremely comfortable. They were pretty quick getting orders out, and prices were competitive for the area. We just had a couple coffees and they were awesome. The honey latte was so good. My dad got the chai, and it was very unique and herbal, great flavor. We will absolutely be back, this place is so cute. read more

This place is the best coffee shop in soulard for so many reasons. Reason #1 is that they allow dogs inside! I loved coming to study here and wouldn't feel bad about being gone so long because I could bring Olive (my black lab fur baby) with me! The other reasons are it is so cute inside and the staff is so friendly. It reminds me of the "Friends" apartment. The staff is great at making drinks that are extremely tasty. They have milk alternatives for my fellow lactose intolerant people. In the mornings on the weekends, they make super good breakfast burritos - you can order them without the shell if you want. They also have wine and other liquor there. They have tons of little pastries that are delicious! Parking is on the street so if you're going during the soulard market time, you may have to walk a little. Another thing that's so great about this place is that they support local businesses and sell their products in the store. They also have a small library that you can read books from while enjoying coffee and/or wine. It's truly a hidden gem. If you cannot tell already, I highly recommend going! You definitely won't regret it! read more

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The staff is wonderful, welcoming and friendly. The atmosphere/ambience is excellent. The coffee is great. This was our (2 people) first visit and could become an occasional treat. We'll not likely visit every morning because the price would be $15 a day for just drip coffee (15x5=$75 a week, $300 a month). Refills are $1.11 and of course we must tip generously. Maybe they could start a basic coffee club for repeat customers? read more

Absolutely looooove coming here! Such a cozy place and they allow dogs inside. Coffee is delicious and so are the pastries! read more

Protagonist Cafe - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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First time in to Protagonist and wow! Adorable little coffee shop next to the Soulard Market. We were here on a recent Saturday morning. Service was friendly , 5-star! I ordered a lavender honey latte and my daughter got one of their breakfast burritos. My latte was lovely and unique. The breakfast burrito was substantial- they weren't skimping! It was so filling my daughter shared a few scrumptious bites with me and was full though dinner. The interior was adorable with tons of cute sayings and art on walls and windows. For now, we're mostly eating outside so we didn't linger. There were 4 nice-sized tables outside for us to choose from. This is an amazing coffee spot! read more

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Stepped in briefly to get a coffee today and so glad I did! A very spacious but cozy place. Another reviewer mentioned it looks like the living room from the tv show Friends and it really does! Also was able to find street parking close by which is convenient. I ordered an iced truffle latte which was a recommendation from the barista as I told her I prefer sweet, chocolate tasting drinks! I got mine with oat milk and it tasted pretty good and strong too! The small size coffee is pretty big, so I'd recommend only getting the larger one if you know you're going to have a long day :) I also heard they allow pets inside which is SO cool considering most places only allow patio. Will definitely be back next time with my pup! read more

My friends and I are doing a purple drink series! So we had to come to try the cosmic cowboy (ube latte). It was delicious! Tasted like fruity pebbles. I'd say it was an 8.5/10. The lemon Bundt cake I got, I was not a huge fan of, but my friend got the cinnamon roll and it was a better choice-still not my favorite. Books everywhere and the decor is super fun. I can't wait to go back to get a drink and read. Service was fast, but not super bubbly. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Pastries, cakes and savory croissants - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Adorable! Such a quaint corner establishment. Sit, relax, read, study, unwind. Also homemade baked goods and yummy drinks. Very knowledgeable and accommodating staff assist in ordering. Would give this a 5-star rating if their outdoor seating was more than picnic benches. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Truffle latte ! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Great stop for a good cup of coffee. We really enjoyed browsing the unique gifts that were available from local artisans as well! read more

Protagonist Cafe - Caramel Delight - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Not sure what else can be said, delightfully sweet inside, to surround yourself with pages of stories while sipping on the most wonderful Americano, a true gem find today. I always try an Iced Americano to see what the espresso tastes like when trying any coffee shop and this was one of my very favorites for sure. No bitterness, a smooth coffee experience! You would think espresso is not that hard to do, but most coffee houses leaves the shot too long and it's bitter. This place did not disappoint. The hand made gifts inside, the comfy chairs, the whimsical colors, I LOVE IT!! can't wait to come back read more

Protagonist Cafe - Iced Americano and I opened the blueberry muffin so you can see how many blueberries were baked into this lovely!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This is my kind of one-stop-shop: books, coffee, real baked goods, burrito bar, and apparently alcohol available after the breakfast hours are wrapped up. Hilarious books, delicious whole milk lattes, warm muffins... I could live here. The service was friendly, and the woman at the register even indulged me as I read a passage to her from my newly acquired book so she, too, could know life answers from Always Ask A Man. The coffee shop is airy, spacious, bright, and charmingly whimsical. If I lived here, I would be a regular. read more

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Came here a lot when I lived in Soulard, they are pet friendly which is awesome! Kinda has a "friends" coffee shop vibe. Love it! Great pastries and coffee. read more

Nutshell: decent prices, friendly staff, awesome coffee and pastries. Worth hitting up to get that java buzz going. Love, love, love. I used their online order for pick up on a Sunday morning. Orange glazed scone with a 16oz drip coffee, room for milk. I had a 15 minute drive to get there and it was of course ready by the time I arrived. Literally walked in, barista greeted me, my stuff was waiting on the wooden rack with my name, and I was off and running. I had to wait for my scone, but I snuck some sips of coffee on the drive home. Their coffee is just the right amount of richness, a great mild roast. Once I set up on my city stoop, I cracked open the scone. Ohhhhhh my goodness. I believe all their pastries are vegan, but I couldn't tell. The flavor was amazing. The dough was just moist enough and the glaze had that bright pleasant, orange goodness. Ten out of ten, would do it again! My total came up to $7. Its worth every penny. read more

Protagonist Cafe - 16oz drip coffee and an orange glazed scone to go. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

The Protagonist Cafe provides Soulard with that fun, friendly coffee shop vibe you see in 90's TV sitcoms. In contrast to many other coffee shops that can often feel dauntingly intimidating with hip baristas who balk at the mere suggestion of putting pumpkin or spice in a latte, Protagonist is a place where everyone is welcome. I wouldn't call myself a regular, but I have been in the space at all times of the day and have utilized the cafe for everything from a quick caffeine fix, to business meetings, to nestling in to grind out some overdue work. Every time I go to Protagonist, I always leave with a smile on my face. It's such a playful atmosphere and their products are so high quality that there's nothing to really get down about. Their coffee is top notch! In non-COVID times, I love getting the regular drip coffee because they offer a wacky assortment of mugs and you get to pick which one you want to drink from. I know that sounds nerdy, but it's such a fun feature to see if the mug you used the last time was there, and remember the fun times you had meeting with friends. The pastries offered by Protagonist are great too! Be warned though. They are stored in a cooling case, and some are served chilled. Usually if you are staying in the cafe, the barista will offer to warm your pastry. This particular trip I purchased a samoa cookie because I had to hit the road, and it was definitely chilled. I let it warm to room (car) temperature before chomping into it. Obviously the other incredibly unique aspect of Protagonist are the books. They have a vast library that you can easily get lost in. Such a cool concept to have a library in a cafe. While I have never "checked out" a book from their library, I have participated in their lending library! Recently I had two books that I no longer wanted, so I donated them to the lending library. Looking forward to finding a title I'd like to take home and read sometime soon. Right now during COVID, Protagonist's main table in the cafe that typically has the drip coffee and mugs has been converted into a small to-go booze shop. What an awesome use of space!! They also offered a number of small cards for purchase. Buy a card and support the Post Office! Gosh love the social responsibility of this joint. read more

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Beautiful layout, friendly staff, great Cappuccino and lots to read. read more

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This is my absolute fav coffeeshop. It's a great vibe for studying with great coffee and seating. The staff is always nice and friendly.

Came here on a Bumble date and got a Thai iced coffee (coffee, condensed milk) with half of the condense milk. It was lovely. There was ample parking and outdoor seating options. I didn't get a chance to look around inside, but it was quaint and eclectic. I can't wait to come back. read more

Such a cute space!! Plenty of room and good amount of outlets available if you're looking for a study space. Very very friendly staff and great coffee, this is one of my new stl favorites!! read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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3 stars only because the ambience is so fun. 2 stars for the coffee. I have tried three different beverages there and have been underwhelmed each time. Solid "meh". Oat milk + cold brew was a little weak. Pumpkin spice latte had ZERO pumpkin flavor. It just tasted like a non descriptive sweet drink (I ordered half sweet but it was still SO sweet). Chai latte was ok but warm at best, def not hot. Major pro: Allllll the milk options read more

This cafe and bookshop is adorable! It's a perfect place to grab a coffee with a friend, curl up with a good book, or connect to their Wi-Fi and get some work done. The woman working the counter was very friendly and helpful. They had a great assortment of standard cafe drinks, but also a list of festive holidays drinks as well. I chose The Polar Espresso drink and the Samoa cookie and both were so delicious! I loved the vibe of the place, their book selection and the cute trinkets they sell. I will definitely be back. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

The Protagonist Cafe has got to be one of the friendliest, fun, and most relaxing cafes St Louis has to offer! Located in Soulard (and one of the only coffee places there), the Protagonist Cafe is brought to by the same brilliant duo that opened Pieces in St. Louis. They offer their own roasted java, a variety of teas, vegan pastries from the Pieces kitchen, and even boozy coffee drinks. My top favs are their London Fog (a light, semi-sweet Earl Grey latte) and their Chai Tea Latte which packs a nice spicy punch. The Protagonist Cafe also offers a simply stunning place to relax and enjoy anything you may happen to order. Want to read a book while sipping your latte? Just browse the Protagonist's 27-foot long custom bookcase brimming with books. The books are all organized by the Dewey Decimal System and can also be looked up online. Want to save your spot in the book you're reading for your next visit here? Simply put in a bookmark with your name and you can pick up right where you started. So cool! If books aren't your jam, you can certainly entertain yourself with the many games the Protagonist Cafe has to offer its guest. Bringing along the kiddos? Make sure to check out their little kid's book in the back of the cafe for special kids books. Overall, I can't sing the Protagonist Cafe's praises enough. The staff are all so friendly and helpful, and the space owners Laura and Jim have created is one for the books! I'll be back again. And again. read more

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Being a writer, how could I not check out a place called The Protagonist Cafe? Especially when it bills itself as a "literary cafe." I was truly hoping I wouldn't be let down. My expectations often get a bit too high. I was not let down at all. As soon as I walked in I was met by a very friendly person behind the counter. They had plenty of options for coffee drinks, as well as several milk choices and sugar free flavoring. I ordered an oat milk sugar free vanilla latte. It was excellent. The space is fantastic. While it feels like one bright open room, it's actually broken up into four different areas - all with either comfy chairs and sofas, or good size tables for working. The WiFi was easy and fast. The vibe is super chill. But my favorite part is that 70% of the walls are filled with books. And what's more is they are actually labeled by category, then in alphabetical order by author's name. Really impressive. It's a wonderful little indie library where you're free to pull any book off the shelf while you're there. And the selection runs from fiction to religion to culinary arts. My only criticism is that it's about a 15-minute drive for me. Located just fifty yards or so from the Soulard Farmers Market, the neighborhood is cool, I just wish I could walk to the Protagonist! But I'll most definitely be back, and next time I'll bring my laptop and setup shop. Writing always seems to come easy when you're surrounded by the inspiration of other scribes. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Located on the northern end of Soulard, near Soulard Market, the Protagonist Cafe serves a variety of hot drinks including drip coffee, espresso drinks, hot teas and sweet and savory bakery items. On my first visit I tried a hot turmeric and ginger tea latte with soy milk. It's nice to have a wide variety of milks including 2%, non-fat, half & half, almond, oat, soy and coconut. I also got a blueberry muffin, and the bonus was that it was vegan. You wouldn't know it though. Actually, I think all the bakery items are vegan, and they all look so delicious, like the German Chocolate Cake and the Salted Chocolate Pecan Cake Donut. On my second visit, I just stopped in for a drip coffee with oat milk and a power muffin to go. Next time, I'm going to try the London Fog Tea Latte or Chai Tea Latte. And maybe that cake donut. The atmosphere of this place is very spacious and relaxing. With over 3,000 books on the shelves, its a great place to kick back, relax and read a book. You can even search their book list online. I'm looking forward to return visits. read more

Protagonist Cafe - Blueberry muffin (vegan) and ginger & turmeric tea latte made with soy milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Book themed vegan cafe from the same owner as Pieces. Have an impressive library of more than 2,000 books that reside in custom-made 27-foot floor-to-ceiling bookcases. Books are organized by category and last name of authors, and are also labeled by their dewey decimal designation. Food wise they have a solid selection of tasty house-made pastries. I got the "power muffin" and it was very tasty. Drink wise they are killing it. From flavored coffee drinks, to tea, to hot chocolate, juice, and kombucha, this place has every type of drink imaginable. Coffee is also bottomless and you can choose your own mug. There is both table and couches for seating read more

THIS. This is the coffee shop I've been searching for since I moved to STL two years ago. Pros: - LOTS of seating - Not just lots of seating but lots of comfy seating (which is a big plus for me) - So many books!! - The place has a great sense of humor - The staff are so helpful and patient - Has lots of unique bakery items - Including Gluten-Free options! - Has a good amount of plugs for those needing to charge - free Wifi - An amazingly beautiful & eclectic design & decor - Has unique art (no mass production) - Good chill background music - Not too loud - Huge space - Looks like tables can be reserved - Has board games as well as their books that can be borrowed - Has adorable mug options - They have wines & spirits as well as coffee and tea - Good, broad hours - I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting Cons: - Haven't found any thus far! read more

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came in before work for a quick latte, I've heard such good things! the space was pretty cozy, didn't have time to poke around but it looks great. the barista seemed very upset that I ordered a latte (she couldve been tired, I get it) and reluctantly rang me up. now the coffee. I get it if she's not having a great day, but my coffee tasted burnt and watered down. really disappointing. maybe a better spot for a midday pick-me-up and not the drink that your day's productivity hinges on. read more

Went with my mom and it was amazing! It was a little crowded, but we were able to snag a table. We had gotten coffee, a cinnamon roll, and a pumpkin muffin. It was all delicious. We had sat and read for an hour. We both really enjoyed our time there. read more

Soulard has a new spot for coffee and it does not disappoint! Located just adjacent to the famous farmer's market, this large, but cozy, coffee joint has a "Friends" vibe and takes you back to a time when coffee shops were gathering places where you shared java and good stories. When we visited there were a few internet browsers, but most tables were playing board games or catching up. Enjoy each other's company and a great cup of joe. Go here for a great espresso drink, but don't skip the pastry case. I had the "Samoa" that was a fresh and even more delicious version of the Girl Scout's cookie. And the cinnamon roll was served warm, covered in house made icing. The walls are lined with books, making up a library of literature at your fingertips. Great for making conversation or having quiet time while people watching! Very happy to welcome Protagonist to Soulard! read more

Protagonist Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Coffee is pretty solid, feels dependent on which barista is working on a given day, fun laid back atmosphere, but still a solid choice if you're in the area read more