Cafe Latte

The Verdict

Cafe Latte on Grand Avenue is a St Paul institution worth knowing if you are on the lookout for a relaxed, all-day cafe with serious baked goods. It sits in a category of its own on Grand Ave — less a bar, more a neighborhood gathering spot where the food and pastry program does the heavy lifting. If you want craft cocktails or a curated beer list, look elsewhere. If you want a reliable, low-pressure stop with good coffee and food, this delivers. Booking is easy and walk-ins are the norm here.

What to Expect

Cafe Latte is a counter-service cafe and wine bar on one of St Paul's most walkable stretches, at 850 Grand Ave. The format rewards return visits: order at the counter, find a table, and work through the menu at your own pace. For anyone who has been once, the next move is to go deeper on the pastry side rather than treating it as a quick coffee stop. The wine list is a step above what you would find at a typical cafe, which makes it a reasonable early-evening option if you want something simple before dinner rather than a full bar program.

The drinks angle here is modest by the standards of a dedicated cocktail bar. There is no evidence of a structured cocktail program to rival what you would find at a place like Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, Jewel of the South in New Orleans, or Julep in Houston. The ambition is elsewhere — in the kitchen, not behind the bar. That is not a criticism; it is a calibration. Come for the food and the setting, not for an adventurous drinks list.

Grand Avenue itself is a useful framing: this is a neighborhood strip built for locals, not a destination dining corridor. Cafe Latte fits that register well. It is approachable, consistent, and well-placed for a mid-morning visit or a casual early evening stop. For a fuller picture of what St Paul has to offer, see our full St Paul restaurants guide, our full St Paul bars guide, our full St Paul hotels guide, our full St Paul wineries guide, and our full St Paul experiences guide.

Practical Details

Reservations: Not required , walk-ins work here. Booking difficulty: Easy. Dress: Casual. Budget: Cafe pricing; expect to spend well under $30 per person for food and a drink. Address: 850 Grand Ave Suite No 5, St Paul, MN 55105.