Sometimes a coffee craving comes well past the day’s midpoint. While some reserve the beverage for early mornings, others know the particular satisfaction of easing into a delicious beverage as the sun dips low.
Not only is this the setup for deep conversations or sober opportunities to meet someone special, it also could be the beginning of plenty of other social opportunities — including a solo date with a good book.
In honor of National Coffee Day, we set out to find the best coffee shops in the metro with extended hours and found some that keep brewing all the until midnight. We also found spaces dedicated to serving people and their pooches, shops dedicated to the global origins of growing and roasting beans, elegant rooms that boast great coffee and great cocktails, and vintage coffee shops that hark back to the ’90s, when coffee and grunge fueled the heyday of cafe culture.
While almost all of these places also serve tea for those who avoid caffeine after noon, this list really is for our fellow coffee friends. Life is short and we’re determined to stay up for all the good stuff.
This relatively new coffee shop is all about building community. Families can wander over from nearby Minnehaha Falls, neighborhood organizers can use it as a meet-up spot, and casual coffee drinkers can breeze in any time from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day.
The combination of all good things: coffee and doggos. As long as you’re cool with a couple of good rules, dogs are welcome to join in some group play at the park while owners can enjoy a menu that includes coffee drinks named for dog breeds. The Golden Retriever is a caramel latte, naturally. There’s also an onsite boarding service, membership options for dog care and a food menu for people and pups. It’s open until 8 p.m. daily.
This is one of the OG coffee houses from the early 1990s, when late nights in the shop were shrouded in smoke and ennui. True to its roots, this place remains a gathering place for the creatives and night owls who call this neighborhood home. Open until midnight.
St. Paul’s Catzen is a coffee shop first, but it’s also a haven for folks who appreciate felines. Half the shop is a standard cafe, the other hosts a cat den where cats can, if they so choose, hang out with well-mannered adults. Special event nights include watching “What We Do in the Shadows” or “The X-Files.” Check their calendar for availability and more details, but the shop is open until 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and 8 p.m. the rest of the week.
Espresso drinks, chai, hot chocolate and ice cream — this Highland Park soda shop has something for everyone. It’s a whole family-friendly vibe and a popular spot for post-kid sports at the nearby fields or after a round of bowling at the Ran-Ham Bowling Center next door. Open until 9 p.m. most nights.
Every adorable neighborhood deserves a cozy coffee cafe and Cuppa Java is just that for Bryn Mawr. In addition to a full lineup of coffee beverages, there’s also wine, THC beverages, beer, malts and more. It’s open until 8 p.m.
What began as a coffee and retail space that sometimes hosted events has blossomed into a popular neighborhood space to drink coffee and eat fresh-made cakes in the mornings to evening cocktail sipping and artistic classes. (It’s open until 8 or 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.) The Fox & Pantry has a little bit for everyone, and all of it is delectable.
Located near Hamline University’s campus, this coffeehouse has been a gathering spot since 1993 and it has that cozy, lived-in groove of a room with walls that could share a million stories. Those walls also sport local art. There are music nights and a food menu that complements the coffee drink lineup. It’s open until 8 p.m. every day.
An icon of late-night hangouts, Hard Times has been serving cups of coffee and affordable eats for years. It’s comfortably scruffy and fully disinterested in playing by the standard rules of modern business — this is a rare place that still requires cash to order. Late-night java in a dark corner of this room feels like living inside a Tom Waits song.
If you don’t know what it’s like to take a climactic roll for perception in the depths of a late night campaign while a Shadow Horror approaches your party, then this cafe might not be in your standard rotation. But it’s not only a space for those who harbor their favorite character sheets like family heirlooms, the retail shop sells all kinds of games, all the good Magic: The Gathering cards, hosts events and has a coffee shop that welcomes any weary traveler in for a good sip. On the menu are Backstory coffee, frappes, chai, smoothies, tea and more, all available until 8 p.m.
Just as the name implies, this combo coffee shop and bike shop is a perfect pairing for cycling enthusiasts as well as those who appreciate coffee day and night. Using Backstory Coffee, the beverages are a combo of espresso drinks, pourovers and tea. It’s regularly open until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Part of the Zawadi Innovation Hub, this cafe’s high-minded purpose is more than just a place to get a great cup of coffee. Their goal is to serve as a “sanctuary for creative thinkers.” Along with locally roasted coffee and lattes there’s Somali tea, chai and more. Food options include pastries, or there’s a restaurant next door. Open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The first local outpost of this national chain celebrates the rich history and tradition of Yemeni coffee. Several coffees vary by roast level and are combined with rich spices like cardamom, cinnamon and ginger. Qahwah also offers an array of lattes, seasonal drinks and tea. Plus, it stays open until 11 p.m. nightly.
Now with three metro-area locations, this Yemeni coffee shop has a lively nighttime buzz. Coffee drinks are the centerpiece of the menu, many with cardamom and other warm spices, but there’s also a substantive sweets menu of cakes, honey-topped bread and more. All three are open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and midnight on weekends.
The elegant old house stands in contrast to the constant evolution of Hennepin Avenue happening outside the wraparound porch. For years Uptown has depended on this elegant home for late night coffee — or a cup of the several chai varieties. It’s open until 9 p.m. seven days a week.