Café Life

I love coffee shops, but lately I’ve found myself drawn to cafés, the all-day institutions where you can grab breakfast, lunch and dinner, coffee and cocktails under one stylish roof.  Perhaps it’s because I just finished Lesley M.M. Blume’s excellent book about Hemingway’s time in Paris - Everybody Behaves Badly - but the romantic notion of café life has gotten under my skin.  Cafés are beautiful because they can be both social and places of solitude - it’s just as easy to catch up with a friend in one’s cozy confines as it is to finish a novel manuscript or freelance piece.

The institution most under my skin at the moment I s the Bachelor Farmer Café.  They’re the only place in town that knows how to make Dogwood Coffee taste good, plus they have a rotating selection of brews from artisan roasters across the country.  Their pastries make me eat more dessert than is healthy, thanks to the nuanced sweetness of their cinnamon coffee cake and decadent brownie.  Their open-faced sandwiches are hearty and often vegetarian, but carnivores need not fear.  The Bachelor Farmer team works wonders with vegetables, and their sturdy meatiness might convert a few diners to the lifestyle.    

A new favorite is Alex Roberts' Café Alma. The Restaurant Alma and Brasa owner's latest venture is an all-day joint complete with coffee, cocktails and appetizing dishes. Go in the morning to enjoy the sun-drenched room and a sweet croissant that's double-baked and has a pleasing hint of cardamom.  Stay for a smooth cappuccino or better yet camp out there for a whole day and eat all three meals there. Book a room at the new Inn at Alma upstairs to cap off the experience. 

Another promising newcomer is Augustine's Bar & Bakery in St. Paul. The cheeky and warm decor features hippo curios that pay homage to the café's namesake (Augustine of Hippo, patron saint of brewers). While the cocktails aren’t standouts, Augustine’s beer list is what's meant to shine. The careful selection emphasizes Saint Paul breweries that don’t get their due on the other side of the river or are hard to find in restaurants.  It’s the perfect place to meet a friend for an afternoon drink, or to nosh on a brownie or blonde while watching the wintry world go by.

Locations: The Bachelor Farmer Café, Café Alma, Augustine's Bar & Bakery