Great service. Large place with plenty of seating. The food was phenomenal. Good drinks. And the cupcakes were yummy. Look how they package them! Amazing.Parking: Might have to walk but plenty of street parking
Cute, most of the plants are real.Good coffee/cookies, would eat again.Cold. As in the longer I sat there the more stiff I became. Granted I was by a window.Asked the barista what the wifi password was and she responded by aggressively pointing in a corner and [sighing] obnoxiously. Thank you for your incredible hospitality mam.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jaana Iverson
Groundswell is my favorite coffee shop of all time!!!! The staff here are sooooo sweet & welcoming, if you’re looking for a “Third Place” … this is it!! Latte and pastry selections are unique & wonderful, rotating monthly and they NEVER MISS. Orange chocolate hand pies for December. Beet lattes in spring. Their breakfast food? Literally so good. Normally I don’t order a farmers breakfast because I could make it at home but Groundswells farmie breakfast is on another level. Ok love you Groundswell bye ♥️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Taylor Rose
Little expensive for what you get. Very loud atmosphere. Long lines. 2 bathrooms is nice. Mocha is pretty bitter both times I tried it. Ginko down the street is a little tastier.
Eric Simpson
After a 10 min wait to place an order for a single coffee drink that totaled $8.64 before tip, I was informed that it would be another 10 plus minutes before they could get to my order. I understand busy, but I also understand being able to work effectively at the volume your business operates. It’s very disappointing to be charged that much for coffee only to feel like an inconvenience to the person at register. Save your money for a better coffee shop
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 1
L Nur
I’ve been a customer here for at least 8 years and have observed a blatant decline in the quality/availability/portion sizes of their food and bakery items over the years. I’ve also been EXTREMELY disappointed by the customer service the past half-dozen or so times I’ve been here in 2023 and 24. The staff are generally rude, brisk, unwilling to serve, and rarely ever smile or greet customers. It’s just disrespectful and makes me no longer want to tip at this business, because it seems I am tipping only to receive disrespect from staff. As customers, we’re already paying for overpriced mediocre coffee and the least you can do is do your job well, especially if you are being tipped.It’s also often extremely crowded here and the music is often blaring, making it near impossible to have conversations or focused study time. Overall, I don’t really recommend this place which is sad because it literally used to be my favorite cafe in St. Paul.My last complaint is it feels like the baristas have a serious discomfort and issue with BIPOC/cultural minority people being in here, which is crazy as you’re literally gentrifying a whole African American neighborhood, so again the least that your staff could do is give people of color who come into your venue some basic respect. Racism and coded white passive aggressive behaviors towards minorities and CUSTOMERS have no place in 2024, if the mass protests during the George Floyd in 2020 didn’t teach you.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Ashley Rosealynn
$15 for these 2? Pastry is dry and old, it’s 9 am. Also took 20 minutes to receive these. Pretty slow in here.
Kiwi Pin
Quaint shop and very humbling. Nothing too over the top but makes you feel very cozy.Been a patron to Groundswell for over 8 years and have truly enjoyed their bakery goods. Phenomenal surprises! Their food has changed but, what hasn't since COVID.Their coffee is great and if you don't believe in the mantra of slower produced coffee taste better, i'd suggest go to a starbucks instead. The wait is well worth it!Parking: Parking is scare but that's because you're in the middle of a neighborhood.
An interesting space with wonderful staff and great drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Lilly
This place was delicious. I loved the hash browns, they were extra crunchy and had a little more pizazz with the quinoa, kale, and cheddar cheese that brought it all together. I do wish there was a bit more kale in it though to balance it all out. A little bit on the greasier side but it was worth it for the crunch. On the right was the Banana bread French toast. It had chocolate ganache, pecans and fresh banana. Absolutely delightful! It wasn’t too sweet which I appreciate. The pecans gave it a nice crunch along with the ‘crust’ of the banana bread being extra crisp. Vibes were good; everybody was so kind and they had a small wall full of local artists goods you could buy. I think it’s important to note that they have a revolving menu; keeps it fresh and innovative but not what you may expect if you study the menu beforehand like I.
Top 5 coffee & breakfast spot! Definitely a comfy feel and atmosphere. I love the charm of the building!The quiche is always fresh and delicious with creativity in food pairing. I definitely think their food deserves more attention and respect. Much more than a coffee place.This is an inviting place to spend a hour or two.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
K O
Came here due to the high reviews and popularity. It was a busy cafe with a lot of customers, but finding a seat wasn’t difficult. I asked for an ice chocolate, but got a disappointing drink that tasted just like plain milk with a smidge of chocolate flavour. A good number of wall sockets around for people to work. One big bother was how very cold the cafe was in all areas (I moved across multiple areas).
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
elana danowit
This is such a beautiful place exactly what I needed. Northern lights tea hit the spot that needed to be thawed out! Thank you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Soleil
Nicely decorated cafe that is extremely busy. There was a short line at the counter when I arrived, but by the time I left the line was to the door and it was so loud I couldn't hear the person sitting across the table from me. It was hard to find an open table and I was there around 9 am on a weekday.I loved that they offered vegan options, though there was only one vegan bakery item the day I was there and it did seem to be very popular with customers.I absolutely enjoyed my chai latte which was foamy and a little spicy, which made it a unique drink compared to when I have ordered it at different cafes.Vegetarian options: The bakery had some vegan options as well as their were non-dairy milk substitutes, though there was a $1 upcharge for non-dairy.Dietary restrictions: Staff was able to accommodate preparing my drinks without contamination due to my dairy allergy.Parking: Parking is only available on one side of the street next to the cafe and there was no open parking spaces. I ended up parking on a side street and crossing by the stoplights to get to the cafe.Kid-friendliness: There were several infants/toddlers here with adults. I didn't notice any high chairs though maybe they had them. The kids were a bit loud but they were cute and no one seemed to mind. Definitely a family friendly environment.Wheelchair accessibility: There were smooth floors and accessible tables to sit at, though due to being so busy it may feel a bit crowded when getting through the isles.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janae J.
I give this place 5 stars just for their unique creative menu. I love the fun flavor combinations like the matcha cider special and the earl gray hot chocolate and lavender lattes. I also had a pistachio honey muffin that was super soft and buttery and moist. They have an awesome selection of fun soaps and stickers as well. The place was pretty busy had a really laid back calm vibe and the staff was really friendly and helpful
Great service. Large place with plenty of seating. The food was phenomenal. Good drinks. And the cupcakes were yummy. Look how they package them! Amazing.Parking: Might have to walk but plenty of street parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake
Cute, most of the plants are real.Good coffee/cookies, would eat again.Cold. As in the longer I sat there the more stiff I became. Granted I was by a window.Asked the barista what the wifi password was and she responded by aggressively pointing in a corner and [sighing] obnoxiously. Thank you for your incredible hospitality mam.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Groundswell is my favorite coffee shop of all time!!!! The staff here are sooooo sweet & welcoming, if you’re looking for a “Third Place” … this is it!! Latte and pastry selections are unique & wonderful, rotating monthly and they NEVER MISS. Orange chocolate hand pies for December. Beet lattes in spring. Their breakfast food? Literally so good. Normally I don’t order a farmers breakfast because I could make it at home but Groundswells farmie breakfast is on another level. Ok love you Groundswell bye ♥️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Little expensive for what you get. Very loud atmosphere. Long lines. 2 bathrooms is nice. Mocha is pretty bitter both times I tried it. Ginko down the street is a little tastier.
After a 10 min wait to place an order for a single coffee drink that totaled $8.64 before tip, I was informed that it would be another 10 plus minutes before they could get to my order. I understand busy, but I also understand being able to work effectively at the volume your business operates. It’s very disappointing to be charged that much for coffee only to feel like an inconvenience to the person at register. Save your money for a better coffee shop
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 1
I’ve been a customer here for at least 8 years and have observed a blatant decline in the quality/availability/portion sizes of their food and bakery items over the years. I’ve also been EXTREMELY disappointed by the customer service the past half-dozen or so times I’ve been here in 2023 and 24. The staff are generally rude, brisk, unwilling to serve, and rarely ever smile or greet customers. It’s just disrespectful and makes me no longer want to tip at this business, because it seems I am tipping only to receive disrespect from staff. As customers, we’re already paying for overpriced mediocre coffee and the least you can do is do your job well, especially if you are being tipped.It’s also often extremely crowded here and the music is often blaring, making it near impossible to have conversations or focused study time. Overall, I don’t really recommend this place which is sad because it literally used to be my favorite cafe in St. Paul.My last complaint is it feels like the baristas have a serious discomfort and issue with BIPOC/cultural minority people being in here, which is crazy as you’re literally gentrifying a whole African American neighborhood, so again the least that your staff could do is give people of color who come into your venue some basic respect. Racism and coded white passive aggressive behaviors towards minorities and CUSTOMERS have no place in 2024, if the mass protests during the George Floyd in 2020 didn’t teach you.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
$15 for these 2? Pastry is dry and old, it’s 9 am. Also took 20 minutes to receive these. Pretty slow in here.
Quaint shop and very humbling. Nothing too over the top but makes you feel very cozy.Been a patron to Groundswell for over 8 years and have truly enjoyed their bakery goods. Phenomenal surprises! Their food has changed but, what hasn't since COVID.Their coffee is great and if you don't believe in the mantra of slower produced coffee taste better, i'd suggest go to a starbucks instead. The wait is well worth it!Parking: Parking is scare but that's because you're in the middle of a neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Minnesota Cookie, Veggie Burgers
An interesting space with wonderful staff and great drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This place was delicious. I loved the hash browns, they were extra crunchy and had a little more pizazz with the quinoa, kale, and cheddar cheese that brought it all together. I do wish there was a bit more kale in it though to balance it all out. A little bit on the greasier side but it was worth it for the crunch. On the right was the Banana bread French toast. It had chocolate ganache, pecans and fresh banana. Absolutely delightful! It wasn’t too sweet which I appreciate. The pecans gave it a nice crunch along with the ‘crust’ of the banana bread being extra crisp. Vibes were good; everybody was so kind and they had a small wall full of local artists goods you could buy. I think it’s important to note that they have a revolving menu; keeps it fresh and innovative but not what you may expect if you study the menu beforehand like I.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banana Bread French Toast
Restaurantji Recommends
Top 5 coffee & breakfast spot! Definitely a comfy feel and atmosphere. I love the charm of the building!The quiche is always fresh and delicious with creativity in food pairing. I definitely think their food deserves more attention and respect. Much more than a coffee place.This is an inviting place to spend a hour or two.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Came here due to the high reviews and popularity. It was a busy cafe with a lot of customers, but finding a seat wasn’t difficult. I asked for an ice chocolate, but got a disappointing drink that tasted just like plain milk with a smidge of chocolate flavour. A good number of wall sockets around for people to work. One big bother was how very cold the cafe was in all areas (I moved across multiple areas).
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
This is such a beautiful place exactly what I needed. Northern lights tea hit the spot that needed to be thawed out! Thank you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicely decorated cafe that is extremely busy. There was a short line at the counter when I arrived, but by the time I left the line was to the door and it was so loud I couldn't hear the person sitting across the table from me. It was hard to find an open table and I was there around 9 am on a weekday.I loved that they offered vegan options, though there was only one vegan bakery item the day I was there and it did seem to be very popular with customers.I absolutely enjoyed my chai latte which was foamy and a little spicy, which made it a unique drink compared to when I have ordered it at different cafes.Vegetarian options: The bakery had some vegan options as well as their were non-dairy milk substitutes, though there was a $1 upcharge for non-dairy.Dietary restrictions: Staff was able to accommodate preparing my drinks without contamination due to my dairy allergy.Parking: Parking is only available on one side of the street next to the cafe and there was no open parking spaces. I ended up parking on a side street and crossing by the stoplights to get to the cafe.Kid-friendliness: There were several infants/toddlers here with adults. I didn't notice any high chairs though maybe they had them. The kids were a bit loud but they were cute and no one seemed to mind. Definitely a family friendly environment.Wheelchair accessibility: There were smooth floors and accessible tables to sit at, though due to being so busy it may feel a bit crowded when getting through the isles.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I give this place 5 stars just for their unique creative menu. I love the fun flavor combinations like the matcha cider special and the earl gray hot chocolate and lavender lattes. I also had a pistachio honey muffin that was super soft and buttery and moist. They have an awesome selection of fun soaps and stickers as well. The place was pretty busy had a really laid back calm vibe and the staff was really friendly and helpful