Highest-rated cafes in the Rochester, Minnesota area by diners
Highest-rated cafes in the Rochester, Minnesota area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Rochester area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Rochester were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#16. Caribou Coffee
- Rating: 3.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1147 2nd St. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Caribou Coffee
- Rating: 3.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9 Third Avenue Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Drift Dough
- Rating: 3.8/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 832 7th St. Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#13. MOKA
- Rating: 3.9/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 306 12th St. Southeast Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Benedict's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 East Center St. Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Spyhouse Coffee Roasters
- Rating: 4.2/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 601 2nd St. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Mezza9 Cafe & Desserts
- Rating: 4.3/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 20 3rd St. Southwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Lumen Coffee
- Rating: 4.3/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 3550 55th St. Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#8. MOKA
- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1023 North Broadway Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp
#7. St. James Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4156 18th Ave. Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Chocolaterie Stam - Rochester
- Rating: 4.4/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 South Broadway Ste 208 Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Chocolatiers & Shops, Gelato, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Cafe Aqui
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 1811 2nd St. Southwest Ste B Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Bravo Espresso
- Rating: 4.6/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 111 South Broadway Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Cafe Steam
- Rating: 4.6/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 315 South Broadway Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Kung Fu Tea
- Rating: 4.6/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 1006 North Broadway Ave. Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Old Abe Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 832 7th St. Northwest Rochester, Minnesota
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Vegan, Donuts
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.
