Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

First time here. Recommended to me by a friend. It is a nice location, just a short distance from the lake. They have patio seating outside, although it was a little too cold for that today, and a decent size seating area inside. There are different size tables for two, four, or larger groups. It is located on a corner, with lots of tall windows that let in plenty of sunshine. When we arrived at 10am, there were a few other small groups and no wait to get our order in. I got a London Fog Tea Latte and a chocolate chip scone. No issues with getting my latte in a mug with a little lavender and vanilla. They were also able to warm up the scone. After a little while, which is required for the right amount of steeping, the drink was ready. They did a great job. The texture was right and the flavor was good. It could have been a bit hotter, and I really need to remember to ask for that. My bad. The scone was also very good. It had the right scone texture, not like a muffin pretending to be a scone. A little dry and crumbly. Over the next two hours the space filled up quite a bit more, but the noise level was never too loud to make conversation difficult. People were having quiet conversations and it stayed comfortable. Would definitely come back again.

Cute cafe nestled between lakefront and downtown. The atmosphere here stands out the most. Food and drink were a bit overpriced imho. They were good but not as good as stone creek coffee.

Stopped here to get a coffee while my brother raced in the National Triathlon. The service was prompt, but not super funny. I got a weird look when I asked ice. My boyfriend loved the caramel cold brew frappe. I ordered an iced latte, but didn’t care for the espresso - tasted a little burnt. But the vibe was chill, the AC was strong and it was a pleasant experience.

I love the look of this place and the may seating options. The swings near the counter are a cool touch. I have to say that the coffee really isn't my cup of tea. I've ordered from their seasonal menu and found the coffee to be bitter and watery, while I personally like coffee on the sweeter side. But the muffins are top notch! I loved the pumpkin muffin!

Barista was very pleasant and nice. Ordered an Açaí bowl, it required a straw to drink (not eat), completely melted. I asked if it could be redone and a very nice waitress brought back the same bowl in less than a minute after the staff tossed the bowl in what seemed like the freezer. I asked for a (what one would think is a standard açaí bowl) and I was brought more soup and dust like granola. People and atmosphere are nice. Recommend only coffee.

I always receive great service here, baristas are friendly and I don’t have to wait too long for my order. It’s a great location, quiet, ambiance is nice and they keep it clean. For some reason I can’t get behind the coffee here though, might just be me but it always tastes burnt. The food is tasty and does not seem to be frozen (but who knows) but overpriced IMO. A 16oz latte with extra shot of espresso, almond milk, and the breakfast sandwich = $20.40

I’ve been to Fairgrounds several times now and always appreciate the quality of their coffees, lattes as well as the variety of menu items. Great place for weekend coffee and breakfast without feeling like you ruined your diet for the day. Small touches like extra tortilla melted together with cheese to keep them from tearing, and a pretty solid salsa show they make the extra effort. Will definitely be back.

I wanted to like this place but I have been here multiple times and it just is never really good. Their coffee always tastes burnt and even if you order a flavored coffee with syrup it still tastes watery and not flavorful. Got a sandwhich for the first time just to try it and it was on of the lowest quality sandwhichs with brown avocado, wilted lettuce, and terrible quality bread. I only went because it was the closest thing nearby but will not being going back again.

They may be on to something! I truly can say I may have found a new Milwaukee favorite in places to get work done. I think fairgrounds has an incredible space and extremely fast service as I watched them work through busy crowds. I love the concept of featuring other coffee brands who do the roasting and them perfecting the craft of great coffee. This was probably the first sugar free latte I did not notice was sugar free. I will definitely be back as the atmosphere was conducive to getting work done. I highly recommend checking them out.

Great coffee and breakfast sandwich's ! Beautiful store inside nice atmosphere to work and sketch in!

I enjoyed my time working here. I got the matcha miel latte which had lots of cinnamon and was delicious! There's plenty of space here to work and it's not too loud. I found the stools at the bars to be uncomfy because there is no footrest but all of the other tables were great. Nice location, I'll definitely be returning.

Fairgrounds is a corner spot, far East side Milwaukee with huge bay windows perfect for sunny days. The best part about this spot is the fact that it leans into greenery, a hub for mobile working, and has seating fairly spaced a part. They have coffee on tap! Something similar to what Vendetta Coffee Bar also has but this is the brighter, lighter version of the more intimate coffee bar. Honestly every coffee I've tried here has been quite a hit, including the on tap ones. Highly recommend the Viet Cold Brew, Matcha Latte, and cold brew on tap. They have both still and sparkling on tap which is also nice (currently the sparkling is not in service). The mirrors really enhance the lighting and spaciousness of the area. You'll encounter lots of younger individuals here, college, WFH, graduate, or regulars. I haven't run into too many families/kids here. Parking is the only tough part around here; there's 2 hour curbside otherwise on the weekends you can snag the free on Sunday curbside. Internet is great for work and study! Love Fairgrounds coffee, top spot for students and working honestly :) edit: HUGE shoutout to staff here!! They accommodated for my friend's dietary restriction of not eating egg. The order came out with aioli which has egg, but the staff was super understanding was willing to swap out the aioli for something else in a new order.

Love stopping in for a quick to go latte on a walk. Haven't had the opportunity to sit in but it's always busy when we come in. The holiday/seasonal lattes are always great. My go to is the ubbe oatmilk latte. Looks like a great place to study, lounge, or have an intimate meeting.

My favorite coffee shop in Minneapolis! An extensive coffee and tea menu that's mostly locally sourced. Super fun seasonal drinks, but also the classics. The only food I've had are their overnight oats in the prepared section (which are amazing btw) but the food always looks good when I'm in there! It gets super busy, but I somehow always find a spot by the time my drink is ready. Love that they serve Rishi matcha! Nice place to chat with friends.

I always receive great service here, baristas are friendly and I don't have to wait too long for my order. It's a great location, quiet, ambiance is nice and they keep it clean. For some reason I can't get behind the coffee here though, might just be me but it always tastes burnt. The food is tasty and does not seem to be frozen (but who knows) but overpriced IMO. A 16oz latte with extra shot of espresso, almond milk, and the breakfast sandwich = $20.40

An awesome coffee shop downtown! Parking is easy to find and the big windows allow for lots of sunlight to come in. Whether you're looking to post up to work, cramming for a school exam or just lounging around with a good book, this place is for you! There is a section with comfy couches, however power outlets are scarce. You'll have to look to the bar seating with stools. My one gripe is the stools don't have a foot rest so it's a bit uncomfortable after sitting there awhile. They have a couple of fun swing chairs you can sit on the side of the counter. They have a great selection of coffee and tea, and cold brew on tap. On this visit I went with a hot chai latte and it was delicious! They also have a wide selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, bowls, salads and bakery items. This place caters to all - college kids, remote workers, and retired folks all flock to enjoy this cozy spot.

New-to-me menu item to share a five-star review : the sweet potato bowl! Loved the combo of flavors and boy was it statiating. Normally this is the type of dish I'd order in the fall given the warmth and ingredients, but it was darn chilly in the coffee shop today (AC on high!) and this just sounded tasty. That it was! Combo of quinoa and farro topped with plentiful sweet potato, kale, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and kale. Plus, a nice drizzle of lemon tahini dressing. I added chicken for some extra protein. And per usual, I had myself a matcha latte as well - both went down a treat!

Ok I am obsessed with Fairgrounds especially because I'm not too far. Service was wonderful and it's so cute inside with lots of seating. I got the matcha miel latte and it's pretty good!! I didn't try the food but they have an extensive menu. I think this will be my new go-to spot!!

We came on a Saturday morning at 9 and there was still plenty of space to pick a good spot. They have so many beverage options. There wasn't a line and I asked the barista between the Vietnamese cold brew and the ginger tumeric chai latte and he pushed the latte and I'm so glad I got the ginger tumeric chai latte with coconut milk and it had the perfect amount of ginger and tumeric and blended perfectly with the coconut milk to sweeten it. We got our coffee quickly and were able to enjoy a spot by the open window. They even have a rewards program where every dollar spent you receive a point and 50 points gets you a coffee and they have rewards as well. It started to get really busy around 10:30. I can't wait to come back but it's a great spot to study.

First of all, the food was amazing! I got the breakfast burrito which was eggs, hasbrowns, peppers and avocado crema. I also got a dirty iced chai tea latte and it was amazing! Service was quick and it must be a popular place not just for the ambiance, but for their location right by the lake! Definitely would recommend this coffee shop!

Nice place to hang out coffee is expensive and not very good. Everything bagel was good. Some of the sandwiches taste like stale bread.

What a wonderful hidden (to me) place wonderful atmosphere - bright cheerful quiet I just stopped in for ice tea- it was good. - visiting from Louisville and my experience with simple unsweetened ice tea in Milwaukee is spotty. Huge interesting menu for small place.

A great cortado this morning and a nice space but when I didn't find any power outlets near the comfy seating, I finished the one coffee and headed onwards. They've made a design decision not to have the laptop folks here for hours and that's perfectly acceptable. It means that while I enjoyed the one coffee, i did not have a second or a breakfast sandwich. On to the next! [Review 20667 overall - 237 in Wisconsin - 1648 of 2023.]

They're not cheap but good lord that's one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had in my life. And the service is super friendly. I got the cafe miel, $7 for a 16 oz, absolutely worth it. They serve pastries and food as well.

Breakfast sandwich options, delicious pastries, amazing drinks, americano.. this place catered to every person in our fam. Beautiful open space (even with swings by the counter). We made the 13 minute trek from our hotel just to eat breakfast here. And then it's just a hop skip and a jump to the art museum. We had a breakfast sandwich, cheese danish, and avocado toast! All was really delicious, we left no crumbs behind!

The interior of the coffee shop was super cute and cozy. Lots of locals working on their laptops. Staff were extremely friendly and provided excellent service. Food quality was good and delicious. We ordered the breakfast sandwich, the breakfast bowl, and a strawberry cream cheese muffin (best muffin I've ever had).

Delicious sweet potato quinoa bowl! Nice expansive atmosphere with natural light, lots of room to work or talk,without getting loud or feeling crowded.

Love whenever I get to come to fairgrounds! Coffee and paper writing go hand in hand and finals week is in full swing so I had to stop in! Their interior is so cute with the vintage antiques, green vines and cute leather and metal chairs. I feel so relaxed every time I come so it's the perfect study spot. My usual coffee order is a vanilla latte with oat milk. On this warm day, I decided to go iced! You can tell they actually mix the vanilla syrup in because sometimes with my order, the flavor sinks to the bottom and it's a bit overwhelming. But this was so perfect! Refreshing and the espresso is strong and bold! Love it! Definitely check out the fairgrounds on State Street! Cutest overlook on the lake too!

On a cold Saturday morning when in the neighborhood we popped in for a hot chocolate and to use the bathrooms. The bathroom was fine, though one was out of order. The hot chocolate not so fine. Perhaps we are too low brow for coffee shop hot chocolate though we have had it at other places of this caliber. It was flavorless. That is, it barely tasted like chocolate. Even after going back up to the counter and the worker pumping in more chocolate it was bland. I have to say the hot chocolate at Kwik Trip is way better even if it made with water! One positive the space is very warm and inviting.

Solid cold brew and so much on tap I was impressed. I got the nitro rise but they said the salted caramel was good too. Tons of seating and also a quick walk to trail.

In A Nutshell: -Fairgrounds is a local neighborhood coffee restaurant in the Lower East Side of MKE. -I enjoyed their various drip coffees. -I like their own Fairgrounds drip the best. -They also sell food like the breakfast burrito, but it was pretty small w/ very little egg in it, so I wouldn't recommend it. -The service is lackadaisical, low energy with isn't very welcoming. -The interior & exterior of the restaurant is well decorated w/ plenty of bright lights & cool use of upcycled materials. Overall, it was close to The Plaza Hotel so that was a plus.

Delicious and healthy! We came for lunch and it was great. I recommend coming for lunch or dinner

Street parking and about a 3min drive from the beer garden! Big, open space for studying or just hanging out! Big menu with seasonal items and lots of seating. The chai was good too :) staff is very friendly and patient. Def recommend

Firstly, the space was beautiful! I especially enjoyed the swing seats by the pick up area. It's the perfect place to wait for your coffee or watch the magic happen. I had a cold flash brew pour over and it was a great way to learn about the quality beans and coffee they offer. The price was a bit steeper than the typical coffee run though.

Food was pretty good, but portions were very small for the price. Also they seemed to be short staffed because there were only a few people working and they were very busy on a Saturday afternoon while I was there. It took about 20 minutes to get my order and they didn't even give me a bag. Service was rushed and they weren't very attentive to customers that were waiting.

Very local to me, so I'm a little bit biased. Coffee is definitely on the expensive side, but the cold brew I've tried there really is among the best I've ever had. Cool place to hang out in (not one of those sterile "modern" designs). Very friendly staff

I was super excited to get their acai bowl (ive had it on my list for awhile) and of course they were out. They were also out of regular coffee cups and had to put mine in paper to-go cups. Not a big deal, but difficult to take nice photos/videos. I got the breakfast tacos instead of the bowl. They were good, just not what I wanted. The place was packed on a Saturday morning with college students studying. I love that they have flights of coffee. I will give them another chance and hopefully get to review the bowl.

Fairgrounds is absolutely adorable. It is modern while still being inviting and cozy (I think all the greenery definitely adds to that!). They are still practicing social distancing, so spots are limited, but they have an array of seating options available depending on what you're looking for. Individual tables, high top communal work islands, leather chairs, and even a couple swings up at the barista counter. It makes Fairgrounds the ideal workspace to post up with your laptop for a coffee OR meet colleagues for a bite to eat. Onto the menu. I only stayed for coffee, but the breakfast/lunch menu had a lot of options, especially for a coffee shop. Also...funnel cake fries?! I'm going to need to make another visit for these alone. I tried the salted caramel latte on draft (is this still considered coffee? I'm sure black coffee drinkers would say otherwise). I loved it. So smooth and not overly sweet! My friend had the iced matcha latte and said it was equally delicious. If you're a fan of great coffee and ambiance, give Fairgounds a go!

Very aesthetically pleasing, clean, and affordable. The service was good and she suggested drinks for us since this was our first time.

I made my first visit to Fairgrounds today. I have known about it for awhile; it is popular among my Instagram friends. Strangely enough then that I didn't know where it was until a few weeks ago. It is near the lake, accessible from the 14 bus route as well as several others. The space is very lively and bright with lots of plants around. Currently some of them are occupying seats to help enforce social distancing. There were no indoor seats available on my visit. I might have liked one since it was a very warm day. But outside is nice too with a view of the lake and people and dogs to watch walking by. They were playing the Grateful Dead on the radio which I thought hit the right note. I had the Vietnamese cold brew and the breakfast tacos with some morning greens on the side. The food was light but filling and the iced coffee was perfect for beating the heat. On the photos please note that I intended to photograph the greens with the lid off but I forgot, and then I ate the greens instead. And you should too. They were very fresh and would be a nice accompaniment to a lot of things. After I finished my drink and meal I walked across the street to finish the article I had started reading and I saw Fairgrounds doing what looked like pretty brisk business. There were several people working on laptops. For now they have to limit time per customer to free up seats. I get it, but it will probably be a fun place to chill out awhile once things get a little more normal. I would come back before then though to enjoy the atmosphere and try out more of the menu.

I'm a huge coffee fan, so I've made it a mission to visit coffee shops everywhere I go. Unfortunately, it took me a bit to make it in to Fairgrounds even though I now live in MKE. I regret not dropping in earlier! They have an awesome selection of coffee, cold brew and elixirs--some with coffee and tea. They also have a tasty selection of food (breakfast sandwiches, a few other delicious bites and baked goods). I sampled a few items and was pleased with how fresh and delicious everything tasted. They do have some indoor seating but it is limited. Given Social Distancing guidelines, there were no open seats on a Sunday afternoon. I can see how they would become packed during non-COVID times given the proximity to the lake and MSOE. For warmer weather days, they do have some outdoor seating. Overall, it's a solid place to experiment and grab some tasty goods.

the food is good, however they only use single use plastic cups for their cold beverages, which is horrible for the earth and a bit of a turnoff.

Honey lavender latte & bagel sandwich were delicious! But, the person who took my order round noon on 1/14/24 could've been more friendly & nice. Idk all the coffee shops I've been to round here has been so kind, smiley, and don't have an attitude inflection in their reply.

My wife and I visited Milwaukee last weekend to attend a wedding. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings we walked to Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea to start our morning with a good cup of coffee and a baked good. The pour over that I had was very good and we also enjoyed the lattes and food. That ambiance included Chemex light fixtures and friendly service. I highly recommend this cafe.

Lookout if you only have cash. Save yourself the trip and go somewhere else that accepts cash. Place is clean and nice inside however but if you prefer to tip in cash or pay in cash as well go somewhere else.

Cute little eclectic coffee shop serving all types of drinks and food. Try the on tap kombucha! Its a walkup counter service place. There's seating indoors ans out and they bring the food to you or you can wait for it. The inside has spaced out seating due to covid but its got a cozy eclectic vibe that lends itself to people getting work done on laptops.

I should've taken the photo before I assembled it- - regardless, this bagel was amazing. I didn't realize Fairgrounds was a chain, but it's still good (they also have an app you can order through). The bagel and fixings came in a cute little box with napkins and cream cheese. With the "Goldie's Lox Platter" you get lox, tomato, everything or plain bagel, red onion, dill (which is nice because not many places usually include dill), whipped cream cheese (came with plenty) and cucumber (which I personally could've done without). As it's a lox platter and not lox bagel, there is some assembly required- which I was not a huge fan of because it gets messy, especially with an everything bagel; this, however, should not detract from the meal, as it was tasty and fresh. They also give plenty of lox which is nice. Would recommend checking them out!

A very cute place. Cool vibe. I came here for opening day and received a warm welcome from all of the staff. The place feels like an upgrade / more high end version of Colectivo and it's good for a relaxing breakfast or afternoon tea, friend gatherings or small group meetings, and quick simple coffee or lunch run. It is a new location of a Chicago-based cafe and everyone wants to see it, so you may want to wait until the hype goes down before ordering sth more complicated if you are on your way to work or sitting down to study. Drinks - I got their Vietnamese Cold Brew and the classic Jasmine Power Flower Milk Tea in the morning and the sticky chai latte (almond milk) during lunch. The Vietnamese Cold Brew is overall a cold brew (an expensive cold brew though!) so don't expect it to taste like authentic, traditional Vietnamese coffee which normally uses drip, dark roasted coffee. Still a good drink. It lacked the strong coffee taste from the drip dark roasted coffee, but it was very smooth and a bit sweet. The Jasmine Power Flower Milk Tea got that perfect blue at the bottom and had a lot of things going on in it. It was refreshing, not too sweet and the combination of matcha, jasmine tea and coconut milk worked well. The sticky chai latte was served warm - tasted rich yet not overpowering. The foam was nicely done. Food - lox platter. I liked how much veggies they put in the plate. The everything bagel w cream cheese was delicious. Wish there could be a bit more lox but no complaints. Parking should be easy to find around the place. Elixirs are a bit on the pricey side with no size options to choose from. Come for the experience and appreciate the diverse drinks menu. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Visited mid morning on a Sunday and the place was pretty busy. Was able to order quickly from the counter, person working was very friendly. Ordered an iced chai latte and a breakfast sandwich with egg, sausage and cheese. Both were very tasty! Iced chai was sweet, slightly spicy and gave a perfect warm feeling. The sandwich was delicious! Soft scrambled eggs, mildly spicy sausage with a pepper sauce. We ordered to go, but the service was speedy and efficient.

Beautiful new spot in the lower east side! Finally they have a coffee shop that is walking distance from so many apartments in this area! Ambiance was great, with chill music playing in the background and bright lights glimmering over you as you enjoy a meal with friends or study/get work done at another table. Beverages - delicious, fresh, and REAL. I have been wanting actual matcha for months now and I can finally have it. No other coffee shops in the Milwaukee area have real, unsweetened high quality matcha. There is nitro brewed matcha and coffee available on tap (I know right...). And kombucha on top that is extremely delicious and fragrant. Last time I got a butterfly matcha latte for free from a soft opening Fairgrounds had and I enjoyed it!Looking forward to trying a coffee based beverage soon. Food - simple classics. Grilled cheese and tomato soup, salads, breakfast, they have it all! The food was flavorful and fresh, but simple, so don't expect a gourmet meal. Parking - free 2 hr street parking available

Lake views, great lightning, variable seating options paired with great design = a great spot for your next coffee outing. Fairgrounds is located on the lower east side near the lake front and offers an exquisite experience to its customers. Spacious, cozy, beautiful are three words to use to describe the environment. Perfect for working remotely (perhaps not for your days filled with zoom calls). Love their dirty chai and food menu. Great spot anytime of day!

Pumpkin spice latte tasted like burnt espresso and water. Then my breakfast bowl kinda sucked too, damn. The bacon in the bowl is 99% fat and kinda looks like a dog treat heated up. Go to Starbucks instead

The food was ridiculously overpriced and for very very small portions, the coffee was burnt and bad quality.

Haven't eaten here in years and now I remember why. Food is terrible. Attached is a picture of the unappealing sausage sandwich. How do you serve that with a straight face? As I went to take a bite I could sense the sausage and sandwich were cold. They heated it up for me but apparently only the sausage. The cheese, egg and sauce were still cold. I recall (now, too late) food temp was always an issue here for my past orders. (When I got home my wife said "why did you go there, you know it's bad" to which I could only reply "yeah I totally forgot").

Stopped in for a quick Cold brew this morning. I was pleasantly surprised by the many cold brew and nitro cold brew options on tap (at least 5). I had the Salted Caramel cold brew tap and it was perfect. Not too sweet and I added a splash of half & half. The decor is cute, the ambiance was quiet, and this would be a great place to study if you're in school. Took a quick glance at the food menu and it looked like a solid lineup with Fair food to fit the theme. I'll be stopping again for lunch.

No food on Mondays, female staff members is short, kirt and angry with costumers. If they are not serving food they should update the website to reflect this

Fairgrounds really transformed the space into a bright and chic café. The interior is inviting, with floor to ceiling windows on much of the perimeter. Safety precautions for covid are in place, with limited seating, spacing reminders and contactless payment. I ordered the Autumn Spice Latte, an alternative to the basic (but delicious PSL). Unfortunately, it was lacking in fall flavor. I like my autumn flavors to pack a punch, drown me in spice! And being $5.29+tip, it was an expensive lack of basicness. Other menu items look tempting, and I hope to get better value next time.