Ginkgo Coffeehouse

Ginko has been a popular “fixture” near Hamline University for over 30 years. I have stopped there a number of times when I am in the area. It gives me a shot of “bohemian” in my standard suburban stomping grounds. They have great coffee, some great sandwiches, soups, and reasonably priced, mostly under $10. My personal favorite is their curry chicken salad on whole wheat toast…..

great decor/vibe. lots of seating and open late which makes it great for studying, the music was a touch loud however. Coffee and croissant were average.

their croissant breakfast sandwich is my favorite item they have it’s so yummy and it’s always fresh and hot every time! the environment is also very comfy; great spot to hang out for a bit :)

This lovely place has delicious made fresh food, including breakfast and lunch. I highly recommend the chocolate crossiant! They have plenty of hot beverage choices and a sweet menu too!

Stopped by for the first time this week and loved this neighborhood coffeehouse. Cool vibe, friendly service, yummy treats and delicious coffee. I will be back!

Cute place, although was very busy and a little chaotic when I went because I didn't know there was a show that night (not holding that against them). Cookie was pretty good, hot chocolate was okay. However, the mac and cheese was just Kraft. I paid 4.50 for maybe eight ounces of Kraft mac and cheese.

This cafe is poorly run. Management and ownership needs to focus less on culture and start investing time and money into improvements, updates and efficiency. The baristas are doing the best they can given the circumstances but service is UNBELIEVABLY slow and I've seen that turnover is high! I have always wanted to enjoy coming here the past 7 years but I have never felt welcomed. Come here if you have lots of time to spend and fit the demographic they obviously prefer.

Great place! The coffee was good and well made, I loved their bakery selection, and their food items were priced very cheaply compared to most cafe’s, and there were so many options too! The atmosphere was amazing, very eccentric and fun vibes, perfect if you’re meeting up with someone or what to work on your computer.

A gem!! Located across the street from Hamline University, Ginkgo offers great coffee drinks, sandwiches, breakfast items, baked goods, and a welcoming environment. Best part? Open until 8 pm many evenings!! As a night owl, I appreciate any coffee shop that has extended hours past a typical shop. The service is always hands on and staff members are quick to move lines along and take orders right away. Having a presence at both CHS Field and the MN State Fair, I am all about supporting this local Saint Paul shop. Inside the shop, there are always unique gifts to purchase such as cards, jewelry, painting, t-shirts, etc. I always advocate for shopping small especially for holidays and birthdays. When I stopped in on Wednesday evening, to my surprise, there was an open mic music night and I enjoyed listening to all the artists. I recommend checking the website to keep up with with all the happening. Lastly, there is a nice parking lot around the backside of the building along with a cute patio for the warmer months. Enjoy!!

Meh coffee, good food, iffy front end staff and what are they doing with their front window? Walking up to Ginkgo I was passing their front window and thought, this place must have been closed awhile. Dusty old espresso machine with dead flies? I swear it looked closed But no, it was open and their was a line. Great, I needed my caffeine. Bakery case looked good and I think they prepare them on site Ordered three pain au chocolat to go, along with an egg bake and a medium Americano to go First up was the egg bake. On a plate, not to go. Ok, that was mine and I could eat it there. It was ok, although under salted. Then came the Americano. Pretty meh. Thin. Not as good as Starbucks, which is my minimum bar. If you can't at least equal SB, you really shouldn't be selling coffee After I finished my egg, still no pastry. I went up and asked for them. Eventually put on the counter in a bag, but they couldn't be bothered to call my name. They were at least very good. Very underwhelming

Cute coffee shop, I love ginkgo leaves so the aesthetics were to my liking. Friendly service and good decent seating space. Wish they took names for orders.

I had no idea such a neat place was on Snelling! I really like that they have their own parking, and space feels nice and cozy. The cashier was very kind and answered all my questions. I had the root beer float and a breakfast burrito with turkey sausage. I know that sounds weird, but the heart wants what the heart wants. - I enjoyed the root beer float, but I would have liked a bit more ice cream. It was decent for the price. - I did find the burrito a bit bland. The salsa helped, but I think hot sauce would have really kicked it up a notch. Overall, I would come back and maybe try some more of the menu.

Not a fan of this place. The service was poor. The people at the counter had a really bad attitude. For a coffee shop I will not be coming back as there are many more options in the twin cities with better food and drink choices.

Lovely cafe with live music, cafe bites, and delicious coffee drinks with unique flavors. They have a parking lot! And a patio

Something I love about Ginkgo Coffeehouse is that it is much more than just coffee! Pastries, sandwiches, lunch and dinner bites, gifts, games, music, patio... cool vibes all around! We almost always take suggestions from the servers and they've yet to steer us wrong! Small parking lot in the back, otherwise plenty of street parking on Minnehaha.

I love the feel and vibe of this coffeehouse! From the friendly staff, the art on the walls, or the stage for music artists, it all creates a unique feeling. Throw in a great cup of coffee and a food menu with plenty of options this coffeeshop has everything. With a complete coffee menu....everything from lattes, a cafe miel, espresso, or cold press, they can fill your cup. I love a caramel latte and they make a very good latte. They have a good food selection, from breakfast to lunch, baked goods to soup, burritos to salads, there is plenty of good options to fill your belly or just a snack. Parking might be a tiny issue. Mainly street parking but I have always been lucky and found a spot on Snelling in front of the shop.

This was close to the state fair since we were early to the fair as the result of a storm. It's a "been neighborhood forever" type place where the booth vinyl has been cracked in ten thousand or so places. The service was friendly. There were multitudes of food options and there were employees coming up from the basement with handfuls of carrots, so things are made fresh. Stacksvofvchairs were being taken out th we back door leading me to believe there is outside seating.,Plenty of free street parking. Give it a shot!

Very down to earth coffee shop. Nice staff and decent coffee! They have a front and back door - feels like a community spot with people coming in and out. Nothing fancy and prices reflect that. Overall, a nice stop!

a favorite haunt of our uncles who live a few blocks away. We were very pleased with the selection, quality of our drinks and the friendly and attentive baristas. They handled a large line with grace and did not rush our more indecisive members. Complicated orders were no sweat and the charming atmosphere meant we spent a lot of time there. I'd love to see someone play that piano sometime, so we'll have to come back.

Welcoming, friendly, great scones, good, strong dark roast- old school, non-pretentious coffeehouse!

I've been here several times and love the friendly neighborhood vibes! Very friendly staff and great food (wraps, deli sandwiches, soup, salad and grillers)! Coffee offerings extensive and hit the mark. Glazed donut yummy, along with many baked goods and lasagna for lunch!

I was here once about 8 years ago with no recollection so I'm happy to report back! The inside was nice; we went on a Thursday around noon, and it was not too busy. The menu is a lot bigger than I anticipated--so many sandwich options! The soup is a little strange to find, it's on a white board off to the side by the pastries (which looked so-so but maybe it's because it was noon). I ended up with the soup after all. Chicken chili verde with a side of their wild rice bread. The bread was great, I was pleasantly surprised! The soup was good, could have used more seasoning. Their dark roast was actually decent, I like mine pretty bold. I would say the food is 3 stars, but the service we received was worth adding another star! Their registers went down and the entire staff handled it very well, taking down people's orders and circling back to us once it was up and running. I am slightly hesitant to try the other food options but in spirit they sound good, and I will be back for more coffee!

This is our neighborhood coffee shop and we adore it - we're in there several times a week, sometimes to grab a coffee to go, sometimes to linger. Yeah, it's a wee bit shabby in the corners and the plants need a little TLC, but the coffee is great and there's a wide variety of food options. It's miles more appealing than the hipster coffee shops that all look the same and have no personality. The service is usually pretty quick at Ginkgo, all the staff are nice without being over the top, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Diverse clientele adds to the ambiance and charm; expect university students, long-time neighborhood residents, musicians, families, local political figures, etc. The one thing I don't like is the fact that the only large cups they have are disposable single-use ones. I'd prefer a solid cup/mug/glass that isn't going to end up in a landfill.

Coffee great and the food is freshly made. Friendly atmosphere. Plenty of parking. Easy to find.

Great coffee and a great atmosphere for studying, meeting friends or listening to music. They are not just a coffee shop but a music venue and catering company. They offer a wide range of healthy and gluten free options. I love the little gifts they sell and the local flyers and papers they have. This place really supports the local community and if you want a trendy place to study or meet friends this is the place. GREAT COFFEE!!!!!!

So thankful a few real coffee houses exist. Love the vibe with all the mismatched thrift and no frills. Takes me back to the 90s. And it obviously affects costs because prices were super reasonable for both food and coffee ( unlike some other nearby hygge/pretentious shops). Staff was nice but had trouble with a larger order.

A very popular neighborhood coffeehouse and one of the earlier shops to enter the twin cities now crowded coffee business. I haven't been here in quite some time and from what I remember it looks the same, old school coffeehouse. There is ice cream available which many places do not have and a long line of food choices. There is a small stage used to store people when there is no music. It is crowded, very cramped with tables and chairs almost in elbow touching room with each other. Employees seem pleasant enough considering how busy they are.

I loved the cozy and homey feel that Gingko gave!! I also love the interior, the art and decor are wonderful. The barista was very friendly and kind, and added to the joyous atmosphere. The prices are competitively priced, and very reasonable. My 16oz vanilla almond milk latte was just over $5. The latte itself was nothing unique, but perfect for a bit of a chilly, windy day. Gingko seems to be the perfect place to enjoy a coffee while catching up on some studying or with a friend.

Quite neighborhood hangout. Almond chai was delicious. They also offer breakfast items which I've never had before. I've only been in here a couple times for quick meetings, I've seen kids quietly hanging out, people studying and they also have live music sometimes.

Just moved into the area and was so over joyed to come by this place. Friendly staff, nice little outdoor patio, and the BEST DIRTY CHAI I HAVE EVRER HAD THE PLEASURE OF TASTING!! Nearly drank the whole thing before I got a picture to share with the world! Oh and also they have a nice little cafe where you can order delicious bagels, sandwiches, salad, and a whole lot more!

This was my first visit. I went to meet a friend. I was impressed with all the food and drink selections. I liked that there was plenty of seating inside and outside, and that there was a parking lot. I did get distracted by flies buzzing around. I would definitely come again.

Cool little coffee house with a laid back vibe. Good Chai and have desserts. We plan to go back.

Cute, comfy and nice selection of teas, I tried the chicken soup and veggies it spilled all over my car before I got home to try it because of the paper container it came in unfortunately, I also tried their turkey sandwich which was ok would have tasted better if the turkey was more fresh and the lettuce was rinsed off and the avocado wasn't brown. I'll probably just come here for the tea and to relax it's cute quiet and inviting

Needs to be cleaned...entered the place on a Wednesday night for a coffee and the place just stunk. For what, I don't know. Ordered our coffee and hightailed it out of there. Some guy was screaming as he played guitar. Just horrible, and the coffee wasn't much better. Order a latte and the machine didn't start up so I got old espresso. Stay clear of this place.

Eight years makes a difference, and over that time Ginkgo's a cleaner, nicer shop since my 2013 review. I've never left with anything less than a piping hot, fresh, and full-bodied coffee. It's consistent and good. They seemed to have downsized a bit on their non-edibles (toys, knickknacks, trinkets, etc.) over the years. Still love seeing the unusual ones they still sell.

Although the vibe seemed chill and cozy, during covid even, wow was that the worst breakfast sandwich of my life! I only could take one bite and nearly spit it out. The rest in the garbage. Verified by my wife too. Microwaved and chewy is one thing, at least I know what I'm getting into. The sausage might of been rotten, or in a freezer since Joni Mitchell's first record. Not like a 'oh this is like fast food, screw it, I'll eat this greasy thing' more like 'I dont want to get food poisoning, should I spit this out?' Also, Bagel comes with cream cheese in food court package, not on your floppy bagel. Might be fun for a coffee and some revolutionary folk music, but definitely not food.

We love Ginkgo coffee and their roots in the local community. An awesome coffee shop all around! We've loved their Agua Fresca as well, and some of the food items.

Ginko opened when I was a freshman at Hamline nearby. The whole coffehouse scene was a little new to the area (and new to me being a country kid) and when I started going, much like another reviewer, I didn't know what to order. Mochas were, and remain, my coffee of choice, and I cut my teeth on them at the Ginko. Hours spent doing homework (from actual paper notebooks and not notebook computers) there made it feel more and more like home. After graduation, I drifted for a few years, but now I return when I have a few hours off from work or when I am with my 4 year old, who loves the vibe of the space and the neat cheap and small toys that are available. I like the coffee and their food. The veggie burrito, salsa veggie wrap and griller are all yummy, and my daughter loves their muffins - banana chocolate chip and pumpkin raisin being her faves. Love the Ginko both for what it is today and what it was when I was a kid.

It sucks being ignored when waiting to order something. This past Saturday evening, we entered through the back door and walked past a staff member who was organizing/or putting out trinkets for sale. She made no attempt to assist us. We stood at the counter to wait for service - there was another staff member just around the corner in the kitchen who turned and would have seen us standing there. She just kept on cutting up the potatoes. After waiting for a few minutes, I peeked around the end of the counter and asked for service. Moments later, the potato-cutter came out to assist us. Meanwhile, the trinkets were being replenished...

Very spacious and nice atmosphere, huge selection of drinks available. Really good for studying and great parking!

Friendly little coffee shop with simple coffee and bites to eat. I love their connection and sense of community. Seating is limited, but interesting as they are old couches and mismatched tables and chairs.

Was just in Ginkgo today Sept. 19th. I have a great time when I am there. The employees were great as always. It was the Owner that took me by surprise. We all have our bad days and we might reflect on our actions later. Long story short she yelled at her two employees as they were making my food that I ordered. A young man walks up that the two employees know. One of the girls said will be right with you. One minute later the owner walks in and asks if he has been helped, he says no but...then she starts her yelling. I felt so bad for the two employees. They might be used to it but as a customer I am not. Please change your actions Ginkgo Owner!

It's a student hang-out as it across the street from Hamline University. The free wi-fi and cheap coffee doesn't hurt getting people in the door. There is a MASSIVE selection of loose tea with decaf clearly labeled and free self-served tap water. It's a big, opened space which is good for their live music on the weekends but not so much for those wishing for some quiet time to work or to talk without the neighbor who is 2 inches away listening in. We were there 4 pm on a Friday. The place was full but quiet, it was strange. There were students studying, folks on their laptops, others talking and a group of guys, who looked like they met there every week, playing cards. There was nothing that stood out one way or the other to give it more than 3 stars. Maybe it's just my bias of not hanging out with undergrads more than I have to that doesn't allow me to raise the star count past "A-OK".

Went here this morning for Coffee with a friend. This place is clearly a neighborhood gem. Friendly Service and great pastries. They have a small section with unique games and toys from the 60's. It is really cool to take a look through.

Ginkgo always stinks, either like burnt coffee or certain illegal substances of a green leafy variety. Which makes sense, since their coffee always tastes burnt. One time I ate a cookie here that was so dry that it was a mystery how it held together in the first place. Thumbs down.

One of my favorite coffee shops in the St. Paul area. It has a comfy atmosphere, free wi-fi, yummy cookies, and awesome organic coffee. It is a great place to just hang out, do some homework or just read the paper. They also have live folk music on Saturdays.

You know, I worked here for a really long time and couldn't image why anyone would hang out here. Now that I have a new job I find myself there all the time. There's something about it that makes it my It meeting place. The food is alright, the cookies are delicious when baked right (they're all home made) and the soups range from bland to amazing-where-did-you-find this. I think it's nice that everything is home made but I personally know that a lot of people are overworked for minimum wage. I still like the atmosphere and I feel really comfortable there. It's surprisingly busy during the day and I always see someone I know. The walls are all painted stupid, mismatched colors but their ceiling is nice.

I want to like this place because it's a few blocks away... But the last time I went, I paid over $3.00 for a small (small as in much smaller than McDonald's child size) for an iced coffee that was 60% ice and 1% 'coffee' taste. Come on, really? You're a 'Coffeehouse,' shouldn't be that hard? Oh yeah, the store smelled like garbage too. No bueno.

On my walks down Snelling to get to the bus I remember stopping off here many-a-morning to pick up a coffee. There is something about this place, that even though it contains the most irritating toy and knick nack shop, I can't get over it! The people that work here are super friendly, the decor (although very dated) is inviting, shucks I just love it here! I can't give it 5 stars as much as I would like too... they have really great coffee and even really good food! But it's sometimes too difficult to discern between them wanting to be a coffee shop, or a retro toy store. I like the fact that some of my favorite childhood toys are here, but there's a reason they were my childhood toys! I don't play with them. One TOTALLY amazing thing about this coffee shop though, is the coffee and ice cream combo that they will do (because they do serve really good ice cream here too). I always got a large, with Mint ice cream in it. It is super creamy and frothy, and the ice cream cools it down so you can actually drink your coffee! Mmmmm, I am craving it right now actually.

OK now that I have recently moved to the Hamline-Midway area this is the closest coffee shop to my house and I've now been here enough to really get a good feel. I like Ginkgo's a lot! I still stand by my early discontent with their small starting as a 10oz, but overall the regular coffee is great. Each day they have an organic coffee that comes from all over the world. In a week you can try Moroccan, Mexican, Kenyan, and French coffee roasts, many of them organic. I'm glad I gave this place another shot because the staff is really great. Half price for coffee refills leave me spending many mornings doing homework here!

The staff at Ginkgo is among the friendliest I've ever encountered. The coffee is good, their tea is good, and their ice cream and most baked goods are ok, and they have a very affordable breakfast menu as well. The food aspect is hit or miss, but the coffee and the comfortable atmosphere is what makes it for me. I once came in at 11:50pm because I was having a bad night and wanted a cookie, and I said, "I'm assuming you've cleaned and turned off your coffee machines for the night?" and they said, "Nope, we keep one open until closing because we don't want to turn anybody down." I was able to get coffee at 11:50pm without feeling like an asshole who was ruining their night, and they were happy to help me. As a Hamline student and a resident of the Midway neighborhood, I love having a place like this.

The food and coffee quality is average. It's best to go in with the assumption that the food will take forever to make and that the employees are not excited to be working. They're also famous for having vagrants off the street sleep on their couches.

I stopped by this afternoon for a Chai latte. The barista was pleasant and happy to serve me . It was nice to get out of the house and equally nice to have such a well made latte. Thank you for staying open during this stressful time.

Kind of typical private owned coffee house.The old wood floors and shit just thrown in. Hot chocolate was weak, then I find out you can get whole milk. Note for next time. I like the single bathroom on the same level. I hate all the cheap shit for sale thrown in the middle. Tables and chairs are cheap too. I'm impressed that they have their own private lot for Snelling Ave. The students seem to rely on this location.

Absolutely a great little place in St. Paul. Local, right off a main street, fun, clean and has everything. i love the fact that they have live music (hence why I part-take in www.twistedwire.com - the yelp for live music) and that they support local people. The drinks are great and made with love. Plus, they have ice cream. They have a separate area for kids to play. I can't say enough fun things about this place. But again you might ask, "Say Glendon, so why not give this great place a 5?" and again, I'll tell you to zip it and because I don't like coffee. If you do like coffee, stop on by before you head over to the State Fair grounds.

I went here last night for a concert. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place. They have a pretty good sized stage for a coffee shop and their sound system is more than adequate. The baristas here are friendly and double as the sound techs for the shows. They also have some outdoor seating and a decent amount of aprking out back which is really nice.

This establishments was down right horrible. Fist things first. The menu, I had ordered two small hot chocolates for my date and myself. The total was around 5.22 embarrassingly high. Yes I'm used to paying for expensive coffee and food a like, because let's face it, we are in the city and they can pretty much charge as much at they want. The hot chocolate was cold, warm at best and tasted like dirty water. It was a huge waste of money and I was very disappointed. Now the small cup it came in was about 4 sips. No bigger than what a free Sample comes in you would get at Whole Foods. Just a joke, it you ask me. My date and myself where both very surprised that this is what they served us. I had spent 5 dollars on two small 1/2 cups of warm water. It was topped with whip cream because I requested it and that was the only thing presentable. Next let me talk about the bathrooms. There is one unisex bathroom for everyone to use. Which stinks of sewer water and poop. They need to flush their lines out, a very simple task in which you pour about 4 gallons of water down the main drain. If they did this the problem would be solved, I worked at a restaurant where we had a similar problem. And of course when you flush out the sewer lines it stops the grotesque smell from entering the dinning area. The only thing I have to say about Geinko is that it is a giant waste of money, a total rip off, with very poor drinks. I would not recommend this place to anyone.