The Root Note
Cafe · La Crosse ·

The Root Note

Cafe · La Crosse ·

Organic cafe with sweet & savory crepes, craft beer

coffee
crepes
atmosphere
friendly staff
live music
vegan options
craft beer
latte
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null
The Root Note by null

Information

115 4th St S, La Crosse, WI 54601 Get directions

$10–20

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Cozy
Trendy

Information

Static Map

115 4th St S, La Crosse, WI 54601 Get directions

+1 608 782 7668
therootnotewi.com
@therootnote

$10–20 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining
•Touristy

Last updated

Jan 15, 2026

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The Root Note
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The Root Note

Ma P.

Google
This place had great food with fresh ingredients. Portions are not huge just enough but tasty. We would come back!

Rafael O.

Google
Corey and Jared run a fantastic cafe! From the lovely decor (I love the plants at the front and as a divisor of the space) to the super tasty Gibraltar (i.e. cortado) along with the beautiful latte art, this place is a hidden gem. The coffee selection here is also veryich on point! The only thing I regret is to not have bought a bag of the Colombian coffee that they were serving that day. I'll definitely come back whenever coming by!

Emmilee H.

Google
We came in from out of town and were so happy to find this place. It exceeded my expectations. We are from Oregon and have had a lot of great coffee. The coffee and the food was delicious. My fiancé and I both loved the breakfast biscuit sandwich. I got it with a gluten-free bun and it was great. I loved the unique flavors of the specialty drinks. The best part was the relaxing atmosphere and the great service. Everyone there seemed happy to be there and happy to answer my long list of questions I always have when I order at a new place. We came back the next day and brought the rest of our family and they loved it too!

Nash “.

Google
The location is great right off the river near the park. The food is decent and prepared quickly. I'm not a fan of self-serve. The roasted bean juice is the best part. Not a big fan of the interior change, the past setup had a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Though I like the hosted local art.

Andrea K.

Google
My husband and I brought our kiddos here, and we enjoyed our experience. We drove 2.5 hours for some work stuff and chose this cafe. The barista was really friendly and our coffees were delicious. Waiting for our food as I right this review... I'm sure it's going to be just as great.

cynthia C.

Google
I love the sweet crepes they have. They change flavors every so often but they’re always delicious. I tried the grilled cheese with Kale pesto and it was also really good! I always come for the coffee but occasionally will sit down for a meal. They have the best coffee in the area!!

Sid M

Google
A trendy cafe in downtown La Crosse, this place exudes hip vibes. While the breakfast portions may be on the smaller side, their delightful taste makes up for it. Moreover, this cafe offers a wide range of coffee drinks and an impressive selection of craft beers, ensuring there's something for everyone's taste.

David L.

Google
Delicious, filling, high quality breakfast sandwich and falafel bowl. Employee/owners have forgotten more about coffee than I'll ever know. Wonderful artisanal selections that anyone can enjoy.
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Holly H.

Yelp
The Root Note checks all the boxes! Pleasant staff, welcoming atmosphere, good menu selection, and amazing coffee! I am just visiting from out of town, but, if I lived here, this would become my regular coffee spot! They have creative and delicious lattes, hand selected, pour overs, and absolutely amazing scones made daily. I've spent most of my working life in the in the food and coffee industry. Trust me and check them out now!
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Tara Z.

Yelp
Delicious! Order at the counter pickup at the window. The Root Note is a modern cafe with delicious food options. The interior is brightly lit and although the ceilings are very high up it's not too noisy to chat with a friend.
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Emma B.

Yelp
Went with a group of 5 and we were all very impressed by both the food and drinks. I was grateful for the vegetarian/vegan section of the menu. My brother kept saying how amazing the biscuit sandwich was. Service was friendly and quite fast considering how busy they were because of a parade that morning.
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Erika M.

Yelp
The friends we were staying with brought us here for breakfast, and it did not disappoint. The breakfast biscuit sandwiches were delicious, definitely one of the best I've ever had. And the strawberry rhubarb scone? Incredible. So buttery and sweet, but not overdone. Coffee was also great. The owner was working, and he was so kind and knowledgeable! As he mentioned, the craft coffee world is small and knew about our favorite coffee shop in our town (across the country from Root Note). I wish I could teleport myself here for another breakfast sandwich. I WILL come back if in La Crosse.
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Joshua J.

Yelp
First, the food was excellent. Crepes were spot on. The spritzer were not quite what we were expecting but we had never tried them before. I tried one of the pour over coffees- it took a while as it should. Almost every item is made in house with farm to table ingredients, even their pour over coffee blends. The people were extremely friendly and helpful. There is a stage set up for open - mic and music night which we did not attend, so the ambiance is very stereotypical of an urban coffee house. Would visit again for the food but will probably pass on the spritzers.
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Jesse S.

Yelp
A place with many personalities, this spot blurs the line between coffee shop, restaurant, and bar. Plenty of seating to spread out and work during the day or stop by for trivia with your friends at night. Food is worth stopping in. Just order a bit extra and some items are a bit on the smaller side. The winter beat salad is fresh and delightful. The grilled cheese is layered between beautifully baked and soft bread. And I enjoyed the berry jam bar for dessert - they all looked amazing and it was hard to choose.
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Mandarin Y.

Yelp
A cool spot to grab coffee in the downtown La Crosse area. Sincr it's downtown, you will need to find street parking. Atmosphere was really chill, the dining area was spacious and gave me an industrial, hipster vibe. Since it was cold out, I ordered a hot peach blossom white tea. Excellent tea, very fragrant, low astrigency. I would have loved to order some food, but apparently since it was a Monday they had a limited food menu due to low staffing (this was not listed on their website by the way so keep that in mind), so I just enjoyed my tea. Prices were comparable to other coffee shops and large chain coffee shops. Service was casual but friendly.
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Olivia B.

Yelp
The root note was the perfect place to stop for a little lunch and coffee. I was blown away by how tasty and cool their ube tea latte was and was equally impressed by the biscuit sandwhich. I upgraded the sandwhich to included mushrooms and onions and I'm so glad I did because the mushrooms were so tasty and complimented the sandwhich so well! The restaurant itself is huge, food came out very quick, and the service was excellent! I will definitely be stopping in again soon to try some more of their inventive coffee drinks.
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Skip H.

Yelp
Great service, food, and especially great coffee! If you've got kiddos, hunt for the dinosaurs in the plants!

Katie L.

Yelp
Best coffee in La Crosse. Great attention to detail. And the space is AMAZING. Shout out to the owner, Jared, who remembered us when we came in the next day after our initial visit. They really know they're stuff--coffee sourcing, drink creation, etc. And the food! Sso good!!!!
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Ashley C.

Yelp
We LOVE Root Note! They always have the best, unique drinks. P.S. Thank you for always making drinks for us tea drinkers! I just had the seasonal drink with matcha, sesame, and white chocolate and it was great. They make so much in-house, which I love and they don't make their drinks too sweet like so many places do. The Definition is my husband's favorite, that homemade citrus and spice syrup...*chef's kiss* Their food is actually really good too. My husband always gets whatever their special crepe is. I like their chili and their harvest bowl. We've had the cocktails once and they were unique and really good, though I recall there were one or two we didn't love. Service is always great here.

Manuela R.

Yelp
In La Crosse for work this week and went to The Root Note twice. They have a very nice vegan menu with 9 choices. I had the vegan garden crepe, the vegan chili, and the vegan mushroom sandwich. All three were beyond delicious. In addition, great staff and atmosphere. Looking forward to the next time I am in town.
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Katie F.

Yelp
The Root Note is more than just a coffee shop- it's a hub for the community. The beverage and food menu emphasize creative and carefully sourced ingredients that elevate every bite and sip. The warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Root makes everyone who walks in feel at home. It's a great spot to catch up with friends, work on your laptop, or get inspired by the local artists handing on the wall or performing in the stage. Can't say enough good things about the Root
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Madelaine R.

Yelp
Matcha tea and coffee are wonderful-a much needed improvement from the LaCrosse Convention Center's coffee! Escape the convention and get a good buzz!
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Lindsey J.

Yelp
5-star coffee for sure!! Had an Americano and my date had a mocha breve. Atmosphere is hipster. Took a while to get out to-go order, but was nice to look at the food menu while waiting. Haven't had food yet, but will be back!
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Lien R.

Yelp
I'm town and trying to find a dog friendly place. Yelp says open, but we are finding a lot of pages aren't UTD with their info. Called the number= disconnected. Searched google= says closed. Reviews were great. Hope they reopen.
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Carolyn A.

Yelp
Great coffee shop, and I don't even drink coffee. The chai latte is excellent. Add a biscuit or crepe for an even better visit. The space is large, the service is always friendly. The food menu is short and changes often. Order at the front counter - drinks come from the same counter, food comes out the kitchen window in back.
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Ryan F.

Yelp
My fiancee and myself are spending a weekend away and wanted a nice light and unique lunch. The menu options were diverse and all looked delicious! I went with the BLT and the black bean and veggie chili while she went with the classic crepe. Staff was very helpful and pleasant.
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Brydie G.

Yelp
Fantastic Ethiopian pour over and friendly service. If you're a coffee snob you must stop here.
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Shelby D.

Yelp
Iced maple late is the go to! Staff is always so sweet and helpful! Also i have no clue how they make the biscuits but its a must have

James C.

Yelp
Outstanding little place!!! We came for a light breakfast and The Root Note has the right stuff!! The crepe was sweet with the combination of whipped creams. The BLT with an egg was delicious!! The coffee was good as well. Great settling and decor. Would bang again!!
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Danford A.

Yelp
We stopped for a late breakfast, tenish. It's a casual environment, self serve and table clearing. Food is very good and the staff friendly. We both liked the place and will come back when in town again.

Paula H.

Yelp
Followed the Yelp reviews to this place. Not disappointed. Good slow food. Not the best place if you want breakfast in a hurry. The cremini mushroom crepes were delicious and the egg sandwich had a very generous portion of ham in it. I could have done without the Hibi Spritz - it was very perfumey for my taste.
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Reggie T.

Yelp
First time here... ordered a coffee and the biscuit sandwich, with ham, egg, greens and roasted peppers. This sandwich was delicious and far from ordinary! Get it loaded... you'll be glad you did!

Buddy W.

Yelp
The Root Notes coffee is the best coffee I've ever had out of all the coffee shops I've been to. The staff are friendly and funny and the vibe is perfect for sipping a cup of coffee that will blow your mind! Try the definition latte! My fiancé and I will be back every time we are downtown!
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MaryDan H.

Yelp
Love this roomy, comfortable coffee shop which also happens to offer beer. My hubby and I had read Yelp reviews and we're excited to try their crepes. We each ordered one Berries and Cream crepe with coffee. So. incredible. It was the ultimate perfect light breakfast. We were both blown away! La Crosse folks: Get your butts downtown and experience this breakfast GEM for yourself!!
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Wilfred P.

Yelp
The food was fresh and flavorful. The kitchen is not fast, but food is prepared properly. I arrived at noon and they were at capacity so that is a consideration. Nice beer selection.

Ann D.

Yelp
Wonderful....for many years actually. Friendly staff, good, good food snd great coffee -- who could ask for more?
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Abby D.

Yelp
Loved this place. Stopped in after a long travel morning and had an excellent oat milk cappuccino. The husband had a chocolate chip cookie that was to die for. I ordered a farro, kale, butternut squash salad with an egg and balsamic glaze I believe and it was so fresh and flavorful. Definitely what I needed while traveling. It was a big place with lots of seating. Definitely an artsy crowd which was cool to see. I will definitely come back here.

Ella H.

Yelp
Cute coffee shop. Went on Saturday morning and was pretty busy. Mimosa was decent. Coffee was also good. Had a cocktail there (wish I could remember the name) but was super good. Would totally go back.
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Andrew B.

Yelp
In town and stopped by. The blueberry scone was the best I've had in years. The blueberries were juicy and the scone was moist and tasted amazing. Coffee definitely hits the higher end of the spectrum as well. Go here.
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Kiaya G.

Yelp
This is one of the coolest coffee shops in the area. The set up of the shop and the atmosphere is perfect for meeting up with friends, studying or enjoying downtown La Crosse. If you don't like amazing crepes, coffee and kombucha avoid this place. The savory crepes are SO SO good. I'm sure the sweet ones are just as wonderful but we couldn't get past the combination of savory ingredients to order one! Worth checking out for coffee and food! Seriously make sure you get at least one crepe!
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Suzan H.

Yelp
Beautifully renovated; great selection of craft beers, and amazing food. The chili is fantastic. A must do for breakfast or dinner.

Ellie S.

Yelp
If you're looking for a good spot to work and have great drip coffee or craft espresso drinks, look no further.
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Gillian W.

Yelp
Currently closed until further notice, assuming due to Covid. Came pretty far out of my way to check them out, so definitely would have appreciated updated info on here. Hope they can open again when things have passed.

Adeline W.

Yelp
Beautiful building & location, incredibly crafted coffee drinks, and staff who went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. Will definitely be coming back!!
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Jay D.

Yelp
The Root Note easily made my local, go-to eatery list based solely on the lovely depth-charge or red-eye served and sipped whilst gazing at my laptop in a very pleasant environment. Staff were bright and cheerful and tolerated this pilgrim's many questions about local coffee colloquialisms. When downtown and desiring great java served at a venue that well accommodates the need to connect in comfort, Root Note for now goes to top of my list.
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M C.

Yelp
I was up in LaCrosse for the state track meet and stumbled upon this wonder coffee shop when I went looking for some breakfast. Excellent latte. Loved it so much came back in the afternoon for a pick me up before my drive home. Great ambiance as well.
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Christina W.

Yelp
Super cute vibey spot to grab coffee in La Crosse. Services was super sweet and attentive. We ordered a coffee press ($3) which had $1 refills which was a pretty great value. Coffee was fantastic. I saw a few people who had ordered crepes which looked fantastic. The had tons of fun games and quirky books to entertain you as well. I would be interested to come for an open mic night!

Lora L.

Yelp
Awesome breakfast, brunch venue. We had the Gouda crepe and it was awesome. The Bloody Mary was perfect as well. Highly recommend
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Ralphie S.

Yelp
Came here to see a band and really fell in love with the intimacy of the space. It is a coffee bar and also has a great beer selection. They serve food, but just needed a stout beer and some great tunes and they cheerfully obliged me. Old wooden and brick ambiance that plays into the river towns historical feel. A great escape from the crowded frat boy type bars nearby.
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Sarah M.

Yelp
Love this place! Hoping they are able to reopen soon! I miss the friendly service and delicious food and chai!
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Jeff C.

Yelp
MUCH better than expected coffee and tea. There were crepes being made for breakfast adding some nice smells. We were there for the coffee which again was great and browsed the art and independent zines while we waited. Music at night but I've never gone for the music. Likely the best coffee in the downtown area.
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Adam W.

Yelp
Wow. We came here on a good friends invite. We knew the food would be great but wow were we impressed. We have visited and enjoyed the other restaurants attached to the root note crew , but the crepes here are top notch and deliciously created. There are sweet and not sweet selections. The great people that work here don't act like they are working and are some of be most friendly people. The food is fresh and made to order. The coffee looks great and the beer selection is well thought out. We were here for breakfast but the music playing and the atmosphere was very inviting. Great job to the crew at the Note.

Liam C.

Yelp
Whenever I am in la crosse I find myself spending too much time here. The charming barista and fun owner really add a pep in my step for the rest of the day
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Scott T.

Yelp
They'll make any crepe as a 3-egg omelette. 14 craft brews. Cash-only. Awesome food. Tip: The "no guns" sign and the cash-only policy are not a good combo. You're just asking for it. :-O
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Andrew T.

Yelp
I stopped in The Root Note for lunch today. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, but I wanted more flavor from everything that I ordered. I ordered two crepes: The Cremlin (Mushroom, Red Onion, Spinach, White Cheddar, Thyme, Fried Egg) and the Honey & Lemon. I also ordered their Maple Latte. Maple Latte: Presentation was alright. The latte art/design was off-centered and just kinda "meh". As I started to drink the latte I asked myself, "What flavors am I tasting?" and my answer was "Maple....I think?" The maple flavor was faint. I really wish the maple flavor would have "popped" more. The Cremlin: This crepe, from the "savory" side of the menu, had a very strong mushroom flavor and texture. I would have liked more of the spinach and white cheddar because the mushrooms kinda of overpowered the rest of the crepe. The fried egg was....actually perfectly fried. Props to Root Note for nailing that. And the texture of the crepe itself was right on the mark for a crepe. Again, I was able to feel the different parts of the crepe, but there wasn't a flavor that really stood out to me. More thyme, less mushroom, more cheddar...it was good, but I wasn't amazed. I want more flavor! Honey & Lemon: This crepe didn't have enough flavor for me either. In the crepe alone I couldn't taste any lemon and I wish the honey flavor had been stronger. What I have issues with is the "lemon" part of this dish's name. From what I understand and from what I tasted, the only lemon flavor in this crepe is the lemon that you add...from the lemon wedge it's served with. If you're going to tell me it has lemon flavor, then I want it served to me with lemon flavor! Now, to be fair, once I squirted my small lemon slice on the crepe, the honey and lemon flavors were well-matched. Ehhh, I could go back and forth on the Honey & Lemon crepe. If they served it with the lemon already squeezed then the crepe could get soggy and the lemon flavor could be too strong. I guess it's just a matter of opinion. For my overall score, I'll leave this dish out just because some want it one way, others want it another way. Overall, the consistency and texture of the crepes and the drink was very good, almost perfect. The maple latte had underwhelming maple notes. The Cremlin was a little too mushroom-heavy and the Honey & Lemon, well, that's more of a matter of opinion. Good food and a great atmosphere!
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Mary A.

Yelp
We were completely satisfied and filled to the brim by the marvelous breakfast change in routine. Try the latte with fresh and locally harvested maple syrup making this a good for you breakfast drink then move on to the savory yet satisfying crepes. The So Gouda had a creamy sweet potato purée that hits the harvest time craving we all get this time of year. The fresh greens and vinaigrette completes this dish. We're guessing most people try the baby blues which is also a great choice. It has just enough blue cheese to make it tangy and tasty. We'll be back no question! ps. Had to have a second maple latte, it was just too stinkin good
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Jean Anne D.

Yelp
Cute place. Nice food and fun selections. They often have live music at a back stage area. So great!