Photo by Virginia Harold
Sweet Katie Bee’s Cupcake & Coffee Bar
This article is part of the "Coffee Shops" feature in St. Louis Magazine's January 2018 issue.
Ever wonder why the British are so enamored of beans on toast for breakfast? Try the English Breakfast. Then you’ll understand. 2101 Cherokee.
If you asked us to pick a favorite from the 73 (and counting) flavors of gooey butter cake, we couldn’t—but the seasonal Peppermint Patty is pretty darn good. Multiple locations. parkavenuecoffee.com.
Begin with a plate of powdered sugar–shrouded beignets (mind your shirt!) and French-press chicory coffee in the Annex space. (Pssst! On Mondays, beignets are $1 apiece.) 3919 W. Pine.
We order steak at a steakhouse and a crêpe here, specifically the Brittany, with honey ham, fresh asparagus, Havarti, spinach, and hollan-daise. 36 N. Brentwood.
The Scarborough Fair chicken pot pie (with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), is a classic at this University City spot. 7337 Forsyth.
The fact that the sister store is named Croissanterie is a hint at the must-get item here. 5708 Oakland.
The banana–chocolate chip bread is one of the best “breads” in the city. Over time, we’ve learned to buy entire loaves for parties and holiday gatherings—or just to enjoy at home. 9820 Clayton.
Edwardsville’s vegetarian-leaning coffeehouse has a surprisingly good Reuben (made with tempeh), but the grilled-eggplant panino, with grilled veggies, two kinds of cheese, and spinach pesto, is the real star. 233 N. Main, Edwardsville.
Sweet Katie Bee’s Cupcake & Coffee Bar
The number of cupcake flavors is daunting (especially when you count the muffinized versions of bread pudding and cinnamon rolls), so we usually buy a dozen…and have been known to arrive home with 10. 212 E. State, O’Fallon, Illinois.
The blueberry pancakes here are so big that if you order two, you won’t have room for a chicken- and artichoke-laden Napoli panino at lunch. When the weather’s nice, the brick patio is so chill, you won’t want to leave. 910 Geyer.
Northwest Coffee Roasting Company
The espresso machine is used for more than just beverages: The popular Barista Eggs are steamed to order. Pair an egg or a Liège waffle with a green chai. Multiple locations.
