Café$tower-grove-southMon Closed; Tue-Sun 08:00-15:00Work-friendlyWifi
A longtime LGBTQ-friendly anchor across from Tower Grove Park, Mokabe's pours coffee and runs an all-day vegetarian-leaning brunch in a welcoming room.
Signature drink: Coffee and all-day vegetarian brunch
Tip: The vegan and vegetarian brunch runs all day, which is rare in the city. It fills after the Saturday farmers market.
Café$maplewoodMon-Sat 07:00-19:00; Sun 08:00-18:00Work-friendlyWifi
A downtown Maplewood cafe with a strong vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free bent, Foundation Grounds pours coffee and serves a wholesome all-day menu.
Signature drink: Coffee and vegetarian-friendly cafe plates
Tip: Most drinks make easily vegan with the soy and almond options. The brunch plates are the reason regulars linger.
Café$maplewoodMon-Tue Closed; Wed-Sun 09:00-20:00Wifi
Mauhaus pairs La Cosecha coffee and in-house cookies with a lounge of adoptable cats in Maplewood, the metro's cat cafe. The coffee is the side dish.
Signature drink: La Cosecha coffee with adoptable cats
Tip: The cat lounge is timed and ticketed separately from the coffee bar; book ahead at weekends. The cookies are baked in house.
Café$benton-parkSun 07:00-15:00; Mon-Tue 07:00-14:00; Wed Closed; Thu-Fri 07:00-14:00; Sat 07:00-15:00Work-friendlyWifi
A century-old house turned all-day breakfast cafe, Benton Park Cafe pours coffee and plates hearty brunch in a warren of cosy rooms. A south-side staple.
Signature drink: Coffee and all-day breakfast
Tip: The hash and the breakfast burritos are the orders. Weekend mornings draw a wait, so go early.
Café$botanical-heightsMon Closed; Tue-Sun 11:00-15:00
Union Loafers bakes naturally leavened bread and runs a lunchtime cafe of sandwiches and pizza in Botanical Heights, a James Beard-nominated bakery.
Signature drink: Espresso, sandwiches and naturally leavened bread
Tip: The bread sells out, so come early for a loaf. The Tuesday-through-Saturday pizza nights are a separate, popular service.
Café$lafayette-squareMon 07:00-14:00; Tue-Sat 07:00-18:00; Sun 07:30-14:00Work-friendlyWifi
Park Avenue Coffee pairs espresso with more than 70 varieties of gooey butter cake, the St. Louis dessert it is best known for. Visit the Lafayette original.
Signature drink: Coffee and gooey butter cake
Tip: The Mom's Traditional gooey butter cake is the order, named best in town by Food Network. Boxes travel well as gifts.