Just like many other college students, I consume a lot of coffee. Winona is the perfect place for a coffee-loving college student, with numerous coffee shops around town. They are the perfect places to hang out with friends and study at.
Each coffee shop is a little different and has its own unique feel. As a coffee enthusiast, here are four of my favorite coffee shops in Winona, in no particular order. I would encourage you to check them out for your next pick-me-up!
Acoustic Café
Acoustic Café has a very homey atmosphere that is filled with a community of artists. On the weekends, there is free live entertainment by local musicians and they display beautiful artwork made by local artists all around the cafe.
Acoustic Café has tons of delicious food in addition to its caffeinated beverages. I would definitely recommend their ice cream, sandwiches, cookies, and salads.
They provide a wide variety of seating for their customers. Acoustic Café is a great place to have lunch with friends or to study for your next exam.
Mugby Junction
Mugby Junction is a popular choice with their two locations in town. They feature a sit-down location near campus, and a drive-thru located in the middle of town.
Their most popular location is right across the street from campus (451 Huff Street). This location is a great place for coffee dates with friends, and it has many comfortable seating options that provide a cozy, homelike atmosphere. However, this location is very popular and it can be pretty packed with people, so it can be difficult to find seating at times.
No worries if the previous location is too packed. Mugby Junction has a second location in Winona that is a little further from campus (718 Mankato Avenue). This location is awesome if you are just picking up a few groceries at Wal-Mart or Target and need a warm cup of coffee on your way back home. They even have a drive-thru at this location!
Blooming Grounds
Blooming Grounds has a very fun, vintage vibe. There are string lights hanging from the ceiling that give the room a back patio type of feel. Blooming Grounds is awesome because they are open really late. I love going there at night with my friends after all my evening activities are over to grab a smoothie and a yummy dessert.
Blooming Grounds also offers live entertainment on certain nights.
The Blooming Grounds Downtown location is (50 E 3rd Street). They also have another location, Blooming Grounds Express that features both a drive-thru and indoor seating to hit the books (270 W 3rd Street).
Blue Heron
Blue Heron is the place to be! The Blue Heron is a great spot to study, hang out with friends or just read a good book with a cup of coffee on a cold day. The Blue Heron is also a little farther from campus (162 W 2nd Street), but much like Blooming Grounds, it makes for the perfect studying environment.
I would definitely recommend their butterscotch latte! Also, check out their food while you’re there. Their dessert case will make you drool, and they also have yummy sandwiches, soups, salads and more!
Winona offers many one-of-a-kind coffee shops, but if you’re a Starbucks or Caribou die-hard, I should probably mention that we have those too! Although they’re not my personal favorite, Starbucks and Caribou do have their perks. Starbucks never fails to come up with amazing seasonal drinks and Caribou is conveniently located in two locations on campus. Swing by the 1st floor of Somsen Hall or the library to fuel up before heading to class.
I hope you enjoyed reading about Winona’s must-visit coffee shops. I would encourage you to check out at least one of them, or all of them (no shame). My favorite autumn activity is grabbing my friends and going on a seasonal coffee shop hunt around Winona. Grab your friends and try it yourself!
Until next time, fellow coffee lovers.