Birchwood Cafe

Nestled in the middle of quiet, leafy Seward neighborhood, the Birchwood Café has been bringing seasonal, local-whenever-possible, organic fare to residents of Seward for decades. An eatery with a cause, the community-minded Birchwood truly lives up to their motto “good real food.” A cozy spot for brunch, dinner, or coffee if you’re feeling the need to stray off the beaten path a bit. Their menu is always fresh and rotating, and they have 
something for every diet from the omnivorous to meat/dairy/gluten-free. 

Website: Birchwood Cafe

Top 5 tips:

1. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options

2. Best for: date night, weekend brunch, dinner with the family

3. Supplied by a number of local growers and food producers

4. Outdoor seating

5. Bike friendly! They have regular bike racks as well as a Nice Ride station right outside the café.

Publika Tea & Coffee Union

One of the many coffeehouses in Dinkytown—check it out if you haven’t been there yet! They’re half local, half global serving products from Tea Source, Uptown-based Dogwood Coffee, and Poor Boy Candies made in Saint Paul.




The other side of their operation is Chatime, specializing in a well-loved international treat: bubble tea. They also have a selection of baked goods so you can satisfy your sweet tooth while you study or chat. Another plus: They have a couple of nice big tables, making for a good group meeting spot if you’re sick of the library.





Website: Publika Tea & Coffee Union

Top 5 tips

1. Offers coffee/tea, baked goods

2. Best for: studying, meeting a friend, meeting a group

3. Wifi access

4. Walking distance from campus

5. Bubble tea!