Sovereign Grounds might be the Cities’ most parent-friendly coffeeshop: It has a big playroom, outfitted with miniature log cabins, slides, books, and building blocks, just for kids. Owner Hakan Sezer, who immigrated to Minnesota from Turkey, has done much to make Sovereign Grounds a community space since opening it in 1995. Come for the house-roasted Fair Trade beans, the plentiful menu of sandwiches and pastries, and the general coziness.

When Lee Carter and Caleb Garn founded Five Watt in 2014, they catalyzed the coffee-as-cocktails trend in the Twin Cities. Using the shop’s own bitters line, baristas concoct unique flavor combos like the beloved Kingfield, made with Five Watt coriander bitters and vanilla. Choose any of the four locations — each one has a unique vibe, but all are equally welcoming.

What’s the biggest plus at Duck Duck Coffee: the Nesquik mocha or the Pac Man game in the corner? This cozy south Minneapolis coffeeshop is stuffed to the brim with plants, board games, and good vibes. (Owner Kat Naden always has work from local artists hanging on the walls, too.) Come for chocolate chip cookies, nutmeg-laced miels, and chai made with Assam tea and fresh spices.

Wesley Andrews has that classic minimalist coffeeshop vibe, but it doesn’t feel sterile — sun streams in from the huge storefront windows, imbuing the space with warmth and light. This spot is known for both its coffees and its aromatic teas, served loose-leaf. Pair the earthy ube latte with a pastry.

Caffetto is a well-loved, well-worn Uptown coffee shop with a cozy-punk vibe — it’s been around since ’91. One of the few places in the Cities that serves egg cremes, Caffetto also serves a wide variety of pastries, and is open from 6:30 a.m. to midnight every day.

Known for its washed coffees and sleek, airy interiors, Dogwood operates a number of locations around the Twin Cities. The espresso tonic, finished with orange bitters, is a bright, summery pour; a rich cortado is hard to beat in cooler weather. Dogwood serves Marc Heu pastries, too.

Matchbox has its name for a reason: It’s a narrow little space wedged between a brewery and a hair salon. Order a steaming espresso, a sweet Thai coffee, or a classic drip. The shop has a cozy, intimate vibe, making it a great spot to meet a friend or cozy up in the corner with a book. When the weather’s nice, pass through the plush red curtains at the back of the store onto the patio.

What do auto repair and coffee have in common? Not much, but that didn’t stop the owners of Good Carma Auto Repair from opening an adorable cafe in an empty building across the street from their repair shop. Matching the customer-focused ethos of the auto shop, Carma is bright and cheerful year round, making it an ideal spot to hang out while your car gets a tune up. Try a chai latte or a cold brew blended with ice cream.

Abogados Café is St. Paul’s only law-themed coffee shop, owned by lawyers Ofelia Ponce and Inti Martínez-Alemán. Equal parts coffee bar and mercadito, stop by for an Ex Parte — a long black blended with lavender and French vanilla — or a Fearless Lawtte, made with cayenne and Ceylon cinnamon. Abogados also serves Vikings & Goddesses pastries.

It doesn’t get classier than Nina’s, in the heart of St. Paul’s historic Cathedral Hill. This shop has an old soul — it’s filled with nooks and crannies to nestle into, and has soaring windows that flood the space with light. Be warned, it’s hard to leave Nina’s. Come for the espresso and stay for the paninis on the dinner menu.

Instagram darling Café Astoria is a sun-filled, bustling shop that serves creamy smoothies, light daytime dishes like crepes and salads, and specialty drinks. (One favorite, the “Bee Sting,” is made with wildflower honey and bee pollen.) Co-owner Leah Raymundo’s creativity shines through on the “Secret Menu,” which features lattes and matcha pours with rainbow foam.