Protagonist Cafe

Quiet, cozy, relaxing. Great little coffee shop with some comfy chairs and outlets to do work. The staff was very nice, and the drinks came out great, and fast. I would get rid of the purple/green color scheme, but still a great place to hang out.

Very nice little cafe. My latte was delicious and the spinach/feta pastry I got was very enjoyable as well. My only complaint was that it was a little crowded and I could only find a seat that was a little firm to sit in for a couple hours that made me readjust every so often to get comfortable again. However, the atmosphere was charming and fairly quiet with most people studying/reading and music with few or no words playing to drown out the noise of any people chatting.

What an amazing little coffee experience. Books to read everywhere! Great little seating areas throughout. Can't find a seat? Ask someone to join!
Pastries and ice cream. Didn't partake, but looked super yummy.

Being a coffee and book lover, this place has been on my list for over a year now.
Went there for the first time and loved the vibe. We had their toffee and basic latte with gluten free choco lava cake. Everything was great. It was mostly quiet and people were focused.
Their book collection was very nice across multiple genres.

A. WHOLE. VIBE

I hadn’t visited this cute cafe before but I will be back soon. The customer service was divine, the coffee was delicious, and the space was chill. There are used books for sell which is so cool.

I really can't rave enough about this place. I checked it out on a Friday afternoon, and it was quite busy, but the staff were keeping up with all the orders and were sincerely cheerful and helpful with everyone who came through the door.

This is a coffeeshop--a really beautiful one--that also has books for folks to read as they enjoy their tea, coffee, or cocktails. They have baked goods, as well. I had the feta parmesan croissant, and I saw scones and cookies and heard mention of a cake.

Probably the best example I've seen of following COVID precautions outside of Shameless Grounds (another favorite). Masks are required, of course, and they have masks for sale for $1. They ask that patrons wear their masks when they're away from their table, ordering, etc., and they provide disinfectant spray at busy common spaces (like the coffee table with a large checkers set) so you can leave it clean.

They also have an accessible, gender-neutral bathroom with an option to use less water to flush less waste. I mean, that's the trifecta. 🙂

I enjoyed this coffeeshop so much and will absolutely be back. Grab a London Fog, nibble a scone or croissant, and read a book or just enjoy the free Wi-Fi!

Finally got a chance to check this place out.
It’s my kind of cafe, with the variety of seating options, very lived in and cozy without feeling dirty. Not pretentious, variety of people. I stopped in on a Sunday morning to catch up on some work for a few hours. I just caught the last “table” which was more like a desk against the wall. I pulled the desk out so I was able to sit facing the room - I have a thing about having my back to the room! It was a perfect, cozy spot to work. I get a little anxious trying new spots until I get the hang of how things work. A few points:

- this place is popular and busy. I arrived a little before 10am on a Sunday. It got busy very quickly
- you can order using QR code at your table. They will not call your name though, just your order, so listen
- the cafe au lait was delicious and reasonably priced
- best croissant ever (Parmesan leek)
- after a couple hours,I tried the oatmeal cream pie, it was good but so rich, saved half for the next day
- burrito bar smelled good but I couldn’t easily figure out how to order one so just gave up. Yea, I could have gone up and asked, but I told you I get anxious so forgive me, I was just trying to stay cool
- plenty of outlets, no issues with wifi
- restroom was super cute, spacious and clean feeling
- the owners obviously love Gilmore Girls. I didn’t feel the love for it but appreciate that it wasn’t shoved down my throat
- after the burritos shut down, no food options except super sweets (croissants seemed to be gone by 11am) but I saw people being sandwiches from nearby shops in. I’d love to see more savory lunch-like items like traditional croissants or bagels but at least what they had seems to be made in-house
- you may not find a seat. Yes, I was there for like 4 hours. If there was a time limit, I would have respected it. I also purchased a few items and did not take up a table larger than what I needed
- what I loved to see was people sharing tables, everyone seemed very kind about it
- recycle bin - I wasn’t sure what was recyclable or not…so I put my cup in the trash, which seemed like everyone was doing

In conclusion, I can’t wait to go back - especially when it’s nice out, and not to work, but to catch up on reading. A true, community-feel coffee shop!

Lovely place with good coffee. Definitely feels like a communal space that’s good for STL. I enjoy the color palette they used. Purple is my favorite! Check it out if you’re in the city!

A delightful quiet atmosphere with the scent of books, fresh brewed coffee and delicious sweets. Staff is attentive and kind with an easy approach. Lemon bunt cake and a nice hot chocolate to sooth a tiring drive, cozy and pleasant. The art on my hot chocolate was a cute surprise

This experience was so cool. I had been house sitting in Soulard and noticed this coffee shop was nearby so I decided to come patron the business. If you are vegan, you will LOVE it here. Their pastries are predominantly vegan. The day I went in, only FOUR weren’t vegan. Imagine having so many options. Their cinnamon roll (vegan) is the bomb dot com. It’s delicious. Get it. Order it. It’s a must. I also ordered an iced pumpkin spice latte with oat milk. It was delicious. They sell wine and books in addition to other things. It’s a cool environment over here. I will definitely come back. This place is comfy and cozy and I love it.