The Lobby Coffee & Leisure — Restaurant in Excelsior

With high anticipation, we watched the first floor renovation of this important historic building in downtown Excelsior, MN. The Lobby Coffee & Leisure has become a favored spot for exceptional coffees, lattes, breakfast smoothies, pastries and drop-in lunches. Everything is state of the art. We are also pleased that the exterior of the building falls in line with its history and maintains the feel of value and originality. It has quickly become one of the stunning spots that is creating serious buzz among Excelsior’s local community. With large windows on the front and back, it carries an open and inviting atmosphere.

The breakfast Avocado Toast must be amazing… it has been sold out each time that I’ve tried to order. We’ve been very pleased with their Margherita Flatbread and Caprese Salad. The mozzarella cheese is of excellent quality with fresh basil and just the right amount of balsamic vinaigrette. The Cheese and Cracker Pate is an ideal entree to share. The pastry selection can thin out by mid afternoon. The Lobby Menu is extensive; it includes· ESPRE Espresso & steamed milk, mochas, craves, ice teas, and excellent drip brew coffee. They also provide salads and soups - if you can get them before they sell out. Their breakfast egg sandwich with havarti cheese and sausage had great flavor.

People love to come here with their computers and work a spell. Outlets are supplied by the tables along the wall.

It is amazing how well it functions for having such a small kitchen. The staff seems to understand efficiency and excellent customer services. I was surprised when I tried to pay in cash and they are only set up for credit cards. Even more surprising, since they couldn’t give me change for my $50 dollar bill, they covered the cost of my coffee! Amazing experience.

Given the popularity of The Lobby Coffee Shop and construction going on behind it, parking is limited. In the back there are two multi-gender restrooms. All is on the main level so it is nicely handicap accessible. Huge thanks to this independent, local owner for choosing downtown Excelsior. For a coffee shop with grinders, conversations, and other noise going on, it’s amazingly quiet. This so outdoes the typical box chain coffee shop. This boutique hotel has 4 suites upstairs; the Lobby Coffee & Leisure is open to anyone, not just hotel guests. It also has a small and delightful...

The Lobby is a true gem in Excelsior, Minnesota, a town I love and am lucky to be a neighbor of. My wife visits frequently, and we often take our four-year-old daughter, Benedetta, who absolutely loves their croissants. On our last visit, we ordered an iced cappuccino and a strawberry Italian soda for Benedetta. Both were fantastic.

Beyond the great coffee and pastries, The Lobby is more than just a coffee shop. It’s a core part of the Excelsior community. Every once in a while, I’ll meet a real estate client here to discuss home buying, selling, or investment planning. It’s the kind of place where you actually want to spend time, whether you’re working, catching up with a friend, or just enjoying the neighborhood vibe.

One of my favorite parts of The Lobby is the bar counters along the street-level windows. Sitting there alone with a coffee in hand, reading the news on my phone, knocking out some emails, and quietly people-watching reminds me of the time I was a student in London or interning in Germany. There’s something about those seats that makes me feel like I’m somewhere else entirely, not even in Minnesota. The energy of life passing by, the quiet moments to just observe and be present—it’s a small but meaningful pleasure every time.

Since The Lobby opened, we haven’t been back to Starbucks. It just feels better. It’s locally owned, thoughtfully designed, and fits the character of our town in a way that corporate chains never could. I truly appreciate the guys who put this place together. It’s a special spot that makes Excelsior even better.

If you’re in town, skip the chains and support local. You won’t regret stopping by.

A very thankful...

Great new coffee spot in Excelsior!

I don't have many complaints about this new addition to Water Street -- I just wish it happened sooner!

The two best things about The Lobby? The space and the pastries. You can tell that whoever designed the cafe really put a lot of care into crafting a beautiful coffee shop. From the antique tiles to the grand chandelier, not a single detail was lazy. I also appreciated that there was a solid mix of barstools and booth seating. I believe there will be outdoor seating on the back patio at some point, too -- something that is always in high demand in excelsior.

And then there are the pastries... in lieu of homemade pastries, the Lobby outsources to Patisserie 46 for their baked goods. And while I always appreciate a baked from scratch effort first and foremost, you can absolutely not go wrong with a croissant (or two, they aren't massive) from Patisserie 46. Delicious! And it's so nice not to have to go to Mpls to get them.

You can also get smoothies here -- I enjoyed the pineapple matcha. Another menu standout is the affogato (espresso and ice cream). The owner mentioned they will eventually have wine (always a win) as well.

Remote workers can be assured that the wifi is fast... and the coffee is strong! Side note: bathrooms are out the back door to the left and are very nice and clean.

Fans of Smith Coffee & Cafe in Eden Prairie will...