As a coffee lover, especially of the local variety, I’ve crossed the threshold of many unique and excellent coffee shops. But I dare say I’ve never had the experience as I did with walking into Dovetail Cafe.
Immediately upon walking through the door my sweet Husband held open for me (the door handle cleverly shaped like a canoe paddle already set the quirky tone), my eyes were drawn up toward the high ceilings and the colorful paper banners that hung with bright pride.
A lightness embraced me, along with a combination of hygge, the scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the hums of conversations, submerged me into an airy state of mind that I can only explain as the Dovetail Effect. So much so that the next day, we went back and brought my Mom along after raving about it!
From the homey and welcoming aura that radiates off the front doors of Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace to the handmade wonders, hung-up canoes, delicious coffee and food, and other delightful operations tied around the Dovetail Cafe, such as the Duluth Folk School, Almanac Coffee, and Voyageur Tattoo Co, there’s SO MUCH I LOVE about this cozy cafe.
My husband and I love to dawdle together, and we’ve become pretty good at spotting coffee houses that are right up our quirky/cozy alley. So, when he Googled ‘Coffee in Duluth‘ and ‘Cafes in Duluth‘ and came across Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace, we nodded in an excited and caffeine-anticipated unison that Dovetail Cafe would be our start of the day.
We were spending a weekend full of family fun and adventure in Superior with my side of the family, including the other amazing writers here at On Lake Superior, my cousin Corey, our Ring Leader of On Lake Superior, and Christina, my wonderful Mom. While we stayed in Superior, we also ventured out into Two Harbors and the Duluth area, and I think my husband and I would both agree that one of the best things to do in Duluth MN to start off your own dawdling is to head over to Dovetail Cafe.
It’s the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee, a bite to eat, get together with friends, or have some reading/work time on your own. The space is large, open, there’s plenty of seating, and the space is soaked in a rich communal vibe that made me feel welcomed and even more pleased to be there. The first time we went there was a knitting group gathered at the largest table in the main seating area, knitting away, chit chatting, and having a lovely morning. It was so heartwarming to see, and it made me wish that I lived in the neighborhood myself so I could be a part of such a joyful community.
While there are lots of coffee shops in Duluth, how many do you know that have a tattoo shop, classroom spaces, and a little marketplace inside as well? The amount of space this cafe has is refreshing and unreal, and it’s so well utilized. With a large amount of space, you feel free to look around and almost be in your own little world amongst all of the other cafe wanderers around you. Once again I reference my coined term “The Dovetail Effect”. * Chefs Kiss *
The marketplace, right next to the stairs, which lead to Folk School classroom spaces and the Voyageur Tattoo Co, holds a collection of handcrafted art pieces, books, candles, balms, and even kits to craft your own creations! We had a sweet time looking through all of the interesting pieces, and we felt very inspired to get crafty. I sense a Folk School class in our future!
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Duluth MN yourself, the Dovetail Cafe holds a variety of community events and classes though the Duluth Folk School! For example, a few of the ongoing events that take place at the Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace are Cribbage Nights on Wednesdays at 5 PM and Open Mic Nights on Sundays at 5 PM. Everyone is welcome to these weekly events, and I hope if you get the chance to go, you find yourself having a wholesome and rejuvenating experience.
There are so many incredibly interesting classes that you can take through the Duluth Folk School, and something neat my husband and I realized about the paper banners we saw was that each slip had a handwritten title of a class that’s offered through the Duluth Folk School. How special is that!
As if this delightful cafe couldn’t get any sweeter, there’s also a Little Free Library tucked in the back. Cue the “awwwwwwww” sound; this place is the best! There are over 50 Little Free Libraries in Duluth alone, and it’s just the sweetest to know that one of them is a part of this awesome place.
Where is Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace?
You can find the Cafe on W Superior St (address below) not far from the Duluth Children’s Museum, and just down the block, a little stage and a beautiful mural accompany a sweet little seating area.
Across the street, there’s also a wonderful cluster of shops to explore, including Goat Hill Marketplace (Where we purchased some wild rice we’re super excited to cook up), 190 Coffee & Tea, Ren Market, Lilia Boutique, and North & Shore (and adorable shop with all sorts of aesthetic goodies, we got a cute sticker from there!). There’s a wide range of dawdling to be done just on this street alone!
Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace Address
1917 W Superior St, Duluth, MN 55806
Curious about where this colorful cafe got its name? I wondered the same thing! While waiting in line, we spotted this informational sign explaining the origins of the dovetail craft and how it ties into the cafe’s unique name. We loved it!
What’s on the Menu at Dovetail Cafe?
I hope you arrive at the cafe thirsty and hungry because they’ve got a delicious set of options, so much so that you may have to pop back in and try something new! I know that’s what I’m going to do; I’m itching to try their London Fog and Granola.
My husband and I are vegan, so sometimes, it can be hard to come across a place that offers vegan options. We were super happy to see that their food menu had some options to choose from, and even more impressed with the delicious taste!
Let’s take a peek at their scrumptious menu, and you can also take a look at their website and order online!
Coffee | Non-Coffee Drinks
Coffee Drinks
- Americano
- Cafe au Lait
- Cappuccino
- Cold Brew
- Drip Coffee
- Espresso
- Cortado
- Latte
- Traditional Macchiato
- Mocha
Non-Coffee
- Chai Latte
- Chocolate Milk
- Hot Chocolate
- La Croix Sparkling Water
- London Fog
- Matcha Latte
- Steamer
- Beer
Food Food Food
Breakfast Options
- Quiche du Jour
- Burrito Bowl
- Chester Bowl
- Dovetail Custard
- Granola with Milk
Other Food Options
- Avocado Toast
- Duluth Traverse
- LNPK Veggie Sandwich
- Soups of the Day
- Superior Baked Max & Cheese
- Vegan Valhalla (Pictured below)
Out of all the Coffee shops in Duluth, we’re so pleased we dawdled upon Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace; this was a lovely experience that we can’t wait to venture back to in our future trips to Duluth. There’s so much more to explore in the big, beautiful city on Lake Superior!
Duluth Folk School & Dovetail Cafe
Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace is a part of the Duluth Folk School ‘handcrafting community,’ and folks (no pun intended); this is a remarkable group of visionaries, crafters, and community members right here.
Folk schools began with trail-blazing roots in the 1800s in Denmark as a movement to share skills in an equal education initiative. And now, centuries later, there are Folk Schools on Lake Superior, including the Duluth Folk School.
“Duluth Folk School brings people together to share skills, knowledge, and life experiences. Classes are taught by community members and visiting artists and makers. Topics include cooking, fiber and paper arts, repair and re-use, natural history, woodworking, and music. Classes at Duluth Folk School encourage people to try new things, strengthen skills, and connect with each other. Handcrafting classes and community gatherings reduce feelings of isolation, build confidence and resiliency, and improve mental health. Skill sharing also promotes equity and a stronger social fabric.”
– Duluth Folk School
There’s a huge list of classes that I encourage you to take a look at and explore for yourself on their Classes page, and there are also fun community events you can take part in! From cooking to handcrafting, there’s something for everyone to expand their horizons and discover a new talent.
On their website, you can check out their Calendar of Events, sign up for their Newsletter (Check!), and even learn how to Support their cause.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my experience at Dovetail Cafe and that it inspired you to go and create your own! A special feeling brews inside you when you support a local coffee shop, and this really hits the spot. There are a lot of cafes in Duluth and one of the best things to do in Duluth MN is to go and journey through them yourself! Grab a pal or go on a solo caffeine adventure and support some local coffee shops in Duluth.
You can also run with that “support local” idea on Lake Superior and wherever your adventures take you, and be sure to tell us all about it on our Facebook group, Loving Life On Lake Superior!
