St. Mark's Coffeehouse2019 E 17th Street
Denver, CO
303-322-8384
Just east of Race on 17th.
St. Mark's Coffeehouse bills itself as "Denver's best homegrown coffeehouse." There used to be two locations, but the LoDo location has been closed for quite some time.
The atmosphere when I went was fun with a buzz of high energy perfect for sipping a cup of your favorite beverage and chatting with friends or doing some work on your laptop. There is nice artwork, and some interesting furniture in the place.
They have excellent baked goods and sandwiches as well.
EDITS: The oldest posts here refer to smoking. St Mark's has been non-smoking since the Denver smoking laws passed. The WiFi is also now free.
I typically don't weigh in too much on the reviews on this site, but I am at St Mark's at least once a week. I have found the service to be friendly. Some posts mention being upset about being asked to make additional purchases rather than "camping out" for hours. At a busy coffeehouse, this can be a real issue. See more on that here.
See it on the BUZZ Coffee Map
PLEASE NOTE: The newest reviews are at the bottom. Some of the oldest reviews may be the least relevant, so scroll on down!
Posts
47 reviews/comments:
Drinking coffee is one of the greatest pleasures in my life. I have been frequenting St. Mark’s or awhile now. A cozy coffeehouse in uptown Denver it is. I cannot get enough of the deep black joe. That almost sounds filthy, as though I want and desire deep black joe to enter me. That’s not the case. I am just talking about coffee you pervs.
http://forums.sirstevesguide.com/showpost.php?p=349397&postcount=216
und zen:
http://forums.sirstevesguide.com/showpost.php?p=440968&postcount=605 :)
Ok,
I like St. Marks, I miss the old lodo location too. If only I could put those great windows that open up to 17th. ave from St. Marks in Common Grounds on 32nd Ave and add the Community table from Common Grounds to St. Marks. Then life would be so good. Oh, one more thing, charging .50 for a 1st coffee ReFill, well I'd have a ReFill policy of one ReFill free!
St. Mark's is a fantastic place... IF it is a warm windless day and you get a table either on the patio or in the first row of marble tables against the windows (the "non-smoking" section).
don't know if they will be affected by the state-wide smoking ban -- if so WOOHOO! ('cuz the back half of the place is NASTY). the pastries are really good (made in-house by the owner's wife), but the coffee is weak & worthless, plus they charge ONE DOLLAR extra for soy milk (although some of the staff won't charge you because they think it's a scam, too). the to-go cups are styrofoam, so be sure to bring your own.
St. Mark's demostrates the friction between those who want a clean, smoke-free coffeehouse with WiFi (but not a starsucks chain corporate place) and those who want to be all punk & loud & smokey. it sucks that both groups have to share because of the influx of cookie cutter chains gobbling up the coffeehouse "market".
if you ever get a chance to visit Davis Sq, in Somerville (metro-Boston) you will see the perfect mix of coffeehouses: the Someday cafe has thirft-store furniture & a punk crowd; the Diesel Cafe is all crome, pool tables & dyke-owned; and Carberry's is the independent for your yuppie-scum who are scared of the first two places.
Great huge chocolate chip cookies. I buy them everytime I go. Glad the smoke is in the back. Goddamn cigarette smoke, *Grrrrrr...*
This place sucks !!! Worst coffee I have ever been stuck drinking. The workers are a waste of space.
all for some place allowing smoking outside, but pretending to have a non smoking section with this layout is a joke. i smelled like smoke after just trying to get a cup of coffee to go. too bad..the cookies are amazing, the service is dependent upon who you get and the coffee is not that great.
st. mark's has been my fallback evening coffee destination from probably the last six years. it has remained a second choice to stella's for a variety of reasons, some personal and some pretty easy to identify.
st. mark's is really quite smoky if you sit inside. the coffee is downright terrible (but the tea has been consistently good for some time). it tends to be loud and definitely echoes (again, if you sit inside). the recent semi-merger thing with the bar next door hasn't hailed in any of the changes i feared, though, so it will remain a good option.
it's cozy, and the location is quite good. if you can manage to sit out front on 17th, it can be very relaxing. as already mentioned, the tea has been sourced well (but don't buy the premium teas, which come in at something like $6/cup). the wifi is, to the best of my knowledge, free. they carried surf and sip for some time, but that was before the shift towards free wifi really hit in denver.
and finally, on the staff: they range from very good to apallingly bad. two in particular have been good, although one of them no longer works there. they both remember(ed) me, even though i only end up there once a month or so. others end up being downright disdainful of customers (i hate to stereotype, but they also seem to be the ones with the closest connections to the thin man).
seating can be tight, especially in the winter, and especially if you have a smoking preference (one way or the other). it will be interesting to see how denver's smoking ban affects the place, but i guess we won't know for some time.
Atmosphere is great, aside from the smoking. Location is great. Cappuccinos are OK, not great, but not overly expensive either. Affordable cookies are a plus, but again they aren't great cookies. I don't understand why they keep their pies wrapped in saranwrap (for how long?), with the plates stacked on each other so they're all smashed flat! Unfortunately it can be very hard to get a seat in St. Mark's, since the weird layout of the place and dreaded smoking section allows fewer seats than they should be able to fit. I wish they'd close the adjoining Thin Man bar and make it all coffee!
Where did you horrible people with such negative comments come from? Go to Starbucks! Clearly that's what you're looking for - convenient, beige, and nonsmoking to boot. Leave my St. Mark's alone - they have many loyal followers that have been drinking their coffee and supporting their business for over a decade.
um, hey anonymous, this is a coffeehouse-rating site isn't it? hhow about not flaming people for talking about what the coffee tastes like.
and, btw, if you honestly think St. Mark's coffee is all that, you'd probably really enjoy Starsucks (sans the beige decor). both places make bad java.
To be clear - the pastries are not made by the "owner's wife".
Eric and Tina are co-owners. She owns the entire block that house St. Mark's, among other businesses.
To refer to her as the "owner's wife" is extremely insulting. Just so ya know.
responding to 'Tigger grrl' . . .
If you don't like the coffee, go somewhere else. You are probably taking my table anyway.
you make me want to smoke in public. i like the way your noses scrunch up, the way your lips curl in disgust, i think it's funny. i wanna stand on busy sidewalks and chain smoke - just far enough from business entrances to keep it legal. i wanna follow you step-for-step in parking lots with a cigarette in hand and another hanging from my lip. you make me want to smoke in public.
I am neither a coffee gourmand nor an espresso expert but I do /enjoy/ coffee and a mellow open-minded atmosphere so I love St. Mark's. The baked goods rock, especially the muffins-- whether made by owner, spouse, or other baker.
State law has made both the interior and the patio non-smoking. WiFi is free. There is a "community" table in the back.
If you're having trouble finding a table (inside or out) just ask someone who already has one if you can join them until something opens up... most people here are pretty nice even if they seem distracted or aloof. Who knows, you might even meet someone you like. If you happen to find someone who doesn't want to share just smile and ask at the next table. Really. Everyone you ask will have been in your shoes before.
Happy blogging and buzzing.
St. Mark's Coffee House is a great drop-in place for the nondescript personality that doesn't need to be in the social main stream. It's been a while since I have been in, but overall, it's a great place for study groups, friends getting together to hang out, or the unkempt chess guru's that like to be thrifty on the price of a cup of coffee. The ambience is a nonconforming sort of downscaled urban blah, which is actually unique in a number of ways. The most striking peculiarity is the Paul Bunyon sized church pews that line the walls for booths. The tables are indicative of a youth detention center setting. Some of the oversized metal chairs give you a sense of being in an "Alice in Dizzyland" cartoon.
The coffee is far better than that of a diner, and the sandwiches are pretty hardy, although the menu is (or was) pretty limited. The staff generally tend to be the scatter brained artist without a motiff sort.
The 17th street patio is a good size, and you can occasionally see a Colfax Peddler of illegal goods stray past. My only real serious critique is the grotesque canvases hanging on the walls, by hoping-to-be artists who lack a sense of inspiration or expression. I guess the artwork detracts from the feeling of drinking coffee in one of Bubba's neighboring cell blocks. If you're a chess mental, or a procrastinating student needing to be out while cramming in a paper, St. Mark's is an ideal place to go.
first time on the site, Great! I live in uptown and know St Marks well, and honestly, all comments are basiclly right on. Eric and family (by the way, if your kids are a measure of your soul, you should meet his two girls!) also own and run The Thin Man next door. It would be great if they could hire workers like the bartenders in the Thin Man. They are the best bartenders and service personell in Denver. But I must admit, that before the two main baristas finally started recognizing me, the service basiclly sucked. Independents aside, hooty and precocious baristas are a thing of the past, and St. Marks has no reason to be that way, anyway. I don't understand the people who like the baked goods, tho. Charbucks is better. (Cookies an amazing exception!) However, coming from an industry person, and a true independent coffee shop lover, St. Marks is not to be missed. If you wonder where all the good shops have gone, here's one to catch on 17th Ave.
St.Marks is one of the grooviest coffee houses I've seen. GROOVY!!! A very hip atmosphere.
The smoke was terrible (before the no smoking law went into effect) but was one of the few smokers paradises I'd frequent, dispite my distain for smoke.
The ecclectic set up, the used furnature, makes this a place I feel I can relax in. Besides, there's a patio one may escape to, if feeling crowded.
There ARE places to sit at St. Marks...it's European enough to allow for strangers to double up at the tables, of which thee are plenty.
The staff is loveable!
Must say this is a very, snotty, wannabe body pierced gen-y's non-professional staff. The art is mediocre at best and the coffee is average. Tries a little too hard at St. Mark's Coffeehouse.
"The staff is loveable."
Am I missing something? St. Mark's is absolutely everything I want in a coffeehouse, but the way I've been dealt with by Heather (a barista) surpasses "quirky" to downright rude. I once mentioned this to another person in line, who replied that his office was right around the corner and that no one there went in due to her attitude. Bossy, curt and flippant, I absolutely marvel at why Erik and Tina keep her employed. A dark spot on a fine establishment, one that keeps me (and others) from coming in. Really sad.
To start, Heather's a dear. Beyond that, St. Marks is a Denver landmark. No one goes there for espresso artistry, even if the drinks are good. It has become the axis for the social universe. Woody Allen has Elain's, and I have St. Marks. God bless their staff (even if they make more money than G*d, I'll still tip), the lion icon, 17th, and the old, new Denver. I'll be there tonight if anyone has a bone to pick. It's the only place you need to take your friends from out of town.
One complaint: cleintele have become terribly good-looking. Keep Denver ugly.
The atmosphere at St. Mark's is hip, but the sign attached to their cash register is not so welcoming. It states something along the lines of, "If you use St. Mark's as your office, we expect you to pay rent. That means one cup of coffee (or equivalent) for every hour that you are here."
Not exactly the way to win over new customers, if you ask me. I always buy coffee before using a coffeehouse and their wireless connection. This sign seemed tactless and bad for business.
St. Mark's is a nice off-the-beaten-path spot. Great paninis, and nice outdoor seating. Neither the crowd nor the employees seemed so friendly the few times I went, but considering I don't want to talk to anybody either, it's OK.
St. Mark's is a good for what I need: a different venue for working. The coffee is decent, with a fine selection of teas. The tables wobble, the music is often too loud, and the free wi-fi can be slow slow slow, but hey, it's free. Everytime I go, though, I am screamingly irritated by the obnoxious, rude, condescending, patronizing sign hanging behind the cash register, informing me (as I'm paying for my coffee) that I must be a "real" customer and actually "buy" something in order to "be" there because this "IS" a "business." That's not a direct quote, but it gives you the flavor. I am always incredibly offended by this horrible, hot pink sign. I have heard other customers comment to say the same.
So go to St. Mark's, but for heaven's sake, don't forget to "actually" "buy" something. Anything. It's all good, and I didn't need to be patronized into buying it.
TUES AM: oh my goodness! the girl at the counter apparently has no personality or social skills. i've never met anyone who can complete a full transaction with a customer without a touch of pleasantry. does she hate her job? does she hate her customers? does she hate her boss? either way, she should really find another line of work that doesn't bring her in contact with other humans.
Sandwiches are actually pretty good there...
Service is kind of a joke here. You get a sandwich and have to basically watch to see when it's ready because no one tells you.
Maybe it's cause I'm not coffee-shop cool enough, or maybe it's because everyone here hates their job but still wants to look alterna-coffee shop cool....
Despite its Uptown location, St. Marks is still a disgusting, smoky hangout for loser nicotine addicts, with pathetically losing beverages and staff to boot. Avoid if you value quality java, service with more than the brain of a headless tick, and your lungs.
part of the appeal of st. mark's is the inconsistency when it comes to the way they make their drinks, or how good the service is. if you stick around for a while, and venture over every now and again, you will see that the staff is really quite nice, and the coffee is not too shabby. they may even give you a hell of a discount, if they see you often enough.
and i happen to like the sign on the cash register. one thing that frustrates me about the atmosphere of st. mark's is the overwhelming abundance of laptops. it used to be a place where people would go for a smoke and a coffee, to socialize, my friends and i included. you used to see east high kids ditching class in the back. that sight is not so prominent now, as the laptops have taken over where the ashtrays used to be.
one mind numbing addiction gave rise to another, i see.
fantastic croissants and paninis, chai is from a box.
Yesterday I was having an awful day, went in on my morning break to grab a chai and croissant, and waited quietly in line, cellphone to my ear, but not talking as I waited for my turn.
When my turn came, the brunette behind the counted looked at me, then said to the man behind me 'How can I help you?'. The man pointed at me and said I was there first... the brunette told him 'She's on the phone' and ignored me.
Now.. if she had pointed to a sign that I hadn't seen, given me the chance to shut the phone since I wasn't talking and was obviously paying attention.. I'd had a bad morning and was frazzled and maybe didn't see a sign. I would have happily complied immediately.
But to just ignore me and not give me even a chance.. bad customer service. I just gaped at her and walked out. Walked back to my office, starving and in a worse mood than ever. I won't go back.
stay away. freakishly cold in winter, filled with table-hording hipster ibook-clad zombies and not-just-rude-but-crazed-baristas. once saw a barista come into the back of the half-empty place and yell loudly at some customers (repeatedly) for not buying enough, even after one of them went up and bought a drink (she wanted them all to buy something). and that's one of the nicer people who works there. if you're into being abused by loser staff who wield their minuscule bit of power in the world over you, so much so that you're scared while waiting in line, this is the place for you. only fascinating thing is watching those abused by staff giving generous tips out of pure fear. yuck! won't ever set foot in here again.
dats cause I tossed yo fat ass back to da zoo where you belong !
What's with this website? Why is there an editorial comment at the start of these reviews implying that the service at this coffeehouse is actually "friendly," when at least 5 or 6 comments imply otherwise?
I personally have been going to this coffee shop for a few years now. It's a pretty good place to study or have a conversation. It's one of the few places where you can get a late night meal that's cheap and good. In the summer, the patio is a good place to hang out people watching.
A place with texture, excellent coffee, chai, and a great gorganzola spinach sandwich. A lot of twenty something students sucking free wi-fi and drinking water. I'm glad the owner posted a short note asking patrons to share tables and buy something every once and a while. People with there mac portables and textbooks spread out take a whole table. They are so f-ing inconsiderate to move their crap and share a table. So, again, I'm glad there is some guidance. I'm sure these people kill business, I've walked in and walked out as there is no place to sit. Nonetheless probably the coolest java hole in Denver.
i love this place i went hear first when i was about 12 and love the feel the coffee and the art. not to mention they have grate people that work their.
and it close (walking) to the hart of denver or the rest of the cepital hill area.
im 18 and all the years i have bin going their....i cant say i have ever seen a smoker except the ones that walk by on the side walk.
i realy recommend going hear.
PS the chi tea is really good
I sometimes stop at St. Mark's. No complaints. Justice and the owners would be better served if these comments were arranged from new to old. It is useless to review comments on smoking from 2005, much less most of the rest that is three years out of date. Nota Bene
Good point on the post order. If someone knows how to make that change in Blogger, let me know. Until then, I'll add a comment on the footer of new posts informing people the oldest posts are at the top. For this particular one, I'll likely delete some of the smoke comments.
I visited the lodo location often when I lived in Denver, before the turn of the century. Truly one of the few bright spots (with the Mercury and the Tattered Cover) in that city.
I just walked up to St. Mark's this morning for the first time. I will agree that the staff wasn't super friendly but I was able to get my coffee and almond croissant (which was delicious)with out waiting in a line and sit outside on the patio with my dog on a beautiful fall day.
As far as the mandatory coffee buying goes... obviously if they have had to put up a sign, it has been a problem for them. Not everyone has the social graces most people see as appropriate behavior. They are still a business and don't make money from people taking up their tables for hours and using their free wi-fi. So I can see their gripe!
Overall, I thought they had fantastic food and a great cup of coffee. It's not too expensive either ($1.85 for a croissant, $1.50 for a SMALL coffee). I'd definitely go again (in my sweatpants and winter hat... not everyone there is coffee shop cool).
a place to go and you too can fit right in if you have a mac...but alas good luck trying to get an internet connection...and gotta love a place that places indie music...too bad the bands they play are soooo yesterday...
Post a Comment