5 Best Cafes in Downtown, Appleton WI
Updated 29 September 2026 · 32 cafes in Downtown, Appleton WI considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide lists five cafes and casual eateries in and around Downtown Appleton, Wisconsin, for anyone looking for coffee, a pastry, a relaxed breakfast or a casual meal. The order is ranked from Google ratings weighted by review count among the qualifying places. The picks include a bakery and cake shop, a breakfast and lunch spot, a burger-focused public house, a coffee chain location and a Vietnamese cafe. Hours vary widely, so check before visiting.
#1
Whisk & Arrow Sugar Studio
★ 4.9 (619 Google reviews)Bakery and Cake Shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
This bakery and cake shop on N Richmond St opens at 7 am Tuesday through Friday and 8 am on Saturday, closed Sundays and Mondays. Reviewers mention matcha, macarons, take-and-go salads and wraps, and custom shorty cakes ordered online with colors matched to the occasion. Several reviewers say first-time visitors were offered a free macaron, and the staff come across as friendly and generous with recommendations.
Best for: Macarons, matcha and custom cakes
- Address
- 1915 N Richmond St, Appleton, WI 54911, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–5 pm; Mon Closed; Sat 8 am–2 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 7 am–2 pm; Tue 7 am–2 pm; Wed 7 am–2 pm
#2
Author's Kitchen and Bar
★ 4.9 (512 Google reviews)Restaurant
Representative photo, not of this business.
This restaurant on E College Ave serves weekday breakfast and lunch, with evening hours on Wednesdays, and is closed on weekends. Reviewers say it looks small from outside but opens into a larger space with every corner decorated differently. They mention a build-your-own omelet with potatoes and toast, salmon bruschetta and empanadas, a diverse menu, and staff who move quickly even when there is a short wait.
Best for: A generous weekday breakfast
- Address
- 125 E College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911, United States
- Hours
- Fri 8 am–2 pm; Mon 8 am–2 pm; Sat Closed; Sun Closed; Thu 8 am–2 pm; Tue 8 am–2 pm; Wed 10 am–2 pm, 4–7 pm
#3
Mill City Public House
★ 4.8 (916 Google reviews)Restaurant
Representative photo, not of this business.
This restaurant on W College Ave serves lunch and dinner from 11 am Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays. Reviewers say it is known for smash burgers and single out the OK Smash Burger, along with Brussels sprouts and tender smoked ribs. They describe a friendly staff and a unique atmosphere suited to a casual lunch date, though one reviewer felt the burger ran expensive after upgrades.
Best for: Smash burgers for lunch
- Address
- 1103 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54914, United States
- Hours
- Fri 11 am–9 pm; Mon 11 am–8 pm; Sat 11 am–9 pm; Sun Closed; Thu 11 am–8 pm; Tue 11 am–8 pm; Wed 11 am–8 pm
#4
Dunkin'
★ 4.9 (280 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
This coffee shop on County Rd N opens at 5 am and runs until 8 pm every day. Reviewers describe it as a convenient new location with fast service, friendly staff, good donuts and great coffee, and one says orders have been consistently right. Another reviewer reported slow and unfriendly service at the drive-thru window. Parking, entrance, seating and restroom are all listed as wheelchair accessible.
Best for: Early coffee and donuts
- Address
- N9695 County Rd N Suite A, Appleton, WI 54915, United States
- Hours
- daily 5 am–8 pm
#5
Ro Caphe, LLC
★ 4.9 (247 Google reviews)Vietnamese restaurant
Representative photo, not of this business.
This Vietnamese restaurant on W College Ave is open from late morning to 8 pm most days, closing at 5 pm Sundays, and is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Reviewers mention rice plates, banh mi including a cheesesteak version, stir-fried macaroni beef that pleased a child, milk tea and coffee. The decor and music strike reviewers as relaxing, and the staff as warm and welcoming.
Best for: Banh mi and milk tea
- Address
- 1350 W College Ave Ste D, Appleton, WI 54914, United States
- Hours
- Fri 10 am–8 pm; Mon 11 am–8 pm; Sat 10 am–8 pm; Sun 10 am–5 pm; Thu 11 am–8 pm; Tue Closed; Wed Closed
How we made this list
We looked at 32 cafes in Downtown, Appleton WI with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then ranked by Google rating, weighted by how many people left one. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 29 September 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- For an early start, Whisk & Arrow Sugar Studio opens at 7 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated cafe on this list?
Whisk & Arrow Sugar Studio ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.9 from 619 reviews. Author's Kitchen and Bar is second at 4.9 from 512 reviews.
Which cafes in Downtown, Appleton WI are open late?
None of these stays open past midnight. The latest to close is Mill City Public House, at 9 pm.
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