Cafe Donuts, Minneapolis

When visitors walk into Cafe Donuts at 5 a.m., chances are they’re still waking up or sleepwalking in their pajamas. Once through the doorway, they immediately regain consciousness as they’re greeted by an aromatic uppercut of fresh donuts and percolating coffee. With newfound alertness, they behold a menu of 40 standard donut varieties alongside specialty pastries such as apple fritters and éclairs. Behind the counter, baristas steam milk and grind beans for a variety of hot or iced drinks. The café’s staff also keep sweet teeth from troubling neighbors for a cup of sugar with more than 24 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream.