First Look: High Low in Midtown St. Louis

Books and coffee have always gone together. Continuing that tradition, the literary arts-focused cafe High Low is now open at 3301 Washington Ave. in Midtown. 

The coffee shop and event space is part of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation and features brews from Blueprint Coffee and food by neighboring restaurant Bulrush. The 150-person space will be used for everything from readings and book signings to art galleries and live music.  

The coffee program is similar to Blueprint’s other locations, featuring popular roasts like its Finca Esperanza from Guatemala, Cortillera Isabella from Nicaragua and Worka­-Legese Lemiso from Ethiopia.

All the usual caffeinated suspects are there: drip, draft, espresso, cortado, cappuccino and more. Even Blueprint’s Rhode Islander drink – a shot of espresso with 2 ounces hot water – made the jump. Blueprint head of retail Kevin Reddy said signature drinks should be coming soon, as well as an orange-cardamom cappuccino and an espresso Old Fashioned.

Bulrush’s owner and executive chef Rob Connoley and head baker Allison Smith will provide an assortment of prepared foods and pastries for High Low, though the items are branded under Connoley’s now-shuttered restaurant Squatter’s Café.

Plates and bowls include house-made yogurt with fruit and herb puree, oatmeal with vanilla custard and caramel and a farro salad with roasted vegetables and orange-soy vinaigrette. Squatter’s popular biscuit and gravy is here as well, though Connoley points out this iteration isn’t served with an egg.

Pastries include cookies, biscotti, cakes and biscuits with a rotating selection of vegan options. Smith said they will eventually prepare lunch items like quiche and soup.

High Low is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. though Blueprint owner Mike Marquard said they’d like to eventually stay open until 6 or 7 p.m. Here’s a first look at Midtown’s newest cafe.

Adam Rothbarth is a staff writer at Sauce Magazine.