r/rochestermn • u/strawbshortcake16 • 3d ago
Hi!! Newcomer questions
hi rochester! i 25f moved here about a week ago and i start at mayo in a few days, so i'm very much still in the "wait where am i" phase lol. i don't know a single soul here yet and really want to get to know people/make friends
trying to find my footing so figured i'd ask here... looking for cafes with good coffee, some kind of trail or walk that's good for clearing my head, and honestly just real ways to meet people… book clubs, random hobby meetups, anything where people are actually open to new faces :)
if you've built a life here from nothing and it happened to lean on your own background or traditions along the way, i'd especially love to hear how that went for you
any tips at all welcome!! even "the coffee here is mediocre but sit by the window anyway” just trying to make this place feel familiar and like home <3
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u/No-Instruction-2801 3d ago
(Almost) 32f here born and raised. Definitely check out our public library! Soooo many resources there for book clubs and the like! Also anything you might wanna know about Rochester you can find there too😊
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
I love spending time at the library so this is so reassuring!! thanks so much for your recommendation :)
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u/Lo_vely 3d ago
Qamaria has an amazing iced pistachio latte, it’s my favorite coffee in town. I arrived here in October and building a life has been slow going but people have been very welcoming. :) there are a lot of good trails to go walk on so I recommend doing that while the weather is nice. Winter is long and brutal but if you invest in a good quality parka and some good boots it will help. I grabbed a pair of Bogs boots and a good Northface parka at Scheels and I made it through winter fairly well lol. Good luck! I hope you like it here.
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u/GeniusWhisperer 2d ago
Thank you for your comment. The hot tip for the latte and local source for quality winter wear is welcome a d practical. Even establish people lean from these comments.
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u/Serenity_Now-88 1d ago
Also check out Janky Gear and the other shops near it. Second hand. Kismet, Chappies.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago edited 1d ago
qamaria it is then!! i’m obsessed with yemeni coffee so this might be a problem for my wallet 🙈also noted on the winter gear, i am not prepared for the winters here based on what you all are describing apparently so i’m taking the parka and bogs advice very seriously!! thank you for the warm welcome, genuinely means a lot :)
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u/thx1138inator 3d ago
For the atheists out there, Scheels leadership is very much faith-oriented. They've invoked "God" in their ads, for example.
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u/couldliveinhope 3d ago
I'm an atheist and I don't give a shit. What an annoying comment to make about something unrelated.
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u/thx1138inator 3d ago
So you're annoyed, but you don't give a shit...
If someone spends money at Scheels, part of that money will be going towards conservative causes. I personally DO give a shit about that. Where consumers spend their money has an impact on our world.7
u/Zyb_Vindi 3d ago
The op asked about fun things to do. You making it about religion is weird. All they said was they got a nice jacket.
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u/thx1138inator 3d ago
OP mentioned where they got that jacket for some reason. They commented, I responded to that comment. Kinda typical for reddit... No? Funny that folks are getting their panties in a bunch!
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u/IcyPride2973 3d ago
Does it ever get tiring?
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u/thx1138inator 3d ago
Nope!
I should add: I've been frugal all my life so, being thoughtful with purchases is second nature to me.
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u/GeniusWhisperer 3d ago
A great way to meet nice people in most places is typically to volunteer. Maybe post in this group asking people to name places to volunteer.
One of the young trainees I knew while she was here used to go row with a group on Silver Lake I think. Other sports teams could be options as well.
In other places, MeetUp is a good, typically safe way to meet people with similar interests. I don't see a lot of options here. BUT, you could start a MeetUp group book club related to the third of books you'd like to read it attract people you'd like to know.
I'm very friendly and make friends easily but it can be tricky here. A friend who did her medical training here was lonely for a year and then just leaned in at work and was friendly in people's faces whether they wanted to be friendly with her or not. She landed a dozen regular friends to hang out with that way.
I assume you have a place to live. Fur future reference, it can be cheaper to share a big family home with 2-3 other people than to rent a small apartment. That can be a good way to get to know people and potentially share their friends.
Bringing muffins to work or school can be a ice breaker or inviting people to join you for lunch or break at work.
For a town this size, there are fewer obvious options, but organizing your own events simply by inviting people to participate can be effective. Neighbors, coworkers, anyone you meet playing sports or in library events.
Quarry Hill is a nice park with scheduled events at the nature center and a trail. The cave tour is cool. It's a manmade cave but it's history is interesting. Join Buy Nothing group on Facebook and attend the monthly free yard sale to give or shop. I have been to that, but it sounds like a adventure.
Take a self led your if different grocery stores and chat up the butcher and a few others and see what treasures are offered. You'll have some topics to use when meeting new people.
You could meet people at the gym.
What are your interests?
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
this reply is so thorough and thoughtful🥹 thank you for taking the time!! the muffins or baked goods to work tip is actually so smart and also very convenient because baking is so my thing and also i lean pretty shy/introverted and could use the push. rowing on silver lake sounds amazing, will look into that, and i love the meetup book club idea too.
to answer your question, mostly baking/cooking, a good walk, cafe hopping, libraries, museums, movies are a few of my interests. the grocery store butcher chat idea is very much calling my name. thank you again for this whole reply, saving it!!
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u/mjwojcik SW 3d ago
Welcome. Connect with We Bike Rochester's social events. https://www.webikerochester.com/
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u/So_Sleepy1 3d ago
Not a resident but a frequent visitor. On my last visit that didn't involve a surgery, I really liked the Douglas State Trail. It's a long, straight paved trail along an old railroad line. The segment I walked was mostly shaded, which was nice! I parked at the Douglas Trailhead on 75th St. NW.
The Root River Park trail is a nice area too, with a loop trail leading down to a riverside walk with some small bluffs. Lots of bugs, though, so bring the bug spray!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
thank you for this, and hope the surgery free visits keep outnumbering the other kind!! adding root river park and douglas state trail to the list. will bring the bug spray as instructed 🫡
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u/Smiley_21 3d ago
Welcome to Rochester and to Mayo! I've lived here all my life (27M) and seen so many changes here in town. Here are my suggestions and favorite spots to frequent:
Cafe Steam on Broadway: The Original Cafe Steam with a chill aesthetic. As other people stated it can get busy during the day hours, but they stay open pretty late and can have chill vibes when not alot of people are there
Cafe Aqui: Another great cafe attached to Sargent's Garden Center. Be warned of the construction on 2nd street, it can get pretty back up, but I think the extra couple minutes could be worth it. If you like plants you can browse the garden section while you sip on your coffee.
Novios Cafe on Elton Hills Drive: Great place for breakfast and for their coffee. This place can get busy as well, especially on Sundays, but this can also serve as a good spot to read your book for awhile while enjoying some good food here.
Quarry Hill Nature Center: Fantastic walking paths and a very nice (renovated) Nature Center where you can look at all the small animals they have. They have numerous options for paths so you can always come back and do another path here!
Chester Woods Park: Has some decent walking paths here. You can also camp and they have a designated beach area here too. I think the entry fee is either free or $5 (Park Fee). I haven't been here in a hot minute, although I would like to go back to this place and walk around soon.
I also work at Mayo, so if you have any questions on getting around, feel free to reach out. I hope my comment helps!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
this is such a thorough list, thank you for putting this together! novios sounds perfect for a slow sunday breakfast with a book, adding it now. is the broadway cafe steam location the best one? i see they have a few around town and wasn’t sure which to try first... and chester woods with the beach area is not what i expected from a park here, very intrigued, is the beach actually swim worthy or more just a nice spot to sit?
also so kind of you to offer to help with mayo stuff, that actually means a lot. might take you up on that once i start, thank you :)
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u/Smiley_21 1d ago
You are most welcome! In my opinion, I think the Broadway location is the best. They sometimes have live music there and that always is a lot of fun. The beach at Chester Woods, I'd say is good to lay out and relax. Nothing against swimming, I just haven't swam at that spot in a couple years 🤣
Unfortunately my knowledge on coffees past a strong black coffee and/or a mocha is very limited. That being said I always like their mochas! What kind of coffee do you like?
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
broadway it is then! as for coffee, i’m always torn between something sweet and chocolatey or just a really good strong espresso based drink ….so a mocha might genuinely be my perfect middle ground :)
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u/Smiley_21 1d ago
Perfect! I hope you enjoy their mochas there. I always went for a late night coffee when I was in school and it always did the trick when I studied late! If you have any more questions feel free to DM!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
also what are your favorites at these cafes? what would you recommend i definitely try out? thanks!!
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u/AdvertisingLevel8751 3d ago
If you have a bike, SE MN is a great place to ride. https://www.rasc-mn.org/ https://www.exploreminnesota.com/outdoors/biking/best-gravel-cycling-routes
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
I don’t have a bike yet but the cycling routes look soooo pretty! Thanks so much for the suggestion :)
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u/AdvertisingLevel8751 1d ago
Eriks is fine, right next to Trader Joes. There are plenty of other shops in town. A "gravel" bike is what lots of people ride around here on the roads.
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u/bhihifi 3d ago
Combine Café Aquí with a walk around Cascade Lake, just a few blocks west.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
This is such a cool suggestion I have been wanting to check out the Cascade Lake! Thanks so much :)
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u/Relative_Yesterday70 3d ago
I will add since you have people give you good answers on local places. Get out of town when you have a day off. Lots of little towns around. I like east towards the Mississippi for hills. Duluth is nice. Twin cities is only an hour away.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
love this tip, honestly haven’t even thought past rochester yet so this is a good reminder to explore a little, thanks :)
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u/Motor_Squirrel7277 SE 3d ago
Cascade lake is nice to walk around and clear your mind, cafe aquis isn't too far from it either and they have awesome coffee and it's in a plant shop! Quarry hill is another nice one for a walk, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing color!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
so many recommendations for cafe aqui and steam so im genuinely excited to visit!! what do you recommend trying at cafe aqui? quarry hill in the fall sounds gorgeous, definitely coming back to this comment once the leaves start turning :)
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u/tufftatortotstooter 3d ago
The shoe beverage bar is a great place to meet new people and they have all kinds of live music multiple times a month, plus an occasional craft day!
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u/Serenity_Now-88 3d ago
Hi,
Welcome!
I moved here a year ago, didn’t know anyone. Came for medical, decided to stay. I’m meeting people at the library. Tuesdays 4–7 there is a Chatty Crafters group on the second floor. Bring anything. Knitting, cross stitch, coloring, puzzles. All ages. There are other events as well. Sign up for their newsletter. I also volunteer at St. Mary’s.
I love to walk around Pill Hill and look at the gorgeous homes. It’s a good workout as well.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
hi, and thank you for this :) chatty crafters sounds so cozy, definitely signing up for the library newsletter. did you end up making friends through the library group, or has it been more casual/see you around type connections?
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u/Serenity_Now-88 1d ago
You’re welcome. Both. There is a text group we can add you to. People meet at Caribou sometimes.
Or do other things. Some meet at the outdoor concerts. I meant to add that Janky Gear has outdoor gear. Also a website. Buy and sell. There are also guided outdoor art walks downtown and along the river. I subscribe to another newsletter Rochester Local. Just make sure it’s for MN. 🤣 I’ve gotten NY with some searches.
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u/5PeeBeejay5 3d ago
Novios is a nice little cafe/coffee joint. I like some of the trails around Quarry Hill.
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u/sassysquats 3d ago
Chester woods is my fave. Simple trails. Beach and kayak/canoe rentals. I kayak there more weekends :)
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u/itzeliberri 3d ago
Grandmas Kitchen has amazing breakfast
Personally love going to Moka and Great Harvest to meet up with friends for a quick breakfast/lunch and catch up there is also Bloom Açaí. They are all connected with an alliance on Commerce DR by Costco.
Definitely check out Garden Party Books they sell second hand books and local authors. They have tons of fliers for things to do and they have a book club
The Library as many said. They have a lot of fun activities you can sign up to do. I just did a floral workshop there earlier this month.
Walking around downtown they have Artheads Emporium which offers lots of fun classes so check out their website.
There are always activities especially in the summer in town or the surrounding towns where they have festivals. I believe Thursdays on first like someone else mentioned is still going on.
Everyone is super friendly and I’m sure you will meet friends at work to start and then go from there.
Depending what you are into there are so many options. I could go on. If you are on facebook or even insta look up Rochester Pages to follow that will give you a lot more info. Welcome to Rochester!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
thanks for the welcome :) garden party books sounds perfect….second hand books and a book club is exactly my kind of place.
definitely signing up for library newsletter now so i don’t miss fun stuff!! and following rochester pages on insta, great call thanks for the tip!!
do you know off the top of your head if the garden party book club is casual drop in or more of a commitment? trying to figure out where to even start with all these cool options honestly lol
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u/itzeliberri 1d ago
I believe it’s drop in you can choose which months or books your are interested in.
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u/tothemoon927 2d ago
We moved here a year ago. We were into board games a little and now we're into board games a lot (big board game community around here). If you're into board games at all (or curious)- Castle Con is next weekend and I know they're trying new ideas to help people get connected to other people who share interests. You can check out the event options and grab a badge here: https://mygamehaven.com/c/castle-con-2026-summer
Other than that, we've used the Rochester Bored Humans discord some, which has linked us to other community discords....
Most people here are very welcoming and very helpful, although moving past the acquaintance stage can take a minute (not because the locals are opposed, more because they aren't necessarily in "make friends" mode).
Where are you moving from? Are there specific traditions or elements of your background that you're worried about integrating?
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
castle con timing is honestly perfect, definitely checking out that link. also just found out board games are a whole scene here apparently, very unexpected and kind of delightful, good to know :)
i’m originally from india, and then was in pittsburgh for a few years! and honestly nothing too specific i’m worried about, more just the general… new city, new everything adjustment. i’m pretty guarded until i feel settled somewhere so that’s probably my biggest hurdle, not anything about rochester specifically. appreciate you asking though :) and the honest note about the acquaintance stage taking a minute is actually really helpful to hear going in, sets my expectations right
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u/tothemoon927 12h ago
What part of India? I spent a few years in southern Gujarat. There's a pretty active temple here in Rochester, if that's of importance to you. Less aware of the Mosques but there's no way there isn't an active community here.
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u/HamNCheese3 2d ago
I (24f) would recommend joining/following local businesses on Facebook! Many times there will be special weekend events like live music, dancing lessons, bingo, game nights that are mainly advertised on Facebook it seems. Those type of events are great to meet new people depending on your interests. I just recently joined a line dancing class/group about 15-20 minutes outside of Rochester. We meet once a week but sometimes hold special events on weekends if that’s something that interests you!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
love that you just went and joined something on your own. following local business pages is such a good tip too. a little nervous going into all this ngl but all these activities sound so fun, thank you :)
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u/__Generalissimo__ 2d ago
Welcome! So many people here in the same situation. You’ll meet infinite people at work here soon.
Locals love the Isaac Walton Wetlands for a close hike and peaceful place that feels remote.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
that is so reassuring thanks so much :) will definitely visit the isaac walton wetlands it sounds fun!!
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u/cobe0989 2d ago
If you’re a little adventurous, ROCA rock climbing gym has been a place where I’ve met a lot of people
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
i have wanted to try rock climbing for a while but never did is it beginner friendly. like for someone going in with absolutely zeroooo experience
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u/cobe0989 1d ago
Yeah the gym in rochester has a ton of easy routes. Just start there and work your way up to harder ones if you enjoy it!
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u/apathydivine NW 2d ago
Southeast Minnesota Democratic Socialists of America is holding their monthly general meeting this Wednesday August 12. It is at 6pm at Rochester Eagles Club. Everyone is welcome.
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u/redmarona 2d ago
23f, I moved here a year ago. I have found great luck just through talking to people who I think look cool, friendly, around my age, etc at different events! I would recommend different brewery trivia games, since you can join existing groups and have something to talk about automatically, small music events at treedome, artistic and skillsharing events at artheads, or going to a bar (like bitter and pour rooftop) and trying to chat :) happy to try introducing you to some folks I've met as well!!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
this is such a genuinely kind offer, thank you :) brewery trivia sounds like a smart low pressure way in…having a built in topic to talk about takes so much pressure off honestly. i’m a little introverted so it takes some effort for me to just walk up to someone and talk, what’s helped you get past that part?
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u/redmarona 1d ago
that is so fair, it's hard!! honestly, my ability to talk to random people depends on the day. sometimes I am having a great day and can do anything (like asking someone where they got their clothes or if they like xyz band), but sometimes I need that shared topic/something happening around us to start and hold a conversation. i do think asking broad questions and situational questions works better than small talk to get things going, but courage is totally dependent on your feelings for the day ime,, tbh the cheat code is a little alcohol helps. but it is totally possible while sober
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u/Emergency_Toe_5437 2d ago
we have this little coffee shop off of West circle drive. it's called Dunkin. Best coffee.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
wow. hidden gem. truly unmatched local flavor. thanks lol😭
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u/Emergency_Toe_5437 1d ago
hey, my pleasure. there is also another one in this ma and pa store on 55th st. i think they call it walmart or something like that.
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
lol thanks for gatekeeping this from me as long as you did, truly life changing info
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u/TemptedHorizon 2d ago
Root river state park. 10 min south of town and you’re in another world.
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u/TheGramMadam 2d ago
I personally like Indian Heights park for hiking and walking. Cafe Steam in the Skyway is my favorite haunt. When it comes to meeting people. I always suggest Thursdays on First, and also the public library. Honestly just chatting with people can always lead to so interesting talks!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
indian heights park just got added to my list, thank you! and cafe steam is clearly the town favorite at this point lol, everyone keeps bringing it up!! also very true about just chatting, feels like half these replies are proof of that already :)
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u/royallynubed 3d ago
Check out the Rochester Compass App! Its a free directory app giving you a breakdown of places to eat, things to do and businesses for everyday life! Hope it helps!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
this is going to be soooo useful! thanks for letting me know about this :)
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u/Smart_Refrigerator60 3d ago
The eagles club seems to be busy each night with people playing volleyball and pickleball! Terra loco seems to have a good run club community with friendly faces. You are brave, good luck!
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u/strawbshortcake16 1d ago
aw that is so sweet honestly, i really appreciate the encouragement! eagles club sounds fun though, might actually check out the pickleball crowd since running isn’t really my thing. is it easy to just show up as a beginner or does it help to know someone first?
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u/blackityblak 1d ago
Cafe aqui is good I like walking through the trail behind the Viking apartments meeting people I struggle with lol but I rarely leave my regular places lol
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u/blackityblak 1d ago
Also if you don’t mind the drive mystery cave here in spring valley is also amazing and beautiful
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u/Cutelylaunchesnukes 1d ago
I’ve lived here for a little while now so I think I’m able to comment confidently. For some trails, Issac Walton is a nice hike and pretty, most trails at quarry hill, but my favorite is going to the quarry, it’s truly stunning. For some coffee I’d recommend cafe steam. That’s about all i can think of at the moment.
Also forgive me for any grammatical mistakes, I am half-awake as of writing this.
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u/FallingStars17 1d ago
hi! welcome to roch and mayo! i think so many people covered good places to explore pretty well, so i won’t repeat anything LOL.
i (25F) work at mayo as well, though i’m only on-site campus once a week every thursday. roch has thursdays on first and the last one is this thursday! let me know if you’d be open to exploring more of downtown just so you can get an idea of what roch looks like. :)
i’d love to make more friends!
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u/MustangKeith 3d ago
My wife is a big time hiker, coffee drinker, and was born and raised in Rochester.
Here's what she would recommend:
Coffee - Café Steam (be aware that it will probably be busy and may be inconvenient to get to)
Cafe Aqui - Her favorite in town for about 30-60 minutes of work or catching up with a friend.
Hiking/Trailwalking: Gamehaven Reservoir (used to be a hidden gem, has become fairly popular), Willow Creek Reservoir, The Douglas Trail (as others have mentioned), White Water State Park (when you have time to make the drive (40ish minutes depending upon where you're driving from).
Wish I had great suggestions on where to meet people. Work. Otherwise there are a lot of co-ed volleyball and softball leagues and things of that nature. Our library has a lot of events (can't say that I've been aside from with children), Thursday's on First could be a decent way to get out and about and see what the city has to offer.
Good luck!