"Back Alley is one of the best local coffee finds. They use beans from Underwood Coffee, a local roaster, and the quality really shows in every drink. The cortado was one of the best I’ve had in a long time, and their house-made syrups are all super flavorful and unique. The space is fantastic, comfy seating, a great patio setup, and surf store with local products for sale. It’s the kind of place you can hang out for hours. Jared is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, which makes every visit even better. A true neighborhood gem."

"What a lovely spot. Loved all the mismatched seating arrangements, and the coffee of course. Ben was so friendly and welcoming and gave us many recs for our little day trip in Duluth. What a great place, thanks Ben !!!"

"My sisters and I just did a weekend coffee crawl in Duluth and reviewed various aspects of each shop—service, atmosphere, coffee, etc. This emerged as the favorite amongst the six of us. Lovely, authentically friendly vibe and great coffee. Could up the merch stock just because we wanted to buy more back alley stuff 🤣"

"Stopped in for a to go latte and cortado. The music and the shop had such a chill vibe. Great quality coffee & latte art Specifically the mocha was the perfect amount of sweetness"

"If I could live in this space, I would. It’s pure magic, it radiates joy, and the curation of the products is impressive. I feel like I’m spending time with close friends every time I step foot through the door. I could spend all day here (and sometimes I basically do). The coffee is supreme, the pastries are on point, and the stack of vintage Levi’s can keep my attention for hours. Come for the art, the boards, the gear, the coffee — whatever the reason, this is worth your time. Worth noting: This is a surf community at its finest. Welcoming to all, a shared obsession with being in/on/near the water, and a genuine joy that you can feel in your soul. This is specific to Duluth, and Back Alley has played a huge role in shaping the surf culture here. Grateful to have them nearby and looking forward to many more moments in this space."