Essential Cafes To Visit In the City of Coffee

Locally-owned Preserve and Gather has garnered intense neighborhood loyalty from Greenwood residents and beyond with its modern and airy vibe, locally-made pastries and spot-on Fulcrum Coffee drinks. Co-owners Kayla Blincow and Tess Smedley named their labor of love after their intentions—the cafe is a gathering space, so no Wi-Fi is available. Preserve is a nod to their love of canning, which shows up in their beloved house made pickles. Try some, and the coffee, and we’re sure you’ll be back.   

This home-grown roastery, cafe and bakery opened its doors 25 years ago on Queen Anne Hill and has grown into an institution, with 16 locations across the city. Each Caffe Ladro, which means “coffee thief” in Italian, reflects the unique character of its neighborhood, but you can rely on finding the same simple elements within: great in-house roasted coffee, freshly baked goods and Adirondack chairs that line the outside entrance—a little encouragement to sip, savor and enjoy with friends and neighbors.

Victrola Coffee was inspired by the liveliness and exuberance of the Jazz Age, and named after the phonograph of the same era. What was started as a much-needed cafe on Capitol Hill’s 15th Avenue by owner Dan Ollis in 2000, has grown into a venerable local’s favorite with its own roasting facilities and three additional neighborhood locations. This is a place to sip, savor and enjoy—after nearly two decaes in business, it’s clear that Victrola knows its way around a bean.

Native Seattleite Brendan Mullally founded Pioneer Square’s Elm Coffee Roasters to showcase beans and flavors from around the globe. Elm’s clean and bright atmosphere is high on style, the coffee is light on the roast, and the baristas are known for their welcoming service. Pastries are supplied by The London Plane, located down the street, and—luckily for us—a subscription service is available for fans of the locally-roasted coffee.

Capitol Hill’s Oddfellows Cafe + Bar is a fixture of the community, open morning till night, and known for its simple and hearty fare, Caffe Vita coffee, elevated cocktails and welcoming atmosphere. Owner Linda Derschang has a knack for creating treasured local hot-spots such as Linda’s Tavern and King’s Hardware Bar, and like those, Oddfellows never disappoints. 

Barry Faught promises hospitality and delicious drinks at his Broadcast Coffee Roasters—and that’s just what you’ll get. He named the cafe in honor of his dad’s lifelong passion for radio (after he found coffee to be his own life’s calling). The airy cafe welcomes visiting friends, co-workers, and those carving out a little time for themselves, all of whom come for community and the coffee, roasted to perfection.

More than a coffee bar, Sound & Fog serves up small bites (with vegan options), seasonal wines, local beers and a rotating menu of coffee roasters. For those coming for the coffee, a standard menu is available, in addition to slow-bar offerings, cold brew on tap and house made natural syrups. Owner Justin Krebs, a coffee industry veteran, named the inviting shop after the fog and foghorns that can be heard on early mornings in its West Seattle location. A great place for your caffeine fix, or a meet-up with food and friends.

La Marzocco Cafe might not be like any other cafe you’ve encountered. Located inside the showroom for the leading Italian espresso machine manufacturer, visitors can learn more about the company’s long history of espresso-pulling, take a barista class, and experience the finest coffees of the world through the monthly rotating Roaster-in-Residence program. And, get this—the showroom is located inside beloved indie radio KEXP’s headquarters. Is there anything better than the latest in rock and coffee, harmoniously co-habitating together?