Coffeehouses

Cafes, Coffee Bars & Tea Shops

Unless you've been on Mars for the past 20 years, you're likely aware that Seattle has become the espresso capital of America. Seattleites are positively rabid about coffee, which isn't just a hot drink or a caffeine fix anymore, but rather a way of life. Wherever you go in Seattle, you're rarely more than about a block from your next cup. There are espresso carts on the sidewalks, drive-through espresso windows, espresso bars, espresso counters at gas stations, espresso milkshakes, espresso chocolates, even eggnog lattes at Christmas.

Starbucks (www.starbucks.com), the ruling king of coffee, is seemingly everywhere you turn. It sells some 30 types and blends of coffee beans. Seattle's Best Coffee/SBC (www.seattlesbest.com), another of Seattle's favorite espresso-bar chains, is also owned by Starbucks. Close on the heels of Starbucks and SBC in popularity and citywide coverage is the Tully's (www.tullys.com) chain, which seems to have an espresso bar on every corner that doesn't already have a Starbucks or an SBC. Serious espresso junkies, however, swear by Caffe Ladro (www.caffeladro.com) and Caffe Vita (www.caffevita.com). If you see one of either of these chains, check it out and see what you think.

As places to hang out and visit with friends, coffeehouses and cafes are as popular as bars and pubs. Among my favorite Seattle cafes are the following (organized by neighborhood):

Downtown & First Hill -- If you're a total espresso fanatic and want to sip a triple latte where it all started, head to Monorail Espresso, a walk-up window at the northeast corner of Fifth and Pike streets. Although this is not the espresso stand's original location, in its previous incarnation (way back in 1980) Monorail was the very first espresso cart in Seattle.

Ancient Grounds, 1220 First Ave. (tel. 206/749-0747), is hands down the coolest and most unusual espresso bar in Seattle. This coffeehouse doubles as an art gallery specializing in antique Mexican, Japanese, and Northwest Coast Indian masks and ethnic artifacts from around the world. Cases are full of colorful minerals and insects in glass boxes. It's all very dark and Victorian.

Caffe Ladro, a small local chain of espresso bars, is one of my favorite places to get coffee in Seattle. Downtown, you'll find locations at 801 Pine St. (tel. 206/405-1950) and 108 Union St. (tel. 206/267-0600).

Pike Place Market, Belltown & the Waterfront -- Seattle is legendary as a city of coffeeholics, and Starbucks is the main reason. This company has coffeehouses all over town (and all over the world), but the Starbucks in Pike Place Market, at 1912 Pike Place (tel. 206/448-8762), was once the only Starbucks anywhere. Today it is the only chain store allowed in the market. Although you won't find any tables or chairs here, Starbucks fans shouldn't miss an opportunity to get their coffee at the source. Be sure to notice the bare-breasted-mermaid sign out front, which is how the Starbucks logo started out before becoming modest enough for mass-market advertising.

If you're wandering around checking out the hip shops in Belltown and need a pick-me-up, head over to Uptown Espresso, 2504 Fourth Ave. (tel. 206/441-1084; www.uptownespresso.net). Down on the waterfront, try the branch at Pier 70, 2801 Alaskan Way (tel. 206/770-7777).

Pioneer Square & The International District -- Zeitgeist Art/Coffee, 171 S. Jackson St. (tel. 206/583-0497), with its big windows and local artwork, is popular with the Pioneer Square art crowd.

In the International District, don't miss the atmospheric Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House, 607 S. Main St. (tel. 206/515-4000; www.panamahotelseattle.com), which is filled with historic photos and offers a fascinating glimpse into the neighborhood's past. This is a great place to relax over a pot of rare Chinese tea and a slice of the cafe's unusual green-tea cake.

Queen Anne/Seattle Center & Lake Union -- In the heart of the pleasant Upper Queen Anne area, Caffe Ladro Espresso Bar & Bakery, 2205 Queen Anne Ave. N. (tel. 206/282-5313), has the feel of a cozy neighborhood coffeehouse. Another Caffe Ladro is in the MarQueen Hotel building in Lower Queen Anne, at 600 Queen Anne Ave. N. (tel. 206/282-1549).

Uptown Espresso, 525 Queen Anne Ave. N. (tel. 206/285-3757), with its crystal chandelier, gilt-framed classical paintings, and opera music on the stereo, has a very theatrical European feel. Good baked goodies, too.

Caffe Vita is one of Seattle's finest coffee roasters. In the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, you can sample these superb coffees at Caffe Vita's own coffeehouse, at 813 Fifth Ave. N. (tel. 206/285-9662).

If you've tired of double tall raspberry mochas and are desperately seeking a new coffee experience, make a trip to Upper Queen Anne's El Diablo Coffee Co., 1811 Queen Anne Ave. N. (tel. 206/285-0693; www.eldiablocoffee.com), a Latin-style coffeehouse. The Cubano, made with two shots of espresso and caramelized sugar, and the café con leche (a Cubano with steamed milk) are both devilishly good drinks. Viva la revolución!

Capitol Hill & Madison Valley -- On the downtown edge of Capitol Hill, Bauhaus Coffee & Books, 301 E. Pine St. (tel. 206/625-1600), is a great place to hang out and soak up the atmosphere of Seattle's main gay neighborhood. You can always find lots of interesting 30-something types (mostly men) hanging out reading or carrying on heated discussions.

Caffe Vita, 1005 E. Pike St. (tel. 206/709-4440), has a devoted following of espresso fanatics who swear by the perfectly roasted coffee beans and lovingly crafted lattes served here.

North Seattle -- In the U District, you'll find Seattle's oldest coffeehouse: Café Allegro, 4214 University Way NE (tel. 206/633-3030), down an alley around the corner from "the Ave" (as University Way is called by locals). This is a favored hangout of University of Washington students. Keep looking; you'll find it.

In Fremont, try Caffe Ladro, 452 N. 36th St. (tel. 206/675-0854), or the pretty little Fremont Coffee Company, 459 N. 36th St. (tel. 206/623-3633), which is in the quaint little Frank Rosche house, which was built in 1904.

Tea drinkers will find a beautiful little Asian-inspired tea room in the heart of old-town Ballard. At Floating Leaves Tea, 2213 NW Market St. #100 (tel. 206/529-4268; www.floatingleaves.com), you'll be steeped in Asian art as you savor teas from China and Taiwan.

Bakeries & Pastry Shops

Downtown -- If you happen to be staying downtown in one of the city's business hotels and want a delicious treat, drop by Belle Epicurean, Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 1206 Fourth Ave. (tel. 206/262-9404; www.belleepicurean.com), which specializes in sweet brioche buns.

Belltown -- For some of the best baked goodies in the city, head to Macrina, 2408 First Ave. (tel. 206/448-4032; www.macrinabakery.com), a neighborhood bakery/cafe that's a cozy place for a quick, cheap breakfast or lunch. In the morning, the smell of baking bread wafts down First Avenue and draws in many passersby.

Tom Douglas's restaurants -- Dahlia Lounge, Palace Kitchen, Etta's, Lola, and Serious Pie -- are all immensely popular, and there was such a demand for the breads and pastries served at these places that Douglas opened his own Dahlia Bakery, 2001 Fourth Ave. (tel. 206/441-4540; www.tomdouglas.com). The croissants here are the best in Seattle -- and you can even get Douglas's fabled coconut-cream pie to go.

Leave it to Seattle to take the doughnut craze and turn it into something sophisticated. Top Pot Doughnuts, 2124 Fifth Ave. (tel. 206/728-1966; www.toppotdoughnuts.com), is housed in a former showroom building with big walls of glass. Books now line the walls; doughnuts fill the display cases. This place was created by the same folks who gave Seattle the Zeitgeist and Bauhaus coffeehouses.

Pike Place Market -- The Crumpet Shop, 1503 First Ave. (tel. 206/682-1598), specializes in its British namesake pastries, but does scones as well. It's almost a requirement that you accompany your crumpet or scone with a pot of tea. Le Panier, 1902 Pike Place (tel. 206/441-3669), is a great place to get a croissant and a latte and watch the market action. With a wall of glass cases filled with baked goods and a window facing onto one of the busiest spots in the market, Three Girls Bakery, 1514 Pike Place, stall no. 1 (tel. 206/622-1045), is a favorite place to grab a few pastries or other goodies to go.

Pioneer Square & The International District -- Grand Central Baking Company, 214 First Ave. S. (tel. 206/622-3644; www.grandcentralbakery.com), in Pioneer Square's Grand Central Arcade, is responsible for awakening Seattle to the pleasures of rustic European-style breads. This bakery not only turns out great bread, but also does good pastries and sandwiches.

Although the name is none too appealing, Cow Chip Cookies, 102A First Ave. S. (tel. 206/292-9808; www.cowchipcookies.com), bakes Seattle's best chocolate-chip cookies, which come in different sizes depending on the size of your craving.

Queen Anne/Seattle Center & Lake Union -- My favorite Belltown bakery, Macrina, also has an outpost at 615 W. McGraw St. (tel. 206/283-5900; www.macrinabakery.com), which is near the top of Queen Anne Hill at the north end of the neighborhood's business district.

Over on the east side of Lake Union, you can drool over beautiful French pastries at Le Fournil, 3230 Eastlake Ave. E. (tel. 206/328-6523; http://le-fournil.com). Alternatively, check out the rustic breads at Grand Central Baking Company, 1616 Eastlake Ave. E. (tel. 206/957-9505).

Capitol Hill & Madison Valley -- Basically, Dilettante Chocolates, 416 Broadway E. (tel. 206/329-6463; www.dilettante.com), is a chocolate restaurant. If you don't order cocoa or a chocolate treat, you're missing the point.

If you've been on your feet at Volunteer Park for a while and need a snack, try the North Hill Bakery, 518 15th Ave. E. (tel. 206/325-9007; www.northhillbakery.com), just a few blocks east of the park. There's always a good selection of baked goods in the cases.

North Seattle -- Let's say you've spent the morning or afternoon at the zoo and you're suddenly struck with a craving for a fresh apple tart or an almond croissant. What's a person to do? Make tracks to the Essential Bakery Cafe, 1604 N. 34th St. (tel. 206/545-0444; www.essentialbaking.com), a Wallingford rustic-bread bakery and pastry shop. You can also get sandwiches here. A second Essential Bakery Cafe is in the Madison Valley neighborhood, at 2719 E. Madison St. (tel. 206/328-0078). When nothing else will satisfy but a rich cupcake slathered with butter frosting, stop in at Ballard's Cupcake Royale/Vérité Coffee, 2052 NW Market St. (tel. 206/782-9557; www.cupcakeroyale.com), which also has locations in West Seattle and the Madrona neighborhood east of downtown. This was Seattle's very first specialty cupcake bakery. For stollen, kringles, and other classic Danish pastries, head to Larsen's Danish Bakery, 8000 24th Ave. NW (tel. 800/626-8631; www.larsensbakery.com) in Ballard, Seattle's Scandinavian neighborhood.