11 Best Coffee Shops in Seattle (that aren’t Starbucks)

Seattle is home to a lot of incredibly unique views and experiences, from the seafood to the outdoor recreation to the city’s incredible love for coffee. But did you know that Seattle is home to some of the best coffee and coffee shops you’ll find in the world?

When we lived in Seattle, our weekends (and weekday mornings, let’s be honest) revolved around visiting our favorite coffee shops.

We’ve spent years exploring, tasting, and compiling a list of the best coffee shops in Seattle – that aren’t Starbucks – so you can skip the guess work and burnt espressos, and head straight for the best the city has to offer.

Nothing will turn you into a coffee person like spending a few days in the city that’s famous for it.

1. Storyville Coffee – Pike Place

Hidden above Pike Place Market, you’ll find Storyville Coffee Company, one of our favorite Seattle coffee shops. The space is just moody enough to fit in well with Seattle’s vibe, while still being one of the coziest and inviting coffee shops in Seattle, with a fireplace, comfy seating, and big windows overlooking the Market below.

The coffee is skillfully roasted and brewed and each drink is made with care and precision. They also have delicious baked goods that are baked in house each day. (Don’t visit without trying the chocolate chip cookie!)

If you want our advice, when visiting Pike Place Market don’t wait in the long line outside the first Starbucks. Try Storyville instead! The lines are shorter and the coffee is tastier.

Location: 94 Pike St. (top floor Suite 34)

Hours: Th: 8am-3pm // Fri – Mon: 8am-5pm

2. Elm Coffee Roasters

With warm, sleek design and a bright ambiance, Elm is a must-stop for anyone in the Pioneer Square area. It’s a great cafe to grab a coffee and a local pastry as you’re walking by, or to post up and answer a few emails.

Their coffee is roasted in-house, so you know it’s fresh and delicious. Along with craft espresso drink offerings, you can also find tea, drip coffee, and pastries from local Seawolf Bakery.

Location: 240 2nd Ave S.

Hours: Monday, Wed-Sat: 8am – 3pm

3. Seattle Coffee Works

Seattle Coffee Works is another one of the best coffee shops in Seattle is located just a couple blocks up from Pike Place Market. Seattle Coffee is an unpretentious coffee shop that’s dedicated to make specialty coffee more approachable.

Their menu features craft espresso drinks, fresh-brewed drip coffee, cold brew, and tea.

They have a couple different cafes throughout the city as well:

• Ballard Coffee Works
• Cascade Coffee Works

Location: 108 Pine St.

Hours: Daily, 7am – 5pm

4. Caffe Vita at KEXP

There’s a handful of Caffe Vita locations throughout Seattle, but our favorite (and the one with the best experience) is their location inside the KEXP radio station. This location opened in 2021 in collaboration with La Marzocco so not only can you get delicious coffee, but you can learn about the La Marzocco machines it was made with.

We personally think this is one of the best coffee shops in Seattle because you can sit and enjoy the music from the radio station as you sip on your coffee. There’s even a window into the radio recording studio where you can watch the radio show being recorded during certain hours, which is a fun experience! 

This Caffe Vita is located in Seattle Center, so pop on by as you’re exploring the International Fountain and park, the Space Needle or the Pacific Science Center.

Location: 472 1st Ave N.

Hours: M-F: 7am – 6pm // S & S: 8am – 6pm

5. Moore Coffee Shop

We hadn’t visited Moore Coffee Shop before until very recently, and we will 100% be going back. The space is small, but the ambiance is so inviting and upbeat.

Moore Coffee Shop is a latina-owned cafe located inside the Moore Hotel and is best known for their latte art. I mean, I’d consider this one of the best coffee shops in Seattle just because of the latte art, but thankfully their coffee is as equally delicious.

Their menu features classic (and tasty) espresso drinks, tea, and their famous breakfast waffles. Definitely give this Seattle Coffee shop a try next time you visit!

Location:1930 2nd Ave.

Hours: Th-Sat. 8am-3:30pm // Sun: 8am-3pm

6. The Whale Wins

Located just north of downtown Seattle in Fremont, The Whale Wins is one of our favorite hidden gem Seattle coffee shops. They’re most well known for their wood-fired dinner fare but pro tip: their coffee (and brunch) is delicious and you don’t have to fight the dinner rush.

If you’re staying in downtown Seattle, this spot is a little harder to get to because it requires driving to, but is so worth it! Make a morning of it and grab your coffee and go explore the neighborhood of Fremont!

Location: 3506 Stone Way N.

Hours: Tues-Fri: 10am-9pm // Sat-Sun: 9am-9pm // Mon: 10am-9pm

7. Ballard Coffee Works

From the same owners of Seattle Coffee Works, Ballard Coffee Works is a top contender in the argument for best coffee shop in Seattle. It also just so happens to be our favorite neighborhood in Seattle, too.

The shop is clean and bright, but not showy or pretentious – just like their coffee. Ballard Coffee Works prides themselves on making craft coffee approachable and enjoyable for all. Their drinks are delicious and consistent every time.

Along with espresso drinks, their menu also features drop coffee, tea, kombucha on tap, and fresh pastries.

Pro tip: Stop by on a Sunday morning to grab your coffee and wander through the Ballard Farmer’s Market!

Location: 2060 NW Market St.

Hours: M-F: 6:30am – 7pm // S & S: 7am – 7pm

8. Café Allegro

The first Starbucks is fun and an experience worth doing once, but did you know that Café Allegro was Seattle’s first espresso shop? True story. It’s also the oldest coffee house in Seattle. This cafe serves as the “prototype” for Howard Schultz’s Starbucks vision and inspired what Starbucks later became. Pretty cool!

Tucked away in an alley in Seattle’s University District, is where you’ll find this cute, historic little cafe. The vibes fit the location and the coffee is delicious every time. Café Allegro has plenty of seating in the main coffee house, but you can also grab your coffee and head out the front door, make a left, go through that door and up the stairs, and you’ll find yourself on a little outdoor patio overlooking the alleyway below.

Café Allegro is a really unique coffee shop to experience so we highly recommend making the journey to the University District, grabbing a coffee, and exploring the University of Washington campus.

Location: Alleyway, 4214 University Way NE

Hours: M-F: 7am – 5pm // S & S: 8am – 5pm

9. Herkimer Coffee

Personally, Herkimer Coffee is one of my favorite Seattle coffee shops. Their cafe near the University of Washington campus kept me well caffeinated throughout my college career, and – fun fact – Ben and I had our first “not a date” date at Herkimer Coffee.

And we continued to return regularly throughout the years we lived in Seattle after we were married.

Their cafes are minimal with an industrial twist, with plenty of tables to work from or meet a friend for coffee. The coffee is delicious and skillfully made with their beans that are roasted in-house. They also offer some pastries and baked goods, to go with your morning (or afternoon) coffee.

Location + Hours: Learn more on their website.

10. Zoka Coffee Co.

Zoka was one of my favorite coffee shops to work from when we lived in Seattle. They have a couple different locations dotted throughout the city, but the spaces at each location are large and offer plenty of seating.

The ambiance is bright, and the staff is super friendly. Not to mention, the coffee is delicious and they also have pastries and sandwiches.

My favorite location is their flagship location in the TangleTown neighborhood of Greenlake. I loved spending hours there most mornings crossing off my work to-do list, but we also loved parking near the cafe, grabbing a coffee, and then walking around the lake. It’s a perfect way to spend a weekend morning.

Zoka Greenlake location: 2200 N 56th St. #6204 View their other locations + hours here.

Hours: 7am – 6pm daily

11. Retreat

Another Greenlake hotspot is Retreat. This one is a bit closer to the path around the lake, so it is more prone to crowds and foot traffic. The space is bright, modern and airy with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The coffee at Retreat is delicious and they have a pretty full menu of salads, sandwiches and smoothies. 

This is a great spot to pop in and grab a coffee before walking Greenlake, but can also be a great space to work from for a bit, if you don’t mind the noise or bustle of visitors coming and going.

Location: 6900 E Greenlake Way N

Hours: 7am – 9pm daily

Have you spent time trying out different coffee shops in Seattle? We’d love to know which one is your favorite! Tell us in the comments below.

Looking for a complete weekend in Seattle itinerary? We’ve got you. Our complete guide to two days in Seattle has everything from where to stay, to what to do (like trying your own espresso class), to what to eat. Happy planning!