From this land of evergreens, mountains, and sea came coffee giants Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee. And while we continue to love them, they have LONG since lost their unique coffee house appeal.
There are three Seattle coffee shops that still embody that neighborhood coffee shop appeal: Bauhaus, Victrola, and Uptown Espress.
Bauhaus: Housed in an old brick building in Seattle’s colorful capital hill neighborhood, Bauhaus is one of a kind. The space contains a loft, an entire two-story wall lined entirely with old text books and encyclopedias and ample seating. The best thing about Bauhaus (other than the coffee, pastries, and Kool-Aid) is the people watching. My favorite person to watch is a Papa Hemingway-esque gentleman who wears a fedora (complete with feather) and sketches all day long. There’s also a local Don Juan I’ve enjoyed watching, his each amour more lovely than the last.
Victrola: Victrola is sunny and light. The design of the logo is immaculate. It almost looks TOO perfect. You might suspect it to be backed by a big corporation, but it’s not. The ambiance here is very minimalist, but still cozy. It’s a great place to hide out from the rain over a frothy latte or one of their panini-style sandwhiches.
Uptown Espresso: With three locations, Uptown still manages to keep each location feeling unique and homey. The one I’ve visited the most is in West Seattle, and your dog is welcome too. I find something very quaint about having a cup of coffee in a plush leather chair with a german shepard snoozing nearby. There’s also Uptown’s little slogan, “Home of the Velvet Foam.” This adage could not be more true. The foam on their latte’s is in some way MAGICAL. It’s creamy and fluffy and beautiful. Your coffee comes and you might just want to take a picture.
Wrap Up: My final recommentation for Seattle coffees goes like this:
Bauhaus for character, charm and people watching.
Victrola for a great latte and snack at midday.
Uptown Espresso for the best and most beautiful latte.
