I've been coming to Miro since probably 2014. It is my favorite tea shop in Seattle. Easily the…read morebest selection of teas (greens, oolongs, blacks, rooibos, and herbal (get the midnight blue!). The staff has always been extremely kind and helpful from Jeannie down to every employee I have known there. They are even patient when I ask for the gyokuro that needs to be steeped at the lower temperature, and I appreciate that a lot. Anyways, why is there like no art on the walls? It is so nice when there is art on the walls (like when the staff did their own art with the Kate Bush theme). I for one think the current lack of art is worse than whatever happened with the matcha lattes. More art would be so great. It would definitely make enjoying my favorite tea even more special.

Miro Tea in Ballard is an outstanding shop for tea aficionados. They have a small menu of iced…read moredrinks available to order and a binder full of loose leaf teas that they sell by weight or if you want a full tea experience (cup, pitcher, kung fu tea size). Their tea selection is excellent and they also sell tea accoutrement like tea sets, cups, pots, etc. I do think prices are pretty high with the iced drinks running you just under 10 bucks, but vibes are excellent and they sell croissants from Maddy's Bakeshop, which are absolutely banging. Vibes are excellent, but only a few tables have power outlets if you're hoping to stay for a while. Crowds on Saturday are pretty manageable, but during the Ballard Farmer's Market on Sunday, it can get a bit crazy with lines out the door.

Pretty solid matcha !…read more I got the banana matcha with oat milk. The matcha also came with cheese foam if you wanted to top the matcha with it. I would recommend the cheese foam because it added a really nice salty element. The space is also huge and had a lot of room to study or to chat with friends. The service was pretty fast too! The prices were a bit high but the quality did reflect the price pretty well. The size was quite small for how expensive it is but it would be a nice stop if you're already on the Ave !

This place is so low-key that you could easily walk right past it--they don't even have a big sign…read moreoutside. We stopped by just to grab drinks to go before heading to the parade, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was fun watching the staff carefully whisk the matcha by hand instead of simply mixing it. My daughter and son both ordered their usual Matcha Lattes, while I decided to try the Uji Hojicha Latte for a change. I'm so glad I did. It was smooth, rich, and aromatic, with the roasted hojicha flavor perfectly balanced by the milk and just the right amount of sweetness. Sometimes the smallest, most unassuming places end up serving some of the best drinks. I'd definitely stop by again the next time I'm in the area.

Delicious drinks! I really love the matcha and pandan flavored items at Coffeeholic! I'm not…read moreusually a coffee drinker but they have really tasty coffee drinks although I do prefer the matcha! I got their summer matcha and strawberry cream drink and it was fantastic! Service was friendly and although it was kind of busy, drinks were made decently fast. Indoor seating is available but I tend to grab my drinks for takeout. 10/10 love this spot!

Went to Coffeeholic with a friend on a Saturday morning. We ordered the Matcha Purple Haze and egg…read morecoffee, and both drinks were really good and definitely the highlight of the visit. The cashier was new so she probably made a mistake but I originally ordered the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, but after I paid, the cashier came over to let me know they were out. I switched to a bacon, egg, and cheese instead and didn't ask for a refund even though it was cheaper. Unfortunately, when my order came out, there was no bacon, just egg and cheese but I had already left for work. The sandwich itself was pretty bland. I was also expecting more Vietnamese-inspired breakfast options because i saw it on the yelp.

I've been wanting to check this place out after a friend recommended it to me. As a bay area…read morenative, I LOVE my matcha and have been looking for a new spot for my go to... and let me say i was honestly blown away. I got their housemade earl grey matcha latte with the kanayamidori matcha and whole milk (hands down the best matcha i've had in the city so far). The girl taking my order was so kind and took time going over their summer specials and will be returning to try their mango sticky rice matcha next time. For parking, it did take just a few minutes to find one but if you go further up near Scarecrow video, you'll find street parking. For the inside, I immediately noticed the fresh flowers and the natural sunlight coming in through the large windows. The music was vibey and noted it was spacious with plenty of seating.

I wish I could say I liked it, but I think compared to all the other matcha cafes, it was one of my…read moreleast favorite that I've had. I got the strawberry matcha and the mango sticky rice matcha and I unfortunately didn't enjoy either of them. There was a lot of milk that made the matcha taste weak, and the matcha itself was a bit grainy and didn't taste very smooth. The cream tops and purees were both surprisingly lacking flavor as well, and the rice in the mango sticky rice matcha felt old. Additionally, our drinks here were probably also one of the most expensive drinks I've gotten at a matcha cafe. They costed $10 each *without* tip, and then almost $12 each with tip. Moreover, the baristas also didn't seem too pleased to serve us, and we were met with a little attitude, which probably deterred from our experience. I think the store itself is nice. They have a lot of space and seating to hang out. But for the price of the drinks? I don't think I'll be visiting again. I think the drinks have potential and if they became more well balanced overall, I would consider trying Mina's Matcha again.

Wow, a third The Alley in Washington! This one is just as good at all the rest. Even during their…read moresoft opening (right now), they're consistent. No busy lines yet but their grand opening promotions are on the 30th and 31st of May so expect a line then. Looks like they're offering the full menu now which is awesome. Inside is ample seating and tables. Quite a few board games too, so great spot to hang. Music isn't too loud, so could also be a nice working spot but I would consider The Alley as my favorite dessert boba spot. I wouldn't personally come here for strong teas, but would come to enjoy their creme brûlée or brown sugar. As long as those expectations are set, I don't think it'll disappoint as a dessert cafe. Had to go with their classic tapioca ("Deerioca") as it's fresh, pretty QQ while being soft, and coated in a generous amount of brown sugar. They have one of the more flavorful bobas in the area, though the boba is softer and not as bouncy. Ube Brown Sugar Boba Creme Brûlée Milk - always have to give my compliments to their boba. Marinated amazingly, cooked pretty well, it's almost perfect. After mixing the creme brûlée with their milk, a creamy and addicting dessert is formed. If I didn't watch myself, I could down a gallon of the brûlée milk.

Seattle-Area Boba Shop Review #123…read more Looks like The Alley finally opened up a location in U District to target the local college student population, given the much larger footprint compared to the locations in Lynnwood and CID. There's actually plenty of seating here, and even a games shelf to kill some time and/or study. Like the other locations, there's a convenient kiosk in front to order. Assam Milk Tea, Less Sweet, Less Ice w/ Boba ($6.65) - I feel like less sweet is a little sweeter than the other two locations. It could just be in my mind, or maybe the boba recipe is a little different, adding more sweetness to the drink here. Otherwise, the general taste and ice level are pretty consistent with the other locations. The milk tea is slightly malty, has good body, and has enough ice to keep the drink cold but isn't overabundant. The boba here isn't nearly as good. The pearls are lumpy and disheveled, not to mention slightly mushy, on the outside, while the interior is undercooked, on the harder side without a great chew. I think the boba is also much sweeter than the other locations. I wonder if it's because they don't drain it in a slotted spoon before adding it to the cup - instead, they scoop both the boba and the syrup. Not sure why the boba here is worse. Milk Tea Rating: 4.5/5 Boba Rating: 4/5 I don't think this location of The Alley quite matches the other two in terms of quality, but it also could be due to opening hiccups. I'll revisit again in the future to see if they've improved. Bathrooms - 3 gender neutral rooms that are shared with the other building tenants. Drinks: [4.25/5] Service: [ ] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 4/5

Sip House is a great cafe near the UW area if you're looking for good Vietnamese coffee. The space…read morehas a calming atmosphere and would be a great place to get some work done. I also love that they have so many plants! Last weekend we ordered the Bạc Xỉu Muối (Salted Milk Coffee) and the Pistachio Cream Latte. The Salted Milk Coffee had the perfect balance of sweetness with just a hint of salt. We also ordered the Pistachio Cream Latte which the staff recommended ordering at half sweet and that was definitely the right call. Since Vietnamese coffee is already made with condensed milk, the reduced sweetness let the coffee and pistachio flavors shine without becoming overly sweet. Overall we really enjoyed both drinks and appreciated the relaxing vibe of the cafe. It's a solid neighborhood coffee shop with delicious drinks and will be stopping by again!

Fun place to hang out and chill! They have breakfast sandwiches and some baked goods! Drinks are…read morecolorful - we just ordered oolong tea but the folks sitting next to us ordered something with ube I think cause it was purply :) Love that there is a story behind why this coffee shop was created. They have cute decor around the coffee shops and some artificial (I think) plants which makes the whole place very inviting. Service is quick and the baristas are very helpful.

I've been coming here for quite a long time but unfortunately I'm not sure if I still like it as…read moremuch as I used to. Food & drink: (3/5) I've been a loyal lover of the milk cream strawberry since my very first visit, but for some reason it just isn't as good as I remember it being. I would say it's just fine now that I've noticed that they've gotten more watered down. I do enjoy that they still use fresh fruit, but would probably only come back if I was invited by a friend. My partner still really likes his usual which is the mango pomelo sago. I think it's one of their best sellers and is a pretty safe order if you don't know what to get. We didn't get any this time, but I do like their mochi. If you've acquired the taste, the durian mochi is solid. Service: (5/5) Ordering is mostly done through the kiosk at the front but I still appreciate how fast they get things out.

I ordered from here because they had the basque cheesecake I regrettably didn't make myself. The…read morewhole cheesecake tasted like aftertaste of milk. There was no burnt/caramalized outside as these cheesecakes should be. The only good thing was the mango milk tea I ordered , which even then was also too milky and had a hint of mango. The next day I went elsewhere to purchase a basque cheesecake & it reminded of how off and wrong the one from Timeless tea, here, was. drinks are well, but the pastries are lacking. they shouldn't be coated in icing to mask the lack of flavor.

Leon Coffee House has become one of my favorite places to stop whenever I'm in Seattle visiting the…read moreUniversity of Washington. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the coffee is excellent, and the place has so much character. If you're visiting UW or just in the University District, I definitely recommend stopping by Leon Coffee House. It's one of those places I look forward to coming back to whenever I'm in Seattle.

Very cute cafe with a colorful, pink, lively ambiance and adorable latte art. I ordered a 12 oz…read morelatte with a slice of double chocolate cake. I was surprised that the cake was so cheap around $4 but after the first bite, it tasted like it was from a Safeway bakery, which made me feel a bit scammed. The latte was a very light roast, so the coffee flavor was barely noticeable and it felt more like drinking hot milk. On the positive side, the servers were sweet and friendly. It took about 5-7 minutes to get our drinks, and the place was packed around 1:30 pm on a Saturday.