Lovely little cafe. Staff isn't pretentious. Donuts are great. LOVE the alleyway location. read more

Cafe Allegro - Inside! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Best place to study! This place is a hidden gem on The ave. My fave is their latte!! I've had their mezzo mezzo too but a little too bitter for my liking. read more

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This place would be a great candidate to replace cashiers (baristas?) with automated ordering portals like McDonald's. I'd rather interact with the alley folk than these guys. I wonder what they look for when interviewing here. read more

I noticed there was an interesting meeting about food justice going on upstairs. I was pleased that Cafe Allegro was big enough to accommodate semi-private meetings of 7-10 people while still having an atmosphere conducive to sipping coffee, nibbling on scones and typing away at your lap top. My latte was good and my scone was fine... but the space, and the other people who congregate at this cafe, is what makes Cafe Allegro memorable. Just make sure you remember that the entrance is along the alley. I think they sell a bumper sticker: 'where the hell is cafe allegro?' read more

Pretty much your average Seattle coffee shop. The drip coffee is good, but not mind-blowing; the lattes are pretty much the same as lattes from 90% of coffee shops with competent baristas. The avant-garde atmosphere of a storefront tucked away in an alley, wooden tables, and vintage decorations is sure to please most hipsters, but isn't so stupidly pretentious that you need a flannel shirt to set foot inside. The service could use some improvement -- I ordered a flavored latte and they put the wrong flavor in it so I asked them to remake it. They did, but were pretty grumpy about it. If I pay nearly $5 for a drink, being willing to give me what I asked for shouldn't be an issue. read more

Haven't been here in almost 2 decades, the view has changed, but the store is still the same awesome place it has always been!

Very good coffee, friendly staff, and the croissant (ham and cheese) was on point! The location is right by Pier 53, and there's a parking garage just opposite. Good place to grab a coffee before walking the pier read more

The Best and one of the first coffeehouses in Seattle. It's clientele are creative, perhaps some Bohemian and, of course, UW students, faculty and staff. Starbucks it ain't. Quirky it is: Per example, for years, as a matter of principle, they would only serve whole milk with their coffee. Not so today, FYI. Some of the best expressos in Seattle, affirmative. I've been going since it opened in the 70's read more

You have to visit Seattle's first coffee shop. It's in an alley and quaint and pretty perfect.

Allegro is my home away from home. When I have the time I am there. The regulars and staff of Allegro are quick to accept newcomers. Everyone is typically friendly, nods to each other on the street, and says hi when they bump into each other around town. There is free internet and an upstairs area with ample outlets for your laptop. You can go and get stuff done, or find distractions between bumping into friends. read more

It's one of the closest cafes to campus that's not Starbucks and the latte there is amazing. I go there all the time to do homework. I gave a 4 star because they only have one bathroom and it's freezing in the winter. Also their chairs are uncomfortable, so it's hard to stay there for a long time. I feel like 2 hours is maximum. The service is really good. The artworks on the wall are nice too. read more

These guys lost my business and I have instructed everyone else I know to avoid them. I went in last week and ordered 2 shots over ice in a grande cup. The guy behind the counter tell me "No sir we cannot do that!" I asked why, and got this response "We are a small business and ice costs money" I offered to pay extra, I said "Charge me a dollar more" He then showed me a small paper 2 oz cup and said we can put one cube and your shots in here. Yea right! I then asked for a grande no water ice americano, he refused I ordered a grande ice americano and thats what I got. A completely watered down pair of shots with ice. I sent an email to the owner who responded "We have chosen to serve espresso over ice in a small cup because we believe it tastes better with no more than 8 oz of ice, any more than that waters down the espresso." Remember, I received a 16 oz cup with water and ice. I replied that they needed to get their stories straight and that what they served me had more water and ice than the 8 oz. These guys do not deserve to be in business when clearly they make up rules as they go. They do not like loyal customers and they do not understand that some people like espresso over ice because you get a fuller flavor. Too bad because their espresso is actually fairly good...their attitude and lies suck! read more

Best almond croissant in Seattle, hands down. Coffee is excellent as always.

I just had the worse experience I have ever had in a cafe. I walk in and notice the smallest cappuccino is an 8oz. A traditional cappuccino is 6oz, just like I prefer. I ask for a wet 6oz cappuccino (an 8oz with some room). What comes back is really dry cappuccino with thick foam scooped on top of this espresso drink, not poured in as it should have been. When I mention that I asked for a wet cappuccino, not a dry one, the barista gets an attitude and says it is a wet cappuccino because he poured in the steamed milk first. After I reiterated that this was a dry cappuccino he gave me lip and mentions that I really wanted a latte. When I said no, I wanted a wet cap and this wasn't it, he gave me further lip and asked me not to ever go back. He was very unprofessional and very unapologetic. My colleague and I left very upset. To top it off, the drink was extremely bitter. He may have used a dead shot for this drink. I will never be returning to this cafe. The customer service was terrible and the skills of the barista even worse. A note to the manager: please invest in barista training for your staff. Customer service training would also be very useful. Here is a link to a video displaying how a real wet cappuccino is made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dAE634yTT4 A visit to many other cafes in the city, like Seattle Coffee Works, to drink a well made wet cappuccino would be beneficial. read more

Great coffee! Donut on the sweeter side, but it's okay. It went well with my amazing latte! No bitterness, smooth and delicious!

Barista mad at me for not picking up coffee. Really eye-opening if you want to see horrible service in coffee industry.

What a lovely hidden spot! I came here for a meeting and found the alley location to be rather quaint.

I love how discrete the location is. It allows for Cafe Allegro to seem private and only known to those who know their way within and around University Way. I never fail to stray away from Cafe Allegro whenever I need to buckle down and study rigorously for an upcoming exam, since the overall ambience evokes serenity and peace. The interior decor of Cafe Allegro is a perfect combination of trendy, hipster (with the various concert/museum/festival posters covering the wall(s) of the main level) and traditional rustic with the accompaniment of oak/walnut woodwork essentially making up every inch of the cafe itself. I admire how wheelchair accessible the front entrance is, however locating the bathroom may prove to be relatively difficult for new customers and quite impossible for individuals using a wheelchair. The navigation within and throughout the cafe is spacious and easy to navigate. Just when you think Cafe Allegro ends, there appears to be another hidden study room extended past the counter, not to mention the upstairs room with an addition of a balcony! The workers are extremely friendly and somehow give off a sense of familiarity. Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we? THE COFFEE AND BAKED GOODS. I'm an avid lover of soy chai with a dash of cinnamon and I gotta say, so far Cafe Allegro is the ONLY cafe on the ave that knows exactly what they're doing. At this point, I'm pretty sure everyone who visits the ave knows how terrible Cafe on the Ave makes their coffee..Unlike Cafe, Allegro takes their time in creating each delicate cup of deliciousness. The americano and machiatto are just as scrumptious. If you're ordering a hot drink, may I recommend you try one of their freshly baked goods? The apple fritter and scones taste just like how grandma used to make 'em. Oh and did I mention how affordable everything on the menu is?? Attention to all brokeass college students, treat yourself out of the life-sucking library and check out Cafe Allegro to get your work DONE with a side of splendid coffee. If you haven't been to Cafe Allegro, clearly, you're missing out. read more

The coffee here is pretty good. The pastries are excellent (they even sell mighty-o donuts!). There are lots of outlets... so almost everyone can plug in their computers. There is extra seating in the back (but not a lot of outlets there) and upstairs. The place feels old, has cement walls and is pretty cramped. Also, the place faces a parking lot... so the atmosphere isn't my favorite and any of you claustrophobic people probably shouldn't frequent this place (I can barely stand this place for more than a couple of hours)... but I do enjoy getting Mighty-O donuts next to campus and decent coffee. read more

I felt like I was in an episode of Seinfeld with one of their baristas. To take my order the barista said "hey" really abrasively, making me feel like an imposition. While I was waiting for my drink he called the lady in front of me a bitch after she left. It was time to pay and I got to the tipping screen. I didn't leave one and put the screen back to the default screen so the tip screen wasn't visible. I saw him look at the screen (probably expecting to see if I tipped), he then pressed buttons, and muttered "of course" in a huff... like he had looked to see if I tipped! He made my drinks and then barked "they're yours" and looked at me in a piercing way.. I kept looking back to see if he was watching and he was! I love Allegro for the ambiance, coffee, fun seasonal offerings, and community involvement.. but I won't be back for awhile. read more

Old school! first espresso in Seattle. nice awesome atmosphere. great place with a deck. good coffee, view, nice company free wi-fi. what else can you do? read more

I want to like the allegro more than I actually DO like it. Their coffee is kind of mediocre. I have had great americanos, but their lattes constantly suck. I feel as though there might be one or two competent baristas, and some other people who are filling in or don't really know what they are doing. It's sad, because I think cafe allegro is cute, I like how much seating they have, their location directly across from UW, the ivy growing outside, the studious, attractive people that hunch over their macbooks, nursing giant coffees, and researching grad schools... But please, please work on your coffee! You're a coffee shop, allegro! read more

Had a latte from here this past weekend, it was good, the baristas were nice but did have to double-check my drink a few times. However that was ok because my drink ended up being pretty darn good. So I'll take a good latte anyday. read more

Wonderful place for coffee and pastries. Everything I've had was excellent! Also I appreciate that it's consistently good. I would give them 5 stars in a heartbeat but I usually go there with a laptop and do a little work and the Wi-Fi is not so great. read more

Cafe Allegro is a great place to get some work done - the atmosphere is quiet and comfortable. There's lots of seating, especially upstairs. It's hidden away in a back alley, which adds to its charm. It feels like a little secret :) They do excellent, standard coffee (no rotating single-origin brews to be found here). I recommend the Mezzo Mezzo, equal parts espresso and milk, which I believe is also known as a Cortado. The pastries are good but not excellent. If you visit after 9 PM the pastries are 50% off and super cheap, though! One negative: I usually don't comment nor care much about service, but I've very occasionally had extremely negative service experiences here (glacial service pace, rude and cold attitude), but it's definitely the exception, not the rule. read more

RUDEST SERVICE IVE EVER RECEIVED. The barista shouted at a friend and I that we need to "learn how to tip." When I returned to retrieve the beverage be then said "you're not welcome." This is no way to improve tipping or customer loyalty. I WILL NEVER RETURN and would greatly appreciate a response from management. read more

Food: The coffee was okay; pastries mediocre; prices average. I don't recommend the breakfast wraps trough-- they're froEn and microwaved! Environment: Free wifi and power outlets available. Conversations echo rather loudly in the brick main room, even though it wasn't really crowded. There is a back room with some nice seats, but the air was too stuffy to chill in. There's also an upstairs seating area, which was not opened yet. Overall, not tasty or comfy enough to become a habit.. will keep searching! read more

sad that there is now a huge building in front of it. a star is lost for that. decent to excellent espresso, depending on the barista you get. the people who work here are eccentric and kind of high-strung. just what you expect from a seattle coffee shop. the grit & grime of the place tends to ward off the yuppies that flock to other cafes in hoards during lunch hours...but not completely, especially now that they offer free wi-fi ---attn yuppies, just kidding, it doesn't work, go somewhere else. it has been around for ages, has a lot of interesting regulars. allegro is an experience, and it is worth the trip. but you may or may not be able to put up with these people for long read more

The location is just the best. I've never been to a coffee shop in a fairly shady alley. I feel like this is the place to go if you were looking to have one of those nights that'll be a story you'll laugh (or cry) about for years to come. Their iced white mochas are as good as any I've tried elsewhere and I'm a hardcore mocha addict. read more

Most people are used to being coddled in a coffee shop by someone who's supposed to either half babysitter half robot.. If you want that, go to Starbucks. The cool thing about this coffee shop is it's been open since 1975, off the beaten path, and has a super strong community of regulars that have been coming for many years. There are a few employees who have even been there for 25+ years, and that is rare in Seattle where most small businesses can barely survive nowadays. This community center is old enough and unchanged enough to have personality sunken down into its core, it's got integrity. They roast their beans upstairs (which is super cool!), and there is also extra seating up there with an outside patio, and in the back room downstairs with games! This place gets slammed sometimes and it's amazing when I come in and the two people working can wash all the dishes, be stocking the bathroom and everything else that goes into keeping this cafe running while still serving customers - especially in a space that big! I've also seen these baristas handle and de-escalate situations better than I could do, as if its their daily routine. I've never had an issue with any of the baristas here, but I also tip my baristas, so that is probably why I've had nothing but positive interactions. Anyways, this is the oldest coffee shop in Seattle that is still open, where you can get a damn good cup of coffee at a cheap price, served to you by authentic people that aren't being forced to fake smile at you. Cafe Allegro is a rare bird in danger of going extinct. Don't let the reviews fool you, get off Yelp and get out there! read more

Great place to study if you're looking for a quiet place though they have VERY slow internet. I studied on the second floor so maybe that's why the Internet was slow. I ordered a butter croissant the first time I came here and was disappointed. Their croissants are very big but sadly very dry. I ordered an oatmeal raisin cookie the second time I came here and was very happy with it. Not only was it big but it was very moist too. read more

I love the Allegro. It is everything a polished chain-store cafe will never be. I dig that the baristas there seemed to immediately remember who I was and what I drank. I swear they must have a secret camera hidden somewhere and that they take your picture and make baseball cards of their customers which they study in off hours. I also like the soft brown sugar they have and the tiny corkboard by the register in which people post little notes to their friends who will be coming through later. Lots of posters on the wall. Always filled with students and professors who dress like it is still 1978. If you're in the U District, avoid the Starbucks and the Tully's are try this Seattle institution. You might have to wait in line behind a few people but easy turbo, the kind of love they're pouring into these coffee cups takes time. read more

I am one of the Allegro babies. Grew up in this place and love it. I have gotten countless good cups o coffee from this place but I've gotten a few nasty ones. Its gonna happen anywhere. If you get a beverage that is not to your liking, tell the barista whats wrong with it and they'll fix it to your liking. Great place to chill out, meet people, study, and get your coffee on. read more

The second floor has an outdoor balcony seating area, it's very pleasant on a clear day and you can see the Denny Yard/Green/Field/Whatever-its-called. Good for sitting out with a friend and catching up. Good cappuccino too. No complaints, gets the 4th star for the tasty coffee and not-too-jerkish baristas. read more

just moved back to the you-dist after a few years' absence, and i've found myself here three out of five mornings before work. i'm not a coffee drinker, full disclosure, but their licorice tea is motherfucking delicious, and as i slowly work my way through the pastry case, every single one has been a hit. fave so far is the pear danish. also, it's pretty. and quiet. and not desperately clamoring to make you like it. and the clientele errs toward middle age, which is a refreshing break from the ave's hordes of high-strung teenage spangers. anyway, i know allegro is older than i am and doesn't need my recommendation, but i've always liked this cute little alley-spot, and, well, i still do. just another reason to be glad i'm back in the 'hood. read more

What Seattle used to be. The kind of place that makes you want to spend the next two decades sitting here working on your thesis in some obscure field. Good music. Great coffee. No Amazombies or bros. read more

1.5/10 Pros: ~ Cons: /Internet speed makes it impossible to use the net (Sub .6 MBPS)/ Typically crowded downstairs Lack of electric outlets Can get loud Misc: Might be difficult to find at first (back alley entrance) Coffee is neither good nor bad read more

I met a colleague for coffee here the other day - she suggested it, and subsequently sent me detailed instructions on how to find the "secret" alleyway entrance to this hidden establishment. When I found it, it was crowded, hot, and the pastry I ordered was mediocre. When I worked up the nerve to use the single stall restroom, I had to essentially join another table temporarily, since the adjoining chairs were directly in front of the bathroom door. But gosh I felt hip. read more

The upstairs was not available for one reason or another. Limited seating and lighting at night left studying uncomfortable. I ordered a dirty chai. As a general rule for coffee shops I'd recommend sticking to Americano or drip if you're not a fan of milk/creamer - this is more tips for my future self. read more

This is my third day in Seattle, and the fourth coffee house that I have tried. Thus far, this place ranks number one on my list as I explore the Seattle coffee scene. I ordered a 12 oz daily special black coffee, and I found that the dark roast had good flavor, and not as watered down as some of the other places that I have tried. I am still searching for THE ONE, however. read more