Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe Lulu

    4.3 (137 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Bakeries
    Open 6:30 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Cafe Lulu Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE LULU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for working
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Lulu

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inside
    Diana C.

    This is a small and cozy little spot. It was nice for reading or working for a bit, though it closes in the early afternoon. The baristas were nice and I liked the unique drink I had from the seasonal menu. It was a cocoa pumpkin spice latte and was very tasty. I also grabbed a cute sloth sticker and a dill scone. They have Macrina bakery which is nice. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area while they were open!

    Iced Vanilla Latte
    Wendy M.

    Some of the best coffee I've had! This is a small coffee shop that was recommended to us while we were in Seattle. There's a few tables inside the shop and has a very warm/inviting energy. The barista was very friendly and efficient with making our drinks. The coffee itself was sooo flavorful! We finished our drinks so quick because it was just that good. Although we didn't get nah of the food items they also looked very tasty. This is definitely a place I would recommend others to check out. Perfect for a Sunday morning and a stroll around the park that is close by.

    Alex N.

    Great place for pastries and drinks. I really liked my matcha drink and the banana bread was amazing! Small cute shop to work and eat. I'd come back!

    Mercedez S.

    While I was in Seattle I wanted to find really good local coffee shops every morning and this place is definitely a gem! Everything here is so simple but SO DELICIOUS. I love the vibe there and everything I ordered was absolutely tasty!

    Egg Tasty Bagel with tomato and capers.
    Brian C.

    The Quick Bite: friendly, popular neighborhood cafe. Decent but unremarkable coffee (Vita, Torriani flavors), limited but mostly tasty food offerings. The Deets: After scanning the mostly stellar reviews, I do as I always do and find the bad ones, and see if they offer insight into what to expect, and these certainly did. This is something I encourage all my fellow Yelpers to do, and here's why: you can tell a lot about a place by how they respond to criticism. In this case, every complaint was answered proactively by the owner! Responsive, responsible ownership means that even if you have a bad experience, attention will be paid and you'll probably be able to go back and have a better experience next time. That's Yelp functioning as it should, used properly; improving the consumer experience and helping businesses keep customers and make money. Friday morning, this little cafe is hoppin'! Locals and regulars, greeted by name. Kids begging for their favorite treats, local retirees talking politics. I get a Mexican mocha and a house-made bagel with egg, tomato, and capers. The counter service, historically this place's Achilles' heel, is soft-spoken, efficient and friendly. At the bar, the barista is smiling, chatty and upbeat. Excellent! That's the extra star. Product-wise, it's just ok. Their bagels, although fresh, taste of the city water they were boiled in too keenly. A bit of malt in the water might help (I used to be a baker). The texture is wonderful, though! The microwaved eggs are fluffy (scrambled eggs are one of the few things a microwave does arguably better than stovetop). The tomato was pithy and flavorless, but the capers, tangy and generously applied, saved the day. Lox and arugula, and maybe an herb aoli, would be welcome additions to the menu! The barista, (I was one of those too, for years) although a customer service gem, might need a refresher on technique. Vita is a decent product, pretty forgiving and consistent, but you have to treat it right. The barista was pre-grinding instead of grinding to order, which is a no-no. At manufacture my shots were under-extracted, meaning the grind was too coarse and/or tamp was too light, causing the shots to be watery and exit the portafilters too quickly. The pour was like 10 seconds (it should be 18 to 22, for most machines). The flavoring in my Mexican mocha was good, but the non-fat milk, which I did not order, made it even more watery-tasting. There was little foam and no art, and no offer of whipped cream. Great neighborhood gathering spot! Just needs some thoughtful additions and training to really shine!

    iced vanilla latte with cinnamon

    i feel called to make this post based on the experience i had at cafe lulu this morning. crawling out of bed on this sunny seattle morning to get my iced vanilla latte with cinnamon was my church. i found god in this latte today. i feel as though i found my way back home after being in exile for far, far too long. i didn't even mind standing in line as the other patrons and i waited to take what felt like communion. i implore anyone to give it a whirl and will be surprised if you don't leave changed, as i have today.

    Nibbled then devoured the trio of Cowboy Cookies!

    See all

    Photo of Brian J.
    225
    15
    0

    10 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tracy T.

    Tracy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    I'm a fan - love the neighborhood atmosphere and their oatmeal trail cookies are to die for!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of jack a.
    1
    71
    16

    17 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tracy T.

    Tracy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tracy T.

    Tracy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim G.
    178
    24
    10

    11 years ago

    Love this place - great atmosphere and tasty food!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tracy T.

    Tracy T.

    Thanks for the review Kenny! I'm glad you like it as much as we do.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Nice selection of quick breakfast items (yogurt, granola, bagel sandwiches, etc). Great hot chocolate for kids! Super friendly staff.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tracy T.

    Tracy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tracy T.

    Tracy T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy W.
    54
    1
    5

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cafe Lulu

    Review Highlights - Cafe Lulu

    You won't be wowed by a smaller cafe ladro/zoka, it's just a nice little coffee shop.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Bakery Nouveau

    Bakery Nouveau

    4.5
    (1.5k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I love love love this place! My favorite place for exquisite pastries of all time! Anytime that…read moreI'm in Seattle this is a MUST stop for me. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It smells so wonderful and warm when you enter and it's really a feast for your eyes. Everything looks so delicious and it's hard to choose. The staff was ver patient with me. My "go to" is the most famous twice baked almond croissant. On this visit ordered the "go to" , blueberry ginger scone, ratatouille sandwich, turkey havarti sandwich, banana bread, and some Americanos to go. This is not a sit down cafe so we thoroughly enjoyed them in the parked car. :) Every bite should be savored. Extraordinary!

    I got the twice baked chocolate croissant for 7.25! Might seem pricey but the pastry was genuinely…read moreso big that I think the price was actually a good deal. The croissant was on the crispier side, especially with the almond crumble on top it was a bit too cripsy for me, but I tend to like soft and flakey pastries so it's probably a matter of taste. There was a TON of almond filling in the middle. I enjoyed the taste and texture but it was too much filling for me personally. I would have liked more croissant in my croissant, so to say haha. The chocolate was slightly dark which worked well with the sweet pastry and filling! Overall I enjoyed the croissant but it was a tad too heavy on the filling and cripsy/crunchy for me.

    Photos
    Table of goodies!
    Table of goodies!
    Twice Baked Almond Croissant - IG: @nelson_eats
    Twice Baked Almond Croissant - IG: @nelson_eats
    Pastry case

    See all

    Pastry case
    Petit Pierre Bakery

    Petit Pierre Bakery

    4.5
    (460 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $

    Came around 1-2pm on a weekend and they still had a full pastry case! I always love seeing that…read morelater in the day since some other cafes are getting empty around that time. They have so many yummy options, but I settled on a mushroom and Gruyère pastry and an earl grey blueberry cruffin. The mushroom and Gruyère pastry was SO good!!! Buttery flaky layers of dough with a strong earthy mushroom flavor and savory cheese - an absolute umami bomb. We ate it the day after and threw it in the air fryer for a couple of minutes, and it was so delicious. The cruffin was huge! Topped with a delicious light Earl grey cream that wasn't too sweet. It was filled with a blueberry cream and was definitely very filling. There's a lot of sugar coating it, as is standard with cruffins, but it's a nice sweet treat. Definitely coming back for the mushroom and Gruyère pastry and to try their other delicious flavors. Their supreme croissant flavor switches often and we can't wait to try the next one! One of the best bakeries I've been to in Seattle so far.

    I visited this spot around 11:40 AM on a Friday, and it wasn't too crowded. The space is casual…read morewith limited seating, but it felt comfortable enough to enjoy a quick bite. I originally planned to just grab a coffee and a croissant, but after noticing how popular the mushroom Gruyere croissant seemed, I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did. It was incredibly delicious, perfectly filling, and even better when warmed up. The staff member kindly offered to heat it for me, which really elevated the whole experience. While they serve Umbria coffee, which isn't my personal favorite, the food more than made up for it. The service was warm and friendly, and the overall vibe was welcoming. I'll definitely be back to try the mushroom croissant again or maybe explore some of their other pastries next time.

    Photos
    Petit Pierre Bakery
    Chocolate strawberry croissant
    Chocolate strawberry croissant
    Matcha strawberry cruffin

    See all

    Matcha strawberry cruffin
    Sea Wolf Bakers

    Sea Wolf Bakers

    4.4
    (453 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I've been hesitant to visit Sea Wolf Bakers due to their prices. $8 baguette? Oomph. Well, in early…read moreMarch I finally decided to give them a try. And now I'm a regular... Through several visits: Baguette, Large ($7.95) - Great baguette with bubbling golden exterior complete with the perfectly baked crust even after waiting 3 hours before cutting in and eating. The interior has the perfect moisture level and is delightfully soft and chewy. The taste overall has a deep developed flavor. This is a great baguette. The only problem - the price. I can find ones for half the price that are maybe 80% as good as this one. (5/5) Seasonal Biscuit ($4.50) - This biscuit definitely isn't Southern-style. It's more of a drop biscuit, combining a relatively soft and tender interior with a nice exterior crust, without any flakiness or layering. The interior is almost cake-like in texture and crumb, and is plenty moist. They add plenty of fresh black pepper inside. It's distributed very evenly, giving a peppery bite with every mouthful. Parmesan is added to the top of the biscuit before baking, giving plenty of umami and richness but only on the upper layer. (4/5) Green Vinaigrette Cafeteria Style Pizza ($6.25) - The pizza is kept under a warming lamp, so it starts getting a little dried out after I assume a couple of hours spent there. I do love the base though - it's focaccia-like giving a really crunchy dark golden brown crust underneath, which supports the toppings. The pizza slice has lots of structural integrity and doesn't flop over. There's a base of fragrant concentrated tomato paste-like flavor which is topped with a very even layer of cheese. Since it's warmed rather than freshly baked, the cheese starts congealing a bit. The cheese is peppered with parsley, garlic, and a bunch of mustard seeds, giving a special zing. The toppings go all the way to the sides of the pie, making it great for people who dislike crust. Even though it's cafeteria style pizza that's kept under heat lamps, I quite liked it. I wonder if I can get a really fresh slice if I get there right at 11AM when lunch starts. (5/5) Chocolate Croissant ($6.10) - Great lamination with a very aesthetic honeycomb pattern. Baked on the harder side, causing fantastic crispy flaky layers to flake off, but also creating a darker golden brown character that is on the verge of bitterness. Nicely buttery soft and chewy interior. Chocolate is a darker variety, probably somewhere around 70%, so it has a pleasing balanced sweetness and chocolate flavor. It's not typical baton, instead seems to be a section from a bar. Still warm and melty even through I didn't eat the croissant until ~30 minutes after purchasing. When cooled down further, some red fruity notes start appearing, so this seems to be be pretty high quality. (5/5) White Sourdough ($12.60) - Now this is a loaf of bread. Superb crust, probably 2 or 3 times as thick compared to competitors, creating a supreme crusty bite with a chew approaching a hard crunch with almost caramelized molasses notes on the bottom. The interior is moist and tender with a pleasing slight sourdough tang. It's a superb piece of craftsmanship. (5/5) Kouign Amann ($5.80) - This is another heavier bake with some acridity development on the top surface. Unlike many other bakeries where the kouign amann is basically a differently shaped croissant with sugar glaze, Sea Wolf's version feels more in line with tradition. The crumb is denser and richer, more like brioche. There's interesting black speckling inside which I believe is due to the inclusion of espresso powder given the mild coffee-like flavor. The crust is again baked hard, but it's lighter and not as flaky as the croissant. They sprinkle just a bit of salt on top of a very light caramelized sugar glaze. It's not very sweet and I didn't find it too salty unlike some other reviewers. (5/5) Plain Focaccia Slice ($4.80) - Good quality olive oil, some salt sprinkled on top to boost the flavors. Light and airy interior, but the exterior is a little wan, being more light golden brown and lacking some good crusty crisp especially on the fried bottom. Quite oily. (4/5) Sea Wolf gives out free sourdough starter, which can be requested from the cashier. Since picking it up several weeks ago, I've gone through several feed/bake cycles for making sourdough focaccia. I've visited Sea Wolf 3 or 4 times in the last month. That's a testament to how high quality their pastries and breads are. I think the only thing stopping me from visiting more is thanks to the starter I got from them fanning my baking instincts. I bake so much now that I don't have any need to buy their bread! Note: Sea Wolf charges a 3% credit card fee. This is not noted on their menu - it only appears in the POS right before paying. Kind of sketchy. Bathrooms - Single unisex room

    I've been to Sea Wolf several times and have had a very inconsistent experience with the pastries;…read moreeven with the same item, I've had a fantastic version and one that left a lot to be desired. I will note that I haven't tried the breads, but as a non-morning individual, I do appreciate that they do tend to still have many items available even later in the afternoon (~1-3PM time frame). You will have to find street parking, but I've never had too much trouble in this neighborhood even on the weekend. Butter Croissant (3.75/5): I'll admit I'm insanely picky with my croissants and I think Sea Wolf's is just okay. I want a stronger crisp on the outside, something that almost shatters and makes a mess when you bite in, but the inside has a nice chew. Kouign Amann (3.75/5): I had a really fantastic time with this my first time picking it up, they have almost a crunchy sugar caramel crust on the outside with super buttery pastry inside. Unfortunately, my second time picking this up ended up being a miss, just stale and much to dry. Cinnamon Roll (1/5): The raisins are a nice touch, but this was awfully dry. Even the caramelized crus on the outside couldn't save this and charging extra for cream cheese frosting on top of a dry dough is criminal.

    Photos
    Cheddar jalapeño biscuit
    Cheddar jalapeño biscuit
    Apricot, ginger, lemon glaze sweet scone
    Apricot, ginger, lemon glaze sweet scone
    Kouign Amann

    See all

    Kouign Amann
    Baiten

    Baiten

    4.5
    (239 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    We came here mid-week after dinner for dessert…read more This is a small window with a few tables outside. They make amazing soft serve. They also have these adorable, beautiful fruit sandwiches on display. I also saw they have savoury bento items on the menu. We tried the hojicha soft serve ($6) and it was amazing. It's really just vanilla soft serve with a syrup of a flavor of your choosing - sesame, matcha, hojicha, etc. We were way too full to get the full sundae but we definitely want to get that next. You can have mochi topping too.

    Baiten offers creamy vanilla soft serve ice cream with your choice of syrup. The key word here is…read moresyrup, the ice cream itself is vanilla flavored, and the additional flavors come from the syrup options. They currently offer Matcha, Hoji-Tea, Kuro-Goma (black sesame), and Yuzu (Japanese citrus). The shop itself is very small since it's basically a window shop, either renting space from or connected to Tamari Bar. It's more like a little dessert stand located on the restaurant's patio area, with only a few outdoor tables available. The soft serve was okay, but not as creamy as I was hoping for, and it melted pretty quickly. If you decide to add a syrup flavor, I'd recommend asking for only a small amount. Mine came absolutely drowning in syrup, and honestly, the flavor tasted pretty artificial and overpowering.

    Photos
    Black sesame
    Black sesame
    Black sesame, hojicha, matcha soft serve
    Black sesame, hojicha, matcha soft serve
    Hojicha soft serve

    See all

    Hojicha soft serve
    Sugar Bakery

    Sugar Bakery

    4.3
    (417 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$
    Hipster vibe
    Locally owned & operated

    My boyfriend and I were super excited to try a new place for breakfast and loved the variety of…read morepastries available at this bakery, especially since a lot of nearby cafes don't have a lot of great food options. I ordered a 16oz iced oat milk mocha and loved how perfectly the chocolate was incorporated into my drink! It tasted sweet and the coffee added the robust flavour I love in my mochas My boyfriend had never tried a Moroccan Fog before and he loved how sweet it was without him having to add sugar. He especially loved that it had just the right amount of mint flavoring without being toothpaste For breakfast, I ordered their fruit danish! I love that they had different options of fruit to pick from and I chose blueberry! The pastry was perfectly flaky and I loved how fresh the blueberry tasted. My boyfriend ordered the chocolate croissant because he was excited at the idea of the chocolate being piped through the croissant and also drizzled over the top, but it turns out the dark brown parts on top are just design and not more chocolate. Still, he was pleased with the amount of chocolate in the croissant and the bite I had was heavenly. The champagne cake caught my eye as I was ordering and I just had to try a bite, it was absolutely delicious and fresh. I loved how light the cake was and the layers of flavour through the whole dessert! I love how bright and airy the cafe is! My boyfriend and I were easily able to find seating by the windows and enjoyed the gorgeous view of the space needle and people watching as we shared breakfast. The staff here was also patient and welcoming. We'll definitely have to come back and try more of their pastries!!

    I'm here for coffee. I did not try any pastry as I was having lunch much later…read more Coffee was good. For a single barista who also did all food orders, she was quick. Coffee is good but not a wow. Food like the croissants seems to be not fresh. They did not have the look of freshly baked considering it was around 9am. Not sure but did not have the glow or lopk when I see a pastry. Nice place though. Lots of tables and space. They were busy.

    Photos
    Sugar Bakery
    Sugar Bakery
    Sugar Bakery

    See all

    Cafe Lulu - coffee - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...