Two things I love: Tea and Cats. I found both nestled in the cozy atmosphere of this tea house. When I came in, the barista explained the teas available, showing me a menu with caffeine levels. There was a large selection of caffeine free herbal teas. The teas are all lined up on the counter allowing you to smell the sample jars. I decided on a cup of West Cape Chai and a slice of lemon cake (one of their many pastries). The chai is a nice and polite balance of sweet and spicy flavors. After ordering, I went to the lower level to find seating. It was upon entering this room that I was greeted by a sweet meow from a little cat. Her name is Miu Miu, and this is her house. She promptly followed me to my table and after testing me out, made herself comfortable in my lap. This series of events was so unexpected, yet so welcomed. As for the lower parlour itself - it also serves as a museum, giving history of this landmark. It has an authentic antique charm with comfortable furniture and decor that invites you in. This tea room doesn't try to be anything it's not, and that's what makes it so special. I lost track of the time I spent here enjoying my tea. The barista reminded me twice that I can get more hot water for my tea whenever I was ready, so I did, getting the most out of my loose leaf tea blend. There are only positive things to say. The bathroom was clean and spacious, the interior might surprise you in a good way, the prices were more than reasonable, and it's a place to find peace. I've wanted to come here for a long time, now that I've finally come in, I have a new favorite for my trips to Seattle. read more

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Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee is the café of the historic Panama Hotel, designated as a National Historic Landmark. Photographs and artifacts in the café showcase the unique story and history of the building. Jars of a wide selection of teas line the counter, and they have teas, coffee, pastries, cookies, and wagashi. I ordered a matcha latte, and it was a nice hot drink on a cold Seattle afternoon. The matcha latte is actually quite sweet, which I wasn't expecting. read more

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A friend recommended I stop here during my visit to Seattle and I'm glad I did! This is an incredible historic spot with cats and tea -- so many teas! A huge selection, but I got one of the ones they're famous for, the Hojicha latte. Definitely rustic with cool antiques everywhere. The service takes a bit and it's important to note that they close early, so make sure to arrive when they are open! read more

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Hidden gem alert! What a cool old quaint place. Cool antiques all all around you as you enjoy your tea. Very comfortable areas to sit and there were so many choices of tea, it was almost overwhelming. But we ordered our tea, and settled in to enjoy the vibes! Highly recommend stopping here. read more

This is actually THE hidden gem of Seattle! A quaint and unassuming tea house located in the heart of international district, the panama hotel tea house is a historic landmark that is built above a historic bathhouse. It is the loveliest little shop serving up both traditional and modern drinks. There's coffee and teas, as well as amazake, a rice drink. They also have some pastries and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) as well. You can get a 3% discount by paying with cash. The barista was very friendly and even showed me the nutrition facts on the amazake and milks as I was worried about calories. We got a hojicha and a amazake latte and both were delicious. There's bits of history around everywhere, from old newspaper clippings to historical artifacts. There's also a bunch of children's toys and teddy bears in the room next door that children can play with if the adults need some time to chat in peace! There's ample seating and a single stall restroom. It would be great for both a date or for a large party as there is a massive conference style table! It would be great for coworking too as they have free WiFi and it is so peaceful there. There's even a museum in the same building if you need a break! Ok -- if you've read this far, then you deserve to know this secret. There's a resident cat named Miu Miu who is the light of my life and the heart of this tea house. Literally what could be better?? read more

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Relaxing respite in the middle of the International District. One of my number one places to go when I visit Seattle.

Besides the important historical artifacts, this place serves some of the best wagashi / mochi in Seattle (Togashi). I got the matcha oat milk latte, a shot of amakase (rice water, very sweet), and some wagashi. You can get the amakase in a latte, but I recommend just getting it as a shot. Highly recommend. Filled with people casually chatting and working from home. But it isn't loud at all. No music in the background, which is refreshing. It feels like a combination museum / cafe, leaning more towards cafe!! I'm allergic to cats, but the cat's presence didn't bother me. That said, take an allergy pill or don't come if you're deathly allergic to cats! The matcha latte with oat milk was too milky for me, though. But the portion was large. Tip: There's a 3.99% cash discount, so bring cash if you want. Also, don't be discouraged if you think the cafe is closed. There are a lot of neighboring storefronts that are probably owned by the hotel, but aren't the cafe itself. Keep walking. The cafe is the storefront with seats in front of it. read more

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Visiting here from Virginia! I don't drink coffee and I drink tea from time to time, so I wasn't super excited to try this place at first but this was on my friend's to-do list so we went. I would describe the ambiance as antique. I liked the vibe and it was nice inside. The barista gave us some history of the place and the owner and even encouraged us to sign the guest book -- we did! If I drink tea, I usually opt for some Early Grey, Peppermint, or something like Chamomile. I explained this to the Barista and told him that I also like my tea sweet. He recommended I try the London Fog, so I did. I opted to add in some extra vanilla and I got mine with whole milk. I also got a Lemon bar! OMG!!! The tea was so good, probably the best tea I've ever had. The lemon bar was good too. I'm glad I tried something new and loved it! I'd def come back here and recommend trying it out, even if you're not a tea or coffee drinker. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - London Fog - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Set in historic hotel, photos showcase Japanese community history. Nice atmosphere, & good section of teas & tasty selection of baked goods.

I am visiting Seattle after many years, and my first stop was Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee. As a historic building, this place still has the same gravitas it did when I lived here years ago. After viewing the exhibits and petting the store kitty Miu Miu, I ordered Butterfly Pea Flower iced tea and a mochi treat. So tasty. Had to get some loose tea to go as well. The barista was nice and helpful. This place has amazing energy. An excellent experience, as always. Glad to be back. read more

Visited Seattle for the first time stumbled upon this place on a morning walk. Filled with history and a wide selection of tea! The staff was friendly and informative! read more

By far Seattle's hidden gem of Japantown (Nihonmachi) in the international district of Seattle. Enjoy tea or coffee in the cafe downstairs, or enjoy a stay at the historic Panama Hotel upstairs. Preserved exactly as it was 100 years ago, little has changed. Using AirB&B, decide which room appeals to you the most. Originally a boarding house for wayward Japanese men, each cozy room has it's own sink. Enjoy common showers and restrooms on each floor. Stop by the library to read the infamous "Hotel on the Corner Of Bitter And Sweet" novel based in the historic hotel. Learn how Japanese were removed from Japantown during WW2. Take a glance through the floor to the next level down, where the fleeing Japanese threw many suitcases and items in the basement, one day hoping to return and claim them. Most never did. read more

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Historic hotel and teahouse? Yes please. So happy to see they are open after 2+ years of forced hibernation. The city and neighborhood are still recovering, but the Panama Hotel is open for business. And let me tell you, they have so. much. tea! Come prepared people. I did not. Although I am a tea lover, as I arrived about an hour before closing, I did not have time to sort through all the selections. Don't be me. Come early. The young man behind the counter really knew his stuff. He quickly laid out all the tea options and pointed out they have sample size jars if you want to smell the tea. Do *not open those tea jars! They also have a variety of pastries and cookies, but sadly no ingredient lists, so to avoid any food sensitivity reactions (rash, sneezing, watery eyes), I stuck with a croissant. Inside is a mix of updated and old. Decor is, not surprisingly, Asian influenced. Seating is mixed, from bamboo style chair, to sofa. A few tables are located by the order counter while the restrooms and more seating are down a couple of steps in a separate room. There is one restroom, also a mix of old (nice tiled floor) and new (modern sink). Parking is on street. There are a few spaces just up the street if you can get one. Pay at the counter when you order, bus your own table. There is a bin by the counter for your dishes. I wish they had more info on the hotels history available in the teahouse. If it's there I totally missed it. I read the website, but would love more. They have some old photos in the livingroom area which were fun to browse. And a kitty! They have a resident kitty who is very laid back. Next time I'm in town, I'll come early and have a nice cuppa and pet the kitty. Something I look forward to. read more

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My husband and I came to explore this place for its history and quirkiness which we enjoyed immensely. It's a place to immerse ourselves in the past and definitely a place to relax from the busy streets of Seattle! We settled downstairs of the cafe with our tea and lemon cake. We'll definitely come back and chat with Jan again, the owner of Panama Hotel. read more

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This place was so unexpectedly lovely! We wandered into the hotel incorrectly at first - To be honest, the hotel was a little bit creepy. Once we headed back down the stairs and found the tea shop, we felt better again. They have SOOOOOOOOO many different teas. I loved it. Just wonderful on a cold day. Staff there is super friendly an knowledgeable about the teas. I chose a hojicha and it was very good. I settled into a spot with my BFF in the back at first but we wanted to chat so we decided to head back to the front room - There were a couple of people working on computers and we didn't want to disturb them. We found a nice cozy spot and hung out probably a good couple of hours. Didn't expect to do that! Something lovely about the aura of this place. Just makes you feel at home. On my way out, the barista offered me some more hot water to top up my cup. This was perfect on my way out since it was so cold out. So nice. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

They have a cat! The tea was perfect and we stayed for the history lesson. I highly recommend coming here at least once

What a hidden gem! Amazing matcha latte. Cute place with a massive selection of teas. If you're looking for fancy, this is not it. But if you want peaceful, comfortable, and great tea, this is for you. The service was excellent even though there was only one woman working today! She was so nice and did a fantastic job despite needing to do everything solo. My feedback for management would be to hire another person!! A single person cannot handle weekend order volume at any establishment. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Panama on Tuesday was waiting for my lunch from Fuji Sushi to be ready and hadn't been here in awhile. Thought I'd see if they had any Tokara sweet luckily they did I got the sakura blanket. The gentleman at the counter was so nice and informative. I asked what tea was best iced and he gave me a number of options to select from. I went with the peach ginger great choice looking forward to trying some of the other suggestions. If you haven't been here it's in Seattle Nihonmachi neighborhood. The shop is full of historical photos and Japanese cultural decor and information read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Sakura Blanket one of the few places you can get a Tokara sweet in town - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As a Social Scientist that attended SPU the Panama Hotel in Japantown (Nihonmachi) should be a mandatory visit for those studying History of the NW. The hotel is a living museum with many artifacts available to view. The owner Jan Johnson gives lectures on request and will answer any questions you may have. Also there is a cut out in the floor that you can view luggage left by Japanese prior to internment in 1942 in the basement. This part of our history was a dark stain that hopefully we have all learned from and will not repeat. Also the tea room is a local gathering place for who's who in Seattle and the tea is wonderful! read more

This historic hotel and tea house is wonderful. The service is spotless, the teas and coffee exceptional, the food amazing, and the atmosphere uniquely comfortable. The downstairs has two pianos, which you can play, as well as a history in pictures and words on the walls, games and stuffies for kids, and a manager who is a well informed free docent - only if you want. I take every out of town visitor here, all of whom are wowed! read more

This cafe has a special place in my heart. I've been coming here with my dad since I was little and it has remained some of the best tea and coffee in the city. The selection of teas is vast and I always try to tastes new one every time I'm in, the staff have great knowledge if you have any questions. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming with records you can play and a sweet little kitty miu miu (mew mew?). The hotel also carries an important history of the Japanese internment in Seattle during WWII and even has some of the belongings that families never returned to claim under the floor for viewing. A great place to spend a couple hours at or to bring someone visiting seattle. read more

Such a quaint and lovely tea cafe! It's the perfect place to relax and hangout for a few hours while waiting for our airbnb checkin. Seats are comfy and there is such an excellent selection of tea! Loved the Pu'er, London Fog, and Houjicha latte. All were amazing! Staff is friendly, there's plenty of seating with a cozy downstairs area as well, and solid wifi! And the rescue kitty (mew mew) is super sweet and cozy's right up to you. We hung out with her the entire time and gave her lots of love. Love this place! Will definitely come back! read more

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I've been coming to this spot for years. Set in a historic Seattle location this place is a comfort spot for me. I love that this place has been around all my life. The space is eclectic and special. They serve teas and coffee here along with a collection of pastries and light lunch items. I highly recommend anyone visit this place. read more

This is a very cute teahouse with so much history! The Panama Hotel is a historic building in International District. While the hotel is still in operation today, it's for guests only but you can visit the café next door. The café is like a small museum. There are lots of old photographs, including ones of the hotel from back in the day. There's also a glass panel on the floor at the back of the café where you can peek into the basement. It's where they found belongings from Japanese families who stored their things there when they were forced to go to interment camps during WWII. The hotel also has one of the one only remaining Japanese bathhouses. You have to take a tour to see it and it has to be booked in advance. The café is also a great place to get a nice cup of tea. They have sooooo many different kinds of tea / from black to green to white to herbal. So many kinds of loose leaf tea. It's a wonderful place to spend some time immersing in the history with a good cup of tea. If you read the fictional novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, the Panama Hotel is an important location in the book! read more

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Lovely cafe with tea and coffee options. The cafe is a part of history, as suitcases of interned Japanese Americans were found in the basement which can be viewed through plexiglass on the floor. There are lots of photos in the cafe showing Seattle's international district as it used to be. Tourists and Seattle natives alike should make this cafe a must do on a visit. There's even a cafe cat who claimed the spot in read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Cafe cat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been wanting to visit ever since I read the book "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" many years ago. I finally went to the tea house today and it was lovely. The tea options were amazing. The staff there was kind and helpful. I had the rose melange tea and my husband had the mocha. The pastries were delicious. More importantly, the place is a part of history. Bonus: The owner rescued a cat that's super friendly and serves as the official greeter. There's also a cute community garden across the street for a quick stroll. read more

This review is about the hotel. It's an awesome opportunity to stay at a museum with a long and painful history. The owners truly care to preserve the history and spread the story of this building and Japantown. To stay here you should be a mindful person; the floors creak, the walls are thin, the bathrooms are shared with the floor etc. I very much enjoyed my stay. The location was perfect for my stay. read more

Good vibes. The wagashi is very underwhelming. Agar is very hard and the mochi has a weird consistency. Service is very slow. Weirdly expensive read more

This is the kind of place I can see myself going to more often for studying and enjoying the best nick energy here This is a stealth coffee shop if I've ever seen one. Great service and enjoyed my visit but I want to say horrible things and give a one star so other people don't hipster ruin this place with their culture. What is it with you seattle new money hipsters and "oh this old thing... yeah it's vintage" nobody cares about your fake culture so don't bring it here. The counter guy was genuinely asking how I liked my latte and asking if there was enough caramel? There is almost never enough I just have to restrict myself before I am drinking coffee flavored caramel vs a Carmel late. It's like a time capsule for the late nineties when I moved to seattle and these places were everywhere and now they only exist in hiding. read more

It is cozy little place and it is a nice place to go in Japan Town. It also serves as a good museum of our history of the Japanese American in Seattle - how they had amazingly flourished culture and then, they were forced to go to an interment camp after the pearl harbor attack even though many of them were American. The tea they serve has quite variety. Good service. The guy came to pour more hot water to our cups so that we could have more cups of tea (for free!!!) I wish they had more stuff to eat as well. read more

Came to this historic gem in the International District do work. A pot of tea ($10) and some delicate handmade rice pastries ($4) ordered, added a margarita ($6). Turns out bartender, Ryan, is skillful and makes his margaritas NOT FROM A MIX, but from SCRATCH. Crushed limes and lemons, mixed with honey (rather than the overly sweet high fructose glucose in the mixes) and a rim of salt -- and Voila! Such a delicious and refresh by cocktail ... and a true rarity even in the city of cocktails: margaritas from scratch. Gotta try one. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Margarita from scratch (fresh lines, lemons, honey for sweetness, and salt for the savory touch) by a bartender named Ryan. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great cafe with a lot of historical significance. Ordered a matcha latte and although I don't recall the price, it was quality and tasty! This hotel was where a lot of Americans of Japanese descent stored their items when they were sent to internment camps. If I recall, my mom said folks were only allowed to bring two suitcases, so you can imagine how much needed to be stored! You can actually see straight through to the basement courtesy of a window cut through the floor. There are replicas of trunks, etc. to resemble what it must have looked like back then. Tall ceilings, lots of wood and character. Quiet, yet still has a community feel to it. This place came recommended by the waitress at Tsukushimbo which is right down the road. The guy making my latte also happened to be the author of a best-selling novel that chronicled the Japanese-American experience during those troubling times. Can't wait to drop by here again to soak in the history and drink another latte. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Map of old Japantown before the evacuation. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Why go here? You love history and tea! Have a delicious beverage in one of the most beautiful old buildings in Seattle. This place was built by a Japanese American in the 1900's and was used to house and bathe Japanese immigrants back in the day. Out of hundreds of Japanese bathhouses that were in the US, this is the only one that exists today. Step inside and you'll feel like you stepped back in time. What did we enjoy? We enjoyed some freshly brewed iced teas! Genmaicha and Matcha! Delicious! They ran out of the Japanese desserts that we really wanted to try, but we hope to return back next time I visit Seattle for business! We also got a chance to chat with Jan, the owner of the place and learned a ton about the history and her future plans for restoring the hotel into a museum! Big thanks for Jan and the female Japanese barista (sorry didn't catch your name) who gave great customer service and fun stories. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great place for a nice cup of tea! A girlfriend and I had afternoon tea and cookies while lounging around in the back room. The back room made me feel like we were hanging out at home, which had arm chairs laying around and even a piano...I'm not quite sure if it's functional or just decoration. We were a little hesitant to try it while there were people in the area studying/working. Anyhoo, I tried a cup of their genmai (sp?) green tea and a green tea cookie. I enjoyed my tea, which was mild. I could even make out a roasted rice taste to it. The man at the counter warned me to not over-steep the tea so he also gave me a 3 minute sand timer which was very helpful. The green tea cookie was a nice companion to my beverage. This is definitely a good place to relax or study at. *NOTE* They were selling some treats from Tokara during my visit. I'll be back to check those out. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - My tea came with a 3 min timer to avoid over-steeping - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Who knew that creepy, old hotels could be so charming?! Not this girl, that's who! The Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House is a small, historical site located in the International District (Japantown/Chinatown area). It's really the perfect way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon if you're not in a rush. You'll have to pay for street parking, unless its Sunday, but it's relatively inexpensive. I also like the fact that The Panema is open late until 9 pm. Sometimes you just need a caffeine fix when you need it. The worn-out, faded paint on the building adds to its rustic appeal. When I opened the front door to meet a friend on my first visit there, the floors creaked at every step. As people would say, this place has character! **************** **************** ***CUSTOMER SERVICE *** The barista seemed very friendly and welcoming. He even offered to help take a picture of a big group of customers. Aww, how nice! ***TEA & COFFEE OPTIONS*** You have tea options galore! It's great because you get a lot of variety, but bad because it can be overwhelming with so many choices! I tried a cup of their Lavender Earl Grey Black tea (~$4). It was floral and slightly bitter at the same time. Though it may not be for everyone, I enjoyed this tea. My recommendation: Make sure to have it with a baked good. You won't regret the combo! ***EXPLORING & MY SPOOKY EXPERIENCE*** Take a look at the many black and white photos displayed on the walls - pretty interesting and cool! There's a small window on the ground that let's you look into a dusty, abandoned floor of the Panema Hotel. With no other customers around, it adds to the creepy factor. I'm also a realist, but something spooky happened to me while visiting the Panema Hotel. When I first used the restroom, I heard the door impatiently jangle loudly as if someone was trying to get in but realized it was occupied. No one was there when I opened the door. HMM, the other customer must have been impatient and left, I thought. Right when I was about to leave, I used the rest room again. The door jangled impatiently once more. When I opened the door, no one. Curious, I asked my friend who was sitting closeby if she saw someone waiting for the restroom just then. My friend replied: There wasn't anyone waiting. Spooky! Could I be hearing things? It is an old building...or is this place haunted? LOL, I think I must have let The Panema spark my imagination. I'll never know! :) **************** **************** Overall, I'll come back to try out their other teas and beverages (like their popular Macha Green Tea Latte). After you're done at The Panema Hotel, I recommend reserving a table at one of the yummy sushi places closeby (most notably, Maneki!) read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I love this space and/or place. Whenever a place gets renovated in a piece of Seattle's history - especially one of my favorite areas, the ID - I gots ta check 'er out... This place is so OSHA... no, not that one, this one!: Oozing Significance of Historical Artifacts! ...maybe both, as well? o.O I really enjoyed being inside. It's like a modern coffee shop but with an old-fashioned emphasis from the old Nihonmachi days. They also got what looks like to be a piece from enfu's work - neat! Wonder when they'll put it up. The old, aged B&W snapshots, the old map, the background music, the soft lighting & high ceiling... really cool. They sell delightful confectionary from local Tokara. I tried the Fern mochi since everything else was gone. It's unique and smooth. They also had 2 types of chai: masala and herbal infusion. I had a tall soy herbal infusion chai and it was quite nice and different than what I've had before. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great drinks. But we really appreciated being able to see the history from World War 2 and the internment of Japanese-Americans. Thank you.

Historic building with antique artifacts left from the Japanese who were forced to leave their homes. There was a timer for the tea so it steeps for the right amount of time. Extra hot water was offered. read more

This is a very charming and quaint café! Located right next to the historic Panama hotel, this place isn't too difficult to find. When you first step into the café, it's like stepping back in time. All around the café were old fashioned décor and on the walls, were interesting historical photos. As you go a bit further in, you will see comfy couches, seats and tables scattered throughout the café. It was pretty cool to see how much bigger the café was than its outside appearance. This café offered a huge selection of various teas, with some being simple to the exotic flavors that you haven't heard of. Prices of this place was pretty average. I ordered a simple pastry and a cup of hot black tea (can't remember the exotic name) and it was pretty good. The tea was served in a glass complete with a tea bag holder. Ambience of the place (morning time) was pretty peaceful. Apparently, if you stay in the hotel, you can swing by the café for a free pastry and drink. Free wifi and overall, it's a nice café to just sit and relax. read more

This was a few days ago but I went in for a quaint and relaxing afternoon tea to celebrate my birthday. It was a little confusing on how to enter because of the construction happening however Jan was very welcoming and informative. I've got what I expected to get and more! It's soo tempting to keep this place to myself but I know my friends would like it here too. They have a wonderful selection of different types of tea. And if you prefer coffee they have it too! They have two choices for sandwich and a lot of pastries. If you're feeling uneasy or a little bit under the weather they have good choices of herbal teas as well. What amazed me was how inexpensive it was. Looking forward to coming back to this place again. read more

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House - Green Peony - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington