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    Retro Coffee

    4.1 (109 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 1:00 pm

    Retro Coffee Photos

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    RETRO COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Retro Coffee

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    Iced spice mocha
    Vinh M.

    My bestie did work from this cafe a day or two before he left Seattle and commented on the lobby of the place, and I was immediately intrigued on how beautiful and pleasing to the eye it was when I saw his IG story. Welp, I figured out after coming here AND asking staff for help on finding where this coffee shop is that said interior is actually part of the Madison Centre, and that both places are separate... whoops. Anyway, the cafe itself - where you can see Central Library from when you exit - has many tables for 1-2 people, and some artwork hanging on the walls, though it doesn't let in a ton of natural light that's beaming from the Madison Centre lobby. The lone server at the front counter immediately to the front of the entrance was very friendly, and made my 12oz iced spice mocha quickly. The iced spice mocha itself was more bitter than what I'm used to though it was not too strong either. The spice gave it a fun kick that I enjoyed a lot, and tasted like cinnamon. It gave the coffee a bold, in-your-face kind of punch without being too obvious. Overall drink was not overly sweetened either so I could enjoy more of the coffee. Both Retro's coffee and the beautiful interior go hand in hand when you visit. I'd be back for more of their drinks!

    Mark B.

    Just a quick 800-foot walk from my hotel led me to this cozy little gem, and I'm so glad it did. From the moment I walked in, everyone was incredibly welcoming and easy to talk to, which instantly made the place feel warm and inviting. The pastry case alone was enough to win me over -- everything looked amazing. I couldn't resist the almond pinwheel, and it absolutely delivered. It was fresh, perfectly flaky, and packed with flavor. You can really tell they take pride in their baking. For my drink, I stuck with my usual iced latte with oat milk and honey. It was spot on -- smooth, well-balanced, and full of great coffee flavor without being overpowering. I also sampled both their light and dark roast drip coffees, and both were superb. The light roast was bright and smooth, while the dark roast had a rich, bold depth without any bitterness. This is definitely a spot worth checking out. It's the perfect place to sit down, relax, people-watch, and enjoy truly great coffee and pastries. I'll absolutely be back. Coach "aka the coffee guy" Berokoff

    Ann V.

    Nice area. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Not bus when I went my matcha was made fast.

    pastries
    jessica l.

    I came at 11:30am on a Sunday and there were plenty of seats and service was fast. The interior was very cozy and the staff is super friendly. I tried a bunch of their pastries (in the picture). My favorites were the gingerbread cookie and the two pinwheels! It's a nice cafe to meet up with friends or get some work done (if you don't mind music).

    Anthony S.

    Retro Coffee -- Seattle, WA Yes, I know. Still not a bowl. But caffeine is part of the training program. Saturday morning in downtown Seattle. Couples power-walking. Friend groups mid-laugh. And at least two mildly stressed basketball coaches pretending they're relaxed. Atmosphere? Elite people-watching conditions. Ordered my go-to: Iced Almond Latte with Honey. This is my control test. My combine drill. If a coffee shop gets this right, we're in business. They passed. And here's how I knew: They mixed the honey directly into the espresso shot. No syrup shortcuts. No lazy drizzle sitting at the bottom like a forgotten defensive assignment. Professionals only. That's coffee veteran behavior. The spot itself? Classic Seattle hole-in-the-wall energy. Slight hipster undertones, but tasteful. Not "I roast my own beans and judge you" vibes -- more "we've been doing this for years, relax." Music on point. Comfortable but not trying too hard. It lived up to Seattle coffee expectations. Which is saying something, because this city does not play about caffeine. Would I post up here again? Absolutely. Would I recommend it if you're in the area? Immediately. Rating 4.4 / 5 Açaí Berries Breakdown * Taste: 4.5/5 * Craftsmanship: 5/5 (honey integration matters) * Vibes: 4.5/5 * People Watching: Strong * Stress Level of Nearby Coaches: Elevated Current Status: Seattle Approved Pro Tip: If they mix the honey properly, you're in safe hands. Next Stop: Back to bowls. Always back to bowls. -- The Açaí Guy

    Lavender chai
    Diana C.

    The service here was very friendly and helpful. The lavender chai was wonderful. They have lots of different milk alternatives too which is awesome. The decor was very festive! This was my second time stopping in and this will probably be my go to spot now when I have appointments in the area.

    Menu
    Samantha C.

    Cute little coffee shop! The service was very friendly & quick. Atmosphere was bright & inviting. I tried a Lavendar latte & the churro donut, both were great!

    Yuliya

    A pleasant place to stop by. The hot chocolate was tasty, the atmosphere calm and quiet. Everything looked clean and well maintained. Service was polite and efficient. Overall, a good spot for a short break or a peaceful cup of coffee.

    Benita C.

    This cute little coffee shop is just a few steps from our hotel. Once we got out today it was our first stop. The team members working were friendly and fun! They were a little busy but kept their smiles and were efficient and kind. We had a chai tea and a latte and they were really good. We shared an almond cherry scone and it was delicious. They surely have regular customers, they greeted them by name and laughed and made jokes with them. One customer came in with his dog and after preparing his order, the young lady came around the counter and gave the dog a treat- I was leery at first but she went directly back behind the counter and washed her hands with soap and water. (After my experience with the lizard in that restaurant that one time, you know I was watching!) I hope they are open on Sunday so I can get my coffee from there in the morning. I love supporting small places over those big corporate places when I can!

    Matcha
    Sarah C.

    soy matcha latte was pretty good, you could taste the matcha. I wish I asked for unsweetened because I like my stronger, but it wasn't too sweet

    Honey Matcha Latte
    Nicole N.

    I am honey matcha's #1 fan - and this was amazing. Definitely a favorite in downtown. The baristas were super nice and helpful when I asked questions about the matcha they use. The seating is spacious and has a cozy feeling - perfect for a coffee break or for productive work.

    Spiced Chai
    Gian S.

    Neat little coffee shop that was just a moments walk from the Marriott Renaissance Hotel we were staying at in downtown. Service was quick and friendly, but the chai and matcha we got here were just alright--lacking a bit in flavor.

    Sarah B.

    Coming from our hotel, this was a 5 hill hike! Omgeee. Seattle has the hills. I'm huffing it. Tucked into the side of a business building, Retro has plenty of seating inside, as does the lobby of the building itself, both overlooking trees and grassy lawn in front of the courthouse. Went for a switch-up from the usual: still a decaf flat white with heavy cream, but this time over ice. Took our coffees to the glass lobby that overlooks the Seattle Public Library - perfect view and a great compliment to the enjoyable coffee. It's creamy and cold, a great combo for a lovely Friday afternoon!

    Latte and drip coffee

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    10 months ago

    Great yummy latte and friendly staff ample seating inside the cafe as well as right outside within the Madison center which is a vibe.

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    4 months ago

    Great spot to grab a coffee, eat a vegan breakfast sandwich, and sit and read a book.

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    8 months ago

    orderled 16oz mocha. and all I got 70% foam and the rest who knows milk and shot of coffee. I paid 16oz of coffee not foam.

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    Storyville Coffee Company

    Storyville Coffee Company

    4.5
    (2.6k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    A friend convinced us to try this coffee shop with tales of the best latte she'd ever had. This…read morelocation is at Pike Place Market, and takes a little effort to get to as it is up a couple flights of stairs, but has wonderful views overlooking the market. The coffee was delicious especially with the house-made nondairy milk, but what really stood out was the frosted cinnamon roll, which was almost like candy. I am not sure if this happens during the busiest moments in the shop, but they did have staff bussing the tables, and one staff member actually brought us our order (I'd been listening for my name to be called and didn't hear it). It was a really nice touch with some really pleasant waitstaff.

    Storyville Coffee Company has impressive vibes, but that's about it…read more Found up multiple flights of stairs, tucked in a cool corner of Pike Place Market, Storyville Coffee Company has one of the most boujee menus and spaces I have ever seen for a coffee shop. They clearly care about their image as they offer a free mug for first-time customers with an email sign-up. The drinks here are ok, but they average between $8-$10 each. I think the pricing is just much too high. You're paying for the vibes, not for a great cup of coffee. The matcha we tried was mediocre. There are so many other great places for coffee in Seattle, for just a fraction of the price. I think Storyville is preying on tourists visiting the market. They probably have to charge that much to keep the 8 employees milling about behind the counter employed. The space does have lots of seating, but it was nearly full during our early afternoon visit. Save your money, find another great local coffee spot!

    Photos
    Storyville Coffee Company
    Storyville Coffee Company
    Cappuccino and vino. A nice Zin. Smooth and nutty cappuccino.

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    Cappuccino and vino. A nice Zin. Smooth and nutty cappuccino.
    Yoka Tea

    Yoka Tea

    4.7
    (139 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    I finally got a chance to come here a second time, and even scored parking on the same block and…read moreside as here! This was on a Sunday afternoon close to 5pm, and there were still so many people occupying nearly every seat inside. I did come back to try their matcha matcha drink only to find it gone from their current menu as of May 2026. Instead, their turon matcha immediately caught my eye, as it has banana and I've been obsessed with banana-flavored toppings and puree on my matcha lately. It has matcha and house banana puree, both of which work well together. The tiny layer of house banana puree has all the flavor, especially when you mix the whole drink together. Very refreshing, and their ceremonial matcha's grassy tones still came out despite the banana puree being just as strong in the drink. Their matcha here comes pretty close to making it to the highest spots on my list of my most favorite matcha places in Seattle. Even if it isn't on the top of that list, their drinks are still 5+ star quality.

    Drinks - I have gotten a few drinks here, but my latest obsession is the turon matcha. i have never…read moretasted anything like it and it is legit a turon taste. like it blows my mind that someone put this in a drink. Service - always super friendly. Ambiance - very chill. meant to hang out here for a while. they also have a ton of other asian goodies inside like my fav hot garlic, the black sesame spread and the SEASONAL pineapple bun spread.

    Photos
    (5/15/26)
    (5/15/26)
    Such a cute spot
    Such a cute spot
    Interior

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    Interior
    Phe

    Phe

    4.5
    (342 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Finally made it to Phe after seeing all the debate about which café has the best matcha in Seattle…read more For me, this one takes the top spot--easily the best matcha I've had in Seattle so far. What I really loved is that the matcha isn't overwhelmed by milk. The tea itself is the star, giving it a rich, balanced flavor that really shines through. The atmosphere is bright and inviting, and the staff were incredibly friendly. I also loved the cute décor and drinkware--it adds to the overall experience. During my visits, I tried the banana pudding matcha, the sesame foam Vietnamese coffee, and the hojicha. Everything was excellent, and I'd happily order any of them again. They also offer a small selection of bites to pair with your drink. I didn't try any myself, but my friend enjoyed what they ordered. Seating is limited, especially on weekends, but it's also the perfect place to grab a drink to go. I'd definitely come back and highly recommend it to any matcha lover.

    Arrived mid-afternoon on a weekday and there was a line out the door. Seems typical for a trendy…read moreplace in Seattle. We waited ~15 mins before ordering. We ordered the matcha banana pudding and hojicha ginger tofu pudding lattes. Service took ~10 mins. The matcha banana pudding was yummy. The matcha was of good quality and the banana pudding top was a smooth, cream top that tasted just like banana pudding, with a fun crunch in the topping. The hojicha ginger tofu was a bit more adventurous in flavor. The ginger and tofu messed with my brain and made it feel like I was drinking a savory asian sauce/soup, but the drink was still sweet. I kept sipping, but the strange savory/sweet limbo never really balanced correctly to truly enjoy the drink. On the plus side, the silken tofu was fun to sip through the straw and added some protein. There is seating indoors, but the tables can fill up quickly. Some people were wfh, but most were chatting. There is 1 hr complimentary WiFi. Typical Seattle street parking. Overall, the latte flavors were fun to try and it was an aesthetic cafe. But, the prices for the lattes make them more of a novel, hyped up purchase.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Hojicha banana pudding
    Hojicha banana pudding
    Phe Me, or Phin coffee drink with black sesame cream.

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    Phe Me, or Phin coffee drink with black sesame cream.
    Drip Drip Coffeehouse

    Drip Drip Coffeehouse

    4.5
    (187 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    Located in a more hidden part on the edge of Capitol Hill, there's a good amount of street parking…read morein the area. The inside had a good amount of seating and was playing upbeat music. The decor was really nice and I liked the mural they had up. The staff were friendly and let us know about some of their popular drinks. I got the Salted Egg Yolk Coffee and it was very decadent and creamy. It complimented the strong coffee and had nice layering when sipped out of the top instead of through a straw. Will definitely be back to try some of the other drinks.

    The drinks are good but they are very pricey. I ordered a coconut latte and for some reason I…read morecouldn't order a hot one on their kiosk, so I didn't ask for ice. They don't even fill it up to the rim of the cup. If I'm paying $10 I expect to get a good amount of coffee. I even ask the barista if she can fill up my cup further and she said sorry that that's the measurement. That's ridiculous. I'll go to Starbucks - at least I get my money's worth to some degree. Also, most of their specialty coffee drinks have dairy in it. So if you're lactose intolerant, you're better off just getting a regular espresso because you can't replace any of the specialty drinks with alternate dairy options. They are pre-made mixes They have food but nothing vegan so if you're a vegetarian or a vegan, you're out of luck. The pastries look gross. I took one look at it and it definitely was not appealing to look at. It looked dry and it looked like the pastries have been sitting in the display case for weeks

    Photos
    Salted Egg Yolk Coffee
    Salted Egg Yolk Coffee
    Customized Matcha latte flight
    Customized Matcha latte flight
    Sesame, salted egg yolk, and blossom coffee.

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    Sesame, salted egg yolk, and blossom coffee.
    Coffeeholic House

    Coffeeholic House

    4.6
    (811 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    coffee 5/5 i got the coconut coffee blended ($7). it comes…read moremildly sweet, so i asked for it to be a little sweeter. it was incredible! i feel that blended drinks often lose the coffee taste, but not this beauty. the coffee flavor was delicious and mixed well with the coconut. if you prefer your drinks blended and like coconut, this is your girl! service 5/5 staff was helpful and walked me through my options to make the drink to my preference. cafe 5/5 they must have recently added tables and chairs. i love that i can sit in and they have free wifi. everything was clean and tidy. parking is street only and could be hard to find. only a few blocks from the columbia city light rail stop. overall, i'm excited to go back and get some work done while i try other items on the menu!

    I used to be a regular at Coffeeholic and brought a lot of visitors here. However, the last two…read moretimes I went, I got a stomachache and so did my friend who was visiting Seattle. I noticed that they now pour drinks from a pre-made plastic jug instead of making them fresh like when the store first opened. I usually don't get sick from drinking coffee but twice in a row is pretty bad. Their drinks are also overly sweet and most of them do not have a 0% sweet option, which is usually what I order from other coffee and tea shops, and it's probably because most of the ingredients are pre-mixed. They also use thick plastic cups, considering that Seattle is a pretty green city and a lot of similar Vietnamese coffee shops use sustainable cups. Sad to say, but my time visiting this chain has come to an end.

    Photos
    Egg cloud cream foam with ube drizzle-ube coffee
    Egg cloud cream foam with ube drizzle-ube coffee
    Dark Night (Black Sesame Latte)
    Dark Night (Black Sesame Latte)
    Tiramisu Egg Coffee - IG: @nelson_eats

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    Tiramisu Egg Coffee - IG: @nelson_eats
    Espresso Vivace Roasteria

    Espresso Vivace Roasteria

    4.2
    (907 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Vivace espresso "Ooh La La". Every time my tastebuds desire that taste of a robust caffeine fix , I…read morestop at VIVACE on Broadway! Definallty the emerald city's smoothest java shot around. What's amazing is theres no acidic taste ruining your beverage , just a smooth euphoric rush of caffeine coursing through your body. I normally get an iced latte to get my geyser gushing but a straight shot does happen occaisionly. Outside of the superior taste the caffeine kick back is like a NASA ROCKET BOOSTER piloting Artemis II... Now the hired hands are fined tuned & trained baristas extracting the brown juices from local roasted beans. BTW VIVACE roasts its own coffee, specializing in a Northern Italian style developed by founder David Schomer since 1992... This is why you'll love its taste... VIVACE's interior space is very large for small & medium size gatherings with a hipster eclectic taste of furnishings. Also beware free WiFi if you're a lounge lizard is available... During good weather days outside seating is available for the rare days the gods allow Seattle sun to shine down upon us. Table & chairs on sidewalk allows you front row seating to the freak show for entertainment. Not much more to say, so grab a shot of caffeine!

    This was a nice coffee shop. It was very spacious inside with many seating options to choose from…read more Ordering was very seamless. I got a Latte with oat milk. At first I wanted to take it to go but the ambiance was nice inside, so I just stayed in. I should've just said "for here". Anyhow, I secured a nice window seat and enjoyed my drink and the view. My latte was good. For me, I like medium roast and it tasted more towards a medium-dark roast. It wasn't bad, my latte was delicious. It was just a little different than I was used to. The drink came together very well, the oat milk was creamy and the espresso was very rich. All in all, I think this is a cool place to work and catch up with friends. I might read or journal here, but depending on the day and the lighting it can get a little dim for that. I'd come back again.

    Photos
    Nice lobby
    Nice lobby
    Espresso Vivace Roasteria
    Caffe Caramel

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    Caffe Caramel

    Retro Coffee - coffee - Updated July 2026

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