Came here on a Thursday shortly after they open at 8am to have breakfast and work for an hour or so. It was already busy! Note they have a sign that says No Laptops Fri -Sun. I got an oat milk latte and their breakfast sandwich (added bacon) . The sandwich lived up to the hype though it was slightly smaller than i originally imagined. The latte was average. Service was average too! All around fun and lively space. Good food/drink, yummy looking pastries. Worth coming to if you're in the area! read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Volunteer Park Cafe is a solid casual stop, especially if you're in the mood for a well-executed breakfast sandwich. The lemon creamsicle spritz was also super refreshing, especially on a warm day. The rotating staff managing the line made things occasionally feel chaotic and communication wasn't always seamless. Overall, it's still an easy go-to for a relaxed bite near the park, just with a bit of operational polish needed up front. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Breakfast Sandwich, Sparkling Americano, Lemon Creamsicle Spritz, and Blueberry Scone - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Love this spot when in Seattle. Great vibes and great selections. It's on my list of recs to friends who visit.

Here's a tip: if you're known for your breakfast sandwiches, maybe manage to not sell out before 10:40am? Furthermore, if you do sell out, another tip would be to put the "sold out" sign where the line starts, so a potential customer wouldn't wait 15 minutes to find out the item they want isn't available. Ironically I was recommended this place for a BEC from a fellow former NYCer. Maybe the sandwich is fine but I'll never be back to find out. read more

As a native New Yorker, there is nothing more that I miss than walking into a bodega or bagel shop and getting a BEC on a roll. This is the closest thing that I have found and it is pretty dang good. The taste is there and I'm happy they use American cheese as opposed to cheddar or something else. Only complaint is that my sandwich was quite greasy, and that it doesn't come with the bodega price or timeliness. The service was meh as someone who walked in after me was greeted before I was while I was standing at the register because the person behind the counter was familiar with them. I got 0 niceties. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Vibes are great. Such a cool spot and location. Came here for lunch and had one of their toasts. It was basically a giant thick piece of bread with toppings. I found. It hard to eat and would have preferred a thinner slice of bread or even a sandwich. They shop has good coffee and lots of goods to shop. The food was only okay though but I'd like to try their breakfast items. . read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped by at 8 AM right when they opened. There is a lot of free street parking in the area. There is some indoor and outdoor seating, but the indoor seating was full very quickly. I got there at 8:05 and there was already about 10 people in line. The line moved fairly quickly though, and the staff were really nice. I ordered the breakfast sandwich with bacon. The bread was super soft and flavorful. The inside of the café was very pretty and they have a lot of cute gifts and merch. I would probably bring tourists here and come back especially if the weather is nice. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Poppyseed breakfast sandwich with bacon - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The breakfast sandwich is worth getting up and driving from the Eastside to enjoy. We had a lovely time at the conservatory and the Asian art museum after breakfast. We needed a cup of coffee before we headed back home so we stopped in again for coffee and carrot cake. So delicous! There was a steady stream of customers and such cute foodie finds on display. We will definately be back. read more

Very cute cafe near Volunteer park! Plenty of street parking around if you are not walking. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Food is ordered and picked up inside, and all the staff were very friendly. I had the avocado toast, though the other toasts and bowls all looked delicious as well. They have a wide variety of coffee and drinks, I enjoyed the lavender lemonade. The carrot cafe was also delicious - I highly recommend if you are looking for a treat! read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Carrot cake - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Simply beautiful cozy neighborhood spot to enjoy a good cup of coffee or wine with delicious cookies or bake goods. The foods here are simple but tasty. Service is very friendly and helpful. You ordered and they will bring the foods to you. They do have indoor and outdoor seating. The inside is bright, airy, filled with sunlights (when there is a sun). It's near the park and very pets friendly. Love this place. read more

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Cute neighborhood cafe with consistent goodies! We like to stop here for breakfast and lunch options. They have a pastry case with goodies like cake, scones, and cookies. They also have warm made-to-order options like breakfast sandwiches and avocado toasts. I've visited with family (with kids), friends, and lunch date, and the atmosphere is great for both. The service and quality has been consistent every time. This is not the place I would go for fast service, especially on the weekend. Not because they're not efficient, but because this is really the kind of place you want to slow down to enjoy the food, scenary, and company. read more

solid cappuccino. the food/baked goods looked really good too, i def want to go back and try the focaccia at least. The space is on the smaller side, some bench seating, window seats, and some tables outside. It was fairly busy on the weekend, but I was able to find a spot and read a little bit. Admittedly, I brought my laptop so i could get some work done but there was a sign at the counter that said "no laptops Fri-Sun" so i followed the rules but wish i'd known that beforehand!! Will be back. The little pantry items are cute, but obviously hideously overpriced. Parking - I walked, but the cafe is in a neighborhood, so I imagine you could find neighborhood parking. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food - tons of pastries. but i think the most popular thing here is the breakfast sammy. they were cranking them out pretty fast. i had a bite of my husbands and its really good so worth the wait. drinks were good too. Service - friendly & quick Ambiance - insanely busy. tons of doggies outside. it was so hot that it was a little unbearable to sit in the sun and there were only 2 tables in the shade. so we opted to take our food to volunteer park. read more

Expensive and popular neighborhood cafe with friendly service. However, I find that posted admonitions against laptops on weekends is a bit heavy handed. read more

Cute little cafe with gifts and pantry items for sale. I decided to skip food, as I visited on my way to first Thursday day at the botanical conservatory. The latte I had was fine, and the staff was busy but nice. Parking was a bit limited, but I was able to find a spot easily. Unfortunately, I think it's a bit overhyped. This isn't a place I would go out of my way for, but served as a lovely stop on my way to Volunteer Park. read more

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cute and overpriced, seems like the theme in seattle I think the good reviews and high stars are for breakfast sandwich which are hours we didn't hit, so mine is on the focaccia I had. 6$, berries on it were so sour like make you wince sour, and didn't taste great at all. no way that was intentional because the flavor profile is terrible. after 11am the food items offered are things on toast for 10-15$ and what you get is a tiny piece of bread w some toppings. I honestly think we should sit back and reevaluate what we're paying for, absolutely egregious lately. ended up going to a second place to eat a real (and better) meal. read more

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I've been wanting to try the breakfast sandwich at the Volunteer Park Cafe for a couple years now, ever since my sister started raving about it. We finally made a stop en route to the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The proximity is super convenient! The cafe is in a residential area and looks like a remodeled Capitol Hill house, complete with huge front windows and cute backyard seating. I ordered the breakfast sandwich, and at my sister's recommendation added the bacon. The total came to $15, which is a bit pricey for a breakfast sandwich in my opinion. The sandwich itself comes on a soft poppy seed bun and has a fried egg, American cheese, and crispy bacon. It's a pretty simple sandwich and was quite delicious. Unfortunately, I think my expectations were too high and it didn't quite meet the expectation of "best breakfast sandwich I've ever had". It was tasty though and the ratio of bread to fillings was well done, I definitely enjoyed it. I probably wouldn't come back just for the breakfast sandwich mostly cause of the price, but the cafe is super cute and I would definitely return for a hot drink and pastry! read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Interior - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A cute, airy, lovely lighting kind of cafe in north Capitol Hill with good amount of street parking. The food, pastries and coffee are just okay. They serve Olympia coffee. The famed breakfast sandwhich worth trying once. Pastries are solid but not go out of my way type. But it's a great place to catch up with friends and stop by if you're around the area already for something else. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lovely cafe just off of 15th and Volunteer Park (it's tucked back a house or two, not right on the main road past the park). Parking is not a big issue - there will either be spots right by or just a block or so away. Beautiful neighborhood with tons of gorgeous gardens and yards - great walking spot both in and out of the park. The cafe has a few tables inside (I wish it had a couple more) and a few tables outside. In addition to yummy baked goods, coffee, tea, they have a gift shop and a smallish pantry with some gourmet items such as vanilla marshmallows, olives, chocolate, and the like. In the back is the kitchen and a fridge with cold drinks. Service was very friendly and efficient. If you are staying, they bring your order to your table. Would easily make this a regular haunt if I lived nearby. read more

I'm writing a review specifically for this place's Matilda cake, which I believe is named for the chocolate cake referenced in the Matilda book and movie (for the uninitiated, it's a fantastic monster of a cake that school principal Trunchbull had made to bully a boy named Bruce by making him eat the whole thing). I had a longstanding pregnancy craving for the chocolatey-est, fudgy, most decadent cake imagineable and this was what my partner found that finally hit the spot. It's multilayered chocolate cake with fudge frosting in between, topped with cocoa nibs. I forgot to take a picture but let's just say with a tall cold glass of milk it was the perfect afternoon snack, dinner, and dessert. If you have an intense longing for the perfect chocolate cake, this is the place you need to hit up for that. read more

This is probably the best bagel sandwich I've ever had. I haven't been to NYC so I can't compare, but I've heard from others that this is the closest thing to it! The bagel itself is so light and airy and easy to eat. The poppy seeds give it a nice crunch. The only thing that could make it better is probably some type of sauce (like ketchup mayo or something) and make it a little less greasy. Overall, really solid! I wouldn't recommend the matcha latte though. The matcha was not strong enough so it ended up tasting watery and also powdery at the same time. It's in a neighborhood so look for street parking. It gets really busy on the weekend, so expect a long line. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Bacon, egg, and cheese poppy seed bagel - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is so cute, very well decorated with lots of plants and cute decor. We came around 1 on a Saturday and it was very busy but we got a table, lots of people seen to grab and go. But there was also a lot of people sitting around and chatting and enjoying the area. It's a corner restaurant so there's lots of window which gives it an airy feel. I also notified they don't allow laptops fri- sun and given how busy it is, I think it makes sense. The service was also very nice and very fast. Overall, I'd come back, they have good treats and a great vibe. Lemon creamsicle spritz - 7.5/10 : delivered exactly what it says, it just tastes like a sparkly creamy soda Mocha with oat milk - 5/10 . Very sweet, and I like sweet but it was too much for me Lemon tart - 7/10: very good, very pretty as well. Very soft and tart Rhubarb tart - 8/10 very good, has a good mix of like sweet with the crunchy outside read more

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For me to pay $16 for a breakfast sandwich, the breakfast sandwich must blow my socks out of the water. It did not. It is so extremely difficult to find seating here because this seems to be a pretty popular hangout spot. I honestly don't quite understand the hype, but this is just a regular breakfast sandwich and you can easily find something better at your corner bodega in New York for a quarter of the price. It wasn't a bad breakfast sandwich per se, and I did like how the bread was very fluffy but I thought the fillings were kind of sparse and not loaded. Like there was so little egg in my sandwich, do they only use one egg ?? With the egg prices nowadays, I get it; but if that's the case then why charge $16?? I really wanted to try this just so I didn't have FOMO but after trying it, I can safely say I would never order this again because it's terrible value. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This corner cafe has such a lively, easy-going energy perfect for a weekend morning! I stopped by Saturday at 11:30 and ordered the matzo ball soup, buttered toast, and a matcha latte. The person at the counter was super friendly, warm, and welcoming. There's a great mix of small tables for two and bigger group seating both inside and out. Definitely coming back! read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If there's a line out the door then you know it's good. We got here around 10a on a Saturday so that was definitely our mistake but it was worth the wait! Not only is this a chic little spot right in the neighborhood but it is so good, there is outdoor seating which right now isn't ideal but it works! The coffee and teas are so good. Just what we needed for the weather. You can order practically anything and they brew Olympia coffee which we are big fans of!! Overall, such a good spot any time of year but just know, if you go during the mid morning there will be a line but it's worth it. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Outside - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This quaint cafe was a busy cafe by the Volunteer park. I only tried the food at this cafe and it was pretty good. It was my first time having toffee pudding and I found it addicting. It was not too sweet and the kimchi toast was pretty good as well. It seemed to be Korean side dishes stacked on top of toast and it worked well. It would be hard to find a spot to study here though because of how small the cafe is. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - toffee pudding and kimchi toast - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Stopped in here on a rainy Friday morning a few weeks back and instantly loved the atmosphere. Altogether, we paid just over $50 for a drip coffee, latte, one baked good and 2 BEC. At first I was pretty shocked at the total for a quick breakfast - but after eating I was feeling at ease with the cost given how delicious everything was. Service was quick and friendly, the BEC sandwiches took a bit longer to come out but it was a busy morning. Both the coffee and latte were great. We tried the chocolate babka roll while we waited on the sandwiches which was one of the best pastries I've tried in awhile. The BEC sandwiches themselves were also just *chefs kiss* - served on a poppy seed bun and had perfectly melted cheese. I definitely will be back when I'm feeling like treating myself! read more

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I made my fiancé drive over an hour round trip to get these famed breakfast sandwiches and they lived up to the hype. It's simple but perfect and exactly what you want when you wake up on the weekends. I wish I could have them every day. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came here for brunch on a Wednesday morning and it was surprisingly busy! Or all the tables were taken so my friend and I had to wait a while for a table to open up. The cafe is pretty small though, there's only like 6 or so two person tables inside? So don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table even on a weekday and I'm sure even more so on weekends. I did see a sign that said no laptops on the weekends though so that may help a little. There are also The cafe itself is super cute! Small and cozy. There's a table large table in the middle where they sell misc. goods/gifts. The food menu is kinda small with just a few breakfast and lunch items, but they also a good variety pastries in a display case that I think changes often. The drink menu is what you'd expect at from a cafe. My friend and I shared the breakfast sandwich and it was good! It's simple with just egg and cheese I think? But the bun was really soft and the sandwich came out nice and warm. I would get it again! We also shared a slice of the orange chiffon cake which was good too. The cake was light and the icing added just the right amount of sweetness to it. I've been here twice now and would be up for coming back again. It's kind of hidden in a neighborhood so parking is free/easy too. Check out Volunteer Cafe if you're looking a charming, cozy spot for a small bite or to catch up with a friend :) read more

I used to love this place so when I got lost on my way to Batch to buy cookies for guests I was excited. It was late in a cold wet day and I was having company. I wanted to get home so i bought 3 desserts despite none of them looking appetizing. I paid about $26 for a lifeless buckwheat chocolate ship cookie. I tried to cut it in quarters to serve but it turned to mush. I also bought something they said was sticky toffee pudding that was something else entirely. My most hopeful purchase was a multilayered piece of stodgy chocolate cake with nothing remarkable about it. It was 8 bucks and a quarter the size of the 11 dollar slices I crave from Deep Sea Sugar and Salt. Those cake flavors thrill. I decided to serve fresh fruit for dessert. The woman at the counter was pleasant enough. She earned the second star in this review, I will add that while these desserts were tiny, I did think it was odd that she asked if I wanted to take them out or eat them there? They were closing in less than 20 minutes. I didn't by a drink I was well...just a strange sort of clueless inquiry if you ask me. I am what I would reluctantly call a foodie. Just because I can't ever think of another word. I love an impulse grocery purchase. The "pantry" offerings were truly odd. I didn't try any. I am sure it was the best decision I made. read more

In its latest iteration, Volunteer Park Café may be too expensive and popular for its own good. With tip, my mistress and I paid around $40 for two coffees, a pastry, and a BEC inspired sandwich. The BEC, in particular, dug frightfully deep into our coffers, totaling $15. I'm not familiar with the usual price a BEC in New York fetches, but surely bodegas are a bit more affordability minded. And by the time we'd arrived at VPC just before opening, a sprawling line had already appeared, as if out of thin air. Here's the thing, though--and I don't usually think this--the price and the craze at VPC are warranted. Let's start with the pastries. I've had the chocolate babka roll and the blueberry scone. The latter is my mistress' favorite, and for good reason. Encased in a crispy outer shell with a delightfully chewy interior, this scone proves unforgettable. The babka roll was executed with similar baker's precision. What of that expensive BEC? I can't, unfortunately, pay $15 for an egg sandwich in conscience--but god damn. These BECs are to die for. Committing a financial sin has never tasted so good. It starts with the poppy seed bun, which was clearly treated with the same attentiveness as the other baked treats. The interior mish mash--egg, bacon, and a mandatory slice of American cheese--works alongside the higher-brow bun exterior, satiating my deepest, greasiest desires. Put this sandwich atop every breakfast listicle written about this city. It's king. Such is the contrast of VPC. It's crowded on weekend mornings (show up early!), pretty expensive for a bakery pit stop (alas this is Seattle we're talking about), and fantastic. I'm doing my best to reserve this place as a special treat. Five stars. Would and will go again. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - BEC - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A super cute cafe in a pleasant neighborhood in Seattle! Great place to stop by if you're in the area - there might be a line but it goes quickly. For food, the toast with avocado was superb as they make sure to pack on the avocado. The cakes are all very moist and good. The baguette with chicken was also very good, but not worth the price ($16!) For drinks, I recommend the latte with burnt sugar! Their outdoor seating is really nice, so I recommend coming on a nice day. Overall good, but 4/5 because of the prices and I didn't like the poppy seed roll sandwich. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - toast with avocado, angel food cake, lemonade, latte - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Delicious buttery peach pastry and soft gooey yummy breakfast sandwich. Small place rich in atmosphere. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Breakfast sandwich with bacon - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is a cute little café with a curated collection of breakfast/brunch options in Capitol Hill in the middle of residential central near Volunteer Park. Beware of the slow seating rotation. read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Avocado toast, small cup of soup, and Brussels sprouts toast - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The bakery was quite tasty - we loved the pear and cardamom muffin! The ricotta toast was tasty and a nice savory breakfast option. They were out of the breakfast sandwich so my partner had the granola. Our drinks were also fine. I like that they have an unsweetened matcha. The servers were very helpful and we liked the ability to sit outside with our dogs. We would definitely come back to try more toasts or the breakfast sandwich, especially because it's so close to the park and is dog friendly. Very cute little spot in a remodeled house not far from the park! read more

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Amazing rosemary grape focaccia bread it was super busy but probably bc it was so rainy that day and everyone was trying to cram in but the line went smoothly and food was worth every second of it read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Front of the building - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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OMG. THIS BREAKFAST SANDWICH WAS THE BEST ONE I HAVE EVER EATEN. no wonder it sells out fast! the poppy seed bagel is warm and soft, the eggs are perfectly cooked, and the bacon adds a nice salty taste! also got their made-in-house hot chai, which was delicious and not too sweet! 10/10 highly recommend read more

Finally tried this must try spot! Toasts were really good! Very cute cafe. Not a lot of seating so get there early if you want to eat inside read more

Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry - Toast - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A small cozy cafe. No laptops on the weekends since there isn't a lot of seating. The drinks were phenomenal and their pastries are next level. The almond rose latte was delicious and not too sweet or artificially. The iced matcha with burnt sugar was delicious as well. read more

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WHEN: Fri @ 12:45pm After a nice stroll through the Volunteer Park, I thought I check this cafe out since I could go for some sweets. From the outside it already looks cute, tucked away in the lovely neighborhood surround by lovely homes and trees. I can already see there are little tables along the side and some larger tables right in front shaded under the trees. I later learned there's a whole back outdoor patio with plenty of tables. Inside are nooks and small booths to sit in, but its limited to just an hour, and no laptops are allowed Friday-Sunday. Inside this bakery also sells gifts and its so wonderfully decorated. I figure by now they would be out of pastries, which I'm sure they are with curtains ones, but there are a good amount of options left! Here's what I ended up with: BROWN BUTTER FRUIT CAKE - $5 Although this may appear dry, it was the favorite! This moist cake had a lovely texture (bit of a crunch) and its sweet, with just strawberries in in the mix. I really enjoyed this one! PEACH BRIOCHE TART - $6 I appreciate the amount of the custard in this pastry and though it wa overall pretty good. I can sit here for hours but I can't of course...unless I sit outside. I didn't get a chance to see what they sold but from where I sat, its a great place for a pick me up for a loved one...get a card, some plants, and some plants! You can never go wrong buying something from this place! read more

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