Seattle Restaurants

  1. Café Allegro

    This exposed-brick café, tucked in the alley between NE 42nd and NE 43rd Sts, east of University Way, helped launch the Seattle coffee scene. It's full of students scribbling over papers or mooning over professors. Upstairs has a large-windowed smoking area.

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  2. Cherry Street Coffee House

    Relaxing and friendly, this high-ceilinged coffee shop (part of a small local chain) will make you feel like you live in the neighborhood. Curl up in the bay window seat with a yummy salad, sandwich (around US$4 to around US$6 ) or smoothie, or start your day here with coffee and a bagel (bagels $1 to $3). Beer is also served.

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  3. Espresso Vivace Roasteria

    Asked what's the best coffee in Seattle, most people will mention Vivace. There's also a walkup window on Broadway, if you're in a real hurry for your caffeine fix.

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  4. Ugly Mug

    Good soups, sandwiches and the atmosphere of a cozy living room make this coffee shop just off the Ave worth a peek. It also serves excellent coffee, as is standard for any Seattle coffee shop.

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  5. Zeitgeist

    One of the prettiest coffee shops around, this converted warehouse space serves coffee, pastries and sandwiches that have locals lined up all the way out the door in the morning and lunchtime rush. But its blonde-wood tables, picture windows, brick walls and wrought-iron accents make it an aesthetically pleasing place to work or read when it's quiet.

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