10 best coffee shops to work from in North Seattle (and 6 to avoid)

BySunny

As someone who works 100% remotely, I realize that working from home gets old after a while. But if you’re gonna work from a coffee shop, just any old coffee shop will not do. You have standards after all!

So, I set out to scout every coffee shop in North Seattle to find out the best coffee shops to work from (and which ones to avoid). 

1. Armistice

Neighborhood: Roosevelt (Inside Lucille Apartments)

Address: 6717 Roosevelt Way NE Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98115

Hours: Sunday-Tuesday 7am-7pm. Wednesday-Saturday: 7am-10pm

What makes Armistice unique? Coffee shop by day, bar by night, Armistice has a space with a hard-to-beat vibe. Where else are you going to find a covered outdoor seating area with heaters and a fireplace? If that doesn’t suit your fancy, head to its other outdoor (and covered) seating area with heaters that’s attached to The Lucille apartment complex. Or head inside to work from one of the many tables inside an industrial-feeling coffee shop.

  • Vibe: Industrial, hip, modern
  • Outlets: Yes, at some tables.
  • Noise level: 3 out of 5. Low R&B music. Occasional chatting. Nice ambient sounds.
  • Seating: 5/5. Two outdoor covered seating areas. One has a fire pit. Multiple large and small tables indoors too. 
  • Wi-Fi: 4/5. It has always worked fine on my laptop but friends with me had issues getting it on their PCs. I couldn’t get it on my iPhone to work.
  • Cell phone signal: 1/5. Not usable for tethering. I even struggle to get texts out.
  • Food options? Yes. Savory and sweet. Serves alcohol at night.

2. Broadcast

Neighborhood: Roosevelt

Address: 6515 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-3pm. Saturday and Sunday 7am-4pm.

What makes Broadcast unique? This place is hip without being snobby. It’s also a very large space with lots of seating. Dog-friendly. It’s kind of the go-to place for working from your laptop in Roosevelt.

Pro tip: Broadcast is notorious for blasting the AC, so be sure to bring a jacket—and maybe a blanket!

  • Vibe: Hip, airy, modern
  • Outlets: Yes, at the seats against the wall.
  • Noise level: 3/5. They do play the music louder than other places on this list. But the people in the coffee shop are not loud. And I would say most are working on their laptops, even on a Saturday afternoon!
  • Seating: LOTS. There are about 17 total tables, and a bar window seating area with three chairs. If you can snag a seat at one of the large lighted tables to the left in the nook with the mural wall art, you’re lucky! There are only about three of those. But yeah, you’re very likely to find somewhere to sit.
  • Wi-Fi: 4/5. The wifi ain’t the speediest, but it is steady and reliable. Important note: You’ll see old Google reviews saying that the wifi at Broadcast is timed and requires a code given at the counter with your purchase. This is no longer the case. The wifi password is on display on a sign at the counter. However, Broadcast still politely requests that you limit your wifi use to 2 hours.
  • Cell phone signal: 2 out of 4 bars. So no, don’t expect to use your cell phone as a mobile wifi hotspot.
  • Food options? A refrigerated case filled with sandwiches and small burritos that they can heat up. Also some pastries at the counter. Gluten-free options.

3. Santo Coffee Co.

Neighborhood: Roosevelt

Address: 1325 NE 65th St, Seattle, WA 98115

Hours: Monday through Friday 8am-4pm. Saturday and Sunday 8am-5pm

What makes Santo unique? Santo is trendy. Yes, it’s one of those hipster coffee shops. I felt underdressed in my running shoes, shorts, and T-shirt. The baristas reminded me of bartenders, cool and confident, always ready to recommend a drink based on your preferences. 

  • Vibe: Hip, trendy, modern
  • Outlets: Yes, some.
  • Noise level: 3/5. Low music. Some chattering from other patrons.
  • Seating: Limited. They have at least two tables that are specifically reserved for parties of at least two (but from what I observed, that rule is not enforced). I had a hard time finding a place to sit, but eventually squeezed in at a communal table with two other people working on their laptops. There is outdoor seating, but it’s not set up for working at a laptop as it’s more like low seats and ottomans (not actual desks/tables).
  • Wi-Fi: Steady and reliable.
  • Cell phone signal: Pretty good.
  • Food options? Some pastries in a case.

4. Zoka 

Neighborhood: Green Lake

Address: 2200 N 56th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Hours: Daily 6am-6pm

What makes Zoka unique? While Zoka has four locations, the Green Lake one is the original. This space is sprawling, as it’s just one big room with plenty of large tables, small tables, benches, and cushioned seats, so you’re bound to find somewhere to sit even when it’s crowded. Also, Zoka roasts its own coffee and sells the bags by the counter.

  • Vibe: Rustic. Someone once told me it feels like an old country store, and now I can’t get that image out of my head.
  • Outlets: Yes, at some tables.
  • Noise level: 2/5 to 4/5. I’ve been to Zoka when it was so silent I was afraid to speak, and I’ve been there when I struggled to focus because the chatter was so loud. They do NOT play loud music, however, so that’s nice.
  • Seating: Lots of it. 
  • Wi-Fi: 4/5. It’s reliable once you can connect, but sometimes, connecting is tricky. If you can’t seem to connect, try forgetting the network and trying again. If you do it right, a screen should pop up offering you free wifi from Zoka.
  • Cell phone signal: Full signal.
  • Food options? Yes. Zoka has pastries, plus some savory food such as turkey croissant sandwiches and breakfast burritos.

5. Cafe Lulu

Neighborhood: Green Lake

Address: 6417 Latona Ave SEATTLE, Washington 98115

Hours: ​​Monday-Friday 6:30am-2pm. Saturday and Sunday 7:30am-2pm

What makes Cafe Lulu unique? Cafe Lulu is as cute as its name. It’s a small coffee shop wedged between a Thai restaurant and sushi place. Head to the back to find a wall of cute local handmade items to purchase. 

  • Vibe: Cozy, cute, diner-ish
  • Outlets: Very limited. There’s at least one outlet on the wall in the back. 
  • Noise level: 2/5
  • Seating: Very small space with maybe 6 indoor tables that can seat two people each, plus a bar seating area at the window. Seating is tightly squeezed together though. 
  • Wi-Fi: Good. I’ll check the speed officially next time I visit.
  • Cell phone signal: Good.
  • Food options? Yes, sweet and savory. I highly recommend the broccoli cheddar quiche (it’s gluten-free too!).

6. Retreat

Neighborhood: Green Lake

Address: 6900 Greenlake Way N Seattle, WA, 98115

Hours: Daily 7am-9pm

What makes Retreat unique? Retreat is a restaurant and bar, so you’ll have a lot more food and drink options here than anywhere else on this list. It also has such a refreshing and bright space: floor-to-ceiling windows and plants hanging everywhere, right across from Green Lake! If you want to work, I’d avoid this place at night and on weekends during brunch time—it gets crowded and loud.

  • Vibe: Bright, hip, modern
  • Outlets: Yes.
  • Noise level: 3/5 to 5/5. Despite its name, Retreat is not serene. If you’re there at night, they can blast the music, and it was hard for me to even talk to people. 
  • Seating: Lots of it. Indoor and outdoor.
  • Wi-Fi: Good.
  • Cell phone signal: Good.
  • Food options? Lots! Of all the places on this list, Retreat has the most food options because it’s an actual restaurant. 

7. Revolutions Coffee

Neighborhood: Green Lake

Address: 7208 East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98115

Hours: Daily 7am-6pm

What makes Revolutions unique? Revolutions is a small and hip coffee shop just across from Green Lake. It’s usually quiet.

  • Vibe: Cozy, artsy
  • Outlets:  
  • Noise level:
  • Seating: There is one large table that could seat six people, and then about five tables that can seat four people each. Plus a bar window seating area. No outdoor seating.
  • Wi-Fi: Good.
  • Cell phone signal: Good.
  • Food options? Yes, savory and sweet. They have pastries, sandwiches, and ice cream.

8. Fuel Coffee

Neighborhood: Wallingford

Address: 1705 North 45th Street Seattle, WA 98103

Hours: Daily 7am-5pm

What makes Fuel unique? It has a bookshop inside! It has quite an eclectic variety of nonfiction and fiction books for both adults and children. Also, this coffee shop does not allow tips because it pays its baristas a living wage. That means the menu prices are slightly higher than average, but you don’t have to pay a tip, so it evens out.

  • Vibe: Hip, literary
  • Outlets: Pretty much beneath every seating area
  • Noise level: 2/3 Softly playing music with words
  • Seating: 6 seating areas in the back, including one large L-section couch and one large table that can comfortably seat 6 
  • Wi-Fi: 5/5. The fastest wifi on this list so far!
    Without VPN:

With VPN:

  • Cell phone signal: 

9. Fresh Flours

Neighborhood: Phinney Ridge

Address: 6015 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

Hours: Monday-Friday 6am-5pm. Saturday and Sunday 7am-5pm

What makes Fresh Flours unique? Bright and airy space that’s definitely a full-service bakery. It has more diverse food options than your average coffee shop, including tacos and onigiri (in its refrigerator case).

  • Vibe: Bright, friendly, cozy
  • Outlets: Unsure. I’ll check next time I go!
  • Noise level: 2/5 to 3/5. Usually the only distracting noise is if one party decides to carry on a conversation while everyone else is sitting silently.
  • Seating: Indoor and outdoor. Some of the outdoor seating is kinda precariously perched on the edge of the sidewalk, though. Watch out for vehicles, especially the city buses going by.
  • Wi-Fi: Solid. 
  • Cell phone signal: Good.
  • Food options? Yes, sweet and savory. They have quite a few pastries on display plus a refrigerated case with more drinks and packaged food items. I love getting their Jack Breakfast Tacos (gluten free and vegetarian!). 

10. Anchored Ship

Neighborhood: Ballard

Address: 5308 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Hours: Daily 8am-5pm

What makes Anchored Ship unique? This coffee shop/wine store has the coziest space in my opinion. There’s an outdoor covered seating area, and indoors, there are not one but TWO lofted seating areas. If you go up the stairs to your right, you’ll find a little lofted nook with couches. If you go up the stairs to your left, you’ll find a bigger area with two-person tables surrounded by bottles of wine for sale (and a little glass shop to the back). 

  • Vibe: Cozy, artsy
  • Outlets: Yes, by some tables. 
  • Noise level: 2/5. Soft chatter from the barista and customers downstairs. And maybe from other people seated around you, but most people don’t come here to carry on conversations.
  • Seating: 
  • Wi-Fi: 4/5. Works great!
  • Cell phone signal: Full signal available. 
  • Food options? Yes, pastries and sandwiches. Gluten-free options.

Other Coffee Shops I’ve Been to but Do Not Recommend Working From

1. Seattle Sunshine

What makes Seattle Sunshine unique? It has a great lofted space that’s sun-filled on sunny days. Also, a laidback, family-friendly vibe. Artwork on the walls for purchase.

Why don’t I recommend Seattle Sunshine for laptop working? The two times I went there to work, the wifi would NOT connect for me. Not on my laptop nor my phone. On top of that, there’s no cell signal inside. It wasn’t just me either; it happened for several of my friends too.

I definitely recommend Seattle Sunshine for coffee, pastries, and to hang out and chat with friends or read a book. Just don’t expect usable wifi!

2. Seven Coffee Roasters

Four tables indoors, including a bar seating area that looks outside the window and has two barstools. 

3. Chocolati Wallingford and Green Lake

What makes Chocolati unique? It’s definitely a chocolate maker, first and foremost! They serve up real hot chocolate (like, the kind made with melted chocolate), which is a treat.

Why don’t I recommend Chocolati for laptop working? So, I’ve tried only their Wallingford and Green Lake locations. The Wallingford location def gives dive bar vibes. In fact, the interior looks like it used to be a bar. So the ambience isn’t fancy, but hey, they have wifi, so if dive bar vibes are your thing, go for it! The Green Lake location feels more like a cozy coffee shop, but it can be quite noisy. It’s very family friendly, so there are often kids chattering and playing. Which is awesome! It’s just not the best place to go if you need to do some heads-down quiet laptop work.

4. Hiroki Bakery

What makes Hiroki Bakery unique? Hiroki sells authentic Japanese cheesecake and pastries made in-house! It’s famous for its green tea tiramisu and Honey Cheese Mango Bavarian.

Why don’t I recommend Hiroki Bakery for laptop working? They don’t have wifi! There are seats and tables (both inside and outside), and it’s such a quiet, peaceful place to hang out. But it’s not meant for working. Go there to read a book, chat with a friend, or spend some solo time eating cheesecake.

5. Mighty-O Green Lake

What makes Mighty-O unique? Healthy donuts! Mighty-O bakes donuts that are made with fair-trade, sustainable ingredients. It’s also a super family-friendly place. A great donut shop to take the kids!

Why don’t I recommend Mighty-O for laptop working? First off, let me just reiterate how awesome Mighty-O is. I love getting a lavender matcha latte from there. However, the space is very small. There is a lot of seating both indoors and outdoors, but it’s very close together. It’s not just that the tables are close to each other (they are), but they’re also very close to the cashier who’s ringing up the customers and the sidewalk where people are walking by a lot. I will say, I often see people working on laptops from Mighty-O anyway. I just personally don’t prefer it!

Pro tip: Mighty-O does not accept cash. So be sure to bring a card or use your iPhone for Apple Pay!

6. Diva Espresso on Stone Way

What makes Diva Espresso unique? They have a wide selection of drinks, including some very creative specials!
Why don’t I recommend Diva Espresso for laptop working? It’s just too small, sadly. There are only four small tables inside, and they fill up quickly. There are two larger tables on the covered patio, but in colder weather, it’s not ideal. There are also a few chairs without tables outside in the front.