Updating my initial review from 3/22/14, it's coming up on 12 years later I purposefully detoured and stopped by on 3/12/26. It was because of an IG post from Pufftown Bakehouse mentioning that their pastries are available at Cafe Bambino. This is an amazing pro tip to not have to drive all the way to Pike Place Market...traffic, parking, risk of items sold out, and with my current mobility issues - this is a major score! I was able to find nearby street parking and joined the queue of folks at the walk up window. I noticed that there were also people seated in the adjacent covered area. This also gave me the opportunity to look at their pastry case with nicely arranged pastries, bagels, and scones from purveyors, including Pufftown Bakehouse. There's also tea, coffee beans, and other merch available for purchase. Pleasant and efficient customer service. My vintage stamp card was no longer valid, but their POS uses the Joe app so I was able to accrue points for my purchases: an excellent well crafted 16oz mocha, and three PB pastries including ham & Wensleydale, spicy chorizo, and blood orange cinnamon. My halves later consumed were fresh and delicious. Glad to be reacquainted again with Cafe Bambino! read more

See all

Super friendly barista, good coffee, and a great selection of baked goods. It feels like a community vibe from this walk-up shop, and they serve Pufftown pastries which is awesome. A lot of love has been put into this cafe, and I was surprised by the lower than average Yelp score. It sounds like they recently went through new ownership, and I think they are doing a great job. read more

Really pleasant service here from a friendly cashier. Fast and efficient barista made a delicious drinks: Americano and latte. And we sat outside in the benches enjoying the neighborhood views. read more

Cafe Bambino - There was a line when we got there. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We are Bambino neighbors and have had a front row seat to the upgrades and quality enhancements that have come with new ownership. Jake, Gabby, and the entire Cafe Bambino team are an absolute delight and truly make every visit worth the trip. The drinks are delicious. The new pastry selection is local, fresh, and consistently tasty. And you just can't beat that community-first, cozy feel. read more

Walk up to the Dutch door to order. Prices are high compared to other coffee shops and pastries in 98103. The staff are nice. Cortado is fine, on the lighter and brighter side. Parmesan biscuit is good. But having to stand in the rain (even a light one) and cold where there is no heat...just not a great experience. Will do in a pinch. read more

Cafe Bambino is such a great coffee shop. It recently went through new ownership, and the new owners are doing an amazing job elevating the coffee and baked goods while still preserving the cozy, community feel that makes Bambino so special. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

The new owners have done a wonderful job improving an already great Seattle coffeeshop. It is very clear that community and a good cup of coffee are at the center of their mission. They have created a "third-space" in the vibrate Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, where regulars can be seen most mornings drinking their favorite drinks and talking with one another. As a tea drinker myself, I really appreciate the new loose leaf tea menu from Spirit tea. The baked goods from Seattle Scone Company and Pufftown Bakehouse are some of the best in the city and very reasonably priced. I appreciate seeing local businesses support one another. Overall, I highly recommend the cafe to anyone looking to sit and enjoy a very well made drink, interact with caring staff, and maybe even meet a new friend while sitting on the cozy and inviting porch. read more

Super cute spot, friendly staff, and solid coffee! Stopped by for an 8oz mocha and it hit the spot. Easy location to walk to and upon arriving I saw QR codes where you can view their menu and order online. Seemed like most folks placed their order online and were stopping by just to pick up. I'll definitely order ahead next time - the site seemed pretty intuitive and easy to use. Cool spot! read more

Cafe Bambino - a cup of coffee on a table - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Love this spot! Friendly staff and great coffee. Patio is a great spot to eat when it's warm and the scones are amazing!

I supported this place for years, as it's close. Found my old loyalty punch card in a coat pocket and tried to collect my free coffee. The owner said she doesn't honor them and was rude about it. Hmmm, okay, there goes my loyalty. No problem, there are plenty of better choices in the neighborhood - Rosellini's, Mainstay, Herkimer, etc. read more

Decided to give this place another shot because I was in the area (after having a bad experience last time). The staff was again rude and the coffee is overpriced compared to other shops in the area. Maybe skip this one and go to light house instead! read more

A cute little hole-in-the-wall cafe with drinks and breakfast pastries! We stopped by for a Thanksgiving morning pick-me-up and got our order through the window. They take COVID precautions very seriously and we had to order via the Joe app. It was a super simple process and the drinks were ready really quickly. They have a cute patio with limited seating to hang out and enjoy the drinks. They limit it to 5 people and there's space to easily distance yourself from another group. I got the hot chocolate and poppyseed muffin and my friend for the cruffin (a unique croissant muffin) and really loved both. The hot chocolate was really tasty and the muffin was too! It has a cute, neighborhood feel and is overall worth a visit. read more

See all

Happy Wednesday everyone! My kids finally got the Snow Day (translation: No School Day) that they've been wanting... except we didn't get much snow here in Seattle to play in compared to areas north and south of us, lol. However, it's still pretty cold out so while we were out n' about today, we stopped by one of my favorite indie coffee shops in the Ballard neighborhood called CAFE BAMBINO. We got a couple of baked goods to share and an Oatmilk Latte to go... YUMM!!! Last November, I went to Cafe Bambino's Holiday Bazaar and bought a couple of items including this beautiful mug that I drank my Latte in when I got home. The owner of Cafe Bambino is a talented ceramic artist and hand makes ceramic mugs like this, bowls, cups, candle holders, etc. She often sells these items in her shop. Stop in soon. They make amazing coffee and espresso drinks. Cheers!!! read more

See all

Great people, fun sign, pretty good coffee, pretty darned good breakfast sandwiches, and a nice patio. Prices are on the high side. If prices were a bit lower or coffee was a bit tastier, I'd be back more frequently. As it is, I'll still definitely stop by a few times a month. read more

Cafe Bambino - Breakfast Sandwiches and Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really enjoyed my drink and the service I received. The staff was so kind and treated me great and quickly, and the drink was delicious. This visit is from a short while ago because I was unsure if i wanted to leave this review. However, i wanted to leave a review for the woman who introduced herself as the owner to the person in front of me. When I was trying to place my order, I could hear her talking to the girl making drinks in a demeaning and condescending way. From what I could hear it seemed like a scheduling issue, but the comment that really stuck with me is "I am the owner, I dont have be here early that's what you guys are for" If you are really the owner, talking to the people who run your store so you don't have to be there early like this is extremely distasteful especially in front of customers.. From a person who has worked in these environments, your employees deserve someone who looks at them as humans. I hope that this review makes you aware of what you're saying , how you're saying, and who you're saying it in front of. read more

Went up to the window to order but saw QR codes everywhere stating "view menu and order online" (there is no other menu to look at) so stepped aside to start this process to then have the woman working ignore me and my girlfriend to help someone that was sitting down and arrived after us at the window. Finished ordering online to then have my girlfriend's and this other person's drink arrive 5 drinks ahead of mine. When we asked where my mocha was, the barista gave us a dirty look and said he was working on it then. The mocha had minimal flavor and needed to be adjusted after trying. Main staple since 1928 but idk how or why with this level of customer service. read more

Cafe Bambino - Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great, friendly cafe that you can stop by for a drink and a pastry. The place feels like a neighborhood spot...it is a little small with just 3-4 seats at the counter next to the window and another 2 seat bench outside the window where you can sit, read or just people watch. The drinks were made fast and most people were in an out within 5 minutes..super efficient. P.S. they take credit cards. But if you pay cash, you get a little discount, too. read more

Cafe Bambino - 12oz chai at cafe bambino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Delicious and well-crafted drinks. Fun atmosphere and looks like it draws local community as well.

I would love if I could love this place. It's so tiny and cute. It's apparently been an institution for decades. It could hardly be any closer to home. The workers are incredibly nice. The last time I was in, one of them very cutely swung by the patio to tell us she had to leave for a few minutes and was locking up but would be right back. The problem is just the coffee. And this is a coffee shop, so that's a big problem. When I go out for coffee, I almost always get americanos. The americano here is like something you would get at a small town coffee shop where they don't know what an americano is and they just mix drip coffee with hot water. This coffee is thin, lifeless, flavorless. There are so many better options for coffee in Ballard and Phinney Ridge that I don't expect I'll ever go here again. read more

My favorite coffee shop in all of Seattle! The locals that frequent the shop have become a warm and welcoming face in the mornings, and the baristas are top notch. Not to mention , the coffee is the best I've ever had (soy vanilla latte - you won't regret it.) Bring a book, grab a coffee, and enjoy the bustling neighborhood of Ballard on their small and quaint patio. read more

Pleasant little coffee shop near Ballard. We'll stop here often on our return trips to This neighborhood.

super cute little cafe! great coffee, yummy breakfast options and an outdoor seating area with heaters!! love this place

I really wanted to like this but this was the worst latte I've ever had. I took 1 sip and that was it. I could not drink it anymore. I wound up going to another store to get a drink. The staff seemed really friendly and everyone hanging around seemed really great as well. It was just not my taste. read more

Such a cute, tiny little coffee shop. There are a few bar seats inside and some seats outside which are great on a nice day. Their coffee is tasty, I really enjoyed my latte. They have some very yummy looking cookies and baked goods and they have a punch card program where your 13th coffee is free!! read more

A quaint coffee shop with a lot of character. However, the quality of the coffee depends massively on who works the espresso machine. Permanent/longstanding staff make delicious drinks with a lot of care; other workers will slap globs of foam on watery espresso and tell you it's a macchiato. read more

Easily my favorite coffee shop in the Ballard area. The staff are so nice and welcoming. The outside seating area is perfect on nice days. The coffee is strong and I haven't had a cup that was less than perfect. It's a great neighborhood stop and I look forward to my trip there almost every day They have a punch card program - buy 12 get the 13th free - which is pretty standard for the industry I think. The prices are slightly lower than others in the area. read more

Seattle's Coffee Yelp Recognition Award: Best Place to Sip & Stand Coffee Sipping room only...since 1928. THIS is the type of neighborhood cafe I envision when I think of Seattle! [Except for the fact that they use Italian beans, Berardo.] Driving downhill from Phinney Ridge along NW 65th into Ballard, you can't miss the Bambino Buddha sitting atop the cafe with wide eyes like Big Brother (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-bambino-seattle?select=R9pyzRU7SNiuxzwusCh_zw#kK21QXzohYB0n_WeWh0Xwg). There's only space for a cashier and a barista behind the rounded convex counter, with six stools at the window. No four-legged friends allowed inside--and honestly there's no space for them. They have some awesome antiques put to use like a lacquer sugar bowl, Wrigley gum dispenser and stained windows. I love their selection of coffee fixings with honey on a hot plate so it stays smooth. Nice touch! And heck, it's even Obama approved (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-bambino-seattle?select=R9pyzRU7SNiuxzwusCh_zw#b5yaIm-w_xMfjes0UFJs-g) Everyone appears to visit for the Mighty-O-Donuts they sell (no trans-fats or hydrogenated oils). My man enjoyed their potently delicious cappuccino, extra wet. I sipped on their chocolatey delicious mocha. On a lazy, dreary Sunday, this is where I can be found reading the newspaper. However, on a sunny day, their outside side patio is wonderful. read more

See all

Okay coffee, okay location, okay baristas, okay, well, it's just okay. It's a bit too crowded in the main part, so if you're claustrophobic, forget it! I have yet to try any pastries or sit out on the patio... perhaps I'll go back and give it another shot. **updated 2/3/08*** Went back again, because hubby has been going here for a while - I was quite shocked how much better the coffee was! I will be back. I liked their sign that said they were going to be closing early due to the holiday. When asked what holiday, they said Groundhog's Day! I'm sure they were closing early for a different reason, but I love that sense of humor. read more

The coffee is good, but if you are not a regular standing around telling stories, you don't seem to get a friendly welcome or paid much notice for that matter. Conversation was happening with the woman behind me before I was even asked my order. A cramped little spot with 3 regulars standing around shooting the breeze. With nowhere to stand after my order I ended up a corner where I wasn't even alerted that my coffee was ready, I only noticed it was sitting on the counter when I saw she was pouring another drink. Decent price, good coffee but not amped on the service. Treat people as equals, whether we are regulars or just in the area. We are all paying customers! read more

This place has delicious and tasty coffee. The baristas are fun and friendly. The have cute hoodies and shirts for sale. If Obama is wearing it, you should too! The art work on the wall adds a nice touch. Who doesn't like a Buddah Belly? Come check it out for yourself! read more

Cafe Bambino - Rock Star Mocha! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This review depends on what you want in a coffee shop. This place IS a 5 star place IF what you like is a neighborhood shop where you pop in and have either a quick espresso/cap or take something to go. Or if you get a nice weather day and you want to read a book/the paper/ chat on the patio. They have good service and good coffee and are one of the few shops in town that fit this mold. This place IS NOT a 5 star place if you are looking for somewhere to park and use your computer. They do not have WiFi and it would not be the best fit if that is what you are looking for. Love it for what it is, or go somewhere else in the hood. read more

nice local place. They have a great seating area outside for coffee in the summer :) The person who worked there (maybe not the owner) was really quite nice. I got a simple iced americano and some chocolate zucchini bread. The zucchini bread wasn't that sweet, which was fine for me. It was, on the other hand, very moist. The americano was fine. I like that their punch card system (buy 10 coffee drinks = 1 free) is on the honor system and you can leave your card there (alphabetized by name) so you don't have to worry about forgetting it next time you come in. read more

My favorite local coffee shop. I appreciate that they offer so many substitutes, including my favorite: oat milk. I'd recommend the white mocha with oat milk as it's what I usually order and it always makes my morning. Because of CoVid-19, Cafe Bambino uses the Joe app in order to facilitate contactless pick-ups. I place my order on the app and then walk the few blocks' distance between my home and Bambino and bam! my order is ready by the time I arrive. If you live in the neighborhood, support this historic, quaint coffee shop by regularly indulging yourself with their delicious drinks. read more

great coffee and atmosphere! Plus don't mind putting two shots over ice for me!!! it is walking distance form my house so hey can't beat it! the staff are always accomidating and they are one of the few coffee places with great svory delights to go with your coffee which I prefer over sweet in the morning~~ check out this Seattle classic!@ read more

First time visiting. Very quick in-and-out experience. Staff did not engage in a friendly way at all but, hey, no big deal. Customer service work is hard work, I know. But, to have the person processing the transaction say, "Stick your card there and then you put it in your tip" was just too presumptive to me. Okay, so I put in half of what I normally tip. Having worked for tips for a good portion of my life, I would never have tried to demand a tip, much less done so with no eye contact, no flicker of a smile, and no thank you. Deeply unimpressed. Then the coffee (simple americano) was awful. How do you screw up an americano?! Bitter and watery - it was as if they used the previous grounds from someone else's drink. Did they? I should have kept my eyes on the process!! Since I was on the road, there was no way for me to get back to ask them to remake it. Just dumped it out when I got home and made my own - MUCH better - americano. read more

I only give this two stars because I didn't want to deprive the other people who work there from a good score. I used to like this place, but I don't much anymore. The owner seems a bit more than surly (people think surly is good in this city when it comes to coffee) and well, I don't need that with my coffee. read more

This place, far and away, has the best espresso in the city. For years, this has been where I bring all my visiting friends and family for an impressive Seattle cup of coffee. Half the time they want to buy the beans to take home. Last time a friend did that I finally learned why these beans taste so good -- apparently the owners get beans from Italy and then roast them over a certain kind of wood. I forget what kind. But I was like oh! I knew there was something special about this coffee. Owners have great taste in art too. The cool baby and coffee on top of the shop is what initially brought me in a while ago, but it's also got this cool historic storefront feel with artwork on sale inside that's often pretty impressive. During covid, they have a thing where you can order coffee through the Joe app and then they have it up for you within 5 minutes - pretty quick. Can't go inside anymore, but they have an outdoor window pick up station. read more

I'm by this place all the time and I can't believe I hadn't gone in until recently. The coffee actually is pretty good and there is a nice little porch that sits next to the shop. The porch is shady (as in absence of sun, not hoodlum) and there is some minor people-watching potential on 65th street. The inside of the shop is tiny (single file only, please!) and I think they only take cash and checks. Don't try to use the Starbucks Visa here. read more

Extending my olive branches and compliments to the mysterious one who conjured a pinky delight that was gifted to me. Who knew carbonated liquids and squeezes of strawberry extracts could taste so italian and by italian i mean delicious. read more

The cool staff and quaintness of this place make it a gem in the rough of Ballard. The coffee is always made well, never bitter. They have a small selection of pastries, but a wonderful small selection. The breakfast sandwiches they carry keep me coming back for more. The cool outdoor patio has heating lamps, so it's a perfect place to enjoy a hot chocolate with peppermint, read a good novel and enjoy the festive Christmas decorations they put up every year. The only downside is that they don't let you bring your dog in with you. My poor pup sadly sits outside and stares longingly in the window hoping for a treat...which they took away when they decided dogs were no longer welcome. read more