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    Kakao

    4.1 (135 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Business Info

    KAKAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Vahlrona mochas
    Diana C.

    This is a cute space! There were a lot of folks working or meeting while I was there. There also seems to be a community gathering space in the back? It's dog friendly too! I liked the vahlrona mocha and would love to come back and try some of the others. They also had some unique chocolates for sale too. The baristas were helpful, despite one of them saying they were a volunteer, they were able to help me decide on what drink would be best.

    Decor and seating area
    Pooja S.

    As I was waking past, I saw this shop reopening so I decided to stop by. They're open 3 days a week, Tu-Th, and advertise as a coffee shop and work space, and I think they've succeeded! The inside is airy and comforting, and there were quite a few people there working in the calm ambiance. I went to order, and the barista explained to me what they're known for (their chocolate drinks). I had intended to get a chai but figured I'd try one of their fancy hot chocolates, since I am not a coffee/mocha drinker. I got my drink in a reasonable time frame, and it was great! Really thick and creamy, and a gold chocolatey flavor! Not too sweet at all, and I'm sure the darker cacao contents would be even more chocolatey if that's what you're into. Will be back!

    Menu
    Lydia L.

    Update: I came in again for a nonfat milk latte. Their WiFi was down but I only had Apple Pay, so they offered me a free latte!!! Thank you! *** Love that they do double shots (and specified that in their menu) for espresso drinks! $3.75 (tax included) for 8oz latte, 0.75 (tax included) for alt milk, very good price for decent coffee in this area, esp. when they come with latte art. Their chocolate sample by the checkout is delicious too.

    Salted Hot Chocolate
    Elizabeth T.

    Definitely the place to go if you are a chocolate lover! They have sipping chocolate, got chocolate and a large variety of different chocolate bars! I had the salted hot chocolate and molasses cookie, which was delicious. They also have a decent seating area to just hang out and have your coffee or hot chocolate.

    Chocolate Spread
    Jess C.

    Kakao Chocolate is a spacious, coffee shop with an industrial feel. They sell a small handful of specialty chocolates, though I've seen most of them before (Theo, Dandelion) and many you can also purchase at Whole Foods. I decided to order an Americano with chocolate to get a taste of both their coffee and chocolate, as I wanted something not too sweet or rich. The barista was really friendly, but I felt that even with a little chocolate it was too sweet and had to throw it away after a few sips. Not super impressed by their chocolate, espresso, or by the bar or pastry selections. I bet their drinking chocolate and hot chocolate are great, but as a choco-holic I think that would be too overwhelming for my taste buds.

    House mocha. Try it!
    Rachel H.

    After walking by this place a few times I had to stop in. I ordered a house mocha and got settled at a table in the quiet open space. It was the perfect atmosphere to relax and get some work done or read a book. As nice as the space was, the coffee will keep me coming back. The house mocha was so amazing I'd struggle to order anything else but there were so many other things to try -- especially the hot chocolate options. I think the prices were also very reasonable. Check it out!

    Affogato!
    Rupal R.

    Husband and I were walking around in the SLU area and yelped for coffee near me, Kakao popped up as #1! We ordered the affagato (my favorite!) and the 85% mocha with a caprese sandwich to share. Both coffees were awesome. This was the first time we saw multiple options in mocha to choose the chocolate type! The caprese however, was a little disappointing, I don't know if it was the type of cheese or they actually added sugar(!!!), but we weren't pleased with the sweet taste.

    Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
    Monica S.

    Delicious and artisan hot chocolate in South Lake Union! I came here on a weeknight with some girlfriends, and ordered the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. It was so delicious, but I didn't taste much of the Salted Caramel flavor until the very last sip. They also sell artisan chocolate and have plenty of seating, and service good as well! They may even let you sample their decadent sipping chocolate, do it!! So good! I look forward to trying other beverages here soon!

    Hot chocolate (front) and London Fog (back)
    Jennifer K.

    A friend and I decided to come here because we were stuck in traffic heading out of this area and thought, might as well stop in here and wait through the traffic. There is a private parking lot and I love that Kakao is open until 8pm. (Unlike other coffee shops that generally close around 6-7pm) They are known for their chocolate products so my friend got a Hot Chocolate but since I can't really drink hot chocolate (because I get nose bleeds, tragic I know) I got a London Fog. Both were really good and of course made to order! The space itself is very spacious and modern. A lot of dark furniture and exposed walls with high ceilings. I can see this being a spot for people to meet and catch up over a drink, without having to be at a noisy bar. They do server beer and wine from what I saw so this would be a great place to work and enjoy a glass if that's what floats your boat.

    House mocha
    Kien N.

    Nice cafe with their own parking, which is great. It is also spacious. I ordered house mocha. It was quick and cool.

    Diana H.

    The cafe seems to be almost like under construction so not the prettiest setting but the hot chocolate I got was pretty good. I got the 72% one and it was not too sweet and had good taste of chocolate

    Inside lounge area

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Haven't tried anything else, I always get the sipping chocolate here. It's so rich and delicious and satisfies my chocolate cravings.

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Great Mocha. Friendly barista and a large spacious shop for being down in Lake Union.

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    Kakao Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kakao

    Do they allow dogs?

    No they don't

    What brands are used for all milk alternatives or if any are house-made?

    Pacific for oat milk

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Kakao

    I personally haven't tried their sipping chocolate, but just the fact that they have them is nice.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Rey Amargo Chocolate Shop

    Rey Amargo Chocolate Shop

    4.7(117 reviews)
    1.0 miCapitol Hill
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    Y'all... this place is one-of-a-kind, and I'm so glad it's in the city I live in…read more If you're an adventurous chocolate/café beverage lover, Rey Amargo is a spot to try! They mostly do Mexican-style hot chocolates, made with all natural ingredients. The menu has a large variety of drinks to choose from. I'll admit, the prices are kinda high but for the unique product you're getting, I can understand. Also, I will warn you, many of the drinks have ground-up ingredients mixed in, so you might be chewing a bit on them as you drink, but I think that adds to the authenticity. It's part of the experience. I discovered Rey Amargo a couple years ago when I was walking around Cap Hill and they were offering samples on the sidewalk. It was the cardamom hot chocolate... at first taste, I knew I'd never forget this drink, and had to return to this place. The Spicy Mexican Mocha is another of my favorites. Smooth, a little smoky, a spicy background, and just enough coffee. If you ever stop at the café, the beverages are served in simple yet classy tall mugs. It's nice to just sit and sip while I stare out the window and let my mind escape.

    My friend and I stayed and chatted here for 3 hours on a quiet, sunny Sunday afternoon. It was the…read moreperfect place to sit back and enjoy life with a chocolate drink. We loved the Xocolatl; it is 100% Mexican cacao blended in water that looks like a warm chocolate soup, and comes with a chili, vanilla syrup, cinnamon and pepper that you can put in yourself depending on how much you want. It was very interesting, bitter, spicy, and complex, not sweet at all! It also made the perfect dipping sauce for the churros, which were deliciously crunchy with generous cinnamon and sugar. We shared an iced mint flavored Mexican hot chocolate as well, which was refreshing and perfectly balanced. This little hot chocolate cafe is well worth the street parking! I highly recommend stopping by to try both familiar and unique flavors at a great price.

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    Hot Cakes - Capitol Hill - Peanut butter lava cake (just peanuts on the side...)

    Hot Cakes - Capitol Hill

    3.9(1.2k reviews)
    0.7 miCapitol Hill
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    Best Lava Cakes!…read more Lava cake: - Pricey for the portion size, but the shop is popular - The cake itself is soft and has a good chocolate flavor - It's packed with molten chocolate that oozes out and covers the dessert with yummy goodness!

    When we made a comment to some friends about where to get chocolate, they suggested Hot Cakes. We…read moredidn't go at the time but finally made it there and it was worth it! They open later, 4pm during the week and 3pm on the weekends and open until midnight. Great place to get dessert and a drink. We were there at opening, and ordere the grilled cheese which comes with tomato soup, crème brûlée and I had th hot chocolate. The sandwich was good, although I would have liked a slice more cheese. The soup was really amazing. I don't often like tomato soup but this was the exception. Chunks of tomato and a full flavor without a lot of spices. The crème brûlée was warmed and freshly caramelized on top. This is not made in advance and just refrigerated which seems to be more common these days. The hot chocolate hit the spot! Options for no -dairy alternatives were offered which I almost forgot to ask. Liked the atmosphere, spacious and high ceilings. The staff was very friendly and nice. They had a rush when they opened and didn't seem unusual for them. The candied orange was a nice touch.

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    Strawberry Molten Cake

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    Flight Wine + Chocolate - S'mores chocolate

    Flight Wine + Chocolate

    4.9(43 reviews)
    1.2 miCapitol Hill

    This has been on my list of places to go for years. Decided to make an excuse (anniversary) and…read morewent all in. Inside has a clean, more modern feel, but still comfortable. You can choose to sit on the main floor, outside, or upstairs. Got a flight of red wine, a flight of whites, and a flight of chocolate (which comes with a glass of wine specifically as a pairing. This was my favorite wine). AND a free snack bowl was provided! The workers did an excellent job. They brought out the wines one at a time- describing each one in detail, even pointing out which were their favorites. The service was very personable, which is something I don't always get at other places that do wine tastings. The chocolates were melt in your mouth, with unique flavors, making it extra fun. I must note- getting the flights that we did was pricey, but I know, most wine tastings and fancy chocolates are going to be expensive. I also wish there was a little more chocolate in the flight. It was difficult to cut up and share. However, this was a wonderful experience that I'm happy to have tried once, and they deserve the 5 stars!

    Flight is an intimate wine bar in a quieter part of Capitol Hill. The decor is chic with red…read moreaccents and comfortable seating throughout. When we were seated we were given menus and the staff walked us through each flight offered. They even provide complimentary gluten free snack mix! We ordered two first class flights and a chocolate flight. The first class is a red flight, but starts with champagne (yes real champagne). I've never had champagne to start a flight and I absolutely loved it. The flight was well placed with each wine growing bolder. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and took time to explain each wine to every table. The chocolate flight was the best chocolate I have ever had, the chocolatier was even serving our wine and brought out the chocolates as well. He explained every piece and where each ingredient was from. The chocolate flight came with a port that paired well with every chocolate. This wine tasting room is thoughtfully curated and you can tell with every glass and piece of chocolate.

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    Flight Wine + Chocolate - Chocolate flight

    Chocolate flight

    Flight Wine + Chocolate
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    Kakao - coffee - Updated May 2026

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