My first experience at Retreat wasn't great. The barista was very unfriendly & I won't likely go back.

I wish I had had more time to spend at Retreat the day I was there but I was in and out for a work lunch. The place was poppin, and I was lucky to be able to find a table as someone slid out as I walked in! The margarita was great- didn't have the pre mix concentrated taste we are all familiar with- and I ate the breakfast in probably less than 3 minutes. This is a great spot, beware that parking is tough but it's Greenlake so you already know to expect that ;) read more

Retreat - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came here for brunch on a weekend and loved the interior design space. It is a bright light filled corner spot with lots of greenery all over the interior. It has an industrial feel including exposed pipes (the one along the back wall was dripping on us during our meal!) The coffee was good, as were the brunchtails. I loved my pesto sweet potato egg dish over greens instead of grains. I only wish it had a second egg in it as I was hungry again an hour later. You order at the counter here and then find a table. This seems to work as the food is prepared really fast. I'll definitely be back here again but will probably sit away from the exposed pipes. read more

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Let me preface this review by saying, I like Retreat and I will definitely be going back. This review is based off of one experience. I also would like to mention that my complaints are more so based off of their system and less on their service, although that plays a small role. I went in around 3:50PM on a sunny Saturday and expected a long line to order which isn't surprising considering the location and the weather. The line wasn't that bad actually, I'd say less than 5 minutes. The issue was the wait on what I ordered which was a couple of smoothies. First off, let me mention that the total including tip came out to $30. A bit steep for two smoothies but I'll play devil's advocate and say you're paying for 'premium' ingredients and the ambiance of the cafe if you were to sit down and enjoy them there. The issue was the wait which made the cost of the smoothie seem not worth it at all. In total the wait was about 30 minutes and that had to do with people taking the wrong order, therefore remakes being expedited and placed before existing orders and for the fact that they have 5 blenders in total, all of which seem to go to the back kitchen after each use to be ran through the wash which takes a few minutes each go. For a place that serves premium smoothies at such a high volume, you'd think that they'd have come up with a better system, or had the smoothie station near a sink where they could immediately rinse the blenders. The barista working the espresso machine did her best to regulate people taking orders, but with all the mix-ups causing the major back-up (enough to cut off smoothie orders for 20 minutes) you'd also think that they'd create a better system of handing off orders to customers to avoid the confusion. Lastly, when I got my order, one of them was a reuse from previously meaning it was sitting in the fridge for a while and the other one wasn't even full the entire way. Considering the back up, I wasn't going to ask to have more made to fill the cup but all in all, definitely not worth the wait or money this go around. It would have been nice if the cashier would have communicated and mentioned the wait prior to me ordering and it would have been considerate if the people making smoothies moved with a little urgency and communicated with people standing waiting for their drinks instead of standing idle and chatting, waiting on blenders to be washed. It's moments like these where you wonder what you're tipping for other than the lack of compensation from the employer. As for the smoothies, the Salted Maple Chocolate is delicious. The Blueberry Bliss on the other hand is oddly tangy and not as thick in consistency (neither was the SMC though), and the hemp seed garnish albeit healthy, gets uncomfortably stuck in your teeth. read more

I stopped in for a morning bite and a place to read in peace for a bit. Was definitely more of a meet up cafe rather than a quiet, relaxing environment, but was very chill all things considered. I had the strawberry fields shake and the eggs and goat cheese toast. The 3 stars are largely based on the toast. It tasted ok, but it was so difficult to eat! The egg was cooked well, but the rye bread was just a challenge to cut through. This may be in part due to takeaway and plastic utensils (not sure if in non-COVID times they used actual cutlery). Regardless, the toast itself was a bit too tough. Additionally, the dill was clumped in one section rather than being evenly distributed. Additionally, the amount of goat cheese was too much. I love goat cheese, but it dominated every other flavor: I could barely taste the egg even in the yolkiest of bites. The strawberry fields shake was delicious and a nice breakfast shake. I've since heard their espresso/lattes are great, so I may give a try the next time I am in town. read more

A pleasant café to spend your morning! I ate breakfast in the corner of the patio with a nice view of the Green Lake park. The place is spacious and indoor is well-ventilated with all of the doors connecting to the patio being open. All of the food and drinks are served in take-out containers even if dining in. I'd recommend ordering online on their site ahead of time as the prices are the same and this place can get a long line. The menu has a lot of healthy options and is vegetarian friendly as everything is customizable. I was surprised that money is even deducted if taking off items. ----- Retreat Bowl (Sweet Potato Pesto): sunny egg, brown rice, sweet potato, mushroom, arugula, pistachio pesto ($14). Everything was fresh and the portion was filling without skimping on any of the ingredients. The egg yolk was runny, sweet potato was soft, brown rice was perfectly cooked, and the pistachio pesto complimented the dish really well. If anything the salt was not evenly distributed on the egg, so a couple of bites were a bit salty. ----- Ruby Ginger Latte (12oz): beetroot, coconut milk powder, ginger, ashwagandha, cardamom syrup, choice of steamed milk. From SAKU Tea ($5.50). A flavorful drink with a distinctive taste in beet and ginger that wasn't too earthy. It was a cool morning and this warmed me up instantly. ----- I showed up at 7:30 AM on a Saturday and had to wait a couple of minutes despite the only one customer in line ahead of me had already placed their order. Although the staff was shorthanded, the employees were cheerful and sincerely apologized for the wait. It was close to 8:30 AM when I was leaving, and there were well over a dozen people waiting to order at the front counter. Plenty of seats were still available, but the majority of the outdoor seats were taken. Guest Wi-Fi is available. read more

Retreat - Retreat Bowl (Sweet Potato Pesto): egg, brown rice, sweet potato, mushroom, arugula, pistachio pesto ($14). Ruby Ginger Latte 12oz ($5.50). - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Please stop leaving all the doors open when it is 50 degrees outside. When asked they an employee was hot, I'm really sorry about that but I should have to freeze while eating breakfast. Decent healthy food, gets pretty dirty and they do not clean up. read more

Delicious squash bread. Friendly counter person....but PLEASE teach your barista how to make cappuccino'(and what they are!). Also, he might need a refresher on the difference between nutmeg and cinnamon! read more

This place is sooo cute and in the perfect location! I love walking around Greenlake because of this place. One of my favorite things is to go for a morning walk/run around the lake and then come here for coffee and breakfast afterwards. Quick tip - place opens at 7am, but you can't order from the kitchen until 8am so if you're planning to come here for breakfast don't come before 8am. I enjoyed a nice latte and avocado toast this morning. It cost me over $20 for a small breakfast, but for the view and the ambiance it's totally worth it. read more

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Why the heck do you have to go to a counter as a disabled person to order a beverage at a bar? Waited for eye contact at the bar for twenty minutes. Finally had to yell at a person to ask a simple question. Do not waste your time folks! This owner clearly is in it for the money, not service or community. The people are really not there for you or their job either... very clearly will not last long. read more

Waited 45 minutes for our order then was told it never got put in. I then went to go ask for a refund and realized they had refunded a completely different order and card that was not mine. read more

Obsessed with their strawberry fields smoothie. Wish it was blended with a little bit more ice so it wasn't watery. Staff could definitely be more friendly. Pretty expensive smoothie $9.50 for a Starbucks-sized drink. Great vibes in the summer with live music and open air seating. read more

Fresh, healthy, yummy food! Really nice ambiance but very crowded. Though, that's always a good sign.

Looks good, next time a bowl...the omelette was petite... and not satisfying. The coffee was great although took forever. read more

Retreat - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

There are many reasons to give retreat a visit. I am happy to report that this was a very very cute date café. I took my best friend here while she was visiting for a month. We experienced great customer service, we also enjoyed the ambience and all the cool things about this spot. The outside seating is spectacular when it's warm enough, the inside seating is also very nice. They have a upside down canoe hanging from the ceiling, and lots of trendy plants! I would like to share that one thing they can work on is parking, it's not impossible, but it is near Green Lake and you get what you get. Additionally I think the inside has too much AC running, and turning up the heat would be my only problem. The actual food and drink quality is just great. I didn't get to taste much food, but it looks delicious. The price point might be a little bit high, but for the actual area you are sitting in, it matches and I'm surprised it's not higher. Their hours are good, and it always says something when businesses are busy. read more

Catching up on Yelp reviews. This is for a visit to Green Lake's Retreat back on 8/4/18. This current iteration at this location seems to get quite the Yelp buzz, so decided to check it out. It took a bit of patience, but I ended up with nearby one hour street parking. The prime location across from the lake has a lot of pedestrian traffic, but the interior aesthetic, pleasant customer service, and menu items are definitely a draw. The iced mocha and pastry hit the spot while I thumbed through a magazine. This is one of those spots that fits for a quick jaunt, a brunch or evening meet up, or just to hang out just because. I will definitely have to return to check out other menu items! read more

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I used to go here all the time when I lived in Seattle and visited on a recent trip, happy to see it's still great! I loved all the fun coffee drink options and tried the ginger cardamom cold brew. The food menu is extensive and this spot is perfect after a walk around Greenlake or if you need a spot to work outside the house/office. read more

I don't normally write reviews but the veggie omelet I was served was divine (unfortunately, no picture). My Dad kindly treated me to an omelet and coffee this morning. The omelet was $15, which felt a little steep (maybe this is average, but for some reason felt like a lot when I looked at it this morning) but after eating it, I'd say it's worth it. That omelet was delicious and a friendly portion. Looking forward to the next time :) read more

Prices are on the high end. The retreat bowl is worth getting, but the breakfast sandwich is bland. Matcha latte and americano were good. The pumpkin sliced bread is also flavorful. Their well drinks are fine, but there were flies in the cafe that kept swirling around and two fell in. Counter service, wait for and pick up your drinks at the counter, bus your own table. Plenty of tables and seating, although the ratio of outlets to seats are low. Music is kept at a high volume- good if you're socializing, not ideal if trying to work read more

I always go here for meeting a friend or to do work, their food is healthy, they allow you to salt and pepper your own food. Their drinks are also healthy and unless asked for a specific sweetener, they usually allow the customers to sweeten their own drinks. the service is great, very nice and down to earth people, the staff is always working to do their best to serve their customers despite their constant busyness. And the ambiance is great and depends on what your looking for and on which day. But you can almost always count on never being alone here no matter how early or how late, due to the popularity of the spot. Note: I don't have any photos because I tend to consume my food or drink way before remembering to take a photo read more

I LOVE this place! I've been here twice already, and already know I'll be coming back here many more times in the future. This place is definitely newer (maybe a couple years old?) because it wasn't around when I lived in Seattle two years ago. The ambiance, coffee, decor and friendly baristas is what makes this place so great! They have a great outdoor patio that is super dog friendly, and honestly I see a handful of dogs instead the actual cafe too but no one seems to mind. The space is super open, and green (lots of plants instead) and beautiful murals on the wall). I love how dog friendly this place is and for being a cafe, they have a pretty great menu along with very delicious looking pastries. I've tried their latte, rose beet latte, curried chicken bowl with brown rice and the granola with milk and fresh fruit. All very delicious! If you live around Greenlake or enjoy this area, definitely come check out this spot! It's literally right across from the lake! So you can come here for brunch then take a walk around the lake (with your furry friend!) read more

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This is a nice little spot in a good location. A group of us met here for a book club meeting and were able to push together a couple tables before the crowds rolled in. There is a quick turnover of guests but it is busy, so don't expect this to be a peaceful and quiet place to get work done unless you like working with a lot of background noise. I ordered a Veggie Toast and a Beetroot Cardamom Latte with oat milk, both of which were pretty tasty! The veggie toast is piled high with veggies and is very aesthetic, although it did make it a little hard to eat. I had ordered the latte because I wanted to try something uncommon and/or unique to this cafe, and I'm glad I did - it was tasty, but could have been hotter! They do have gluten free bread and alternative milks at an additional cost - I remembered seeing those options on a customer photo here but it wasn't posted anywhere in-store and we had to ask the staff to confirm. They are a little pricey, so I can't see myself coming here regularly, but they are worth checking out! read more

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We're from out of town and were looking for a brunch place with good food, a view of water, and no reservation needed. This place checked all our boxes! We had the salmon lox, a bowl of coconut curry, a spinach omelette, and the chicken pesto sandwich. All our food was delicious, but the lox were particularly good and the pairing with fresh tzatziki sauce was delicious. You order cafeteria style, so even tho the line was out the door when we arrived, it moved quickly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. It was a great spot for a quick bite at Green Lake. read more

Love the vibes. Good day date and walk the lake spot. Sometimes it's kinda busy but it's worth it.

The Harvest Bowl is spectacular. The picture doesn't do it justice- what a perfect was to get in all your super foods very quickly. I highly recommend Retreat. It's a little pricy but never disappoints. Food is super fresh and the menu has a little something for every occasion. read more

Retreat - Harvest bowl - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Location is #1, selection #2, and seating #3! It gets crowded on the weekends, but it's right next to Green Lake - so it's good for stopping by after a walk around the lake but a little too noisy and chaotic on weekends to be a place to go out of my to work at. The drinks and food have all been great, especially the golden latte. read more

Very popular especially for their smoothies. Breakfast food is alright just very under seasoned. It is what you would expect though and does serve very clean and healthy food. Got a side of avocado for I think 3 or $4 and they gave me the entire avocado which is very much appreciated. The coffee and pastry we had were great, especially their latte. Service is pretty quick for how busy it always is there. Very cute interior. Good place to catch up with friends or family visiting but would stick to the coffee and smoothies. read more

I LOVE this place! The ambience, atmosphere, and the fact that it's across the Green Lake Park! I was trying to find another cafe in North Seattle, other than Jewel Box. This came up! When I had gone up to give my order, the woman was so nice; even described the baked goods that came in fresh daily. She had asked me to let them know how it was lol. Had the sweet potato pesto bowl, a hazelnut brownie and a cardamom beet latte. The bowl was delicious; brown rice, fresh arugula, sweet potatoes and mushrooms. The latte was unlike any other I've had! And the brownie was soft and delicious. For cafes to be this good, I'll admit some of the stuff they have is a bit priced but I believe it's worth it. I mean, they serve alcohol like wine, salads and even happy hour. I'd suggest visiting this place! I definitely will another time. As for parking, mostly street. For around 1-3pm, it's not bad. I couldn't find that parking garage google maps mentioned...I was able to park on a side filled with cars and no mention of 2 hour slots etc which was nice. Hope I don't have a ticket waiting for me! Eeeek. read more

Retreat - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Tl;dr Employees not masked Overpriced yet very average 'Extra' on every level First off, the coffee and food are decent. No issues with the quality there. It's certainly overpriced since your paying the premium for going to a 'cool' 'hip' coffee boutique, but if you don't mind an extra dollar or five, all of the stuff I've tried is fine. I would bet that no one could pick the Retreat latte out of a lineup of 5 lattes, the other 4 being from Starbucks down the street. One important point is that the employees here do not mask. Several other reviews have confirmed this. And if you look at the dates of these reviews, they're at the very height of covid spikes. So at the end of the day, if you like to sip on a coffee that sounds really fancy, go for it. Try not to have covid so you can protect the employees. Honestly, we live really close to Green Lake and if the area we happen to find parking is closest to Retreat, we'll get our coffees here before heading to the lake. But otherwise, I'd say there are plenty of other coffee options. read more

Cute place with good omelettes and coffee. In town for SIFF and staying nearby this restaurant/coffeehouse. I recommend you go in early. Very popular. read more

Took an hour to get my salad. The salad was $21 with tip, I asked for dressing on the side and they put it right on top. The last time i came, they gave my friends order to someone else. Very disorganized and also most of the employees don't wear masks (during the height of omicron.. doesn't make sense.) The food is really good, so I definitely want to give a higher rating, but I just can't ignore the huge downfalls. read more

Retreat - Chicken and greens salad - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food wasn't seasoned well. Lox toast was good tho not a lot for price. Pretty pricey for mid food and mid service. Incorrect order and didn't give me cream cheese or butter with my bagel. which inherently seems evil. Cute little place if you are a zillionaire. read more

Such a cute spot right next to Green lake to romanticize life. I got the lox toast and lavendar latte, both of which were delicious. The lox toast tasted very healthy and was a refreshing choice for breakfast read more

Can't believe I haven't been to this place till now despite having it on my list for so long! I love everything about Retreat...the drinks, food, vibe, and the view of Green Lake! I got the sweet potato pesto bowl, which is both vegetarian and gluten-free! Love the variety of textures in this dish. The pistachio pesto is just the perfect amount of savory flavor to pair with the honey-like sweet potatoes and bitterness of arugula. My friend got the butternut squash curry with brown rice that's vegan and gluten-free! The curry is on the mushy side, with a little bit of crunch from the pumpkin seeds. Lovely coconut milk flavor that's not too strong, but would like to have more greens to go with the dish! For drinks, we tried the maca cocoa jade with oat milk, which is similar to hot chocolate but with a slightly more bitter taste because of the matcha, and also a higher milk ratio! Perfect hearty drink on a breezy day. Lady Camellia has an interesting twist on the gin, which is infused with lavender earl grey! You can definitely taste the subtle yet aromatic scent of the lavender, and it ends on a citrusy note. Would recommend!! read more

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Literally never heard of or experienced a cafe that stops serving a half hour before close. List your hours as until 8:30 if that's when you stop serving drinks. read more

Always friendly staff and an amazing environment! A bit overpriced for the slightly above average food/beverage. Overall, impressed at how they navigated the pandemic, and continued to allow people to use their common sense judgment. Great place to gather and nice spot to cool down and grab a drink post Green-lake run. All the best, Retreat read more

Breakfast sandwich was really good but I didn't see that they charge additional $2 to have it on a bagel, so 1 bagel and 2 eggs were over $10! Nice people, nice view of lake. Not masked. read more

I'm so glad there's a place for both vegans and non-vegans right next to a hugely popular park. AND it has indoor, outdoor and open-air seating!! It can definitely get crowded on warmer days and on weekends, but if you can find a spot it's worth stopping by. My go-to is a kombucha on tap and a bowl (usually the Harvest Bowl or the Mayan Bowl). The only drawbacks are that the indoor seating has a huge fly problem (try to aim for a seat closer to the doors or outside, if possible) and their food menu is definitely overpriced. read more

Retreat - Harvest Bowl - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of my all-time favorite cafes in the Seattle area! This place is seriously a hidden gem with amazing food, a beautiful interior and super friendly employees. I always get a chai latte, and it really is the perfect drink on a rainy day. I've also tried the oatmeal and it's a pretty good size if I want a quick bite. The ambiance of this place is one of the reasons I always come back. There are almost like 3 different areas/vibes around the cafe: a cozy couch area, bar seating, and tons of tables to get work done or catch up with friends. I really love how this place is almost completely all windows, it's seriously so beautiful on warm sunny days. Definitely recommend this place :) read more

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Every time I come here I have a wonderful time. So it's hard for me to pick out one great entree or one great server. Everyone and everything is unique and overly satisfying. Gorgeous delicious food! Always hot and flavorful. And they don't mind doing substitutions when you ask. I love bringing my family and friends here because of the equally amazing staff. They genuinely care about making your experience here one to remember. They are quick, very friendly and helpful if you ask for advice. read more