I absolutely loved Retreat! They're efficient, reasonably priced, and have an amazing location right beside Greenlake park. When you arrive, you order at the counter. You seat yourself, and your food is brought to your table. I ordered the eggs Benedict, which is served all day, along with all of their breakfast items. The egg could've been a bit more jammy, but the hollandaise sauce and potatoes were phenomenal! I saw a ton of people working on laptops here, so it seems to be a great place to spend a WFH day. I'll definitely be back! read more

Retreat - Eggs Benedict - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love retreat! It is always busy but a great spot for good coffee, brunch or snacks. Great outside area and in the summer they open all their windows so you get the feeling of almost everything being outside. Lots of people work from there as well and it is easy to find an outlet. read more

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Came in for lunch and the red head with the cast was quite rude. She was short and acted like we were a bother just being there. When she brought out our food she slammed the plates on our down our table. Maybe we caught her on a bad day but if she was going to be acting like a child she should of stayed home. Aside from her attitude food was quite bland and unsalted. Surprising for a chicken pesto sandwich. read more

Hip joint, great location. A little pricey, but very high-quality. Staff are friendly.

I can't quite pin down my feelings about Retreat. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not good. The lunch rush lasts for many hours and it's kind of a circus inside. There's a lot of seating inside and out but it always fills up fast. The food can be great or mid. The bowls are usually pretty good and the portions are decent. I love their smoothies especially the Mixed Berry Banana. The main draw of Retreat is the location in my opinion. To be fair the location is great and sipping on an iced latte and watching the sun set over Green Lake is wonderful. read more

A friend suggested meeting here to grab a beverage before our walk around the lake. The place is really large with lots of seating and tall ceilings with big windows letting in natural light. First time here and it was a lot to take in their extensive menu. Coffees...teas...smoothies...pastries...food...cocktails, wine, & beer... What don't they do??? I decided on a wellness latte and went with the mushroom mocha (organic cacao, chaga mushroom, mucuna pruriens, cinnamon, himalayan salt, hazelnut, espresso), ordered decaf and without the hazelnut. Would have been nice of the person taking my order to let me know that the hazelnut was the only sweetener in the beverage. The cocoa was bitter, so it turned out to be an $8 not so enjoyable drink. Glad I impulsively ordered a chocolate chip cookie to go with my mocha (YOLO!) because that certainly helped matters. I was left unimpressed by their coffee but could probably be persuaded to come back and try breakfast. read more

First time in a while - I got a seasonal latte (cardamom orange latte) which was fun but I didn't love the active construction work that started around 6pm! Hopefully it wraps up soon, they were actively hanging up drop cloths when I arrived at 5pm, so maybe it's just for this week? It was loud enough that I could hardly hear the friend that I was taking to! read more

Retreat - cardamom orange latte - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The space was very clean. Food and coffee tasted excellent. Service was quick. Very affordable.

Met up with a friend in the greenlake area and decided to check out Retreat for breakfast. We walked in and the line was long but fast. We ordered quickly, chose our table, and food was called out at the counter once ready. I liked the overall atmostphere and vibe. It was laid back and casual, lots of people in walking clothes with pets since it's near greenlake. The food and drinks were delicious! Definitely a great spot for a day date or grab and go. read more

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Coffee drinks are good but the food is so bad! The "breakfast potato's" look like they came from a can and the "avocado" (is it old guacamole?) is disgusting" I feel like years ago this place was good but the last two visits were beyond bad. Just really gross bland food. If you're just coming for coffee and a cute lively cafe then it's fine. read more

Cute ambiance, and while the food is pretty, it's not really very tasty to me. I would love that pesto on a pasta or something a little more cohesive than the retreat bowl which feels disjointed and not worth the money or the kitchens effort. Service is really friendly! read more

Retreat - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a great all times of year for a snack, lunch, a light dinner, or a drink. The patio is perfect during the summer but the interior is spacious and there are lots of nooks and crannies. You can't beat the proximity to Green Lake for pairing it with a nice walk. I enjoy the bowls here -- they're hearty but healthy. My favorite is the chicken, pesto, and sweet potato bowl. They have fun wines, cocktails, and often kombucha on tap. It's a great spot for a date, to read or study, or to meet a friend or two -- I wouldn't recommend for large parties. read more

This is a good casual spot to work/study or chat, but don't come for amazing food. I got the breakfast sandwich which was just alright, nothing special. It was a bit messy to eat because of the avocado and the sandwich itself was in severe need of more flavor. The veggies that came alongside the sandwich were more disappointing - bland, undercooked, and not even salvageable with my emergency purse hot sauce. The morning bowl was just a basic bowl of Greek yogurt with fruit and granola, again nothing special. There was a significant line when we visited, albeit being a Saturday. Also the only available table we found was right next to the kitchen, so it was also noisy. If you were the last person on Earth and Retreat was your only food source, then you're in luck. Otherwise, just go somewhere else. read more

Retreat - Morning Bowl & the Loaded Breakfast Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I loved stopping here to get a retreat bowl and green smoothie with a friend after our walk around Green Lake. Delicious and fresh ingredients. Cute space. read more

Retreat - Green smoothie and retreat bowl with chicken - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

How I heard of this place: On a walk around Greenlake some years ago, we happened upon Retreat and made a note to return for a beverage sometime. 18 September 2018 was that day. Type of cuisine: Simple, American bakery style foods including pastries, granola and even small but hearty breakfast bowls/plates and lunch. Ambiance: Set in an air of pretention, the space doesn't immediately feel warm or welcoming to everyone. Staff and servers were less than pleasant, though seemed to make an effort if you placed a larger order. Most patrons were sitting on laptops, alone or in pairs at the tables set up throughout the sunlit space. What I ordered: A golden milk ($5.50) for me and vanilla latte for my husband. What I loved: I would have loved to come on a day and at a time when we could sample some of the food they had available. The drinks were subpar; the golden milk too pungent and spicey (black pepper), deviating from the more simple, warming, grounding ones I have had elsewhere (or made myself). Why I loved it: The space is perfectly located across the street from Green Lake, where one can meet up with a friend before or after a walk around the lake. Cost: High read more

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Have been a few times, sadly overpriced, their coffee tasted burnt, and lattes have had a lot of grains at the bottom. Most recently, we went to the live music night on Wednesday to have dinner and it specifically says in their online menu and it even says on their menu in the cafe that they provide free corkage fee. When we got there with our own wine they said that it will cost us $15... I said on the menu it specifically says it's free but they still wanted to charge us, so we took our business elsewhere. Really trying to like this place but unfortunately keep getting let down :( read more

Retreat - Says no corkage fee on music nights but they said it will cost $15 to open our wine even though the menu says otherwise. - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Super cute place, decent food, okay coffee. I had to pick up a haku lei for my cousin's HS grad and Green Lake was the next neighborhood over, so I decided to swing on by before the store's opening. I was hooked in by its modern, spacious vibes, as well as the fact that it's adjacent to Green Lake itself. I got the: - crown of roses ($5.50): a decent latte with sadly, no rose taste at all :( - retreat bowl with brown rice ($14): mushroom, sweet potato, arugula, and vegan pistachio pesto. Now this was filling and pretty decent! This was a pretty good way to start the day- I'd wanna give their drinks a second go. read more

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Loud, busy ambiance! Ordered a Green Retreat smoothie and found it to be very refreshing. A little on the pricey side, but the quality of the food and beautiful space made sense. read more

Retreat - Green retreat smoothie - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here to co-work with a friend the other day and have a good time. The menu is yumm and packed with healthy food options. I had the harvest bowls and tried some of their kombucha on tap. The cafe is cute, but definitely noisier than some others I've worked from. Great to hang but not ideal if you have meetings to take. read more

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

I've been here a few times - all the drinks are amazing! Today I got a salted maple chocolate smoothie and it super good 5/5! My friend ordered the tuna melt and he gave it a 4/5 because it was a little oily and salty for him! I'd really recommend this place since it's right next to greenlake , aesthetic, and has great drinks and service! read more

Retreat - Tuna melt - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One of my favorites for coffee in the city. The decor and layout are cozy and give a tree house /cabin vibe. The coffee and pastries are good but the ambience and location are the star. Located right across from Green Lake - it's the perfect place to get a coffee before or after a stroll around the lake. That makes it very busy on weekend mornings, with lines on to the street! In the summer, the patio outside is very nice. read more

The ambiance of this cafe was amazing with a good service. We loved the food and the golden latte, and was a good place to hang out with friends, totally recommend it! read more

Retreat - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We've eaten here 4-5 times and absolutely love it. It's outdoor dog friendly. The egg sandwich is great as is their Bloody Mary's. The people who work here are super nice. Our favorite Green Lake breakfast spot. read more

Retreat - Bacon & Spinach Omelette - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A bright, airy and aesthetic restaurant that was bustling during both brunch and dinner! You order at the counter and they deliver your food to you if they're not too busy. Their wall art is fantastic and the atmosphere is great to enjoy alone or as part of a social gathering, but it was pretty loud during peak hours - study here if you love active background noise! Their food is wholesome, healthy and aesthetic with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. I really enjoyed their pistachio pesto in the Retreat bowl with quinoa but wish they'd put more grains and less oil. The Mayan bowl was alright but not more than the sum of its parts. Eating here before taking a walk around beautiful Green Lake enriched my day. read more

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Stopped for an oat latte after my run and it was the most bitter, burnt latte - I wound up throwing it away. When cafes charge $6.90 for a 12oz latte, there shouldn't be a risk that the latte is not drinkable. The reality is, this is Seattle. It's hard to find a crappy coffee/latte. I rarely get a bad latte. And the worst part is, like every other cafe, they request a tip BEFORE the drink is made. So $7.90 for a gross latte that went in the trash. I won't be risking it again and getting a latte here in the future. read more

This is a great space and has a lot of potential, but it just misses the mark. I can easily imagine this as a great brunch/meeting/work space, but the issue was that the music was too loud. I found myself speaking loudly or having to repeat myself to be heard, and can't imagine being trying to actually get work or studying done (although the tables near me had headphones on and appeared to be working). I ordered the avocado toast and added an egg on it. The toast was good and there was plenty of avocado spread on it. My friend ordered one of the bowls and it was a hearty portion, and looked like it had a lot of fresh greens in it. One thing to mention is that most of the staff did not wear masks, including waiters. I'm not sure if they feel they're exempt from the mask mandate or what, but it was a little jarring to see so many unmasked employees. read more

Retreat - Avocado toast - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Let's talk about my retreat at Retreat! This place has been on my bucket list for about a year right now and so on a chilly but dry winter day I decided to run around Greenlake and conveniently end my run here. When I first passed by in the morning, the line was OUT THE DOOR! Holy smokes this place is popular! Thankfully by the time I finished my run at around 1pm, I was able to slip in no problem. However, 10 minutes later the line was out the door again. Retreat serves generic coffee drinks, but is best known for its wellness drinks such as its beet root or charcoal lattes. They also serve a variety of pastries and healthy salads, grain bowls, and sandwiches in addition to some unique cocktails and kombuchas. I ordered a 12-oz Mushroom Mocha which has mushroom powder, Himalayan salt, and cocoa. Mushroom coffee is a recent food trend that I've been meaning to try for some time. I ordered it with oatmilk which was an additional 50 cents. My coffee was between $6-7 including tax and tip. Definitely on the pricier side, but not outrageous for U-District. The cashier was very friendly and I received my order within 10 minutes. I could definitely taste the Himalayan salt in the coffee; I've never had a sweet and salty coffee before, but I think the salt nicely complemented the chocolate flavor. The mushroom powder tasted earthy, but I didn't think it tasted distinctly like mushroom. Overall, I think the drink is unique and worth trying. The atmosphere is very vibrant and basically all tables and seats were taken while I was waiting for my to go order. They have like a relaxing nature theme, as suggested by the name of the cafe. It's kind of noise and so I'm not sure how well people can actually study here; it seems more like a place for socialization. Overall: 4/5 for drinks, 5/5 for service, 4/5 for atmosphere read more

Retreat - Mushroom Mocha (with oatmilk) - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came on a Saturday with my friend for a nice patio brunch. We had a carafe of mimosa with pomegranate juice. It was pretty good & reasonably priced for the amount you get. We both had the loaded breakfast sandwich. I opted to have mine on a bagel, both were really good! And coffee wise I had a cortado and she had a cappuccino. Overall food was decent and came out fairly quick. Plenty of indoor and patio seating. There was a long line to place an order but it was very busy bc it was a Saturday. They give you a number card and bring the food out to your table. I would probably come back here read more

Retreat - Loaded breakfast sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm disappointed in Retreat since the recent ownership change (September 2024). The same menu is up, however they were missing many basics. No whipped cream? At a coffee shop? Mimosas on the menu, but no Prosecco. Charging extra for the little handful of greens that used to be included with a sandwich. read more

This is a cool coffee cup breakfast spot in Green Lake. Came down after a long walk at the the park and it felt so good to grab a bite close by. They have lots of options for drinks-coffee, tea,beers, wine and kombucha. Mostly have breakfast sandwiches with eggs and vegan options are available as well. Parking is available and is free for 2 hours in their parking lot. Use that as the street parking is almost full. read more

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Retreat has so much potential as a coffee shop. Your coffee is great. Your menu is good. You guys are constantly busy. It's Time to take things to the next level and expand to multiple locations. Sometimes I feel like the staff is unhappy, but I go here every day.. I think the Owners should be more present in this business because they really have something different and unique. It's probably one of the more busy coffee places in Seattle. They serve beer and wine at night. I could see this Place being a large scale chain in multiple cities. I know there was a recent ownership change & I hope the new owners don't let this place go downhill. Also It's unfortunate that the city is housing the homeless across the street because there's constantly addicts and dealers hanging out in front of that building. read more

Red headed barista always gives the Gen Z blank stare if you ask them a question, then hardly answers the question if at all. Makes millennials uncomfortable. read more

A bit pricey for a coffee shop , but what can you expect in Seattle these days! It's excusable because of how lovely it is inside as well. There is a decent food menu, yummy treats and yummy coffee as well. My chai latte that i ordered was not my favorite, but it wouldn't prevent me from returning! This is a great location because it's near green lake and other businesses. The staff were very friendly and attentive. read more

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I feel like this is more of a 3.5, because the food is good and the service was fine but the ambiance and cost weren't great. I had avocado toast, which wasn't a huge portion relative to the cost. My partner had the loaded breakfast sandwich, which he liked. The side of potatoes were good too. Our drinks were also fine, had the seasonal cardamom orange latte and my partner had the coffee. The servers were trying as hard as they could but ultimately people weren't picking up their food or drinks in a timely manner and lots of folks were lingering despite having finished their food and others standing and looking for seats. My issue with this place is coming on a Saturday - there's virtually nowhere to sit, though the patio is dog friendly. Because of this, it's pretty crowded, loud, and messy, making it feel tough to enjoy your food or time there. If I came back, I'd definitely not do it on a Saturday or I'd grab a smoothie to go and just sit by the lake. read more

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Great spot for working, doing your side hustle, meeting up with a friend for coffee, and grabbing a quick bite. pros: -bathroom accessible -plenty of tables inside and out (15+) -good selection of light bites (pastries) and full meals (sandwiches, bowls, salads) -outlets available (in the high top section facing the lake) cons: -can't really think of any... aside from a long line sometimes. This is definitely my go-to spot when I'm in the area! Wish they had one in Cap Hill. read more

Retreat - Grilled cheese -$7 - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came across the cutest little cafe in Greenlake! The have a full coffee and pastry menu, brunch, and also happy hour. The vibes in this place were great with lots of plants and windows. We ordered 2 iced lattes, the Chicken Pesto sandwich, and Mediterranean Bowl. The food was yummy and felt very fresh! Would definitely go back for the atmosphere! read more

Retreat - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cozy cute little cafe by the lake. Very charming vibe for dining in after a run. Love their coffee aroma and flavour. The mocha was perfect and not too sweet. Their croissants and pastries are a must try! read more

TOO EXPENSIVE, FAR TOO LOUD.. The food and menu is great but I get so irritated trying to eat there when you can't hear your name being called, can't hear your own thoughts, people have to scream to talk to each other ... the atmosphere would be better if the music was low or off. read more

COVID review: Came here on a weekend and it was very busy. There was a line out front with maybe arm's distance in between each group of people. I'll admit if I hadn't been here before, I'm not sure I would have waited in line for food. We noticed that their food rating is: okay, which means they have had many critical violations over the past 4 inspections. Nonetheless, still decided to get food based on prior good experience here. Walking in, the staff all had gloves and everyone had masks. I like how you can view them making your food for safety purposes. It is nice that they have a decent amount of outdoor seating, so it doesn't get too crowded inside. We had our dog with us and were able to find a table to sit outside not too close to anyone. The food was good here. I like that they have more healthy breakfast options. I had their retreat juice, which is your basic green drink and it was good. I ordered the retreat bowl which came with: sunny-side up egg, brown rice, arugula, sweet potato, mushroom, and pesto. It all tasted very good and was very filling. I did have an issue this time when I came to Retreat because they forgot my bowl. My friend received his meal and finished before mine was ready. I had to talk to someone inside and they said that it was missed somehow. Luckily, they ended up removing the charge from my purchase without me requesting. read more

Retreat - Retreat bowl and juice - Cafes Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Too expensive. But has a great atmosphere with several options, including chair out front. A good spot to grab some Joe while exploring Greenlake. read more