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Retreat is a beautiful, spacious coffee shop with plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors, making it a great place to catch up with friends or get some work done with coworkers. The space feels modern, clean, and welcoming, and the staff were friendly throughout my visit. I ordered the salmon lox toast, and it came with a generous portion of salmon topped with plenty of fresh greens. It was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. I also tried the Afterglow latte, which was an interesting new choice with bright notes of cardamom and black pepper that made it stand out from a typical latte. Overall, it's a great neighborhood cafe with excellent food, unique drinks, and a comfortable atmosphere. I'll definitely be back to try more of their menu!
Retreat is my go-to place in Green Lake anytime I want to meet up with someone for coffee. My go-to beverage is the Strawberry Fields smoothie, which is an actual smoothie they prepare with actual healthy things (as opposed to ice, fruit-flavored syrup, and maybe a few frozen strawberries). I love this place because the service is always incredibly friendly, the energy and vibes are always upbeat (so many individuals here just knocking out work on their laptops while lots of other clusters of people seem to use this as a nice, roomy spot to grab coffee and catch up). And it's a fantastic breakfast option for any group that has diverse dietary needs. I've come here with a group that includes dairy and gluten allergies, medically restricted diets, and picky eaters. Between the breakfast bowl options, the smoothies, and the pastries, everyone leaves happy!! One note: if you plan to swing by on a weekend morning, you may have a little wait as the line is often out the door. I'd say more often than not, the wait is worth it.
I don't always trust a long line in Seattle, HOWEVER, this place is worth the hype. The food is super delicious and fresh (and fast!), the coffee is creative and yummy, and the people are very sweet. There is a lot of seating inside and patio seating, and it's right across from the lake so it's a gorgeous place to be on a nice day. But also- cozy vibes for a rainy Seattle day! Highly recommend everything here, haven't had a miss yet.
Retreat is a GEM, lovely cafe offering a nutritious menu and bold coffee. The staff were all very courteous, and provided efficient service. The cafe offers a great amount of seating options (tables, booths, a couch in the corner, and outdoor if you have pets.) There is street and garage parking, this alone makes Retreat a stellar place to select when needing to meet, or have a place to get caught up on administrative work. I will return and highly recommend!
A tiny, charming coffee shop that quietly does so much more than coffee. The grilled cheese comes out golden and melty, the tomato soup is pure comfort, and the quinoa salad feels fresh and thoughtful without trying too hard. Pair it with a glass of wine or a bubbly prosecco and suddenly this little café turns into the coziest lunch spot you didn't know you needed. A quaint gem with big flavor.
Stopped by to grab a quick bite and ended up ordering the tuna melt on gluten free bread with an side soup add-on for $2. Delicious and very filling even when splitting between two people.
The line here is always long and the people always seem to be cheerful when they are here so I decided to stop by to see what all the hype was about. I was a little shock at how pricey it was. I know vegan food isn't the cheapest but woof. Either way, I committed to a bowl. It was either between the retreat bowl which is vegetarian and gluten free. It had in it sunny side up egg, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, arugula, pistachio pesto and your choice of organic brown rice or quinoa or the fall harvest bowl (v) which comes with arugula, roasted carrots, butternut squash, broccolini, hummus, avocado, hemp seeds, microgreens, and quinoa. I thought it was tasty the retreat bowl but again the prices of the other items were a bit higher especially for what I would consider a 3 star restaurant. They have coffee, a great selection of teas, and other things on their food menu include tacos, pesto chicken sandwiches and other melts and sandwiches, toasts, bowls, soups, breakfasts like omelettes and more. I think the smoothies look great. I would come back here for this especially after a run around the lake. The space itself is beautiful and lively and I do think that in of itself is a 5 stars. I can't think of anything different they need to do with the space. Even though it's packed like always, they can fit maybe 75 inside and an additional 25 outside on the patio. It comes with wifi.
This is one of the few healthy options in the area. We used to come here during our walks around Green Lake. It can get quite busy, especially during the summer months, but in winter it's usually easy to find a spot. They offer a good variety of salads, sandwiches, and drinks.
Food is a little expensive but delicious! I particularly enjoyed their strawberry banana shake. The atmosphere is friendly but it was so busy I couldn't hear myself think. It's difficult to have conversations inside because of the noise. Maybe they could install sound dampening? This is my second time here and I enjoyed myself but wish it wasn't so loud so I could talk with my friends and hear what they are saying.
I've ordered this sandwich probably 6 times over the last year and never fails to hit the spot. Place is always busy and filled with people. Can get pretty loud, but still a good spot to study.
tl;dr - good cafe drinks, great service, great seating options I only had cafe drinks, but I did see they had food and a bar. The latte was good, tasted sweeter than normal even though it was unsweetened. My wife had the Ruby Ginger Latte which she said was really good with almond milk. It has beetroot, ginger, and cardamom. The baristas were really nice and accommodated a last minute change to one of the drinks. There's lots of seating inside and outside. They have a large indoor space with bar seating, several patio tables, and a row of lounge chairs in the front. It's located right across the street from Green Lake so it's an awesome place to grab a drink and go for a walk.
I am getting to know this area, and so far have enjoyed my visits to Retreat Cafe! They have tasty smoothies and a good breakfast selection, although a little pricier than I would like. I do like how open the space is, with plenty of tables--whether you are there to work/study alone, or for a large gathering with friends it is a good casual space to accommodate a range of customers.
I visited for the first time on Sunday and am happy to report this place met all of my expectations. The service was good and fast. I came here with a large group and was a bit worried about seating, but there was a ton of space. The food and drinks were yummy and I can't wait to come back and try more. I had hot chocolate and avocado toast, both were delicious. The ambiance was nice. Modern, clean interiors with lots of natural light. There is a good amount of seating and strategic outlet placement for those coming to work or study. Parking is a little tricky because it's green lake, but be patient and you'll find something.
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
2 years ago
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
2 years ago
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
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
2 years ago
I have had mixed experiences at Retreat but more on the positive side. Early when they opened, I found their food under seasoned, and once when I asked for a little salt, they had to go through a whole rigamarole just to end up giving me a plate w a few coarse grains of salt. Some of the staff had a little too cool for school attitude, but that's kind of the vibe of the place. Then recently I went back to try their chicken and sweet potato bowl. The chicken is thigh meat, which I personally don't like, but was cooked very well and if you like thigh meat, you'll love it. The pistachio pesto on top was absolutely delicious, as was the whole salad combo. If I liked chicken thighs, I'd get this all the time, but good thing I don't, because it is really expensive! Sadly, I also loved my green smoothie, which costs $9, so my wallet is still in danger. This last visit, I was greeted by a very friendly staff person behind the bar who addressed me by name (from my order) and chatted with me. It set a more welcoming atmosphere. But I guess they don't need to work on it anyway, as the place--inside and out on a Friday afternoon--was packed, forget the pandemic! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
This spot enabled my desire to have a very adult balanced dinner consisting of a grilled cheese and a cocktail. The grilled cheese was one of the best I've had - fancy cheese! And the cocktail was purple, what's not to love? They have indoor and outdoor seating but it was hard to grab an outdoor spot at 5pm on a nice a Saturday. Worse comes to worse you get it to go and eat in the park across the street read more
3 years ago
Great place to meet up with people, have quick working sessions, or grab a smoothie, coffee, or a pastry. Their lunch menu has several options. This place is huge for Seattle, plenty of seatings! Beautiful inside, some lounge chairs around. I wouldnt go here with a large group though, if you want to sit together with 8 or more people. It is not a great place to work if you dont have noise cancelling headphones. The place can be loud with music and people. This is more of a casual place. read more
This place has a fun, warm and awesome vibe, open space with inside and outside seating options, and delicious food. Wow had the retreat bowl and I kept saying mmmm every bite I took. Fresh ingredients with good portion sizes, flavors that melded together just right and I was satiated and super satisfied. Harvest bowl was really good and flavorful too. A little heavier but the hummus was tasty and everything was cooked and put together really well. Definitely glad to try this place and looking forward to coming back already the next time I'm near Greenlake!! read more
3 years ago
This is a great place. The food is excellent and the staff is friendly. I had the Chicken & Greens bowl and my husband had the Pesto Chicken sandwich. Both are Yummy!! If you like pesto get either of these, or both!! We will be back! read more
We have been searching everywhere for a delicious salmon lox bagel. The thing is we don't want a salmon lox bagel sandwich. We want an open faced salmon lox, which is exactly this. The pickled onions pairs well with the salmon and tzatziki sauce, on top of fresh soft bread. It was a prefect light breakfast for my boyfriend. I had the breakfast sandwich, which came with abocado, soft scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese. Phenomenal simple breakfast sandwich. It wasn't too heavy but at the same time i felt full and satisfied. We cant wait to come back and try more. The wait wasn't too long, and i love all the plants around the restaurant. read more
4 years ago
LOVE this spot!! I can't rave about it enough! Perfect location, beautiful ambiance, plenty of seating, a huge variety on the menu, and delicious food. The feel good food and cozy atmosphere will have you coming back, whether it's for a grab and go coffee to enjoy a stroll at the lake or to sit and work for hours. I got the retreat bowl recently and am still thinking about it! So light yet packed with flavor and nutrition. This is a go to Seattle staple for me! read more
3 years ago
**Disclaimer** I have been to Retreat twice and both times it was on a Saturday, their busiest day of the week. Pls keep that in mind w my review. The food is pretty good if you want something healthy and the drinks are definitely tasty. The problem for me is the atmosphere. It's completely packed and cramped. No where to sit. Staff can't keep up with wiping tables or sweeping. The doors are kept open for the never ending line so unless it's the middle of summer, it's freezing. It's also so, so loud. Always. Very overstimulating. The people are also just kind of rude (?). Not necessarily the staff but the kind of customers that come in. I felt like I was in a weird skit about LA where every one is wearing expensive athleisure and giving me dirty looks. This was my second time trying to give this place a chance, but ultimately it is just not worth the price tag or the headache for me. There are so many better food spots in Seattle. Go to Kitanda a few blocks away instead. read more
1 year ago
I came here for the first time to meet a friend for lunch. Thank goodness we planned to eat outdoors ahead of time, the place was packed indoors! What surprised me the most was two staff members indoors who were not wearing masks at any point (I checked as we were leaving too). I am not familiar enough with mask mandate rules or exceptions, but definitely haven't seen staff at other establishments unmasked since the mask mandate happened, so was surprised and it took a few beats for me to figure out what was off with my view. The coffee and food was good! I got a grain bowl, friend got a BLT. Food and drink was a 4-5 star. But the good food and company was overshadowed by discomfort when I was having to place my order. Had I realized they weren't masked before my friend began ordering, I probably would have had us go somewhere else for lunch. read more
3 years ago
Ehh. We got an egg sandwich, avocado toast and a slice of their, I believe it was apple cake? Everything was kind of sad. The egg sandwich was super basic and had no flavor. If you can cook eggs and make avocado toast, you're better off just making it yourself. And the Apple cake was super dry and had no flavor. Cool looking spot, but don't recommend ordering what we got. read more
Love this bowl! :) it's good, but a little pricey for what it is. it has a good mix of pesto, egg, sweet potatoes, brown rice, arugula, musroom. It came out pretty fast too. I kinda wish the sweet potato is a little softer. Overall, I really love the vibes of this place! :) very nice to hang out and go for a walk at greenlake after. read more
4 years ago
As always. This place is a neighborhood gem. Food is good. It's family and pet friendly. Get there early and expect a line. read more
5 years ago
Bottom line: * Employees were not wearing face coverings * The restaurant was not verifying customers' COVID-19 vaccination status, which the Seattle government regulates after 10/25 * Foods were in teeny-tiny portions It is disappointing to see restaurants around Seattle failing to follow the COVID-19 guidelines and putting everyone at risk. Also, how is it possible to make the sandwich that small? They must be making some customized toasts for those miniature sandwiches. read more
4 years ago
This review is so well overdue, that I feel like a true expert on Retreat's menu and experiences. Eating clean can be hard, but with neighborhood gems like this, it's easy! The perfect place to meet friends before or after a walk around the lake, this is hands-down the best spot for delicious, healthy and wholesome brunch options, unique coffee concoctions and made-to-order smoothies. Located directly across from the lake, I love sitting in the oversized chairs outside, taking in the gorgeous greenery (summertime only, other times of the year, I do this from the coziness of the inside). Favorite Food: Sweet Potato Pesto Bowl, Avocado Toast, Side of Bacon Favorite Drinks: Beetroot Cardamom Latte, Glow Baby Glow, Green Retreat Smoothie Favorite Team: Every member of this crew goes above and beyond to make every experience special, they've somehow captured the essence of a neighborhood feel, all while running a very successful cafe! I also really enjoy working from this café during the week, but please note they bump the jams, so it's fairly noisy for a working café. Retreat Team - with your new remodel, it's looking gorgeous with a ton of new seating! But PLEASE add outlets to the back half of the restaurant, to ensure it's still an enjoyable and usable space during the day. read more
3 years ago
Does this seem like a tiny pour for a $11 glass (+ tax) of wine?? Anyone else feeling ripped off? And understaffed: no cashier taking orders for easily 6-8 minutes while long line formed. Nice tomato basil soup with super tasty crunchy sourdough bread. Great music. read more
Just as its name implies, this spot really is a retreat away from the bustling world of Seattle and into a place of comfort. As long as you are comfortable with the crowds portion still being a main part of the experience, you'll find this local cafe to be the place for you. My friend took me here before we went on a walk around the nearby park. He loves coming to this cafe which serves not only your staple beverages, but has full on plated meals and a full bar to boot. If you're wanting a coffee but your #5pmsomewhere friend insists on a Bloody Mary or mimosa, they got you with their fully stocked bar. Perfect! I decided to go a little green the morning I went and started with one of their power green smoothies. For $7, you get a freshly blended vegetable/fruit smoothie that is packed with vitamins and minerals. The sheer size of the 12 oz. cup ended up being very intimidating as the drink was very heavy and definitely can serve as a meal substitute. But damn it was good! I just wish I had more stomach space to actually enjoy every last sip of the drink. Our little getaway retreat to this cafe really helped and I can safely say that it was one of the best ways to relax in the morning. Definitely would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great cafe. read more
5 years ago
This place is so cute! The vibe! The location! The font! But coffee is just OK. Food is just OK. Tables are not regularly wiped down so it felt dirty. Staff do not wear masks. No hand sanitizer for customers. Tip defaults to 25%. Cool. read more
Well this place is probably my weekend work gateway The seating arrangement is pretty good to get work done! Today I ordered lunch, snacks and dinner. Retreat bowl: It a Super Bowl food and too filling. Their pesto sauce is amazing and with mushroom it's a perfect healthy bowl Jackfruit Tacos tastes best with lime cilantro creama. I wish they added more of the sauce. It is one of best tacos I had in a non Mexican place. Well, being a non vegetarian, I would say it totally forgot it was all vegan tacos. Tasted yummy!! Spinach & Lentil soup with sourdough was okay. I found it little salty for me but overall it was filling. Chocolate salted caramel cuppy cake is really amazing. I wish it would be little bigger, but for $2 it's a nice small desert bit. For the drink, I had Mocha which was really good with right amount of sugar. Must try: Jackfruit Tacos with Chocolate salted caramel cuppy cake read more
I love the vibe, especially in the summer with all the open doors. It's a little loud for conversation so prefer to snag outdoor seats. Love the breakfast bowls and hot drinks. 1 star off because it *looks* like a heathy place but nothing is organic. This matters most to me when it comes to the fruit and veggies in the smoothies and salads. Some local/organic/pasture-raised/regenerative sourcing would go a long way. read more
4 years ago
Just went here for breakfast this morning. It was delicious. There was a huge line out the front but it moved super quickly and they gave us our food really quickly too (so don't let the line put you off!) I had the gluten free granola with steamed almond milk. It was sooo delicious and nice to have it a little warm. My husband had the bean bowl which he said was great. My dad had the toast with Avo and bacon and my step mum had an omelette. They were both a little disappointed with their meals. Overall thought I thought it was really yummy and will definitely be coming back here again. read more
1 year ago
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4 years ago
This is an awesome coffee shop in green lake. Places like this don't come around often. It is right off the trail so a good place to get coffee and then start walking. They have a great menu of breakfast and lunch food which is very tasty and the inside is really what makes it the best. Huge inside with tons and tons of seating. Very modern, wifi QR codes on the tables. The food and coffee were great. read more
I was soooooo excited to try this place because it looked so dang cute online so perhaps my expectations were a bit high-- The "toast" was not toasted at all which I know it's hard to cater to so many peoples preferences but it was literally soft chewy bread which made it difficult to pick up and bite and also with the plastic silverware I couldn't cut it either -- They do give you a decent amount of salmon and thick layer of cream cheese though which was nice Also got the eggplant tomato and curry soup which was less creamy/coconut flavored than I was expecting but still good!It came in a takeaway container which was random and woulda preferred it served in a regular bowl The loaded breakfast sandwich was good but the avocado needed more flavor and I think it woulda been better if it was served on toasted bread / they added seasoning The cardamom latte was delicious and reminded me of the golden ginger drink from Starbucks! The strawberry fields tasted like they used green bananas and was sort of sour even with the dates and almond butter (which couldn't even taste the almond butter so maybe they forgot it?) Also I wish they had sanitizer out after we pay upfront and touch their screen to tip and stuff:/ overall they ended up super busy and it was a fun lively atmosphere and I'm glad we tried them but I will not be returning read more
Great place to start your day with! A cute cafe with nice decorations! Like most cafes, your order the food at the counter, seat yourself and they will bring out the food to you when it's ready. I love their breakfast toasts. Both the avocado toast and goat cheese and egg toast tasted great and I can't wait to come back and try the others! I also liked their green tea latte. However, I wish they have a bigger portion for the price they charge. read more
7 years ago
Where has this place been all my life?? I love everything about Retreat. The interior is beautifully decorated with plants all over. The view right out the window is of Green Lake park and you can just people watch or catch the sun bouncing off the lake There's plenty of seating but I would still be wary of the time you come in since it does still get really packed! I got the Morning Bowl which was delicious. I don't eat much for breakfast so this was a nice mini-meal to have. I'm definitely going to come back and try everything on the menu when I'm hungrier - they're toasts look bomb read more
3 years ago
More info about Retreat
6900 E Green Lake Way N
Seattle, WA 98115
Greenlake
Directions
(206) 257-0572
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Visit Website
http://retreat-greenlake.com
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Ask the Community - Retreat
What all is made in-house or locally, if anything? I'm a huge fan of housemade nut milks and Oatly.
Looks like most every thing is in house.
Are there specific free WiFi hours?
Yes, they just updated their policy for no WiFi after 6pm on weekdays, I think it applies to weekends too.
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