Tucked inside Seattle's second tallest skyscraper (Rainier Square) on the second floor is the Fonté Bar which describes itself as "a high-end coffee bar by day and a sophisticated cocktail lounge by night." We hadn't patronized it yet, so, we decided to give it a try. The ambiance shouts contemporary and includes lounge type seating, a large fireplace, and an outdoor patio that I imagine will be in demand as the weather gets warmer. Validated parking for the building garage is offered for arrivals after 3 pm. We began the evening with a glass of Las Mencias Malbec and an old fashioned. Next up, we tried the Belgian Frites which are hand-cut Belgian-style frites with truffle oil and black garlic aioli. The fries arrived hot and delicious! Our entrees consisted of a Caesar salad (Romaine, parmesan, house croutons in creamy Caesar dressing) with shrimp, and Cioppino which included fish from the PNW in tomato-leek broth with lemon, herbs, grilled bread, and shrimp/prawns. While the Caesar was great, the cioppino left us wanting more. The broth just didn't hit like it was created in the kitchen. It resembled the type of sauce you'd get from the grocery store. Additionally the dish could have used more herbs, tomatoes, and seafood. Some clams and/or mussels would have been right on point. I must say though that the shrimp/prawns were grilled to perfection. The Fonté Bar has a very limited dessert menu with only two items available this evening, however, both were very delicious! The Affogato which included vanilla ice cream topped with F2 espresso and a house cookie, and the Affogato Martini with Fonté espresso poured over velvety ice cream were yummy!!! The service was welcoming and attentive and we were seated almost immediately on arrival. read more

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This place is always popping! Located conveniently inside Rainier Square, it has breakfast, lunch and dinner and lots of drinks to choose from. Their egg white burrito is pretty good (could use some flavor though) and their drinks are always tasty. Little pricy for what you get. read more

I work in this building and have bought lots of coffee here before, which is fantastic by the way. But I had never sat down to eat until just recently. We were seated right away and the service was prompt and courteous during our time there. It's a large open space in the huge lobby of the office building and very comfortable seating and a huge fireplace. The food was amazing and huge portions! I couldn't believe how big the portion sizes were for lunch! I highly recommend you come in and try it and you will not be disappointed. We had a bacon Swiss mushroom burger, a fish and chip platter and a Dungeness crab salad and we had to take food home with us! Awesome experience overall! read more

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Drinks -- pricy but delicious. Ambiance -- stylish given the fact it's in an office tower lobby. Service -- leaves a ton to be desired. Came here at 5:45 pm on a Thursday with a group of 8. Upon arriving, we were informed that there was no table available for us to sit at. We said that it was ok and if we could stand we'd be happy to just order and wait to see if a seating area eventually opened. The host said there was no place for us to stand and every option we tried to come up with he turned down until we noticed an open area by the fireplace. It felt like the host just straight didn't want our business and wasn't trying to problem solve with us at all. When we raised the idea of the space by the fireplace, he acknowledged that was open space. However, the host was really weird about it and said he didn't want us to bother two men sitting about 5 feet away from where we'd stand. The host then said that I could ask them if they'd let us stand there and made me go up to them, which I found bizzare. I did and got the ok to stand there, but the whole interaction left a really bad taste in my mouth. Anyways, five minutes later a table left and we were able to sit down as a group so the whole scenario was moot. I don't understand how you have that poor a read on your seating chart. So service-- bad. But the drinks, pretty good. They are pricy by Seattle standards at around $20 each, but they have a fun variety of espresso martinis that were very solid. To be honest though, you can get good espresso martinis at many bars so I don't think I'll be coming back no matter how tasty they were. read more

We made a reservation ahead of time and appreciated that the table was ready for us when we arrived. However, we were still left waiting in line despite the restaurant not being full. Service was on the slower side, likely because there weren't enough servers, and the food took a while to come out. Given the location in a business district, this may not be the best choice if you're looking for a quick lunch. I ordered the seafood linguine. The seafood was fresh and the pasta was nicely al dente, but the dish overall fell flat. The sauce was watery on the plate and stuck unevenly to the pasta, leaving the flavor lacking. With a bit more seasoning and balance, it could have been much better. read more

The Fonté Bar - Fruition Di Mara - Seafood linguine pasta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had a wonderful early dinner and drinks here recently on a weekday after work. It was quiet, but busy, and we were lucky enough to grab the area right next to the fireplace. It was so relaxing to sit by the fire on a cold night, in a lovely space carved out of a large, but well-designed and extensive office lobby, and enjoy martinis and a hearty dinner. My local fish and chips were excellent and my husband got a burger that he adored. We both could not get enough of the delicious fries! read more

The Fonté Bar - We loved the apres-ski vibes in here. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First visit, business dinner, started with a cortado - excellent - and a banana cocktail for my companion, who was very happy with the drink. I had the hanger steak and fries and both were very good, though do keep in mind the fries are truffle fries so if you don't like truffle ask for plain fries. The service was quite good. Noise level was medium, but conversation wasn't a big problem like in so many other place. Big screen for Mariners games. Will definitely come back. read more

I visited the Fonte with a colleague after a recent event in Seattle. I'll confess: it was their giant pic of a tempting-looking espresso martini that drew us in! Located at the base of one of the newer Rainer Square towers, Fonte is modern and spacious. There's lots of comfy seating for groups large and small, or you can even sit at their bar. There was a roaring fireplace when we were there, which felt good on a fall day. The service wasn't the quickest ever, but there was a large group right next to us who were quite enjoying ordering several martinis. And yes, their espresso martini was delicious heaven! It was the perfect layering of rich espresso, creamy foam, and (of course) a little vodka to give it some atmosphere. At $20/each, we only ordered one, but you could definitely while away an afternoon (and several twenty dollar bills) if the mood struck. read more

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After a nearby event, a coworker of mine and I decided to stop in here for a quick drink to catch up before we parted ways. This bar is in the Rainier Square building and is right out in the open near the elevators and bathrooms, making it a convenient location to stop if you are parked at the Rainier Square garage. We had seen a sign on the street for their Espresso Martinis which is what got us in. We got a regular Espresso Martini, but they also had Chai Espresso Martinis which sounded intriguing! Maybe next time. Our drinks were super tasty and made to perfection! Was the perfect midday pick-me-up after a super busy week. The bartender/server was super nice and made sure to check in on us often. This would also be a fun spot to work remote as they have plenty of table space for laptops and the music in the space isn't overwhelmingly loud. Prices on the drinks are definitely steep, but I guess that's to be expected from downtown Seattle. Overall a great spot for a quick drink and would love to come back to try the food - looks great! read more

I stopped here for an appointment over coffee. The seating areas are cozy and quiet, and I enjoyed their chai. They also had several pastries, but didn't try them on this occasion. We used counter service so I can't say much about the table service. read more

Very cool space set right in the middle and open area of a larger building. Known for their espresso martinis, its worth the trip to have one. Our service first time around was abysmal - second time was better. read more

Fonte Cafe, welcome to the 5-Star Review Club -- population: very few. You've earned it. I held off on posting because I needed to know it wasn't just a lucky shift or one overachieving barista. But after multiple visits, across different days and moods, you've proven it: consistency is your baseline, and excellence is your default. Every latte has been a masterclass -- perfectly pulled shots with zero bitterness, milk that's steamed to that elusive silky-smooth microfoam, and a roast profile that's bold without being brash. This isn't just good coffee for the PNW -- this is coffee that resets the bar entirely. If other cafes are watching, they should take notes. This is how it's done. read more

Love the ambiance of the place! The interior design is definitely 10/10 very much lounging vibes with the couches and comfortable chairs. My co-worker and I decided to stop by for a quick lunch break and check the place out. I personally loved how the bar curved from serving coffee to serving cocktails on the other end. The service was OK, we were seated quickly but other than that I felt it was very slow. The lunch menu was limited and the food was mid. It was also difficult trying to figure out what was in each drink, the drinks menu focused too much on describing the drink without actually saying what was in it. Hoping for a quick lunch we found ourselves waiting a good 20-30 minutes before someone came over and asked if we were ready for the bill. The restaurant itself wasn't that busy and I noticed the staff just standing in a corner talking amongst themselves. I was also a bit confused on how they managed to check out two other parties that came after us but didn't come up to us to see if we were ready. We ended up having to extend our lunch hour and headed back to the office later than anticipated. I also asked for my leftover lunch to be packed to go and the server failed to bring it out with the check. It wasn't until I was getting ready to leave the building after leaving the restaurant area when he came up and gave me my box. Nonetheless would love to come back here and try their dinner menu, happy hour or stop by for some coffee. read more

The Fonté Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This past Monday, my boyfriend and I went to Fonte after work for Happy Hour. We were greeted promptly, and our first round of drinks and food arrived in a timely manner. However, after that, the service completely fell apart. Our server essentially disappeared--we had to go up to the bar twice to request refills and to ask for our check. The restaurant was nearly empty, yet our server seemed to be actively avoiding us, standing with her back turned to the dining area while chatting with the two bartenders. We weren't the only ones frustrated--we saw another couple also get up to order their own drinks. I've typically visited Fonte for lunch meetings with other finance professionals, but after this experience, I'll be looking for other options. For a bill totaling over $100, we felt that tipping only 5% was more than fair given the lack of service. Disappointing experience overall. read more

A neat spot with an excellent espresso martini. It's a lobby bar, but it is quite nice and comfortable.

The Fonte is a little hidden gem and you should never come here, go away so I have all the staff to my lil ol' self. The food here is (not) horrible. The staff treated me (the opposite of) poorly. The food tasted (not) bad The seats are (not) itchy Stay away from this place if you (don't) want good service. I will (not not) be back. The fireplace and being doted upon were nice, all joking aside I'm definitely coming back. The Mac n cheese could use a splash or two more of cheese but the flavor profile is solid. read more

What a gorgeous space! The coffee bar leads into the dining area and there's a vibe for everyone. Warm, modern, industrial, cozy, there's a lot to choose from. I had the Turkish Latte and it was what I expected: delicious and different from my norm. I cannot wait to go back for dinner. read more

The Fonté Bar - Turkish Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Solid food and drink options for an after work/weekday evening spot. The burger is a good way to go. If they didn't close much earlier than the published 10pm I would be a bigger fan, but happy to have this spot in the building for sure. Service can be so-so but they are generally pretty nice and quick. read more

Amazing venue in heart of Seattle in historic and new Rainier Tower/Square. Friendly service. Good drinks and food. Happen to be invited for two consecutive days for after work celebrations. First day I settled with cab Belgian fries, ++. Everything was excellent. Nice job Michael and crew. Second day turn out to be just drinks- espresso grey goose vodka martini . That lifted my energy on my birthday! Second one was straight grey goose. Both were excellent. Of course working in the the same building- I do not want to become additional to Fonté way of life. I must take a break. You go enjoy and celebrate- life. read more

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The food was delicious, the service was on point. I love the vibe of this place. I see myself returning for breakfast, HH, lunch and weekend brunch. read more

The Fonté Bar - The Burger - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Fonte has a whole new bar and I'm here for it!!! So beautiful both inside and outside. Patio is super cute. Inside is absolutely stunning. Dark, inviting, sexy! It's in the lobby on the brand new rainier building. I was here for their grand opening and what an opening it was. Espresso martinis all night! Literally' they had a small bars set up just for espresso martinis as well as the big gorgeous bar. I've been obsessed with all things espresso but never had an espresso martini before. Well! Glad that was my first. Such a stunning taste of espresso and grey goose! Yumm! You can also get it with gin and other spirits. Tried their spin on aperol spritz as well as mojito but with mescal. A little too strong for me. Now food: the tartare was sublime. I had a huge lunch and I wasn't planning to eat at 4 pm. But I did try a bite and it was amazing. Of course: the lattes! I managed to grab a latte before they ran out/ shut the machines down. Overall, it was a beautiful new place: impeccable design with all things Fonte plus a full new bar. Patio is stunning too. Hope to return for a drink or 10!! read more

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Went to Fonte Bar before a show at 5th Ave theater. We were a group and we decided to to just pay the bill and venmo each other to make it easy, and in the rush to make our show, I failed to notice that the restaurant charged us for two $18 Caesar salads when only one was ordered and delivered. I promptly emailed them that night when we noticed this error. They didn't reply. Would not recommend as we were overcharged. Watch your bill closely!! read more

I know this place just opened recently so they probably still learning things. i tried not to be too picky either. Beside my coffee is good and the place is supper cute, I had a very bad experience here with their to-go and dine in situations. I ordered the Italian sandwich and a coffee. I asked my barista if I can just sit anywhere to eat my food. He said yes. So I was waiting for my food at the table, one of the server came up to me and asked if I want to order something. Then he explained to me that this section is for full table service only but I can sit here if I want. But then came back the second time and let me know they'll call my name I have to pick up my food at the bar because he not gonna bring it over. I love Fonte coffee but the whole dine in and to go thing is very confusing at this location to me. Should you sit down or go to the counter? If you order at the counter can you sit down? read more

The Fonté Bar - Desert rose latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We love and drink fonte coffee at home too. But this new DT locale is beautiful ambiance and tasty food. Ordered shrimp & grits and fried biscuit. Loved the experience so much that we came back after dinner and sat outside to taste the espresso martini. Officially my fave coffee bar/restaurant in DT seattle. Excellent service of course. read more

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Speaking only for the happy hour (2pm - 6pm): Value: respectable happy hour portions. You leave feeling satisfied if you get 2-3 plates. Best food: delicata squash, steak florentine, olives. Cesar salad is massive and delicious and better for those who like a bit anchovy forward dressing. Beverages: old fashioned is my go-to. The wine is an excellent pick for the price. Service: bar service is attentive. Sitting in the interior lounge is prompt service. Sit outside on the patio if you want to linger and chill in a quieter space. Good for groups? Definitely. Outdoor patio seating for 8-10. Good for couples? Yes. There's a pretty intimate table setup tucked near a fire place. Good for friends and colleagues? I've seen many meetups here. It's also a great spot to grab a glass of wine and catch up on emails, read or do your own thing. Fonte's music collection is carefully curated so you're aware of music but not overpowered by it. Definitely stop in and try their menu! On a sunny afternoon, grab a spot outside and chill on the patio. read more

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Had the WORST service here last night. Was seated in the corner and was not attended to for 45 minutes even though the place was empty. Moody waiter (slender white man with an attitude and whispy hair) completely ignored me so I had to get up and ask to order a meal from the bar from a nice woman manager. When the rude waiter eventually brought my burger to me, he dropped the plate off and said nothing even as he looked me in the eyes as I thanked him. Food was good but not worth the bad service. read more

The Fonté Bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Wow. Just wow. Most terrible and bizzare experience. Our reservation was at 615... we were seated at 645. We saw a waiter at 7. My friend ordered a glass of wine and I ordered a vodka martini. 10 minutes later the wine arrived and another 10 minutes later the martini arrived... with gin. The waiter was so aloof. People were literally standing waiting to pay their checks. Weirdly there were about 4 servers but I don't know what they were doing? There were dirty dishes on tables left for at least an hour. I gave the server my card so that I could pay for dinner when we ordered that way when we were heading out to the theater we wouldn't have to wait around because I did notice that people were waiting a long time for their checks. After about an hour and 20 minutes and my friend only having a glass of wine and me already paying the entire tab for just one glass of wine we said we just need to leave because we needed to get to the theater. We waited another 20 minutes to get someone to refund us. The food never arrived by the way. They told us that they must've lost the ticket. So I didn't want to pay for that! At that same time, the waiter asked if I wanted to just "chug my martini" and could make it right now for me. That was kind of weird that somebody would ask me to chug a martini. Anyways we were late for the show which we spent a lot of money on tickets for and it was opening night. Never going back. I felt like, perhaps we are on one of those TV shows in which they play tricks on people it was truly bizarre Such a bummer because this place has great potential as a pre 5th Avenue Theatre venue. read more

My daughter and I took in Fonte for a pre-5th Ave show Happy Hour nosh and our experience was mixed and disappointing. The Caesar salad was lovely but the parmesan fries were soggy and the roasted broccoli was inedible (tough stalks and mushy tops). The one glass of white wine and one margarita were good. It's a nice setting and servers are pleasant but not worth the pre-tip $100 bill. read more

Meh. I ordered the fried shrimp appetizer and it was drenched in red spicy sauce that completely obliterated the taste of the shrimp. It's quite difficult to ruin shrimp for me but here we are. It didn't taste like shrimp at all - more like rubber drenched in chili (the shrimp was also overcooked). By the way, I was last here two years ago and this dish was much better then. In addition, I remember the fries being to-die-for in 2023 - but they were certainly not good today (burned, dry, tasteless). My cocktail today was good - but this place will have to make some major changes to their chef for me to eat here again. Service was 3/5 (slower and less friendly than expected) and ambience was 4/5 given that it's in RSQ. read more

My friends and I were so excited about a new bar with outdoor space in the city that served espresso martinis! However, this place leaves you wanting more. We went during the first week it was open which reading other reviews, it is consistent to say that they are figuring things out. The vibes - there is no music, so it is oddly quiet and makes the space feel extra empty building lobby vibes. Service - our server was so nice but service is incredibly slow, I think he said there is one bartender. One bartender to pull espresso shots and then make espresso martinis for the entire place? We were there for over 2 hours and could barely get 2 drinks. Value - great happy hour and food prices! Why I gave this place 1 star, a short story. I filled out an online inquiry to reserve Fonte Bar to host a party for roughly 25 people to celebrate new jobs and promotions. This was over Memorial Day weekend so it might take time for them to get back to me, so I waited and didn't hear anything. I called midweek the following week and the host told me to email Max specifically. I emailed Max and he was largely unhelpful and punted me to RJ. Usually places give me parameters on reserving spaces, set menu, capacity, AV options, etc. but I had to set all that myself which was confusing because I do not know what Fonte Bar can or cannot provide. So I gave RJ a description of the event and a list of questions, like is there a cake fee, should I pre-order food etc. This was June 2nd and I had to follow up on June 9th to get a response. I followed up and asked what the buyout fee would be, in which I never got a response back. On June 18th, I email again ask if we could confirm and set up a call since the event is on June 23rd. I get an auto reply that RJ no longer works at Fonte and to email the GM or Max (again). I email both of them and obviously did not hear back. I called the number that comes up in a google search and it goes to their accounting department. The nice person in accounting took my name and number and I just said if I don't hear back, I will be having my party elsewhere. I didn't hear back. I am bummed my guests will not be able to enjoy the outdoor ambiance that Fonte has to offer. Our server had asked us to post on social about Fonte because they wanted to get the word out. My event would have been a great opportunity to do that, especially given that most of my guests work downtown. O well. read more

The Fonté Bar - The very dirty martini and espresso martini - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Firstly, this place is pretty. Tucked in the center of Rainier Tower, they get a lot of traffic from residents and business folks. That said, the bar/restaurant is a little confused. There are tables for eating both indoors and out, which is lovely. But there's also very much a loungy vibe happening here with the bar and cushy couches with tables with silverware. I don't know about you, but I don't want to eat a cheeseburger on a couch with a coffee table. That seems messy...right? A co-worker and I grabbed lunch here today. Very duck heavy menu. Lots of duck fat fries (completely lackluster) and there's actually a beet and duck salad which sounded interesting. The server talked me out of that and into the black garlic caesar, I added prawns. For over $20, I would highly recommend passing on this. The dressing on the salad was delicious. But it was DRENCHED leaving the lettuce soggy. The shrimp were tempura based and cold. Personally, I'd have preferred them grilled with some nice seasoning. No option. Overall presentation meh. Our server began attentive, but when we had to grab someone else to get our check because of meetings...there was no rush at all from them. Which they definitely need to work on with all of the businesses in the building. Worth our $80 check? NOPE. Two salads, one side of fries and a diet soda. Hard pass. I'll stick to the coffee, Fonte. read more

I don't think the owner is aware of how poorly customers are being treated by some of the staff members. Hopefully he shows more interest going forward. read more

Really enjoyed this place. Steak sandwich was perfect, espresso martini was so smooth. Great suggestions by bartender. Had a lovely late lunch here. Great spot for catching up with friends or work colleagues. I plan to stop by after my library pickups and do some reading as the space is very cozy. read more

Zero stars! - we had a 6pm reservation and weren't seated until 6:25pm. Then it took 15 minutes for someone to show up and take our order. We were going to a 7:30pm show at the 5th Avenue and our food NEVER arrived before we had to leave at 7:15pm. The servers never even came back. Truly a terrible experience, I had to buy a sandwich at the theater in case my 86yr old mother got hungry! So embarrassing!! Never going here again. read more

A pretty remake of a lobby on Pacific Place. Big and open space that they have made cozy with a pretty fireplace, nice furniture and great bar. We stopped in later for dessert, coffee and cocktails. Excellent dessert ( apple cobbler) and decaf French press coffee were great. The latte's and cocktails were also delicious. We experienced excellent service- all around a great way to end the night and visit with friends in a quiet and out of the way bar on a busy Saturday night. read more

Not sure why there weren't more people here on a Sunday night! Server was so nice and our food was amazing, the miso salmon was one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had, the flavors worked so well together. The quinoa was cold which i wasn't expecting, but delicious nonetheless, I guess more of a salad vibe. Pork belly appetizer was very good as well. We got the chai spiced peach cobbler and that was amazing as well. I overheard someone say the steak was top tier but I can't speak for that. They played good music and the lounge vibe of everything was very nice - chairs were comfy as well, but we had our pick of whichever table we wanted, and since we went for dinner opted for a regular table, not a coffee table. Would've been nice if I was just going for drinks though. Definitely recommend read more

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Visited Fonte Bar for the first time today. The service was great, Jack & Anthony behind the bar made us feel so welcome, and so did the entire Fonte team. Happy Hour was a great way to start our weekend! read more

The Fonté Bar - Espresso martini - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Recently came to The Fonté Bar and I was so impressed by everything. I came in and sat down with my friends and the place is so pretty and just provided a fancy ambiance. Mia, our server, provided such good recommendations for food which were the chop salad, the burger and the squash. The faces you could see us make when we took every bite would be so embarrassing. Then for our drinks Ernie the bartender was making us some spicy margaritas which hit the spot. He also stirred up some conversations with us and made us feel very welcomed. We also got some coffee to go and when I tell you Chris is the master coffee it is no joke. We weren't sure what to order, but we asked for something sweet with a bit of caffeine and he stirred up some magic. Overall an amazing experience and I highly highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Went there on a Thursday afternoon and had a wonderful meal. Saw on their web site that they were opened on the Weekend so went back Saturday and found it to be closed. What a disappointment! I had talked my friends into trying it out after the symphony. If they are not open on the weekends they need to update their web site. read more

This place is SO slow. If they want any chance of surviving in a busy building with two office towers they definitely need to pick up the pace. Not one person behind the coffee bar has any sense of urgency and they are all constantly confused. Same with the full service happy hour crew. The food and the drinks are great, I just don't have that much time on my hands to wait for it. read more