Staff is super nice and there is a great working environment, but the coffee is too expensive. I paid $4.50 + tip for a sub-8oz coffee. All other drinks are also high in price, and add-ons are way more expensive than other coffee shops. I simply cannot afford to go here for coffee esp considering it is standard coffee options/nothing out of the ordinary. They are also lacking vegetarian breakfast/lunch options. read more

This place needs to try harder. Used to be consistently good, but in recent years the daily availability AND quality of food has gone way down (the egg in the breakfast sandwiches is like eating a hockey puck), the staff is never the same from one time to the next, there's never enough staff, and the prices are just as high if not higher than the two places parked across the intersection, one being a full-service restaurant and the other a Starbucks. I don't want to support the latter, yet this location just doesn't seem to care enough to be competitive. I know there's been a change in either ownership or the chef or something, but this inconsistency and subpar quality while still charging you a high premium has gone on too long and now I no longer want to frequent it. read more

Exploring to the Uptown Espresso in Magnolia, I was happy to find the parking lot on the side of the building a little under half full when I arrived around 7:37 a.m. this morning, Wednesday 26 July 2023. The inside was quiet and had a few other patrons. Looking over the displayed food options and beverage menu I went with a mini coffee cake bundt, an espresso, and an oatmeal cookie. The total with a tip was under twenty dollars. The worker behind the counter was friendly and orderly in taking and filling my order. Both food items were tasty. The coffee cake bundt was a little on the denser side for a coffee cake and I enjoyed the frosting/icing. It had a flavor that complemented the coffee flavor and sweetness of the cake without overpowering it. For the oatmeal cookie, it contained raisins, white chocolate chips and a green item (chopped pumpkin seeds perhaps). It was sweet and neither too heavy nor rich. I got a good energy burst from the espresso without a crash later. The flavor was on-point. read more

See all

terrible drinks. amazing tables. good windows. terrible drinks. terrible drinks. clumpy matcha.

Nearly $7 for a latte in 2025 and all your chairs look like this? Reeks of no respect for your customers. read more

Uptown Espresso - Magnolia - This is what you can sit on if you're a customer of Uptown Espresso. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great and friendly staff and pretty consistently good coffee. Some of their tea drinks are hit or miss.

Spacious enough to usually find a seat, this cafe uses Fonte coffee and food, which is high quality on the ingredient side! Match that with baristas who, yes, if you go weekly, remember not only your name but your signature drink! They have at least one vegan option for the baked goods and they're tasty. Real cups are available for those who would like to stay and sip. This is truly a neighborhood place full of friendly people. read more

Respect! In a town filled with great local roasters and coffee shops, I want to call out the Uptown in Magnolia. Uptown was my first home, a coffee hangout/work/networking place away from home when I was shopping for my condo ten years ago when I was shopping for a condo. The team at the Magnolia Uptown makes it a point to remember everyone's favorite when they come to the counter. They are knowledgeable about the roasts, have great recommendations, and have better taste in music. Highly recommend. read more

Uptown Espresso - Magnolia - a coffee mug on a wooden table - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friend and I went on somewhat of a cafe crawl - we started at the popular bakery close by, but it was so small that we sat outside for a while, but then got really cold so decided to get another cup of coffee at Uptown Espresso. This coffee shop is spacious and has plenty of seats. Even though it was the weekend and it was a bit crowded, we were still able to sit at our own table. The bathroom is clean and it was really nice to hang out for a while. I had the matcha latte and it was good. read more

Super quaint Starbucks alternative coffee house on Magnolia Village. Barista was very prompt and Ices Latte was perfect. I like the open floorplan and relaxed vibe. read more

Uptown Espresso - Magnolia - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Let me start by saying the customer service was good. There was a subpar selection for food at least at the time of arriving. Upon walking in felt like walking into most coffee shops in Seattle, take that how you will. Purchased two coffees, a pasta salad and a sandwich which got warmed up and somehow spent over $50. The chicken in my sandwich was somewhat dry and salad was mediocre. I give points for cleanliness and service but that's about it read more

Great coffee! And this afternoon my friend I was with casually mentioned she was thirsty in passing and the barista (Miguel) brought her water without even being asked. Great customer service!! read more

Delicious coffee and food. I used to frequent this cafe when I worked nearby, and now just pop in when I'm in the area because they have the best espresso. Today was the first time I've ever used their restroom though. Yikes. Not only was the toilet seat actually barely attached so you slid right off, but the trash was overflowing onto the floor and the paper towels were just tossed on top of the dispenser so you had to touch a wet roll to pull more out. At least they had soap I guess? Disappointing for the upscale area. read more

See all

I think it's a very nice coffee shop with excellent service and tasty snacks. The pastries are decent - I did not care for the texture of the almond cookie but I am probably not the target market for this. I'd love to see healthier pastries (with multi grain flours, seeds and sweetened with honey or coconut). But I think this is one of the better coffee shops in the area. read more

Uptown espresso magnolia is a great little neighborhood coffee shop across the street from the Seattle based mermaid and red holiday cup place. The espresso is delicious. They offer alternative dairy milks and a lot of flavor options - even lavender!! Full selection of sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. I recommended the egg white veggie wrap which is delicious!! Many pastries also are out for selection. They just started serving beer and wine for late afternoon or evening meetings and hanging out with friends. Overall, uptown espresso is a fun place to hang out with friends and get some high quality beverages and delicious bites. read more

I was in Uptown Espresso earlier today and they don't accept cash, all I had was cash, but the barista was super nice enough to give me my coffee for free which I thought was super crazy nice. I just want to say thank you to the barista who gave me my coffee for free! read more

Went here several times while staying in Magnolia - the staff is lovely, and there are lots of seats to work. They have free wifi and lots of plugs. The coffee is solid as well. My only feedback is that they do not carry any vegan options, neither with their baked goods or sandwich/lunch items (they do offer milk alternatives, but for an .80 charge.) For a city like Seattle that prides itself on sustainability and being eco-conscious, I was very surprised that there wasn't a single food item offered that is or can be made vegan (avocado toast? coconut yogurt? a salad?) Even the french bakery across the street has amazing vegan croissants! It would be great if this chain would consider adding some options that are better for both animals and the planet. I hope they will consider doing so soon! read more

Uptown Espresso - Magnolia - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

When I arrived on a Sunday afternoon in hopeful expectation of a warm drink and a shot (or three) of caffeine, my optimism began to wane almost as soon as I walked in. (It's been more than six years since I've been in any Uptown Espresso, but my memories were of cozy, clean, lively coffee shops with a selection of delicious drinks.) This afternoon, Uptown Espresso looked dingy and dark. The meager couple persons dotted around the place mostly sat solemnly, as the sole employee wrestled a trash bag. I stood patiently at the counter for several minutes, with no acknowledgment from the employee. Finally, the trash was adequately wrestled and it was time for me to make my request at the counter from the lackluster worker. (Perhaps it was the end of his shift and his coworkers all called out sick that day. He was neither mean nor rude, just not cheerful.) I placed my simple coffee order. To my dismay, there was no dairy milk at all. Completely out. To their credit, there were numerous non-dairy options. My drink turned out warm and drinkable, but definitely not worth a repeat. I picked up a pair of cookies to share with my family, and while expensive, they were tasty. (The worker was unable to identify one type of cookie I pointed out, but the mystery cookie was good, too.) No cash accepted. Is this legal? And finally, to go along with the dingy feeling of the shop, the bathroom was an even greater mess. Gross. It definitely could have used a clean. Was it cleaned that day? The day before? The week before? Who could tell... TL; DR Pros: Tasty cookies Cons: Dingy & could use a clean Lackluster employee (perhaps not well trained/prepped?) No dairy milk (ran out that day) Does not accept cash Dirty bathroom read more

I am a fan of this place!! The atmosphere right when you walk in is incredible. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Love everything on the menu!! I have not had anything that I didn't like. Hot chocolate is so sweet and yummy. Great place to stop by to grab a quick drink or stay and get some work done!! The bathroom smelt incredible and was super clean. I'll definitely be coming here regularly. read more

Asked Uptown if they could wipe off the table (all of 5 seconds) on the city strip closest to their front door. Told me it wasn't their responsibility. It seems like it is just a courtesy thing to do since it is a public table ( the only one in the sun) and close to their front door. We order coffee almost every day and the table is usually dirty. Something so simple but yet it is too much for them! Going to stick with Starbucks and the lovely French Bakery from now on! read more

Should have seen the overall reviews before trying but still wanted to give this place a go since I was in the area. Cappuccino was pretty bad. The coffee beans were burnt. You could taste the burnt notes in every sip. Only saving grace was the polite and courteous host. This place is a serious miss. read more

Terrible coffee would not recommend! Been here several times and each time I've been served bitter coffee drinks...It's like the barista can't pull shots. Don't waste your money here!! 0/10 read more

They have made some wonderful upgrades however I had the grossest drink ever. I love a good London Fog but this one tasted like hot milk water. I hate complaining but after trying to drink it I finally asked the barista to re-make as he put the milk immediately into the tea without letting it seep at all. When asked to re-make he did the same thing. So I asked him to make again but this time let the tea seep a whole 5 minutes before adding the milk. He seemed a bit flustered and not pleased but did comply (who likes to be told their work wasn't good??). I was so bummed that the drink did not improve at all. It was completely white. I don't know if he was re-using the original tea bag or what. It was frustrating to pay $6 for a cup of hot watery milk that I couldn't drink. read more

What a great coffee shop....and an even better location with lots of fun shops to walk around and check out if you want to take your coffee to go. Magnolia has a fun Saturday market right in front of this coffee shop to boot. Laid back vibes all around. Love their chai teas and americanos...both iced and hot! And don't forget to try their short bread cookies!! They pair so well with their drinks! This place is not foo-foo, just all about good coffee and offers lots of room to spread your work out, or play games (several are inside for your enjoyment). A few small, outdoor tables are available as well. The area is covered, but can get wet when it rains and has a little wind. read more

Love this place. I go in so often i don't even need to give my order! They see me and ask me if i want my usual, which is always yes! Thank you guys for being awesome. read more

2 small drip coffee and 2 treats = $18 plus tax. But that isn't atypical so I won't whine about it. But Uptown Espresso refuses cash, and the person who invited me there doesn't use cards. That is intolerable, and by default I will not be back & encourage others not to reward their highly discriminatory policy. read more

You know, I have to say if you havent been here and you live in Magnolia Skip Starbucks. Seriously. I realize Starbucks is a Seattle tradition, but you need Uptown Expresso In your life to truly appreciate what Artisanship in coffee means. The shots are smooth. The coffee isn't Acidic and the flavor combos are really nice. :) read more

Ok, so I'm a bit torn here. I don't usually stop by Uptown and would probably not pick it with other options, but it was getting late and I didn't want to go to Starbucks. The barista was really friendly and helpful, but probably not the best trained. I probably should have seen the warning signs and gotten my coffee elsewhere. Got two lattes and they were pretty poor tasting given the low traffic when I came in. Didn't seem like much care went into them. Milk was way too hot and coffee tasted over extracted. I ordered one drink with Oat milk, but got almond milk instead without informing me that oat milk was out. Now the real problem and I should have probably left after seeing it instead of buying the coffee. The steam wand was not cleaned at all. It had caked on and burnt on milk on it and was being used for both milk and milk alternatives. I didn't even see an attempt to wipe it between milks or even purge steam. Disgusting. The lack of care and/or lack of training is really disappointing. Baristas here are not winning any awards and the coffee is not any cheaper for the lack of care that goes into preparation. Your better off going to Starbucks and just avoiding this place all together. There are a lot better cafes in Seattle. Hard pass for me. read more

I've visited all Uptown Espresso locations, except for the one in the Delridge neighborhood thus far. Despite a Starbucks diagonal across the intersection, I usually end a visit to Nikos (my favorite Greek eats) with a mocha from this Uptown Espresso in the Magnolia neighborhood. Why? It's an indie cafe! The baristas are really friendly - always asks about how your day's going and come across as sincere about it. The mochas are made consistently with the signature velvet foam. Big windows with great natural light and lots of seating. It's very spacious. Maybe they can add a couch or two with coffee tables to break up cavernous feel. It was oddly without background music on this visit, but perfect to chill out and read on this particular rainy day. read more

Cute Magnolia cafe! Welcoming atmosphere with yummy food. I ordered food and an Americano. The veggie egg bites were delicious. Nice staff and clean establishment. read more

This place was okay. There's a Starbucks across the street but we decided to support the local shop instead. I had a cappuccino, my husband had an americano. Both were good! Service was a little unorganized and chaotic but they managed to get all of our orders right despite the confusion between the cashier and barista. They were definitely making an effort to get our orders right, so I appreciate that! I think what turned me off was the carpet flooring - not the best set up for a food establishment if you ask me... However there were a lot of families and people hanging out which added to the friendly vibes of the shop. read more

My personal favorite coffee house that we've found here in Seattle! I've been here many times in our living here and I've always found the staff very personable and a great selection of coffee drinks! Between my wife and I we've had a good number of offerings and they are all good. Mocha, cappuccino, latte, regular coffee...you can't go wrong. They also have some good food selections behind the counter too. With so many coffee places to chose from in Seattle it's can sometime be hard to know which to hit. When you see an Uptown, no need to wonder...it'll be great! read more

I've only been to this location once, but my experience was actually pretty good... and I'm pretty sure this was the first time I was able to get a lot of work done at one of their locations! I purchased a mocha and a slice of some sort of bread because I was hungry. The bread was fine, but I kind of hope they update their selection in the future. They had way too much bread-y food and not enough anything else. I would have been really happy with some fruit and/or a small veggie snack box. My main goal was to get out of the rain and charge my laptop while I worked, however, and I am happy that this Uptown Coffee location had a warm space for me to sit and work. Oh, and the wifi worked the whole time! Bonus points for that ;) read more

I've always had a good experience with the staff, and I love the big tables that I can work at, but I'm constantly upset about the coffee. While it tastes good, I pay a lot of money for COFFEE! not foam. The first time that I got almost a full cup of foam on top of my coffee to go, I figured it was just a fluke, but seeing that this is my last week of college and all I'm doing is a million things (especially studying) this is not what I wanted to see when I got home. Fix the ratios and understand that you can be known for your foam with just a tablespoon or 2, not an entire cup read more

Uptown Espresso - Magnolia - Haven't had a single sip yet, that's how much foam I was given and this is not a rave about that - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's always easy to write a bad review, this place makes it easy to write a good review. If you like burned (not roasted) coffee from a major corporation where the employees are forced to say your name by printing it on your cup, it's on the other corner. They are both local, but the give a damn is evident at uptown and it's obviously a small business. Honor your values and stop spending money that goes to shareholders while getting better service and products. read more

Every location of Uptown Espresso I have been, I enjoy perfect cup of coffee drink. Whether it's latte, cappuccino, espresso or chocolate flavored brews depending on time of the day. Perfect cup of Java for anytime of the day, prepared by friendly and courteous staff. It was my favorite hangout for latte after lunch for many years. I prefer taste of Uptown's beans and roasting compared to many other Seatttle brands, specially that international brand originated in Seattle! Try it, enjoy it, find out for yourself read more

I have to be honest I only bought a bottled lemonade but was and am still a bit sticker shocked at what I was charged. $6 for an 11.5 oz bottle!! You can buy (2) 52 oz. bottles at any grocery store! One of my friends on the other hand ordered a chai tea and said it tasted horrible. Another friend bought a mocha and said it was ok but definitely not worth it for the cost. On top of that, the employee wasn't very personable and there were only 2 other ladies in the cafe at the time (which was just before 6pm). read more

Wonderful service and tasty coffee! I haven't been in this shop for at least a year, but have noticed upgrades. I like the new atmosphere with the hardwood floor and layout. read more

Absolutely solid neighborhood joint. Fight the monoculture across the street. Thanks, Uptown!

Nice cozy local spot. Everyone who works here is always very friendly. It was one of the first places I stopped in when I first moved to Magnolia and this team of baristas helped me feel at home. I noticed that they've been making improvements to the way the store is laid out and some of the seating, etc.. which is nice. Good way to support a local business. read more