Ada's Technical Books and Cafe

One of the coziest bookstore/cafe combos I've experienced. Really love the curation of books, you'll definitely find something to read here. I especially loved their selection of pictures books! The shelf in the center featured books from Seattle writers and the walls have staff recommendations neatly displayed. There's also plenty of community events to attend, too! Looking forward to coming back to do some studying/work here.

Cute, small café—just like the name suggests, it mainly sells technical books. Seating is limited, with a few spots in the front and back. The coffee was good, but a small Americano cost about $6. Street parking is $4 per hour.

Ada's is one of my favorite spots in the city to have a delightful cup of coffee, connect & work! Parking is pretty easy, and I'm typically able to find free parking. I love this location in Capitol Hill! This place has books for purchase and to enjoy. The details and the sense of community here is awesome! I will return always!

Great cafe, with a lovely intentional theme. Beautiful display case cafe tables with electrical inventions, a bright airy space, and great homemade chai. Would recommend the breakfast burrito.

Not celiac friendly. Stuff thats marked on the menu as gluten free doesn't come as gluten free by default, the staff doesn't inform you of this, when I got my food I noticed that it came with bread and I assumed it was gluten free because it was marked as a such on the menu, luckily my partner questioned it, the staff didn't care that they gave me something that not only could I not eat, but I would have been hospitalized if we hadn't caught this. No exchange was offered, no one ever asked me what bread I wanted, the menu didn't specify that it was a gluten free option available, it just said it was gluten free. If something is marked as gluten friendly, gluten-free should be the default, not something that doesn't match the menu, this is a dangerous practice and it will lead to someone being hurt or hospitalized, please fix this for people in the future, I'm not from Seattle and don't have any reason to return to this cafe, but this is a dangerous system.

I just ate a hand pie called “pocket full of sunshine” available at perfect temperature from the hot case… so delicious!!! I highly recommend this adorable bookstore cafe. Cool staff, interesting books, tasty food options, and sunny atmosphere.

This is now one of my favorite book stores! The food and drinks are delicious, the decor eclectic, and they have learning games (like a magnetic building set) out for kids to play with. The staff is friendly and talented. The curio tables are fascinating, too. What a great experience!

This bookstore and cafe was a fantastic find. They have a fun and welcoming atmosphere, from their lighting to the notes on the bookshelf, giving book recommendations. They sell a lot of fun puzzles/challenges and have a table set up where you can try them out. The cafe has a lot of great food and drinks options with lots of seating inside and outside.

Happy to see stores like these still exist. Browsing books and fun tech gifts. I love their transparent pricing of the cafe.

I came here to meet up with friends and it was easy to find a table at 9am on Monday (holiday) but it got pretty busy by 10am. There were a lot of seating options to choose from, and outdoor seating if it wasn't raining. I got a cappuccino and it was pretty good but expensive ($7+).. I guess typical Seattle prices these days. The barista was quick and friendly, and I spent most of my morning there. I liked that they double as a book shop, they stick to the technical theme of their name and have cute bookmarks to pick up! It's got high ceilings and lots of light.

Ada's has been on my list for a long time and was happy to finally visit on Independent Bookstore Day. They have a huge selection of technical books, but a small variety of fiction and biography books. The ambiance is so cute. Back area is for those who want to relax and work/study, while the front is for those who want to hang out and eat/drink coffee. Back room is definitely a bit quiet. When youre back there, the sound from the front doesnt seem as distracting. Rating on their coffee, it tasted great. Tried one of their seasonals, Lavendar Haze and it was very light and airy. Bold in lavender flavor. Overall, I will definitely come back if I am in the area and want to just relax and read or find a place to work without any distractions.

One of the best pumpkin spice lattes I've had & scratch made (something I value)! The food was good too! I've been here twice.

Ada's is such a hidden gem in north cap hill! I've been several times and have always enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. It's such a good place to go when you want to wind down and take yourself on a solo date. With that said, I have also seen people bring their laptops and study here! I remember liking their sweet cream latte ($7) but I had to continuously mix the foam that kept settling on top! They are also one of the few places I know that are tip-free which is really cool. There is such a good selection of books but every time I come here I have slowly made my way through The Cruel Prince! If you're stuck in a reading rut, definitely pick up this book or browse the rest of the cafe :)

Food - super good! I loved the burrito and the ra-ra-ras poutine! All the food is vegetarian and most can be made vegan. The drinks were also pretty fantastic with a lot of house made syrups and unique flavors. Would definitely come here again just for the drinks and food. Service - they seem a bit understaffed but they were working their bums off. Everything came out in a reasonable time frame. They have buzzers for food but call out drinks at the counter. Ambiance - you probably come for the ambiance here in particular. It's a really cool concept. Not a lot of space to sit but basically like a cafe in the midst of a book store, which is lovely! They do have outside seating when the weather is nice too.

This is a gorgeous bookstore cafe tucked away in north Capitol Hill. It's spacious and offers great food and drink options. I had a breakfast burrito which was a great size and tasted delicious! It was definitely more substantial than your typical cafe food options. I also loved the decor here. There are of course walls of books but also cool tech-y pieces like glass tables with mini computers inside. There are puzzles for your work breaks, and I even saw signs for weekday events in the space.

This is the perfect blend between bookstore and cafe! The food is great and priced fairly. Although the drinks are a bit hit or miss. I don't recommend their matcha...

I love Ada's store. I love the bookstore combined with cafe like Elliott's up in capital hill. This place is smaller but cozier and totally diversified. The coffee was good and so was the service. I asked for less sweet and the barista told me to taste it to let them know if it was good enough. I love it and will come back. I also like the neighborhood !

Super cute bookstore with a fun selection of books! I love that there's a handicap accessible entrance from the side. And I loved that they had a changing table in the bathrooms. I didn't get to try anything from their cafe and I didn't interact with my staff. But from what I could see in the 15 minutes I was in there, it was a bright and lovely little spot. It's a rather small shop so there's not a lot of tables by the cafe but there's more seating available outside and long tables in the back that look more for studying.

The food was pretty good, a garbanzo bean dumpling, not too spicy, and the iced Lavendar Haze tasty but the employees were snarky. Like so many young people, older people are either invisible or not worth much to them. Service was rude, in other words. They could use some customer service training! Also, I sat outside to eat and couldn't find any place to leave trash after my meal so rather than go back inside and have to see the rude young employees, I took it with me.

Ada's technical bookstore is one of my favorite coffee shops / bookstores. The coffee is great, especially their seasonal beverages. They have both indoor and outdoor spaces. Outdoor you can seat by the sidewalk or in the back terrace. Very friendly place, good selection of books, solid coffee.

Delightful, quiet atmosphere. Excellent latte and I loved the Sunrise Sammy. I will be back!

Lovely coffeeshop and bookstore. I love the book mobile hanging from the ceiling, and if you can find a seat, it's a great place to work. When I was there you had to get a wifi password at the counter which was good for one hour, but wasn't difficult at all and the staff were super nice.

One of the treasures of Seattle. A truly special place with great energy and great books. Long live Ada's!

We were looking for a quick bite in the neighborhood before starting our day and found Ada's via Yelp. It's a very cute and quaint place that I wanted to love, but it just didn't hit the mark for me. I tried the Hawt Pocket - bonus points for vegan! However it was a bit bland, and the dough was thick. I'm not sure if we went on an off day, but service was extremely slow and not that friendly - the employee seemed miserable and never cracked a smile, and my friend waited a solid 10+ minutes for his iced latte. It's a cute spot, I just wouldn't recommend the hawt pocket!

A welcoming and lovely place with good food and coffee. They make their own chocolate for the mocha, which is a plus. Grab a small table or share a big table with strangers. I'd definitely be back to try the food (only had the empanadas).

While they didn't have Carmel latte they did have butterscotch so that worked, the staff are very friendly and service was quick. An empty seat and chair beckoned me to work for a few hours in a good vibe. Will be back

I love Ada's for the ambiance and vegetarian meals at the cafe. It would be nice if they had more seating options. It's often packed even on a random mid-day middle of the week.

Ada's is such a cute local bookstore with a small cafe inside. I love the vibes here and the staff are super friendly and cool, but the food was only so-so. I had a breakfast burrito which was okay but ultimately there was too many potatoes and it ended up being a little bland.

Hidden gem with a beautiful spacey interior, ample seating, a mecca of books/toys/puzzles and other fun items to shop for, and of course, great coffee and bites. I tried the oat milk latte (YAS for the latte art!) which was delicious. Wandered around a bit as well. I didn't get to try the food or pastries this time but they look amazing! Love that they have vegan/vegetarian options :)

The vegan breakfast burrito is amongst the best things I've eaten in all of Seattle. Amazing! The coffee is good too, and the bookstore itself is super cute!

The vibes are immaculate and the drinks were pretty good!! I got the malabar milk which was very interesting and I liked it! There is a good amount of seating and is a good place to work/study and be surrounded by books!

Wonderful selection of books! Kind of small bookstore but still enough books for you to browse through. They have a cafe which I didn't get to try because the barista had left for the day but several people seemed to be enjoying the bakery items. There was a birthday party being hosted in the back which I thought was cute.

I stopped by this little bookstore and cafe one weekday afternoon around 2pm. It was so cute, with a cozy and friendly vibe. The left side of the space has the cafe, with a lot of tables and chairs for the small space. The right side has the books and other miscellaneous fun items like puzzles, mugs, etc. At this time of day, it was busy in the cafe section with people working, catching up with friends, or just getting drinks. I was able to get a North American birds puzzle as well as a pocket guide to trees in the northwest. The items are so cute here and I'm definitely going to stop by again to try out the coffee and pastries available.

Went to Ada's today and loved it! It's so cute, small and has a great vibe! I tried one of their seasonal coffee drinks and it was delicious. I loved walking around and checking out the books and definitely will be back to do some work and try there other drinks

A hidden gem in Capitol Hill. I was walking around and stumbled upon this place. I love the interior - high ceilings, bright lights, and a wide selection of books! I also love the cozy environment and it's a great place to study, work, or even just browse around. I got one of their seasonal drink - matcha & strawberry latte I wasn't a big fan of it since I can just taste the milk but will definitely come back to try their food and another coffee selection!

Came here for brunch and browsed the books a bit. It's a very cute venue and the food was delicious, eggnog latte was okay they had some other seasonal drinks that I wished I had tried instead. If you want to take your mask off while you eat, this is not the place for you, they are patrolling for people between sips or bites and telling you to put your mask on though they pay no mind to the children running all over maskless. Overall wasn't a fan of actually eating here but the food was very good and it's a cute bookstore if you're looking for a more technical book selection.

Love the coffee and vibe. Wish the breakfast menu was a little more expansive vs. a few years ago but it doesn't detract from my opinion of the place. Been a neighbor for 19 years and Ada's is still where I always take my out of town friends for coffee and to start the day.

This coffee shop/bookstore is so fun I just love it!! It's located on Capitol Hill with plenty of street parking and accessible by bike too. There's lots of seating both outside and inside. Inside is the coffee shop and a bookstore with new books, fun puzzles and plenty of space to read or get some work done. Staff were friendly and orders came out quickly. They had fun fall seasonal drinks when my gf and I were there and the cold brew with salty cold foam was soooo good. We also had breakfast which was amaze. Prices were reasonable even though they were adjusted so that workers have an appropriate wage instead of relying on tips, which is super cool! Lots of vegan options. This place made me so happy and I can't wait to come visit again!

What a cool atmosphere!! I enjoyed walking around seeing the different options of books exist, ones I would have never encountered if I didn't walk in here! I went mid morning on a week day and there were quite a few people there working on their laptops or reading. It's fairly spacious, so seating wasn't difficult to find. It is definitely a great venue to get stuff done! I ordered the tofu scramble, and I believe it's one of the best I've ever had! I've tried a variety from at least 6 restaurants and this cafe had such a delicious tofu scramble. Even if you claim that you don't like tofu, I highly recommend trying this one!

I came here to work for a bit during the day with a friend and it was super cute! I love the selection of books they have, from the cooking books in the front, to the science fiction books in the middle and the gigantic selection of coding books at the back. Heads up they give you a code for the wifi and it's only for a couple hours; but it's enough time to get some work done and then enjoy a nice meal! I ordered the iced chai, and they used their homemade chai! Also ordered the grilled cheese and their homemade chips. The grilled cheese was sooo good and the chips were very filling! I'll definitely be back

I cannot recommend Ada's enough! I was in Seattle for work and made sure to swing by this bookstore, and I was still surprised by how much I loved it. First off--their selection. I love reading and just had a field day in Ada's perusing their broad and extensive selection of books I hadn't seen in Barnes and Noble, Books' Inc, and in typical bookstores. Very fun, you should budget quite a bit of time to look around just at books alone. Secondly--the cafe and cafe area is very nice and convenient. Each item on the menu has a cute science-inspired name. They make it easy for customers to spend lots of time in here, whether it be reading or doing work or just hanging out. Thirdly--they have speakers and events! I didn't even realize it, but there was a great speaker there that night when I went in the room at the back and there was a large gathering of people there to discuss and learn about ethics in tech. There's books, cute tee shirts and gifts and jewelry and pins and so much more! Check it out.

Ada's technical cafe is truly unique--a nice mix of cafe and bookstore, with a tech-y twist that added a lot of personality. My favorite part of the cafe was definitely the ambience. Each table is decorated to highlight some aspect of science or nature, and even the number that you get after ordering your food is themed. I also thought the food was pretty good. I got the avocado toast with egg, which was one of many vegetarian options on the menu. My only critique is that a few of the technical books in the back seemed outdated, but there was also a large enough selection that it didn't matter.

FOOD was good overall. Scone was delicious. INSIDE super cute and clean. High ceilings. Extra events posted on the wall. Outside seating too. STAFF were friendly. OVERALL you wouldn't think this book place has good but it definitely does. They are a hippy feel place with fresh veggie type plates. I'd come back.

Finally getting out during a lull in the pandemic, stopped by Ada's to order one of their veggie sandwiches. This was my second time there, over a year separated the visits, last time I ordered a couple of lunch bowls and picked up a couple of the staff picks' books. This time, looking through their bookshelves at their diverse selection, I returned to the counter asking about purchasing Marie Yovanovitch's new autobiography and was met with "we wouldn't have that," in a way that made me embarrassed that I asked. I'm not sure what falls in the exact description of what counts as technical books here, but the story of the daughter of refugees from Nazi Germany and Soviet oppression, herself an immigrant who faced years of misogyny while rising to the highest ranks as a U.S. diplomat only to have a career-ending hit job by the president of the United States, to courageously defend herself in front of U.S. Congress and the world, and to have fought for the people of Ukraine for a chunk of her career (I would go on but haven't read the book yet (!))- seems like a timely read as well as somewhat in the definition of the social justice books Ada's likes to advocate. It just seems like a weird thing to be flatly told "we wouldn't have that" in the context of the books offered at this venue. So, buyer beware, if you don't see it, perhaps best not to ask if they carry it.

We stumbled upon this shop while venturing elsewhere in the Capitol Hill / Volunteer Park neighborhood. What a fun and welcome surprise. I love a well curated bookstore and this place did not disappoint. Although it bills itself a specialty bookseller with an emphasis on science and other technical books, they had a lot to offer almost anyone, with staff picks and other highlights throughout. We didn't sample any of the food or beverage offered by the café, but would return on the strength of concept alone. A fun local business that adds a lot to the community!

Tea and vegan food options + books?! I'm sold! I'd been wanting to check out Ada's for a while so I was very happy to have the opportunity to meet a couple friends here on a rainy Sunday (late) morning. There aren't a ton of seating options inside so my friends and I sat around a covered outdoor table on the sidewalk. Good thing I brought my puffy jacket! I just ordered a cup of herbal tea but after seeing my friend's food I wished I'd ordered something! They have scrumptious looking treats in the case up front, as well as more substantial menu items, like vegan breakfast burritos mmm. Next time, of course. We were chatting it up so I didn't have a chance to peruse the books but I loved the clean, bright atmosphere of the cafe/bookshop. Basically I can't wait to come back!

Best pumpkin coffee I have ever had in my life I think. Nice atmosphere and selection by the looks of it.

what a cute little cafe bookstore! except its a lot bigger than I expected LOL it's a great place to sit down and work for a while; almost like you're at a library but they have a cafe to fuel you too haha I will mention though, their coffee isss mediocre? and their hot chocolate too. pastries seem average as well. I kind of thought their coffee would be pretty good because I expected it to be like a cafe main plus a bookstore?? but I guess it's actually more like a bookstore main plus coffee.

Ada's represents the best and the worst of Seattle. If I could give 2.5 stars I would, but I rounded up because, the truth is, I'll probably go back if a friend wants to meet there. They did a lovely renovation and created a really nice atmosphere. I've been coming here since they opened and have had countless meetings here, social and business. I've brought people here for many reasons, including consistent food and drinks. I came pretty regularly during the pandemic and thought they did a good job. That's most of the good. Many baristas in Seattle are snobby. That's not really an issue for me - sometimes it's part of the charm of a coffee shop. After a misunderstanding with a barista, I spoke with Joan the manager who said they did not have time to deal with it, but invited me to email them and cc the other manager, Jeff. After four emails went unanswered I called and was told I would get a call back. When that didn't happen after a week I went back in person and was told there was no management available and the owner wasn't in. Then I realized this was a textbook example of The Seattle Freeze. That special kind of passive aggression Seattle is famous for. In 30 years here I've met a lot of people who smile, say the right thing, then don't follow through, and count on you to just go away. This is very rare for a business, though. One of the things I love about Seattle is that there are a lot of other great coffee shops, restaurants and book stores to choose from.

Such a cute bookstore café!! Love the cozy ambiance and interior layout. There're more seats next to the counter, with additional seats on the balcony & courtyard, and a huge table at the center of the reading room in the back. Great place to get coffee, grab a quick bite, and do some work/study! Abundance of outlets and easy to access, but the only downside would be the 3-hour-limit of wifi access. We got a cappuccino (with oatmilk) and a french toast latte (seasonal). Amazing blend of rich espresso flavor and the hearty texture of oatmilk. The french toast latte is on the sweeter side with a nice toasted cinnamon flavor! Would definitely come back again for the food.

I can't imagine a better place for cs lovers than Ada's. All the decor is stem themed - from the circuit board tables to the mobile of technical drawings hanging from the ceiling. The espresso is pretty acidic, but here you're mostly paying for the setting. The array of books is quite impressive - if it's STEM-related, odds are it'll be at Ada's. I've purchased some cryptography books here that I've been unable to find at the library or elsewhere.

Fun and cute atmosphere of a specialty bookstore. The cafe space was curated nicely with unique table designs. Had the potato galette which was flavorful and well made. The caramelized onions were just the right amount of savory and complemented the soft egg and crispy pie crust. As for the coffee, it was alright but not memorable and rather pricey. They do have a large selection of latte syrups if you're into that. Maybe we were expecting this to be more of a hangout space with books to browse while enjoying the cafe, but the cafe and bookstore were not really integrated, as in the cafe was very much a study area with food and drink, quite separate from the rest. This seems like it would be a nice place to study though!

Weren't expecting much but the bahn mi was amazing and the breakfast burrito pretty solid. Got the lemonade which was very refreshing in the heat. Cute back patio with shade.

The coffee is amazing, food is amazing, and the energy of the place is so calming. I love that it's a STEM focused bookstore. Even the kids books are mostly STEM. So rad. I constantly dream about going there.

Such a fun little place to go for a coffee, a snack, and a book! What more could you want? Friendly staff, fun seasonal drinks, and nice indoor and outdoor seating. One of my favorite places to wander to on the weekend

Unique place. Nice to stop in for a small bite and a good conversation. Food is good and the presentation is awesome yet there is a tad missing in the flavor. Overall very pleased, and would consider coming back if in the area

This place is magical--and the food is great, too. I stopped by for a snack and left 45 minutes later with five books, a delicious, warm, "Hawt Pocket" (ground beef, black beans, cheese and other good things stuffed inside a Cornish pastie), and the best, moistest, blueberry-banana muffin I've ever tasted. (I also like the rigorous COVID protocol. Masks and proof of vaccination required.) Beautiful space, too. I was born a geek and was just fascinated by their collection of fascinating books about science and technology. If I'd stayed another 30 minutes, I probably could have spent $300! I'll be back.