Karoo Cafe

The atmosphere at this cafe was warm and welcoming. There was live music which added beautiful energy. The bar tender was engaging, and recommended good drinks. What was even more special is the variety of seating areas including tables and couches. Good vibes all over!

Stumbled upon Karoo on the way to dinner and popped in for a drink and was blown away by the beautiful decor, iconic Seattle views and a warm welcome! The best cocktails I have had in a long time. The espresso martini is the best!

Beautiful atmosphere and very friendly staff. I had the bartender make a custom drink and it was well-balanced. The drink prices are a little higher than some bars in the area but not exorbitant. I’ll have to come back on a day when they’re having live music and a chef pop-up so I can experience that.

Fantastic music then live music came on! The cocktails were fantastic. The seating and views were great. I will definitely be back for cocktails again. This spot is great for groups of 4-8 with lounge seating and a large bar.

Love love LOVE the atmosphere! It has such cozy speakeasy vibes! Friday night we ended a ghost tour there and learned about the spooky history of the area/building. The drinks were delicious and it was paired perfectly with a cozy couch while we listened to an incredibly talented musician.

A Hidden Gem!! Karoo Café is an absolute delight! From the moment you step in, you're welcomed by an incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The Afrocentric aesthetic is everything!!! It gives the place a unique charm that sets it apart. You can tell a lot of thought went into curating the space. One of the highlights was the manager Mlindi and Josh(the singer) so friendly, social, and engaging! It’s always refreshing to be in a space where the staff genuinely enjoy connecting with their guests. The whole place is just vibes, perfect for unwinding after a long day of work or catching up with friends over great conversations. The only downside? No food! 😭 We were told that food is only available on select days, which was a bit of a letdown, especially on a busy Friday night when people head straight from work to relax. It would be amazing if they introduce at least some finger foods..because, let’s be honest, drinks and an empty stomach don’t mix well! We ended up having to leave past midnight to hunt for food because we were starving!! That said, Karoo Café is still a 5-star experience for me,only taking one star off for the lack of food. If they fix that, this place will be perfect! Definitely a must-visit for anyone who loves good vibes and a welcoming atmosphere. Can't wait to return!

I keep coming back to Karoo for the drinks, the bites, and the vibe. It’s unlike any lounge I’ve been to in Seattle, with an attentive staff and innovative flavors from behind the bar. It’s been the perfect finish for afternoon yoga, and a great and queer-friendly place to chill at night, with live music and DJs dropping South African beats. I don’t drink, so the mocktails really appeal to me… the Jacaranda has become my signature drink with its bright berry goodness!

My first experience in a South African inspired restaurant and cafe. I was blown away by the vibrant textures on the walls and floors, the flavorful cuisine, thoughtful drink menu, and live music. I loved learning new about the history of this space and its relevance to the Pacific Northwest’s history. It’s wonderful. Give it a chance, you won’t regret it.

Great vibe, nice staff, and great food and drinks! Very eclectic decor, with a great views.

I'm so glad I found out about Karoo before my trip to Seattle - it was the best meal I had! The space is eclectic and comforting, sit at the bar, in some couches, or a high top. I sat at the bar & my Bartender was Lydia who was the best! I ordered 2 sangoma muti's and both were delicious & right up my alley. To eat I had bobotie & peri peri skewers. Man, both were delicious but the bobotie was my favorite. All the staff were great, the owner even came by & chatted with me for a little (and charged my phone). Before I left, I got to enjoy some live music. Definitely check this place out.

Karoo is a lovely place to gather with friends - it's beautiful visually and very comfortable. It has several seating areas - a mix of comfortable couches, cocktail tables and standard tables and chairs, whatever your group needs. The employees are a delight. They have a full bar, with a list of delicious cocktails and cocktails. They don't have a regular food menu right now, but they have food pop-ups most weekends - delicious South African food. Another option is to order an array of yummy foods for your event - it's really worth it. I can't rave about them enough! It's a lovely cozy place full of amazing people.

as someone who's been to south africa and traveled through the karoo, i will say i had high hopes for this new-ish bar and i can honestly say that my maiden voyage went well and i'd advocate to come back with other friends (or even the same one!) , maybe even with friends visiting from out of town. there's lots of small touches that reflect the country, its culture, animals and geography. the names of the drinks and their contents are super fun and allowed me an opportunity to explain to my friend about how elephants get drunk on fermented amarula fruit which drop from trees and they end up eating; i actually asked the bartender to show my friend the bottle with the elephant graphic so she could understand more. the carpeting and pillows along with general decor elicit a very south african vibe. not sure where the wallpaper is from but when i sent my interior designer friend in durban some shots while we were there, he reminded me we'd visited the ardmore pottery place in the highlands of kzn and wondered if they'd acquired the animal print there? the bar wasn't packed last night but i bet it is on weekends. there's a great selection of drinks to choose from and a generally fun vibe with great windows that look out on elliot bay and across to west seattle. i bet being here on a summer night would provide picturesque views and photo ops! lastly, when you head to the loo (aka toilets) you'll see what i think is zulu royalty formalwear hanging on the wall. all in all, my friend and i loved our drinks and short time at karoo. i hope to run into the owner at some point to chat and in the meantime, i wish her well and continued success on the edge of the market in a well trafficked area of 1st ave. thanks for bringing a little bit of south africa to the pnw!

Stopped back in for a revisit. The vibe of this place is fantastic to chill and have some drinks with good service. We tried several drinks this time and they were all expertly crafted and flavorful. Though there are no bad choices, the Bushveld Brandy was very nice. They also added some bites to the menu which made the experience more enjoyable. My favorite was the Peri-Peri Chicken Skewers. Definitely will be one of our go to spots for drinks and a bite downtown.

The most beautiful and cozy hidden space in Westlake Seattle! A spectacular view of the water and diverse selection of food items. Ordered a bottle of white wine for $35 and loved the flatbread bites and truffle fries. A little on the pricier side but worth it.

Finally made it to Karoo Café is an absolute gem. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the warm and welcoming decor. The food was exceptional -- every bite full of flavor, clearly made with care. The drinks menu was just as impressive, with fresh, thoughtfully crafted options. What made the experience even more special was chatting with the owner -- It meant a lot to support a fellow women from the continent doing something so meaningful and creative. Just amazing. I'll definitely be back. Dankie

Amazing place, cool vibes, great view, friendly staff, my girlfriend and I had a really good time, she got a mocktail and she enjoyed it as well.

TLDR: Great speakeasy vibes for a first date or girls night out. Not a place if you're a cocktail head. Drinks: If the menu i'm posting seems fine or even cute; ignore my review - seriously. If the menu I'm posting gives you some reservation - I feel you're correct - the drinks are what you think they will be, and you may wanna sit this one out. Vibe: - Staff is VERY friendly. - Speakeasy vibe. What can be better?: It's obvious a lot of care and attention went into the vibe of this place. It would be great if they got someone who knows and cares about cocktails to help them out. I feel the owner really cares about a lot about the details, just feel she needs someone with a refined pallet and some history behind them to match her efforts. Again, if you're not a cocktail head and want a great first date spot or have a girls night - you'll be very happy and feel i'm being way too harsh - opinions are opinions.

Perfect cocktail, perfect view and perfect decor. I'm so glad that I stopped by this unique bar. After a long day the drink hit the spot! I had the blooming protea and had to order another it was so spectacular! Perfect blend of citrus, sweet and color!!! Bright beautiful pink! Wonderful all around!

Such a cool and stylish spot! The South African-inspired vibes make it stand out, from the fun, flavorful drinks to the beautifully curated decor. Every detail makes it a vibrant yet laid-back atmosphere. It was pretty busy when I visited, but the staff handled it seamlessly! Check them out! :)

The ambiance was fantastic! Very cool spot with fun but lux decor and some unique South African inspired drinks. They weren't too busy but the service was still excellent and attentive without being hovery. The cocktail menu is small but mighty. They do have kind of a make your own/bartenders choice option to keep it fresh. They also have a mocktail and wine menu too. Food is a small buffet with like sliders and Mexican small bites for $20 a plate but it was all meat so it wasn't worth it for me as a vegetarian obviously. We would definitely come back for the drinks and vibes!

This cocktail and coffee bar popped up a few months ago near our home and we finally decided to try it on our walk back from dinner - we are so glad we did! The ambiance of this place was 100/10. It was laidback, cozy yet elevated, and everyone we spoke to was accommodating, kind and added to the experience. The decor of this place is really the shining star. We can't wait to entertain guests and bring our friends to hang here, it is a very laid back lounge experience with plenty of cozy seating with couches and pillows. The music was also a vibe. Once you are seated they even drop off some light snacks: popcorn and chips! Another random note - the bathrooms were super clean and smelled amazing. The drinks we ordered: Midnight Mamba - I ordered this drink for the coconut cream! It was not too sweet and I could have had 2 or 3 if I was capable. If you're a fan of tart drinks this one is for you. Sangoma's Muti - this is where it gets really cool. You can pick your spirit and their mixologist will make you a custom drink based on your preferences. If you have no recommendations like us, they will just whip up something tasty for you. What they came up with was excellent. I highly recommend you try this place out. It is a fantastic spot for a date night or to bring friends. We will surely be back!

Such a cool bar near Pike Place. Stumbled upon it and stayed for the cute decor and delicious drinks. It's South African themed and you can really see it in the details on the walls, the furniture, and of course, the food and drinks. Will definitely be back again!

Loved the ambiance, live music and delicious cocktails. They're a little pricey; but comparative with what you find in Seattle these days. The event manager was so friendly and funny, really enjoyed meeting them.

Karoo is great... My wife (a South African native), some friends and I (lived in SA for 10 years) stumbled upon this place in February. The people are super friendly and there's a great selection of cocktails and beers. But two things distinguish it from the pack- Lydia the bartender who is outstanding and they have biltong which is excellent. The view is great. See photo for sunset view. Can't recommend Karoo Cafe highly enough.

Came here for a book club. Our host preordered food for us, with vegetarian options, and then we each got drinks (mocktails and cocktails) and everything was perfect! The ambience is amazing- lots of safari and animal prints, artistic wallpapers, and cozy couches and chairs, along with a bar. Great view of Puget Sound, as well.

A very unique, charming spot near the Market! I ordered the Smoked Old Fashioned and found it a delightful take on a classic. There was a previous review stating it "tasted like nothing", and I have a hard time understanding that unless they got very unlucky that day. The space is both airy and cozy, and the service is warm and attentive. Stop in!

Had an amazing time visiting this new cocktail bar in downtown Seattle. My husband and I stopped in on a random Tuesday night after passing their sign earlier in the day. Walking in, it opens up into a beautiful and welcoming space. The decor is phenomenal and feels exactly like you're transported to South Africa. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, even on a weekday night. We had a chance to meet the owner and she shared more about the amazing history behind the building and fun plans for the future. The espresso martini is the best in the city (ask about their secret ingredient), and the bartenders know how to get creative with a Witchdoctor's Brew. You won't be disappointed stopping in here for a drink, and there is plenty of space to visit with a group of friends. Can't wait to see what's next for this business!

Lekker spot. Karoo is the right name for it. OV jy weet hoekom ek so sê. Boerie rolls were lekker too

My first time in Seattle my friend and I stopped in Karoo just looking for a good drink ended up loving our bartender Lydia. I definitely recommend coming in she was very friendly and attentive the whole night!!

We were just cruising the streets and we came across Karoo. This place is a must try. Skyler made us our Drinks turned out great. Olivia (from South Africa) the owner was here and was a great time to talk to. Really authentic South African drinks and atmosphere was amazing. If you want to try drinks that are on another continent come here! Also great views.

Staff was super friendly, and the drinks were great. The decor and ambiance is very nice. Will definitely come back!

Karoo marries the loungey living room feel with eclectic vibrant nightlife incredibly well. The nights I have gone have proven to be busy, but not crowded or overwhelming. The drinks are well balanced and the music is ALWAYS great (lots of variety, their schedule shows what will be playing that night). I have to come back during the day. The window views and the space are too good to miss.

Was asked to move twice cause they were about to start an event but failed to put out reserved signs in any of the areas they intended to use. There also wasn't any solid signage that indicated they were having an event, otherwise we would have probably went somewhere else knowing that. Instead we asked to move twice within 15 minute period. Also pretty sure their event photographer took our picture while we were just trying to enjoy our drinks while getting know each other on a first date (ruined the mood for sure). No thanks, won't be back.

We love it here. The drinks, service and ambiance were all. It was like being transported to another city with a safari vibes.

Always love coming here! Well-crafted drinks, chill vibes with great music, and, above all, Lydia's superb and friendly service! (Her taste In music is solid!)

Slow service. I came here a few weeks ago and there was an event of a work happy hour and so drinks took 30 mins or so. I went again to see if it was a fluke and also had pretty poor service. Total bill for one drink was almost $40. Hoping for better service at that price range

Karoo is an awesome bar!!! The owner & staff are super welcoming. The furnishings and atmosphere are stunning. The cocktails and mocktails are so good!!! This place just opened not long ago and am hoping it's open for many years to come!!!