Karoo Cafe

As a South African, it was incredible to stumble across this little piece of home in the middle of Seattle. It’s not just the food and the beverages that matched my need for familiarity, but the energy brought by the hospitality from both the owner and the team really mimics what I love and know most about South Africa, which is the heart of the people. Would highly recommend!

Lekker place! Stoked to see a South African place when I walked down the street and recognized the name “Karoo”. It’s my home. Atmosphere was fun. Appreciated the music level as it made conversation easy. No yelling necessary. Food was great. Cocktails was yummy. Love the menu items and cocktails. We had the boerewors sliders, Perri-perri chicken. And bobotie samosas. Very nice. My only complaint is the bathroom. There was a pool of liquid (a big pool) under the men’s urinal. No place to stand. Did it leak? Is it urine? Who knows. And most frustrating was the lack of hand soap anywhere. In a restaurant setting?! Nee man. 😉 I’d come back and enjoy the vibe with friends and family. It’s a fun setting. I do recommend it!

Visiting town for 5 days and surprised my South African husband with this place at 6pm on Saturday. First the positive things: nice lounge seating, the music was a great volume for having a conversation. We each had a cocktail and they were both well presented and made. The food was very good. We shared three small plates and the bun on the Boerewors slides was very fresh and yummy. The areas for improvement: the bathroom had some standing water?? Under the urinal and no soap (maybe it was taken??, but off-putting nevertheless). The server/bartender had a lot of tables to juggle and through conversation we learned that the replacement was running late. The music was very dance/techo and didn’t seem to fit the vibe. It was a nice surprise for my husband but I don’t think we’d run back or tell our local friends they must visit. I think they may need to step it up a little if they want to survive the competitive market.

Karoo Cafe is absolutely one of my favorite places in Seattle. The live music and events always bring people together in a fun vibe and the cocktails are amazing. The espresso martini is simply the best. I love the colorful decor and that they have lots of seating arrangements - whether I'm with a group or on a date they have the perfect setting for it. It's true South African ambience and hospitality. The staff is all very friendly. I'm so excited that they're expanding their menu and bringing so many more traditional flavors for us to enjoy from their home country!

I walked in at random because I was at an event going on nearby and wanting a drink. The sign said it was happy hour. I was stunned by how beautiful and cozy it is inside, totally not what I was expecting, in a good way! I only had about 20 minutes to spare but they had a $6 happy hour IPA that hit the spot. Was really impressed with their creative cocktail and mocktail menus, though pricy, I’d love to try something next time, and the food offerings look great. Glad I found this place because it has wonderful vibes and I wanted to hang out longer. Next time!

Places like this are deeply missed on Seattle Eastside. South African vibe, cozy atmosphere and hot drinks are available. We will be back again!

Fun atmosphere with eclectic decor, comfy couches, friendly staff/servers/bartenders, and delicious food and drink. The skewers were really good but what’s even better are the cocktails here. I absolutely loved the seasonal cocktail, and they do a special espresso martini here. Service was excellent. They do live music here as well. I’m surprised it wasn’t busier than it was when I went with friends on a Friday night. Definitely would go back here.

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!

Karoo Cafe is a privately owned and operated South African Cafe/Lounge that absolutely nails cozy yet classy charm. I visited on a Saturday night with a close friend who is South African, and she immediately felt right back at home! The ambiance is intimate, cozy, and classy without trying too hard. The kinda sophisticated place for adults to have a beverage after dinner! The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, adding to the relaxed and inviting vibe. We tried a well known South African Shot called a Springbok Shooter ; named after the national rugby team due to its green and gold colorshot. My friend being a native swore by this classic. Unfortunately, it was not for me. A mix of crème de menthe and Amarula, it honestly tasted like NyQuil in shot form. An experience, yes. A repeat, nope! That said, the Espresso Martini was absolutely perfect. Smooth, balanced, and exactly what I needed for a post dinner pick me up. It fully redeemed the drink portion of the night and then some. Overall, Karoo Cafe is a fantastic spot with a warm atmosphere, great service, and standout cocktails. I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you are looking for something unique and genuinely welcoming in Seattle.

Went on a Saturday at 3pm right when they opened. There was nobody there, just 3 of us sat right by the window with views of the Sound. The interior is very fun - lots of safari themed rugs from Ruggable etc, Music was fun - chill lounge EDM music. 2 very attentive and friendly staff. Had: - espresso martini: it was just OK, but I'm an espresso martini snob - Blooming Protea: 10/10 - super refreshing and well balanced - bartenders choice (something mezcal): 10/10 - same ^

I like the decor and the ambience. Bartenders make fancy drinks and the food is unique and taste pretty decent. To me the drink prices seem pretty high, but I don't go out that much in downtown so maybe this is a typical price for downtown. the views were great, especially if you were sitting near the windows. Great views of the Seattle waterfront and the Ferris wheel. Bathrooms were decent, but the hallway way to get to the bathroom is almost completely in the dark and so if you have night blindness, it is very hard to see. Overall, I really like the place and it would definitely go back. It's got a great vibe to it. And although it is not a speakeasy, it did kind of remind me of a speakeasy vibe, which is something I really like

got one of the Christmas cocktails I think it was called Blood in Smoke and it was nice and smokey with fruity taste. Love the lighting of the space and there's lots of seating very spacious. Service was great and I'd love to go back!

Great speakeasy in town. The ambiance takes you back to that South African vibe. I love when they have an Afrobeats or RnB dj in the house. I personally think they should keep more of the rnb/ afrobeats vibe to the place. The drinks are fantastic and there are so many to try, this has became my go to pregame vibe! I do wish they stayed open longer on the weekends! Service has always been attentive and I so appreciate that with them.

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.

Conference took the whole bar that night. A lot of fun but very crowded. Drinks took a while as the bartenders were taking multiple orders since everyone was getting more than a few drinks at a time. Food was also good but the small space make it hard to move around with so many people. Music was also good and the spaces were clean. Would come back to meet up again.

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.

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.

The inside is really nice and has a cool vibe. The food was kinda unremarkable it was just normal food it didn't seem any different than most bar food Good stop if you are around and need a place to chill and the ppl are very nice

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!

Calling all Saffers in Seattle and surrounding areas. You have to visit this place it is fabulous! I love this little oasis of South Africa on the opposite side of the world and I must say it is awesome being able to get a little taste of home. If you are looking for your people this is where you will find them. Great service, great vibe, make sure you add it to your list of things to do in Seattle. Very lekker!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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!!!