URL Coffee
Coffee shop · Yesler Terrace ·
Minimalist cafe with espresso drinks, pastries, and brunch fare
Minimalist cafe with espresso drinks, pastries, and brunch fare
"Effortlessly cool without trying, this small First Hill cafe pairs ceramics, wall art, and thumbed-through design magazines in a way that feels lived-in rather than curated, and it’s a must-visit for a quality cup of coffee and a snack. The big drink here is the “Walk to Work,” an iced latte topped with sweet cream foam—less thick and sweet than the cheese foam that’s all the rage—which adds a mellow counterpoint while letting you still taste the coffee (bonus points for that). If you can snag a seat (not a guarantee), order food: the ricotta and tomato toast is a welcome change-up from avocado toast, with creamy cheese, a kiss of honeyed sweetness, and sturdy Seawolf bread that stands up to the moisture; for something small and on-the-go-y, the egg and Beecher’s sandwich is pretty basic but livened up with slightly spicy garlic mayo and a pickled onion. Walking in feels like visiting an architecture grad student whose band is about to break through: informal, lived-in, full of little touches—even the monochromatic mugs feel distinctive—with a few small tables and most of the seating at a big communal table that deepens the homespun, communal vibe. It’s normally pretty crowded, but your chances for a seat improve when nearby Seattle University is out of session." - Harry Cheadle
"URL looks less like a coffee shop and more like those fully furnished model rooms at CB2 that make you feel bad about your home's interior design. It is indeed a coffee shop, with macchiatos, avocado toasts, and all. The hygge vibes of natural wood and abstract paper lanterns make for an incredibly zen work session, as long as there's a seat available among the single long table and couple of small ones. Be sure to order the Walk To Work, a rich iced latte topped with a soft mound of cinnamon-dusted whipped cream." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Sometimes, iced coffee is simply a means to shock yourself awake. And sometimes, it's a means to consume dessert at any time of the day. URL's Walk To Work falls in the latter camp, as an iced latte topped with velvet-soft whipped cream and a shake of cinnamon. Each time you knock some back, you get a rush of cold coffee with the occasional whipped cream glob, and we can vouch that it's perfect for walking to work." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"If you're looking for somewhere to get work done and/or phenomenal espresso in First Hill, URL is an oasis in a neighborhood full of hospitals. It has CB2 energy—the hygge-ness of natural wood and abstract paper lanterns make for a relaxing work session. Regardless of whether you're hanging out here or not, be sure to order the Walk To Work, a rich iced latte topped with a soft mound of cinnamon-dusted whipped cream." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente
"This small cafe on First Hill is a designer’s dream. The tables and shelves and sleek and contemporary, the stools made from skateboard decks add a note of punkish whimsy, and the light-filled space feels bigger than it really is. URL doesn’t do a lot of custom drinks but makes its own sweet cream, and whether that cream is lathered on an iced coffee or dropped into a shot of espresso, it transforms an already good coffee into a day-defining highlight. Speaking of day-defining, if you can find an open seat here, get the tomato ricotta toast — fancy toast may be why millennials can’t afford homes, but who wants a home, anyway?" - Harry Cheadle
