Uptown Espresso - Belltown

Great local spot - feels like a neighborhood coffee house. Has become a regular spot to grab my usual -Coffee is top notch along with staff. Large space to land with friends (they have a large board game wall -take your pick!) or get some telework done. Close to the Seattle Center without crowds.

10/10 recommend you have to try the cold brew. This is my favorite place to go period. Beautiful place to hangout and either unwind or get some work done. The vibe always changes, but it’s always good. Not only do they have the best cold brew in town, they also have some of the best people working there. Every single employee I’ve met so far has seen me on a bad day and made it 100% better. I can’t express how much I appreciate this place.

Coffee is fantastic! It have a perfect rich, smooth flavor. Had the cold brew and Viennese latte. Food need a major upgrade. The sausage egg sandwich needed seasoning and the bread was rock hard. 4/5 for this place :)

Coffee is not very nice (had a "pune", milk was over heated and the coffee tasted burnt). Pastries looked underwhelming. Dog friendly though.

Fun little place I went to twice on my trip to Seattle. Discovered a new (to me) coffee drink that I'm hoping I can find in Wisconsin - Caffe Viennese with vanilla. The staff was super friendly and talked hockey with me too. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Seattle!!

My favorite coffee spot in the neighborhood! I’m a new dog owner, and being up at the crack of dawn has been an adjustment. Our first stop after a couple potty breaks is going for my morning latte and a breakfast sandwich. The team working is always so friendly. Hard to tell what perks my pup and I up more, the double shot of espresso, or Jess’s vibrant hospitality Thank you guys for being here!

We had a night in Seattle on vacation. Before we caught the train out of town, we wanted to find some coffee. I was very surprised to see almost no coffee open before 7am, even though it was Labor Day. We walked to Uptown Espresso after almost giving up and that was the best choice. The space is great. The lady working was incredibly friendly. The coffees she made tasted wonderful. 10/10 would recommend and would visit again!

The iced latte and scone I had here were very good. Great service and I love the décor of this coffee shop. There are nice big windows so it gives the place an airy feel. It is great to look out on the city.

Came here at 7am on the day of the marathon, and it was packed but the staff was friendly and quick. I got a Cafe Generra and a Nankhatai and Coffee cake with my mom, and everything was absolutely amazing. Especially the coffee cake

Decaf coffee in NYC is almost always a watery mess. One thing I look forward to every year when I come to Seattle for Thanksgiving is the chance to get excellent decaf coffee and mocha. When I tell you that the decaf mocha at Uptown Espresso's Belltown location (centrally located near the Space Needle, the pop culture museum, etc) is probably the best I've ever had, I'm not exaggerating. The coffee flavor is strong, even when I added chocolate. And the foam. THE FOAM! I don't know what kind of witchcraft they practice here, but I've never had anything like it: thick, luscious, and depending on who pours it there are times when it stands up in all almost whipped cream-like peaks. Seriously, this decaf mocha was so delicious that I just ignored all dietary sense and drank my dessert every morning I've been here, buying one and sometimes two 20-ounce mochas every day. That would be more than enough reason to come here, but the baristas (Chris, Jess, Megan, and one other guys whose name i don't remember) are so friendly, so helpful -- and, in keeping with the witchcraft theme -- they all seem to have memories like international spies! By the second or third day I was coming they already all knew my order and treated me like a regular before. I even could tell them what I wanted. Over the 10 years that I've been coming here for Thanksgiving, I never knew this place existed before 2024. Each trip before that, I hunted for great decaf in what felt like a bazillion different coffee shops, some with excellent reputations, some just drive-thru coffee sheds... the cups ranged from excellent (one random shed in Renton called Sorrento's), to OK (Victrola in Ballard -- great sometimes, mediocre others; very barista-dependent), to utterly mediocre (many others). They also seem to do this with everybody who came in regularly. They knew people's names, they joked around with them, they just fostered a really comfortable and welcoming environment. Also, I cannot express enough how much I appreciate that they have three outdoor tables and chairs even in the winter. I am still practicing covid precautions and I can't do any indoor dining because I have a couple of pre-existing health conditions that would make Covid pretty dangerous for me -- so many other places have taken away their outdoor dining in this 40-45degree weather, But they still make it possible for me to sit outside and drink my coffee in a relaxed way. They even didn't mind when I would get takeout from nearby tilicum Place Cafe and eat my breakfast or lunch at their table because Tillicum doesn't have outdoor space. It may be cold, but it's an incredibly helpful accommodation for people who have health disabilities. And the benefit is that when you sit here, you get to make friends with all sorts of neighborhood dogs that are being walked nearby! Honestly, I'm kicking myself that I only found this place this year. I've been staying at The Maxwell hotel every Thanksgiving for nearly a decade and they didn't put it on the "food/coffee nearbt" lists, and so I was constantly hunting for the experience I've had here. I wasted so many $5/$6/$7 on meh decaf over they years. It may be weird to say, but one of the highlights of my visit this year was being able to start each day off with delicious mocha, and such cheerful and friendly mini conversations with Chris and Jess. It set each day off on a positive tip, even when I was sleep deprived. Thanks, Uptown Espresso! I'll definitely be back next year. PS: The inside of the coffee shop is spacious, with plenty of comfortable armchairs, tables, and I think outlets, too. I didn't eat inside, but anyone who wants to will be comfortable. I also saw the baristas be compassionate to an unhoused person who came in, which I was grateful to see at a time when too much cruelty is spreading against vulnerable people.

Grab and go breakfast burrito was great. Coffee & Tea was great. Chai was spicy, which I appreciate. The staff was friendly and the environment was clean, bright, and welcoming.

I stopped by after having a Thai lunch nearby. Friendly and prompt service. My 12 oz non-fat mocha w/ whip hit the spot. It was nice to see that they have Fonte sandwiches and wraps in their to-go case along with various baked goods, including bagels. Filing this away for a future visit. This is a spacious coffee shop to hang out to do some work or just to have a break.

Stopped by to kill time while waiting for a reservation nearby. The shop is large with plenty of seating -- I noticed a good amount of people working on their laptops at the tables. The line was quite long but moved quickly. I ordered a PB&J and it was really good! Which was surprising because I don't think I've ever eaten a PB&J that wasn't made in my own kitchen. The staff were very friendly and patiently helped my family understand the menu, despite the line getting longer and longer.

Most friendly service. Came here at 7:30am and the barista was super sweet. The coffee is great. The vibes are there. Great way to start my day. Was nervous for a job interview and they sent over some great vibes. Honestly glad they were open early for this pep talk. If I'm in the area I'll come back, otherwise what a sweet, sweet memory there :)

The service and ambiance are probably 4-5 stars! I think the baristas were excellent and the cafe is a great spot to hang out and work or chill. I got a matcha, which is probably on me for doing that at a place that focuses on espresso, but even though the matcha was well-made, it was just ok. The bakery item I got was interesting but similarly just ok. I'd probably come back and try one of the espresso drinks, but wouldn't recommend choosing a non-espresso option.

Called the health inspector IMMEDIATELY. I really wanted to like this place because the coffee was good at first. My experience with the barista was so so, nothing warm or inviting. BUT WHAT DID IT FOR ME WAS ALL OF THE FLIES WHERE I WAS SITTING IN THE NORTH END AND THE FACT THAT I SEEN A MOUSE RUN FROM THE BACK HALLWAY. I understand we are in the city but that was just outright disgusting. This place needs to be shut down until they can get it clean.

After 5 long years (and Covid pandemic made it feel even longer), I FINALLY got my lips on a mug of Uptown Espresso's famous "Velvet Foam." During my 4 years living in Seattle, I never found anything like it, regardless of all the competition. Back in the day I would caffeinate with it on the daily prior to work. After moving to Santa Barbara, I longed for the day I would be able to have it once again. Today was the day! I had to Yelp where Uptown Espresso now exists. Sadly the OG location in Uptown on lower Queen Anne that first opened its doors in 1984 has closed, however, now there is a new one here in Belltown. The downtown Pier 70, Magnolia and two West Seattle locations are still thriving. While this Belltown store is much fancier than what I previously knew, I quickly noticed that they maintained the relaxed, dog-friendly and board game vibe. The original owner passed in 2018 and they were acquired by Fonté Coffee. Thankfully I've always been a fan of this roaster so I don't mind this acquisition. Clarice was my wonderful barista who invited me in with a smile. Little did she know my enthusiasm of returning to a mere coffee memory. We chatted it up and her persona and positivity radiated. She was a master by being able to multitask while making coffees, ringing me up and sharing friendly conversation. She steamed me up a Hazelnut Oat Latte with that dreamy, fluffy velvet foam. So much so that I had a second drink, this time my second favorite: Caffe Generra (Mocha with a zest of fresh orange). Sean the manager mastered the foam using tricky oat milk. I appreciate his focus on perfection. Now I find myself with the jitters as I write this review with excitement. Thank you for keeping it real and welcoming Uptown!

If as a local- you want to leave Starbucks to the tourist trade and Starbucks blah teas offerings and burnt-smelling coffee and all the dirty disgusting locations... just doesn't appeal to you anymore, stop by here you will be glad you did. I love this place and since it is so close to where I live even better. The people are way nice no matter who helps attend to your tea or coffee needs-even if you are having a brain lapse moment- they are always patient and kind. I am not a coffee drinker but I am a tea drinker and their London Fog is one of the best I have tasted and my favourite here- it has a hit of lavender and vanilla-ey goodness with some lovely foam. The seating area is sooo nice...not too jammed or crowded and it is CLEAN. I sometimes come in during my workday or before I go home in the morning after I walk my dog.

Seattle holds a high standard when it comes to coffee and Uptown espresso follows it. Cool little cafe in the Belltown neighborhood with large open window seating when the weather allows.

The coffee here is great!! I came here twice on my trip. I ordered a hot almond milk latte the first time and then an iced almond milk latte the second time. I preferred the iced one but the espresso taste is strong which I liked. So if you're someone that enjoys stronger coffee, definitely can try this place out! The service is nice but the line can get long in the mornings. There's plenty of seating inside too which is nice.

8oz Americano "excellente!" Friendly service Ambience was airy, relaxed, amber lit, melodic

Bomb vanilla lattè. They always do a good job with my orders and never mess them up.

The coffee is about average, a bit better than Starbucks but nowhere near as good as a local roaster. Prices are a little high for the quality. Service is generally pleasant, but the posted hours are merely a suggestion - if you're planning on stopping by within an hour of closing you better call ahead to make sure they're still open and pulling shots.

This is the first cafe my friend and I went to hours after landing in Seattle, and already I could see why this city is known for its cafe culture. We stopped by on a Friday afternoon in search of a place to just grab a coffee and sit until we could check into our where we would be staying, so were pleasantly surprised to find out that this is actually a board game cafe! Maybe this is quite common in Seattle, but we were both shocked by the large selection of board games available at our disposal. In our experiences, board game cafes have an extra surcharge to play the games and/or they're super crowded so oftentimes you don't get to play the game you want to, but here there was lots of seating, an expansive and untouched selection of games, and a calm and peaceful ambience with other customers there working or just chatting. Also unlike most board game cafes I've been to, the menu items were actually very good. My peppermint mocha was delicious, and even though I normally don't like whipped cream I really enjoyed their homemade version. We also split the amaretto snickerdoodle and that was delicious too. The cookie was soft and chewy and I especially appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet. A couple caveats are that the bathrooms are quite gross, and that they mistakenly upcharged me for alternative milk when I ordered my drink with regular milk, and unfortunately I didn't find out until afterwards. Regardless this is a solid five stars in my book. A great first impression of the coffee capital, and we will surely try to come back!

Wouldn't you know it, another gorgeous cafe in the coffee capital of the country. Uptown was our post-hike refresher. Big fan of the simple offerings they have here-- paired with the cozy, inviting atmosphere, would strike me as an attractive coworking space. On the corner of a busy street. Convenient location for the high rise residents nearby. For COVID safety purposes, masks are required and seating is socially distanced. Slightly understaffed-- only two employees behind the counter led to a quickly-building line out the door. We dropped in right before the rush. VANILLA LATTE: Pricier than most. Still smooth, still decent, but small. Sweetened lightly. Uptown is your lovable local cafe to people-watch for quirky regulars. Comfy seating, outlets everywhere, ample natural light-- just quaint enough to relax for an hour or five.

The ambience was good and the cup is cute! However, the latte was really bad! It didn't feel like coffee. I couldn't taste any coffee flavor. The foam was very over-powering

The espresso drink (Mocha) was good as usual and it came with a price tag. The barista was friendly and efficient. But the boss's attitude is not so good. When I let him know the music was a bit loud inside the cafe. (I had to sit outside to join a zoom meeting). He told me some customers wanted the music louder, some wanted it tune down. I got it. That's the standard response i expected. What made me surprise was he added his comment about that's why he work in his office, not in the cafe. I guess he probably did not want customers hang out in the cafe. To be honest, I was about to suggest they can make one side of the cafe with loud music and leave the other side a bit quieter to accommodate different customers' needs. However, the boss attitude was like "I don't care about your business, go home or go back to your office. Don't work here!". I was a very, very loyal customer, I went there 5-7 days a week, sometimes with friends during weekends. I know each barista's name. They know my "usual@. I think I spent over $2,000 a year for a few years until I bought my own machine. Now I still go there once in a while to hang out with friends, but guess no more. Good luck to their business.

very nice staff, coffee was good but it was a bit loud inside. Had a cookie which was very big and unfortunately a little dry. still satisfactory and worth the visit though, i was in deep need of a coffee

Uptown Espresso Ratings: 4.2/5 Food: 4.5/5 - I stopped by after my visit at the Museum of Pop Culture and the Space Needle, and desperately needed some caffeine. Uptown was one of the few places that was still open in the late afternoon, so we visited on a whim with no expectation in mind, but it was a solid spot for coffee. See the description of the coffee I got that day. Caffe Latte w/ Almond Milk [GET]: Coffee is smooth and lovely to drink. It was strong and delicious, I can tell the espresso beans was roasted wonderfully. The latte was gorgeous, and milk foam has a nice, rich, foamy, and creamy consistency, not frothy. Pro tip when you order a latte, is to request almond milk instead, because it adds a slight hint of nutty sweetness to the coffee, so perfect to drink and balances out with the bitterness from the beans. Ambiance: 4.25/5 - Uptown is such a chill and fun spot for coffee located in the heart of Belltown. The interior is very spacious with tons of indoor seating available, and unlimited board games. It got a calm and peaceful ambiance as well, making it a perfect spot to work or study for endless hours. This is definitely also a nice spot to hang out with friends or just to enjoy a good drink on a rainy day. There's large windows too, so you can people watch from the inside, or just enjoy the ample amount of sunlight shinning through. Price: 4/5 - I got the Caffe Latte with almond milk for around $6. This is a standard price for a latte or cappuccino in Seattle, but size was slightly smaller than I expected. It was a solid price, since I get to enjoy a nice drink and many board games at the coffee shops. Service: 4/5 - The barista was friendly and welcoming. He gave me suggestions on what to order, especially when I was torn between on what to order. I end up getting their café latter, instead of their seasonal specials. I appreciate the barista being patient with me, and let me take my time to decide. Uptown like many other coffee shops have really showcase the Seattle hospitality for tourists. BLUF: Excellent café, quaint enough to relax and to grab a drink near the Space Needle. I would recommend their Caffe latte or cappuccino, where you get to try and taste their coffee beans to the fullest. Uptown really embodies the great coffee shop vibe in the city, and a great spot to spend at on a rainy day. I will return again in the future.

My husband and I went here on 6/10 around 9:00 AM & the service was amazing to say the least. The people working here loved their job and made us feel so welcomed, young man and lady. The coffee was delicious and the place was cool. Thankyou guys for making our quick visit awesome!

The big guy with the Jeffrey Dahmer glasses and peppered hair is the rudest customer service person I've encountered at a cafe. I saw another review about service being dismissive, I bet it was that guy that served them. They left me hanging for 20 minutes while BOTH baristas prioritized an online order. In my experience, one employee can take care of an online order while the other takes the waiting, live customers. I was spending nearly $60 a week getting coffee here every day because I don't want to support Starbucks, but I'd rather pay more at Fulcrum down the street than go here again.

I wanted to give this four stars for I tried the other coffee shop, but definitely a five star being that I came here first I really felt unfair knocking all the way down to a three... I will say though that it's a good coffee shop and has much more to offer than just coffee superior to the coffee shop they just did coffee perfectly... We grabbed a latte and a standard black coffee and both were very good. Zero complaints, good roaster, good barista and a good final product. Luckily we got it when we did because a few minutes later, the entire place was packed out the door with aline... this place can be hit or miss very busy if you're in a hurry the place definitely had enough for him to not be in a hurry and I definitely think that is where this play shine with games for fun activities thrown about it is definitely a spot for adults to come unwind and have a little bit of fun and relaxation out from the cold and weather...

This is a great spot for a chill hangout, remote work, or just to grab a coffee to go! I've been here a few times, and the mocha is to die for. With both hot and iced options, it's perfect no matter the type of weather. The coffees are also quite strong, and I've always gotten the caffeine boost I needed. I highly recommend it and will keep coming back!

My friend and I stopped here on a whim while walking to the Space Needle. The barista was charming and the coffee was really nice! I got an iced Brown Sugar Shaken Oatmilk Espresso and it was as good as Starbuck's. My friend got the Spiced Apple Chaider, which may be seasonal, and it was delicious!! The banana bread was also unique and shaped like a bundt cake and very tasty.

My friend and I stumbled in hours after we landed in Seattle. Frankly, my first impression was that this place checks all the boxes of what I look for in a cafe. The interior is cozy with plenty of seating. They offer typical espresso drinks as well as specialty drinks, seasonal drinks, and pastries. And the kicker- a wall of complementary board games! This cafe is great for a variety of activities: it's a spot to hang out with friends or study or just enjoy a good drink. I ordered a salted caramel latte off of their seasonal menu. The drink was too salty in my opinion. I've enjoyed salted caramel lattes in the past when they have more of a subtle balance of saltiness and sweetness. We also ordered an amaretto snickerdoodle which was delicious! Great for those who enjoy a strong amaretto flavor. One huge disappointment, though, was that the bathroom here was gross. I only used it because I was truly desperate, but otherwise this would have caused me to not stay as long. Apart from that, I have to say that Uptown Espresso was one of the highlights of my trip to Seattle. It really embodies the excellent cafe culture in the city! The barista who made my drink was lovely and gave us restaurant suggestions. We had a great afternoon playing board games. Such a great way to spend a rainy day!

Absolutely love this coffee shop. I had their bacon egg and cheese sandwich with a caffe generra. Bothe of those items were absolutely delicious. The baristas were also super great they gave me a few recommendations on places to visit, as I was visiting from out of state. Definitely will have to visit again.

Why did you remodel? :( it had twilight meets vampire weekend meets chateau lounge and now it feels like mocha joes from curb your enthusiasm and I'm torn up about it. But the coffee is really good so anyone who wants to go should go...but my nostalgia. Good coffee though.

I had some studying to do and this was the perfect spot to chill for three hours. Coffee was very good and the vibe was even better. The staff was really friendly and made my latte right in front of me. Another real cool thing about this place is that it opens super early( a lot earlier than other spots in the area) and it had a ton of seating. Great spot to gather with friends or people watch by a window.

Great local coffee spot. One few places in the area with ample seating to take a meeting or work from. Large windows and good wifi. Baristas are wonderful, coffee is consistent, and the manager cares about the customers.

My sister, mom, and I came here for our morning coffee, and we unanimously agreed that this was the best coffee we had tried in Seattle--and it definitely has some hefty competition in this coffee-lovers' city. The shop itself is cute and quaint, and the staff was very friendly. The prices were fairly reasonable for an average cafe. I ordered a Caffe Viennese, and my sister and mom ordered a shaken brown sugar espresso and a peppermint mocha. They actually ran out of peppermint syrup for my mom's mocha, but the baristas were very helpful and accommodating, so they improvised and offered to add crushed candy canes to her drink to make it sort of peppermint-y, which was actually quite delicious! I would highly recommend the Caffe Viennese to any cinnamon lover because they are not shy with the cinnamon, which I personally loved! The latte itself was creamy, with chocolate-y notes, and the cinnamon added a sweet spice, which was delicious. Overall, we had a great experience at Uptown Espresso and were definitely left craving more!

Keep up the great work and the coffee coming! Good vibes throughout starting with the staff and their customer service! :)

Favorite espresso of any shop in town and reasonably priced. All the baristas including Sean, Clarice, and Lydia are always in a good mood and so sweet, patient, and kind. I go here almost daily for a latte in the morning and it's a wonderful way to start the day. Don't change a thing. Cheers!

The coffee here is VERY flavorful and tasty! The service is expedient and polite as well. Will definitely be going back which is not something I've said often about coffee shops in the area

My first visit was years ago, we worked downtown and we would love coming here. The vibe is awesome with the open seating from inside. I love the velvet foam of the lattes. Hardest part is getting it all out. I'm like a little kid sticking my tongue in the cup to get the very last drop. Prices are not a surprise, pretty much in line with specialty coffees. I love stopping at Uptown while downtown and I will say this is far the best location of them all. I don't recommend the Pier location. However, I will say, this visit, the worker was alone on a busy busy Saturday and I felt horrible for her. She was doing a good job yet, working in food service myself, she was completely over whelmed and that was sad to see. Not upbeat like you would typically see at a coffee shop. To the owners, it was extremely busy...please watch city events and schedule enough workers.

This is such a wonderful cafe located in the heart of Belltown Pros 1. Loved their coffee, especially their mocha 2. They have ample seating indoors along with board games 3. Staff seemed to be masked all the time and very respectful of covid-19 regulations Cons 1. They didn't seem to have much of outdoor seating

i rarely give reviews on restaurants either really good or really bad it's really bad first extreme prices. I had a premade sandwiches that cost $13 and couldn't be more than 5 inches long second somehow a premade sandwich took 15 minutes to make keep in mind they were two people in the café, which is mind boggling third and finally I hate when lettuce is like warm and flimsy after you like heat it up that's what they did that seems like a very basic thing that no one likes you like soggy lettuce

A great place for a good coffee and quick bite to eat. Located in the heart of Belltown, this cute place offers plenty of seating with large windows that look out into the city. I had the breakfast burrito and my GF had the Egg White Burrito. Both were delicious. The servers where very nice and welcoming and answer any and all quester had.

uptown has been my go to morning coffee spot for awhile now. I went a few months without going here due to no indoor seating and now that they're open for indoor seating again, i'll be here every morning! Travis is the absolute best barista ever and makes this place feel like home. PS. the egg bacon breakfast sandwich is really good, it's the best $10 you'll ever spend...thank me later ;)

Pretty average coffee shop. Their signature velvet foam was a bit much for me, but the coffee itself was good. I got the dark chocolate mocha with orange peel which was a unique take on the classic. I was unsure about it at first, possibly due to the massive amounts of foam, but it did grow on me. The atmosphere was nice -- felt like an old school library, but wasn't bright and modern if that's the vibe you're looking for. Prices were slightly above average. Almost $6 for a large mocha. I will likely come back to grab a coffee and play games there with friends as they appeared to have a nice selection to play, but other than that I think I'd prefer to check out another place.

Food was good, service was very dismissive. I had ordered 2 food items. Was waiting in front of the counter watching my order being made, then was asked if I had received it already? I was the only customer who ordered food at the time. Wasn't even busy, maybe they were just not having a good day. Atmosphere was pretty chill and relaxing beautiful full open windows.

Coffee isn't bad, I wouldn't say its best coffee I've ever had but if you need a pick me up, gets job done

Baked goods and other food options are good. If you drink tea or tea-centric beverages, go somewhere else.

This an awesome spot to come hang out! Plenty of places to study, outlets may be an issue, but definitely a good amount of seating for at least 30 people. You can play a variety of the board games they have and you can also purchase the board games there. They have all the board games from your normal target/Walmart, but also have even more board games you've never heard of! The coffee here is pretty good as well! I'm a fan of their London fog.

Was in town for a few days before a cruise and found this great coffee shop after a few other attempts. Awesome environment and excellent staff, super friendly! Plenty of spots to chill or get some work done and outlets everywhere! Love that the big window opens up to the outdoors! The Manager was super welcoming!

Drinking coffees/lattes throughout the city on our visit and this place is great! Cool vibe and their Caffe Generra is delicious! Reminds me of one of my favorite cookies "Pims"

Usually I have a good experience here, but today with no line, 2 people working. I was ignored. Acknowledged but ignored. I left.

Nothing special the staff was friendly and the best part of this trip I tasted nothing but steamed milk in my espresso Not for me