Bauhaus Books & Coffee
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill301 E Pine St
Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 625-1600
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sat 7:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Sun 8:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: Free
100 Reviews for Bauhaus Books & Coffee
What can I say that hasn't already been said. I mainly come here for the atmosphere and wi-fi. The coffee is decent in comparison to the other Cap Hill Coffee houses. This place does have the best view of any coffee house in Seattle. No where else can you sip your Americano and see the Space Needle and all the interesting people walking up from Downtown at the same time.
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Woohoo! I get to be their glorious 100th review.. Man, do I feel special!
I don't come here enough.. mainly b/c I don't live on the hill. If I did, I'd probably be in here every chance I'd get.
In my opinion, Bauhaus is the Epitome of Seattle Coffee Shops. All others should strive for such greatness.
My iced soy latte was creamy and wasn't too loaded up with ice- God Bless you for that! The barista gets a solid A+ for drink quality and service, and they've got a bizillion 'two tops' to accommodate all 174 fellow Laptopians on any given day.
Oh and FREE Wi to the Fi. Woot!
Donuts by Top Pot. Music by De La. Big Love from KTown.
*****Happy 100th Bauhaus.. You've earned these stars, big time!*****
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I've lived here exactly one year tomorrow and I've been going to Bauhaus every day since. I adore the place. All the employees have great energy and when you're a regular you'll start to know them like close friends. The coffee is amazing and they by far make the yummiest vanilla lattes. Yah! The day after I moved to Seattle, just around the corner from Bauhaus I was there nearly all day using their free wifi to find a job. They're open late, have plenty of places to sit outside and in, bargain refills and you're bound to meet at least one person you can connect with. Wonderful neighborhood spot. Thank you for existing Bauhaus!
The coffee is very good, but it doesn't blow my mind. The space is cool, I love the loft and I love sitting in the sun watching my neighbors with their questionable fashion choices wander by, but it's annoying that you can't have drinks in the book area. Especially when everything is full and there are empty chairs! The music is can get really loud and really, really obnoxious. It makes me think back to my very brief tenure as a Blockbuster employee, when we would play the most annoying crap in the store late at night so people would leave.
But all that aside, my biggest gripe is the staff. There are one or two baristas who are always really nice and really friendly, but generally you are at best ignored, and sometimes treated with mild disdain. I wouldn't say the service is bad, or actively UNfriendly, but it's *so* Capitol Hill in the worst way. And I use that as a descriptor, not an excuse. I don't care how cool you are, working at the coolest place in the coolest neighborhood waiting on your cool friends; if I'm paying $4 for a drink you could at least make eye contact. Like many, I spent years doing all kinds of customer service and it's just not hard to fake a smile. But I guess if the folks keep coming back you don't have to.
All that said, I'm one of those who keeps coming back because I do like the ambiance--AFTER I get my drink, that is, and the baristas make very good coffee.
UPDATE: Okay, okay, I'll temper this a bit, but I'm not changing the rating (I'd give it a solid 3.5 if I could). I've been a few times in the past couple weeks at times I don't normally go, and the baristas were great. I also did a brief (and very non-intrusive) photoshoot there a couple weeks back and while the girls working during the shoot were a bit grumpy about it, the guy I talked to the day before to set it up was perfectly charming and helpful.
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You can tell I am getting old when my friend and I will have dinner on Broadway, intend to grab a few drinks and walk through the bars, only to end up at Bauhaus reading The Stranger while sitting outside. I love that Bauhaus is open past midnight -- huge win. The coffee is pretty good (although I don't think it's organic, which is not a huge win).
I love the atmosphere: formerly a motorcycle/bicycle repair shop transformed into an artsy (but not overly polished) coffee shop. Almost all the walls are glass, which enable fantastic tranny watching on Pine street and a great view of the Space Needle.
Typically I find the service magnificent: polite, fast, and personable.
I deduct one star, because I think the coffee is better elsewhere, not that it isn't good here (it is), but its not "Damn! that's the best coffee ever" good.
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Bauhaus is okay.
The atmosphere is great. The coffee is okay. It's easy to find seating and they have Kool-Aid on the menu, which is fun in the summer.
Bauhaus is known for it's good coffee and sceney atmosphere. Well, I concur on the sceney atmosphere. I love the dark brown vintage academy loft look. I imagined hunkering down with a highlighter, notepad and pen while reading psychology case studies and cramming for finals. Wait, why was I envisioning that--dude, I was on vacation! I took my drink outside and people watched. I waved at motorcyclists and imaged booting teacup K-9s, and also thought about the hot barista inside. Mmhm, sitting on the corner socializing with my friends in front of Bauhaus was the place to be.
If only I could make one change. If only I could get rid of their chai latte mix. It was pretty darn horrible. I thought I noticed a hesitation when I asked the barista if it was good--I expect my barista to be blunt. Chai is not something to joke about. It was green-lit as cold drink, and darnit I went for it. Sigh. My friend ordered it hot. I tried her's, thinking I was going to kick myself for ordering wrong, but I didn't. Mine was bad, but her was worse. We agreed. We know our chais.
I love the iced mochas and hot lattes here and I can usually find a place to squeeze in when i have work to do late at night.
Love the feel of the place, but would it kill them to light the lower level a little more? They have books all over the place, but who can read with those dim lights and the ceiling fans cutting through?
The servers could use an attitude adjustment. I get it- you are a cool ass scene-ster with painful lip piercings that, apparently, make it impossible to smile at anyone. But seriously? Get over yourself.
So I take my almond croissant (yum) and iced coffee and hightail it upstairs where the lighting is much better and people smile (well, sometimes.)
Three stars because the coffee is yummy, pastries are decent, and it's open late (1 in the morning on most days). I would give it four stars, but the atmosphere leaves something to be desired
Cool ambiance. Okay staff. Decent machiatto. I did a little back to back espresso comparing and they fell in the middle. Vivace was best, Bauhaus was middle and Caffe Vita was NOT good.
Bauhaus earns five stars from me for five awesome attributes:
1.) Lots of seating and outlets.
2.) Open until 1 AM.
3.) Free WiFi.
4.) Good drinks; they don't burn my soy.
5.) Baristas that are willing to chase down and tackle anyone who tries to steal their tip jar. Really.
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Very kewl place to get an italian soda and a pastry. Also very nice people watching and the last time I was there I saw a group of people dressed like Angels walking around. Its got a good vibe and has solidly good ambiance and from what I tried food and beverage. Also the counter help peeps are good.
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No matter what time of day I arrive to Bauhaus I am always happy with my beverage. From Americano to Latte to mint tea with a dollop of whipped cream, you always leave a smile on my face. The almond scone is soooo damn tasty with an iced Americano. Thank you for being my coffee beverage location of choice...and for being on my way to work AND for having new mugs...thank you thank you thank you!
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I wasn't sure if I were ever gonna write a review on this cool coffee shop...it's just that it's so known and all.
but well, I got a cute story for ya.
A couple days ago,,, I was going to work (late), I usually pick my coworker up at a bus stop and we go to work together. But we couldn't manage to meet,,,,,why,,,,,? cuz I lost my cell phone! yes, F***! but it's OK my new one's coming soon.
So it's not a great feeling not knowing this nice guy is on his way,,,or waiting for me,,,or,,,really,, i didn't know what to do but I know that he can always take a bus to get to work,,,and he could have done that already after the 30 min we couldn't meet, right? So I decided to go to work alone.
Then,,,felt that I haven't done that a while,,,which is to just listen to KEXP loud and drive by myself. I missed that actually. Then came to my mind,,,,how about a Latte,,,? :) I was already late and I had a good reason to be late,,,why not another 5min and get a Latte from,,,,say,,,Bauhaus!
Good idea....
and,,,the double latte,,,was yummy. tasted like good coffee.
In fact, I didn't realize the impact till the next morning when I was singing/screaming/demanding to get me some real latte again.
"i want some Latte~~~a real Latte~~~just give me a Latte~~~"
and actually got a latte from,,,Ladro down the street (it's closer to our meeting spot) and it wasn't as good. damn it. bad decision!
So,,, I sometimes forget or push u aside Bauhause,,,I don't know,,,for your fame,,,? lol but I'll make sure,,,I'll come by sometimes.
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It is not the best coffee in town but it makes up for it with ambiance and it is a great place to hide and also a great place to go to be seen. There is ample seating and an ample variety of seating from single tables to quiet nooks under the stairs. Like most other Seattle coffee hot spots probably more image over substance but it serves the pop clientele well.
One star for a perfect little Cappuccino on a seriously windy Seattle day.
One for the huge almond croissant that was ordered and devoured at our table.
Another for the upstairs loft that seats a ton and could hold our group of five comfortably.
Last one for the huge picture of Walter Gropius as you walk in the door! Designers everywhere flock to see it.
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Excellent coffee, friendly staff, and great atmosphere.
I love this place (pretty much cause they are open till 1am and it's chill inside) but I'm gonna hit um hard for a double espresso that barley took up the bottom of the little espresso cup and for the snotty attitude. I know it's the hill, but I'm sick of that excuse.
I also want couches. I like how one can tuck away back by the "stacks" and I like the upstairs, and I like the big windows.
What I like more than all that is a double espresso that is served in a "double espresso" cup. This cup is larger than the single espresso cup that should be mostly full if one is getting, yup, that's right, a single espresso. To learn how to do this, Bauhaus see Vivace.
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Great espresso. Comfortable, low-key environment. Great view from the loft. I've been to a lot of coffee houses, and this is among the best.
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Ah, the sights of finals week. Dark undereye circles, sweatpants, and unruly ponytails spotted all over campus.
Every quarter I tell myself that I will study ahead of time and not end up cramming the day before up until the very last minute. HA - what a joke! But if you're gonna cram, I suggest you unsuction yourself from the ever-exciting Odegaard Library, escape the clutches of the Ave, hop on the 49 or 43, and come here.
My baristas were friendly and hilarious. Next to my table was, what I could only assume, a professor and his former students discussing the current political stance of the world. The vibe here is unbeatable.
My ristretto vanilla soy latte was absolutely fantastic, brimming with smooth, thick foam. It was quite possibly the best cup of coffee I've ever had.
I'd never had such a great experience studying Farsi before this!
-1 star because it was a little chily inside and the music can get loud depending on the staff...but if you have your own iPod it shouldn't be a problem.
I think I've found my new favorite study spot.
I recently moved far from First Hill and I am realizing how much I miss Bauhaus. I loved to go here and read my books while sipping my double moka! By the way, the staff is great too, nice and friendly.
Books? Like the ones that aren't in the categories that are posted on the wall? Once you get past the hipsters, this place is a nice place for a little pow-wow with friends. Nice little lofty area up top to sit and spy on people. Perfect hot chocolates. But I still have yet to find a place that makes good chai in Seattle!
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I have many great remembrances of Bauhaus from years past... Ah, the good 'ol days. Now and then I stop in to get some decent coffee but the scene has changed a bit and I don't like to dwell long. I still recommend it to folks who want a neat Seattle experience, but I tend to avoid it now. If you're in the area, go for it! If not, find another cozy nook to hunker down in and enjoy a book or friend. that was cheese. Thanks.
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Every day, there is decent and humorous conversation with the counter people and baristas.
Always timely, no matter how busy.
All kinds of people meet there of all ages and interests.
One of the last REAL cafe environments in Seattle.
Helps me miss the Still-life much less.
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Post-Red Mill and Chapel; and pre-parking lot events. We wanted to find B&O, but it was too far away, so we ended up walking the short distance to Bauhaus.
There are two floors, the top floor more balcony-like as you can look down over everything while up there. One wall from floor to ceiling is devoted to bookshelves, and the area in front of it is also devoted to the book area - no coffee allowed.
So we tried to go up to the second floor to recreate the experience, but unlike Chapel, it was pretty crowded...so we went back downstairs. Found a vacant table, and were able to talk easily without having to raise our voices. The tables were somewhat close together, but my attention was elsewhere, so I didn't mind.
I'm glad we ended up here - what a wonderful setting to keep the mood going.
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This was the first coffee shop I stopped in when I came here two and a half years ago in March.. Hence it automatically gets five stars. I immediately knew I would love capital hill and all its funnk. That's right. People keep talking about the cliquey scenester/hipster vibe up here, but I have never felt judged or out of place. Bauhaus is supposedly overtaken with these folks but I love hitting up for late night studying (however be prepared for really loud music). I also absolutely love that they have KoolAid....soooo goooood! And pastries from Louisa's and Top Pot....which isn't too shabby. Anywho...go to Bauhaus...get a KoolAid, currant scone, and head upstairs by the windows for a great way to spend a day (yes that rhymed).
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Bauhaus is as much a state of mind as it is a place to get a cup of coffee. Walking in the front door, the architecture and spatial design immediately overwhelm the senses, visually at first, then through the wonderful aroma of fresh ground. As you look up and left towards the expansive bookcase, the world seems a little less stressful and you begin the descent into contemplation.
Don't let ordering stress you out, fire up a large coffee and then find a comfortable spot to people watch for a few minutes. The lattes are great too, but in my opinion violate the purity of the institution. If you brought a laptop, take it out of your backpack, remove the battery and pretend you never heard of wi-fi. Crack open something to read (book, magazine, ingredients on cereal, whatever) and really savor the great scene, awesome coffee and everything that inspires you.
If you're looking for a shiny happy barista and fancy beverages, try Starbucks or SBC. If you want some angst, a little grit and a place to spend 30 mins enjoying the wonders of caffeinated beverages as you find your center in the world, hit Bauhuas.
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The biggest plus with Bauhaus is that it's open until 1am. Not many other coffee places in Seattle are open that late. Why? I have no idea. I only drink tea and the tea isn't really anything special but it does the job. I like that they offer Kool Aid (at least in the summer they do). The atmosphere and the fact that there's an upstairs where one can get away from a lot of distractions is also very nice.
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I've been coming here since they actually really sold books here. This is one of the grand old dames of the Seattle Coffee House scene and it still has all the class and charm that it had way back when. The upstairs area is one of the best "hang" spaces of any coffee house in town and, oh man, what a view of downtown and the Space Needle.
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what is so great about this place? ok, i tell you. the space. it's a cool loft with tons of windows. and the cappuccino i had was great. but come on, ANY cafe with a decent espresso machine can make a good drink! the "books" part of their name refers to the encyclopedia britannica collection on the walls - looks like a british grandpa's collection from the 1970s. it's for show, not for reading. i walked from downtown to go to this supposedly great place, and yeah i had a good coffee, but the walk was the best part of getting my sorry arse to bauhaus.
Along with Vivace, Bauhaus is definitely one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle. Great environment with lots of space to get some reading or work done with the laptop. And great coffee.
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I had a nice long chat with my mom on the phone today. I've been in Seattle for a week now and have managed to avoid hanging out with "the folks" who live 40 minutes away.
After filling my mom in on the tragedy and triumphs in my life as of late she gets a really serious tone to her voice and asks,
"Now honey, have you found any coffee shops in Seattle?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moms' gots jokes!
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Bauhaus is my platonic ideal of a coffee shop. It doesn't aspire to much besides providing coffee and the perfect environment in which to drink it. I'm particularly fond of the the upstairs level where you can sneak off with your latte and a book to sip, read, and people watch all from your perch above the comings and goings. Don't worry, no one will ever come up to chase you out of the table you've been squatting for the last four hours.
The coffee is better than most you'll find elsewhere and there is a small selections of sweet and savory pastry items you can get along with it. Nothing you'd make a lunch of but this is a coffee shop that knows it's a coffee shop and so both the liquid and the solid menus are mercifully short.
Bauhaus can be stuffy inside during the summer, but since 75% of the year isn't summer it's usually perfectly comfortable. Nothing is nicer than sitting in the warm coffee smelling air, surrounded by worn wood furnishings, and watching the rain fall outside while you enjoy Seattle's favorite pass time.
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I love coffee. I'm addicted to it. I also enjoy courteous employees who actually pay attention to me.
The guys at Bauhaus didn't. And the coffee was so-so... actually by the time I got the coffee I didn't care about what it tasted like.
I just reviewed Victrola, so I must also review Bauhaus now. I live two blocks away from this place, so even though j'adore Victrola coffee, you will most likely see me at Bauhaus for one of two reasons: they sell smokes, and they let me smoke right outside sitting in one of their chairs. The girls and boys that work there are really sweet, so sweet in fact that the line can be out the door and they still won't stop their conversation.
I love this place for it's upstairs/downstairs, many a choice for seating arrangements, it's indoor/outdoor atmosphere, cool peeps, the huge nicely displayed portrait of the bauhaus man, and for being the first public place that I have ever read a book in from cover to cover. The long lines in the early morning before I have time to wake up out of my grumpydom - not lovin' that so much.
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One of the firsts it seems in small coffee houses. The owners are awesome and I always love to see the funny barista's that work there. It's a good place to start off your day right.
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Found this place last week whilst looking for B&O (which I never found). I ended up going to this place every day for the last 3 days I was in Seattle. Quite possibly the best latte I've drunk in Seattle (although could have been hotter) - it beats Lladro, Tully's, Victor's, Torrefozzione and of course, Starbucks.
What do I like about this place? The space for one. Even though other reviewers say the tables are too close together I never felt too cramped in this place, maybe beacuse of the high ceilings and large windows. Yeah the staff may be a little laid back, but hey this is Seattle, who's in a rush? They don't kick you out after you've finished your coffee so you can sit there, enjoy your book and watch the world go by. Next time I'm in Seattle I'm there.
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We enjoyed time at Bauhaus during my first trip to Seattle and I thought this place was great. Going back to Seattle in November and will make this one of my first stops.
Yumm!
:)
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I'm typing this review on site! Bauhaus Books & Coffee ROCKS! It's exactly how I would imagine a Seattle coffee house (in my mind). A perfect way to spend a Sunday morning. A nice place to chill, hang out, sip your coffee, and write your yelp reviews!
As you walk in, you can see an entire wall full of books. I'm not sure if any of the customers actually read the books since a majority of them look like vintage reference books (such as encyclopedias). Other than that, it's a great touch and very fitting for the environment and ambiance of the entire coffee house. It's great!
The upstairs is great! As many have mentioned, you can hide and squat with your laptop without getting any dirty looks from people who want to sit down, or staff. It's first come first serve and can get a bit crowded. Seating is a little tight, but it's comfy. The upstairs also gives you a somewhat great view of downtown Seattle as well as a nice center view of the Seattle Space Needle. Worth checking out!
FREE WIFI!!!!!
Their coffee is GOOD! The long lines is the proof in the pudding!
Since I'm vacationing here in Seattle...it's was a good choice to choose as a hip place to relax. I'll come back here when visiting Seattle.
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