spots for tea in seattle and the puget sound

Visiting Seattle and wondering where to go for tea? Then this is the site for you! You've found Cindy's guide to "taking tea" in Seattle and the Puget Sound. I'll regularly update the information here, but for the most recent news and reviews see my Cup of Tea and a Blog.

 

II. Tea Shops & Tearooms

In Seattle

As you read through these, you may find it useful to look at a Map of Seattle Neighborhoods. Also, many thanks to Diana Yuen, a fellow Teamailer, for helping me with some of the information on tearooms and shops in the city!

 

Pike Place Market, yes, this is the place where they throw the fish. Many feel that Pike Place Market, with its fish and flowers and produce and arts/crafts, is the heart of the city. I like it best here in the winter months, when it's less crowded. The market can be an overwhelming maze, so I recommend that you stop at the information kiosk (on the street in front of the bronze pig) to get a map and/or directions. There are three places to have a cup of tea. I'm not counting the original Starbucks, but it's there as well.

  • Perennial Tea Room, located in the Post Alley area of the marketplace, is a shop with a large selection of teas, including some high-end. While you browse the teapots and accessories, sip one of a rotating selection of four pre-brewed teas, and take some time to "talk tea" with the friendly women who run the shop. This is the main tea haunt of Diana, who says they have a fabulous lapsang souchong right now (May 2005). Read my full review. If you're walking to the market from the monorail stop, this is on your way down the hill. Look for Post Alley (pedestrian walkway) when you see Sur le Table.
  • The Crumpet Shop, located just across the street and up some steps from the flying fish and bronze pig. It's a popular, casual order-at-the-counter café. You can get a decent cup of tea (all you can drink for $1.50), but the crumpets are really why you're there. These are made on-site, and you can buy packages to take home or get a crumpet with toppings to eat there. The smoked salmon spread, with sliced cucumber, is fabulous. Read my full review.
  • Market Spice, since you're at the market anyway. I never purchase tea here because everything is permeated with the heavy scent of spices, but if you like spiced teas there's always a free cup and it's fun to see their funky teaware.

Floating Leaves Tearoom, a gourmet Chiniese tea house in the heart of the Ballard district, near shopping, a Sunday farmer's market, and the Ballard Locks. This is a destination spot for tea lovers. If you'd like to try making tea gongfu style, or you enjoy chatting about oolongs from Taiwan, this is the place for you. Check their web site for special events (musicians, tea classes, and more). They're open late for a tea shop: 11am-10pm, to 8pm on Sundays, closed Tuesdays.

International District (Chinatown), Asian teaware and teas can be found at a wide variety of shops and groceries. There is much incredible food to be had here, and most restaurants serve tea. If you're in the neighborhood, check out the Panama Tearoom (see below).

Situated in a historic hotel in the International District, you'll find the Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House. The two-room space is very large and beautifully decorated. Furniture is beautiful (though sometimes uncomfortable) and antiquated. They serve Rishi teas and some pastries (and Top Pot donuts!). This is a great space for group gatherings, and it's a popular study destination for students. The custom at Panama is that the employee behind the counter makes your tea in a clear glass pot, removes and retains your leaves, and serves it to you in tea-appropriate cups and coasters. The restroom is stunning. Free wireless Internet access, so you can set up your laptop and surf the web while sipping your tea.

Teapot Vegetarian House, Vegan-Asian with tea served in tsetsubin pots. There are actually two restaurants, the best-known is on Capitol Hill. This is a classic "Seattle" spot, great for people-watching and getting a sense for the city. Nearby shopping is urban and funky, as are the theatres/clubs. The other restaurant is located in Redmond, near Microsoft. This restaurant has a less interesting setting (in a strip mall), but the food and tea are wonderful. I've been told there are tea tastings held on Saturdays at 3pm. Read my review of the Redmond restaurant.

The TeaCup, on top of Queen Anne Hill. A nice shop with a welcoming atmosphere. This is a good place for loose tea and interesting conversation with the owner. There is free customer-reserved parking behind the shop, accessible via the alley.

University Zoka, in the University District (close to the University Village shopping center), with artisan-roasted coffee and loose-leaf teas. Really, this is more of a coffee shop than a tea shop, but if you're near the university it's a great place to stop for tea and dessert. When I visited, the shop was filled with students and professors, study groups, and people busy on laptops (free wifi).

Shinka Tea, University District. Mostly a student hangout and bubble tea hotspot, but also serves a wide range of loose leaf teas. Free wifi.

Teahouse Kuan Yin, in the Wallingford neighborhood (near the U District). This is a popular spot for University of Washington students looking for somewhere to study while they enjoy a pot of well-brewed tea. They have free wifi and serve hot food as well as pastries. Reviewed in the Tea Muse.

 

 

Tourist Tips & Attractions: Downtown to Seattle Center (map of walking tour)

If you're staying in a downtown hotel, you have easy access to several colorful Seattle neighborhoods. You can walk, or you can grab the waterfront streetcar along its run from the International District through Pioneer Square, past the Seattle Waterfront, and on to Pike Place Market.Wear comfortable shoes and enjoy yourself!

(1) International District

(2) Seattle Waterfront, with the Seattle Aquarium, ferries, sightseeing boat tours, tons of coffee shops, and many seafood restaurants

(3) Ride the waterfront streetcar to Pike Place Market (see related tea info above)

(4) Walk a few blocks from the Market to 4th and Pine. On your way up the hill, you'll pass by the Perennial Tea Room (look for Post Alley about a half block up, by Sur le Table). Go upstairs in the shopping mall to catch the monorail to Seattle Center.

 

Tourist Attractions: City Loop for Drivers, (map of driving tour)

This is the basic tour I do for friends and relatives who visit. You get to see a few major sites and some really great views. Everything is family friendly, and you can do this cheaply (but be prepared to pay for parking).

(1) Center for Wooden Boats, free entry. Also, free boat rides on Sundays. Parking can be tight in the afternoon, so I recommend doing this in the morning.

(2) Seattle Center, with the Space Needle, EMP, Pacific Science Center, and much more. There are several parking garages and pay lots (ranging from about $5-10). On some weekends during the summer you'll find community events or festivals on the grounds and in pavilions.

What's Free at Seattle Center? You can stroll around the center parks, see the space needle and the outside of the colorful EMP (walk inside to see the entry and gift shop), and play in water fountains. What costs money? Riding up in the space needle, buying admission to the EMP or other museums, passes for carnival rides and games, and (occasionally) entry fees at the larger festivals.

(3) Take the monorail from the Seattle Center to downtown Seattle, then walk a few blocks to Pike Place Market (see related tearoom info above). On your way down the hill, you'll pass by the Perennial Tea Room (look for Post Alley about a half block up, by Sur le Table).

(4) Return on the monorail, then drive up to the Queen Anne Hill Stop at Kerry Park for postcard views of the city with Mt. Rainier behind. (continue to the top of the hill to get to The TeaCup).

 

Also see: Tour Map of the city and Map of Seattle Neighborhoods

 

Have Car, Can Travel

The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop, just across Lake Washington. Take a quick drive east over the I-90 bridge to Factoria Mall (exit same name) in Bellevue. Park near the north end of the mall. The tea room and its neighboring gift shop are somewhat shielded from the mall by a small garden entrance. Service is impeccable, and the tiered tea tray is one of the best around. (reservations are usually a good idea, especially on weekends: 425-746-4557)

Steeped in Comfort, Lakewood, WA. Easy access off I-5 makes this a nice stop on the way to Olympia, Mt. St. Helens, or even Portland. This is a Victorian-styled tearoom: 2 rooms, a fireplace, plenty of tables, mixed china patterns. The women who run this are wonderfully friendly, and it's a great spot for an afternoon tea service or just a pot of tea.

SpecialTea Pots, Bremerton, WA. A small, cozy shop, with herbal tisanes and select teas. The shop features a wide range of Yixing-style clay pots. The prices are quite reasonable, and the shop owner is a warm and friendly woman. I like to take the hour-long ferry ride from Seattle (with some of the best views in the Puget Sound), then it's just a 5-minute drive to the shop. Click for photos and a review.

Snohomish: for an afternoon of tea & antiques, the riverfront town of Snohomish is a tea and antiques-lovers’ paradise located about an hour's drive north of Seattle. Take I-5 to Everett, then head east on U.S. Route 2, then south on state Route 9. You'll see signs pointing to the riverfront and the historic district on First Street. Here you will discover three tea shops and hundreds of antique dealers all located within a few blocks. I recommend tea service at Pennycooke's Tea Room (922 First Street). Afterward, take a stroll to a river overlook, then stop by Everything Tea for good quality loose leaf and teawares.

Olympic Bagel Company, 802 E 1st St, Port Angeles, WA. This is a Starbucks-style place, but they actually make a decent cup of tea and some pretty good bagels (for the northwest). If you're visiting the region and aren't yet tired of salmon, they make a great salmon omelet. There are morning newspapers on tables, lots of goodies to buy, and an energetic staff. Tea is prepared over the cup (one of those on-top brewing baskets). You choose from several loose-leaf teas, they brew accordingly then hand off the cup to you. Because of its central location (near the main route to heart of the Olympics), you can easily grab a cup of tea and bagel to go before heading up to Hurricane Ridge (shown below) or any number of park destinations.

 

 

Geocaching: another of my past-times is geocaching, a sport that combines treasure hunting with technology. Just in case there are any other cachers out there, I've provided links to nearby geocaches for many of these spots. Click on the geocaching icon to find the cache listing.

Last updated August 2005 by cindy at wambeam.net