I am often asked, “What Starbucks things should I do when I visit Seattle?” In fact, I get asked that question often enough that I’d thought I’d write about it here.
Here’s my list of ten Starbucks-related things you must do on your trip to Seattle. I hope everyone has done (or will do) all ten! 😉 It’s getting to be spring weather soon, and people are planning vacations. I hope you are coming to Seattle!
1. 
1912 Pike Place Starbucks: It’s always amazing to visit Pike Place Market, and while you’re there, be sure to visit the historic Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place. Be advised, lines are long, and it’s usually best to visit in the mornings. The Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place offers unique merchandise exclusive to that store. It has a manual machine too. Also, you can buy Pike Place Special Reserve coffee, which is a blend exclusive to Starbucks at the Market.
2. 
Visit the “Coffee Gear Store”: There are unique merchandise items only available at this store. (The Coffee Gear store is open to the public). This store is open Monday through Friday, and is located on the 8th floor of 2401 Utah Avenue South. If traveling by public transportation, take the Link Light Rail to the SODO station. Get off at SODO and walk straight down Lander Street to 1st and Lander. The Starbucks headquarters will be obvious. Head up to the 8th floor.
3. Roy Street Coffee and Tea, operated by Starbucks: This is a totally one-of-a-kind coffeehouse, operated by Starbucks. It has a manual espresso machine, unique food items, and a very different atmosphere than a typical Starbucks. It offers beer and wine also. The Roy Street website is here. The address is 700 Broadway Avenue East, and it’s at the corner of Roy Street and Broadway. If traveling by public transportation, Metro bus #49 will take you right there.
4. 
Tazo Tea store, operated by Starbucks: This is a fantastic experience. Explore the world of loose leaf tea. Create your own custom blend. Pick up a collectible Tazo tea card (you need to load $5 on it). Order a sparkling iced tea. The official Tazo Tea website is here. This store is located in Seattle’s University Village shopping area. It’s a pain to get to by public transportation. Take a downtown bus such as the 71, or the 70, up to the University District and then transfer to a 65, which will get you fairly close, along Montlake Avenue. Better yet, consider a calling a cab.
5. Evolution Fresh store, operated by Starbucks: There are three Evolution Fresh locations in greater-Seattle: University Village, downtown Seattle, and the Bellevue store. While you’re there, pick up a collectible Evolution Fresh card which IS a Starbucks card, and can be registered and used at Starbucks. As far as I know, the Evolution Fresh card is the only Starbucks card which doesn’t have the word “Starbucks” anywhere on it, yet it is a Starbucks card.
6. 15th Avenue Starbucks – The Starbucks located at 328 – 15th Avenue East, in Seattle’s Capital Hill neighborhood: This store was once an experimental Starbucks, and as such, has a pretty unique store design. And, they still have a manual espresso machine. Because of its uniqueness, it’s definitely worth visiting. Take bus #10 from downtown Seattle, and get off the bus at 15th Avenue and Harrison Street. You’ll only be about one block away.
7. Olive Way Starbucks or Terry and Republican Starbucks– Both of these are stunningly pretty Starbucks, with beer and wine, Clover and Reserve coffees, Evenings food, and lots of passionate partners. If the Olive Way Starbucks is not in your neighborhood, another option would be the Terry and Republican Starbucks, in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. For the Olive Way Starbucks, take Metro bus #8, 47, or 43 to the corner of Summit and Olive. The actual address is 1600 East Olive Way. To get to the Terry and Republican store from downtown, get on the South Lake Union Trolley and exit the street car at the Terry & Thomas stop. You’ll still have about a block and a half to two blocks to walk, but it’s the easiest way to get there from downtown. Don’t be alarmed if you hear Seattleites refer to it as riding the “SLUT”!
About every other Monday night, Olive Way has a coffee seminar. They’re free and open to the public. Check the Olive Way Facebook page for more information.
8. University Village Starbucks: This is the site of the current baking test, so this store has a few unique food offerings. It’s also a Clover Starbucks, so you’ll have the chance to enjoy the rare Reserve coffees, if you haven’t tried them before.
9. 40th Floor Columbia Tower Starbucks: This is a Starbucks with an amazing view. It caters to the offices inside the Columbia Tower, which is Seattle’s tallest building. There isn’t another Starbucks in Seattle with anything like this view. You can enjoy your coffee, and see much of the city, look at Lake Washington, and take it all in. The 40th Floor Columbia Tower store is a Monday through Friday location, at 701 Fifth Avenue.
10. Teavana, now operated by Starbucks: Starbucks recently purchased Teavana, and there is a Teavana store in Pacific Place, in downtown Seattle, should you want to check it out. Beginning in April this year, you can use your Starbucks card to pay for your purchases, and you earn a My Starbucks Rewards star for each transaction at Teavana too.
As a bonus, for those who really want more, here is another great Starbucks thing to see (though, technically, it’s not actually in Seattle):
11. Visit the “Shipping Container Starbucks” in Tukwila, Washington. It’s definitely a unique Starbucks! There are only a handful of these small drive thrus made from re-purposed shipping containers. This Starbucks is located at 10100 East Marginal Way, in Tukwila, which is just south of Seattle.
Enjoy your trip to Seattle!
And for non-Starbuckian things to do, visit the Dale Chihuly Garden and Glass in the Seattle Center. It’s definitely a beautiful garden of glass! Don’t forget to ride the Seattle Monorail to get to the Seattle Center!
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Awesome! On my recent 26 hour trip to Seattle I did everything on the list except for 15th Avenue & Shipping Container
Wow! Now that is an action-packed 26 hours! I am totally impressed!
What a great list, Melody! It’s been a while since my last Seattle trip; I think only one of those was around at the time (1912, clearly) — though I do have pictures of me in front of the SSC building.
To revise those directions to get to University Village from downtown: Catch a Metro 71/72/73/74 in the tunnel (easy connection from Link Light Rail), or 66/70 from 3rd Ave. Transfer to a 25/65/75/68/372 at NE Campus Parkway – all of these buses stop at University Village (some on the south side, some on the west side). The 68/372 ending stop makes it easier to get to the Starbucks, Tazo and Evolution Fresh stores.
Any way you get there, those stores are definitely worth a trip.
Agree – I trip to University Village is very worthwhile. Thanks for the additional bus info. I think there might be a limited express bus that runs directly there (limited hours Mon – Fri), but I can’t understand why King County Metro has no 7-days-a-week direct route between University Village and downtown Seattle.
I believe you’re thinking the 74- it runs on 55th, just north of U Village. … In 2016 we’ll get the light rail that stops at Husky Stadium, walking distance for most.
You know your buses. Yes, I was thinking of the #74. And even if we get light rail to Husky Stadium, if you’ve been shopping, that’s a hike with a bunch of shopping bags. It is much easier to get to Bell Square than U Village from downtown. One bus: The #550 in the tunnel, and it takes you right to 4th and Bellevue way – That’s still a short walk, but not bad at all.
Thanks, Melody! It was planning a Starbucks vacation in Seattle that first brought me to your blog. We have some more on this list to do on a future visit, but you helped us get to half of these and they were so worth it!
Thanks Melody! My wife and I are heading to Seattle in June, and this is perfect! Although I must admit, I was planning on asking your advice anyway… But this covers a good amount of planning!
Thanks for the list, Melody! Still have to make it to the Coffee Gear store. And the Columbia Tower, gotta see that this summer!
<3 the list, i am trying to get back to Seattle this year, the list of things I gathered from your blog the first time were awesome, sadly some of these were not open yet, so I can't wait to try them
I am glad you like the list. Makes me smile! Next time you’re in Seattle, we will have coffee!
Just got a great email asking me if I would do this same kind of list for other cities. New York could have an amazing list. But unless Starbucks is going to help with a trip, it’s not likely anything like that would happen soon. I would agree, there would be a ton to talk about for other cities: New York Times Square, the Macy’s Starbucks in NYC which is supposedly very “experimental” – and I am sure there must be a ton more.
Great list! I wish I would’ve had this last summer when I visited Seattle! I knew about all of those places, but I simply didn’t think to go to them all (plus I didn’t want to leave Pike Place Market and was filled up with their delicious organic Rainer cherries…). Next time I definitely will have to make a visit to all of the places you suggested.
You can visit every Starbucks in Wyoming in two days!
Your trip to be Seattle will be INCOMPLETE without meeting up with Melody for a cup at any of these places!
Brad thank you! I still remember our coffee tasting together at 15th when you came out to visit. 🙂
I’ll have to keep this in mind the next time I visit.
Seattle is Starbucks city! I guess almost every store in the city has something unique…but this list really makes it easier to get to the main destinations for Starbucks fans.
I am hopefully getting back to the city someday in the next years!
A lovely place!
@Sebastian – I hope you get to visit soon! Come in the summer when it’s not raining!
Even if a person lives in Seattle, I think this can be helpful Starbucks list.
This is very helpful, my family and I are planning out summer vacation around a Starbucks experience in Seattle and thanks to this blog we don’t have to ask every person we see
HA! You know me too well!!! I have this post saved and plan to do as many as possible… Will be in Seattle for the half marathon and since Son lives there I am sure I will be able to cover them all in time 🙂 P.S. Thank you so much for the collectable Evolution Fresh card !!!!