There are many cafes in downtown Kirkland, but out of the mix of corporate cookie cutter cafes and independently owned, there are a few shining gems of the coffee community.
Like every other street corner in America that Starbucks has taken over, there are also Starbucks and Tully’s in downtown Kirkland, three to be exact. But if you want the best cup of coffee for your buck, you should cross the street from the Starbucks on Lake Washington blvd to a beautiful café called Zoka Coffee.
Outside, Zoka has huge windows look into a well decorated modern but very comfortable cafe. When you walk through the double wooden doors, the first thing you notice is the ornate 40 foot wooden table and vaulted ceilings.
Having been a barista myself for 8 years, I have a huge appreciation for an amazing pull of espresso and the overall cafe experience. Zoka coffee has mastered both on a superior level. They have Panini sandwiches and a beautiful selection of baked treats! Zoka also roasts their own beans, each cup is a work of art!
TerraBite and The French Bakery are next to each other just up the road a couple of blocks, directly across from the downtown Kirkland library. The French bakery has some of the best pastries on the Eastside! I prefer their chocolate croissant with a cafe au lait. They also have bread and baguettes, even a 4 layer chocolate4 cake! What sets this cafe above most is that they truly LOVE their customers, so hat’s off to you my little French friend…Your Tierra Missou has got me hooked!
Terra Bite is next door. This cafes is very comfortable and aimed towards a younger crowd, equipped with an Xbox 360 and a collection of video games. They also have leather couches conveniently located on the other side of the cafe where the vibe is more artsy. They don’t have much for food here besides bagels, muffins and energy bars, but if you want a hip espresso place that you can take your kids to…this is it!
Some other cafes in the area are Cafe Ladro and St. James Espresso. All of these cafes are within a 10 block radius, so my advice to you is to take a day and come over to downtown Kirkland and walk around and find which cafe is your favorite!
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