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(206) 789-1463
5909 24th Ave NW
Seattle,
WA
98107
47.6718
-122.3877
Neighborhoods: Adams, Ballard
Price:
$
Last updated 3.02.11
Category:
Restaurants, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea Shops
Payment Methods:
Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Breakfast, Lunch Spot, Brunch, Outdoor Dining
What People Are Saying About Cafe Besalu
Featured Review
Anna Roth
Contributor
In Short – North End residents, newspaper in hand, park themselves at this friendly bakery's shabby-chic assortment of tables on weekend mornings, taking in the aroma of fresh pastries and coffee. Sweet and savory croissants, shortbread, quiche, brioche, Danishes and other buttery delights are among the treats in the glass display counter. The pain au chocolate, ginger biscuit and caramelized onion and gruyere pastry are the stuff of local legend.
Editor's Tips
- Know Before You Go:
- Watch the chefs shaping pastry behind the display counter--but you might want to avert your eyes from the stacks of butter that lie beside them.
- When to Go:
- Broiche is ready at 9am--avoid the disappointment of coming earlier.
02/02/09
wow
by daquietmofo at Citysearch
they have THE BEST croissants EVER. the outside i think they glaze it a little so its really crisp, and once you bite in its moist and chewy on the inside with the classic croissant flavor... but theres something else there... have to try it to know. also bought a bunch of other stuff from here. we're from out of town so we just blindly picked anythign that looked good... and we were not disappointed. one of our other favorites was this sweet onion pastry... sorry dont know the name... but it was to die for. if i was a millionaire... i would come to seattle often JUST FOR THE CROISSANTS!!
- Pros: croissants
11/26/08
OMG The best pastries I have ever eaten.
by pinciocity at Citysearch
I have no idea what kind of magic they put into the food here but EVRYTHING is amazing, including the coffee. You will wait in line (that is the only draw back) but there is a reason 20 people wait in line for pastries.
05/21/08
the Best French Pastries EVER!
by mountbaker at Citysearch
Look no more if you dig french pastries! I feel like I've died and gone to Heaven after having breakfast here! The pastries are so light and minimally sweet I feel like I'm floating on air. The coffee's ok, but definately check this place out for the best french treats I've EVER tried this side of the world!!! Great job, Cafe Besalu! I"m forever yours!!!
07/08/07
Believe the Hype!
by rgeorgi at Citysearch
Every reviewer but a few grudge-bearers have given this five stars; believe the hype! This is the Emerald City's best place for a breakfast sweet with coffee, bar none. The first thing you'll notice on a morning visit is the constant bustle behind the cheery counter help. The display case is constantly being replenished with small, fresh-from-the-oven batches. As for their pastries, their puffed pastries (croissants, etc) have the best flaky consistency in town and the Pain au Chocolat has just the right amount of chocolate. As others have mentioned, the Danishes and Ginger Biscuit are wonderful; we'd mention more but we just haven't tried everything yet (it's a one-piece, once a week treat for us, keeps it special!) Finally, the ambiance is unassuming and cheery, and our usual Sunday barista is surreally friendly; it really is the ideal neighborhood bakery.
- Pros: Freshest In Town, Good Coffee, Friendly Service
- Cons: Small Seating Area, Parking may be a block or more (walk it off, fatty!)
07/07/07
Fantastic crossaints
by franciscomontalvo at Citysearch
The food is fantastic.
My personal favorites are almond schneckens, strawberry crossaints and ham/cheese crossaints. Also noteworthy are the checkered shortbread cookies.
I also found their coffee beverages to be very good. Their standard coffee is above average and their espresso drinks are fantastic - I recommend the capuccino.
Parking can be a challenge at certain times but there is enough residential parking in Ballard that you can get within 200 yards at any time.
- Pros: Superb quality pastries for $2-$4 each
- Cons: Small indoor seating area
