Retro Coffee

Seattle · Madison Centre

Madison Centre · Downtown Seattle

Warm cups & good company in Downtown Seattle

Small-batch espresso from Zola Roasters, pastries from Macrina Bakery, and plant-forward bites — poured in the sunlit atrium of Madison Centre, two minutes from Seattle Central Library.

Pre-Order for Pickup See the Menu
  • 0Weekday open
  • 0To Central Library
  • 0Locally roasted
  • 0Vegan & GF picks
A latte served at Retro Coffee in Downtown Seattle
House latte, Zola Roasters
Fresh pastries and food from Retro Coffee's counter
Macrina Bakery counter
Free Wi-Fi
Outlets & laptop friendly
Vegan-Friendly Gluten-Free Available Free Wi-Fi Steps from Seattle Public Library
The warm interior of Retro Coffee inside Madison Centre, Seattle
2019 Pouring in
Downtown since

Our Story

A quiet corner of Fifth Avenue that smells like fresh espresso

Retro Coffee started with a simple idea: downtown Seattle deserved a coffee bar that felt less like a queue and more like a living room. We tucked ourselves into the Madison Centre lobby — a block from the library, a short walk from everything — and started pulling shots of Zola Roasters espresso for the morning commute.

Today we're equal parts café and calm: the kind of place where a barista remembers your order, where the pastries come from Macrina Bakery down the street, and where there's always a seat, an outlet, and a minute to breathe before the next meeting.

  • Smooth, low-acid espresso pulled to order
  • Vegan, gluten-free & plant-forward options daily
  • Laptop-friendly seating with free Wi-Fi
  • Local pastries delivered fresh each morning
Explore the Menu

What We Serve

Five reasons to walk in the door

From a straight shot of Zola Roasters to a lavender oat chai you'll think about all afternoon — plus pastries and plates that work for every diet at the table.

Specialty Coffee & Espresso

Zola Roasters beans, dialled in daily. Espresso, cortado, cappuccino, pour over, slow-steeped cold brew and nitro on tap.

  • Espresso
  • Nitro Cold Brew
  • Pour Over
  • Drip

Signature & Seasonal Drinks

Our Lavender Chai is the one people cross town for — plus house mochas, spiced mochas and rotating seasonal lattes.

  • Lavender Chai
  • Spiced Mocha
  • Flavoured Lattes

Loose Leaf & Herbal Teas

A deep tea list brewed by the cup — matcha, green, herbal, and a sweet-spicy-ginger chai that warms up any Seattle morning.

  • Matcha
  • Loose Leaf
  • Herbal
  • Chai

Fresh Local Pastries

Delivered each morning from Macrina Bakery — butter croissants, scones, muffins and whatever the bakers felt like making that day.

  • Croissants
  • Scones
  • Muffins
  • Cornetti

Vegan & Gluten-Free Bites

Vegan breakfast sandwiches, berry chocolate scones, salads and plant-based grab-and-go — so nobody at the table settles.

  • Vegan
  • Gluten-Free
  • Plant-Based
  • Grab & Go

Work, Meet, Linger

Free Wi-Fi, plentiful outlets and a serene atrium just outside our door. Stay for one coffee or the whole afternoon — no one will rush you.

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outlets
  • Atrium Seating

Reviews

What Downtown Seattle says

Real reviews from our Google profile — the good, the honest, and the ones we learn from.

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Good to Know

Questions, answered

Still curious about something? Text us through our Google profile, call the counter, or drop a note in the contact form below.

Ask us anything

Pre-Order & Pickup

Skip the line, keep the ritual

Send us your order and a pickup time and we'll have it bagged, labelled and waiting at the counter. Great for office runs — just list everything in the box.

  • 1 Send your drink & food list
  • 2 Pick a pickup date and time
  • 3 We confirm by email or text
  • 4 Walk in, say your name, grab your cup
In a hurry?

Call the counter at +1 (206) 947-0927 — we answer between shots.

Pickup Request

Visit Us

Find us inside Madison Centre

920 5th Ave #150, Seattle — a two-minute walk from Seattle Central Library, right in the middle of Downtown.

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