Top O' the Morning
39 ways to rise and shine and start the day right at the best breakfast spots in town!
Edited by Kathryn RobinsonWith contribution from Wilson Diehl, Stefan Durham, James Ross Gardner, Carolyn McConnell, Steve Wiecking, and Naomi Zeitlin
The Pastry Case
Café Besalu
And you thought Fremont was the center of the universe. Nope, it’s Ballard, where the finest French pastries in town are made at the cozily European bakery called Café Besalu. No matter how cold it is outside it’s warm in here, thanks to the roaring ovens, the friendly vibe, and the ever-present crush of fans.
CLAIM TO FAME It’s all flake-perfect—the chocolate croissants, the brioche, some of the city’s best quiche—but you’ve got to try the soft, sweet ginger biscuits.
BEST-KEPT SECRET Here’s how to snare one of the eight tables: Stand really close to one of them, then stare at the people eating there. Works like a charm.
POURING Lighthouse Roasters Choice blend drip and espresso
BREAKFAST IS SERVED Wed—Sun 7am—3pm
Café Besalu, 5909 24th Ave NW, Ballard, 206-789-1463
Macrina Bakery
Most folks use the crazy-popular Macrina Bakery as their go-to for to-go pastries—the crispy-chewy apple tartlets, moist morning glory muffins, cherry almond scones, and ham and cheese dumplings, to name but a few—that Macrina has earned its reputation on.
CLAIM TO FAME The Budapest coffee cake, a swirl of cocoa, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.
BEST-KEPT SECRET Both Belltown and Queen Anne offer weekend brunches, destination meals done with the same care as the pastries and offered with—we love this—wine recommendations.
POURING Caffé Vita organic Macrina blend drip and espresso
BREAKFAST IS SERVED Pastries Mon—Sat 7am—7pm; Sun 8am—6pm. Sat & Sun brunch 9am—3pm.
Macrina Bakery, 2408 First Ave, Belltown, 206-448-4032; 615 W McGraw St, Queen Anne, 206-283-5900; www.macrinabakery.com
Sweet and Savory
This teensy jewel box on the ridge of Mount Baker has just a few stools, a table or two, and a case of classy French pastries brought off with sweet sugar-crusted edges and two and a half tons of butter by Parisian-trained chef (and caterer!) Cynthia Brock.
CLAIM TO FAME The pain au chocolat and the ham-and-cheese croissant vie for the blue ribbon—but you’d better arrive before 11am, because when they’re gone…they’re gone.
BEST-KEPT SECRET Shhhh! They bring out the fried-egg sandwiches around 11 on weekends, but don’t let that get around.
POURING Caffé Vita Sumatra Mandheling organic blend drip, Caffé Vita Caffé del Sol blend espresso
BREAKFAST IS SERVED Tue—Fri 6am—2pm; Sat & Sun 7am—2pm
Sweet and Savory, 1418 31st Ave S, Mount Baker, 206-325-2900; www.sweetandsavoryseattle.com
Published: January 2008
