Walnut Street Coffee — Restaurant in Edmonds

I enjoy spending time in a cafe that goes its own way. The chains are fine, but I like things that are a little different. My cousin is the same way, so it should be no surprise that when I suggested we meet at The Walnut Street Cafe, he agreed, saying that it was one of his favorite places. Finding the place is simply a matter of finding Walnut street and looking for the colorful sign. I usually pull in, even though the tiny parking lot is often full. Hope springs eternal, but this time I had to pull back out onto the street and find another place to park. If I wasn’t meeting my Cousin, I would have driven on, since, if the parking lot is full, the cafe will be crowded. As it was, I found a spot on the street nearby and walked over. I was in the typical long line when my cousin showed up. We fell into familiar conversation and happily passed the time it took to get to the counter and make our orders. They make great coffee, but if you want some indulgent protein rich breakfast, this is not the place. On the other hand, if a vegan snack is your thing, let me recommend the cinnamon rolls.They are sweet and sticky and don’t have the weird flavors that you get sometimes with non-animal products. We got lucky after we ordered. A couple was just finishing up and gave us the big green chairs by the back wall. Whoever picked the furniture does not subscribe to the idea that the best way to keep people from camping out in your cafe all day is to make all the seats uncomfortable. There are also plenty of outlets for plugging in your laptop and the wifi is reliable and fast. Of course, my cousin and I didn’t need these features. We had plenty of family business and personal news to catch up on. I sipped my latte to make it last and my cousin got refills of his drip coffee. The place was full and a bit noisy, but we managed to hear each other well enough. I usually like a quieter place, but this one is fun and I am willing to put up with some noise. Especially when it is the joyful noise of kids getting a hot...

I've been going to Walnut for years, and it's definitely a favorite. The drinks are consistently good, the baked goods are fantastic, and the baristas are always lovely. However, this has become a place I visit to get a drink to go, because it's next to impossible to stick around.

A few changes were made during peak Covid, and one big change was the expansion of their merchandise section at the expense of seating. This worked fine during Covid because people weren't sticking around, but the seating is needed again. The cafe is always very busy, and I can't remember the last time I went in when every seat and table wasn't taken. It's why I don't go as much anymore, and it's definitely why I never choose Walnut when I want to go for coffee with anyone. This is a great cafe, definitely give it a try, but it's so much of a neighborhood haunt that the neighbors literally haunt the place. Luckily there are plenty of other excellent cafes downtown to choose from that usually have...

Discovered Walnut Street an hour before closing on a Sunday. Atmosphere feels a bit spartan... indy without quirky personality... but it's bright, has decent seating, and doesn't feel corporate. Very limited food selection, but there is food and I enjoyed it. Went WAY overboard on my "little bit of cream" in my iced American, but they had heavy cream, nailed the ever-important "extra" ice ratio, and the espresso wasn't bitter. Quick and friendly service. Art of the walls. Clearly serving a community that appreciates it because it was close to full at an odd time, and the clientele doesn't resist sharing the larger tables. I'd definitely go back. Not my neighborhood and wouldn't be my first thought, but if I'm in Edmonds again and Google "espresso near me," I'll pick it over the corporate juggernauts. This is the kind of cafe you want to see develop a strong character...