Irwin's Neighborhood Bakery and Cafe — Restaurant in Seattle

Pros: • Masks preferred • Consistent food quality • Good background music • Owner seems friendly • Decent parking

Cons: • Chalk menu not legible • Some servers have dirty nails • Said servers sometime-ish • Activity board disheveled • Food

Decided on a Saturday morning. Found my perfect corner and just melted into the ambience of christmas music, coffee, and an early morning. Walked in to find a full pastry case and someone offering answers to any questions I had. Cinnamon roll ordered, WARM (DROOL), and my latte; they let me know the drink would be called out at the end and they would bring me my pastry when it was ready. I thanked them kindly and floated around inside looking at local art and sings and posters. My drink was called out in no time and was served in the perfect 8 oz white porcelain mug. Espresso was strong, not bitter, but a bite for sure. The oat milk they use looked like the Oatly brand, could change, but I think that is what they used. Overall so grateful to have a warm handmade latte on such a cold day. I found my seat as I overheard a regular ordering their regular Americano and confirming they do in fact like room in their cup. Sat down right by a little wifi posting, convient. Wifi works great for my apple mac. Dogs coming in and out, older folks folding through newspapers, and the lull of that specific kind of joy that comes with a sunny day in Seattle. Cinnamon roll came as promised, warm, and delicious. A yummy contrast to the cool air. Cannot wait to make a return to the little corner...

Irwin’s is more than a cafe. It is a home! A community gathering space! The best third place I’ve found in Seattle! It satisfies the entire human hierarchy of needs. Don’t believe me? See below.

Physiological needs - what more is there to this than a bowl of coffee and a big slice of marionberry pie? Safety needs - i could weather the apocalypse in here. I could get a job here if I needed. the vibes are too good for the evils to enter this space, like a church keeping out demons. Love and belonging - I’ve made friends here! the baristas remember my name! Someone once asked me out here using a paper airplane! Esteem - I feel incredibly cool sitting by the window and watching the world go by. everyone outside sees me and thinks wow, look at that cool sexy girl with her vegan Caesar salad and her 30oz coffee, what profound ideas about the universe must she be coming up with right now? Self-actualization - the people here inspire me to become the best version of myself. perhaps someday I too will open a neighborhood cafe that satisfies every human need.

If I could live in Irwin’s Neighborhood Bakery and Cafe I would, and I would be the...