Breakfast and ice cream spots near Hotel Andra, Seattle?

August 12, 2009 3:38 PM

I would like to have great breakfast and ice cream in Seattle. Can you help? Nearer to Hotel Andra the better.

The family is taking a road trip to Seattle soon and we are looking for great breakfast and ice cream spots. We're staying at Hotel Andra, so walking/Monorail/short drive distance from there would be preferable. Bonus points if the breakfast place is 21-month-old-toddler-friendly. If you have a to-die-for breakfast recommendation we could hit on the way out of town we'd be up for it, too. Thank you!

posted by DakotaPaul to travel & transportation (21 comments total)

Not near your hotel, but my favorite breakfast in Seattle is at Portage Bay Cafe. They're definitely kid-friendly. The University District location is quite close to the freeway.
posted by gurple at 3:42 PM on August 12

It's a short drive from downtown (a couple of miles) and I confess I've not been there myself, but this place has been all the "ice cream buzz" for several months now:

Molly Moon

Most of the places I like for breakfast are up north, but if you're willing to go to Fremont you could hit The Dish (cash/check only).

It's not that big, so may not be as toddler friendly as you'd like. With that in mind, The Hi Life in Ballard has exceptional food and is large and kid friendly.

I'm sure the are a ton of good options closer to downtown, but there's a start. Yum!
posted by Pantengliopoli at 3:45 PM on August 12

We like Patty's Eggnest for breakfast. I've only been to the one on 164th St in Lynnwood, but I've heard good things about the others.

Unfortunately, I don't have any ice-cream recommendations except for good old ColdStone.
posted by johnstein at 3:46 PM on August 12

Dahlia Bakery is pretty much across the street from you and they have some pretty spectacular breakfast pastries. Macrina Bakery and Cafe on First is great, too. (Disregard this answer if you are looking for an American-style eggs & sausage breakfast.)
posted by halogen at 3:49 PM on August 12

I know everyone loves The Dish, but to my mind it's wildly overrated, and you'd spend all morning trying to get a table.

Good point about the Hi-Life, though. Another one in that (quite local) chain that's closer to the Andra is the 5-Spot, on Queen Anne.
posted by gurple at 3:52 PM on August 12

I forgot -- The Five Spot is a sister restaurant to The Hi Life, and is much closer to downtown (on top of Queen Anne). Coastal Kitchen on Capitol Hill is also yummy.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 3:54 PM on August 12

Seconding Molly Moon's. It's amazing! Totally worth the trip. They make waffle cones right there, in front of you. I like the honey jasmine flavor. Cute neighborhood too.
posted by lunasol at 4:02 PM on August 12

Lola is attached to Hotel Andra, and is good, but more pricey than other places. The wife and I love their smashed potatoes though, and the bag of donuts is awesome.

I also like the Oeufs plats, jambon, fromage at Le Pichet off 1st ave near the Pike Place Market.
posted by curse at 4:13 PM on August 12

Molly Moon's is great for ice cream. There's also a place called Old School Frozen Custard that's a longer walk up the hill, and Bluebird. (All three places are very new -- we went from zero ice cream shops to three in, like, four months!)

Also, we got a Cupcake Royale store last month. Not ice cream, obviously, but also good!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 4:25 PM on August 12

Thanks for the recs so far, and I apologize for not making our breakfast preferences clear in my post, but any style of breakfast is good. It doesn't have to be American-style diners only.
posted by DakotaPaul at 4:26 PM on August 12

Oh, and not sure what you're looking for in a breakfast place, but Capitol Hill has a lot of really good cafes with pastry cases. Bauhaus and Cafe Vivace have pretty good pastry selections.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 4:28 PM on August 12

Top Pot Donuts

I live like 4 blocks from one of their locations, and I have to forceably restrain myself from going in there more than once a week. Try a glazed old-fashioned.
posted by martens at 4:30 PM on August 12

When I lived in Seattle, I used to go to The Crumpet Shop as often as I was able. Good tea, crumpets (duh) and sandwiches, and it's right at the entrance to the Pike Place Market, where you're likely to want to go anyway.

Oh, man, I miss those things...
posted by Pecinpah at 4:38 PM on August 12

Definitely either Lola (get the donuts) or Le Pichet for breakfast, and Molly Moon for ice cream (but avoid the salted caramel, IMO--more like salted salt).
posted by HotToddy at 4:46 PM on August 12

Finally getting to these links, and wow. I think I'm looking forward to eating up there! Thanks to all.
posted by DakotaPaul at 5:10 PM on August 12

These aren't in downtown but my picks are:

Voula's Offshore Cafe for Breakfast
&
Pretty Kitty for Ice Cream.

They're both in the University District.
posted by Pangloss at 5:26 PM on August 12

The Cyclops Cafe is kid-friendly and does a delicious brunch on weekends (or at least it was delicious and kid-friendly last time I was there, a few years ago). It's a short walk away -- come to think of it, I think I ate there when I stayed at the Hotel Andra.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:29 PM on August 12

My most favorite, favorite, favorite breakfast spot in Seattle is Portage Bay Cafe! I think their food is delicious -- even if their service is a bit lacking.

They have a location that is a 3 minute drive or a 4 block and one bus ride away. If you do end up going there, I'd suggest the Harvester's Breakfast!

If you're in the mood for donuts, I second the Top Pot recommendation. You'll be literally 2 blocks away from one of their locations.

Also, if you want delicious, fresh donuts, then you should stop by the donut shop in Pike Place Market (sorry, I don't know the name of the little stand!). They make amazing donut holes (or munchkins, if you're from a Dunkin' Donuts city :D)

As for ice cream, Molly Moon's is worth the trip up to Wallingford or their new Capitol Hill location. If you do end up going to the Capitol Hill spot, there are a few new places that everyone is raving about. They include Molly Moon's, Old School Custard, Bluebird Ice Cream and Tea Room, and Half-Pint. I can only vouch for Molly Moon's (maple ice cream on a homemade waffle cone, FTW!) but I've heard good things about the others.

Hope this helps!
posted by carpyful at 6:03 PM on August 12

If you have a to-die-for breakfast recommendation we could hit on the way out of town we'd be up for it, too.

Original Pancake House in Kirkland. It's a chain. But ohmigawd the apple pancake...
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:06 PM on August 12

+1 on Patty's Egg Nest and Top Pot. I have some other excellent breakfast suggestions but unfortunately they're not in Seattle proper.

Molly Moons = standing in line forever + trendy + overrated (IMO) + terrible parking. It's not that worth it. There's other ice cream to be had in Seattle (See Husky Deli or Peaks Frozen Custard, for example). No lines, but quality.

Enjoy!
posted by karizma at 8:44 PM on August 12

Another vote for Lola, one of my favorite brunch spots in Seattle. And right next door to Andra!
posted by stilly at 10:35 AM on August 16