Caffe Ladro- The Jetsons Coffee Place

Name: Caffe Ladro 

Description on their web:  At Caffe Ladro, we strive to provide profound service.
We believe that profound service improves the world.

Neighborhood: Downtown, but has 15 locations(9 in Seattle, 2 up north and 4 on the East Side)

Address:  801 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101

Music playing:  What Do You Love? by YG

What we ate/drank:  Medici, Gibraltar

Comments:  Although each Caffe Ladro location is different, this one is way different. Some locations are inviting/homey and others are minimalist modern. I always felt like this location is straight out of the Jetsons. Even though the walls and cashier/barista station are covered with dark wood, the rest of the space looks like what one would envision as futuristic in the 60/70’s. This location is on the bottom floor of the 801 Tower, which was constructed in 1970. Most Seattlites know about this apartment building because it’s a circular building like a rocket and was one of the few high rise apartment buildings in NE part of downtown until recently. The cafe has slanted floor to ceiling windows all the way around the front and side which makes this Caffe Ladro location super bright. Another reason for the Jetson feel might be the 5 planetary-looking hanging lamps.

Caffe Ladro is known for their Medici. And though I’m normally an espresso/americano person, when in Rome….

The Medici is a doppio esprseso poured over chocolate syrup and orange peel, with whipped cream on top. I thought it would be super sweet but it wasn’t and quite good. The Medici was actually created in Seattle at an espresso bar no longer in existence, Last Exit on Brooklyn, which was located in the University District near UW.

They have some limited pastries

As for the seating options. There’s only a short bar with stools facing out on Pine, a few individual leather seats and few small tables with stools. There’s also a small bar near the cashier that seats three and a very small patio section.

The grand Hyatt hotel is one block away, so all the taxi drivers line up on the street right next to Caffe Ladro. One thing I noticed is the number of taxi drivers who come in for their cup of joe at Caffe Ladro while waiting for the hotel to call them to pick up a fare.

Mystery Solved– I asked the workers what the logo of the silhouetted man represented(Got the coffee place right this time). They said Ladro is Italian for thief, so the figure is supposed to be a cloaked mysterious in-the-shadows thief. Ah-ha…..

Mystery Really Solved– See review of Caffe Ladro(1800 9th Building)

Ratings(Scale 1-5)

Favorite Thing: The unconventional “Jetsons” architecture.

Atmosphere: 4

Service:  5

Food Options:  3.25 

Overall:  4.25

Eavesdropping Convos:    A regular comes in…

Barista(B)- Hey, haven’t seen you in a while. Normal macchiato?

Customer(C) –You got it. How’s your morning so far?

B-So far, so good. Does it feel hot in here? *Waves her hand at her face to cool off* I’m feeling hot. 

C-And I’m a heating seeking missile. **laughs**

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