Cafe Hitchcock & the CBD Latte Drama
Description on Cafe Hitchcock’s website : There’s really no info on their website besides minimum address, menu, email/contact info.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address:818 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Music Playing: Feel It All Around by Washed Out
What we ate/drank: Cinnamon Roll($3.50) ‘and Caffe Vita Doppio Espresso($2.75)
Comments: Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island was opened in 2010. We always called it “that really nice restaurant on Bainbridge Island at the end of the main street”. Although it was located on Bainbridge Island, it always seemed to pop up on various Best Seattle Restaurants lists regularly. Then there was an expansion of a Hitchcock deli in Georgetown. Then last summer Café Hitchcock opened in downtown.
The one thing Café Hitchcock is known for among Seattlites is the serving of CBD(cannabidiol) Lattes, which are cannabis infused lattes and the subsequent Seattle & King County Public Health issuing of a cease and desist to stop serving the lattes. And the owner of Cafe Hitchcock comparing the cease and desist on CBD-infused drinks to that of the dance ban in the movie “Footloose” Drama, yo! Hand me my popcorn! I regret not trying theses CBD Lattes prior to the cease and desist to see for myself. Because these drinks are available in other cities without issue, I’m hoping I’ll get to try CBD-infused lattes in the near future.
I’m reviewing as a coffee space but I’ve been here for lunch and they have really good sandwiches . They also serve beer on tap. At the time I visited, they had Fremont Brewing’s Lush IPA and Summer Ale, two of my faves. And the happy hour from 3-7 (props for not ending happy hour at 6 like most places) definitely looks interesting and we’ll have to remember it as a downtown happy hour option for the future.
Café Hitchcock is located on the bottom floor of the Exchange Building, which has a historic landmark designation. I actually used to work in this building many years ago and back then it was like walking back in time with it’s art deco feel. It’s actually exactly the same, but Café Hitchcock has replaced the nondescript diner that used to be in the space. Despite the diner’s convenient location when I worked in the building, I never ate there. The Exchange Building is on 1st and Marion, which is directly in the path of all the ferry commuters, so if you time your visit to Café Hitchcock right when the ferry has arrived, you might be waiting in line awhile behind said ferry commuters.
Off Topic: Visiting Cafe Hitchcock actually brought back memories when I worked in this building. Whenever a ferry came in, there were a massive amount of ferry commuters who were too lazy to walk up the block between 1st and 2nd Ave, so they would come into the building and use the elevators to go from 1st Ave to 2nd Ave. Now you can imagine for those of us who actually worked in the building, how frustrating it was to see these people clogging up the elevators and causing massive lines to form, so they could avoid walking one block from 1st to 2nd Ave. What made it more frustrating is the building next door, the Norton Building, had an escalator from 1st to 2nd Ave so there was no waiting necessary, but nooooo….. these lazy ferry commuters could not even take the escalator, they want to take the elevator!!! It boils my blood to this day. Truthfully it was only a small percentage of ferry commuters that did this, but it was enough for it to be a running joke for all of us who actually worked in the building.
Anyways, back to Café Hitchcock. It’s a huge improvement from the diner that used to be here. There’s subway tile throughout, concrete floors and exposed vents and pipes, which give it an industrial feel. The touch that gives it character are the ornate gold frame mirrors that hang on the south wall. Below the mirrors is a long wooden benches that runs along the entire wall with corresponding tables for four people and two people. Each of these tables has an individual spotlight, which makes each table really bright.
When you enter, there are 4 high counter stools looking out on 1st Ave. The left section of the space has an unfinished look with exposed brick and concrete and has 7 high counter stools looking out on the entrance way to the building. In the center are 4 wooden booths that seat two.
I ordered cinnamon roll and the cashier confirmed that all pastries are baked in-house, which I appreciate since it ensures freshness. The coffee is sourced by Caffe Vita. I ordered both for here, but gave both to-go, which is fine, but there is something missing when drinking an espresso in a paper cup.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Baked in-house pastries
Atmosphere: 4.25
Service: 4.00
Food Options: 5.00
Overall: 4.35
Eavedropping Convo:
Guy 1(G1) – I just got through with a biography about Michael Collins. It was really interesting.
Guy 2(G2) – The Irish dude?
G1-Yeah. What was the last biography you read? I’m trying to get ideas for the next one to read.
G2- uhhhh….
G1-I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.
G2- Ooh!! A few months ago I finished a biography on this lady who used to work with Ted Bundy at a suicide hot line in Seattle. She talks about their conversations, how he interacted with people.
G1 – The serial killer?
G2- Yeah, she said he was really normal, but in looking back at the way he spoke to people, his mannerisms she could see how he had some traits of a psychopath, but wouldn’t be able to see it in real time, only after the fact. It was fascinating. Did you know he went to Udub?
G1 –What? No way! laughs
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