Written February 28, 2021

When driving to or from the mountains, one of my favorite things is grabbing a special cup of coffee, treat, or breakfast sandwich burrito to-go. It can be fuel for the day’s adventures or a little boost for the (typically) long drive home. During my four years in Washington State, I lived in Olympia, Yakima, Seattle, and Everett. Living throughout the state led me to many different scenic drives to and from the mountains, so I’ve accumulated a list of go-to spots across the state. While Seattle is the home to Starbucks coffee, you won’t find S-bucks on this list. I’m sharing spots that are NOT chains, but instead locally owned. Supporting small businesses is important to me and I wanted to highlight these gems!

This is a list of my favorite, unique coffee and breakfast stops in Washington! Emphasis on the “stops.” Most of these places, I have never sat down to enjoy a meal/cup o’ joe, but that’s not the point of this post! I’ll share some of my favorite cafes at a later date, for SURE. Nothing beats a good cup of coffee + ambience to match the vibe you’re looking for. You might call me a cafe enthusiast. I’d be okay with that.

But c’mon. NOTHING beats a good breakfast burrito… am I right?!

Read on for my favorites and please share any of yours in the comments!

Seattle

Before leaving the big city, you may need a little fuel to lift your heavy eyelids. Maybe it’s raining in the city and you’re praying it turns to snow by the time you get to the mountains. (You know the feeling.) Either way, there is nothing a breakfast burrito cannot solve. With that, I urge you to go to…

TNT Taqueria

Location: 2114 North 45th Street, Seattle, Washington 98103 (Wallingford)
When to stop: before heading to the mountains!
Cost: $
What to buy: chorizo verde breakfast burrito, any of the breakfast burritos, or any burrito at all. Or a breakfast taquito. Also a cafe con leche. And a churro. Basically order anything.

A tiny, 800-square-foot taqueria, this place packs more flavor than its size would lead on. Legit one of the best breakfast burritos I’ve ever had with SO many sauce options! The avocado crema has to be my favorite by far, but you can purchase extra sauces with any of your orders. The coffee selection had me reminiscing on my Miami days, so be sure to order a little cafe con leche or Mexican hot cocoa to go with your food.

Western Highway 2

Oh my word, I miss weekends skiing at Stevens Pass. In the 2020-2021 ski season, Stevens Pass has 500 inches of snow… and it just keeps accumulating. Yes, you read that correctly. FIVE HUNDRED INCHES OF SNOW. If you ask me, the amount of stoke around skiing in the fresh powder would be enough motivation to get up and pack skis (/snowboards if you’re into that kind of thing) into the car and drive on Highway 2. Yet, sometimes early mornings need a pick-me-up as you aim to get a parking spot at Stevens without needing a shuttle. Might I even mention the possibility of a post-skiing traffic jam on the single-lane Highway 2? That ONE traffic light in Sultan always tests my patience. Fortunately, perma-grins from a day of epic skiing make it all worth it. But these treats can add to the fun!

Whether you’re coming from the west side or east side, there’s a stop along Highway 2 for YOU! (insert corny infomercial here)

Sultan Bakery

Location: 31407 US-2, Sultan, WA 98294
When to stop: Driving from west to east on Hwy 2, toward Stevens/Index
Cost: $
What to buy: maple bar, apple fritter, big breakfast burrito, breakfast sandwiches

Family-owned and operated, this bakery is home of pastries, breakfast sandwiches (BURRITOS!), lunch sandwiches, and affordable meals. The apple fritters and maple bars are AMAZING. If you can get here during the week (M-F), you can get a GIANT maple bar donut. Beware they usually sell out early!

There are grab-and-go breakfast burritos (pre-made) by the bakery entrance if you get here in the morning, but you can also order a “BIG breakfast burrito” from the menu. The big guy costs ~$12 and has hash browns, ham/bacon/or sausage, tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and eggs… served with salsa & sour cream. This place is a no-frill, all delicious stop any time of the day. Just check the white board menus and take your pick because it’s ALL delicious.

Warning, though… don’t get your coffee here. Drive a little further east (20 minutes!) on Hwy 2 to stop at…

Espresso Chalet

Location: 50010 US-2, Index, WA 98256
When to stop: Driving from west to east on Hwy 2
Cost: $
What to buy: white coffee, specialty lattes (non-dairy options available), Big Foot souvenirs

A 28+ year, locally-operated coffee stand AND Big Foot gift shop, this place has UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS coffee, muffins, and cookies. They brew white coffee, which is unroasted and has more caffeine than standard, roasted coffee. Plus, they give chocolate-covered espresso beans with each to-go cup. Their menu is always changing with really fun specialty drinks, so spend time reading the options. While waiting for your coffee, you can soak in the waterfall views and scenery – no matter the weather.

Rustic Cabin Coffee

Location: 15715 Main St NE #105, Duvall, WA 98019
When to stop: Driving from west to east on Hwy 2
Cost: $
What to buy: Affogato, cold brew, veggie breakfast sandwich, pastries of the day!

Owned by the sweetest, most wonderful couple, Rustic Cabin Coffee is worth the stop for pastries and delicious coffee. If you’re going to stay for your cup of coffee, they have a variety of mugs available for use and it’s worth chatting with the owners and workers. They make some of their own non-dairy milks and pastries, so make sure you peruse the counter for something to accompany your drink! There are gluten-free options you wouldn’t even KNOW are gluten-free!

Eastern Highway 2

Coming from the east side of Hwy 2, Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee have some perfect stops for your mountain adventures!

59er Diner

Location: 9208, 15361 US-2, Leavenworth, WA 98826
When to stop: Driving on Hwy 2 from Leavenworth/Eastern Washington
Cost: $$
What to buy: MILKSHAKES!!!!

Can you eat milkshakes for breakfast? Yes. Yes you can. This popular spot is perfect for a quick bite and milkshake. In 2016, after a fire took the building, but it reopened in 2018! The community kept the 59’er Diner alive as it operated in the form of a food truck before reopening. Fun fact: the diner sold 524 milkshakes on August 9, 2015!! Visit their website for more information here! Note: They also have cabins, which I stayed in with my parents in 2016.

Essencia Artisan Bakery

Location: 4 N 3rd St Yakima, WA 98901
When to stop: whenever you’re in Yakima Valley!
Cost: $-$$
What to buy: artisan bread, pastries, espresso

With roasted coffee from the local Lincoln Ave coffee and artisan breads, Essencia is a perfect stop for breakfast or lunch time. When working in Yakima, this was one of my frequent lunch take-out spots for their specialty soups, salads, and sandwiches. Always friendly and welcoming, this is a perfect stop. Yes, Yakima has MANY gems. No, I won’t tell you ALL of them. You just have to see for yourself.

I-90 Corridor

The Black Dog Arts Cafe

Location: 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
When to stop: Driving on western I-90
Cost: $$
What to buy: vegan breakfast burrito, vegan quiche

A lovely little cafe with local art, The Black Dog is a perfect stop before heading to Snoqualmie Falls and the Cascades. Their mission on the website states: “Our Mission is to serve healthy handcrafted food in an environment that promotes and supports the arts, waging culture and peace in our community!” How lovely! They have a ton of vegan and meaty/cheesy options, so don’t hesitate to stop in. I do really enjoy sitting here to enjoy the artwork, especially if there’s live music.

Basecamp Books and Bites

Location: 110 W Pennsylvania Ave, Roslyn, WA 98941
When to stop: Driving on eastern I-90
Cost: $
What to buy: avocado toast, basecamp (breakfast) burrito, espresso

Not only does this shop have wonderful breakfast (and lunch!) options, but it’s one of my favorite book stores in Washington. Filled with maps, hiking/climbing/mountaineering guides, and other locally-inspired books, I could spend hours here. Roslyn alone is an adorable town, usually outside the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains. It’s a welcoming small business that’s worth your dollar, even if it means sipping on espresso while being inspired by the outdoorsy shop items.

Curious about the book inventory? Check out what books are available at Basecamp’s website here!

Mount Rainier

Whittaker’s Cafe and Espresso

Location: 30204 State Route 706 E,
Ashford, WA 98304
When to stop: Outside of Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park
Cost: $$
What to buy: waffles, huckleberry ice cream, egg sandwiches/burritos, espresso + drip coffee

Next door to Whittaker Mountaineering (outdoor shop!), this cafe is a perfect stop before heading into Mount Rainier National Park. The sausage, egg, and cheese burrito is my favorite, but I’ve also gotten some delicious bagels and smoothies here. Big bonus is that breakfast is served all day! It’s worth stopping in to soak in some of the history of Rainier Mountaineering Inc.!

Mount Baker

Wake ‘N Bakery

Location: 6903 Bourne Street, Glacier, WA 98244
When to stop: heading to Mt Baker, Shuksan, etc.
Cost: $$
What to buy: waffles, huckleberry ice cream, egg sandwiches/burritos, espresso + drip coffee

With a tagline of “Get Sconed,” how could you NOT want to stop here?? I had a breakfast burrito from the Wake ‘N Bakery prior to climbing Mount Shuksan and I swear it’s why I felt so good climbing! Just a block off Mt Baker Highway and in the heart of Glacier, this spot is a MUST when heading to the mountains. Their scones? Amazing. Breakfast burritos? BOMB. There’s also a great selection of handmade stickers, jewelry, and other products sold in the shop.

Olympic Peninsula

Olympia Coffee Roasting Co

Location: 600 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501
When to stop: when in downtown Olympia, but there’s also locations in Seattle & more. Check the site.
Cost: $
What to buy: Americano,

When living in Olympia, I frequented this coffee shop in downtown Olympia. With locations all around Olympia, Tacoma, AND West Seattle, you can’t go wrong with roasts from Olympia Coffee! In 2018, they also “became the first roaster in our industry to ensure that our coffee is Fair For All” (reference HERE!). Bravo, Olympia!!! I used to love their quiches as well. It’s cool to see how their brand has grown and evolved since I lived there in 2016. I’d love to visit again some day!

Please Comment:

What’s your favorite coffee and breakfast stop in Washington?

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Feature Photo Credit: Photo by Jakub Kapusnak from StockSnap
All photos of cafes are taken from TripAdvisor, Yelp, or their websites. I did not receive direct permission to use these photos. I could have searched through my own photos for images of each location, but some of them are actually out of date… annnnd I didn’t find time to do that, haha.