The Shilshole Coffee Shop Triangle

   As Seattleites we've grown accustomed to good coffee…a lot of the times - great coffee. When we moved aboard Kingsley the sailboat and moved her over to her new home, a slip at Shilshole Marina, we wondered if we could still get a decent cup-o-joe. Sure we can always brew it up aboard, but what about when we're lazy and we miss that Seattle-coffee-shop culture? The sound of the espresso machine, maybe a fireplace, and definitely lots of folks with several layers of winter clothing & laptops, scoring some free wifi.
   Turns out coffee isn't too far away, we're near what some local bloggers call (okay, just me right now) the Shilshole coffee shop triangle - three businesses that have been around for a while and look like they are gonna stay.

Please enjoy our map (above) of the Shilshole Coffee Shop Triangle. Surprisingly it's not to scale (that's a joke), and you don't really get a sense of the giant hill that separates Picolinos & Fiore from the Purple Cow (this hill is what makes the staircase of doom, well, doom-ish). Enjoy!   ~Paul & Amber    ETC

1. The Purple Cow (now Geo's)

I remember the Purple Cow from years ago when we used to live in Ballard. It's quaint, local, and close to the marina/West Marine/Surf Ballard/Ballard Sails/Paseo/Ray's/etc. They have way above average breakfast sandwiches, good coffee, and usually a few salty sailors in there to swap stories with. (map)
(update: Now Geo's - serving similar coffee & Cuban sandwiches)

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2. Caffe Fiore

The only problem for Shilshole Marina sailors is the staircase leading to Caffe Fiore. This is no ordinary staircase. Some local bloggers call it the staircase of doom. If you manage your way up the staircase of doom to get a coffee, you'll have burned every calorie that you paid for, thus breaking even. Sure you'll get some exercise. Don't say we didn't warn you…P.S. Cafe Fiore is a great cafe with super friendly staff. Maybe they'll spearhead a campaign for an elevator of doom. (map)

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3. Picolinos

Besides the circus downtown, who's got the only other circus-like tent in the city? Uh, Picolinos does. With a nice Italian restaurant & the Pico Cafe & Bakery next door, you'd think they would have stopped there. But then they added a giant white tent in the back, added some jungle plants, a bar, seating, heaters for the winter, and pow - indoor-ish outdoor dining…yummy. (map)

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