Best Coffee Shop: Zeitgeist
By Seattle Mag November 10, 2025
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of Seattle magazine.
It feels like every few weeks we’re hit with another list of Seattle restaurant industry closures, so it’s particularly meaningful that an old-school mainstay like Zeitgeist Coffee is still around. Opened in 1997 in Pioneer Square as a hub for conversation, creativity, and yes, coffee, the still-popular corner café serves up strong, European-style brew, pastries from Macrina Bakery, all-day breakfast, and a full list of hot and cold sandwiches. More than just a place to pop open your laptop and stare at a screen for hours, Zeitgeist taps into the spirit of community with its Little Free Library, monthly book club and tarot readings, pop-up markets featuring local vendors, and DripFM Seattle, an event held on the last Saturday of the month, when DJs spin curated selections of vinyl. There’s just something about a space that’s been slinging beans in the heart of the city’s oldest neighborhood for nearly 30 years—the worn brick walls feel imbued with decades of conversation and connection, and even just stepping in to grab a coffee to go can summon a meaningful moment of nostalgia.
171 S. Jackson St., Seattle | (206) 583-0497 | zeitgeistcoffee.com
About Best of the Best
Everyone loves a winner. And when it comes to Seattle favorites, there’s no shortage of opinions on which places, spaces, and bites deserve top honors. This year, we did things a little differently—our staff weighed in, debating and voting to determine the best of the best across the city. We also ran our annual Readers’ Choice poll for comparison (and yes, there was overlap in just one category). Here’s to celebrating all the winners, no matter who cast the vote.
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