Monorail Espresso

The Basics

Where is it?
520 Pike Street, Seattle WA 98101 (right next to Banana Republic)

When are they open?
Weekdays: 6 am - 6 pm
Weekends: 9 am - 5 pm

Is there parking?
Not really, unless you can find a spot on the street...

Is there wi-fi?
Nope

What is the price range?
An 8 oz. Latte is 2.75 dollars. In general, prices for 8 oz. drinks go from $1.75 (Espresso) to $3.25 (White Mocha).

The Experience


Monorail Espresso has been "serving it up since 1980" and you can tell!!! Their coffee is amazing! We chose a simple Mocha but it was probably better than at anywhere else (Thanks Benji for the adress). Not too sweet, but not too bitter, it reminded me of the coffee we drink in France! It did not have the "burnt" taste that some coffees have and blended in the chocolate taste perfectly!

Their choice was more limited than in places like Starbucks or Tully's, but proposed interesting drinks such as the Frango Mint Mocha, the Creamsicle, or their Italian soda. We will have to go back to tell you more about those drinks! Other than that, they had warm drinks (coffee or tea) as well as cold drinks (Iced mocha, Iced Chai...), which makes the shop good for all seasons of the year!

Monorail Espresso is nothing like a traditional coffee shop where you can sit down and enjoy your coffee while doing homework or catching up with a friend. It is a window-like shop on the street comparable to a fancy coffee stand. You buy and you go. The dark interior, the design of the shop, as well as the black paint gives it an old-fashioned look. You could compare it to some European shops. I could definitely see it in one of the narrow streets of Paris!

Even though there is the possibility to sit down, there are only two small tables and a few chairs, and you are literally sitting on the sidewalk. People walk around everywhere, and you are right next to cars. Personally, I did not really enjoy this part of the experience, since I like to sit down in a cozy and warm place...(the rain probably didn't help, since it started raining right when we sat down). I might have had a different point of view if it had been sunny...However, this is the perfect place if you are in a hurry and need a little boost of energy! In fact, a lot of the clients we saw were bike messengers and probably local workers.

The best time to go would probably be in the early morning when the city is still quiet, on your way to work or to shop!! They offer a choice of cookies and other baked goodies that you might find delightful to accompany your coffee.

The barista was really friendly and relatively fast, but you have to remember that they only accept cash!!! The only thing I would reproach is that it is a little pricy for the quantity that you get, knowing that the shop does not offer a warm setting. The seating is not very comfortable as it is all in metal (which can get really cold, especially when it rains)...

Kids can go there as there is nothing to break or mess around with. However, I would not recommend leaving them unattended as there are many dangers (street cars, crowded street...).

(Review by Alexandra)

Chocolate Box

The Basics

206-443-3900
Chocolate Box

Where is it?
108 Pine Street
Seattle WA 98101

When are they open?
Spring Hours:
Sunday: 8 am to 7 pm
Monday-Thursday: 10 am to 7 pm
Friday-Saturday: 8 am to 9 pm

Is there parking?
Street parking right in front of the shop and downtown garages

Is there wi-fi?
I think so....

What is the price range?
Their 8 oz. latte is $2.60. In general, prices go from $1.90 (Espresso) to 4.25 (Tuxedo Mocha).

Experience

The coffee is really sweet and chocolaty. We got a White Mocha $3.75 + tax, one of the house favorites. The strong taste of chocolate overpowered a little the taste of coffee, but since we love chocolate and sweet drinks, it was perfect for us!
Their signature drinks are all hot chocolates with real whipped cream, in which you can add a multitude of flavours such as peanut butter, orange cardamom, salted caramel, flavored marshmallow, etc...for just $0.60. They also introduced a special iced white chai for warm days.
The baristas were extremely nice and helpful. One of them even offered to bring our coffee to our table!

The Chocolate Box is a lively, modern and energetic place. The store is really spacious and bright, with the shop's colors being mainly white and brown. The modern style is seen through their chairs', tables' and lamps' cool designs. They have small glass or silver tables and bigger white ones. There is plenty of seating as there is a large table in the back and several smaller ones facing the street at the front of the shop. The seating is not the most comfortable as most
chairs are hard plastic, however their designs make up for it!


Half of the store is specifically dedicated to selling chocolate with hundreds of flavors (like bacon :) ), while the other half sells ice cream, cookies and coffee. This place is a paradise for chocolate lovers, but should be avoided by those who want to stay away from temptations!

While we were there, they had jazzy music playing. They also had opened their front windows which allowed us to benefit from the ambiance of the store while enjoying the good weather and the liveliness of the street.

This place is good for homework if you do not mind the busyness of the street, but it is even better to get together with (a) friend(s). It is also perfect for a break from touring the streets of Seattle.

We went at night but it can be enjoyed at any time of the day. The possibility of sitting outside and the choice of ice cream make it the perfect place for a sunny afternoon. Moreover, most people just come and go which prevents the shop from getting crowded and adds to the liveliness. While we were there, two families came in to eat ice cream and the children did not seem to be a problem at all. There is room for a little rough housing, but you will have to watch their hands since the shop is full of chocolate and sweets...

(Review by Alexandra)