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Cafe Besalu

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5909 24th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107

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(206) 789-1463
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Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Cafe Besalu - Seattle, WA
Reviews
( 41 )
( 7 )
( 0 )
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( 4 )

Best
Yum

Love their Pain au chocolate and fruity pastries.

Worst

This morning I went and ordered an americano and a pastry ($6). Normally this buys you the food and drink AND a place to relax or read or work or whatever. I brought my laptop. ...

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Yum 5/19/2014

Love their Pain au chocolate and fruity pastries. more
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So delightful 4/9/2007

The best pastries in town! I have to say that I driving across town for the treats here. Pain au chocolate, ginger biscuit, quiche... everything is delightful, yummy, melt in your mouth great! . Double thumbs up. more
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Ginger biscuits, ginger biscuits, ginger biscuits 2/3/2007

Did I mention that you must try to the ginger biscuits? And if you're lucky, you'll arrive right when they are pulled from the oven. Cafe Besalu has been a favorite for us since the day it opened and judging from the throngs of people there every weekend, we're not the only ones. Don't be discouraged by a wait, it's worth it. Pain au chocolat, ginger biscuits, checkerboard cookies, quiche ... everything is excellent. The place has a small cozy feel with James just behind the case seemingly effortlessly preparing the next batch of goodies. It's not just the pastries though, they pour an excellent coffee as well! more
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Absolutely Delicious! 7/6/2006

I was reading a post on JB about Cafe Besalu and decided that I had to try it. Oh my gosh, boy was the food there good! On a Sunday morning, Alex and I dragged our doggies for a brisk walk to the Cafe. After devouring our quiches and croissants, I was glad that we had to burn some calories walking back. There is no dearth of butter in the food here! I still need to go back a few more times; there were just too many interesting treats for me to try in one sitting. From ginger biscuits to chocolate croissants, the offerings at Cafe Besalu makes my mouth water. In typical man style, Alex complained about how much more food he could have gotten at a cruddy diner. However, it is very interesting to note that he went back on his own the following weekend while I was at a wedding the in Bay Area. Hmmmm... more
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Best quiche and croissants in Seattle 6/21/2006

It's always a delight to see a master artisan in action, in this case making the delicious fresh goodies that are available at Besalu. The leek and goat cheese quiche is quite delicious, but the same goes for their sweet treats so we usually get a coffee and both a savory and a sweet selection. Everything from the fresh seasonal fruit choices to the less indulgent but no less tasty cookie-type offerings to anything made with that amazing puff pastry dough is worth the trip, though timing is everything to avoid the long lines or the "we're all out" disappointments! Nice clean simple space, too. Note they are only open Wednesday through Sunday, until 3pm, and the quiches usually show up a little later in the mornings, after 9:30ish if memory serves. Yummy! more
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Go for the quiche! 6/17/2006

Nice little neighborhood pastry shop. My favorite when it's in season is their fresh plum danish...overall, my recommendations for getting the most out of Besalu is to focus on a savory quiche and eat it there, and grab a few pasteries to enjoy the rest of the day/weekend. They have some tables and chairs out on the sidewalk that are ideal for you and your dog to sit, eat, and people watch! more
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Cafe Besalu May Spoil You. 5/24/2006

Their tasty pastries warm and buttery come out before a politely drooling throng queued through the center of their tiny shop. Drip coffee this good should come from places like Starbucks but my experience tells me that it never does. The place seems to elegant for Ballard, but Ballard is like that: like a few gems tossed on the sand. It's better to sleep through the early morning and come a after the initial crowds finish, or you might not get a table, because their baked goods are wonderful, the place is beautiful, and the clientèle is classy. more
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Makes me get out of bed on Sunday 4/22/2006

Ginger Biscuits. So soft. So gingery. Such goodness. Coupled with a chai or double short americano (lighthouse roasters!), you can't go wrong. But it doesn't stop there, oh no. Then you go back for pain au chocolat, then maybe a slice of quiche. Pretty soon, you've been there for a couple hours and are chatting with other patrons like you run the place. "Try the croissants, they're tres bien!" If I could go to France and just speak in pastry-tongue, I would. But luckily, I can just go to Ballard. more
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buttery bakery 3/2/2006

This is a popular Ballard joint with rich, buttery pastry options. Hours are really limited but they can afford it. Croissants are to die for and the other pastries are hard to choose -- they look delicious. i'm not a coffee person but it sure smelled good. It's right by the Tall Grass Bakery. more
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Cafe Besalu - Ballard 2/27/2006

Nostaligic for those little cafe/coffee shops on every corner in Paris? This is the place right in Ballard. It's simple and small with perfect breads and pastries made on the spot (you can watch them work). I drive from my home in West Seattle to get my fix. I lived two years in France and this is what I miss most - tiny restaurants, cafes and bakeries on every corner. I don't know how they make a living - but I'm determined to keep supporting their efforts! C'est si bon! If you live in this neighborhood make a stop there regularly, please... more
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Best bakery in Seattle. 10/29/2005

This authentic French bakery is a must if you are in Ballard. Worth the trip on your way to the Locks, or other destination. Sit outside and enjoy a perfect espresso with your baked good. You can watch the bakers, and they can watch you! Good place for people watching, dog watching and reading the newspaper. more
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Paris here I come! 8/29/2005

If you're looking for the perfect bowl of latte &/or the best croissant in Seattle, look no further than Cafe Besalu in Ballard. I really can't say more than that. Their plain croissants, served with homemade jam & butter, are to die for (and might just kill you based on butter fat content alone). The pain au chocolat is an amazing treat, especially if you get them fresh out of the oven, with melting chocolate and crispy, flaky pastry. If you want something a little richer, try the ham & swiss pastry or the caramelized onion & cheese pastry. Want something fruity? They've always got a seasonal fruit pastry -- blueberry or nectarine summer pastries look heavenly. And, absolutely, don't miss the coffee! Served in big bowls, fresh, hot & made to order perfectly, this is truly a coffee lover's heaven. And, grab a cookie or piece of quiche in the afternoon for an extra special treat. And, the fresh juice is just that -- fresh & tasty! more
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Buttery delectable pastries 8/20/2005

Cafe Besalu offers a tasty selection of fresh handmade French pastries including flaky croissants, brioche and a few tasty offerings of quiche, this being the preferable shallow tart-pan style quiche rather than the overly eggy deep-dish pie style. Few, if any places in town do better than James at Besalu. Their ginger biscuit is addictive. Their espresso isn't shoddy either. Perfect for a morning treat or an early afternoon pick-me-up. more
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As Close to France As You Get! 8/19/2005

I love going to Besalu for an early morning pastry and bowl of latte. Yes, they serve a lot of coffee drinks French-style - in bowls. The flakiest and lightest croissants live here (not for long though). Pastries here are worth the splurge in calories and price (they're not Safeway sized, that's for sure). Call ahead and make sure they have the croissants if that's what you want, as they tend to sell out fast. more
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Besalu 8/16/2005

Incredible pastries and other sugary treats. The best (and best-looking) quiche I’ve ever had. Good coffee and very good chai. The local media has found favor with Besalu, and, as a result, the café has been fairly crowded. I have the feeling that this stretch of 24th avenue NW is about to become Fremontized, so go sooner rather than later (with regard to an annual perspective) and later rather than sooner (with regard to a daily perspective). more
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Superlative Pastry in Ballard 7/8/2005

I've actually had to wean myself off the amazing pastry produced in this small, bustling cafe in Ballard. Any time of year you will find the usual array of flaky, butter treats--croissant, quiche, almond schnecken, ginger biscuits, brioche and various cookies--but summer is special. Danish made with fresh fruit and ethereal cream cheese filling make the sometimes long lines well worth the wait. Brewed coffee and espresso is consistently excellent. The counter-service cafe has several tables inside and two tables outside that fill up fast on weekend mornings with locals who come to linger over the paper or fuel up before a long hike or bike ride. Start a Sunday adventure in Ballard at Cafe Besalu and follow it up with a spin through the Ballard Farmer's Market and a visit to the new library. more
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Menu for Cafe Besalu


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Editorial

  • In Short
    North End residents, newspaper in hand, park themselves at this friendly bakery's shabby-chic assortment of tables on weekend mornings, taking in the aroma of fresh pastries and...

  • 7/20/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Ballard, Adams
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