Tully’s Coffee

Was feeling like a carmel frap this morning, walked into Tully’s for a change of pace, told the girl (cute as a button) what I wanted. Sure we can help with that… got a yogurt, too… got to work, took a sip of my vanilla shake… not a frap at all!!! Where’s my buzz? I needed some coffee! What am I gonna do? Go to Starbucks, I guess… it’s closer…

Starlife’s wifi was down, so I came here. Not one for the chains as much, but it was pleasant. Free wifi, good selection of pastries and drinks, Etta was behind the counter and really friendly (and cute), and the easy going poppy music was actually a nice diversion from all the downtempo I’ve been listening to lately. I like to represent the indies, but I’d be back here again if need be.

I stop by this place a lot, because its directly on my daily pilgrimage from my apartment to The Ave. Three years running in fact. During that period the staff has always been extremely kind. Good management I am guessing. Touching on my quick tip, this place is a solid choice for a study room. There is plenty of seating, just note it does get busy quickly into the night, because so many are regulars here. I have always preferred Tully’s over Starbucks and this one keeps me coming back. The coffee is good and the snacks are actually reasonably priced. If I’m not going to a locally owned neighborhood coffee shop, I am going to a Tully’s!

I’ve come in here a few times just for the purposes of mixing it up. Sometimes I’m in the area and need a change from the more popular brand. I have always been pleased with how the employees here have treated me. I like how spacious this location is and I find the fireplace and the area near it very inviting. The size and placement of windows allow natural light in all year-​round. It’s nice how they have tables of varying heights and sizes without any of them being specifically designated for disabled people.
Ultimately this corporate chain shore, like all corporate chains, is nothing special.

When I get coffee in the morning I used to usually go to Tully’s. Not anymore.
I asked to use the restroom this morning and was told «it’s for customers only.» I wasn’t a customer today, but I am at least once a week at this Tully’s or one downtown. I understand Tully’s employees are probably jaded by and cynical because of the homeless population that must ask to use their restrooms all the time to spray diarrhea in the toilet bowl or shoot up in privacy. But I DO NOT have shtlocks on my head, smell of BO, have torn clothing, collapsed veins, or dress my dog in dirty t-​shirts, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t let me use your restroom.
I left, went across the street to Starbucks, was greeted by a VERY polite barista, did not buy coffee but still received a smile, and used their restroom without any hassle whatsoever.
I am now officially done with Tully’s forever.

Staff is not at all friendly. Coffee and drinks are even more overly priced than starbucks.
Their free wi-​fi is not at all stable. I couldn’t really get any work done there because of their poor internet connection. Very disappointed.

Ever notice how all Tully’s are similar? (Translation: National Corporate business)
Parking can be a challenge or spendy. (Translation: U-​district business)
Smells like coffee! (Translation: It’s all they serve)
Prime U-​District location! (Translation: Corporations own everything!)
Prices: Average (Translation: High – set by a big corporation)
Hotties?: Some walking by, occasionally working here (Translation: College student clientelle)
Return?: If I’m in that area of the District and need some coffee.

Usually fairly busy because of its location. Good baristas, great place to hang out.

Just for future reference, if you ever come in here after doing a fun run and are dressed in ridiculous clothing and are all sweaty, they won’t blink an eye.
That, and the fact that they seem to have a bigger pastry selection than other Tully’s locations I’ve been to, make this place my new Saturday morning outing destination.

This is my favorite Tully’s! As far as coffee shops go, I try to avoid the big chains just to get some variety, so ⁴⁄₅ stars is the most a chain could get from me, and this locations gets it!
Great employees here – very nice, friendly, efficient. One time I came in (when it wasn’t busy) and didn’t know what to get, and they were really patient with me & quite helpful. You’d think being located in the U-​District they would get tired of dealing with obnoxious kids all day long, but nope, they’re still smiling even approaching closing time!
As other reviewers have mentioned, it is a pretty popular spot, so even late on a Sunday night (YES, they are open late, unlike the indie café I was originally going to!), you might not get your favorite seat. There are a variety of seats – some bar-​height tables w/​2 – 3 seats, some nice comfy chairs by the fireplace, some big wooden «work» tables, and so forth.
Let’s see, all Tully’s have free wifi, as mentioned. Um, what else to add? If you’re not familiar with the neighbor hood, you should know that the U-​District is populated by students, and some «weirdos» and parking will be somewhat of a pain, and if you park far away I’m not sure how safe the neighborhood is as far as getting keyed, stuff stolen, etc… so just a head’s up if you aren’t a Seattlite, and are of the paranoid persuasion. Me? I think the neighborhood is just fine, and this is my favorite Tully’s!

Free wifi. How much better does it get?
Their banana walnut bread is delicious. In fact, all of their breads are delicious.
A personal favorite drink of mine is the Intense Dark Mocha, made with dark Ghiradelli’s chocolate chips. Downside is that it doesn’t come iced because then the melted dark chocolate chips get funky.
A great place to meet friends for coffee, study with the free wifi, or get breakfast before church (17^th & 50^th).

This is a pretty nice Tully’s. It’s large, open, and filled with windows. I can always find a seat in the sun (but indoors, so air conditioned!) during early afternoon. It’s a good atmosphere and the baristas are decently friendly. They’re very quick and they make pretty good coffee.
Katie S. mentioned that you don’t need a key to use the restroom here. I think that’s changed in the last month but the key is just right next to the restroom and you don’t have to ask anyone for it so it’s pretty much the same as no key required.
One warning: the place is big but the seats are pretty spread out and comfy so it does get filled up pretty quickly!

Not a bad Tully’s. I do like the fact that you don’t need a key for their restroom. I think this is probably the only coffee place on the Ave where this is the case.
The pastries here are standard and the baristas are nicer than a lot of the java places in this part of town.
Good coffee, clean and always organized, I’ll definitely head here for coffee when I’m on the ave.

I had a few minutes to return.
Again, I hand it to staff who are unfailingly polite to all, in a very bust atmosphere.
The coffee is good. The ambiance is warm.

If this review was only for Tully’s in general it would get maybe three and a half stars. I had never tried Tully’s before moving to Washington, and I find it pretty comparable to Starbucks with a few differences. Tully’s generally has way better hot drinks and their stores (this one especially) are very homey and cosy unlike Starbucks, which usually tries really hard to be «modern». Their cold drinks suck though, Starbucks has the market covered in that arena. This Tully’s has it really hard because it is on the Ave, and therefore has to deal with people ODing in the bathroom, drug deals in the bathroom and café, bums sleeping in the comfy chairs by the fireplace and needing to be kicked out, and everything else you can possibly imagine occurring on the Ave. It gets five stars for two reasons, because my friend Nikki works here and is the best barista/​person ever, and because despite the considerable crap they have to put up with, their store is still has the most appealing interior of all the Ave coffee shops, including SureShot and all the other «boutique» coffee places. If you want a flavorful latte that has six posters promoting it, this Tully’s is a great place to get it.

This Tully’s is on the upper Ave. If you are looking for good coffee, I’m not sure why one would go here. There are 2 or 3 better local (not chain) coffee cafes to the north and south on the Ave. However, if you need a place to work or sit and talk, this Tully’s is ok. It is not as good as Starlife 2 blocks north, but Starlife doesn’t open until 10am. This Tully’s is small (I’d say 8 tables), but many are bad for working at for a long time — they are high and small. So you have to luck out to get a good spot. Also it gets a lot of in/​out traffic which can be distracting in a small shop. However, they do have free, fast wifi. Note also that this particular Tully’s feels more ‘chain-​like’ and impersonal than some of the other Tully’s.
Coffeehouse Culture: is this a place for a
long heart-​to-​heart with a friend: NO
a business meeting or interview: Fine
hang-​out and work: Mediocre
group study session: Ok, but only one big table

Maybe I went to the wrong Tully’s in town.
Maybe it was a particularly bad coffee day.
Maybe alot of things.
Bottom line is that the only saving grace this place had was it’s atmosphere — great for studying or meeting a friend to catch up over some coffee. Not so great for the actual coffee you recieve — for real, Tully’s this is no better than any other chain out there.