Irwin’s Bakery and Cafe

I’ve definitely come here multiple times and been thoroughly satisfied every time. They have great coffee and can pull decent espresso shots. The best part is the versatile menu with great options for both breakfast and lunch.
The place itself is clean with plenty of tables. I’ve never had to use their wifi so can’t comment on its reliability but I’m sure it works as I’ve always seen a few people working/​studying on their electronic devices during my visits.
If you go here, definitely try the marionberry pie with an americano!

Irwin’s is my nearest café and it has become my hub for bean-​buying, especially in an emergency. This quaint pace hold a breadth of character. As you walk to it, you nearly pass by as it blends well with it’s surroundings. Irwin’s started in
As far as food, the baked goods are particularly popular. I however prefer their «eggel.» It’s an egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel. Very simple but also a great breakfast, particularly for $ 5. Their baristas/​staff are very cordial. The Americano holds it’s own and the coffee was adequate, nothing particularly special, but they do use good beans that hold their character. They have some packaged juices as well, so although it’s not a knock-​your-​socks breakfast, bakery, or coffee shop, it does all of those things modestly well.
The seating is seldom too busy to find a spot to rest. Something I’m learning to get used to is the radio choices in Seattle. 90’s music is generally playing, reminiscing back to Nirvana days. Fair enough. Regardless, the mood is calm and relaxing, making this café a nice place to find peace of have a conversation.
Of all the options available to the Seattleite, the location of this one in the middle of Wallingford’s neighborhoods on 40^th makes this a great option. If you’re from out of town, you’ve probably got some better places you should check out. This is a place made for the people that live nearby and seeking a place to call their own, much like I’ve come to do.

It’s not quite getting a sandwich named after you at the Carnegie Deli, but after years of asking for salad greens on my eggel Irwin’s has added greens as an option on the menu. This is one of my proudest achievements. Sure, others may have been doing the same but I prefer to be a little delusional and think I did this all by myself

Wonderful bakery — the coffee is great, the baked goods are wonderful and the atmosphere is classic. My favorite hang-​out in Wallingford.

I love this place! The pastries are really good. It’s located on a cute corner and it’s got big windows with a view of the neighborhood. They have THE BEST chocolate chip cookies and yogurt parfaits.

I’ve been craving a muffin for a few days so I got out of my apartment this afternoon to try Irwin’s. I ordered a latte which was good, and a pumpkin walnut muffin which was just okay. I was expecting it to have more spices or something.
The barista was very friendly and offered me pastry suggestions when I got distracted from my muffin craving by some scones.
The service was a tad slow considering I was the only new customer there, but I was coming in to hang out and read so it didn’t matter. The atmosphere is good for reading or journaling.
Prices were a little steep as stated in other reviews. $ 9.10 for a 16 oz latte and muffin.

Its a small place with a few place to sit out side, dogs are welcome outside. The coffee was great, food was freaking awesome. The turkey melt was so good. Irwin’s is like a perfect local coffee and bake shop in a neighborhood. For that reason it has plenty of parking. The only reason I might give this this place 4 stars and not five would be for how much it costs; for me a dollar or two more than I like to pay but either way still a cheaper place compared to anything downtown. I plan on going again.

Irwin’s has a quiet, low-​key vibe — which is a nice change from the «trying way too hard to be way too hipster» and ultra-​pretentious coffee shops in Seattle. It’s a place where you can go and have a latte and/​or a scone without the worry of getting into a subtle, passive aggressive competition of who has the bigger beard or more retro flannel shirt.
The baked goods are excellent and there is always a broad selection. They have gluten-​free baked goods too for the gluten-​phobes out there. The coffee drinks are okay — not bad but nothing special either. Just your typical latte/​americano/​etc.
The only reason I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 4 is that everything is pretty overpriced. $ 10 for a latte and a scone is excessive.

Updated to say — their quiches are awesome. Might be my new favorite thing on the menu. We tried both the vegetarian and the diablo (with pepper, sausage, and parmesan cheese) — both delicious! $ 9 may seem a bit steep, but you get a huge slice and a small side salad, super filling. Went around noon on a Wednesday, and seating was limited, but there were a few spots open at the bigger communal table.

Pros: AMAZING chocolate chip cookie, nice neighborhood-​y vibe, friendly staff, big menu for a coffee shop (salads, mac and cheese, etc.), all pastries made in house, delicious cinnamon rolls on the weekend
Cons: coffee isn’t the best, prices are a little steep
This is our local coffee spot and will continue to go

I go here every week, and I always like whatever pastry I happen to grab out of the case. So far, I’d recommend:
— feta muffins
— bran muffins
— blueberry muffins
— apple scones
— currant scones
— and most of all, the chocolate chip cookie — this may be THE BEST chocolate chip cookie I ever had. It’s big enough for two people to enjoy too! Though if you’re anything like me, you won’t share it.
I would not recommend:
— raspberry scone. It was kinda weird and dry, except for the raspberry filling, which was too wet.
The drip coffee is Stumptown, which is decent. I always go for the Americano, which gets the job done but isn’t my favorite in the city. I mean, I honestly come here for the pastries. The folks who work here are incredibly nice as well, and there is a punch card you can get if you plan to make this place your regular coffee stop!
The café itself is spacious, and I always see a few folks working at the tables and some more hanging out outside. Very cute!

Ambience: great!
Comfy seating: not really
Prices: yikes
Coffee: terrible
Service: sooo slow
Dog-​friendliness: A+

Had a meeting down the street and on my way to it I drove by Irwin’s. Not sure if I knew it was here or not. I know the Wallingford neighborhood pretty well, but I’m only a fly by visitor who lives in Renton and work takes me often to Seattle neighborhoods. My coworker and I finished our meeting and wanted a place to have the meeting after the meeting. I suggested Irwin’s since I just drove by it earlier and it was packed! Must be good!
I love authentic local neighborhood coffee shops and bakeries! So glad we stopped here and the Stumptown Coffee was a great cup of Joe! Love the vibe here. We showed up after the morning rush but locals were still coming and going and enjoying the day here like it was their own kitchen table.
Four Stars, only because I want to try more of those wonderful pastries I saw in the glass case or being delivered to the patrons at tables. I look forward to stopping by again soon.

The sandwiches, quiche and coffee are perfect. Thank you so much. Desserts look amazing but haven’t tried any yet.

This place smelled funny. The barista wasn’t that friendly, and was very vague about explaining the breakfast options even though it wasn’t busy. They don’t check their stock so when I went to get coffee there was no cream and the house coffee ran out halfway through. Overall a very disappointing experience considering the other reviews about this place.

I would come here for breakfast for me and Boo Boo on our visit to Seattle (Sept 2014 Labor day weekend trip).
It wasn’t that kind of coffee shop I was expecting. They only served food and coffee like every other Coffee shop in USA.
I liked the laid back atmosphere and breakfast sandwiches was just ok to me. It’s still better than the sandwiches served at my work’s cafeteria. I also tried their merleberry pie. It was too tart for me liking but my Boo Boo loved it.
If you’re around the area I’d hit it up but I wouldn’t fly 3k miles for to visit here unless they serve a little something something.

God, what a good breakfast sandwich! I get mine on an everything bagel, but you can choose!
The egg is super peppery, and I add a slice of ham. I’m salivating just thinking about it.
I love how their 16 oz iced coffee is actually served in a larger cup! That way the ice doesn’t take up 50% of my precious 16 ounces!
People who work there are SO friendly and nice. There are always people here and rightfully so, it’s a great gem hidden in the neighborhood! Street parking is very easy.

Good coffee and I like the overall vibe in here, but there is some major ruckus going on in the kitchen (right next to the seating area) that makes it hard to concentrate. Slam! goes the microwave door. Bang go the pot lids, smack smack smack go the spoons. Etc.

Ok, I’m finally going to do it. After what seems like years of very quiet mental deliberation I have to pull back my initial 4-​star rating of my local coffee shop. I am prepared for my house to be to get TP’d by my neighbors. Still I think its worth mentioning that a couple things are ones have been slipping. In short, it’s 18 $ for 2 coffees and a few baked items. And the baked stuff kicks ass… but gluten doesn’t wake me up. Caffeine does. And it’s 10% more than the next guy three blocks north. The owner is doing too much perhaps and the coffee is interior to uptown, the chai, which I just poured out, is a $ 5 bland milkbomb.
Irwins went from awesome neighborhood coffeeshop to what feels more like a subsidy. I want them to make it, but through quality, not sympathy.
TP on neighbors…

Been going to this location since it used to be Roadrunner Café and Coyote Comics. As Irwin’s I’m glad to see that it is well worn, well loved by the Wallingford neighborhood, and going strong.
It’s too bad that they had to close the Green Lake location — now replaced by Dish.
I’ve also gone to the Eastlake location when I used to work diagonal across the street (Hi Gwen!)
My go to orders have been the mochas made with Stumptown beans, paninis (the Club or the Italian), and the giant chocolate chip cookie or a slice of carrot cake. Yes, it’s a splurge but one has to pay for the quality and overhead.
The food is consistent between the two locations.
Wallingford pro: on street parking, con: rickety chairs and sometimes not enough seating available.
Eastlake pro: nice South Lake Union view on their deck to watch the seaplanes, con: need to pay for street parking and lines can be lengthy during lunch rush due to employees from nearly biotech companies.
Laid back and friendly counter staff and baristas. This is not Starbucks where they crank them through on a conveyor belt. They take the time to at least chat you up despite sometimes being understaffed (manning the front counter, as well as, doing food prep and busing/​dishes). I think of Irwin’s as an opportunity to simply ‘chill’ at either location.

Best coffee place in town. Great roast (Stumptown) and brilliant barista. The pastries are fantastic and worth every cent.