This blog entry is deprecated. See Caffeinated and Unstrung: A Guide to Seattle’s Free Wireless Coffee Shops, a new wiki dedicated to the subject.

SeattleWireless.net is a cool project. However they haven’t built their information architecture to answer my question (a forgiveable oversight, if just barely), “Where are the free wireless coffee shops?”

Now that I’m a Seattle resident, I decided it was time to be able to answer this question. Here is my initial list , I haven’t visited all (or almost any) of these places yet, I can’t speak to the quality of the coffee (its Seattle, I’m not too worried), or atmosphere (see previous note), availability of power outlets (more worrying) or even continued existence of wireless, free or otherwise.

Cafes I’ve been To

  • Aurafice Internet & Coffee Bar, 616 E. Pine (Capitol Hill). 860-9977. Grand-daddy of wireless cafes, a key Seattlewireless node, major goth hang out scene, I don’t remember too much about the space, but the first version of Magpie was written during my first visit.
  • Zeitgeist Art and Coffee, 171 S. Jackson (Pioneer Square). 583-0497. I’ve raved too much about Zeitgeist already, see previous entries.
  • Sophia’s Fremont Coffee, 459 N. 36th St. (Fremont). 632-3633. added: 2003/8/24This rambling house of a coffee shop has the only hand painted “Wi-Fi Internet Access” sign I’ve ever seen. And a great back patio. (Sans power outlet though, come with a full battery) The owner is cool, linux using herbalist who also makes gourmet soda in the basement.

The Rest

Capitol Hill has an unfair concentration of cool coffee shops, wired or otherwise, and you’ll notice the dominane in this list.

  • B&O Espresso, 204 Belmont Ave. E. (Capitol Hill). 322-5028 Tasty food and deserts. Wireless access and a full gutenberg mirror.
  • Caffe’ Zingaro, 127 Mercer Street (lower Queen Anne). 352.2581
  • Capitol Hill Cafe, 216 Broadway Ave E. (Capitol Hill) 860-6858 (free with purchase)
  • Chaco Canyon Cafe, 4759 Brooklyn Ave NE. (U District) (recommended by Veg Seattle)
  • The Drinkmore Cafe, 239 Bellevue Avenue E (Capitol Hill) SeattleWireless has HackNight here every tuesday from 5-8pm
  • Green Cat Cafe, 1514 E. Olive Way (Capitol Hill). 726-8756
  • Online Coffee Company, 1720 E Olive Way (Capitol Hill). 328-3731 (free with purchase of non-virtual coffee)
  • Perkatory Cafe, 1400 14th Ave(Capitol Hill). 568.2345 (Dante would not approve)
  • Q Cafe, 3223 15th Ave. W. (Interbay). 206-352-2525. (near my work! run by a church?)
  • Sip&Ship, 1752 NW Market Street (Ballard) 789-4488. A combination coffee shop and commercial maildrop.
  • Top Pot Doughnuts, 609 Summit Ave. E. (Capitol Hill). 323-7841
  • Top Pot Doughnuts, 5th between Lenora and Blanchard (Belltown). New flagship store of burgeoning Zeitgeist/Top Pot empire. See Nat’s review.
  • Zoka Coffee Roasters & Tea Co., 2200 N. 56th (Wallingford). 545-4277