The Rose Gift House and Coffee

Katie Newman opened The Rose in October 2020 as a gift shop that happened to serve coffee, then let the coffee half grow into the larger one. Both still share a single room, so you browse local art, jewelry, cards and lotions while your drink is made. Roughly 95 percent of what sits on the retail shelves is made in the Pacific Northwest, and there are about two maker pop ups a week.

The drink board is the part worth reading, because it is written as a map of downtown Renton. The Sequim Special is a white chocolate mocha built on lavender and blackberry, and the lavender comes from 4 Sisters up the street. The 3rd Street Vanilla Latte is named for a former co owner of Liberty Cafe, two blocks away. There is a Main Avenue Mocha, a Burnett Borgia citrus mocha, a Washington Wildflower Latte, and a coconut macaroon white chocolate latte the menu jokes you sip along the Cedar River rather than the Seine.

The espresso is a blend Middle Fork Roasters in Seattle makes for them and sells nowhere else, pulled on a modified two group La Marzocco, and the syrups are made in house. Pastries come from Macrina Bakery with vegan and gluten free options. White coffee is on the board too, which the shop describes as the blonde matcha of coffee.

It is set up as a third place on purpose, with free wifi and enough seating to work or meet someone. Come on a weekday if you want the evening: it runs to 7 PM Monday through Friday but closes at 4 on weekends.