Ghost Alley Espresso

The shop's own history starts around 1908, when, by its account, this 120 square foot room was attached to one of the first public men's restrooms in the Northwest and served as an attendant's office for early Pike Place Market workers. The shop's site says the original tile is still on the floor. In 2012 Mercedes Carrabba turned the room into a coffee shop and used it as the starting point for her after hours ghost tours, which is where the name comes from.

The shop changed hands in 2018, and Intentionalist names the current owners as Krista Lorio and Mike Buchwald. Around 2020 the sit down cafe became a walk up to go window, which gave the tiny room space for stock and baristas. The menu leans on twelve house made syrups, from lavender and maple to cheesecake and blackberry, and the drink to order is the Salted Nut, a double shot latte with a syrup of sea salt, hazelnut and caramel. The Mystery Mocha is barista's choice, and the iced only Spirit Aged Cold Brew uses whiskey aged beans steeped for 24 hours.

The shop's site does not say who roasts its beans. It sells a house blend, Frank's Blend, at $30 a bag, and Frank is the name the staff give the shop ghost. Milk alternatives are oat, soy, almond, coconut and macadamia for 75 cents, and two cold weather drinks, the Smog and the Turmeric Mocha, come off the menu in June and July.

Hours are 7am to 4pm every day. There is no seating, only the window, and the house standard is a small double shot with whole milk, so ask for changes up front. Gum sells at the window, two pieces for a dollar, for anyone planning to add to the wall next door.