While hip, minimally designed coffee shops are abundant in Seattle, in my opinion there are few as great as Preserve & Gather in Greenwood. The coffee: strong. Atmosphere: modern meets industrial. And the food: otherworldly.

With nearly everything made in house, from the yogurt to the scones, you can’t leave Preserve & Gather without something to munch on. I have too many favorites to list, but the classic is their ricotta toast. Thick, chewy slices of fresh bread topped with mild and creamy ricotta, plus a generous drizzle of local wildflower honey. For an extra 50 cents you can add one of the many flavors of homemade fruit preserves. Name a coffee-shop breakfast as satisfying, I dare you.

Well worth a visit at any time of year, Preserve & Gather adds delicious new items to the beverage and food menus as the seasons change. If you’re not a coffee fan, there’s also many types of tea, wine and beer available.

Pro-tip: true to its name, Preserve & Gather is meant to be a conversation-starting community gathering space, meaning there’s no wi-fi here. You’re also in close proximity to some beautiful North Seattle parks, so take your snack and coffee to go and hit up Carkeek or Golden Gardens.