Jaunted

· Moore Coffee
This coffee shop is next door to the Moore Theatre, one of Seattle’s best concert venues. But this tiny coffee shop actually has much more to offer than just java. They carry several varieties of organic tea, from green to chocolate almond, as well as a range of juices, fizzy drinks, pastries, and sandwiches. The shop also has their own delicious brand of chocolates, which make a good gift for the folks back home.

· Panama Hotel
Even if you’re not thirsty, stop by the Panama Hotel in the International District for a dose of history. This hotel was a central gathering place for the Japanese community in Seattle, and when many of the families were sent to containment camps during World War II they left their valuables in the hotel’s basement. The current owner, Jan, bought the hotel in the 1980s and set about renovating it. Get a Japanese pastry and a pot of genmaicha, then settle in to read Jamie Ford’s novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which is partly set at the Panama.

· Chocolati
We listed the Seattle Public Library as one of the best free local attractions, but there’s more to see and do than just gape at cool architecture. The library’s third floor has a small coffee shop called Chocolati. The Washington-based chain sells a range of organic teas, but they’re most famous for – not surprisingly – their handmade chocolates. Get a cup and a sweet treat, then grab a magazine from the rack across from Chocolati and settle in with Us Weekly, Vanity Fair, or anything in between.

Inside Panama Hotel, with tea

[Photo: nickboos & giratikanon]