Semillon Bakery & Cafe

Semillon has a stellar vibe for grabbing a drink or snack with a friend. It's a small space flanked with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that flood it with natural light from multiple angles. Music is always upbeat and a number of small tables fill the space, with a couple outside when the sun is shining. You'll often see a pastry in progress in their open kitchen, which puts their craftsmanship on display. I'm a Semillon fan because the food here easily exceeds what most independent coffee shops have to offer. Their quiche and avocado toast are solid, but their best dish is their croissant, layered thick with ham and cheddar. I assume the veggie variety is up there given its popularity: they sold out of both varieties by noon on my last visit, so show up early! The catch here is the price: after tax and without tip, my croissant comes to 7.16 and my quiche comes to 9.63. Prices aren't marked on case items, which is an unusual and interesting approach that probably improves the experience of more affluent customers while making a few others feel simultaneously uncomfortable asking and uncomfortable not asking. Ultimately, Semillon feels like the upsides of gentrification paired with some of the downsides. It's a new, modern facility with a fun feel and beautiful lighting. It's also raising prices for the food scene by virtue of succeeding. But it's succeeding on the back of its quality. And yuppies writing online reviews are accelerating the restaurant scene, driving that quality and creating places like Semillon. Competition and a more affluent average Seattleite are what allow small-batch bake shops like this one to survive and thrive. As a repeat customer, I hope this one continues to do both!

My brother and I stopped by Semillion on the way to work for breakfast. We had a Ham and Cheese Croissant. I had a cappuccino and 2 Chocolate Chip Cookies and my brother some Apricot pie. The croissants were fair though they would have been much better heated. The cookies and pie were delightful, the cookies and a cup were just what I needed.

What an absolute gem to have on Capitol Hill, I work in the area and decided this morning to try Semillon Bakery and Cafe. Boy, am I glad I did! I was greeted with a smile and attentive service, I ordered the fruit brioche tart and a coffee. Prices are fair and worth every penny for these amazing pastries and delicious coffee, all made in house and fresh. The tart was absolute perfection, soft flaky brioche with a delicious custard accented by a wonderful assortment of berries. My new morning routine will definitely include Semillon!

The chocolate croissant and the cappuccino were both mediocre. The gluten free coconut pie they gave me to sample for free was really delicious though. Small amount of seating, and the seats weren’t extremely comfortable though I did sit there for ~3 hours, no outlets that were obvious but I also didn’t really look. WiFi is really strong. I know my review isn’t filled with compliments but i still thought this place had great lighting, the women working there were extremely friendly, and overall I got a lot of work done since the vibe is quieter and perfect for focus. So yeah I’d return and try their other pastries for sure.

Absolutely delicious! Friendly owner and staff as well - come by, have a delicious pastry or three.