I’ve heard a lot about Seattle, but the time finally came for me to experience it for myself. This trip was pretty spontaneous. My friend and I were talking about how amazing it would be to explore a new city together one day and then bought our tickets! I think we can all relate to the faux planning of trips with friends. Most of the time, they get left on the back burner. But this time, it was different. Seattle is known for many things, but the thing I was most excited for was its amazing coffee. Being the coffee connoisseur that I am, this was a big deal. For the next 48 hours, I knew that my diet would mainly consist of this beloved gift from God (aka bean water). Once I got to Seattle, I immediately fell in love. Maybe it was the trees, the crisp air, my packed itinerary or excitement about this trip, but I absolutely loved the city.

Wednesday

2:00 p.m.: Pike Place Market and the first coffee of many

After settling in at our cozy Airbnb in Beacon Hill, we made our way to Pike Place Market. This popular spot sits right on the water and has everything: delicious food, coffee, flowers, souvenirs and a good view. After taking a stroll through the different stalls in Pike Place, we stopped by Storyville Coffee for our first cup of coffee: an iced latte with coconut cashew milk.

Our next stop was Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt. My friend was super excited about this place, but I thought: “How good can it be? It’s just yogurt.” But boy, was I wrong. A cup of passion fruit and mango yogurt was all I could’ve ever wanted.

6:00 p.m.: Dinner in Capitol Hill

We decided on ramen for dinner, which we thought was the perfect dish to have on this windy day. We made our way to Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, located in Capitol Hill, and enjoyed a delicious bowl of vegetarian ramen. Usually at ramen shops, the vegetarian and vegan options are a little bland, but this one definitely packed a punch. A night isn’t complete without dessert, so we headed to Salt & Straw for just that. Although there’s one in San Francisco, each location has flavors that are specific to its region. If you’re ever in Seattle, check out the Ellenos yogurt and matcha flavor for a sweet and tangy treat!

Thursday

9:00 a.m.: Coffee, coffee and more coffee

What’s the best way to start the day? With a cup of coffee, of course! The first stop of this morning’s coffee shop hopping was the famous Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Capitol Hill. I’ve been to hundreds of coffee shops, but this place was something else. Starbucks Reserve serves handcrafted speciality beverages that are sure to please your palate. Try the sparkling espresso with mint for a light and refreshing start to your morning. After enjoying our coffee by the fireplace, it was time to visit the next coffee shop on our list: Anchorhead Coffee. This hip coffee shop also served some pretty amazing drinks, including a pistachio milk matcha latte and an oat milk latte. With two cups of coffee in our systems, we were finally ready to take on the day.

11:00 a.m.: Brunching it up in Seattle

At this point, we had consumed three cups of coffee and were finally ready for some real food. This led us to our next stop, Tilikum Place Cafe. Located right by the Space Needle, this popular joint definitely lives up to its hype. Try the baked eggs, butternut squash, goat cheese, onions and breadcrumbs for a savory and insanely satisfying bite.

1:00 p.m.: Ellenos again?

On our last full day in Seattle, we had to make another visit to Ellenos at Pike Place before we left. You better believe we also took some with us for our flight back to the Bay Area. (Yes, it’s actually that good.) With Ellenos in our hands, we explored the rest of Pike Place and Downtown Seattle that we missed the previous day.

4:00 p.m.: Coffee and plants

Making our way back to Capitol Hill once again, we had a couple of stops we wanted to make on our last day in Seattle. Something that I enjoy as much as coffee is plants. Plant Shop Seattle was everything that I could’ve asked for and more. This trendy spot had every plant imaginable, with plants from floor to ceiling. For our final cup of coffee in Seattle, we went to Victrola Coffee Roasters, another gem in Capitol Hill, for some cold brew and kombucha on tap.

7:00 p.m.: ODESZA

One of the biggest reasons we decided to go on this trip during the time that we did was to see ODESZA live. Originally from Seattle, ODESZA is a popular electronic music duo that has been killing the game since it started in 2012. What sets ODESZA apart from other artists in the genre is its use of live instruments in its music. Being able to see the duo live in its hometown was such a special treat. The concert was unreal. You better believe that there was major post-concert depression. The lights, amazing drum line, people and energy were truly like no other.

Friday

6:00 a.m.: Grand opening of SoulCycle

To finish off our trip to Seattle, we had to go to the grand opening of SoulCycle in South Lake Union. Being avid riders in the Bay Area, my friend and I booked bikes for the 6 a.m. class (the first class at the studio ever). We were catching a bus shortly after this class so we really had to be efficient with our time. With luggage in our hands and four hours of sleep, we strolled into the brand new-studio at 5:30 in the morning, ready to ride our butts off for 45 minutes. And that’s exactly what we did.

Looking back on this trip, the best part was not really having a plan. Of course there were things that we definitely wanted to do during our short stay in Seattle, but the stuff in between was up in the air. Just exploring the town and finding hidden gems with one of my best friends was what made the trip that much better. This trip was one for the books.