E
very person and dog that walks into Coby’s Cafe is greeted with a friendly bark from Coby, a Parti Yorkie and the business’s namesake. Each visitor also receives a sniff test from Coby and his posse.
“They’re always there to greet and to do an ‘inspection,’” said Jessica Fung, a Coby’s regular. “After the inspection, it’s, ‘O.K., you can go.’”
Fung lives in Kirkland. She brings in her chihuahua mix Jaeda, who is often part of the welcome committee. Fung calls the cafe “Doggie Disneyland.”
Coby’s Cafe, in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, is the first local establishment of its kind: A coffee shop designed specifically with dogs — and the added food safety measures having them around requires — in mind.
Dogs take center stage at Coby’s Cafe, literally. The tables are lined up against the walls and windows so that in the middle, dogs of all shapes and sizes can roam freely and chase each other.
Meanwhile, their humans look on as they enjoy a coffee or work on their laptops. Fung said the cafe is Jaeda’s happy place — and hers, too.
“There was a time when I was very, very upset, or you can say depressed. When I came here, I felt so much better,” Fung said.
Coby’s Cafe might be a space for dogs to socialize, but many dog parents also end up building friendships.
It’s the kind of community that cafe owner Mary Wu envisioned when she opened the lounge last September. As a first-time dog owner, she met many dog parents online and eventually in person who offered support and encouragement.
“I just realized that this is such a beautiful gift to have these connections,” Wu said. “I wanted to create a space — not just online but in person — where dog parents can enjoy the benefit of connecting with other dog parents.”
Seattle is generally dog-friendly, but the options for meet-ups are usually outdoors — not ideal during rainy months.
Wu also wanted to offer fresh food at the cafe, but that can be tricky under health department rules. Most places that allow dogs inside the establishment usually offer limited menus with items that don’t require refrigeration or are repackaged — like chips or pretzels.
“The intent there is to prevent any kind of cross contamination that pets may bring to the facility,” said Rob Wagner, a health investigator with Public Health – Seattle and King County. “We need to ensure that pets do not potentially contaminate the food preparation.”
But Coby’s Cafe applied for and was granted an exception, he said. That’s because there’s a physical wall between the kitchen and the dog lounge. Customers pick up their order through a pass-through window.
“In addition, they have protocols and procedures they use, such as keeping staff separated from these areas and cleaning protocols,” Wagner said.
The cafe menu lists sandwiches and beverages for the humans. For the pups, there are “woofles,” waffle-like doggie treats that are made in-house.
“They’re made with oat flour, unsweetened applesauce, coconut milk, and spinach powder. And the dogs love them,” Wu said.
While dogs and their humans make up the base of Coby’s patrons, you don’t have to be a pet parent to enjoy the cafe. The lounge draws people like Ronnie Kuan and Sonia Yu, who don’t have dogs but are content to pet Coby and his friends, or watch them play.
“It’s a pretty cool place for people who don’t want to own a dog, but still want to play with a dog and come in for the cafe,” Kuan said.
Most people usually go to cafes to do their own thing. But at Coby’s, it’s hard to keep to yourself when one of the dogs walks by with a friendly sniff or nudge and lures you into their circle.
Before you go, Coby’s has an entry fee for dogs of $9 each ($16 for two dogs from the same family), or a monthly membership fee of $35 dollars per dog ($55 for two dogs from the same family) for unlimited visits to the lounge. And of course, dogs are expected to be vaccinated, well-behaved, and able to follow proper “petiquette.” Humans enter Coby’s free with a purchase from the cafe.
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