Barnes & Noble Cafe

Staff is helpful and unpretentious. They have always answered my coffee & tea questions and made helpful suggestions.

The coffee here, though nominally Starbucks, is somehow much better than at the starbucks across the street.

This is by far the worst B&N I’ve ever visited. Dark, cramped and warehouse light fixtures with many not working. Only the checkout and kids section was adequately lit. I said something to the check out clerk; she was very nice and agreed «now that you mention it». Far as I know the coffee shop is fine.

Great book store in Olympia. The atmosphere is relaxing, well maintained and won me over by the smell of coffee brewing when you enter through the main doors. The store layout is user friendly and the staff is always willing to help if you have any questions.

I had a couple of rare hours to myself and the opportunity to go to Barnes & Noble to make my unabashed library list (I read hardcover fiction too fast to buy it retail) and to use a gift card given to me by some friends. After some leisurely browsing, finding the book I was looking for and one that I wasn’t (they plan on this I’m sure with every gift card they sell), I decided some nourishment was in order
Now I know that what Starbucks (and by extension Barnes & Noble Café) do is reheat food. the trick is that they reheat food that was created fresh today. I had a Turkey Cheddar Pannini with a chipotle mayo on a nice grainy bread grilled to hot crispy perfection. Not microwaved tough or steamed soggy, but as hot and crisp as if I made it in my own kitchen. with Kettle Cooked chips and a mocha it was perfect comfort food as I checked out my new treasures!