The Muse: Coffee Hidden Gem in Everett, WA Review by a Local
I live in Washington State and my newest favorite coffee shop is The Muse Whiskey Bar and Coffee Shop in Everett, which opened in 2023. I meet up with friends here all the time.
If you didn’t know about this place, you’re never gonna find it. It is tucked tightly away behind the Everett Marina. You have to pass the Waterfront Center and continue down an unassuming road to the end next to Boxcar Park.
And there has been construction going on all year, changing and confusing the road patterns too.
BUT! The effort needed to find The Muse makes it that much more special and more of a hidden gem!
I’m going to walk you through the whole experience.
The Muse is a coffee house by day and a whiskey bar by night, making the switch at 4:00pm everyday. It is a sort of speakeasy, without the secretiveness.
When you arrive, park in the gravel parking lot to the left.
On the right side of the house is the Waterfront Place North Docks, which is what most of the views from inside overlook.
I can’t get over all the ornate details on the exterior (and interior) of this Gothic-style house from 1923.
The front door entrance of The Muse. The building used to be the lumber mill offices for the Weyerhaeuser Company until it closed in 1979.
In honor of its history, you can see that The Muse uses a two man crosscut saw and a log peavey as their logo. Here, the “live logo” hangs outside the front door.
The entryway is just gorgeous, immediately displaying the fir, cedar and hemlock woods used in the interior design throughout the building.
You’re then met by a classy display case of pastries, sourced from local bakeries.
There’s that logo again!
Order and pay for drinks/foods from the corner cashier. Look at those chandeliers!
The bar continues down the hall to where the bright yellow espresso machine makes the coffees.
The dining area is made up of four rooms, all connected but divided by open doorways. It has a very European palace vibe to it.
The main room is the star of the show! Red leather couches, huge bay windows, elaborate chandeliers, and a fireplace! It seats about 15 people.
The most coveted seats, or rather, the ones that always get taken first, are the two couches that overlook the marina.
On a clear day you can even see Mt Baker!
Of course, cozying up by the fireplace isn’t too bad of a seat either!
Old classic jazz and swing music plays overhead making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
The other three rooms seat about 6 people each and are good if you want a quieter area to chat with a friend. I really like these chairs because they swivel!
These smaller rooms also have a window overlooking the marina.
There are “solo” seats in the corners on the opposite side of the room as well.
You can see how each doorway leads to the next room, which leads to the next room, which leads the next room. It’s a room-ception!
Tab’s Trip Tip
I’ve only visited The Muse on weekend mornings, but my tip to you is to try to get here before 9:00am. It’s very quiet and chill and you’ll have your pick of almost any seat. After that, it starts getting busy and chairs will fill up quickly, and you might not be able to order “for here”.
One detail that always blows me away is the embroidered wallpaper! This is all thread, not paint!
And the one in the hallway is huge!
I mean, just look at all that intricate detail!! I just have never seen embroidered wallpaper before!
Once you’ve chosen which room and which seat you want to hang out in, keep an ear out for your name being called from the espresso counter for your order.
I love me a good cinnamon roll and the one they serve from Macrina Bakery is SO GOOD! That cream cheese frosting is da bomb! They ask me if I want it heated up and the answer is always YES!
Their coffee is pretty decent. It’s good, but The Muse is not a place I would come specifically for their coffee. I’m all about the ambience here!
Be sure to explore everywhere. You don’t want to miss the vault over by the bathrooms.
According to the historic plaque, this is a 160-ton two story safe. It was used to hold the lumber mill’s office records, payroll, and money.
Now it safely holds the wine!
I might have tried to climb the ladder, but it moved way too easily, making a clangy noise, and I was afraid of getting caught lol!
You don’t lose ambience in the bathrooms with marble and brass tiling and fixtures.
Now, as mentioned before, after 4:00pm The Muse opens up the other half of the building as cocktail lounge.
But as I haven’t timed it right to be here for that, I’ll have to make do with peeking into the whiskey bar side.
One important thing to note about this side of the building is that the view overlooks the gravel parking lot. It’s not at all picturesque like the other side with the marina and mountain.
During the winter it isn’t so bad as it is dark anyways. But if you came in the summertime, it would be an underwhelming view while sipping your cocktail.
Upstairs is an event venue you can rent out.
For some reason I really like the pattern of the carpet up here.
If it’s warm out, you could have your coffee out on the back deck.
It may not be the historic viby-ness from inside, but the views towards the Olympic Mountains are quintessentially PNW.
And there you have it! My walk-through review of The Muse Coffee Shop.
It’s weird to highly promote a coffee shop but not be super impressed with their coffee, but here we are! Again their coffee is fine, it’s good, it just doesn’t have wow factor.
But the cinnamon roll is delicious!
And spending time inside this building whisks you away to another era!
If you find yourself in Everett, Washington, you need to experience this place and hopefully fall in love with it as much as I have!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Coffee Shops on Whidbey Island
Lyla’s Cafe for Coffee Flights
Kona Coffee Farms on the Big Island, Hawaii
🌲 Washington Travel Planning Guide 🌲
🚨 Should I buy Washington travel insurance?
YES — I recommend Travel Insurance Master because you can compare multiple options with one click. With plans starting at $5/day per person, why not give yourself piece of mind? Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car in Washington?
YES — It’s totally safe to drive in Washington. And unless you are planning to just stay in Seattle, renting a car is pretty much a necessity! Beware of tolls whether crossing bridges or driving in HOV lanes. I recommend Discover Cars as they have some of the best prices around.
📞 Will my phone work in Washington?
YES — All major cell providers work in Washington. However, be prepared for some dead spots in the more remote parts like in the middle of the cascades.
🛏️ What’s the best way to book my Washington accommodations?
For Washington hotels, Booking.com is amazing because you can often reserve your room with no money down. If you are looking at Airbnbs for a more home-like stay, don’t forget to check VRBO for potentially better prices and options.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy Washington flights?
I recommend looking at Skyscanner for finding cheap flights. Pro Tip: check if flying into Everett is cheaper than flying into Seattle.
🛂 Do I need a passport to visit Washington?
NO — If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport as Washington is part of the United States. If you are from out of the country, the same passport and visa requirements are the same as entering anywhere in the United States from your country.
🧳What should I pack to Washington?
Layers! Layers! Layers! Weather can get finnicky, so prepare for both rain and sunny warm days. Wear comfortable walking shoes that can go from city strolls to mountain hiking.
