Seattle’s Overlook Walk officially debuted in October 2024, creating a scenic, pedestrian-focused link between Pike Place Market and the waterfront. While the space has quickly become a favorite for views and strolls, one plaza storefront has remained vacant for the past two years, despite early plans for a food-and-drink tenant. That’s finally changing. A beloved local coffee roaster is coming to the Overlook Walk, and it’s worth the wait.
Boon Boona Coffee is opening a new café at the Overlook Walk, bringing its African-sourced coffee and community-driven mission to the waterfront. The new location, Boon Boona Overlook, will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday with a festive launch event. Here’s what they shared about the opening on Instagram:
Hey coffee friends, fam and the city of Seattle! The wait is over and it’s about that time! After so much love, support, and anticipation – Boon Boona Overlook is officially opening, and we’re ready to celebrate BIG. Come through, sip something special, and be part of the joy. Live music by Lace Cadence, host of The Continent on KEXP! This one’s for the community.
The cafe doors open at noon on Saturday, February 7. Boon Boona is a Black-owned coffee roaster and coffeehouse founded in Renton, WA, with additional locations in Capitol Hill, the UW Bookstore, and on Microsoft’s Redmond campus. Founder Efrem grew up immersed in the daily ritual of the East African coffee ceremony and created Boon Boona as a way to share that deep tradition of hospitality and togetherness. As the company puts it on their website: “Coffee is more than a drink to us. It’s a meaningful, shared experience.”
At Boon Boona’s Renton café, visitors can take part in a traditional coffee ceremony that brings this philosophy to life. The experience starts with pan-roasting green, unroasted coffee beans, which are then brewed in a clay vessel called a jebena. Along the way, guests learn about the origins of coffee, sample one of the oldest brewing methods in the world, and enjoy traditional snacks.
All of Boon Boona’s beans are sourced exclusively from African coffee growers and farmer cooperatives. The company prioritizes long-term, sustainable partnerships—especially with women-owned farms—using coffee as a tool to support shared prosperity and economic empowerment.
Not into coffee? No problem. Boon Boona also serves tea drinks, including matcha, along with pastries and sandwiches. While the full menu and regular hours for the Overlook Walk café haven’t been announced yet, we’ll share updates here.
To mark the grand opening this Saturday, Boon Boona Overlook will host a celebration starting at noon, complete with a DJ, raffle prizes, and giveaways. You’ll find the café at 1515 Western Ave, where you’ll be treated to views of the Seattle skyline as well as a waterfront panorama. Whether you stop by for the opening festivities or plan a quieter visit later on, Boon Boona Overlook is a unique place to go downtown to enjoy a thoughtfully-made cup of coffee with a view.