Steeped in History: Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee displays Japanese American legacy in Seattle

Step back in time at the Panama Hotel Tea and Coffee House in Seattle's Japantown, located next to the Panama Hotel.

A labor of love from current owner Jan Johnson, the Panama Hotel Tea and Coffee House has been carefully preserved and restored to retain as much of the original feel of this 1910 historic building as possible. The space is both a cozy coffee shop and a small museum, with history being the true focus of the space.

"I kept everything intact as much as I could," Johnson explains. She originally purchased the space because she wanted people to have a place to learn about Japantown and the history of this building and neighborhood. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2015 because it is "nationally significant for its association with the immigration of Japanese to the United States."

Johnson explains that the Tea and Coffee House is designed to showcase the history of the building and neighborhood - the food and drink offerings serve as a vehicle for people to come and enjoy the space.

She hopes that people come to the Panama Hotel Tea and Coffee House and "start out with getting a good cup of coffee, and end up getting a good education."

Piles of coffee table books (on all kinds of topics) greet you upon arrival, historic photos with descriptions line the walls, and various artifacts fill the two-room space.

Through a clear viewing spot in the floor, you can see personal belongings that were dropped off at the Panama Hotel basement by Japanese American citizens who were forced to move to internment camps during World War II. According to the Panama Hotel website, efforts were made to contact the owners of belongings, but many remained unclaimed, and can now be viewed in the coffee house.

Johnson hopes that the space will one day be an official museum - the Japanese American Museum of Seattle.

With the focus on history, the menu is simple. Offerings include a selection of loose leaf teas, espresso drinks, cocktails, simple pastries, and a few sandwich and salad options.

If you're looking to learn about an important slice of Seattle history in an immersive space while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee, consider a visit to the historic Panama Hotel Tea and Coffee House in Japantown.

Ellie White is a freelance contributor for Seattle Refined.