It’s August on Vashon, the kind of summer that smells like sunscreen, ripe blackberries, and ferry fuel. Whether you just climbed off a paddleboard or wandered up the hill from the beach, there’s one place on the island that’ll cool you down, fill you up, and make you feel like your chakras just aligned on their own. Green Butterfly Cafe & Juice is that place.
Formerly known as Pure Vegan Cafe, this walk-up wonder has been serving plant-based magic to Vashon since 2010. What started as a simple juice bar has blossomed into a full-fledged ritual for many islanders and visitors. On any given day, you’ll find locals ordering their usual green juices while first-timers try to pick between the summer smoothie lineup and the surprisingly hearty Buddha Bowl.
Let’s talk about that bowl. A lemony tangle of marinated kale, spinach, brown rice or sorghum, black beans, beets, shredded carrots, sunflower seeds, and avocado topped off with your choice of house-made dressing. It’s basically what your body would order if it could talk.
The reviews are filled with praise. One person called it “an oasis of nourishment.” Others swoon over the smoothies and juices, which are bright, fresh, and somehow manage to feel indulgent and clean at the same time. Someone else even said they “felt better just standing near it.”
Their Instagram is a burst of color featuring chef specials that highlight seasonal fruits and veggies. One week it’s a watermelon lemonade, the next it’s a carrot ginger lime juice with a punch of turmeric. You never know exactly what’s coming next, but odds are it will taste like summer and make you consider eating more chia on a regular basis.
And it’s not just the food. The staff are friendly, funny, and fast. Even in the August rush, they keep the line moving and the energy light. It’s the kind of place where you can show up barefoot and no one blinks. They’ll just hand you your green juice and send you on your glowing way.
I stopped in after a sweaty trail ride and got a coconut smoothie and one of their trail cookies. I don’t know what was in that cookie, but I’m pretty sure it healed something in my soul. Or at least in my knees.
Green Butterfly is one of those rare spots that manages to be both mission-driven and completely chill about it. They care about sustainability, local sourcing, and clean ingredients, but they also care about making food that tastes really, really good.
So this summer, when the heat has you moving slow and you need a reset that doesn’t taste like cardboard, head to Green Butterfly. Your tastebuds and your gut will thank you.
This feature is part of our ongoing Spotlight Series from the Vashon-Maury.com team, highlighting the unique businesses that make our island so special. If you own a local business and would like to be featured in the Observer, we invite you to submit an article for consideration at vashon-maury.com/submit-writing. Please include as much detail as possible about your business (what you offer, what sets you apart) and share a short story about how you came to Vashon or what inspired you to start your venture here. We’re proud to support the Vashon-Maury community and would love to help tell your story.
Author: Vashon Island
Vashon is an Island located between Tacoma and West Seattle. This account manages the vashon-maury.com website full on useful information for residents and visitors of the Island.
