Guidebook for Seattle
Food Scene
Thali platters. A unique fusion of small dishes. Seasonal northwest ingredients, fresh herbs/spices. Named “best northwest cuisine” restaurant in Seattle Dec 2012. Specials at happy hour in bar.
65 locals recommend
Poppy
622 Broadway EThali platters. A unique fusion of small dishes. Seasonal northwest ingredients, fresh herbs/spices. Named “best northwest cuisine” restaurant in Seattle Dec 2012. Specials at happy hour in bar.
Our favorite medium priced place. Vietnamese and Pacific NW fusion. Good wine list. Make sure to try clay pot catfish. Everything is good. Sometimes we reserve. Great 3-5pm small plate happy hour.
115 locals recommend
Monsoon Seattle
615 19th Ave EOur favorite medium priced place. Vietnamese and Pacific NW fusion. Good wine list. Make sure to try clay pot catfish. Everything is good. Sometimes we reserve. Great 3-5pm small plate happy hour.
Our favorite Restaurant. More expensive.Menu evolves with season. Basque inspired tapas. Friendly staff. Very small. Can't reserve at bar but best place to watch. Formal dining downstairs not as fun
77 locals recommend
The Harvest Vine
2701 E Madison StOur favorite Restaurant. More expensive.Menu evolves with season. Basque inspired tapas. Friendly staff. Very small. Can't reserve at bar but best place to watch. Formal dining downstairs not as fun
Closest great coffee - around corner. Most mellow and refined coffee in Seattle. Local roaster. Cappuccino is specialty. $3 - $4 range. Just ok American pastries. I would not recommend croissants....
155 locals recommend
Espresso Vivace
532 Broadway EClosest great coffee - around corner. Most mellow and refined coffee in Seattle. Local roaster. Cappuccino is specialty. $3 - $4 range. Just ok American pastries. I would not recommend croissants....
A new era Starbucks. DO NOT DRINK THE COFFEE!!! :) Or even fancier new roaster at end of Montrose Market (on Montrose between Pine and Pike the way to downtown - quite interesting.
31 locals recommend
Roy Street Coffee & Tea
700 Broadway Ave EA new era Starbucks. DO NOT DRINK THE COFFEE!!! :) Or even fancier new roaster at end of Montrose Market (on Montrose between Pine and Pike the way to downtown - quite interesting.
More athentic Vietnamese. Great flavors. Inexpensive. Always crowded but reservations generally not required. Very long walk but number 60 bus goes within one block. Tucked up in corner of mini-mall.
110 locals recommend
Tamarind Tree
1036 S Jackson StMore athentic Vietnamese. Great flavors. Inexpensive. Always crowded but reservations generally not required. Very long walk but number 60 bus goes within one block. Tucked up in corner of mini-mall.
Nice 7 block walk uphill. Local roaster with several daily varieties and different preparations. Good for a sunny morning outside.
69 locals recommend
Victrola Coffee & Art
411 15th Ave ENice 7 block walk uphill. Local roaster with several daily varieties and different preparations. Good for a sunny morning outside.
Quintessential American drive in burger joint - now a walk up.This is a classic from the 1950s. Very socially concious owner now in his 70s gives great wages and benefits to workers. An icon. Do once.
336 locals recommend
Dick's Drive-In
115 Broadway EQuintessential American drive in burger joint - now a walk up.This is a classic from the 1950s. Very socially concious owner now in his 70s gives great wages and benefits to workers. An icon. Do once.
Family run. Best Thai food in the neighborhood. Inexpensive. No reservations required.
14 locals recommend
Rom Mai Thai Restaurant
613 Broadway EFamily run. Best Thai food in the neighborhood. Inexpensive. No reservations required.
Vietnamese chicken soup is the thing to order. (Or other flavors) Large serving with fresh herbs. Cheap and healthy.
31 locals recommend
The Pho Broadway
406 Broadway EVietnamese chicken soup is the thing to order. (Or other flavors) Large serving with fresh herbs. Cheap and healthy.
Excellent Nepalese (much like Indian) food. Very friendly staff. Downstairs so cozy on rainy day. Medium price. No reservations required usually.
81 locals recommend
Annapurna Cafe
1833 BroadwayExcellent Nepalese (much like Indian) food. Very friendly staff. Downstairs so cozy on rainy day. Medium price. No reservations required usually.
Due to become a pizza place in April 2016. Otherwise go to Spinase for a proper Italian type meal in the neighborhood.
10 locals recommend
Corretto
416 Broadway EastDue to become a pizza place in April 2016. Otherwise go to Spinase for a proper Italian type meal in the neighborhood.
A well thought of Italian place. A bit expensive for day to day in my opinion. Reserve. Easily walkable from our house.
95 locals recommend
Spinasse
1531 14th AveA well thought of Italian place. A bit expensive for day to day in my opinion. Reserve. Easily walkable from our house.
Local hole in the wall. French provincial for the most part but healty American fusions too. Coffee house in morning w/breakfasts. Intersting evening events and dinners.
179 locals recommend
Volunteer Park Cafe & Marketplace
1501 17th Ave ELocal hole in the wall. French provincial for the most part but healty American fusions too. Coffee house in morning w/breakfasts. Intersting evening events and dinners.
Hole in wall (great!) breakfast. Prepare to wait if after 9am on weekends. Starbucks new cafe coffee across street or pick up a Vivace from Broadway outdoor stand on the way.
92 locals recommend
Glo's
928 E Olive WayHole in wall (great!) breakfast. Prepare to wait if after 9am on weekends. Starbucks new cafe coffee across street or pick up a Vivace from Broadway outdoor stand on the way.
Same great coffee as the main store but grab on way to town (or Glo's) or sit on sunny day and people watch the Broadway parade. Outside only. Very grunge fashionable place.
51 locals recommend
Espresso Vivace Sidewalk Bar
321 BroadwaySame great coffee as the main store but grab on way to town (or Glo's) or sit on sunny day and people watch the Broadway parade. Outside only. Very grunge fashionable place.
Worth a stop just to look at the the future of Starbucks. Good pizza in a Tom Douglas "Serious Pie" restaurant in same building.
425 locals recommend
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
1124 Pike StWorth a stop just to look at the the future of Starbucks. Good pizza in a Tom Douglas "Serious Pie" restaurant in same building.
Award winning chef Tom Douglas (Beard Award for best chef in the US) and one of his Serious Pie places.
11 locals recommend
Serious Pie
1124 Pike StreetAward winning chef Tom Douglas (Beard Award for best chef in the US) and one of his Serious Pie places.
Walk in pizza that is pretty good and priced correctly. Small seating area or take it to fortify your walk to downtown. Good kids place too.
57 locals recommend
Hot Mama's Pizza
700 E Pine StWalk in pizza that is pretty good and priced correctly. Small seating area or take it to fortify your walk to downtown. Good kids place too.
Great small plates and nice venue. Good mixed drinks also. Eclectic mix of well seasoned food. Outside area in back.
30 locals recommend
Herb & Bitter Public House
516 Broadway EGreat small plates and nice venue. Good mixed drinks also. Eclectic mix of well seasoned food. Outside area in back.
Shopping
Weekly-changing menu of seasonal dishes highlighting Northwest produce and foraged items, and specialty Italian ingredients. Expensive. Selected as best Northwest new restaurant last year. Reserve.
43 locals recommend
Altura
617 Broadway EWeekly-changing menu of seasonal dishes highlighting Northwest produce and foraged items, and specialty Italian ingredients. Expensive. Selected as best Northwest new restaurant last year. Reserve.
Clearly the best, and most expensive probably, ice cream in the neigborhood. Innovative flavors and standbys. Good people watching while in line.
467 locals recommend
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
917 E Pine StClearly the best, and most expensive probably, ice cream in the neigborhood. Innovative flavors and standbys. Good people watching while in line.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best American bar in city. Andrew, the artisan owner, is cutting edge. Give them a liquor and let them create. Sushi ok. Sit at bar for entertainment. Our go to place. Small and cozy but gets crowded
97 locals recommend
Liberty
517 15th Ave EBest American bar in city. Andrew, the artisan owner, is cutting edge. Give them a liquor and let them create. Sushi ok. Sit at bar for entertainment. Our go to place. Small and cozy but gets crowded
Speakeasy. Call 206-979-7045 for reservation.Or dial at the door and see if there is room. Nondescript building/doorway with phone on the wall outside. Cosy inside w/decent drinks/specials.
82 locals recommend
Knee High Stocking Co, Inc.
1356 E Olive WaySpeakeasy. Call 206-979-7045 for reservation.Or dial at the door and see if there is room. Nondescript building/doorway with phone on the wall outside. Cosy inside w/decent drinks/specials.
Everything Else
We love this place - great pastries and decent cafe maison. So if our French guests get nostalgic here it is. There are loads of other great "walk-bys" in the market.
100 locals recommend
Le Panier
1902 Pike PlWe love this place - great pastries and decent cafe maison. So if our French guests get nostalgic here it is. There are loads of other great "walk-bys" in the market.
Great place to graze your way through. Plenty of hole in the wall restaurants or expensive places. Good pasta on steps leading to water. Matt's in the Market is good. Anthoney's on the pier for fish.
2309 locals recommend
Pike Place Market
1531 Western AveGreat place to graze your way through. Plenty of hole in the wall restaurants or expensive places. Good pasta on steps leading to water. Matt's in the Market is good. Anthoney's on the pier for fish.
Free. Small permenant collection and usually a couple of rotating displays. Nice local art museum. Walking distance on way to downtown. Takes 1/2 hour to 2 to see it all.
229 locals recommend
Frye Art Museum
704 Terry AveFree. Small permenant collection and usually a couple of rotating displays. Nice local art museum. Walking distance on way to downtown. Takes 1/2 hour to 2 to see it all.
Seattle Art Museum.is main venue. Permenant displays of modern, NWest Indian and African. Usually good temporary exhibit.
1067 locals recommend
Seattle Selfie Museum
92 Union StSeattle Art Museum.is main venue. Permenant displays of modern, NWest Indian and African. Usually good temporary exhibit.
Older part of Seattle. Galleries, small parks. On cleaer day Smith Tower as alternative to Space Needle view. Cheaper and nice Chinese style upper floor in buillding. 360 degree view and Mt Rainier
270 locals recommend
Pioneer Square
Older part of Seattle. Galleries, small parks. On cleaer day Smith Tower as alternative to Space Needle view. Cheaper and nice Chinese style upper floor in buillding. 360 degree view and Mt Rainier
Not spectacular but nice add on to Pike Market and waterfront walk. Go north towards Space Needle -continue on water front path. Park is at end of buildings on waterfront. Fish eating alternatives.
653 locals recommend
Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western AveNot spectacular but nice add on to Pike Market and waterfront walk. Go north towards Space Needle -continue on water front path. Park is at end of buildings on waterfront. Fish eating alternatives.
Take lunch (or not). Walk on to the Bainbridge ferry.Ticket is over and back. Cheap date. Small community on other side. Walk around 1-2 hours. A few lunch places. Romantic returning at dusk.
157 locals recommend
Seattle Ferry Terminal
Seattle Ferry TerminalTake lunch (or not). Walk on to the Bainbridge ferry.Ticket is over and back. Cheap date. Small community on other side. Walk around 1-2 hours. A few lunch places. Romantic returning at dusk.
Nothing exciting here but many good hole in the wall Chinese or other Asian restaurants. Too many to describe. Some very authentic, some fusion for Western cultures. Near/next to Pioneer square.
200 locals recommend
Seattle Chinatown-International District
Nothing exciting here but many good hole in the wall Chinese or other Asian restaurants. Too many to describe. Some very authentic, some fusion for Western cultures. Near/next to Pioneer square.
About a 10 minute walk from house. Asian Art Museuem (entry fee) and a very nice conservatory (free entry). Big space and children play area w/wading pool in summer.
563 locals recommend
Volunteer Park
1247 15th Ave EAbout a 10 minute walk from house. Asian Art Museuem (entry fee) and a very nice conservatory (free entry). Big space and children play area w/wading pool in summer.
10 minute walk from house. Nice open park with playfields, fountains, kiddy play area, wading pool. Some free events in summer. Ice cream across the street. Bike polo or dodgeball in summer.
191 locals recommend
Cal Anderson Park
1635 11th Avenue10 minute walk from house. Nice open park with playfields, fountains, kiddy play area, wading pool. Some free events in summer. Ice cream across the street. Bike polo or dodgeball in summer.
Artsy neighborhood. Lenin statue and troll under bridge. Theo's chocolate factory. Free samples and tours (reserve). Nice hole in wall and classier restaurants abound.
251 locals recommend
Fremont
Artsy neighborhood. Lenin statue and troll under bridge. Theo's chocolate factory. Free samples and tours (reserve). Nice hole in wall and classier restaurants abound.
Great neighborhood. Near the Locks to watch the salmon run. Many good restaurants and some small music venues at night.
261 locals recommend
Ballard
Great neighborhood. Near the Locks to watch the salmon run. Many good restaurants and some small music venues at night.
Best French pastries in the area - clearly some of the best in Seattle. Small sit down area.
488 locals recommend
Bakery Nouveau
4737 California Ave SWBest French pastries in the area - clearly some of the best in Seattle. Small sit down area.
Vietnamese owned French bakery - the occupation was a good thing for pastry chefs. Excellent coffee too and great outdoor space for sunny days.
52 locals recommend
Moonrise Bakery
1805 Queen Anne Ave NVietnamese owned French bakery - the occupation was a good thing for pastry chefs. Excellent coffee too and great outdoor space for sunny days.
Great place to take kids. Fish ladders and boats going through depending on season. Park to play in also.
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StGreat place to take kids. Fish ladders and boats going through depending on season. Park to play in also.
Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdGreat big space to roam. Trails and beaches to explore.
Great space to walk and explore. Includes lake front walkways and forest areas. Lots of flowers. beautiful in spring with azaleas and rhododendrons.
29 locals recommend
Arboretum Drive East
Arboretum Drive EastGreat space to walk and explore. Includes lake front walkways and forest areas. Lots of flowers. beautiful in spring with azaleas and rhododendrons.
Beautiful campus in spring - or any time. Take lite rail to stadium. Rent canoes on water near the back of the stadium and paddle to Lake Union or arboretum.
329 locals recommend
University of Washington
1410 Northeast Campus ParkwayBeautiful campus in spring - or any time. Take lite rail to stadium. Rent canoes on water near the back of the stadium and paddle to Lake Union or arboretum.