Seattle
Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum
Seattle, a city on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, is surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, and contains thousands of acres of parkland. Washington State’s largest city, it’s home to a large tech industry, with Microsoft and Amazon headquartered in its metropolitan area. The futuristic Space Needle, a 1962 World’s Fair legacy, is its most iconic landmark. Here is our travel guide to Seattle, Washington.
STAY
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL Located in the center of downtown, steps from Pike Place Market, with a state-of-the-art spa with a eucalyptus steam room. Rooms overlook Elliot Bay and there is an infinity pool on the 4th floor. 99 Union St; fourseasons.com/seattle
PALIHOUSE The first location outside of California, located across the street from Pike Place— most rooms overlook the famous sign, the Ferris wheel, and the water. Anchorhead coffee has a lobby location, and the restaurant The Hart and the Hunter serves southern food and the Hunter Buck signature cocktail made with local cult-favorite Rachel’s Ginger Beer. 107 Pine St; palisociety.com/hotels/seattle
THE THOMPSON Stunning views of the Puget Sound are served from the rooftop bar at sunset. 110 Stewart St; thompsonhotels.com/hotels/washington/seattle
THE GRADUATE A U District hotel with Art Deco interiors, Malin+Goetz amenities, and a rooftop. 4507 Brooklyn Ave NE; graduatehotels.com/seattle
ACE HOTEL The original location of the Ace Hotel. The friends and founders fell in love with a former maritime workers’ hotel in Downtown Seattle built-in 1909, restored it, and reopened it in 1999. It is located between Downtown and Belltown within walking distance of the waterfront, Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle. 2423 1st Ave; acehotel.com/seattle
THE FAIRMONT Originally built in 1924, the Fairmont is Seattle's most historic hotel. There are two onsite restaurants, the Georgian and Shuckers. A rooftop garden with beehives provides the honey in the dishes. 411 University St; fairmont.com/seattle
THE PALLADIAN The building that houses The Palladian dates back to the early 1900s, but it is now a contemporary hotel, filled with fun pop culture references and playful decor. 2000 2nd Ave; palladianhotel.com
THE SORRENTO Originally opened in 1909 in time for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition world’s fair, commissioned by a clothing merchant and built by architect Harlan Thomas who went on to become the first dean at UW's School of Architecture. The restored hotel still retains touches like the carved wood moldings and Italian Renaissance period pieces. 900 Madison St; hotelsorrento.com
HOTEL VINTAGE Located in downtown with city views. 1100 5th Ave; hotelvintage-seattle.com
DINE
PIKE PLACE MARKET Perhaps the most famous fish market, after Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market, in the world. Pike Place is located on the water and features over 80 restaurants and food stands, including Beecher’s Cheese. Make sure to stop by the nearby original location of Starbucks at 1912 Pike for a special brew or coffee mug. pikeplacemarket.org
JUNEBABY Chef Edouardo Jordan’s James Beard award-winning Southern restaurant with dishes like pickled grapes, housemade saltines, a Sunday chicken dinner, catfish with grits and homemade hot sauce, and the spiced apple betty with housemade vanilla-bourbon ice cream for dessert. 2122 NE 65th St; junebabyseattle.com
SEA CREATURES Chef Renée Erickson’s Sea Creatures hospitality empire includes a slew of Seattle-based restaurants: Willmott’s Ghost, Deep Dive, Bateau, The Whale Wins, The Walrus & Carpenter, Barnacle, Bistro Shirlee, Westward, and General Porpoise. eatseacreatures.com
LE PICHET A Parisian bistro with an excellent charcuterie board and cheese plate. 1933 1st Ave; lepichetseattle.com
HOMER Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired fare are served, including a variety of pitas, grilled beets, marinated trumpet mushrooms. There is also a soft-serve and cocktail window with unique flavors. 3013 Beacon Ave S; restauranthomer.com
CAFE GOLDINBLACKS
A tiny, hidden gem serving authentic Korean fusion food like kimchi tacos. 621 Queen Anne Ave; goldinblack.blogspot.com
DIN TAI FUNG DUMPLING HOUSE
A Taiwanese dim sum restaurant with outposts in Hong Kong, Seoul, Taiwan, Los Angeles, and now Bellevue. Definitely worth the trip over the floating bridge on Lake Washington for the vegetarian fried rice cakes and red bean buns. dintaifungusa.com
FLYING APRON
A vegan gluten-free bakery and café in Fremont, serving delicious dark chocolate and mint cookies. 4709 California Ave SW; flyingapron.com
BLACK BOTTLE One of Seattle’s first gastropubs, perfect for groups. 2600 1st Ave; blackbottleseattle.com
ODDFELLOWS CAFE & BAR Brunch classics like homemade biscuits and eggs are served here as well as Nicoise salads, and spiced caramel bread pudding for dessert. 1525 10th Ave; oddfellowscafe.com
TAYLOR SHELLFISH Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar has one of the largest selections of oysters in the city. It is run by a fifth-generation sustainable fish farming family. Start with the Shuckers Dozen. taylorshellfishfarms.com
ALTURA An Italian, rotating, multi-course tasting menu is served from an open kitchen. 617 Broadway E; alturarestaurant.com
DELANCEY A pizza spot by husband-wife team, Brandon Pettit and Molly Wizenberg. They serve New York-style woodfired pizzas with locally sourced ingredients. Go for the classic Margherita or a crimini mushroom with mozzarella and thyme. 1415 NW 70th St; delanceyseattle.com
TOM DOUGLAS Chef Tom Douglas is a Seattle icon and for good reason. The American chef, restaurateur, author, and radio talk show host is also a two-time James Beard Award winner and an Iron Chef winner. He uses high quality local and sustainable ingredients at his restaurants including Tom Douglas, Serious Pie, Dahlia Bakery, Seatown Run Shack & Fishery, The Carlile Room, and Lola. tomdouglas.com
STATESIDE Chef and Owner Eric Johnson spent a decade working in Paris, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, which is reflected in the Vietnamese/French/Chinese-inspired menu at Stateside. Have a drink after dinner at Foreign National next door. 300 E Pike St; statesideseattle.com
VOLUNTEER PARK CAFE Named after its Capital Hill location near Volunteer Park, the cafe serves fresh pastries daily. 1501 17th Ave E; volunteerpark.cafe
UMI SAKE HOUSE A Belltown sake bar for fresh fish including sushi and sashimi. Sit on the covered back porch during happy hour. 2230 1st Ave; umisakehouse.com
MATT’S IN THE MARKET Overlooking the landmark Public Market clock and neon sign, open since 1996, and owned by a previous Pike Place fishmonger, Dan Bugge. Order the fresh seafood stew, seared scallops with grits and bacon, or the wild king salmon in a smoked heirloom tomato vinaigrette. 94 Pike St; mattsinthemarket.com
WESTWARD Accessible by water, guests arrive by boats, kayaks, or paddleboards for a seafood dinner. Try the fresh oysters, albacore crudo, salmon gravlax, and black cod. In the evening, order a glass of wine and appetizers and sit in the Adirondack chairs around the fire pits. Little Gull market is next-door in case you want to pick up some fresh fish for home cooking.2501 N Northlake Way; westwardseattle.com
THE LONDON PLANE A café-style restaurant with a grocery store and flower shop serving an array of baked goods and sourdough toasts as well as granolas, egg dishes, and veggie plates. Dinner mains include chicken with wild mushrooms, strawberries, and hazelnuts. 300 Occidental Ave S; thelondonplaneseattle.com
MANOLIN Named after the Ernest Hemingway character in The Old Man and The Sea, Manolin is a nautically-themed restaurant serving ceviche and grilled fish. 3621 Stone Way N; manolinseattle.com
THE INDEPENDENT PIZZERIA A small, lakeside spot in Madison Park serving pizzas made with wheat flour harvested in the Pacific Northwest. Order The Farmer with Grana cheese, mozzarella, ham, topped with a runny egg or The New Haven with arugula, basil, capers, Crimini mushrooms, peppers, olives, and spinach. 4235 E Madison St; theindiepizzeria.com
VENDEMMIA Italian for vintage (as in the harvest season of a wine), Vendemmia by chef Brian Clevenger offers an extensive wine list, handmade pasta, and seasonal vegetable dishes. Reserve the four-seat chef's counter for a special occasion. 1126 34th Ave; vendemmiaseattle.com
THE CORSON BUILDING Chef Matt Dillon's The Corson Building restaraurant is located in Georgetown in a historic 1910 home. Dinner is served family style at a communal table around the historic fireplace in the cozy living room. A unique, memorable, and delicous dining experience. 5609 Corson Ave S; thecorsonbuilding.com
CANLIS Set inside a 1950’s modern home overlooking Lake Union with water views. Start with truffle fries and try one of the many sakes on the menu. 2576 Aurora Ave N; canlis.com
MOLLY MOONS A Seattle mainstay for ice cream. The locally sourced, sustainable ingredients are used to make flavors that include vanilla bean, Earl Grey, honey lavender, melted chocolate, balsamic strawberry, and Scout Mint (made with Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies). mollymoon.com
HELLO ROBIN A partnership with Molly Moon ice cream results in delicous ice cream cookie sandwiches at Hello Robin. 522 19th Ave E; hellorobincookies.com
AGUA VERDE PADDLE CLUB A café and paddle club reachable by kayak or paddleboard in Portage Bay. Enjoy the view with a margarita or famous favorite salmon tacos. 1307 NE Boat St; aguaverdepaddleclub.com
BLUE BIRD ICE CREAM Along with ice cream, Blue Bird makes craft sodas and beers in-house, resulting in ginger beer floats or stout-inspired scoops. 7415 Greenwood Ave N
MELROSE MARKET Melrose Market is a locals' spot for specialty food items. 1527 Melrose Ave; melrosemarketseattle.com
MADISON PARK BAKERY Opened in 1929, Madison Park bakery is a baked good institution in Seattle. Order the famous maple bars! 4214 E Madison St
COYLE’S BAKESHOP Chef Rachel Coyle is known for her cretzels (a pretzel croissant), but she also serves more traditional items like ham and cheese croissants or sandwiches with tomato jam. 8300 Greenwood Ave N; coylesbakeshop.com
DRINK
SLATE COFFEE ROASTERS The baristas at Slate are connoisseurs and offer information on the source of the beans, the grinding process, and the water quality. slatecoffee.com
ANCHORED SHIP COFFEE BAR A small coffee shop in Ballard with an excellent espresso and coffee soda (a caffeinated, carbonated cold brew over ice). 5308 Ballard Ave NW
MILSTEAD & CO Andrew Milstead’s Fremont coffee roastery and café. 754 N 34th St; milsteadandco.com
TWILIGHT EXIT Burgers and pub fare are homemade at this tiny dive bar with ja ukebox and pinball machine. 2514 E Cherry St
BOTTLEHOUSE SEATTLE A casual wine bar in a converted house in the residential neighborhood of Madrona. Come for a tasting and small plates— we suggest the cheesemonger board. 1416 34th Ave; bottlehouseseattle.com
FREMONT BREWING A craft brewery with beer-hall-style communal tables and pretzels. fremontbrewing.com
PERCY’S & CO A Ballard bar by owners Jeff Ofelt and Wade Weigel of Seattle’s Ace Hotel. Chef Dave Lamping curated their menu of small plates. 5233 Ballard Ave NW; percysseattle.com
GOOD BAR Husband and wife duo Josh and Nancy Kelly opened Good Bar in a historic Pioneer Square space. Come for happy hour and order the charcuterie. 240 2nd Ave S; goodbarseattle.com
STOUP BREWING A large microbrewery with indoor and outdoor seating, and food trucks parked outside. 1108 NW 52nd St; stoupbrewing.com
ZIG ZAG CAFE A hidden gem behind a staircase by Pike Place Market with craft cocktails, local beer, artisan cheeses, and fresh oysters on the half shell as well as octopus, lamb meatballs, and marinated chicken kebabs. 333 N Myers St; cohnrestaurants.com/zigzagpizzapie
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
HENRY ART GALLERY
A contemporary art museum with a permanent installation by James Turrell on the University of Washington campus. 15th Ave NE & University of Washington, NE 41st St; henryart.org
GAS WORKS PARK A public park on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company plant on the north shore of Lake Union with a large play barn, and a hill popular for flying kites. seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/gas-works-park
SPACE NEEDLE An iconic, 605-ft.-tall spire with an observation deck, and a rotating restaurant. A must-visit for first time Seattle tourists. 400 Broad St, Seattle; spaceneedle.com
CHIHULY GARDEN Located below the Space Needle with gorgeous works displayed by the American glass artist, Dale Chihuly. 305 Harrison St; chihulygardenandglass.com
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Designed by Rem Koolhaas, the glass-and-steel building is an architectural landmark in the middle of downtown Seattle. 1000 4th Ave; spl.org
DISCOVERY PARK Overlooking the Puget Sound, Discovery Park has two miles of protected coastline, meadows, and meandering hiking trails for exploring, plus plenty of viewpoints for picnics. seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/discovery-park
MOUNT SI An eight-mile round trip hike, Mount Si is a beautiful introduction to the Cascade Mountains. The scenery and views from the top are more than worth it. wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-si
WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM Don’t miss Azalea Way to see the stunning Japanese gardens. You can also explore the arboretum by kayak or canoe, which allows for wildlife spotting— ducks, beavers, turtles, and even bald eagles. botanicgardens.uw.edu/washington-park-arboretum/
ALKI BEACH PARK Alki Beach Park offers vies of Bainbridge Island, Downtown Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains. There is a popular bike path and beach bonfire pits. Order the famous tacos and shaved ice from Marination Ma Kai. seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/alki-beach-park
GOLDEN GARDENS PARK On warm days, swim off the dock or go fishing on the pier. The views of the Olympic Mountains from across the Puget Sounds are some of Seattle's most iconic. seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/golden-gardens-park
IRA SPRING TRAIL A 6.5-mile loop with views from the Alpine Lake Wilderness to Mount Rainier. wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/ira-spring-memorial
LAKE SERENE TRAIL An 8.2-mile popular hiking trail leading to Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls. wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lake-serene
SEWARD PARK A bike path leads through the lush forests, and it is home to the Audubon Center, which offers bird watching. seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/seward-park
RATTLESNAKE RIDGE A classic Seattle hike with a view from the top of Rattlesnake Lake. wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/rattlesnake-ledge
THEO CHOCOLATE FACTORY Theo’s is a Seattle based chocolate company, and the offer tours at their factory. Pick up a few bars to go. 3400 Phinney Ave N; theochocolate.com/flagship-store
SHOP
BALLARD CONSIGNMENT An antique furniture store. 5459 Leary Ave N; ballardconsignment.com
LUCKY Vintage tulle dresses and Levi jeans. 4742 University Way NE; luckyvintageseattle.com
ELLIOTT BAY BOOK COMPANY A multi-level bookstore with events and book clubs. 1521 10th Ave; elliottbaybook.com
LADIES & GENTLEMEN STUDIO
A collective founded by two local Seattle artists, selling small objects, jewelry, lighting, and one-of-a-kind wind chimes made of stained glass and brass. ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com
INDIAN SUMMER
A vintage boutique in Capitol Hill. 534 Summit Ave
DIGS Located in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, Digs sells an assortment of modern furniture, lighting, and decor. 2002 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA, digsshowroom.com
ADORN Seattle designer Renate Ruby’s eclectic boutique with fine linens, wallpapers, and home accessories by the likes of Arteriors, Libeco, and Timorous Beasties. 7003 3rd Street NW, Seattle, WA, adorn.house
ADA'S BOOKS A coffee shop and work space with a bookstore. 425 15th Ave E; adasbooks.com
FRYE ART MUSEUM STORE Frye seeks out design goods and jewelry with a focus on local, Northwestern artisans and makers. 704 Terry Ave; store.fryemuseum.org
BABY & COMPANY A boutique in a historic part of Seattle with a beautiful spiral staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, and meticulously merchandised displays. babyandco.us
BELLEFLEUR Stocked almost exclusively with boutique European brands, this jewel box of a lingerie shop is worth a stop. 3504 Fremont Pl N; bellefleurlingerie.com
ESSENZA A curated selection of home décor, bedding, fragrances, skincare, and jewelry from the likes of Diptyque, Megan Thorne, and Santa Maria Novella. Les Amis is the similar sister store. 615 N 35th St; essenza-inc.com
BOOK LARDER A bookstore devoted entirely to the culinary arts, which plays host to chef demos, signings, and cooking classes. 4252 Fremont Ave N; booklarder.com
FILSON Filson is an iconic Seattle outdoor-wear brand, and the flagship is set in a massive industrial building. Visit before a camping trip! filson.com/store-locator/seattle-store
LUCCA GREAT FINDS Lucca is packed from floor to chandelier-filled ceiling with Astier de Villatte candles, vintage stationery, Herbivore Essentials beauty products, and more. 5332 Ballard Ave NW; lucca-great-finds.myshopify.com
PETER MILLER In addition to a library, the bookstore carries home design goods. Post Alley, 304 Alaskan Way S; petermiller.com
PRISM A boutique with clothing from obscure international labels, home goods, jewelry, gifts, and Seattle-made fragrance line, Blackbird. 5208 Ballard Ave NW; prismseattle.com
PAPER HAMMER Peter Hammer stationery is designed and handprinted in a warehouse studio outside of Seattle. Visit the shop downtown for letterpress tags and cards. 1400 2nd Ave; paper-hammer.com
KOBO KOBO carries rare finds from the art and design world like vintage Japanese tableware, handmade birdhouses, landscape paintings, and special textiles. koboseattle.com
DAY AND WEEKEND TRIPS
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND Bainbridge Island is accessible by ferry (or "the boat" if you’re a local) from Colman Dock downtown. You might even catch sight of a whale on the ride. Visit the quaint downtown, have lunch at Blackbird Bakery, and explore Bloedel Reserve or Olympic National Park, the Pacific Northwest’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. Other dining options include Hitchcock or Hitchcock Deli, Mora Iced Creamery and Pegasus Coffee House. Have adrink at the Bainbridge Island Brewing Company or the Harbour Public House. Shop at Salt House Mercantile and visit the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA). Stay at the Eagle Harbor Inn or The Bainbridge Island Country Inn.
SAN JUAN ISLANDS A 45-minute seaplane ride from Seattle’s Lake Union will land you in the San Juan Islands. Catch sight of seals, whales, and the Seattle skyline on the way. Kenmore Air offers regular flights.
Text: Veronica H. Speck