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Even the occasionally rainy weather can't dampen the spirit and liveliness of Seattle. Seattle embodies the unique Pacific Northwest lifestyle with its endless recreational activities, striking natural scenery, myriad of cultural venues, great restaurants, and of course bottomless supply of coffee houses. The city is a mecca of innovation and entrepreneurial success, including its claim to fame as the birthplace of Starbucks and a functioning international seaport. Well-groomed and stylish, with a dash of the outdoors, Seattle is quickly becoming one of the finest US cities to visit.
Pike Place Market
www.pikeplacemarket.org
As the heart and soul of Seattle, Pike Place market sells an abundance of good food and wares. This is the outlet for many talented artists and craftspeople to show off their creativity. It is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the U.S. National and regional chain stores (except for Starbucks which opened its first store at the market in 1971) are not allowed. Arrive before 9am and watch the market come to life as the proprietors set up shop and take a walk around the original structure.
Space Needle & Seattle Center
www.spaceneedle.com
www.seattlecenter.com
Seattle Center, a 74-acre park north of downtown, is the arts and entertainment hub of the city. It is the home of numerous theatres as well as the Pacific Science Center. It hosts popular annual events, like the Northwest Folk life Festival (Memorial Day weekend) and the Bite of Seattle (mid-July). The Space Needle is the most recognized symbol of the city. This 605-foot tower offers impressive panoramic views. Take a ride up and get a mini-history lesson.
Volunteer Park
1247 15th Avenue East
Tel. 206.684.4075
www.seattle.gov/parks
The gardens were designed over a century ago by the Olmstead Brothers (NY's Central Park fame) and needless to say the many plants from around the world have had enough time to mature. Even if your interests don't lean toward horticulture this is worth a visit.
The Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western Avenue
Tel. 206.654.3100
www.seattleartmuseum.org
This waterfront park with beautiful scenery has fantastic sculpturs of steel, granite, fiberglass and bronze created by nationally renowned artists. All is surrounded by beautiful and marture native trees, shrubs, ferns and wildflowers.
Museum of History and Industry
2700 24th Avenue East
Tel.206.324.1126
www.seattlehistory.org
A network of well maintained paths and boardwalks takes you through thickets of alder, willow and elderberry into marshy islands alive with the trills of red-winged blackbirds and marsh wrens.
Experience Music Project
325 5th Avenue North
Tel. 206.367.5483
www.empsfm.org
For those who love rock ‘n’ roll, Seattle’s answer is the EMP. Not simply a collection of musical artifacts, the project encompasses a Sound Lab to sample instruments as well as the towering Sky Church venue, showcasing the newest musical acts. Housing the largest Jimi Hendrix memorabilia collection, the EMP is a great place to find your own beat.
Theo Chocolate
3400 Phinney Avenue North
Tel. 206.632.5100
www.theochocolate.com
This chocolate factory occupies a building that was once a trolley barn and a later a brewery. Now there are production line machines that produce wonderful chocolate (91 percent cocao) that you can also buy.
Flying Fish
2234 First Ave
Tel. 206.728.8595
http://flyingfishrestaurant.com/
The ambience is consistently warm and welcoming. With its open-air kitched and romantic balcony seats, Flying Fish provides gracious
and informed service with grace. Owner and chef Christine Keff's quirky and and creative Pan-Asian kitchen offers the best organic ingredients and the freshest seafood wrapped in the most decadent of flavors and
seasonings.
Barolo Ristorante
1940 Westlake Avneue
Tel. 206.770.9000
www.baroloseattle.com
This Italian fun party feeling restaurant has geat pasta, rack of lamb and branzino.
Canlis
2576 Aurora Avenue North
Tel. 206.283.3313
www.canlis.com
The pride of the great Pacific Northwest is on display. Diners have great views of Lake Union, northern Seattle and the fir-clad mountains in the distance. This is a spectacular and vibrant place to enjoy a Wagyu rib eye or Kona Kampichi sashimi.
Wild Ginger
1401 Third Ave. (Union St.)
Tel. 206.623.4450
www.wildginger.net
Downtown Pacific Rim cuisine restaurant is worth the crowds. Still a favorite with Seattle-ites!
Café Campagne
1600 Post Alley
Tel. 206.728.2233
www.campagnerestaurant.com
This little slice of Paris sits just a stone's throw from bustling Pike Place Market. Distressed amber walls are covered in mirrors and vintage French advertisements. The bar and small rooms are intimate and gently lit. It’s a perfect spot to snuggle in a corner banquette listening to Piaf and sharing a split of Champagne over a breakfast of oeufs cocotte Provencal or brioche French toast. The menu is casual, concentrating on classic French bistro fare. It’s less expensive than upstairs at Campagne (the older, more elegant sibling that serves dinner only), but just as good. Try the pungent cassoulet, the fragrant, rotisserie-roasted chicken and the strip steak, sauced with garlic and Madeira and paired with perfect frites.
Metropolitan Grill
820 Second Avenue at Marion
Tel. 206.624.3287
www.themetropolitangrill.com
Located in the heart of Downtown Seattle's financial district, Metropolitan Grill is a classic New-York style steak house with high ceilings, mahogany tables and dark green booths with brass hardware. Savor custom dry-aged prime beef grilled over mesquite hardwood, Chateaubriand carved tableside, signature Prime New York Peppercorn steak, seafood, rich desserts, classic cocktails, and a large steak-friendly wine list.
Waterfront Seafood Grill
2801 Alaskan Way (Cross Street: Clay Street)
Tel. 206.956.9171
www.waterfrontpier70.com
The best deck in town is accompanied by intelligent service and impressive fish. Diners are a mix of romantic couples and expense-account diners--no one seems to arrive alone. Service is attentive and knowledgeable. The kitchen serves fresh shellfish and the bar provides plenty of appetizing starters, but don't miss the delectably sweet and crunchy spinach salad.The best views are on the deck or along the west windows, while the most private seats are the small banquettes on the south side. Order a martini at the longest bar in Seattle. It even has neon that changes colors to mimic the ocean.
Licorous
928 12th Avenue
Tel. 206.325.6947
www.licorous.com
Licorous is located in the Pike-Pine Corridor which is one of Seattle's happening areas. The shack like facade opens to a soaring, spare and just the right lighting to have one of the perfect creative cocktails the place is noted for. If your hungry there are great bar snacks as well.
Sitka & Spruce
1531 Melrose Avenue East
Tel. 206.324.0662
www.sitkaandspruce.com
This restaurant, also located in Pike-Pine Corridor, is the work of chef owner Mat Dillon who presents local ingredients and turnis out amazing food and reasonable prices. Portions are big enought that two can share an entree. (Try the beer fried smelts with aioli)
Toulouse Petit
601 Queen Anne Avenue North
Tel. 206.432.9069
www.toulousepetit.com
Brunch is the real deal here! Try the pork cheels confit hash topped with a couple of flied eggs or the eggs Benedict with crab and herbs.
Chartreuse International
2609 First Avenue
Tel. 206.328.4844
For the discerning retro shopper it’s a mod, mod world at Chartreuse, home to lots of white plastic furniture and a mimicking Orbit TV that welcomes people as they walk in. This chic store carries a mix of contemporary house wares and mid-20th century collectibles, with up-to-the-minute names like Eames, Starck, Herman Miller, Alessi and Wegner. Shelves are stocked with European barware and even some jewelry, while the floor showcases mostly ’50s-style furniture.
Elliott Bay Book Company
101 S Main St
Tel. 206.624.6600
The creak of wood floors, worn by more than 25 years of traffic, greets shoppers at this quintessential Northwest bookstore and hangout, celebrated for its extensive fiction selection. They carry every book imaginable, antique editions, calendars, greeting cards, highbrow magazines, and even autographed books by your favorite author, if you search for them. Wander downstairs for a latte and chocolate chip cookie and browse through cheap secondhand books in the cafe. Author events at Elliott Bay are always free and often feature literary giants. Try to get tickets for popular events in advance.
Mario’s of Seattle
1513 6th Avenue
Tel. 206.447.2677
Fine designers and personalized service will give you an elegant, fresh-off-the-runway edge. The selection of merchandise is beautiful: Oscar de la Renta, Helmut Lang, Loro Piana, Christian Louboutin shoes, Temple St. Clair jewelry. The salespeople are very knowledgeable on the way items should fit all body types and can recommend items that compliment your personality. Thanks to their expert in-house tailors, you do not have to have a model’s body to look fabulous.
Seattle.gov
www.seattle.gov/html/visitor/
This site offers details on all the major attractions in an easy-to-use site with downloads available of city guides in 26 different languages.
Seattle Weekly
www.seattleweekly.com
Get up-to-date arts and concert listings.
The Stranger
www.thestranger.com
Edgier than the Weekly, the stranger is a creative and hard-hitting paper representative of the hipster magnet the city has become.
Out in Seattle
www.outinseattle.com
Events and calendars for the city’s diverse gay and lesbian population.
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
2033 6th Avenue
Tel. 206.441.9729
www.jazzalley.com
Jazz Alley is the West Coast's premiere jazz club, which despite many improvements and expansions over the past 27 years, still maintains its original bistro-style ambience. Audiences enjoy weekly performances by artists of international stature: Nancy Wilson, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, McCoy Tyner, Branford Marsalis, Oscar Peterson, Eartha Kitt, Pat Metheny, and many others have all made an appearance here. A full bar and northwest specialty restaurant compliments the music and atmosphere.
See Sound Lounge
115 Blanchard
Tel. 206.374.3733
www.seesoundlounge.com
This mixed age group join to enjoy house music spun by a revolving cast of DJ's. The dance floor is small but there are lots of booths and sofas to crash on.
The Last Supper Club
124 S Washington St
Tel. 206.748.9975
www.lastsupperclub.com
You’ll find big-name DJs and lots of attitude at this classy Pioneer Square dance club on three floors with decks and bars, intelligent lighting and state-of-the-art sound. Upstairs, the flashy main space has a spacious, laser-lit dance floor and a balcony for overseeing the action. Downstairs, cavernous rooms reveal another dance floor and bar. Crushed-velvet couches; chairs and booths spread throughout provide relief from the masses. There’s a nice supply of dimly lit lounging areas, which are great for sitting back with your group or snuggling with your honey, but get there by 11 pm on weekends if you don’t want to be left standing.
Oliver's
405 Olive Way
Tel. 206.382.6995
www.mayflowerpark.com/olivers.asp
This classic hotel bar recalls the age of glamour, gowns and glory. The grand room maintains a relaxed, friendly atmosphere despite its elegance. Tuxedoed gentlemen take their jobs seriously serving martini mavens during afternoon shopping excursions. The décor reflects old-school cool with gold leaf-framed mirrors, wicker chairs, cafe tables and colossal chandeliers. A classic menu serves up civilized bar fare, most notably crab cakes, Stilton salad and lamb dip. You just might feel transported to early 20th-century Europe while meeting with friends for a lovely get-together.
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