We split our time between LA and Seattle for a little over a year and I did some major exploring. My favorite way to get to know a city is through the food scene and Seattle certainly has no shortage!
Below are my current favorites, and like the rest of the Gaby's Guide series, I'll update it any time I find new gems. We still go back to visit my parents every few months, so check back!
Mamnoon - go for happy hour and get all the dips and pita!!
Stateside - one of my favorite places to go with a group. Order one of everything and eat your way through the entire menu!
mBar - perfect place for happy hour downtown!
Manolin - right in the heart of Fremont, this place is adorable. It doesn't hurt that it's right next to one of my favorite bakeries of all times too!
Taylor Shellfish - oysters and champagne. Need I even say more? It's great to go here in Capitol Hill for a bite before dinner!
Revel - oh Revel! Let me count the ways! Some of the best food ever. Those dumplings give me life every single time.
Delancey - pizza all day, every day!
Staple and Fancy - one of the many Ethan Stowell restaurants that I love. This one is right in Ballard and we've been lucky every time we walk in that we can just grab a seat at the bar and have dinner and drinks!
How to cook a Wolf - omg the pasta here, the olives, everything. It's one of my all time favorite places in Seattle for sure.
Walrus + Carpenter - go for the oysters and stay for the dessert. Everything on the menu is fantastic but no reservations so be sure to go early and be okay waiting for a table.
Rooftop bar on the Thompson - FAVORITE place to go in the summer for drinks with a view!
Matts in the Market - the ultimate ladies who lunch place!
Cafe Besalu - easily the best pastries in Seattle!!
Stoneburner - one of our fav places to go for brunch!! Breakfast pizza and avo toast are top notch!
The Independent Pizzeria - if you're looking for the best pizza in Seattle (Washington state for that matter) this is it! The crust is perfect and you can eat an entire pie and walk out without feeling like you're going to pop!
La Carta de Oaxaquena - ok so Mexican food in Seattle is HARD to come by, but this place does the trick for me every time. It's a little over priced but when you need salsa, YOU NEED SALSA!
Tavolata - the spaghetti and meatballs will probably change your life. It's beyond.
Cafe Munir - Lebanese food is my favorite of all times, and this place is fantastic. Get all the dips and a few mains to share and your set. Also it's super casual, so don't feel the need to get dressy.
Joule - it's the sister restaurant to Revel and it's equally as amazing. The octopus in particular is my fav!
Sushi Kashiba - fancy sushi right down - it's delish but spendy!!
Chavez - more Mexican food because whenever I'm in Seattle, I can never get enough.
Spinasse - pasta, pasta and more pasta. Easily one of the best places for Italian.
Wataru - second best sushi in the city in my opinion!
Sushi Kappo Tamura - my other fav sushi place is in this sleepy part of town! It's our favorite place to go for a quick light lunch without crowds!
General Pourpoise - one word: Donuts!
Miir Coffee - it's a coffee shop communal work space during the day and a great place to grab a beer on tap in the afternoon. Also home to my favorite matcha latte and kombucha on tap!
Holy Mountain - one of our fav breweries to set up shop for the day! Bring games or a deck of cards, you'll want to stay a while
Stoup Brewing - a fun brewery in the heart of Ballard!
Reuben's Brews - if you want to go to one of the most popular breweries in the city - this is it! But be prepared to elbow your way to a table. It's slammed if you go anything after 2pm.
Smith Tower - it costs about $25 bucks per person to get to the top of Seattles first skyscraper, but it's worth it! The bar is fantastic, and the 360 degree view of the city is unmatched! But go on a sunny day for maximum fabulousness!
You should definitely try Altura. It’s insanely expensive but really amazing. Lionshead is good for spicy Chinese too. I was born and raised in LA and then moved here, like Mexican food Chinese food is hard to come by as well.
Rositas in Greenlake has gotten the stamp of approval from a couple of my Mexican friends (one being a chef), aside from that- bottle house in Madrona (same group as Mr. West), as well as Sushi Kappa Tamara in Eastlake!! Enjoy and welcome 🙂
Love cafe munir! I had my first birthday dinner with my husband new baby there 4 years ago. I was so excited that it opened and brought authentic middle eastern food nearby. Cafe Besalu would probably be on my list and hotcakes too. Those are places I hit up, when I was back in Seattle. Great list!
Any of Chef Brian Clevenger's restaurants are amazing! Our favorite is his new one, Le Messe! You can't go wrong with anything you order. He makes EVERYTHING from scratch (even the cheese). Go there in the morning and see them prepping all the pasta and desserts.
Thank you for this list! I’m in Seattle for a girls weekend right now and we ate at Tavolata last night. So delicious!!! And yes, the spaghetti and meatballs was perfection!
Great list, Gaby! We discovered a little known neighborhood gem in the Eastlake area a couple years ago - Serafina - and now make it a point to go there whenever we are in town. It's excellent Italian food.
Il Corvo for lunchtime pasta. And biscuits at The Wandering Goose!
Yes Il Corvo for lunch is AMAZING. With a line out the door before 11:30 but it's so worth every bit of the wait. And their dulce de leche cookies are mouthwatering.
The Pink Door, Sushi Kappo Tamura, Bateau, Frankie & Jo’s, Hello Robin, The Butcher’s Table, Lola and Purple Cafe!
Sushi Kappo Tamura is amazing!!!
Thanks for all the great ideas and recs!
Señor Moose in Ballard for Mexican is delicious! And their guac is my favorite in seattle!
Yes! I was just about to write this. Senor Moose is MUCH better than La Carta De Oaxaca!!! It's my favorite breakfast spot in Seattle.
AGREED 1000000% percent!!
Rockcreek in Fremont is amazing for brunch. Chandlers on Lake Union is a great patio spot on a nice day. Have you tried the PNW geoduck? It’s hilarious to look at in the tank, but quite tasty.
Agree on Spinasse and Matt’s. Thanks for the tips on all of the others. I can’t wait to try them when I go back to Seattle!
I just left you a long message on IG and now I see you've discovered some of my faves! Another great place is Little Brothers in Kirkland, the desserts are worth the wait.
Gracia in Ballard is the best Mexican we found, So true, Mexican food is hard to come be in the PNW.
Odd fellows Cafe is a great lunch spot
General Porpoise has AMAZING donuts
and Hot Cakes in Ballard is a must if you love chocolate as much as I do 🙂
I could go on and on.... so many great restaurants in Seattle. It almost makes you forget the rain!
Elliott's is one of my favorite places in Seattle. The food is incredible and the view is amazing!
The Pink Door is fantastic also! Books out weeks ahead though....and Pie Bar has the best pie you will ever eat!
Rione XIII is one of the best restaurants in Seattle in my opinion! The Cacio de Pepe is to die for.