Food tourism is so popular that 95% of travelers across the world can be classified as food travelers. Just think—regardless of where you visit, you’ve likely embarked on a culinary tour of some sort. Whether it was self-guided or part of a larger operation, the goal of eating local while traveling the world has not only taken over, some people are traveling solely for the purpose of eating. And, you don’t have to leave the U.S. behind to get your hands on unique grub. One of our favorite West Coast foodie cities is Seattle, and we have about a million reasons why. Read on for some of our best.
Where to Eat
We’d be remiss to write any food article about Seattle without mentioning ShoMon, one of the hottest tickets in town. You’ll need an advanced reservation to dine at the omaske restaurant, which serves eight+ courses of fresh imported fish and other delicacies. A team of trained Japanese chefs and knowledgeable waitstaff prepare you for an evening unlike any other. The seasonal menu is always changing but the commitment to ingredients and flavor aren’t negotiable. Enjoy bites of raw fish, savory soups, and other traditional—and not so traditional—Japanese favorites. We certainly believe you’ll walk away from this dinner having eaten at least one item you’ve never had before.
For a unique chef-driven steakhouse experience that’s equally delicious, head to The Butcher’s Table where you’ll never go hungry. In addition to steak flights (mentioned later), the menu is brimming with high-end plates such as Bone Marrow Risotto served with sweet corn, walnut and parmesan, Smoked King Salmon served with tomato vinaigrette and basil, Beef Fat Brioche with sea salt and cayenne, and Steak Tartare with egg yolk and pickles.
If you’re willing to travel a bit, you’ll unlock another section of chic date night restaurants off the beaten path. In the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, fresh pasta and seafood dishes delight at Autumn. And after dinner you’ll be smack in the middle of the cutest neighborhood filled with places to get a last call before heading home. In West Seattle, GH Pasta and Pizza is the place everybody knows your name, and you’re likely to be treated like a local even if it’s your first time in.
Whether you’re craving breakfast, lunch, or dinner, head to Koko’s on Capitol Hill. The fresh Mexican food tastes even better in the airy digs, which translate well into late night parties. The cocktail program stands out with traditional Mexican cocktails with a twist. And every single one of them looks just as good as it tastes. Don’t miss out on the Mexican Sashimi and Mexican Corn. Or, come by for a weekend brunch when a morning menu takes over.
Speaking of brunch, you’ll never regret eating early at RockCreek Seafood & Spirits. If you’re here for vacation, get the party started with oyster shooters or a plate of shareable baked oysters on the patio. Then, dive into the menu. Its Kirkland location right on the water is an ideal spot to enjoy fresh catches and beautiful views. RockCreek’s menu centers around globally sourced seafood and local Northwest favorites. A few highlights include Creole Dungeness Crab Cake Benedict and Wild Caught Carolina Prawns “St. Helena.” The NOLA-inspired menu items are favorites amongst customers and for that reason we couldn’t leave without an order of Caramelized Onion Apple & Ricotta Beignets, a flavorful and fresh wink at the classic. The Brioche French Toast—another bakery must.
Drinks Only
Karoo Café is one of those truly unique places we don’t have a reference point for. Built on the premise of African-inspired spirits and desserts, the menu is focused on South African liquors. The owner, hailing from South Africa herself, brings complex and authentic flavors with imported spirits. And at night, live music takes over, turning the casual gathering place into a late night drinks spot that’s both sophisticated and lively.
Experience It All
If you want your meal with a side of adventure, head to Pike’s Place Market. But don’t just walk around. Instead, book an Eat Seattle Tour where an industry guide leads you through the market sharing insight and history while also stopping off at a list of purveyors to offer up small bites of their best items.
Or head to Seattle Chocolate Factory where you can get an inside look at how the retailer makes chocolate bars and truffles. Plus, a complimentary tasting of delicious treats and fresh cacao.
If you have plans to visit the Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum, stop off at The Bar, where a short menu of shareable bites to include fish and chips and Wagyu sliders are served in a quaint and quirky eatery filled with the artist’s personal collections. The central location makes this the ideal dining space for those marking the big attractions off of their list such as the Space Needle or the Museum of Pop Culture.
Taking Off
Flights were once synonymous with wine, but today, you can sample just about any food or drink in this fun sampler’s format. And Seattle is all in with creative options.
Steak Flights.
The Butcher’s Table serves smaller cuts of higher-quality beef, with steaks expertly trimmed to ensure everything on the plate is enjoyed. Their tasting flights allow diners to explore several different types of steak at once , with two options to indulge. The flight of steaks is exactly what it sounds like, featuring four four-ounce strips of delicious beef. For $167 or $192 eye of rib, Manhattan cut New York, Zabuton, and filet mignon are plated. The difference between the two is their rating. The first is classified as a 5-star flight while the more expensive option is the Ultra.
Pasta Flights.
Pasta lovers rejoice! I’ve never seen a flight quite like this. At Messina Modern Italian Kitchen, the focus is on modern Italian cuisine. And the pasta flight, featuring five of the menu’s favorites, has helped the restaurant thrive. The full flight costs $114 and is shareable, or you can order up a petite flight, featuring just three pastas of your choice from the menu for $79 (ideal for splitting between two). The beauty is you get to pick your favorites instead of having them pre-selected for you.
Espresso Martini Flights.
The Starbucks Reserve Roastery is more than your average Starbucks. Instead, the Pike Street building is a haven of experiences, featuring entire kitchens with larger menus and fresh food cooked in-house daily. There are also plenty of coffee tasting experiences. If you’re a fan of the grown-up Red Bull and vodka (AKA the espresso martini), Starbucks has you covered. Enjoy a flight of three signature espresso martini cocktails at the Roastery bar to either start your day or end it.
Wine Flights.
Of course, we can’t make a flight list without including a little wine. There are several tasting opportunities in Seattle, but we’ve pegged a few of our favorites. Princess and Bear wines is a stand-out largely because the tasting room represents an underrepresented region of French wines. Carefully plucked from the Languedoc-Roussillon region, the tasting room represents many small-batch wine makers.
Full Pull Wines is another must-visit due to its unique business model. The owner hand selects wines and buys the best boutique wines in bulk for a large email list of members. He blasts out a daily creatively written email asking for commitments to buy as many bottles as someone likes. Then, he imports the wine to the warehouse for pick-up or shipping. There is no membership fee or minimum order and you can also stop into the warehouse which doubles as a tasting room to buy available vinos and do a tasting. The wines on the list change frequently but there’s always something surprising. SODO Urbanworks where Full Pull is located, is home to a handful of other wineries so you can create your own wine tasting trail without leaving the industrial park
Where to Stay
If your goal is to try as much delicious food in Seattle as humanly possible, you’ll want to consider both central location of your hotel and its own culinary offerings. We are partial to The Kimpton Palladian because it checks both boxes—just steps from Pike Place Market and with its own delicious restaurant and bar on site.
Shaker & Spear is a chic eatery bursting with fresh seafood and other delights. We recommend starting with a plate of Oysters Mignonette Celery to share or perhaps Charred Octopus. If you’re in for brunch, the Dungeness Crab Benedict is a must. If you don’t fancy fish, the duck breast made with peach salsa, shishito peppers, cilantro curry cream, and crispy garlic is a combination of flavors no one saw coming while the Pea Risotto is rich with brown butter, snow peas, basil, and fresh apple. Each dish offers a creative spin on fresh, local ingredients, making anything you order a culinary slam dunk.
Before letting your head hit the pillow, have one last night cap at Pennyroyal Bar. The dark and swanky bar feels like the perfect intimate after-spot only the locals know about (and guests of the hotel). You’ll avoid the buzz of nearby streets while sipping glasses of red wine and negronis in style before retreating to your accommodation just up the stairs.
Not far, the Thompson Hotel is another worthy option. Similar boutique accommodations just steps from Pike Place Market are calling, but this one’s main attraction is The Nest, a luxury rooftop bar and restaurant boasting views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountain Range. The menu is meant to be more snacky than decadent, which makes The Nest a good stopping point for sunset cocktails or late night drinks before or after your dinner reservation. Bonus: You’ll see the vibrant Ferris wheel showing off in the distance if you dine after dark.