What to eat, drink and do in Seattle. Enjoy!

Breakfast & Brunch

Macrina is amazing. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly. It’s small and everything is cooked and baked right there. The aroma will delight you. Brunch is only served on Saturdays and Sundays, and since they don’t accept reservations, be prepared to wait for a table if you get there after 11 AM. Put your name on the list, order a coffee and hang out – this place is worth it. Last time I visited there wasn’t much to see nearby while I waited, so I suggest bringing a book or a friend. (Belltown)

Sweet Iron makes bomb Belgian waffles. Must eat. (Downtown)

Top Pot kicks out the freshest doughnuts in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood atmosphere. Enjoy with a coffee amongst ceiling-high bookshelves full of old texts and a forest of MacBooks planted on tabletops. (Capitol Hill)

Lunch Only

The people at City Soups sure know how to make soup! Open for lunch. I’ve only visited the Bellevue location, but if you’re hanging in Seattle you might want to try the Downtown spot. I’m sure it’s just as good. (Downtown and East Side – Bellevue)

Lunch & Dinner

Dick’s burgers: cheap, local to Seattle and better than In-N-Out. Does waiting in line, eating standing up (or sitting on the curb), watching rowdy people, being panhandled and witnessing a myriad of other entertaining things appeal to you? Then Dick’s is your place. Get a Deluxe, fries and a shake and experience Capitol Hill on the street. For rowdier times, go on a Friday or Saturday after midnight. (Capitol Hill)

It’s worth the journey across the lake to visit Yummy Teriyaki for their spicy chicken teriyaki and gyoza. Don’t even mess around with anything else there. Inexpensive. (East Side - Redmond)

Sichuanese Cuisine is the old favorite Chinese hangout of my college group. I recommend the Mongolian beef and Mongolian chicken. I’ve never had it better anywhere else. Inexpensive. (East Side – Bellevue)

Dinner Only

Olivar is an intimate fine-dining experience with a friendly staff and excellent Spanish food. Their wine selection is great, too. The menu changes often. Reservation recommended, as the dining area seats only a few dozen. (Capitol Hill)

Bring friends to Queen Sheba and share a large platter of assorted Ethiopian dishes. Be sure to order the honey wine. (Capitol Hill)

Coffee & Espresso

The Vivace Sidewalk Bar is the place to get your latte on Broadway, period. It’s classic. Outdoor seating only. Be sure to go to this location, because there is another Vivace on the east side of Broadway, a few blocks north, and it’s not as cool. (Capitol Hill)

Joe Bar is the coffee shop in which I inevitably stop every time I am in town. Come hungry for a crêpe! I like to sit outside and read a copy of The Stranger (the LA Weekly of Seattle, but cooler) while I enjoy the afternoon. (Capitol Hill)

Victrola roasts coffee on-site. Their cafe is aesthetically pleasing and includes lots of natural light. If that isn’t enough for you, consider that they play cool music and have a terribly comfy armchair for sitting. (Capitol Hill)

Tea

Remedy Tea is the place for tea. Great selection, yummy noms, chill music, and you can buy loose tea in bulk. The staff is delightful and knowledgable. A very “modern” tea experience, not like traditional British or Asian tea houses. (Capitol Hill)

Beer

The Stumbling Monk is inconspicuous and hard to find, but damn-well worth the search. Look for a little hanging sign above a dark, plain door at the southwest corner of E Olive Ave and Belmont Ave E. Sit by the window if you go during sunset. (Capitol Hill)

Pike Brewing Company is a great place to visit after exploring Pike Place Market. They have lots of their own microbrews on tap and serve flights. (Downtown)

Visit Elysian Brewing for great microbrews and food. (Capitol Hill)

Do – Music

El Corazón is the definition of dive venue. I go there every time I am in town to catch some random (and not so random) screaming bands play. It’s the stomping grounds of my old favorite, the Schoolyard Heroes. Drink a Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can for me. (Downtown)

Do – Art & Theatre

ACT Theatre produces excellent contemporary plays. (Downtown)

The Seattle Art Museum always has cool stuff going. (Downtown)

Do – Sights

Pike Place Market is the place for fresh meats, fish, flowers, honey, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more. It’s a space of both permanent businesses and farmer’s market-style setup and takedown stands. On the weekends it’ll be crowded with tourists and locals. That fish throwing thing Seattle is known for? This is where it happens. For further exploration, on the east side of Pike Pl are more shops and attractions including cheese making (that’s Beecher’s) and the original Starbucks, if you’re in to that. Finally, stop at Victor Steinbrueck Park for great views of the city and Puget Sound. Go here even if you’re not buying anything – it’s a scene. (Downtown)

The Space Needle is the obvious Seattle tourist attraction, and worth the $20 to ride the elevator to the top. The 360-view is awesome and the top deck has a lot of information about the Needle’s history. The rotating restaurant is a tad pricy, but worth doing once. (Queen Anne)

Do – Neighborhoods

Capitol Hill is my favorite neighborhood in Seattle. It’s comfortable, interesting and full of culture. Take it easy and enjoy watching the people and looking at the houses in this area. My favorite part is the main drag, Broadway. Definitely explore the neighborhood streets to the east and west of Broadway, which are bounded on the north by E Roy St and on the south by E Pike St, to get a feel for life in the neighborhood. There’s also 15th St, which is home to more shops, cafes and restaurants.