Last updated on May 21st, 2018 at 01:36 am
A few weekends ago I was in Seattle – sipping coffee, munching my way through Pike Place Market, and seeing as many sites as possible. Here is everything you need to do, see, and eat!
Getting There
From the airport, the Link light rail goes into downtown Seattle and the surrounding area, so I recommend taking this route if you don’t want to spring for an Uber. It is possible to make transfers if you are staying outside of the city, but we opted to take an Uber from the International District/Chinatown Station because it was late.
Where We Stayed
Our Airbnb was located next to Seattle University, so it was a bit of a walk to downtown. I wouldn’t recommend this Airbnb unless you need something really cheap ($40 per night). The house is very old, so you can hear the other tenants all night.
Places to Eat
The Crumpet Shop
This was my favorite quick breakfast. Located right in Pike Place Market, this place was cute and served delicious crumpets with sweet or savory toppings. The house-made chai latte was creamy and spicy, just like it should be!
Piroshky Piroshky
I read abut Piroshky Piroshky over and over again in my research. In my opinion, the hype was not really worth it. My potato and cheese piroshky was a little cold and the ingredients were nothing special. I much preferred The Crumpet Shop, but Piroshky Piroshky is more popular. If you feel the need to experience it for yourself, let me know what you think. Otherwise, I think you’re okay to skip this one.
Pablo y Pablo
An upscale Spanish restaurant serving craft cocktails, tacos, and miscellaneous snacks and entrees, Pablo y Pablo was a great find. For brunch we had some very fresh guacamole and several yummy breakfast tacos. I also enjoyed the sangria. This is right along the Burke-Gilman Trail, so take a stroll along the bay or visit the Gas Works Park afterwards to burn off some calories!
Purple Cafe + Wine Bar
Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and salad plus a wine list as big as a text book, which includes wine flights. Unfortunately, I did not partake, but it’s still the most impressive wine list I’ve ever seen. Located in central downtown, this is a great spot for lunch or dinner.
Serious Pie
I read about Serious Pie several times in my search for great food in Seattle. Our first day in Seattle, it was suggested to us again. At that point, we had to go. Their normal prices are a little pricey, but if you go during happy hour, you can get any pizza for six dollars. It’s only Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 pm, so plan accordingly. The pizzas here were great, with the most flavorful crust I’ve ever had and fresh, unusual ingredients.
8 oz. Burger & Co.
Sometimes I just crave a juicy burger. Well, when I found this place, that was what I was craving. The 8 oz. burger hit the spot with arugula, balsamic onions, bacon, truffle oil, and Beecher’s flagship cheddar. Again, happy hour (4 to 6 pm and 9 pm to close) is the time to go, otherwise it can be expensive.
Ba BaR
Ba Bar serves Vietnamese fare and creative cocktails in an upscale setting. Luke and I do not eat Vietnamese food very often, so it was an experience for us. We ordered the Banh Nam, which is basically the equivalent of a tamale made with rice flour and pork, wrapped in banana leaves. It was fun to try and I enjoyed it, but Luke was not a huge fan. For dinner, we ordered Vermicelli Bowls, which we were a little unsure of how to eat, but tasted good anyway. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the experience of trying something new!
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
This one is obvious. Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is amazing and people line up out the door to get their hands on a grilled cheese or some of their delicious mac n’ cheese. Just don’t plan to sit down, it gets pretty crowded.
General Porpoise Donuts
A friend who lived in Seattle for a while suggested this place to me and it was pretty good. Their specialty is custard and jam stuffed donuts. The regulars are Vanilla Custard, Lemon Curd, and Chocolate Marshmallow with two rotating flavors.
Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
You can’t miss out on Molly Moon’s when visiting Seattle, it’s amazing. They source their ingredients primarily from the Pacific Northwest and the ice cream is made in one of their four shops. They have several seasonal flavors as well as flavors they always keep in stock.
hello robin
Cookies and ice cream are a brilliant combination and Hello Robin brings this to a whole new level with their homemade cookies and Molly Moon’s ice cream. The classic chocolate chip is amazing – but they also have Mexican chocolate and a Mackles’more, a s’more cookie made with Theo chocolate. Definitely worth a visit!
Places to Drink
Smith Tower
Tourist attraction and bar, all in one. Smith Tower was built in 1914 and the first skyscraper in Seattle. From 10 am – 6 pm, you can take a self guided tour to witness Smith Tower as it was during the Prohibition. Claim a character and find answers to questions as you wander around the building. Then, take the original elevator of Smith Tower to the 35th floor to the observatory and speakeasy bar. Here, catch some beautiful views of the Seattle skyline and order 1920’s themed drinks. The tour costs 19 bucks, but you get a 10% discount if you book online and another 10% off one drink at the Observatory if you fill out four of the five the character questions. They also have a student/military discount (only $15), so bring an ID if applicable. You can skip the tour entirely and just head to the speakeasy after 6:30 pm, but you still have to pay a small entrance fee.
Needle & ThreaD
This is by far the coolest speakeasy I have yet experienced. The entrance is through Tavern Law. Simply pick up the old rotary phone in the corner and someone will tell you the wait time. When it’s your turn, a large door opens and you walk up a small, dark staircase. Inside the small space is an assortment of chairs, the bar, and dim lighting that makes it seem like a real speakeasy. The bartenders make you a special drink based on your preferences of flavors and alcohols.
Canon
This bar was recommended to us from several people and it lived up to it’s expectations. With a variety of cocktails to choose from in a variety of containers (feel like drinking out of a Campbell’s soup can?) and a classy atmosphere, this is a place I would visit again and again. Just be prepared to wait, as it is very popular and there is no standing room.
Fremont Brewing
Fremont Brewing is one of my favorite breweries I’ve visited so far, including those in Colorado. The atmosphere was laid back and fun, with free pretzels, a large outdoor patio, and of course, great brews.
Schilling Cider
I tried several ciders from Schilling Cider at the Cider Fest in Colorado, the Grapefruit and Chill and the Rhubarb Pear. To be honest, I didn’t realize that this cider company was from Seattle at first, but I was ecstatic when I made the connection. Luke and I both got a flight here including the grapefruit, pomegranate, winter spice, peach, a nitro cold brew coffee, ginger, and a few non-Schilling ciders. They were all great, although the Winter Spice could have been a little spicier. The nitro cold brew coffee, Grumpy Bear, is the first nitro hard cider to hit the market and it’s (surprisingly) amazing. Another cool thing about Schilling Cider, as if we need another, is that they have other cideries on tap. It’s also down the street from Fremont Brewing, so you can easily hit both!
The Pike Brewing Co.
Located in Pike Place Market, The Pike Brewing Co. had a great atmosphere, with vintage style decorations, food, and many beer options. We got one of their pre-determined flights, which included three IPAs. I don’t generally like IPAs, so I didn’t enjoy them, but the other beers were pretty good.
Teku Tavern
We stopped here after the Chihuly Museum because it was our first day in Seattle and we were ready to start celebrating. TeKu Tavern is a tap house that has a variety of beers from many different breweries. My Colorado pride kicked in when I saw several that I recognized from home. Luke got a Peanut Butter Milk Stout from Belching Beaver that was the best I have ever had. It wasn’t too sweet or too hoppy but creamy and wonderful like real peanut butter.
Rachel’s ginger beer
This is a really popular spot in Pike Place Market. With different flavors of ginger beer and creative cocktails crafted out of ginger beer, I can see why! I got the peach ginger beer and it was great.
Other recomendations
Bath Tub Gin, Knee High Stocking, Sun Liquor Lounge, Foreign National
Things To Do
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market can get busy on the weekend, so we opted to go on Friday. The market was just opening when we got there but most of the food stands were open. The market was filled with rows and rows of fresh vegetables and fruits, pastries, sausages, and of course, fish. We sampled, and bought, some amazing chocolate covered cherries from Chukar Cherries as well as some gifts from Market Spice.
Starbucks Reserve roastery
This was a spontaneous stop, but definitely worth it. Admire the splendor of Starbucks while ordering cold-brew mixed drinks, elegant pastries, or unique coffee drinks from their specialty menu.
Explore fremont
Fremont was one of my favorite parts of Seattle. I recommend checking out the Fremont Troll for great photo opportunities. Stroll through the cute shops and restaurants or walk along the Burke-Gilman trail that borders the Fremont Cut.
Seattle japanese garden
The Seattle Japanese Garden came across my radar during my research and it seemed like something that was a little off the beaten track. I had never been to a Japanese Garden so I was intrigued by this idea. This is one of the oldest gardens in North America and it is very tranquil and beautiful. The entrance fee is 6 dollars, unless you have a Student ID, then it’s only 4 dollars. They close for the winter months, however, so be sure to check their hours.
chihuly garden and Glass
This is one of the coolest museums I have yet to visit. Although it is very expensive ($24 for an adult) I think it is worth it. You can buy a pass that gets you into the Space Needle as well, which saves you some money.
gas works park
Located in Fremont along the Burke-Gilman trail, Gas Works Park is worth visiting. If you aren’t interested in seeing the remains of the Seattle Gas Light Company’s coal gasification plant, which are pretty cool, there’s also the gorgeous views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline.
theo chocolate tour
I highly recommend a visit to Theo Chocolate, the first chocolate company in the US to produce organic and fair trade chocolate. The tour was fun, enlightening, and tasty for the small price of 10 dollars.
kerry park
A trip to Seattle wouldn’t be complete without the iconic Kerry Park. When we first pulled up, I was surprised how small the park was, partially because it was on a very large hill and partially because the main attraction here is the beautiful Seattle skyline, complete with the Space Needle front and center.
The Elliot bay book Company
The Elliot Bay Book Company is a two story bookstore in Seattle complete with a coffee shop and that new book smell. If you are a book lover, Elliot Bay is a fun place to visit and stroll around, just try not to get lost in the endless rows of bookshelves.
Other Things To Do:
- Olympic Sculpture Park and the Seattle Art Museum
- Washington Park Arboretum
- Whale watching (generally May through September)
- Space Needle
- Discovery Park off the Puget Sound
- West Seattle and Alki Beach
- Museum of Pop Culture
- Hike Mount Rainier or other beautiful trails
I loved exploring this city and can’t wait to return!
What was the highlight of your time in Seattle?
