Seattle Trip—tips/suggestions requested! (Foodies, I need you!)

[fleur-de-lis]

My fiancé and I will be heading out for a romantic getaway weekend to explore Seattle. It’s kind of an ad hoc trip, and other than knowing that (1) we’re staying downtown, (2) we have decided to go car-free and explore the city exclusively on foot/rail/taxi/ferry, (3) Seattle weather this time of year is going to be COLD AND RAINY, it seems prudent to to have a bunch of indoor-ideas of things to check out and cool places to hangout.

Have any PS’ers lived there or recently vacationed there and can make suggestions for any of the following in the downtown area:
 Elegant or hip restaurant
 places to grab a cocktail
 great hole-in-the-wall places to eat
 eateries “foodies” should not miss
 best breakfast?
 stall/shops @pike place
 coffee shops (it is Seattle, after all)
 if we were to take a ferry, a destination to make the ferry trip worthwhile
 cultural/architectural places worth visiting
 late-night hangouts
 live music venues
 jewelry shops worth visiting (local-owned)?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Are you planning to rent a car if you take a ferry? I lived on one of the islands here for 8 years, during my teens, and with the one I lived on, a car was a necessity! Not sure about all the other ones, but among the ones we visited, we also needed a car to get around. Maybe someone else can chime in. . .I''ve not read of any of the others here who live in WA talk of living on any of the islands. Just my experience. I know that Vashon Island has or had a walk on boat. Maybe that island has more activities right off the boat.

 

[rierie26]

-Definitely go to the Space Needle and Seattle Center! I don''t recommend eating at the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle though -- it''s overpriced.
-If you like music, the Experience Music Project can be fun on a rainy day. Depending on their exhibit when you go, the price of admission is worth it. The building is pretty cool and now part of it is a science fiction museum. I haven''t been to that part of it.
-The Ballard Locks are pretty cool too. Salmon ladders and educational. They aren''t too close to downtown though, but there''s buses and if you take a tour it might take you there.
-Fremont is a funky little neighborhood. I love it. There''s a lot of public art (troll under the bridge!) and it has one of my favourite sushi places. It''s a pretty casual place that has conveyor belt sushi! Kinda like sushi boat but on a conveyor belt instead! It''s called Blue C Sushi.
-Pioneer Square is the oldest part of downtown. It''s quite cute and there''s an underground walking tour that gives you a really good grasp of Seattle''s history and takes you under the city. I loved it.
-Nightlife depends one what you like to do. Clubs/Music Venues are located in certain neighborhoods.

 

[winelover23]

Skip the space needle, it''s overrated. That''s just me though and I hate heights!

Ancient Grounds at 1220 1st is my favorite coffee hole in the city! http://www.yelp.com/biz/ancient-grounds-seattle-2

The Brooklyn is one of my favorite places to eat 1212 2nd http://www.thebrooklyn.com/ a little spendy but I love the atmosphere and I''ve never had a bad meal there (knock on wood).

The purple cafe is a trendy wine bar that is kinda fun if you like wine http://www.thepurplecafe.com/

If you are by chance staying at the W their bar is pretty swanky and they make great martinis.

As far as things to do you really can''t miss the market, it''s prime people watching! Where are you staying? You can pretty much walk everywhere in the immediate downtown area. There is tons of shopping downtown and if you want a B&M jewelry store then there is a Tiffany''s in Pacific Place but if you want to venture over to Greenlake Jewelery that would be about a 15 -20 minute cab ride depending on traffic. That''s about all the input I''ve got. I go to the city to eat, drink coffee or shop. Have an awesome trip!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I do think the space needle is fun to see from a distance, but the seattle center is so gross and not worth a day visit! It costs $17 per adult to go up to the top of the needle.

My kids do love going there and looking at all the exhibits. . .that's the only time we go there!

 

[katamari]

I second winelover that you have to go to the market. The traffic makes it a little kitsch, but it really has some great food stands. (Seriously, don''t miss Piroshky Piroshky--so, so, so delicious).

If you are into beer, you have to go to Brouwer''s and Elysian. The first is a pub with an amazing tap list (and great moules & frites) and the second is a brew pub.

The last time I was there, we had really good meals at How to Cook a Wolf and Poppy.

I loved the Experience Music Project. It is a very hand-on place, and the interaction makes it enjoyable.

I don''t live there (yet), but am a frequent visitor, so take my recommendations as you will.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Kitcha, Winelover, MC and Katamari, thank you very much for posting! You''ve really helped me out.

Kitcha-- ah, yes, I remember the Ballard Locks from my childhood visit! It''s a testament to your recommendation if I still have sharp memories of it after all these years. My FI had heard of the Experience Music Project (and apparently already been on the website because when I did a google search, the link was the color which indicates that it had been visited in the last couple of weeks, heh heh), so I think your rec. puts it over the tipping point. And after perusing your recs. online, the underground tour sounds too unique to pass up. THANK YOU! BTW, is Fremont your favorite neighborhood?

Winelover-- based on your name alone, I''ve entered each and every one of your recs. into my iphone.

Probably going to hit the coffee hole several times, and the menu at Purple Cafe is exactly the type of place we''re hoping to try while there. (Small plates = ability to visit many different places in a day.) Are there any other places along the lines of Purple Cafe which you would also recommend? On the coffee front, what is your personal take on Caffe Vita? Can you suggest any recommended gastropubs that my beer-loving guy would like?

MC-- Hee hee, I also have childhood memories from the Space Needle, no wonder your kids love going there! (It stands out because I don''t have any particular fear of heights, but I distinctly remember having vertigo up there; if memory serves, aren''t the glass walls tilted outwards rather than straight up-and-down?) I might have been willing to forego Seattle Center this time, but ever since my FI saw that he could take a monorail to get there, I fear it''s gone on his must-do list.

Any tips for the things you do to keep yourself happy while you''re there? And now I''m curious... what makes it gross?

Katamari-- Okay, Piroshky Piroshky is entered into Notes! We can warmly embrace kitsch if the end results are satisfied tastebuds and a full, happy belly.

Can you personally recommend any other vendors @Pike? Also, have you visited Mario Batali''s dad''s salumeria (Salumi Artisan Cured Meats on Third Avenue) and do you have any impressions of it?

I have a feeling that my guy will want to write you a personal thank you note when we get back for having recommended the beer joints and Music Project! It sounds like you have a direct line to his soul, Kata. I take your recommendations heartily despite your protestations. When you visit, are there places you typically visit again and again for breakfast and lunch?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the windows tip out. There are also horizontal cables to keep people from jumping! lol

The seattle center in general is just old and dirty. I chase my kids around with anti-bacterial sanitizer while in the exhibits. There is a food court, which is a plus, if that's your kind of thing!!! lol A few years back, DH and I went to a Day of the Dead festival there and found a small section tucked away that serves burgers and micro-beer and we endulged there (didn't have the kids with us).

I've never been inside the Experience Music Project. They have a resturant there and IIRC we could access it from outside and we may have eaten in there. It's kind of a blurr and that may be because it was nothing impressive.

Keep in mind, because I have kids, I'm kind of out of the loop. Usually we go to children friendly spots like the arboredum, which has a beautiful Japanese garden with koi (a bit early in the year to fully enjoy the Japanese maples), the zoo and we've taken the kids to Pike Place. Other than that, our main activity is going to Marinier's games.

Oh, there is one fun thing we love: renting kayaks & rowboats. . . http://depts.washington.edu/ima/IMA_wac.php#wac_hours

I guess for everything I've recommended you'll be taking a bus ride for. lol I'm so use to having a car!

Ooops, forgot the Aquarium. That's downtown and in walking distance from Pike Place.

 

[rierie26]

Date: 1/27/2010 1:17:37 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis
Kitcha, Winelover, MC and Katamari, thank you very much for posting! You''ve really helped me out.

Kitcha-- ah, yes, I remember the Ballard Locks from my childhood visit! It''s a testament to your recommendation if I still have sharp memories of it after all these years. My FI had heard of the Experience Music Project (and apparently already been on the website because when I did a google search, the link was the color which indicates that it had been visited in the last couple of weeks, heh heh), so I think your rec. puts it over the tipping point. And after perusing your recs. online, the underground tour sounds too unique to pass up. THANK YOU! BTW, is Fremont your favorite neighborhood?

Winelover-- based on your name alone, I''ve entered each and every one of your recs. into my iphone.

Probably going to hit the coffee hole several times, and the menu at Purple Cafe is exactly the type of place we''re hoping to try while there. (Small plates = ability to visit many different places in a day.) Are there any other places along the lines of Purple Cafe which you would also recommend? On the coffee front, what is your personal take on Caffe Vita? Can you suggest any recommended gastropubs that my beer-loving guy would like?

MC-- Hee hee, I also have childhood memories from the Space Needle, no wonder your kids love going there! (It stands out because I don''t have any particular fear of heights, but I distinctly remember having vertigo up there; if memory serves, aren''t the glass walls tilted outwards rather than straight up-and-down?) I might have been willing to forego Seattle Center this time, but ever since my FI saw that he could take a monorail to get there, I fear it''s gone on his must-do list.

Any tips for the things you do to keep yourself happy while you''re there? And now I''m curious... what makes it gross?

Katamari-- Okay, Piroshky Piroshky is entered into Notes! We can warmly embrace kitsch if the end results are satisfied tastebuds and a full, happy belly.

Can you personally recommend any other vendors @Pike? Also, have you visited Mario Batali''s dad''s salumeria (Salumi Artisan Cured Meats on Third Avenue) and do you have any impressions of it?

I have a feeling that my guy will want to write you a personal thank you note when we get back for having recommended the beer joints and Music Project! It sounds like you have a direct line to his soul, Kata. I take your recommendations heartily despite your protestations. When you visit, are there places you typically visit again and again for breakfast and lunch?

I''ve been and it''s wonderful! But the hours kinda suck.

 

[rainwood]

Seattleite here. I''ll try and give you as much info as I can. We''ve had such a weird winter for weather, it''s hard to say what you''ll encounter. It''s an El Nino year which is usually warmer and drier for us. We set some records for warm weather (60!) last week.

 Elegant or hip restaurant - the Pink Door at Pike Place Market. Not elegant, but a fun place. There are lots of hip places in Belltown - we just never go there. Maybe SunnyD will weigh in on those.
 places to grab a cocktail - Purple Wine Bar is downtown and really crowded/popular. Never had a cocktail there though. Someone else will probably be better at recommendations on this.
 great hole-in-the-wall places to eat - Not many of those downtown. If you want funky, El Puerco Llorco in Pike Place Market is a kind of divey Mexican place that we like a lot. Or Copacabana which is Bolivian food. Neither are fancy by any stretch of the imagination.
 eateries “foodies” should not miss - One word: Tilth. Not in the downtown area but worth the cab fare to Wallingford. They''ve gotten a lot of local and national attention for their local, fresh, thoughtful food, but not pretentious. Google them to see if it''s your kind of place. I''d also second Poppy on Capitol Hill for a small plates restaurant owned by a really great chef.
 best breakfast? - Again, probably not downtown. Petit Toulouse is a new Creole place that''s near Seattle Center and their breakfast menu is amazing. Very much a hipster kind of clientele, but the restaurant is a work of art in itself. The woodwork and tilework are gorgeous.
 stall/shops @pike place - Just stroll and see what strikes you. Get out of the market itself and head north for bakery goods. Yum. Follow your nose.
 coffee shops (it is Seattle, after all) - Cafe Vitta is excellent and just a short walk north of the EMP/monorail stop. Any of the Uptown Cafe places are good too.
 if we were to take a ferry, a destination to make the ferry trip worthwhile - The only place walkable once you get off the boat is the Bainbridge Island ferry. You can walk into Winslow. If you make this trip, Cafe Nola is a great place for brunch/lunch. The Vashon Island ferry is not an option because the town of Vashon is miles away from the ferry dock.
 cultural/architectural places worth visiting - Check out the exterior of the Seattle Public Library which is downtown. The lobby on the 4th Avenue side is also kind of cool, but mainly it''s the exterior. The Seattle Art Museum has really good Northwest Native American and African exhibits. A great place for a rainy day. Underground Seattle is something to see too if you''re interested in the history of how Seattle was built.
 late-night hangouts - Not much help here.
 live music venues - Lots of options. The Crocodile Cafe is back and is in Belltown (north of downtown). Belltown has other places as well. Capitol Hill and Pike/Pine are other candidates. Ballard is an option too. Skip the Pioneer Square music scene unless you want to be surrounded by drunk frat boys.
 jewelry shops worth visiting (local-owned)? - Turgeon Raine would be an interesting place that is downtown. Fox''s Gem Shop is a local, long-time jeweler who is also downtown. Sholdt is outside of downtown so you''d have to take a cab, but a couple of Pricescopers have rings from there.

If you take the Monorail, you can walk through the Seattle Center and see most of what is interesting. Skip the ride up in the Space Needle and do Ride the Ducks instead if the weather is good. If the weather is good, you can also walk partway up Queen Anne Hill to Kerry Park for the best view of Seattle. You get downtown, Elliott Bay, the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier all in one photo opp if the mountain is "out." Skip the Ballard Locks too. It''s way more fun in the summer when there''s more boat traffic and the weather is better. Plus it''s a long cab ride. Hope this is helpful.

 

[LGK]

Dragonfish has a fabulous happy hour- good drinks & sushi; it''s smack in the middle of downtown and is the bottom level of one of the big hotels.

Capitol Hill is excellent for night life- excellent people watching. Cafe Vivace has lovely coffee, and there are bars all over.

I''m currently renewing my personal obsession with Fluevog shoes and boots- they make the Most Comfy Boots on Earth, which are also awesomely stylish and neat. They''re located on 2nd & Pine downtown and have a huge sale right now. Highly recommended if you like interesting/insanely comfy shoes. (www.fluevog.com)

Music venues? Hmmm. The Garage on Capitol Hill. The Rendezvous in Belltown. The Triple Door in downtown. There''s a whole bunch of others of course, but those are the ones that stick out in my head. Of all of them I think the Triple Door is my favorite venue, we saw Dita von Teese there a few years ago, it''s set up for dinner while you watch a show- we''ve always just done drinks but the seats are great and the food looked pretty good really. Check out the local newspaper weekly thing The Stranger for info on shows etc- if nowhere else you can pick it up all over Capitol Hill. I''m sure they have a website too...

For jewelry I''d go to Greenlake Jewelery in Northgate even if you have to take a bus there- bussing should be easy, it''s located right by the Northgate Mall and a huge bus station. Their engraving is freaking amazing and they have a lot to see in their showcases. (No- oddly enough, it''s nowhere near Greenlake!)

 

[April20]

I second The Pink Door recommendation. I love, love, love The Pink Door lasagna. It''s a quirkly little space. If you were going in summer, sitting on the patio is wonderful, but the inside is nice too.

I haven''t lived in a Seattle for over 3 years now, but I really like(d) the Mojito Cafe off of Lake City Way, just north of the city. NOT the one on Western. Don''t know if it''s still there, but it''s really small and has/had great Cuban food.

 

[anitabee]

i''m from vancouver, bc and LOVE going down to seattle. we''ve done it tons of times and these are our faves:

hip restaurant: mama''s mexican kitchen in belltown... in the northern section of downtown at bell & 2nd. you want true seattle hip? this is the place to go to see all the musicians, artists, general slackers, etc. the food is inexpensive and truly amazing. a must!

live music venue: about a block or so down from mama''s is the crocodile. it''s at 2nd & blanchard. it is THE place to see a band. i think the guitarist from r.e.m. (or his wife?) own(ed) the crocodile. it''s been a fixture on the scene ever since FOREVER!

i second everyone who suggest the experience music project. it is really worth the visit. a great place to spend the afternoon. if you like architecture, this one is crazy-cool esp if you fly over it and check out the crinkly roof.

if you go to seattle you cannot not go to pike place market. it''s legendary. kooky busy on weekends, though, so if you''ve got a stroller don''t even bother. the very first starbucks is right across the little street from there too so you''d probably want to check that out.

i''m jealous you get to hang out in seattle this weekend. it''s been a while since i''ve been downtown. I LOVE SEATTLE!

 

[anitabee]

oh, i almost forgot the s.a.m. (seattle art museum). right smack dab in the middle of downtown, it''s a perfect afternoon thing to do, esp indoors. it''s architecturally interesting and houses tons of great stuff with good travelling exhibits. one of the better/best museums i''ve visited.

 

[Kunzite]

I''d like to second Purple and add Black Bottle. We used to go there quite a bit when I worked in Belltown. Good stuff.

Pick up a copy of The Stranger when you get into town and you''ll get a lot of ideas.

Green Lake Jewelers is very, very easy to reach by bus. The 41 leaves from the downtown bus tunnel and runs all the time.

 

[Kunzite]

Oh, and I haven''t been there in awhile but I know a lot of people rave about the breakfast at Lola.