Where to Eat in Seattle: The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Seattle

Are you hungry and wondering where to eat in Seattle? Keep on reading for the best Seattle restaurants + bars!

By now, you probably know that Seattle is one of my all-time favorite cities. Why? Because Seattle has some delicious food and makes for the perfect eating vacation, which is my favorite kind of vacation! I’ve been to Seattle too many times to count now and every time I go, I go to EAT – I’ve eaten a LOT of food in the city and I figured it’s time to tell y’all my list of where to eat in Seattle!

I have a growing list of must-eats whenever I visit, and I always try to get in some new-to-me spots, but it’s so hard sometimes – so many things to eat, so little time (and stomach space). Seattle has a bustling culinary scene, and there’s something for everyone here.

So without further ado, here are my top picks for where to eat in Seattle!

The Best Places to Eat in Seattle

Tavolata

Tavolata has some of the best pasta that I’ve had outside Italy. I’ve recommended this place to so many people over the years now and they all rave about it like I do! Ethan Stowell is a local restauranteur who has several restaurants, each specializing in a different aspect of Italian food – Tavolata is his pasta joint.

The pasta is always cooked to al dente perfection, and you can’t go wrong with the Papperdelle or Rigatoni here. They also have a happy hour from 4-6 every day that includes most of the pastas on the regular menu for half off, which is a STEAL. It’s not as cheap as it used to be when I first started going there (it used to be $10 and now it’s like $14), bu it’s still such a good deal! One of the best places to eat in Seattle for sure!

There are three locations – one in Belltown, one in Capitol Hill, and one on Stone Way (and even one in Spokane). I’ve been to both the Belltown and Capitol Hill locations, and you really can’t go wrong with either!

Walrus and the Carpenter

The Walrus and Carpenter was named by Bon Appetit magazine as one of the best new restaurants in America for 2011. They were not wrong – it’s still to this day on all of the best restaurants in Seattle lists, and they are not wrong. If you are an oyster fan, this place is a must, because this is THE spot for oysters!

You’ll find a series of small plates here that are mostly seafood focused. They have some meat dishes here, but really, the seafood ones are what they’re known for and going to be the highlight!

Pro tip: They have an oyster happy hour from 4-6pm Monday-Thursday, which means 50% off the amazing oysters. Get there early (people were lining up at 3:45pm) and happy slurping!

Salumi

Salumi grew to fame when it was owned by the family of celebrity chef Mario Batali, and it has been a Seattle institution for decades, with a line always out the door. Keep in mind that they have some odd hours (that always seem to work against me), but you have to go if you can get there!

There are known for their Italian meats and specialties (like gnocchi). Salumi is always on all the “where to eat in Seattle” lists, and for good reason! Grab a sandwich to go (it is a cramped space), and perhaps take it to the nearby waterfall garden (see this post for more on that).

Umi Sake House

I love Umi Sake House because their happy hour is AMAZING – the menu is extensive, their prices a great deal, and the food good. It’s a favorite for a lot of locals too!

They have both an early (4-6pm) and late (10:30pm-close) happy hour every day, so this tends to be my go-to spot when I’m wanting a pre-dinner snack or a late-night second dinner (which I tend to do in Seattle, because helloooooo, I go there for an eating vacation).

It’s not the BEST sushi that you’ll have in your life, but it’s pretty damn good sushi, especially at those prices! Their sushi is fresh, and their hot items are delicious. Can’t go wrong as one of the best places to eat in Seattle!

Kizuki

One of the times I was in Seattle, I was craving ramen – hard (hey, it’s perfect for that overcast weather)! I did a quick Yelp search, and it seemed that Kizuki was the overwhelming favorite so I hauled my butt over there.

You WILL be getting the garlic shoyu tonkotsu ramen here – it is rich, garlicky, and delicious. They also have a selection of izakaya-style appetizers and small places. I loved it so much that I went back a second time the very next day (and have gone back on a future trip as well!).

Biscuit Bitch

Biscuit Bitch is one of the most popular spots to grab breakfast in Seattle, and it’s a must! Yes, the place has a bit of attitude, but that’s kinda just part of their charm. Their biscuit sandwiches as the best and the biscuits are sooo flaky and buttery and delicious.

They have an order ahead system, so you order on their website and pick it up in the store. It’s pretty busy all the time, so be prepared to wait a bit. You don’t actually have to be at the store to order, so save time and order it before you head there and it will be ready when you show up.

I usually get the Sausage Bitchwich here, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. And be sure to get a side of their cheesy garlic grits to go with it!

Kedai Makan

You’ll find incredible Malaysian street-inspired cuisine at Kedai Makan, which has been on all the best Seattle restaurants lists the last several years.

I fell in love in Nasi Goreng (basically a Malaysian fried rice) when I went to Indonesia, and I loved Kedai Makan’s version! It’s got a ton of flavor and got just the right amount of kick. They have tons of other amazing dishes, and I’d love to try more someday!

As a result, the wait is always long! Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to wait when I went, so I got my order to go, but it was still amazing! I would love to dine in one day and try lots more things here!

Taylor Shellfish

Given that Seattle is in close proximity to some of the most well-known oyster regions in the world (gotta love the Pacific Northwest), you’re gonna find an abundance of delicious places to eat oysters in the city – so if you’re an oyster fan, you’re in luck!

Taylor Shellfish is one of the premier oyster purveyors in the region, and the oysters here do not disappoint. You’ll find an excellent selection of half-shell oysters here, along with other seafood dishes. You can either make it an entire meal or just a few oysters to go with some beer or wine.

Dough Zone

Dough Zone is known as one of the best dumpling joints in the city, and it does not disappoint! They are especially known for their soup dumplings (xiao long bao), but serve pan-fried and boiled dumplings as well, along with other dishes like noodles.

I loved the pork and crab soup dumplings here, as well as the pan-fried pork baos, which are kinda like doughy dumplings that are fried and so good! Everything is super affordable too.

They have a location downtown on Pine and another in the International District, as well as a few other locations in the surrounding cities.

Pho Bac Sup Shop

When I lived in San Francisco, one of my absolute favorite things to eat in the city was the 25 dry pho from Ha Nam Ninh. I no longer live in San Francisco, and Ha Nan Ninh no longer exists (RIP), but I’ve been on a hunt for a place that serves a similar dry pho.

Dry pho is what Pho Bac Sup is known for, and while it’s not the same as I’ve had in SF, it really hits the spot. I love the thicker noodles that they use here (that are covered in tumeric, which is super unique!), and the sauce and broth are really flavorful!

Kamonegi

I’d been reading about Kamonegi as one of the best places to eat in Seattle, and never made it over there until recently and I find myself wondering why it took so long.

I’ve always loved soba (it’s just comfort food for me – it’s the Japanese in me), and this is some of the best I’ve had, in and outside of Japan. The noodles are fresh with the perfect texture, and everything is just super flavorful.

They have some really unique dishes, such as kimchi and burrata soba, natto soba, and duck soba, but I ordered a classic tempura soba and it was sooo good!

This place is really popular so reservations are recommended, or just come really early.

Phnom Penh Noodle House

Phnom Penh Noodle House has been an institution in the International District for over 30 years, and serves up some incredible Cambodian cuisine.

Any of the noodle dishes here are amazing (especially the noodle soups), but they are known for their grilled meat dishes as well. And, you absolutely must order the chicken wings!

Macrina Bakery

Macrina has a large selection of fresh-baked pastries and breads that never disappoint. This is a great spot to stop in for breakfast and lunch – their foccacia sandwiches are the BEST.

Anything Tom Douglas

Tom Douglas‘s popular restaurants have been a Seattle institution for years – and for good reason! I always say that I have to make a stop at a Tom Douglas establishment every time in Seattle. He has been recognized with the prestigious James Beard award for both best Northwest chef and Best Restauranteur for his excellence in Pacific Northwest cuisine.

I always tell people to check out a Tom Douglas establishment when they ask where to eat in Seattle. He has 13 restaurants in the Seattle area, but here are some of my faves:

Dahlia Lounge

Dahlia Lounge is Tom Douglas’s flagship restaurant and specializes in Pacific Northwest cuisine with an Asian flair. My favorite here has always been the crab cakes – can’t go wrong!

Dahlia Bakery
Dahlia Bakery is right next door to Dahlia Lounge and you must stop after you eat! You can get some of Douglas’s signature coconut cream pie here…which is a must-have. I get a slice of this whenever I am in town (usually at Palace Kitchen, see below). The cookies here are also divine (try the double chocolate, sooo rich but sooo good!).

Lola

Lola is Douglas’s Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, and is known for their delicious brunch. I loved the omelette here…but what you MUST order are the donuts. Just divine. Trust me on this one.

Serious Pie

Douglas’s pizza joint is, well…some serious pie. You can’t go wrong with these wood-fired, thin-crust pies at Serious Pie – they are a crowd favorite! They have a lot of creative options, but my favorite over the years has always been the sausage. Never disappoints – definitely one of the best places to eat in Seattle.

Palace Kitchen

Palace Kitchen is probably one of the less popular Douglas establishments, and I’ve never actually eaten a meal here. But they are open until 1 a.m., so it is the perfect place to stop in for a nightcap and a slice of that dreamy coconut cream pie.

Best Places to Eat in Seattle in Pike Place Market

Let’s get one thing out of the way – if you are going to Seattle, you HAVE to go to Pike Place Market. I don’t care how touristy it is – you’ll find plenty of gems there, including some of the best food in Seattle!

Signing up for a food tour, led by a local chef, is a good way to discover some of the best places in the market, but after sampling so many things there over the years, here are my personal favorites to check out:

Beecher’s Cheeses

Beecher’s is usually my first stop whenever I go to Pike Place. They have a ton of artisanal cheeses that you can sample and purchase, which I should really do sometime. But what I come here for is the mac n cheese. You can’t go wrong with the rich, creamy, cheesiness of that mac n cheese.

Piroshky Piroshky

Piroshky Piroshky is one of my all time favorite places in Seattle! What is a piroshky? It is a Russian pastry stuffed with a variety of fillings, both sweet and savory. Once upon a time, my friends went to Seattle without me (*sniff*) and while they were gone, I had a dream that I went with them and I had a piroshky from this place. When I woke up, I was so sad and had serious FOMO.

The original flagship location inside Pike Place always has an insane line that rivals the line of the original Starbucks next door, but you’ll be shocked at how quickly it moves. There are also a bunch of locations all around the area nowadays as well, if you don’t want to wait in line. The smoked salmon one is my favorite if you’re in a savory mood, and the cinnamon is great if you’re in a sweet mood.

Rachel’s Gingerbeer

If you thought gingerbeer was JUST gingerbeer…well, you are wrong. Rachel’s sells gingerbeer in such fun flavors such as passion fruit, peach, cucumber tarragon, and much more!

They also sell gingerbeer cocktails, and gingerbeer floats – which you can also get as a boozy float (and I totally did. And they aren’t messing around with the boozy part).

Elleno’s Greek Yogurt

You can find Elleno’s Greek Yogurt in supermarkets all around the country these days, but you have to go to where it started. Even if you find yourself thinking “what’s the big deal about Greek yogurt,” you have to make a stop here!

The yogurt here is like a dessert, and sooo creamy and decadent! It comes in a variety of unique flavors – lemon curd is my favorite!

Daily Dozen Doughnuts

The mini doughnuts at the Daily Dozen are absolutely addicting! You can see them making them fresh at their stand in the market, and you won’t be able to resist. They sell them in bags of 12 and they’re so good it’s hard to resist finishing them all!

Pike Place Chowder

You can’t go wrong with a bowl of chowder in Seattle, especially on those gloomy days. Yes, the clam chowder here is good at Pike Place Chowder, but they have a ton of other varieties as well, including some that are super unique (like lime and coconut chowder!). Get a sampler to try them all.

The line here gets suuuper long (I’m talking around the corner and up the block), so I suggest getting in line 10-15 minutes before they open to avoid it. Or, you can head to one of their locations outside the market.

Where to go in Seattle for snacks + dessert

Pie Bar

Because it’s a bar…that serves fresh-baked pies, and how can you go wrong with that?! When you walk into Pie Bar, you will be overwhelmed by that sweet, buttery smell of pies that are being baked fresh in the oven (isn’t that one of the best smells in life?!).

They make both savory and sweet pies here – their chicken pot pie and strawberry rhubarb pie are AMAZING, but you really can’t go wrong with anything you order. They also have a selection of dessert themed cocktails called Pie-tinis (which are a bit sweet but super fun!), along with beer and wine.

I once came here after running a half marathon in Seattle and everyone who was in here that day had also run the race and it was such a perfect post-race treat!

Anyone who tells me they’re going to Seattle, I immediately tell them to go here and they all end up loving it!

Hot Cakes

I had been hearing about Hot Cakes foreverrrr but I never seemed to have the time or the stomach space to fit it in. Well, I finally fit it in – literally and figuratively, because even though I barely had enough stomach space, I *had* to go. It was worth it. That gooey, rich, chocolate-y deliciousness was incredible.

Crumble and Flake

My ex-boyfriend used to say that Crumble & Flake had his favorite croissants outside Paris. As for me, I come here for the pistachio croissants, a perfectly buttery, nutty amazingness of a pastry. Heads up: they only make them on the weekends. They also have a paprika cheddar croissant that some of my friends are obsessed with, and their macarons are pretty tasty as well.

Hood Famous Bake Shop

Hood Famous Bake Shop has an amazing selection of Filipino-inspired desserts and pastries, like Calamansi bars and Buko pie. They’re especially known for their cheesecakes, and the Ube cheesecake is SO GOOD! They have Filipino inspired coffee drinks, such as Ube lattes as well.

General Porpoise Doughnuts

General Porpoise is helmed by Renee Erickson of Walrus in the Carpenter fame (which I mention earlier as one of this list of where to eat in Seattle), so you KNOW they’re going to be good and it does not disappoint!

You’ll find some of the best doughnuts in Seattle at General Porpoise, which specializes in filled doughnuts. Even if you don’t think you like filled doughnuts (I claimed that I hated them), you have to give it a try – they’re way different than what you think of when you think of a filled doughnut, which are usually way too sweet and artificial tasting.

The fillings here are creamy and flavorful, but not too overwhelmingly sweet! The lemon curd here is a must. They’re super popular so come early otherwise it might be slim pickings.

Where to go for a cocktail in Seattle

Canon

Canon has consistently ranked in numerous best bars lists both nationally and internationally and for good reason – they have creative, unique, and well-made cocktails here.

You WILL wait in line here – but they do a good job of controlling crowd flow inside, so you aren’t cramped and constantly elbowing someone – you have ample room to sit or move around.

We got in a conversation with the bouncer at the door once and he said his favorite cocktail here was a bacon and fig one, which I ended up not trying, but that gives you an idea of the creative concoctions they serve up here. Canon specializes in whiskey and bitters, but they have a huge selection here – in fact, they recently won a prestigious “World’s Best Spirits Selection” award.

Bathtub Gin

Bathtub Gin is a speakeasy type place that is hidden away in an alley in Belltown. If you navigate to the address, you won’t find it – the entrance is actually located in an alley between 1st and 2nd Avenue.

I love the bartenders here and have always enjoyed chatting it up with them, and they know what they’re doing. I always get the dealer’s choice here – you specify a spirit and what kind of drink you’re in the mood for (sweet, sassy, etc) and have always enjoyed the resulting creation. (P.S. The drinks here are STIFF.)

The Nest

Located in the Thompson Hotel, the Nest not only has some of the best drinks in Seattle, it also boasts one of its best views. Yes, the drinks are expensive but they are well-crafted (and pretty) and you can’t go wrong with the view of the city and waterfront.

This is a super popular bar, so reservations are recommended, but do note that there is a $5 per person reservation fee.

Rob Roy

Located in Belltown, Rob Roy is a Seattle institution and has been known to be serving up some of the best cocktail in the city for years. The drinks are creative and well-made (they even had a drink made with gunpowder!), and the bartenders here have worked at some of the top bars in the city.

Smith Tower

Yes, Smith Tower has an observation deck that has one of the best views in the city, but did you know there was a speakeasy there too? You’ll find some of the city’s best drinks in its oldest skyscraper. Come here for some amazing views and a unique experience! Everything we tried was amazing, but we loved this Old Fashioned flight (they are STRONG though)!

Best Coffee in Seattle

Espresso Vivace

This is hands-down my favorite latte in Seattle, and probably my all-time favorite latte anywhere. Espresso Vivace is one of the OGs in Seattle, and the espresso is always consistently well-made, perfectly creamy, and perfectly roasted. So, soooo good.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

I know, I know…you’re probably thinking “WHY is she telling me to go to a Starbucks?!” But hear me out folks. The Reserve Roastery is DIFFERENT. It’s a whole experience – and they have exclusive items such as cold brew flights.

And the best part? They serve cocktails here! Definitely try an espresso martini!