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Seattle Directory

Drink
Seattle is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.

Coffee
Seattle is the home of Starbucks , Seattle's Best Coffee (now owned by Starbucks), and Tully's, but there are hundreds of good locally owned coffeehouses.

• Insomniax Coffee, on Capitol Hill - Nestled inside the Group Health complex, this coffee house caters to medical professionals and a diverse group of locals who enjoy freshly blended fruit smoothies (try the Big Apple!) and great conversations with the baristas.
• Espresso Vivace Rosteria, on Capitol Hill - this is sometimes called the best coffee in America and has been lauded by locals and food dignitaries alike. Any interest in Seattle's coffee offerings is not complete without a trip to Vivace.
• Top Pot Doughnuts multiple locations, preferred on Capitol Hill - nestled into the neighborhood and a favorite weekend hang out for locals. Fantastic coffee and incredible doughnuts (try the feather boa doughnut!) in a very Seattley atmosphere.
• Caffé Vita , on Capitol Hill - blocks away from downtown, (in Queen Anne - north of downtown),+1 206 709-4440. Great lattes (and just about any other drink) complete with latte art, always friendly (and cute) baristas, and a hip yet understated ambiance. The Capitol Hill location also hosts their coffee roaster and HQ, where patrons can see clearly how the coffee beans are roasted.
• Zoka, in what is variously known as the Meridian District or Tangletown, between Wallingford and Green Lake. Hip students, professionals, and soccer moms meet here. Great desserts and whole grain scones. Zoka roasts their own coffee, supplying to cafes across the U.S. and at Zoka's two cafes in Japan. There is also a Zoka located north of the U-Village shopping complex on Blakely.
• C & P Coffee Company, in West Seattle, +1 206 933-3125. Offers awesome coffee from Lighthouse Roasters, free wireless access and live music.
• Bellino Coffee, 2421 2nd Ave, +1 206 956-4237. European style coffee shop located in Belltown. The focus of the place is to make top notch espresso drinks. They have also created a comfortable place with nice chairs and outdoor seating.
• Caffè Bella, in Belltown, +1 206 441-4351. Organic coffee from Caffé Vita coffee roasters. Pastries, tea, wine and beer at night. Live music. Free wireless access. Near the Space Needle on 5th Ave.
• Local Color, in Pike Place Market, +1 206 728-1717. Serves Caffé Vita coffee in Pike Place's largest independent coffeehouse. Also an art gallery, with new art on the walls at the beginning of each month. The first Saturday of every month, holds an art opening from 6 to 9.
• Alki Bakery, 2738 Alki Ave SW, +1 206 935-1352. Free Wi-Fi.
• All City Coffee Georgetown, 1205 S Vale St, +1 206 767.7146. Stop by every Saturday morning to hear DJ Tamlin spinning reggae. Free Wi-Fi.

Bars and Taverns

In Washington, "bars" have a full liquor license, while "taverns" are restricted to beer, wine and cider. Seattle bars have world-class beer selection, featuring local Northwest style micros.
The Wildrose, one of the country's oldest lesbian bars, is located on 11th and Pike. A full bar, the 'Rose' also serves light meals and snacks. The requisite pool table is always waiting for the next challenger.

Microbreweries
Seattle is home to a number of microbreweries.

• Mac & Jacks, Brews can only be found on tap in local bars, and is not bottled. Most popular variety is the African Amber. Additional varieties can occasionally be found at local pubs.
• Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery, & Restaurant, 1201 First Avenue South. One of the more prominent breweries in Seattle. This beer can be found on tap at numerous bars across the city, as well as in most local grocery stores.
• Elysian Brewers, Three locations across Seattle, brews can be found in local bars and sold in individual bars at local grocery stores.
• Redhook Alehouse, 14300 NE 145th St. Woodinville. Located in an eastern suburb of Seattle (Woodinville). Boasts a substantial menu and a well established line of beers, including seasonal varieties. Can be found at bars and restaurants throughout the city, and readily available at most grocery stores.
• Pike Brewery, On 1st Ave near the Pike Place Market. Great variety of beers (try the Kiltlifter) and good food too. Can be found in grocery stores and on tap at some bars.
• Hale's Brewery & Pub, 4301 Leary Way, (206) 706-1544. Located between Freemont and Ballard, Hale's Ales, established in 1983, is one of the pioneer microbreweries in the nation. The brewery operations are in open view of the comfortable pub. Hale's Ales is available throughout the Northwest.
• Diamond Knot Alehouse, 621 Front Street, Mukilteo, (425) 355-4488. On the waterfront, next to the ferry and peanut shells on the floor. What more could you ask for in a pub.

Eat
Seattle is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.

• Fremont Oktoberfest, 206-633-0422, . The Fremont Oktoberfest is an annual microbrew tasting in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. The event takes place the third week of September and features the Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving Contest, live music, three beer gardens, a dog day event, the Brew HA-HA 5K, a comedy show, and the Miss Buxom Contest. Tickets cost $20 at entrance or $15 in advance. $20. edit

Steak & Seafood

• Canlis Restaurant, 2576 Aurora Ave, (206) 283-3313. Great high-end restaurant in North Seattle, with a wonderful view overlooking Lake Union and Queen Ann Hill, live piano music. Best to make a reservations in well advance (a week or two ahead), dress well, and be prepared to spend $300 for two if you are going to have wine with your meal.
• Ivar's Salmon House, on the north Lake Union waterfront, in the shadow of the I-5 bridge. Various seafood entrees served in a neo-longhouse replete with totem poles and various other carved cedar adornments. Meals can be expensive (~$25), however, Ivar's has an excellent and affordable happy hour menu (7 days a week 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to close) that many locals and University of Washington staff and faculty enjoy regularly.
• Ivar's Acres of Clams, Downtown Seattle waterfront. Smoked salmon plate-lunch and fish-n-chips served outdoors at a scenic downtown waterfront location --please do not feed ducks and seagulls as human food is harmful for birds! Good food, but pretty touristy. Ordering at the walk-up counter outside is inexpensive (~$7).
• Jack's Fish Spot , found in Pike's Place Market, only open for lunch. One of the best places to get dungeness crabs in Seattle. If you have a kitchen buy them live and cook them yourself!
• Crab Pot Restaurant & Bar , on the Waterfront. Their specialty - The Seafeast - is what makes it unique! They take a variety of crab, clams, mussels, shrimp in the shell, salmon, halibut, oysters, potatoes, corn on the cob and andouille sausage steamed with mouth watering spices and pour it right on your table!
• McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, downtown. Specialty is their whole menu! They pride themselves in serving the best seafood and steak in town. They receive their seafood fresh from the waterfront pier every day. You can come here on a business dinner or with the whole family! So if you want to enjoy a upscale, relaxing exceptional seafood restaurant, this is your place! If you feel like the price is a bit too expensive for your budget, they also have one of the best happy hour deals during off hours.
• Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, 727 Pine Street, +1 206 624-8524. This magnificent setup of a restaurant excels in creating the most lavishingly delicious steak nationwide. The unique thing about this restaurant is that you order whatever meat or seafood you desire and then as a table, order what side dishes you wish to eat along with your meat. So come to this restaurant with people who can agree on what to eat with!
• Ray's Boathouse , located in Ballard next to Shilshole Bay Marina. Great food and great views.
• Crush , 2319 E Madison St, 206-302-7874, Crush has been rated among the best 10 new restaurants in the US after it opened and continues to be one of the more well respected haute cuisine houses in the US receive countless awards, the food is good, an adventurous twist on a normal American menu, prices are high $20-$30 for entrees and reservations are necessary.
• The Metropolitan Steakhouse , 820 2nd Ave, 624-3287. Located in Downtown Seattle near the Seattle Library on First Hill, "the Met," as it's commonly called, offers patrons a unique and classy steakhouse experience. It's a hotspot for the who's who of Seattle natives and celebrities. The food is top qualitiy, but rather pricey, with the average meal ranging from $50 up. Still, if you're looking for the finest dining in downtown, the Met is the place to go. Valet services offered.
• "Salty's on Alki" , 1936 Harbor Avenue. S.W, 937- 1600. Situated on West Seattle's popular Alki Beach, Salty's offers a wide variety of seafood and steaks. The restaurant offers one of the most amazing views of downtown Seattle and is a popular hot spot with local celebrities. The food can range from catch of the day, various poultry dishes, or top sirloin. The menu changes every so often, the ingredients are fresh, and the food is top notch. It is rather pricey ($20-$60). When the sun is shining or downtown is lit up, there is no better view of downtown Seattle.

Asian

• Upmarket Asian fusion food at Wild Ginger (just north of the Symphony Hall at 3rd and Union) and
• Monsoon (obscurely located on 19th E, on the far side of Capitol Hill from downtown).
• Thai Tom, on University Ave and 47th. Authentic Bangkok-style Thai food. Show up early or be prepared to wait up to an hour for a tiny table at this tiny eatery.
• Araya's Exceptional food, one of many Thai restaurants in the University District, but the first and only completely vegan Thai restaurant in Seattle. Some dishes substitute imitation meat-ish products for meat, some just use veggies, grains, etc. Used to be located on the 47th block of the Ave, has since relocated to a bigger, nicer location on 45th Street.
For the best variety, head to the International District.
• Maneki ( 304 6th Ave S Seattle, WA 98104-2714 Phone: (206) 622-2631) Maneki is Seattle's oldest sushi bar. Located in the International District, is one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle at an affordable price. Call ahead to reserve your own tatami room.

Mexican

• Agua Verde, Boat St., , On Portage Bay between Lake Washington and Lake Union, just south and west of the University of Washington is a standout, attractive but informal, with creative, contemporary Mexican cooking, including a lot of great vegetarian and seafood options. Show up early, be prepared to wait half an hour, or get your food to go and sit at the picnic tables by the lake outside. They also rent kayaks and do tours around Lake Union.
• Mama's Mexican Kitchen, 213 N 85th St., +1 206 706-9352 in Belltown
• Gordito's Healthy Mexican Food has huge servings, a fast, but sometimes long line, way-cheap prices, amazingly tasty burritos that most folks can't finish in one sitting, lots of homemade salsas (on the salsa bar), an outdoor patio, and always nice service. If you ask most people in Seattle where the good Mexican food is, they'll say Gordito's or the Taco Bus that drives around town (good luck finding it).
• Tacos Guaymas at several locations - closest to downtown is on Broadway near Pine - offers authentic Mexican meals (like you find in the Oaxaca market). Try the Sopa de Tortilla or the Wet Green Burrito.
• La Carta De Oaxaca , in Ballard is well-known for amazing small plates (tapas-style) of Oaxacan food. Usually crowded, but there are excellent margaritas to pass the time.
• Cactus, in Madison Park , A local favorite. A creative mix of Mexican, Southwestern and Spanish cuisine complemented by great cocktails. Always full, outdoor seating in the summer.

Vegetarian

• Cafe Flora , 2901 E. Madison. In the Madison Valley neighborhood offers upscale, all-vegetarian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Menus change weekly. Closed on Mondays.
• Carmelita , 7314 Greenwood Ave N. Where you go to celebrate a special event or impress a date: exquisite vegetarian fare with excellent service in an elegant yet unpretentious atmosphere. The chef, Dan Braun, is back in charge of the kitchen after a few years away, with a menu that changes more often than the seasonal menu they had been following. It's enough of a top-notch eating experience that you can even take meat eaters there to have a wonderful meal.
• Teapot Vegetarian House is an all-vegan restaurant serving delicious, exotic Pan-Asian vegetarian dishe
• Bamboo Garden serves up delicious food from the rich tradition of Chinese vegetarian cooking. With a menu that boasts over 120 items, there's a lot to choose from, and the servings are generous. Located on 364 Roy Street.
• Moonlight Cafe, 1919 S. Jackson St. (on the north edge of the International District), +1 206 322-3378. Serves excellent vegan mock-meat versions of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes such as noodle bowls and sesame beef. In fact they boast a full vegan menu with as many dishes as their separate carnivorous menu offers. $7-$10.
• Cyber Dogs , 800 Convention Place (in the convention center @ the corner of Pike and (9th?) across from the Express Lanes Onramp), +1 206 405-DOGS. Serves superb and delicious vegetarian and vegan dogs, coffee, juice and beer. Internet access available.
• The Globe, 14th and Pine. Some of the best vegan breakfast (and lunch, but especially breakfast) you'll ever have. The biscuits and gravy are what they're known for, but everything is just as good, if not better. Good service too. Sometimes quite busy on Saturday mornings, but not too busy. Cash only! Open 9am - 3pm.
• Vegetarian Bistro 668 S. King Street. (206) 624-8899. Vegetarian Chinese in the International District. Their veggie dim sum is great ($3 per dish). Closed on Tuesdays.
• My Sweet Lord Cafe 5521 University Way NE. Hare Krishna restaurant that is by donation only. Open 6:30-9:30 PM Tuesday-Saturday.

Vegan

• Hillside Quickies, 4106 Brooklyn Ave NE, (206) 632-3037. Vegan Sandwich Shop using Tempeh and Tofu. The Jerk influenced sandwiches are excellent.
• Chaco Canyon Cafe, 4757 12th Ave NE (at corner of 50th and 12th), Vegan Bakery and cafe that features a raw foods menu. Coffee and Tea Available.
• The Wayward Cafe, 901 NE 55th St, (U-District) 100% Vegan, worker owned, collectively run.
• The Squid & Ink , 1128 S Albro Pl 98108, (Georgetown) Amazing all vegan, mostly wheat-free food with mock seafood theme.

Other

• Lots of good Ethiopian food with entertaining names ("Yemisser Wat," "Atakilt Aleecha," and "Niter Kibeh") in the Central District. Panafrican on Pike's Place Market is also pretty good. Try Mesob on 14th and Jefferson.
• Le Pichet is an excellent French bistro, in the heart of downtown Seattle. Hint: try the roast chicken!
• Grand Central Bakery offers hearty sandwiches (on their signature artisan breads!), soups, salads, modest breakfasts, fabulous pastries, and of course coffee - at two locations: Pioneer Square and Eastlake (near Lake Union).
• The Red Mill Burgers. Two locations: Phinney Ridge 312 N 67th St and Interbay 1613 W Dravus St, has really tasty beef and veggie burgers.
• Truly Mediterranean, 4741 12th Ave NE. Makes wonderful falafel, shawerma, and other delights. In a surprisingly quiet corner of the University District.
• Nordstrom Cafe on the 4th floor of the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store. Best surprising value for lunch or dinner (e.g, salmon dinner for less than $10).
• Dick's Drive-in has 5 locations around Seattle and the best fast-food in the city. Any local can tell you were the nearest one is.