Local Expert
Carolyn
Being a "military brat" has allowed me to live around the US and overseas, but I have to say that Seattle is my favorite city to live in so far.
Since moving here over three years ago, I've been…
Being a "military brat" has allowed me to live around the US and overseas, but I have to say that Seattle is my favorite city to live in so far.
Since moving here over three years ago, I've been steadily checking out and comparing restaurants in the area. With the thousands of great places in the city, I could be doing this for years to come! Yeah, it's tough to be me.
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Destination List Articles
Many of the famous city skyline views of Seattle in movies or television shows are available for free from a number of public city parks. Some are bus accessible and most are only a short drive from the downtown core. Whichever you visit, any one of the parks will give you an idea of why most Pacific Northwesterners are avid outdoorsmen and women. The following list is just a mere example of the amazing variety of public green spaces available:
Located in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, this park gives the classic South-facing view of the Needle, the city, and on clear days Mount Rainier beyond. The park is open 24 hours and is most spectacular - as most view points in Seattle - during sunset.
Affording views of both the city skyline and the Olympic Peninsula, Alki Beach Park has a pedestrian and bike path that runs along the entire north side of the West Seattle Peninsula. Take the Water Taxi across the bay and walk along the shore, or park nearer the lighthouse and stop in one of the many restaurants with patio seating for the beautiful view of the sun setting over the mountains.
Located to the south of the core of downtown on Lake Washington's shores, Seward Park gives a unique perspective of Eastern Washington. The park is one of the most comprehensive in the area and includes many hiking trails, an Audubon Center, and a robust natural ecosystem.
Combine a trip to the Ballard Locks with a trip to Golden Gardens. This park is popular but is usually filled with more locals that travelers. Setting up a little picnic on the sandy beach is a great alternative to view the Olympics and Puget Sound. There is the added bonus of a hiking trail that loops through the wetlands.
Gas Works is perched on the north side of Lake Union. The park is a former - as the name implies - utilities site that was purchased by the city and repurposed into a park. The high hill is conducive to kite flying, photography, and affords a unique view of the city beyond Lake Union's famous house boats.
Even though a lot of Seattle is up and about at all hours, there aren't that many restaurants/cafes that are open all night. So if you want to stay up and out after the standard 2:30 a.m. close, the options are limited to a handful of places in the downtown vicinity.
As most 24-hour diner type establishments, the Hurricane has "character." Service is notoriously lackluster and the food merely passable. However, when it's late and you've just stumbled from a nearby show, it's convenient and since the indoor smoking ban, the air has cleared.
Up on Capitol Hill, IHOP is the closest 24-hour establishment. Just like any other link in a national chain, what you expect is exactly what you'll get. Come here for coffee and pancakes stay for the occassional loon from the neighborhood.
High(er) prices to go along with the high backed booths. Kind of in the same vicinity as the Five Point and the Hurricane, the draw of 13 Coins is the privacy. Although the menu is more extensive than the other two, it's not necessarily better.
Located near the old Space Needle, the Five Point is an interesting little place with a great jukebox. The food comes in huge portions and the menu leans towards comfort. The only real problem with this place is the fact that it can't hold all the people who want to be there at 4 a.m.
Located on the ashes of Seattle's last 24-hour disaster, MInnie's, and only just opened, Whym is the new venture of the owners of the Hurricane Cafe. People haven't yet discovered this place yet, so the crowds are lighter and the service is faster.
One day to go until Seattle gets invaded by 50K gamers ready to play. Today's topic is getting those great specials on beverages between the starred items on your schedule.
Cheap drinks, food specials, large space, and not too far of a walk from the Convention Center. Asian focused small plates range from $3-$5, beer is $3 and there is a list of discounted specialty cocktails. Hours are Mon thru Fri 4pm–7pm, Thurs till 8pm, & Sat from 4pm-7pm. Late Night Happy Hour is from 10pm-12am.
More divey than Toi's preppy, Linda's is a Capitol Hill institution. Food specials are limited to $3 sliders, but drinks are a little more expansive: $3 wells and beer, $7.50 pitchers, $2 pints and $5.50 pitchers of PBR. Happy hours runs later than most: daily 7-9 pm.
Close by, great in-house beers, and bar-food appetizer specials. Drinks specials include discounted pints and pitchers. Hours are 4pm-6pm
The Musiquarium Lounge at the Triple Door is a great way to kill THREE birds with one stone. Wild Ginger food? Check. Triple Door type music? Check. Happy Hour specials? Check. $3 select cocktails, wine, and beer as well as $3-$5 appetizers all grace the menu available from 4pm-6pm daily.
Down under the market is a tiny little place. Between 4pm and 6:30pm you can get discounted specialty cocktails made by dynamite bartenders and delicious appetizers. Not great for crowds and don't go after 8 unless you want to see the burlesque show, but the drinks are good.
Two days left until the annual PAX lands at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center. Sure the schedule is packed with gamer goodness, but you might just have to get away and eat some dinner eventually. If you want to save a little dough while doing so, here is a list of the top-5 (in no particular order) cheap yet yummy eats near the action.
The happy hour at Dragonfish is amazing in terms of cost: $1.95 - $4.95 sushi and Asian-themed small plates. Special cocktails, beer, and some sake run $2.95, while house wines clock in at $3.95. You must sit at the bar and it gets crowded so come early. Hours are 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. daily.
The Capitol Hill location of the Elysian is perfect for large groups. The menu is heavy on pub-food, but you get a lot for your money. Vegetarians in your party, they've got you covered with more than just green salads. The line of in-house brews are consistently delicious as well.
A little further away than the rest on the list, but perfect for late night cheap eats. It is exactly what the name implies, simple but delicious meat (or vegetarian) tacos for $2 a piece. Hours are 8 til late.
Nestled between Neumo's and Moe's, Pike Street Fish Fry occupies the old much beloved Frites location. Fish and Chips or put it in a sandwich, this stick to your ribs food is a good foundation for later drinking. Go wild and try one of their special sauces to go along with. Hours are 5 p.m. til 2:30 on the weekends.
Bimbo's, along with most of their former neighbors on Pine, has moved over to Pike Street, due to condo development. This change has not really effected the quality of thier menu. Delicious burritos for cheap is what to order. Strong drinks will help you forget the service isn't so great. Open noon to 2 a.m. on the weekends.
When I used to work in the Convention Center, I always noticed that many a conventioneer stayed in or in the immediate vicinity of the center for meals; crowding the already tiny fast-food establishments therein. Not that there's anything implicitly wrong with eating at Subway or Taco del Mar or at the Cheesecake Factory across the street, it's just a shame. Wander just a few blocks in any direction and not only can you escape the crowds, but you can also grab a little taste of the city as well.
Exit the center, turn right, and head up Pike Street, after a couple of blocks you will find the Six Arms, a neighborhoody and friendly pub. The food can be a little greasy, but there are salads and vegetarian options. The menu also features tots - get them cajunized - and a nice selection of in-house ales to accompany your meal. Plus, the place itself is neat, with all of the intricate pipes and funky chandeliers. Oh and did I mention free wi-fi? Happy hour brings cheaper pints and appetizer specials as well.
Right across the street, is Bambuza. During lunch they have a little cash-only take-out offering salad rolls and Bahn-Mi (delicious Vienamese sandwiches) which can be had for about $5 or so. Or go inside and partake in one of their hot pot lunch specials or a bowl of Pho. The dinner menu offers much of the same as well as some fancy cocktails. The sweet ginger cosmopolitan is an interesting take on the original and recommended.
Proceed to the second level of the convention center and exit the building. The tall (third tallest in Seattle) building hovering over you is Two Union Square. Enter Two Union and go down one set of escalators. To your right will be The Other Coast Cafe. Open for breakfast and lunch, this cafe makes fantastic sandwiches. Piled high with your choice of meat, cheese and fixin's. Forget the sides, a 6-inch will stick to your ribs all day. If you're having trouble deciding which to get, their Reuben is definitely in the top 5 in the city.
Okay, technically this place is in the convention center, but it is squirreled away next to the Gold's Gym and thus isn't obvious. It's also not obviously a lunch spot, what with the name and industrial-sized juicer on premises. However, their rice boxes are to die for. Get the wild salmon rice box which contains brown rice, veggies, a little dressing, and (of course) wild salmon. For under $10. One of the best kept secrets in town. Oh and those juices/smoothies? If you have room, which is doubtful, they're pretty delicious as well.
Also located on the fringe between downtown and Capitol Hill, the Baguette Box is a neat little lunch spot where you can get fancy sandwiches and salads, soup, and truffle fries. Can't make it to Mario Batali's dad's shop, Salumi? The Baguette Box offers a "Salumi's Cured Meat Baguette" to save you from the hour long line in Pioneer Square.
http://www.salumicuredmeats.com/products/salumi.htm
http://www.mariobatali.com/
Seattle has been at the top of the most well-read cities list since people starting paying attention to such things. So, it should come as no surprise that there are many independent book stores in the area. In fact, Elliott Bay Book Company, the granddaddy of them all, is a destination all to itself. Visit any one of them, however, and you'll probably find yourself in the middle of an author reading and/or book event.
(books in Japanese)