Our Seattle

While not natives, Joseph and I have spent a lot of time exploring the city that we call home. For those who will be visiting the Emerald City we thought we’d put together a list of some of our favorite spots to enjoy during our wedding weekend. 

Breakfast For those of you staying in Capitol Hill, Smith has a underrated breakfast.  It’s more well-known for its cocktails and dinner which means breakfast isn’t usually that crowded, especially if you get there early.  While the menu described as rustic pub fare, isn’t incredibly extensive, it is delicious, it’s one of Joe’s favorites.

My personal favorite is Portage Bay Café.  With three locations throughout Seattle, Portage Bay offers local, fresh and organic breakfast options.  If you order pancakes and oatmeal, you all get a trip to their toppings bar, full of fresh and in season fruit. This place is not under the radar by any means and wait times especially after 10:00 am can be over an hour.

If you are will to make a pilgrimage for baked goods, Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle is worth the trip. It is the best bakery in Seattle – Joseph and I particularly like their croissants – they are famous for their twice baked almond variety. If you end up going, call us. There’s a good chance we’ll meet you there. 

CoffeeThis is a town known for its coffee. While you all know about Starbucks, if that’s the only place you go for a cup of coffee while you are here, you are missing out.  Joe’s favorite coffee shop is Vivace which if you are stopping by the flagship REI store, is right across the street.  A favorite of mine in Cafe Ladro, there are a number of locations around Seattle, including one just around the corner from our reception site. 

Cheap EatsWith a busy weekend, sometimes you need to just grab a bite on the run, luckily Seattle has lots of good options.  Joseph’s favorite is Rancho Bravo. It’s a taco truck that took over an old KFC and when I use the term took over, I use it loosely – the inside is pretty much unchanged except for a new menu. It sounds and looks a little ghetto but the food is worth it.  My favorite, Marination Station which is also a food truck that opened a non-moving dinning option. I highly recommend the SPAM slider (for real). 

Not-So Cheap EatsIf you have time to get a more expensive meal while you are in town, there are a lot of options too. The Seattle food scene is thriving and hard to keep up with.  However, one of our best dining experiences in Seattle was at Spinasse.  It is rustic Italian food with the pasta made in house which means it is one of Joe’s favorite spots in Seattle. It’s a small place and its recent accolades can make it tough to get a table so call ahead or be prepared to eat late.

One of my favorite spots in Seattle is Quinn’s – they call is a creative take on bar food, I call it delicious. Especially recommended, the wild boar sloppy Joe and the burger.

PizzaClose to the Silver Cloud Hotel is a number of fine pizza options.  Joseph’s favorite in Seattle is Via Tribunali – it’s more the classic Italian-style pizza, cooked in a wood oven. The ambiance of the place also gives Via Trib a big edge.  Nearby you will also find other Seattle classics like, Piecora’s and Big Mario’s for other great slices as well. However, my favorite pizza in Seattle has more of a northwest feel to it at Zeek’s.  There are crazy combinations and plenty of veggies to be found; while there are tons of Seattle locations they are a little bit further afield from Capitol Hill and downtown. 

Site SeeingClearly we love food but there’s more to Seattle than just that. There are a number of tourist attractions in Seattle and Joseph and I feel there are two that are especially worth fighting the crowds for.  First off is Kerry Park.  When the weather is clear, it provides a great view of the city skyline with the Space Needle in the foreground.  It’s great for sunset and postcard-like pictures.  Since it’s a little off the beaten tourist path (halfway up Queen Anne Hill) the crowds are smaller.  The famous Pike Place Market is certainly crowded but it’s worth being elbow to elbow with all the other tourists to take in the sights and sounds.  From the buskers, to the flying fish, to the rows of flowers, it’s worth the hassle.  If you are looking for lunch, be sure to stop by Beecher’s for the best macaroni and cheese you have ever tasted. 

In our minds you can easily skip the Space Needle and the Seattle waterfront. Sure the Space Needle is the most famous part of Seattle’s skyline but the line can be long, especially on the weekends and it costs roughly $15 to get to the top (where there is a Starbucks). Better to head to Kerry Park where to view is just a pretty and save yourself the cash and the hassle.  You can also skip the waterfront district.  It’s filled with souvenir shops hawking Frasier and Sleepless in Seattle t-shirts without much of Seattle’s history or local feeling.  If you want to where Seattle’s fishermen really live, head up to the Ballard neighborhood to check out the Ballard Locks.  It’s Seattle’s maritime tradition in action. 

If you are looking for a little culture in your weekend, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is the best known and largest museum in Seattle.  The museum has a wide range of art on display and rotating special exhibits. For me, the highlight of Seattle’s art scene is definitely the Olympic Sculpture Park, located on Elliot Bay; the park mixes large works of art with a beautiful downtown park.  In the summer, there are free outdoor yoga and art classes. 

One of Joe’s favorite museums is the Frye Art Museum in First Hill which focuses on painting and sculpture from the nineteenth century to the present. 

If you are looking to do some shopping while you are in town, the downtown area features a number of large department stores, including Nordstrom’s flagship store.  If you want to experience some more local fashion, there are a great number of local boutiques – there’s a number in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, many of which reflect the hipster nature of the neighborhood. Even if that’s not your style, I highly recommend checking out Retrofit Home.  It’s got unique housewares that you won’t find anywhere else.  Some of my favorite shopping however, is in the Fremont neighborhood about five miles north of downtown.   

If you are literary-minded there are a couple stops that we would suggest, the Seattle Public Library is an amazing stop for book and architecture lovers alike. It is downtown just a few blocks up from the Hotel 1000. Elliot Bay Book Company is a relatively new addition to the Capitol Hill neighborhood and is Seattle’s legendary independent bookstore.  It’s a book-lover’s paradise and has robust schedule of events.   

DrinksSite-seeing can make you thirsty.  Luckily, Joseph and I have spent years seeking out Seattle’s best watering holes. 

Not too far from Seattle University is one of Joe’s favorite bars, Canon.  It is now the home of American’s best bartender, Murray Stenson.  Joe highly recommends trying the flight of Manhattan’s to get any night started.  One of my favorite places to get a cocktail is Zig Zag tucked away in part of the Pike Place Market and is a genuinely sophisticated place to get a drink. 

If you are looking for beer, we also know a few great places as well. Near the Silver Cloud in Capitol Hill the Elysian Brewery serves up craft beers and snacks.  While near Hotel 1000 downtown Pike Place Brewing Company is a great and walkable option.  If you are looking for more recognizable names and are willing to travel, Pyramid Brewing is a bit south of downtown, near the stadiums.  About a 30 minute drive east in Woodinville you will find Red Hook Brewery with beautiful grounds to explore.

If you are also headed that direction, there are a number of wineries in Woodinville as well, including local favorites, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Januik-Novelty Hill and J&M Cellars. 

If you are interested in Washington wines without the drive, the Local Vine is a great wine bar near Silver Cloud. While Purple Wine Bar and Café in downtown Seattle would be a great option for those of you staying at Hotel 1000.

 

Late NightAnd sometimes after a night of celebrating, you need a late night snack. There are some classic Seattle late-night eats right around our reception site. A classic late-night stop is Dick’s Drive-In (don’t worry, you don’t need a car).  The menu is straight forward burgers, fries and shakes but it satisfies the late night craving.  Another Seattle tradition can also be easily found right outside our reception site, a Seattle dog which for those of you who don’t know is a hot dog with cream cheese.  It sounds odd but I swear to you it’s delicious. There are a number of street vendors in Capitol Hill who would be willing to sell you one of these or you can head down the block to Po Dog.

And that’s just the start.  There’s tons more to do, see, eat and drink, not to mention the fact that you’ve got a wedding to attend.