coffee tours seattle

Coffee Crawl    VIP

Morning tour | pike place market.

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VIP     Morning Food Tour

Taste seattle’s best coffee and taste delicious bites.

Embark on the ultimate adventure with our Coffee Crawl and Morning Market walking tour! Immerse yourself in the heart of Seattle and the iconic Pike Place Market as you indulge in a VIP experience like no other. Savor the rich tapestry of Seattle’s java culture with coffee beverages, each expertly prepared in distinct styles – pourover cold brew and brewed. Drink samples range from 2-4 oz’s to ensure that we explore a variety of items. Bites include breakfast fare such as a sambusa, scone, donuts, waffles and more. The last hour is exploration of the market as it awakens and comes to life. Like all of our tours, we highlight small and local businesses. You will leave caffeinated and full. Don’t miss your chance to sip, stroll, and savor with us!

LOCAL TASTE

Discover Seattle coffee culture at our favorite spots. You will sample 5 coffee locations several breakfast items

RECEIVE 10% DISCOUNT

Receive a URL post-tour to get a discount at a few of the locations you visited and all 20+ of our Pike Place Market partners. Several of our coffee partners offer 10% off of coffee bean purchases

VIP Morning

Get an early start to the morning with some tasty food and early morning access to Pike Place Market.

VARIETY OF COFFEE

This is an excellent way to try several small business cafes doing locally roasted, small batch coffee. The samples will be presented as latte, cold brew, pour over, french press and brew.

Meet inside Anchorhead: 2003 Western Ave, Seattle

2-hour coffee & tasting tour, saturday 8:00 am .

Browse Availability And Book Today

Cancellations

What is the cancellation policy.

All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.

Will the tour be cancelled if it rains?

It rains often in Seattle so we keep all tours operating regardless of the weather. Fortunately, a good deal of the tour is indoors.

Extra Guests

Are pets allowed.

Fury friends are not recommended, as they aren’t allowed in many parts of the tour. You’ll have to wait outside which defeats the purpose.

Can kids join the tour?

Yes, kids may join the tours. We leave it up to the parents to make the judgement as to whether or not this it is an activity they would enjoy. Learning and tasting is for everyone! We can make beverage adjustments for kids at most stops.

What if I eat Gluten Free or am Lactose Intolerant?

We do not recommend this tour for those who are dairy free, vegan or gluten free. Not all tastings contain gluten or dairy. We can’t accommodate these restrictions for all food samples but will do our best to make substitutions where we can. Please notify us in advance so that we can plan accordingly.

What if I’m vegetarian?

Eat Seattle can accommodate vegetarians but we cannot make substitutions for other dietary restrictions. Please notify us at least 24 hours in advance of your tour if you will need vegetarian substitutions.

Miscellaneous

Where do we meet.

We meet inside Anchorhead located at 2003 Western Ave (note there are other Anchorhead locations so please check the address)

Where do I park?

We recommend parking in the Pike Place garage located at 1531 Western Ave. Rates vary depending on the season but their is an early bird rate for entry before 9 am

Are there discounts for children?

It is a requirement that anyone eating on the tour pays full price.

Can I pay in cash?

All tours must be booked through the eatseattletours.com website.

Should I tip the guide?

Gratuities are appreciated for all tours.

YOUR TASTE BUDS WILL THANK YOU

#eatseattletours.

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• Ultimate Seattle coffee experience, Seattle

What you’ll do

You’ll join one of our local Seattle hosts to get to the bottom of the city’s coffee culture, although after a few cups, you might be sprinting not crawling.

In a city that prides itself on having the most coffee shops in America, it goes without saying that you’ll end up enjoying a cup or three.

The coffee here picked up where tea and vitamin D left off (can we thank the famous Seattle drizzle for this caffeine-obsessed culture?), and the city is now a mecca for all things coffee.

You’ll get to visit the original Starbucks Cafe in Pike Place Market - all in the name of history, of course - as well as discover some trendy brew labs and the unique, quirky and independent coffee shops on which the city prides itself.

Try your hand at being a barista at the La Marzocco Espresso Lab - it will give you a greater appreciation of the work of a barista when you sip your next cup - then let the professionals show you how it’s done.

With the right pastry, cake, or bake alongside (which of course you’ll also indulge in), you’ll be in coffee heaven in no time.

Private experience, tailored to you

Matched to your ideal host

Hosted in English (On request: French, German, Spanish)

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Experience outline

• Spend 3 hours with a host who knows a thing or two about a good coffee, who will introduce you to the real coffee culture of Seattle
• Your experience, your vibe - we’ll take you to the Original Starbucks, but the other two spots can be selected based on your tastes and style
• Get to sample a classic cup or a delightful blend
• Learn a thing or two about being a barista at the La Marzocco Espresso Lab
• Have a laid back, enjoyable time with a Seattle local – kicking back and learning about something you’ll both agree on – good coffee!
• Get recommendations about local cafes and other trendy coffee shops to enjoy a Seattle cuppa or two

Things to know

What’s included.

• A private and personalized experience
• 3 hours with your host
• Includes 3 coffee tastings and 1 cake or pastry per person
• Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
• Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

Meeting point

What’s not included.

• Additional Food and drinks
• Tickets to any attractions
• Transportation costs
• Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

Great service and experience. Fantastic overview to kick off our three day stay. Perfect weather and fantastic memories.

September 2020

An anniversary tour to remember, who knew finding coffee in Seattle could be challenging? Cafe Ladro and lower Queen Anne hill managed to shine despite the Emerald cities current difficulties.

It’s a good time with good food. Give it a try, it’s worth the money.

Kat was great. From the minute we secured her for our tour the whole process was easy, and informative. Kat was easily accessible on WhatsApp until we met with her. Once we met her, she was friendly, kind, knowledgeable. We didn’t want to see too many sights so we walked and talked a lot. Would highly recommend City Unscripted and Kat!!

Meet our local hosts in Seattle. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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Bean there, done that? You haven’t tried coffee until you’ve tried it in Seattle. Join a local guide to explore the vibrant Capitol Hill neighbourhood, where counterculture and coffee culture go hand in hand. Pop into coffee shops to sample a range of different brews, from classic favourites to unique offerings, learning about production processes and local culture as you go. This walking tour through the coffee capital of the USA will leave you both caffeinated and educated.

• Get your caffeine fix with three styles of coffee, from single-origin espressos to infused brews.
• See behind the scenes of your cup of joe when you learn about the roasting and production process.
• Explore the lively Capitol Hill neighbourhood and learn about its progressive history and longstanding counterculture.
• Join a local guide and get some recommendations for the best bakeries, restaurants, and nightlife activities of Capitol Hill.

Local English -speaking guide, three coffee (or tea) samples. We can accommodate dietary restrictions (Gluten, nut, dairy).

Additional food and drink, tips and gratuities for the guide.

Jimi Hendrix Statue, 1604 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122

A central location in Capitol Hill

The maximum number of people on this tour will be 12 passengers. The private tour is priced for a minimum group size of four travellers. A solo traveller may still book the private experience but will be charged the base rate for four travellers.

If you have any issues on the day of your tour, please call +1 (206) 408-8141

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity.

Welcome to the coffee capital of the USA! While Seattle is famous for being the birthplace of Starbucks, the city is absolutely brimming with world-class cafes and roasteries. The tour begins at the Jimi Hendrix statue, paying homage to the Seattle native and his significant musical contributions. Here you’ll meet your local guide who will show you around Seattle’s vibrant and busy Capitol Hill neighbourhood. Along the way, we’ll pop into local cafes and coffee shops to sample different brews. Here we’ll learn about the history of our favourite caffeinated beverages as well as more unique and special offerings. We’ll also learn about coffee production and roasting techniques. You may get to try anything from infused coffee to a decadent espresso invented in Seattle. Coffee standards are high in Seattle, so you can expect to visit a range of locally owned spots that take pride in what they do, with beans hand selected from some of the best roasters in the country. While you’re getting caffeinated and educated on everything from single origin to sustainable brews, you’ll also learn about Capitol Hill, one of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods. The area has historically been, and still is, closely associated with counterculture, and is known for its diverse, conscious and LGBTIQ+ communities. Pass by iconic music venues associated with Seattle’s world-famous grunge scene, as well as more modern venues for electronic music. As we explore, your guide will point out plenty of places where you can listen to live music or grab food, cocktails, or even more coffee after your tour.

+1 (206) 408-8141 [email protected]

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Exploring Seattle’s Coffee Scene By Foot: The Coffee Crawl

Seattle By Foot’s Coffee Crawl offers more than just coffee.

One of the best ways to see any city (except maybe LA) is on foot. Seattle is no exception. Its walkable streets and tight-knit neighborhoods make Seattle a great town to explore with a comfortable pair of shoes (and an umbrella).

Seattle has several great tours available for visitors and locals, including a pub crawl, a Seattle underground tour, and a few ghostly haunt tours.

But Seattle is nearly synonymous with great coffee , so, it may please you to know that we also have an excellent coffee tour as well.

That’s right, The Coffee Crawl , brought to us by Seattle by Foot , is a 2.5 hour whirlwind coffee tour in the heart of the city.

I recently met up with tour owner, Heather Chermak, on a typical drizzly and gray Seattle morning and joined her tour. (Rain or shine the Coffee Crawl starts at Hammering Man | Seattle Art Museum, First Avenue & University Street). See below for times, dates, and prices ).

Great for Tourists & Seattleites Alike

If you’ve ever been curious about learning a bit more about Seattle’s robust coffee culture without feeling like a tourist, then this coffee crawl should be first on your list.

Have you ever wondered: What makes Seattle the American coffee center? What are the great cafes that exemplify Seattle’s best coffee experience?  For the last couple of years, this coffee tour has given people a front and center view of the city’s caffeinated lifestyle and answers these questions – and more. I cover quite a bit of coffee in my blog and I was happy to learn many quite a few things.

Perfect for families, first dates, tourists, locals, and/or coffee bloggers – The Coffee Crawl covers lots of ground.

 Enjoying a taste of Seattle’s Coffee Culture at Caffe Umbria.

Along with several other coffee lovers, I walked with Heather through Seattle’s coffee history and present day coffee culture, exploring historic districts and long-time and established cafes.

Breaking up the two mile walk through the city, the tour takes you to six high profile locations where you get to sample a variety of coffee, espresso, coffee art, chocolate, while discussing a variety of coffee brewing methods directly with baristas.  A surprise was that I also got to experience Seattle’s distinct architecture and learn a bit more about the city’s history.

No doubt, it’s easy to get intimidated by Seattle’s Coffee Scene , but I felt this tour did a great job of explaining and drawing the curtain back on a wonderful, rich part of our city’s culture.

I recently sat down with Heather and asked her a few questions:

Why do You Think Seattle has a vibrant Coffee Scene?

Seattle is so creative and has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. There is something about a warm coffee house on a cold and rainy day that is uplifting and gets those creative juices flowing; the coffee aroma, local art on the walls and comfortable seating. The “big guys” initiated an awareness, appetite and need for coffee but it’s the smaller independent shops who have created the “scene” or coffee couture with locals in mind.

What the future of the Seattle coffee scene?

Refinement. Seattleites will always want a cup of coffee but more than ever, we are aware of where it is sourced, roasted and brewed. This awareness supports a continued commitment to quality and strong relations with coffee growers; farm direct. I am very intrigued by some developments in Washington DC and NYC where some coffee houses have banned laptops! Would that fly in Seattle? Coffee houses were initially a place where friends would gather for conversation. Not so much anymore–today most coffee houses in Seattle are silent.

What can visitors expect from you tour?

A good time and lots of coffee! We offer an authentic local experience without the coffee snobbery. We just love/need coffee. Expect more than just coffee talk: we also include Seattle history and walk through four downtown districts. All of Seattle By Foot tours are intimate and conversational. Whether you’re a visitor to Seattle or a local you will  discover something new.  

Seattle Coffee Crawl Basics:

Thursday-Sunday – 2.5 HRS

9:50am Check-in

Prices:  $35 per person (plus taxes & fees). Cash only.

Includes 6+ Samples of Coffee and Chocolate (Yum!)

More Information: 1-206-508-7017

The tour meets at Hammering Man | Seattle Art Museum. See Map Below:

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Seattle Coffee Crawl & Bakery Tour

• Walking Tour
• Max Guests: 12
• Public Tour

Seattle Coffee Crawl & Bakery Tour Details

Pair a tasting of Seattle’s best coffees with its best bakery scene in the Capitol Hill neighborhood with a local guide!

Whether you’re new to coffee or already have a deep appreciation for our favorite caffeinated beverage here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ll start with a basic tasting to appreciate some locally roasted coffee beans. Your tour guide will help you understand the nuances of coffee flavors before moving on to more embellished styles.

While your coffee samples can range from a tasty latte to a sensational mocktail, you’ll really get to experience the creativity Capitol Hill coffee shops are known for!

In addition to your three coffee samples, we’ll be treating you to the Hill’s best bakeries! Your tour guide will delight you with snacks that might include a flaky pastry, a decadent sandwich cookie with unique flavors, sweet dumplings, or freshly baked cookies with a Middle Eastern or Filipino twist. As our bakeries make everything fresh, this tasting experience can vary, making our coffee crawl and bakery tour unique every time!

As we eat and drink our way through Capitol Hill, you’ll learn from your tour guide the history of the area, more about its modern-day culture, and stories behind some of the shops we’ll be visiting or passing by.

After your walking tour, you may want to stick around to continue exploring the neighborhood’s food and drink scene or get some recommendations from your local guide for other unique places to visit!

• Explore Seattle’s trendy local cafes and bakeries with a local tour guide
• Get caffeinated with three samples of locally roasted Seattle coffee
• Sample the best pastries, baked goods, and confections along with your coffee
• Enjoy Seattle’s diverse food scene with unique takes on traditional bakery items
• Immerse yourself in vibrant Capitol Hill and Pacific Northwest coffee culture!

Price Includes

Price Excludes

• Local English-speaking guide
• Three coffee samples
• Guide gratuity
• Additional food & drink

Capitol Hill

With your local Seattle tour guide, you’ll be exploring the Capitol Hill neighborhood and its best cafes and bakeries. Along the way, you’ll hear about its history, do a deep dive into its coffee culture, and taste a variety of baked goods, pastries, and confections!

Jimi Hendrix Statue

Our walking tour of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood starts at this statue, which commemorates the rock and roll legend in an iconic pose. If you’re a music lover, your tour guide can include some music history of the area and recommendations for live music venues and other neighborhoods to discover Seattle’s music past and present.

This intimate venue is a great place to catch a show after your Capitol Hill tour. The small stage here has been graced by local bands and internationally renowned musicians alike. Ask your tour guide about the history of this beloved Seattle institution!

Oddfellows Cafe + Bar

Our tour will pass by this well-known and locally loved cafe and bar in the heart of Capitol Hill. Learn the history of the building from your tour guide and visit after your tour to enjoy a great brunch or the equally delicious cocktails!

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

Your tour may visit or stop outside this highly popular roastery. Inside and on certain days, you can see roasters in action, pumping out blonde espressos and specialty batches. The roastery also includes a full-service coffee bar as well as a coffee cocktail bar! Please note that this roastery is not always accessible to the public.

Gemini Room

We may pass by or stop in at this all-day coffee and cocktail bar. This is a great place to visit post-tour to enjoy some unique takes on cocktails and to enjoy its throwback 60s and 70s decor.

Cal Anderson Park

We may pass by this popular park and sports field on our Seattle walking tour. Your tour guide will fill you in on the history of the park and how it’s utilized today.

Elliott Bay Book Company

Our tour of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood will likely pass by this beloved bookstore, one of just a few in Seattle where you can find local recommendations and live author events throughout the week!

Capitol Cider

Our small-group walking tour may pass by this restaurant and cidery featuring boozy beverages sourced locally from Washington State. We recommend this as your post-tour dinner and for live music on certain evenings!

Victrola Coffee

This cafe lies along our walking tour route and is one of Seattle’s most recognized coffee chains.

We may pass by this Seattle restaurant serving up Middle Eastern eats located in a former warehouse. You’ll learn from your Seattle tour guide about the early history of Capitol Hill, when such warehouses dominated the neighborhood.

Wunderground

Our tour may feature or pass by this new-wave coffee shop, which serves up unique coffee in very trendy digs.

We’ll pass by this Seattle coffee chain which is a popular place for students, working professionals, and anyone looking for a unique espresso experience.

Rachel's Ginger Beer

We may pass by this Seattle institution, serving up handcrafted ginger beer – a perfect place for anyone, as they offer both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with a variety of flavors!

We may pass by or make a stop at this small shop that has been serving up delicious coffee and chocolate pairings, along with empanadas, churros, and bitter and sweet Mexican chocolate!

Our tour guides make it a point to highlight and support local coffee shops that offer locally roasted coffee.

By choosing a walking tour and using convenient public transit to reach the meeting point, you’re helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce traffic congestion in a small neighborhood.

We’re proud to support local bakeries that strive to source ingredients locally.

This walking tour gives us the opportunity to introduce our guests to amazing cafes and bakeries that represent Seattle’s diversity

Pickup Information

Pickup Times : 9:00 am, 2:00 pm Meeting Location: 1604 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 (Jimi Hendrix Statue)

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Seattle Coffee, Chocolate & Wine Tour

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Savor some of Seattle’s best-known treats on this tasty tour.

Named the best coffee city in the United States for 2020, our Seattle Coffee, Chocolate & Wine Tour pairs some of the best coffee with two other Seattle greats in one deliciously decadent tour! Go behind the scenes with local artisans to understand the process of transforming top quality ingredients into award-winning products renowned for their rich flavor. Each stop includes a tour & tasting, with an opportunity to gain invaluable insight from passionate owners and master craftspeople. A tasty and unique experience awaits you, this is a tour you don’t want to miss.

• Exclusive Starbucks Roastery Tour
• Frans Chocolate Tour & Tasting
• The Tasting Room | 4 Wines + Cured Meats & Cheese Plate
• Departure Custom

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An Eater’s Guide to Seattle

A tour of the city’s best restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and bakeries

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Table of Contents

- Local food rules - Where to start on Eater Seattle's top maps - A few Seattle neighborhoods to know - Glossary of Seattle food terms and celebrities - Follow the News - Get in Touch

Seattle is nestled in one of the most beautiful regions of North America, with Lake Washington to the east and Puget Sound to the West. On clear days, you can look west to see the Olympic Mountains and east to the Cascades. The metro area is home to immigrant communities from all over Asia as well as Mexico, Ethopia, and Somalia; there is also a substantial Indigenous population here. The cultural and ethnic diversity combined with the wide range of local ingredients makes the area a fertile ground for restaurants.

Pandemic lockdowns are in the rearview mirror, and though businesses are still struggling with labor shortages and rising costs, creative chefs and owners have opened a wave of exciting restaurants in 2024 . Here is a guide to the city’s ever-changing dining scene.

Local food rules

Washington is an agriculturally rich state, and Seattle restaurants benefit from an abundance of nearby farms, fruit orchards, fisheries, shellfish farms, ranches, and wineries. But the city is most famous for its seafood. Salmon is such a part of the area’s culinary identity that in the past, Sea-Tac Airport literally rolled out a red carpet for the first Copper River salmon of the season to arrive from Alaska. Shellfish is a Seattle staple, with many places serving oysters plucked out of the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Puget Sound and surrounding waterways. One local delicacy-bordering-on-novelty is the humble geoduck (pronounced “gooey duck”), an enormous clam that sometimes catches newcomers off guard because it looks like a penis.

Seattle features many great cuisines but is perhaps known best for its Asian restaurants. The city has a rich Japanese food scene and is home to world-class sushi masters — most notably Shiro Kashiba — and sustainable sushi pioneers like Taichi Kitamura. Pho is ubiquitous around town , and teriyaki — that sticky-sweet Japanese-American dish — is a Seattle specialty, popularized by Toshihiro Kasahara at Toshi’s Teriyaki Restaurant in the 1970s. The Chinese restaurant scene is diversifying to include more regional cuisines like Szechuan .

But perhaps the hottest cuisine in Seattle right now is Filipino. Though Filipino people have lived here since the 19th century, and Pike Place institution Oriental Mart can attest to the longtime influence of Filipino cuisine, in the past half-decade there’s been an explosion of innovative restaurants, like Melissa Miranda’s Musang and Aaron Verzosa and Amber Manuguid’s Archipelago . There are also a bevy of buzzy but more casual Filipino-influenced spots, like the Chicken Supply , Moto Pizza , Hood Famous Bake Shop , and Ludi’s Restaurant .

Where to start on Eater Seattle's top maps

Eater publishes plenty of maps detailing the top places and things to eat and drink in Seattle. Here are a few of our most popular guides to help you get started:

New Restaurants: This list changes monthly and includes restaurants that have opened or reopened in the last six months. Right now, notable new spots include the inventive new Vietnamese restaurant Ramie , the Afro-Caribbean joint Lenox , and Familyfriend , a no-reservations Guamanian restaurant in Beacon Hill that’s become famous for its smashburgers.

Essential Restaurants: If you need to narrow down the quarterly guide to Seattle’s 38 standout dining destinations even further, you might start off at at Off Alley , a 14-seat restaurant in a renovated brick alleyway in Columbia City, with its hyper-seasonal French-inflected small plates, excellent natural wines, and punk rock soundtrack. For something more casual, head to Un Bien in Ballard, which is a local favorite thanks to its incredible Caribbean sandwiches. Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures restaurant group has come to define PNW cuisine in the past couple of decades, and her oyster bar the Walrus and the Carpenter is a must-visit. And you can’t forget about Communion , the soul food restaurant in the Central District from chef Kristi Brown.

Bakeries: One underrated aspect of Washington State’s agricultural prowess is the high-quality wheat that’s grown here and the top-notch flour that comes from local sources. That flour has fueled an abundance of creative bakeries , some of which straddle the line between bakery, coffee shop, and restaurant, like Saint Bread in the University District. Some draw on Scandinavian baking traditions, like Ballad’s Larsen’s Bakery , while others are Asian-influenced, like the ID’s Fuji Bakery . The most hyped bakery in the city (and the one with the longest lines) at the moment may be Ben’s Bread on Phinney Ridge; its namesake co-owner, Ben Campbell, was recently a James Beard Award semifinalist .

Bars: Seattle’s bar scene is marked by countless dive bars, elegant craft cocktail lounges, and everything in between. Standouts include James Beard–nominated Rob Roy ; Canon , which features the nation’s largest spirits list; and Zig Zag Café , a Pike Place Market bar and restaurant where the Last Word, a locally famous cocktail, was reintroduced to the world by bartender Murray Stenson . Seattle also boasts wine bars and bottle shops galore , like La Dive , a playful Capitol Hill hub for natural wine (now with an Uptown location ). Last year Seattle got its first nonalcoholic bottle shop, Cheeky and Dry , reflecting the growing popularity of nonalcoholic beverages.

Breweries: There’s been an exciting proliferation of breweries throughout Seattle in recent years, but Holy Mountain , with its constantly changing menu of off-beat, barrel-aged beers, is a must-visit. Cloudburst, just north of Pike Place Market, is a masterful maker of award-winning IPAs . Many breweries, too, have become hosts for the excellent food pop-ups which have thrived in Seattle lately, particularly Ballard’s Fair Isle Brewing . A relatively new entrant, Project 9 Brewing in Maple Leaf, has drawn acclaim for its wide array of beer styles; it also hosts the Seattle outpost of Portland-founded sandwich truck Sammich.

Coffee: Seattle’s coffee shops run the gamut from lived-in hangouts that have been there for decades to trendy new-wave espresso spots focused on lighter roasts and more diverse flavor profiles. Recently, a young generation of coffee lovers has brought renewed appreciation for Vietnamese-style phin-brewed coffee, which you can find at places like Hello Em and Phin in the International District, Coffeeholic House in Columbia City, and Aroom in Fremont. Latin American coffee drinks are starting to enter the fray with coffee shops in Ballard and Beacon Hill tapping Mexican and Cuban traditions and Pike Place Market’s Maíz serving cafe de olla. Bubble tea is also ubiquitous, and you can find some excellent options at Greenwood’s Hangry Panda or the University District location of Taiwanese chain Don’t Yell At Me . (The U District runneth over with bubble tea.)

Views: You can’t help but notice the sparkling scenery in and around this fetching city, but some restaurants boast particularly stunning views. Ferry across Elliott Bay to dine on Hawaiian-Korean creations at Marination Ma Kai or nab an Adirondack chair on the north end of Lake Union for Mediterranean-inspired fare with a skyline view at Westward . And following the pandemic lockdown era — when restaurants had to pivot away from indoor dining — outdoor seating is more prevalent than it’s been in the past. Here are the heated and covered spots to seek out during cold-weather days.

A few Seattle neighborhoods to know

These are the key areas of the city every self-proclaimed food lover has to survey — complete with what to eat and drink in each.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is Seattle’s historically LGBTQ neighborhood and a nightlife hub. Though it’s contending with gentrification , it’s still home to many colorful queer businesses. It’s also one of Seattle’s best dining neighborhoods. See some of the finest options in our neighborhood guide . For Mexican, don’t miss Carmelo’s Tacos ; for Laotian, see Taurus Ox , which serves sausages fragrant with lemongrass and satisfying pork jowl smash burgers (the burgers got so popular Taurus Ox now has a burger-only restaurant, Ox Burger ). Eric and Sophie Banh’s Ba Bar and Monsoon are perennial favorites for top-notch pho, super-crispy imperial rolls, and Chinese-influenced haute Vietnamese cuisine.

Chinatown-International District

The Chinatown-International District (also known by shortened names like the CID, the International District, or the ID) is home to Chinatown, Japantown, Filipino Town, and Little Saigon, as well as too many incredible restaurants to name here. See our neighborhood dining guide for tons of great options. Sizzling Pot King draws fans for its superb Hunan-style Chinese food, the dishes loaded with sharp pickled chile peppers. Gan Bei is a perfect late-night hangout for beer, Chinese fried chicken, and sausage clay pots, while Saigon Vietnam Deli is a great spot for a quick banh mi. The Thai restaurant E-Jae Pak Mor became famous last year for its dumplings with paper-thin skin . Don’t forget Tai Tung , Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant, founded in 1935. But for many locals the top reason to go to the CID is the massive Asian supermarket Uwajimaya , which sells a huge array of products and also has plenty of hot food counters and a food court.

Once a rough-and-tumble Scandinavian fishing village, Ballard in the 21st century has become startlingly hip. The neighborhood — mapped out for your dining convenience here — straddles the line between modern development and the preservation of its early history. There’s plenty worth eating here, including wood-fired pizza perfectionist Delancey and Lebanese restaurant Cafe Munir . You can also work up an appetite while perusing the cases of meat at popular butcher shop Beast and Cleaver , which takes care in sourcing its cuts from sustainable ranches; it also serves meaty dishes at night when the shop turns into a tasting menu restaurant (good luck getting a reservation). The neighborhood also has its own brewery district where over a dozen brewers are within walking district, including Reuben’s , Stoup , and Urban Family .

Georgetown has a history of grit and brick, but has also become a thriving culinary and cultural destination over recent years, fostering a local character that draws in visitors from all over town. You can find decadent slices of cakes at Deep Sea Sugar and Salt , wonderful vegan sandwiches at the divey Georgetown Liquor Company , and intricate six-course prix fixe meals at the Corson Building . Don’t forget about the beer — the breweries here, including Georgetown Brewing with its local-favorite Manny’s Pale Ale and Machine House Brewery with its British-inspired cask ales, are among the best in the city.

Known as a neighborhood thriving with creative spirit (and a massive troll under a bridge ), Fremont is just north of Lake Union, to the east of Ballard. A few standouts among the strong selection here are chef Mutsuko Soma’s soba destination, Kamonegi , the Korean lunch bowl spot Made in House ; and Local Tide , where people line up for the succulent crab rolls in particular. James Beard Award-winning chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi run the kitchen at Joule , known for its kalbi short ribs, local pickled vegetables, and a fresh take on Korean cuisine.

West Seattle

West Seattle’s dining scene and the picturesque Alki Beach are equally impressive. You’ll find fantastic pizza at Supreme , inventive dinners from hyper-local ingredients at Driftwood , and top-notch smoked meats at Lady Jaye , which also boasts a terrific backyard patio. Seafood fans should check out Mashiko for sushi that emphasizes sustainability; those recovering from a long night can eat breakfast (or get some hair of the dog) with a side of killer soundtrack at Easy Street Records & Cafe .

Other neighborhood guides:

Central District , U District , Tacoma , and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport .

Glossary of Seattle food terms and celebrities

Seattle dog:.

It’s a hot dog or sausage slathered in — wait for it — cream cheese and grilled onions. The murky origin story goes back to the late 1990s, when a bagel cart in Pioneer Square went a little rogue . Though it sounds strange, the sweet and meaty flavor combination is surprisingly satisfying (try some hot sauce on it), and even high-end restaurants will sometimes riff on the concoction for specials. You can generally find a Seattle dog at Capitol Hill stands bumping Latin dance music and selling the hot dogs late into the night along with elotes, and at other hot dog-focused places around town .

This sticky-sweet Japanese-American dish is a Seattle specialty, popularized by Toshihiro Kasahara at Toshi’s Teriyaki Restaurant in the 1970s. You can still find Kasahara north of the city at Toshi’s Teriyaki Grill in Mill Creek; within Seattle city limits, try gluten-free options at West Seattle’s Grillbird Teriyaki .

The ‘Original’ Starbucks:

Even those who have never been to Seattle before probably don’t need to check out Starbucks ’s faux-riginal location in Pike Place Market (the true original was nearby at the corner of Western and Virginia). But the coffee behemoth’s modern, copper-plated Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room on Capitol Hill may be worth a visit as an alternative. It’s where the company roasts fresh specialty beans, and also home to a full bar and bakery. In recent years, the company has become controversial as Starbucks workers in the Seattle area and across the country , including at the Reserve Roastery , have been unionizing in a growing wave, demanding better conditions and pay, while the company has been accused of pushing back aggressively . (There have been recent signs that relations between the union and management are thawing.) Here’s a reminder that there are plenty of great independent coffee shops and small-batch coffee roasters around Seattle.

Old-school yet relevant, Canlis is Seattle’s archetypal white-tablecloth, dress-code, fine dining restaurant, which has shown a great deal of versatility over the years. The restaurant hired a new chef in 2021, Aisha Ibrahim , whose background at Japanese kaiseki restaurants is bringing more hyper-seasonality to the menu. The Canlis family still owns and operates the restaurant , and it’s still setting the benchmark for quality and service in the city.

Renee Erickson:

This James Beard Award–winning chef channels rustic European country cooking by way of seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients in her bright, airy, elegant spaces. She runs some of the city’s most adored spots through her Sea Creatures brand, including oyster bar the Walrus and the Carpenter , the Whale Wins Larder and Cafe , and innovative steakhouse Bateau . Her empire just keeps growing: She’ll open three new restaurants in the Pioneer Square development RailSpur in 2025.

Shiro Kashiba:

A legend in his own right, this beloved chef trained with Jiro Ono (of Jiro Dreams of Sushi ) before bringing edomae-style sushi to Seattle and defining the scene here over the past 50 years. He spent early days at Maneki and other spots around town, pioneering the use of local seafood, then two decades at namesake Shiro’s . Finally, after the world’s shortest retirement, Kashiba returned to the counter in late 2015 at Pike Place Market’s Sushi Kashiba , where you can still find him on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He’s now focused on helping the next generation of Seattle sushi chefs open their own restaurants.

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