A Foodie's Guide to Dining in Seattle

Take your tastebuds on a tour with our guide to dining in Seattle! Our city’s food culture is deeply rooted in the region’s natural bounty—think fresh seafood from the Puget Sound, foraged mushrooms, and berries picked just miles from the city. 

Seattle thrives on diversity, with chefs drawing inspiration from Asian, Pacific Northwest, and Indigenous cuisines. Paired with Seattle's reputation for innovation, this rich cultural history results in a food scene that is as unique as it is delicious. Here are our tips and recommendations and recommendations for self-guided Seattle food tours:

Seattle’s culinary culture has been shaped by many factors, including its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, fertile farmlands, and a local culture that values thinking outside the box. Visitors can expect to find world-class seafood (fresh Dungeness crab, salmon, oysters, and mussels are staples in many restaurants) and some one-of-a-kind dining experiences. Our Seattle food guide aims to help you find dining spots that meet that criteria.

Okay, so we’re biased! Green Lake is one of Seattle’s most scenic neighborhoods, with a gorgeous lake acting as its centerpiece (and namesake). After strolling around Green Lake Park or perusing the cute neighborhood shops, stop for dinner at some of the best places to eat near Green Lake, Seattle. 

Start each morning with a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. in our dining room or common areas (or outside on the patio during warm weather). Enjoy your meal with juice, premium Seattle coffee (now with espresso options available), or tea. 

Breakfast includes a fresh fruit starter, followed by a made-to-order entrée such as Grand Marnier French toast, a feta, spinach, tomato omelet, or eggs benedict. Each dish is accompanied by freshly baked scones, muffins, or toast, and a side of bacon, sausage, vegetarian sausage, or ham, finished with seasonal herbs and edible flowers from our garden.

For dishes worthy of your Instagram feed and your tastebuds, visit Noi Thai Cuisine. This place opened in the spring of 2022 and quickly became a neighborhood favorite. Noi Thai Cuisine serves authentic and gorgeously presented Thai dishes and cocktails. Our guests rave about this place’s “wow” factor. 

Start your Seattle foodie adventure with a bowl of this restaurant’s award-winning chowder. Duke's Seafood has a sustainable seafood menu that includes chowders, burgers, cocktails, crab cakes, and anything from the surf. 

Nell's is a chef-owned restaurant that offers an intimate fine-dining experience. It specializes in European-inspired New American cuisine. The restaurant is open for dinner seven nights a week, but we recommend booking your reservations in advance.

The historic Pike Place Market is a paradise for foodies and is home to some of the best restaurants in Seattle. It is the epicenter of artisan and specialty foods and offers an outstanding variety of fresh seafood, handmade pastas, artisanal cheeses, and other Seattle exclusives.

After watching fishmongers toss the day’s catch, head to Zig Zag Café, a bar and restaurant where the Last Word, a locally famous cocktail, was reintroduced by bartender Murray Stenson. If you still need to slake your thirst, Cloudburst Brewing, just north of Pike Place Market, serves award-winning IPAs.

Stop by maíz for its amazing traditional nixtamal corn-based specialties and tamales or to warm up a delicious cup of its café de olla. Get another hot cuppa at Seattle staple Storyville Coffee (the coffee we serve at the Inn). For dinner options at the market, we recommend Le Pichet, a charming French restaurant with fantastic views. Make reservations to secure dinner seating!

Savor the views while you chew at Lowell’s Restaurant. All three floors of this famous restaurant offer waterfront views, making it one of the best places to eat in the Seattle waterfront. It serves three meals a day, but we recommend visiting for dinner for a hearty bowl of clam chowder or its guest favorites, tiger prawns and salmon.

These are the important areas of Seattle that every self-proclaimed foodie should sample — complete with our favorite recommendations. 

There is no shortage of good places to eat in downtown Seattle, but some of our recommendations are: 

• Toulouse Petit: Near Climate Pledge Arena and McCaw Hall, Toulouse Petit serves award-winning Creole and Cajun cuisine in a cozy New Orleans-style dining room.

• Wild Ginger: We’ve always loved Wild Ginger’s Asian-fusion food and satay bar. Spacious dining area with modern decor.

• Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. This fine dining option pairs an incredible global wine selection with classic American dishes. 

Capitol Hill is historically the hub of Seattle’s nightlife and LGBTQ scene, and home to some of the best restaurants in the area. Take in the gorgeous views of this diverse neighborhood while you eat at Terra Plata’s rooftop patio. 

For Laotian cuisine (a Seattle specialty), we recommend Taurus Ox for the best pork burger you’ll ever have. Monsoon and Ba Bar are local favorites for their elevated, Chinese-influenced Vietnamese cuisine. We recommend its signature clay-pot catfish or pho bowls. 

While not technically an eatery, we would still be remiss if we didn’t mention Capitol Hill’s Starbucks Roastery. It has a beautiful tasting room, gift shop, and bakery, and is a must-stop for coffee lovers.  

Once a humble Scandinavian village, Ballard is now Seattle’s oldest and trendiest neighborhood. There is plenty of good food here, including some of our all-time favorites: 

• Ray’s Boathouse: Enjoy local seafood and views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

• Walrus & the Carpenter: We love its small seafood plates and oysters!

• Gracia: Hip Mexican joint that serves elevated tamales, tacos, and drinks.

• Sabine: Middle Eastern–style sharing plates with a lovely terrace.

• Staple & Fancy: Homemade pasta and delicious traditional Italian fare in a stylish dining area.

Ballard also has its own thriving brewery district, where you walk to dozens of local brewers. Popular options include Urban Family, Stoup, or Reuben’s.

Known for its off-beat creativity and quirkiness (and some bridge trolls), “Funky” Fremont offers a fun experience for the adventurous food-lover. A few standouts among the strong offerings include the renowned Kamonegi (owned by famous chef Mutsuko Soma), Local Tide (amazing crab rolls), and Made in House (Korean lunch bowls). 

For visitors looking for an elevated experience, we recommend Joule, a Korean-fusion steakhouse owned by award-winning chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi. Go for the Kalbi short ribs! We also love to recommend RockCreek Seafood and Spirits for its eco-friendly seafood dishes and gorgeous interior. 

Anyone who has previously visited our bed & breakfast knows how passionate we are about good food. In addition to the dozens of recipes we’ve posted previously, guests at Seattle’s Greenlake Guest House are treated to a gourmet breakfast made from scratch and can partake in our snack baskets with freshly baked cookies. 

We treat dining in Seattle as an adventure, and guests are always welcome home to our table. Sip on the complimentary wine or hot beverages, and enjoy the snacks while you relax by the fireplace. Book a stay to begin your next adventure!

 

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