Breakfast
The Crumpet Shop
Located at street level at Pike Place Market this cozy little tea and crumpet shop offers melt in your mouth crumpets with your choice of toppings. 1503 1st Ave., Seattle WA; 206-682-1598.
Top Pot Doughnuts
Chosen by Esquire magazine as one of the best breakfast places in the U.S. The homemade doughnuts at Top Pot are so popular even Starbucks carries them in their stores. The one on Capitol Hill is always packed. Get there early before your favorite doughnut is sold out.
Volunteer Park Cafe
Within walking distance on north Capitol Hill, near scenic Volunteer Park, this cozy neighborhood cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (check website for days and times).
Crumble & Flake Patisserie
Located on Capitol Hill get in line early to enjoy one of the handmade pastries. Once they sell out they close for the day. Pastries sell out usually in just a couple hours. And as you can imagine weekends are the busiest!
Daily Dozen Donuts
Nestled inside Pike Place Market, the Daily Dozen sells mini donuts by the half or dozen with a choice of plain, cinnamon sugar, or chocolate sprinkle. Served warm in a paper bag and ready to eat on the go. 93 Pike St. Ste. 7, Seattle, WA; 206-467-7769.
Macrina Bakery and Café
Many Seattleites say this is the best bakery in Seattle. The Belltown café is packed around the clock and the bakery cuisine is worth it. Late at night when the bakery is closed you’ll see bakers inside putting the finishing touches on wedding cakes. 2408 1st Ave., Seattle, WA; 206-448-4032.
Lunch
Dick's Drive In
Don't let the name fool you, you can walk up or drive up to the window and order a cheap burger and fries and if you can stomach it choose from one of several milkshake flavors too. Dick's was voted best burger of Western Washington in 2009 by Evening Magazine.
Pagliacci Pizza Pizza
By the slice or by the pie, Pagliacci's is popular with Seattle residents. And yes, they deliver. Several locations around Seattle including a top Capitol Hill (on Broadway).
Pho Cyclo Cafe
Located on Broadway on Capitol Hill the service is quick, the Vietnamese food is yummy and the price is budget-friendly. And they are the winner of the 2009 Best of Western Washington Vietnamese restaurant by Evening Magazine.
Specialty's Café & Bakery
Homebaked breads, desserts, soups and sandwiches with locations in Seattle and Bellevue.
Red Mill Burgers
Closest one in Seattle is located in the Phinny Ridge neighborhood it is known as one of the "20 hamburgers you must eat before you die" according to the Oprah Show and GQ Magazine.
Bakeman’s
Bakeman’s is run just like the Soup Nazi on Seinfield, efficiency is key. The underground sandwich shop in Pioneer Square is a local lunch destination Monday through Friday only. The line looks long, but goes quickly. Have your order ready in your mind, when it’s your turn to place your order sound it off with quick authority and you’ll become a Bakeman's favorite. The sandwiches are made with real carved turkey with your choice of white or dark meat. Next, choose your bread, then your toppings (best topping: cranberry sauce). And eat the best turkey sandwich Seattle has to offer. 122 Cherry St., Seattle, WA; 206-622-3375.
Dinner
The Pink Door
You know you’ve found the restaurant when you see the metal pink door in the Post Alley of Pike Place Market. Call ahead for reservations; this place gets booked, but it’s worth it. Enjoy a martini on the rooftop overlooking Elliott Bay, or have a cozy dinner indoors in an Italian atmosphere. Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley; 206-443-3241.
LePichet
If you've ever been to France then you'll appreciate the authentic nature of LePichet's dining atmosphere. The food is true French cuisine and the service is top notch. Most meals are very affordable and don't even think about eating there without a reservation. Tables are held only for those that planned ahead to reserve them, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Otherwise you can take your chances of finding an open seat at the cafe style bar if one is available. It's all about timing. Le Pichet is located near Pike Place Market.
Spinasse
Located on Capitol Hill the northern Italy inspired cuisine is winning raves around Seattle. Don't miss their hand cut egg pasta with butter and sage.
Barrio
Barrio is on Capitol Hill and the restaurant brings a touch of modern Mexico to the Seattle area. The menu features mexican inspired dishes with a Pacific Northwest flair. Barrio's intimate glow lighting is perfect city date night material. The Spanish cuisine ranges from seafood to tender meats and is complimented by their strong collection of Spanish wines and cocktails.
The Deluxe Bar and Grill
Since 1962 they've been serving up yummy American style meals and drinks on Capitol Hill.
Oddfellows Cafe + Bar
A little secret: Get a table outside in the back courtyard and enjoy the twinkle lights above as you dine and sip a glass of wine. On cooler days eat inside and enjoy a whole chicken with a side of mac and cheese. Oddfellows is located next door to Elliot Bay Books on Capitol Hill.
The Kingfish Cafe
Southern food, Southern charm, Southern hospitality and photos of the owners relatives on the walls. The food is their biggest draw. Homemade hearty gumbo, crab and catfish cakes, smooth mac and cheese, buttermilk fried chicken, are you salivating yet? End your meal with one of their cakes, the red velvet is their most popular. Also located on Capitol Hill.
Sitka & Spruce
Located inside Melrose Market on Capitol Hill, this restaurant is popular (reservations recommended) sometimes you can get a seat if you walk up right when they open. The weekly menu is seasonal, organic, and local. And on Monday's they mix it up and serve Mexican food.
Laredo's Grill
Awesome smoke-infused Mexican food. Located on Queen Anne hill. And they serve Margarita's with traditional and untraditional twists.
Dessert
Dilettante Chocolates
Dilettante's is hands down a romantic place to take your special someone. They've been creating exquisite chocolates for over 30 years. Now run by a third generation Chocolatier enjoy to die for chocolate sundaes and cakes or bite into a fine chocolate, sample a Chocolate Martini or choose from several different versions of hot chocolate. Either way the intimate setting will fit the mood. Check out the one on Capitol Hill (on Broadway).
The Confectionery
Located in Seattle's University Village go shopping and then enjoy a sugar rush in The Confectionary. You can't go wrong with the old fashioned environment with upscale treats.
Cupcake Royale
Choose from regular and bite-size cupcakes. The airy treats are smothered in frosting flavors from chocolate to lemon and lavender. Sink into a leather couch and roomy table and act like a kid at heart.
Chocolate Box
Give your special someone an extravagant basket of chocolate. They will build your chocolate box made-to-order so you can personalize your sweetheart's batch.
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
On a warm summer day this joint is packed. Located right around the corner from Elliot Bay Books and across the street from the South end of Cal Anderson Park a yummy place to enjoy a salted caramel scoop and other flavors.
Bars
Tavern Law
What's not to like about this Capitol Hill-based speakeasy-type bar, fake library decor and beers and cocktails served up among the chatter. Be sure to pick up the phone outside the bar to get approval to get through the safe door that leads upstairs to the small venue.
Vessel
Vessel mixes the old with the new. It's a modern bar in downtown Seattle (624 Olive Way) that serves up expert cocktails in a refined atmosphere. They are known for their annual Prohibition Day celebration.
Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub
Nestled in the Post Alley above historic Pike Place Market, Kells is always hopping with pub crawlers. Its warm and cozy atmosphere and outdoor patio make it inviting to tourists as well. Every year they celebrate St. Patrick's Day with fervor. Address: 1916 Post Alley. Phone: 206-728-1916.
Sam's Tavern
Located on Capitol hill, this gourmet burger hangout is a popular place to grab a drink from beer to hard liquor. Sam's was founded by the grandson of the Red Robin chain owners.
Restaurant Events
Pampas Room Jazz
The Pampas Room features live Jazz, a full dance floor and stage and dinner seating for as many as 110 guests.
El Gaucho
El Gaucho offers a theater-like ambiance with an open charcoal grill as the focal point. They offer several wine events throughout the year.
Neumos Bar
Neumos, is a mid-sized music venue in downtown Seattle offering a concert hall with a state-of-the-art sound system.
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
Jazz shows are featured while you dine or make a reservation for a Jazz show without dinner and enjoy the music.
Highway 99 Blues Club
The Highway 99 Blues Club features music in a southern-style atmosphere all the way down to the photos from nationally recognized blues photographers. They also have a kitchen that serves up delicious Louisiana-style cuisine.
The Pink Door Nightly
Each night of the week there is something new going on at the Pink Door. The Italian restaurant at Pike Place Market is known for their Saturday night Caberet & Burlesque show.
Dine Around Seattle
They call it "divine dining at a terrific price." Local restaurants participate in the program bi-annually every March and November. Thirty of Seattle’s best restaurants offer a 3-course meal for only $30. The dinner includes appetizer, entrée and dessert. The price does not include beverages, tax and gratuity and the promotion is only offered Sunday through Thursday. Several of the participating restaurants also offer $15 lunches.
