Seattle and the surrounding area offer one of America's true regional cuisines that is rooted in fresh seafood, an adundance of small-scale producers and purveyors, great local wines, and an ever-growing pool of talented chefs who know how to draw on the local abundance. The diversity of Seattle's dining scene sets it apart, too. There are of course Northwestern style seafood restaurants and steakhouses, but also restaurants that draw on influences from Asia, Latin America, France, Italy, and beyond. Standout restaurants include Barolo, the Dahlia Lounge, Etta's, and Juno.
Mediterranean.
Elegant style with rustic influences defines the space at Andaluca, but the ambiance is relaxed enough to accommodate romantic evenings, casual diners and happy hour glasses of wine. This downtown Seattle restaurant features tapas-inspired plates of Mediterranean fare crafted from fresh, seasonal Northwest ingredients.
Art Restaurant & Lounge at the Four Seasons Seattle
99 Union St., Seattle WA 98101
Contemporary American.
Drawing inspiration from the hotel’s collection of works by the Northwest’s foremost contemporary artist, the aptly named Art Restaurant & Lounge is a modern, beautifully detailed restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle. The prettily plated American cuisine matches the eclectic design with creative global influences and locally sourced ingredients.
Assaggio
2010 4th Ave., Seattle WA 98121
Italian, Seafood, Tapas / Small Plates.
Assaggio Ristorante, headed by Executive Chef and proprietor Mauro Golmarvi, has a passion for serving excellent Italian cuisine in the heart of Downtown Seattle. Mauro is often wandering through the restaurant making sure his patrons are happy, and with such excellent cuisine they probably are. The wine list is seemingly endless and has something for everyone. Gourmet pizzas and pasta fill out much of the menu, complimented by appetizing antipasti.
Barolo
1940 Westlake Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Italian.
A glamorous Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Seattle, Barolo is a prime setting for special occasions and romantic dining. Old-world Northern Italian dishes are lovingly crafted with local, mostly organic products and ingredients, and the wine list impresses with more than 300 labels from Italy, California, Oregon and Washington. Also, the lively bar serves specialty cocktails, over 40 kinds of grappas and late-night fare.
Blueacre Seafood
1700 7th Ave., #100, Seattle WA 98101
Seafood.
Drawing both inspiration and centerpiece ingredients from a vast array of both wild and sustainably farmed freshwater seafood and shellfish, Blueacre Seafood Restaurant in downtown Seattle offers expertly crafted fare in a modern, stylish setting. The menu also includes farm-fresh meats, game, poultry, vegetables and artisanal cheeses.
BOKA Restaurant + Bar
1010 First Ave., Seattle WA 98104
American.
A hip downtown Seattle dining spot, BOKA Restaurant + Bar is both a top American restaurant and a vibrant nightspot. Urban American cuisine crafted from organic, sustainably produced and locally sourced ingredients populates the menu, and the extensive wine list makes pairing easy with over 70 labels available by the glass. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, BOKA offers award-winning specialty cocktails.
Brooklyn Seafood, Steak & Oyster House
1212 Second Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Seafood, Steak.
The only thing that would make the name, “Brooklyn Seafood, Steak & Oyster House” more honest and upfront is if it included the words “Seattle” and “award-winning.” It’s no surprise to find an outstanding menu of prime cuts, fresh seafood and the largest rotating selection of fresh oysters in the city upon sitting down within the chic, urban confines of this critically acclaimed downtown restaurant across from the Seattle Art Museum and Benaroya Hall.
Capital Grille – Seattle
1301 Fourth Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Seafood, Steak.
Located in the Cobb Building at 4th & University, the Capital Grille in Seattle is a fine dining favorite offering exceptional cuisine and an award-winning wine list with over 5,000 labels. This nationally renowned restaurant boasts a flawless setting, poised and attentive service, and an impressive menu of dry aged steaks and fresh seafood. This restaurant is a prime choice for special occasions and business gatherings.
Dahlia Lounge
2001 4th Ave., Seattle WA 98121
Northwest.
Located in the heart of Downtown Seattle, Dahlia Lounge has been a local favorite for years, serving tender meats from the grill and rotisserie along with the freshest fish. The menu includes "Little Tastes from the Sea Bar" (which includes seasonally changing options like smoked salmon or Dungeness crab) and main courses like Alaskan king salmon with buttered gnocchi, wood grilled top round of lamb, and rotisserie roasted five spice duck.
Daily Grill – Seattle
629 Pike St., Seattle WA 98101
American.
Drawing inspiration from the big-city grills of the 30s and 40s, the Daily Grill matches its suave-yet-casual Rat Pack style with a lengthy menu of classic American cuisine. Along with top Angus steaks, chops, fresh seafood, robust salads, hearty meatloaf and indulgent deserts, this snazzy and lively restaurant boasts a great wine list and some of the best martinis and happy hour perks in town.
El Gaucho – Seattle
2505 First Ave., Seattle WA 98121
Steak.
Originating as a breakfast club and speakeasy, El Gaucho is a Seattle fine dining institution that has been re-imagined to offer a classic, fully rounded dining experience augmented by innovative, expertly executed Steakhouse cuisine. This restaurant boasts an unmatched style with dramatic design, an open charcoal grill, tableside preparations, prompt service yet an unhurried ambiance, live piano music in the adjacent lounge, and old-fashioned class that’s a breath of fresh air in a modern world.
FareStart
700 Virginia St., Seattle WA 98101
New American.
FareStart is more than just a lively restaurant offering great contemporary American cuisine; it is a culinary medium for change. The innovative FareStart concept empowers disadvantaged or homeless youth and adults with opportunities through culinary job training, food service training, life skills training, and job placement. By dining at this downtown Seattle restaurant, patrons support the FareStart initiative; all proceeds from lunch and Guest Chef Night go directly back into the program to help fund the job training and placement programs.
Icon Grill
1933 5th Ave., Seattle WA 98101
American.
A whimsically decorated, casual Seattle dining spot, Icon Grill offers what they’ve dubbed "aroused Americana cooking." Tempting and inventive interpretations of classic favorites populate the menu, including chicken fried calamari, molasses glazed meatloaf, potato wrapped halibut, and the local favorite, artichoke gruyere dip. Also, the lengthy, largely Washingtonian wine list offers plenty of pairing options.
Il Fornaio – Seattle
600 Pine St., Seattle WA 98101
Italian.
A classic, elegant Italian restaurant in downtown Seattle, Il Fornaio satisfies with housemade and imported pastas; wood-fired rotisserie and grilled meats, poultry and game; freshly crafted pizzas; and indulgent deserts made daily from scratch. Considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Seattle, this perennially popular destination also boasts an award-winning wine list.
JUNO
700 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98104
Northwest.
JUNO is a hip, casually elegant restaurant with a dramatic urban style and a central location in downtown Seattle. The ever-evolving menu showcases flavorful, expertly crafted Northwestern cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients acquired from local businesses. This restaurant also features an extensive wine list and creative cocktails, as well as popular happy hour deals.
Library Bistro
92 Madison St., Seattle WA 98104
Madison Street's Library Bistro offers a hip place to refuel while strolling through Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. Hundreds of books are on display while patrons munch on traditional bistro cuisine or enjoy a drink from the bar. The Bookstore Bar features a vast array of microbrews, imports and wines from the Pacific Northwest and from around the world. Don’t worry caffeine addicts—this Seattle bistro stays true to its roots and serves up the perfect cup of coffee. All the books on display are also for sale so feel free to browse. Don’t miss out on Seattle’s Library Bistro, a unique experience in the heart of the city.
Lola Seattle
2000 Fourth Ave., Seattle WA 98121
Mediterranean, Greek.
Lola in Downtown Seattle offers a perfect combination of local Northwest ingredients with a Mediterranean flair. Lola serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and even has a late-night menu for those who just can’t get enough. The Greek-inspired menu features cumin-spiced leg of lamb, Washington beef hanger steak and Berkshire pork shoulder. The late-night menu has everything necessary to refuel before checking out Seattle’s nightlife: sizzling kebabs, Lola gyros and even a Greek-inspired lamb burger.
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Seattle
1103 First Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Seafood, Steakhouse.
The Seattle installment of the nationally successful McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood restaurant maintains the already excellent reputation with an extensive menu of Pacific Northwest seafood and fresh fish creations. As one of Seattle’s best restaurants, McCormick & Schmick’s in downtown Seattle is constanly buzzing with locals and visitors supping on the contemporary cuisine and sipping cocktails or wines from the extensive list.
McCormick's Fish House - Seattle
722 Fourth Ave., Seattle WA 98104
Seafood.
Reminiscent of traditional San Francisco and East Coast fish houses, McCormick’s Fish House is a classic seafood restaurant in downtown Seattle. This restaurant boasts multi-level dining areas, elegant aged dark woods, nostalgic memorabilia, an oyster bar and a lengthy, ever-changing menu featuring more than 20 varieties of fresh seafood daily. Also, the bar is a favorite for a full selection of beers, liquors and an extensive wine list.
Metropolitan Grill
820 Second Ave., Seattle WA 98104
Steakhouse.
A classically styled steakhouse in downtown Seattle, the Metropolitan Grill evidences its popularity with dozens of framed photographs of the frequent celebrity visitors it has wooed over the years. Greeted by tuxedo-clad Maitre D’s, diners enjoy relaxing with cocktails or glasses of wine from the award-winning list in the cushy booths while perusing the menu, which features centerpiece ingredients like Prime beef, American and Japanese Wagyu, and fresh seafood.
Mistral Kitchen
2020 Westlake Ave., Seattle WA 98121
Global.
Mediterranean and Japanese influences take the daily-changing menu of contemporary American fare to a fashionably global level at Mistral Kitchen in downtown Seattle. A favorite for happy hour gatherings and luxurious dinners, this restaurant also boasts an outstanding wine selection featuring everything from accessibly priced options to bottles from rare, world-renowned estates.
Morton's The Steakhouse - Seattle
1511 6th Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Steakhouse.
Morton’s The Steakhouse is the nation’s premier steakhouse group that satisfies Seattle diners with a downtown location offering the signature tableside presentations of a menu featuring prime steaks, whole Maine lobsters, slow roasted prime rib, robust salads and more. This Seattle fine dining restaurant also impresses with a vibrant bar area, a tempting selection of signature cocktails and an excellent wine list.
Nijo Sushi Bar & Grill
83 Spring St., Seattle WA 98104
Sushi.
A comfortable and lively sushi restaurant in Seattle, Nijo Sushi Bar & Grill is frequently busy with locals eagerly enjoying Japanese cuisine prepared in both traditional and innovative ways. Nijo Sushi Bar & Grill also features a large selection of sakes and wines in addition to unique cocktails from the full bar, and is open for lunch, dinner, happy hour and late-night dining.
Palomino - Seattle
1420 5th Ave., Seattle WA 98101
American.
For over a decade, Palomino has stood out among Seattle restaurants. Its casual class mingles the minglers with the moguls, and the celebrity with chic. The delicious American bistro food, including locally caught seafood and wood-fired pizza make dining here more than a social occasion.
Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - Seattle
1225 Fourth Ave., Seattle WA 98101
American, Small Plates.
A cylindrical wine library surrounded by a spiral staircase is the centerpiece of Purple Cafe and Wine Bar in Seattle, a casual yet stylish restaurant and popular gathering spot. At Purple, the global wine selection serves as the inspiration for the classic menu of American cuisine created using seasonal Northwest ingredients, which means that pairing is a cinch whether you select one of the 600 bottles or enjoy one of the 14 rotating wine flights.
Red Fin Restaurant
612 Stewart St., Seattle WA 98101
Sushi.
Innovative Asian fusion cuisine leaves palates tingling with fun, fresh flavors at Red Fin Restaurant, a critically acclaimed Japanese restaurant in Downtown. Sister to the ever-popular Wasabi Bistro in Belltown, this restaurant offers some of the best sushi in the city alongside a lengthy list of international wines, sakes and creative cocktails.
Rock Bottom Brewery – Seattle
1333 Fifth Ave., Seattle WA 98101
American.
Rock Bottom Brewery is a perennially packed, well-known destination for classic American brewpub fare with a few modern updates. Named the 2008 “Large Brewpub of the Year” by the Great American Beer Festival®, Rock Bottom Brewery in Seattle is best known for unique and award-winning beers brewed onsite at this restaurant’s downtown location, only blocks from Pike Place Market.
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Seattle
727 Pine Street, Seattle WA 98101
Steakhouse.
Ruth's Chris Steak House in Downtown Seattle serves only the finest aged, corn-fed USDA prime beef. Be careful--all Ruth's Chris steaks are broiled in the trademark 1,800-degree oven and served on a plate heated to 500 degrees so watch your fingers. The result is an incredible, tender steak presented sizzling hot at the table. A wide variety of crisp vegetables, fresh seafood and homemade desserts round out the menu at Ruth's Chris. This Downtown Seattle steakhouse never fails to please.
Rview
515 Madison St., Seattle WA 98104
Northwest.
Pacific Northwest cuisine comes with stunning downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay views at Rview. This stylish, casually elegant restaurant enjoys a prime address on the 28th floor of the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, serving as a top choice for everything from romantic dates to social gatherings. Rview Lounge is also open daily for fabulous happy hour specials and cocktails.
Sazerac
1101 4th Ave., Seattle WA 98101
American, Southern, Seafood.
Named after the infamously potent Southern cocktail, Seattle’s Sazerac restaurant is one of the hippest places in the city. The dinner menu starts with "Tiny Little Bites" moves on to "Bigger Little Bites" and finishes with "Big Plates." Though it sounds silly, Sazerac takes its food seriously without dampening the mood; Southern inspired cuisine with the freshest Northwest ingredients that give new flavors to old favorites. Don't forget to check out the bar—the expert cocktail artists can whip up perfect libations.
Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar - Seattle
2121 Terry Ave., Seattle WA 98121
Seafood, Northwest.
Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar uses the freshest seasonal and regional ingredients, as well as fresh, top quality seafood creations like ceviche, poki, sushi and shucked oysters. This fine dining restaurant also impresses with award-winning service and a fabulous wine list.
Shuckers
411 University St., Seattle WA 98101
Seafood.
The aptly named Shuckers restaurant is one of the oldest and highly rated oyster bars in Seattle. Over 13 different kinds of oysters prepared nine different ways populate the menu alongside a tempting selection of fresh fish and seafood creations. This critically acclaimed restaurant also features local artisan microbrews and a top wine list to accompany each meal.
Steelhead Diner
95 Pine St., Suite 17, Seattle WA 98101
Northwest.
A hip and casual restaurant in Pike Place Market, Steelhead Diner is a modern take on the classic American diner. The menu of contemporary comfort food prepared with sassy, Northwest twists pairs brilliantly with the exclusively Northwest wine and beer selection; both match the stunning Puget Sound views perfectly.
Sullivan's Steakhouse – Seattle
621 Union St., Seattle WA 98101
Steakhouse.
Fabulous martinis, an award-winning wine list and corn-fed, USDA choice beef make Sullivan’s Steakhouse a Seattle favorite. This restaurant near Pike Place Market offers extensive lunch and dinner menus that will suit a variety of cravings, and the dessert list is nearly irresistible with made-from-scratch key lime pie, bananas foster bread pudding, cheesecake, vanilla bean crème brulee and more.
Tango
1100 Pike Street, Seattle WA 98101
Latin / Spanish.
Tango is a stylish yet casual Seattle Spanish restaurant offering Latin-inspired cuisine—including popular local favorites like paella and ceviche—and cocktails for dinner and happy hour. Located in an historic brick building on the cusp of Capitol Hill, this restaurant is especially popular for anyone visiting the Convention Center, Paramount Theater and ACT Theater.
TASTE Restaurant
1300 First Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Organic, Contemporary American.
A sleek, casually elegant Seattle restaurant, TASTE is located at the Seattle Art Museum in downtown. This popular gathering place features flavorful, expertly crafted, modern comfort-style cuisine highlighting ingredients from local farmers and producers. The exclusively Northwest wine list offers approachably priced selections by both the glass and bottle.
The Georgian
411 University St., Seattle WA 98101
Northwest.
Northwest cuisine gets the French treatment at The Georgian, one of the most popular restaurants in Seattle. Located in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in this elegant downtown restaurant is the culinary playground of Executive Chef Gavin Stephenson, who crafts tempting dishes like seared scallops with a housemade bacon-butter sauce, steamed mahi mahi with sizzling sesame oil, and filet of Angus beef with shallot and oxtail braisage.
Tulio
1100 5th Ave., Seattle WA 98101
Italian.
It'd be a hard-pressed Seattlite to claim his heart didn't rest at Tulio. The northern Italian cuisine and stellar service have made it one of the most reliable Seattle restaurants. Let acclaimed Chef Pisano introduce you to the delights of the Mediterranean rim.
Urbane
1639 8th St., Seattle WA 98101
Northwest.
Urbane restaurant in Seattle matches its surroundings by embracing sustainable, local ingredients and a farm-to-table approach. Open for breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner, Urbane features flavorful Northwest fare that’s become a favorite for special occasions and group dining experiences.
