Best of Seattle
From the Archives: In Search Of The Best… And The Elusive
A 1970 Bigfoot feature captures Seattle’s quirky spirit and our ongoing curiosity about what might be hiding in plain sight.
In August of 1970, Seattle magazine ran a story that, by today’s standards, was gloriously unhinged. It asked, tongue fully in cheek, whether the legendary Sasquatch might be real and lamenting its own demise. Did the recent Patterson-Gimlin film, depicting an unidentified, ape-like biped walking out of the woods in Northern California, show the long-lost…
Seattle’s Best of the Best
Everyone loves a winner. And this issue is full of them.
The new issue of Seattle magazine is out—our Best of the Best edition, celebrating the city’s favorite places, spaces, and bites. Each year, Seattle magazine takes it to the people, inviting our readers to vote on their preferred picks. This time around, we did things a little differently, turning to our staff to determine, via…
2025 Readers’ Choice Results
You’ve read about our favorites, now here are the winners chosen by you, the loyal readers of Seattle magazine. See how they compare to our picks. Best New Restaurant Hawks Peak at Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel Best Outdoor Dining Dock & Drink at Hyatt Regency Lake Washington Best Pizza Pagliacci Pizza Best Burger Joint Dick’s…
Best Boutique: Woodland Mod
There is no shortage of independent shops along Ballard Avenue, but Woodland Mod is a must stop for, well, everything. Gorgeously stocked with home wares, cards, books, jewelry, skincare, fragrances, and more, this bright and airy shop focuses on handcrafted products from small-scale vendors in design-forward countries, including Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Japan, and the United…
Best Sporting Goods/Outdoor Gear Outfitter: Evo
A venture started in the Wallingford garage of former professional skier Bryce Phillips, Evo has grown to be one of the biggest and most successful online snow sports retailers in the world. Coming up on its 25th year, the brand is known locally for its modern flagship store on Stone Way. A retail shop with…
Best Hotel: Populus Seattle
Pioneer Square has undergone a post-pandemic renaissance, and Populus Seattle, the neighborhood’s freshest new hotel, is leading the way with its rooftop bar and art-forward programming. Part of the Railspur micro-district, the 120-room adaptive reuse project converts the century-old Westland building into an inviting hospitality space that welcomes out-of-town guests and the surrounding community. Populus…
Best Team Mascot: Doppler
Ask 10 Seattleites what they think Doppler is, and the answers will vary from animal to monster to something about radar or wave frequencies. None of them would be totally wrong, and it all adds to the mystique of the Seattle Storm’s lovable, furry mascot. Named Doppler for obvious, rainy reasons, the yellow-and-maroon creature is…
Best Place to Flirt: Pioneer Square Art Walk
Forget swiping on a screen; the best place to catch the eye of someone cute, and maybe even make a move, is at the monthly Pioneer Square Art Walk. Although the art walk is one of, if not the longest-running event of its kind in the country (happening for more than six decades now), it…
Best Beach Town: Edmonds
We might be a little biased, since two Seattle magazine staffers grew up in Edmonds and two of them live there now, but this little city on the sound is absolutely a Northwest gem. Long a sleepy enclave best known for its ferry to Kingston (or as the residence of travel writer Rick Steves), Edmonds…
Best Park: Volunteer Park
An oldie but goodie, Volunteer Park is one of Seattle’s most beloved outdoor spaces. A Seattle Landmark since 2011, the park sits near the north end of Capitol Hill and dates back more than 100 years, boasting a design by John Charles Olmsted, of the famous Olmsted Brothers’ Landscape Architects. (The city commissioned the Massachusetts-based…
Best Instagrammable Spot: Pike Place Market
Naming a winner in this category was as difficult as choosing a favorite child, but since we could only pick one, we went with an icon. Few places exemplify Seattle more than Pike Place Market, where history, food, art, and nature meet in one of the oldest and longest-running public farmers markets in the country….
Best Live Music Venue: Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Like many things in Seattle, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley has its roots in the University District. Owner John Dimitriou took over the lease on a flailing club called Jazz Alley in 1980, and since then, the establishment has earned a reputation as one of the top jazz bars in the country. But that recognition didn’t come…
Readers’ Choice Winners
The best of the city, as determined by Seattle magazine readers
🎉 It’s here! Seattle magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards! 🏆 From best new restaurant to best dog park, your votes celebrate the places that make Seattle special. Check back for short stories on each winner! #SeattleMagReadersChoice2024
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