Food & Drink

Restaurant Roundup: Soy Sauce Tastings and Roman Pizza

Restaurant Roundup: Soy Sauce Tastings and Roman Pizza

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

“There’s never been more to SEA.” That’s the slogan for Visit Seattle’s new campaign designed to encourage people to get reacquainted with all downtown has to offer. With the Perks Pass (free to download straight to your phone), you can enjoy 40+ special offers not only at bars and restaurants but also at hotels, arts…

Queen City Continues its Legacy in Belltown 

Queen City Continues its Legacy in Belltown 

After five years sitting vacant at the corner of 1st and Blanchard, the neighborhood mainstay returns under the direction of industry veteran Jessica Gifford.

Jessica Gifford got her first taste of Belltown in her late teens, hanging out at classic spots like Queen City Grill, Belltown Billiards, and the Frontier Room. “I started going to Queen City when I was 19 or 20 years old,” she recalls. “I was in awe of everything happening in the neighborhood; I thought…

Where to Eat (or Order) This Thanksgiving

Where to Eat (or Order) This Thanksgiving

Hotel dining rooms, Chinese restaurants, and more local spots keep the ovens warm for the holiday. 

During dinner service at Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge on the 16th floor of the Lotte Hotel Seattle, wine specialist Gene Dexter can often be heard expressing thanks in single words. “Gratitude,” he’ll say modestly after a diner compliments his wine pairing. “Blessings,” he’ll whisper with a sheepish smile like a blushing teenager after another guest…

Best New Restaurant: La Loba

Best New Restaurant: La Loba

An exercise in global fusion, La Loba successfully brings together Spanish technique and Northwest ingredients, with a hint of Japanese flair. Located in the recently opened 1 Hotel Seattle and helmed by James Beard-nominated chef Oscar Amador, La Loba offers à la carte options (tableside butcher’s beef tartare, patatas bravas, a selection of meats, pastas,…

Best Outdoor Dining: Westward

Best Outdoor Dining: Westward

In a city known for unmatched water access—and rainy weather eight months a year—outdoor dining becomes a coveted prize. And while there is no shortage of options for enjoying a meal with a view, Westward is a tried-and-true pick, unique in its full-city snapshot straight down Lake Union. Originally opened in 2013, Westward became a…

Best Pizza: Bar Del Corso

Best Pizza: Bar Del Corso

After more than a decade of serving up Neapolitan-style pizzas in its Beacon Hill niche, Bar del Corso has become a mainstay, not just for the neighborhood, but for the city at large. (In July 2025, the New York Times named the joint one of the top 25 restaurants in Seattle.) Opened by chef Jerry…

Best Burger Joint: Red Mill Burgers

Best Burger Joint: Red Mill Burgers

Nothing hits the spot quite like a burger and fries. Despite the dozens of places to pick up a patty around Seattle, Red Mill Burgers offers straight-up classics featuring juicy beef and melty cheese, all at an affordable price. (A deluxe cheeseburger for less than 10 bucks? Almost unheard of these days.) With roots extending…

Best Seafood: Local Tide

Best Seafood: Local Tide

When lifelong seattleite Victor Steinbrueck (yes, of the Seattle Steinbrueck family) launched Local Tide in 2017, it was a pop- up at Pike Place Market. A self-taught chef who grew up spending time in his grandmother’s kitchen making memories over meals, Steinbrueck understood the ways that food can connect people. In 2020, after the success…

Best Sushi: Sushi Kashiba

Best Sushi: Sushi Kashiba

Opened by the man responsible for Seattle’s very first sushi bar, Sushi Kashiba puts Edomae-style fare on full display. Tucked away in the courtyard of the Inn at the Market, this destination dining is headed up by Shiro Kashiba, who notably apprenticed under Jiro Ono (of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame) in Japan. With a…

Best Brewery: Reuben's Brews

Best Brewery: Reuben’s Brews

During the summer, and after closing its Fremont location, Reuben’s Brews opened a shiny new downtown taproom, just steps from Pike Place Market. A family-owned and operated business, the brewery grew out of Adam Robbings’ award-winning home brewing career. In 2012, Adam and his wife, Grace, launched Reuben’s Brews, naming the brand after their son…

Best Cocktail Bar: Roquette

Best Cocktail Bar: Roquette

Behind its beautiful blue façade, Roquette finds balance as a chic must-stop lounge for special occasions and a neighborhood watering hole. Dark and moody, with green velvet banquettes and Art Deco-inspired lighting, this Belltown bar has received a number of accolades, including a nomination as a semifinalist for the 2025 James Beard Award in the…

Best Coffee Shop: Zeitgeist

Best Coffee Shop: Zeitgeist

It feels like every few weeks we’re hit with another list of Seattle restaurant industry closures, so it’s particularly meaningful that an old-school mainstay like Zeitgeist Coffee is still around. Opened in 1997 in Pioneer Square as a hub for conversation, creativity, and yes, coffee, the still-popular corner café serves up strong, European-style brew, pastries…

Best Special Occasion Restaurant: Canlis

Best Special Occasion Restaurant: Canlis

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Canlis is a Seattle classic. From its perch above Lake Union to its unmatched service, every moment in this restaurant feels special, which is why so many people choose it to mark life’s important moments. Lately, Canlis has undergone some transitions, with one of the namesake brothers leaving for…

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