February 2008
Innovative Energy
Pioneer Square’s neglected metropole building gets a second life—and a sustainable upgrade—as a nonprofit hub.
After more than a decade lying vacant and in ruins, the Metropole, as its name implies, is once again a vibrant center of culture, industry, and influence. Located in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, the Metropole building was constructed in 1892 as the first major commercial project of Henry Yesler, the city’s wealthiest resident during…
Skip the Sales
Spend Black Friday doing something that feels good and keeps you grounded.
Black Friday deals seem to arrive earlier and earlier. This year, I spotted pre-Black Friday sales creeping into my inbox as early as October. While I don’t mind a good deal on something I need, excess sales promote over-consumerism that leaves me feeling empty. Skip the Black Friday frenzy altogether and embrace a season of…
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
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…
Tuft Stuff
Tuft Ruft turns fiber art into a social, hands-on experience in Pioneer Square.
It all started with a bout of pandemic boredom. Like many, when COVID-19 hit, recent graduate Carrie Xiao found herself stuck at home, with extra time on her hands. One day, while scrolling social media, she discovered tufting: a textile manufacturing technique that creates a garment or rug with a “pile,” or raised surface. After…
Bergen: Finding a Home, Abroad
A trip across western Norway reveals strikingly Northwest sensibilities.
A few months ago, we randomly walked into Wallingford’s Fat Cat Records. Greeting us, face-out by the cash register, was not Nirvana, not Soundgarden, but Peer Gynt Suite, by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Was this a Norse omen, a mischievous prank from Loki? For us, two Seattleites with a trip to Norway on the…
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 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
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
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
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…