Readers' Choice 2026
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Best Brewery: Stoup Brewing
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Like any good craft brewery, Stoup has a little chaos to it. Dogs tuck under tables, kids tear into snacks, food trucks hum in the background, and friends squeeze together at long tables. Husband-and-wife Brad Benson and Lara Zahaba opened the original Ballard brewery with their friend Robyn Schumacher in 2013, amid the neighborhood’s craft-brewery boom. Stoup has since expanded to Capitol Hill and Kenmore, its newest location, which has a full kitchen. The Ballard and Kenmore spots both sit near the Burke-Gilman Trail, and in a city that loves its beer as much as getting outside, runners and cyclists ending a workout with a pint are a familiar sight. Stoup leans into it with its own beer runners club, while also hosting trivia, game nights, and other essential community activities.
Runner Up: Old Stove Brewing Co.
About Readers' Choice 2026
Once a year, we turn the tables and ask our readers about their favorite local spots. The neighborhood café with the best coffee, the restaurant you book for every special occasion, and where you send out-of-town guests for top-tier cocktails. Seattleites have opinions, and they shared them with us. This year, we received more votes than ever before, with some familiar favorites returning and plenty of new names making the list.
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