Readers' Choice 2026
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Best Outdoor Dining: Ray’s Boathouse
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Originally opened as a boat rental and bait house, Ray’s operated as a casual café—think fish-and-chips and coffee—for several decades before becoming a waterfront seafood destination. Sitting on Shilshole Bay, just north of the Ballard Locks, Ray’s Boathouse boasts an expansive outdoor deck that offers diners panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Downstairs, the laid-back Ray’s Café offers seasonal outdoor dining through a menu featuring Northwest favorites like clam chowder, fish tacos, and Dungeness crab cakes.
Runner Up: Hawks Peak Sports Bar & Grill
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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