Summer in Seattle can be hard to give up — the long awaited celebration of bright sunshine, inviting hills and welcoming bodies of water. For those deciding to stay local this season, the avid, curious traveler can still explore the city as a portal to travel abroad. A mosaic of global cultures awaits, with food, art, gardens and customs that trace their roots to every corner of the planet. Here’s how to explore the world without leaving home.

For an authentic window into Kyoto, begin the journey at ShoMon Kappo Sushi for an intimate kappo dining experience. Kappo involves an open kitchen where chefs cut, cook and prepare dishes just feet away from guests seated at the counter. The chefs — or itamae — at ShoMon have impressive pedigrees, with stints at Michelin-starred restaurants and premier ryokans in Kyoto.

ShoMon Kappo Sushi brings a taste of Japan’s soul to Seattle’s streets.

Photo courtesy of Shomon Kappo Sushi

Leading them all is head chef Masaki, formerly of Shiro’s and a globally trained talent. The chefs are as friendly as they are knowledgeable, each stepping in to carefully illustrate the finer points of their respective expertise. The result is a transportive, multi-course journey that’s both theatrical and deeply rooted in tradition.

A visit to the 14-seat, appointment-only establishment found us next to a couple who flew up from California just for the experience. We enjoyed expert sake and wine pairings with the dishes, from ainame and white asparagus dashi soup, to wagyu beef, to kamasu sushi. The barracuda was seared aburi-style with near-molten charcoal made from wood imported from Kyoto. The whole experience was so vivid, we forgot we were in Belltown.

Head to Ballard for Scandinavian immersion and bike path-adjacent travel to Denmark, Norway, Iceland and beyond. The National Nordic Museum doesn’t just preserve heritage — it brings it to life through rotating exhibitions, architecture and immersive cultural programming. Afterward, walk to Skål Beer Hall, where hearty ales and Nordic comfort foods such as pickled herring and smørrebrød complete the story.

A short hop across Lake Washington rewards culinary travelers with La Mar Bellevue, a luminous new Peruvian restaurant from South American superstar Gastón Acurio. This dining experience is as layered as the country it celebrates. Executive chef Kaoru Chang, a third-generation Nikkei (which refers to Peruvians of Japanese heritage), draws on his experience at Nobu to deliver a menu that spotlights Peru’s coastal bounty alongside its multicultural soul. You’ll find ceviche crafted with bright aji peppers and Pacific Northwest seafood, tiraditos (Peruvian sashimi), anticuchos (grilled skewers) and a dazzling ceviche bar. Arrive early for Pisco Hour, with $12 pisco sours every weekday afternoon.

Celebrate Bastille Day in triplicate — a tricolor of rouge, bleu et blanc — at Le Caviste, the snug wine bar tucked away in the Denny Triangle, where you can sip your way through French terroir while nibbling soft cheese, pâté or rillettes. Its unpretentious sidewalk tables make a great place to linger in the summer sun, just like a neighborhood spot in Paris. By Pike Place Market, Le Pichet transports diners to a Left Bank bistro with steak frites, perfect omelettes and photogenic tartes.

Just up the street, Roquette brings a touch of Parisian elegance to Seattle nightlife. Inspired by mixologist Erik Hakki, armagnac, calvados, cognac and chartreuse are served alongside a smart list of bubbles and Normandy-style cider. Together, they offer a well-rounded experience of French dining culture — from casual apéro to rich, rustic meals.

French wine bar Le Caviste offers a broad selection of wines from France that represent their regional character.

Photo by Joanie Bonfiglio

For a different tempo and tradition, consider an afternoon devoted to tea. This ritual, so quintessentially British in form, is steeped in global history and, yes, colonialism. The tea itself hails from ancient China, and Indian and Sri Lankan tea farms, and the tradition of pausing midday to sip and snack speaks to the universal human desire for restoration. High tea is not just a welcome cultural rite. It’s an elegant intermission from modern life.

At the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, afternoon tea is a longstanding tradition, served in stately grandeur with fine china, finger sandwiches and a touch of timeless ceremony. At Smith Tower, the high tea experience unfolds with vintage flair in the Observatory. After a ride in the historic, human-operated elevator, prepare for stunning Sound views. Teacups clink under the glass windows, with bites that nod to the classic British service: warm biscuits with clotted cream, egg and salmon sandwiches, chocolate truffles. The tea service hits the highlights, from Earl Grey to Dragonwell green, and then kicks it up a notch. The bartenders will mix a bespoke cocktail based on your tea and preferences. Choose what you like, but the plum oolong paired with mezcal was a winner.

Head to Chinatown/International District for a sensory immersion in Asian foodie and consumer culture. At Uwajimaya, Japanese snacks sit next to Taiwanese bubble tea counters and Korean skincare product aisles. Seattle’s most cherished Asian supermarket stocks more food items than you could possibly imagine, so get plenty of souvenirs for home. Kinokuniya bookstore next door contains multitudes of Japanese media, along with K-Pop CDs, origami workshops and author readings. After you’ve worked up an appetite shopping, travel through time to Tai Tung, Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant, and tuck into the same oyster sauce and garlic shrimp that Bruce Lee enjoyed 60 years ago. Or keep trekking through the CID for a treasure trove of legit Asian experiences.

Uwajimaya stocks a wide variety of Asian gifts and groceries, including fresh meat, seafood, and produce.

Photo by Western Neo

For a peek into bustling South Korean city culture and, conversely, its healing spa experiences, two local spots offer near-perfect moments. In Renton, Exit 5 Korean BBQ serves up charcoal-grilled meats and traditional banchan in a setting that echoes a casual Seoul night out. Further north in Lynnwood, Olympus Spa offers a Korean-style women-only day spa with soaking pools, heated rooms and body scrubs, along with a big bonus — a café serving comforting dishes such as kimchi stew and seafood pancakes. Together, they provide a taste of Seoul food and wellness without leaving the region.

For something truly different, Karoo Café brings the flavors and spirit of South Africa to Pike Place Market. With a menu inspired by family recipes and the philosophy of ubuntu — “I am because we are” — Karoo’s food and drink invite deep connection. Think chakalaka-spiced flat- breads, boerewors (sausage) sliders and peri-peri skewers, all made with house sauces and warm generosity. The cocktail menu highlights fynbos, marula and other native ingredients, while a small but mighty wine list showcases South African vineyards.

Uwajimaya’s aisles of wonder, stocked with snacks and surprises.

Photo by Nathaniel Willson

Just outside the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, Paradise Village Hotel & Restaurant in Ashford offers a whimsical blend of Ukrainian cultural immersion and rustic relaxation. At the heart of this experience is the Cannibal Hot Tub, a 4,400-pound cast-iron cauldron heated over an open wood fire. Inspired by traditional chan bathing from the Carpathian Mountains, the cauldron was custom-built in Ukraine and shipped to the U.S. Guests can slowly simmer in the tub, which is lined with smooth river stones to protect against the heat, while enjoying the surrounding mountain scenery. Complementing the experience is the onsite Ukrainian restaurant, serving authentic dishes such as borscht, pierogi and galushki, providing a journey into Eastern European flavors.

For a different kind of heat, follow the scent of berbere and injera to Jebena Café, an Ethiopian restaurant in North Seattle. The combination platters offer a flavorful spread of stews, lentils and spiced vegetables, perfect for scooping communally with traditional flatbread. It’s a tactile, aromatic experience that lingers in memory. The market next door stocks handmade injera, lentils, spices and Jebena Café’s house-roasted coffee.

If you crave a tranquil escape, head outdoors to a few of the city’s most serene cultural landmarks. Kubota Garden in South Seattle combines Japanese garden design with native Northwest plants, creating a 20-acre refuge of waterfalls, maples and mossy stillness. The Seattle Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan, with footbridges, lanterns and koi ponds laid out in peaceful asymmetry. For a dose of Chinese garden philosophy, the Seattle Chinese Garden in West Seattle offers stone pathways an  traditional pavilions overlooking the mountains.