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Pioneer Square is quickly catching up to its culinary destination neighbors, the International District and Downtown. There are some quirky and reliable lunch spots here—Salumi is a city treasure—and there are some top-notch, authentic coffeehouses. There are also several old-school Italian eateries that Seattle locals still love, especially Il Terrazo Carmine.
The lines are long for hearty, unforgettable sandwiches filled with superior house-cured meats and more at this shop, originally founded by famed New York chef Mario Batali's father Armandino. The oxtail sandwich special is unbeatable, but if it's unavailable or sold out (as specials often are by the lunchtime peak) order a salami, bresaola, porchetta, meatball, sausage, or lamb prosciutto sandwich with onions, peppers, cheese, and olive oil. You can order whole or half sandwiches. Most people opt for takeout, or grab one of the tables in the packed dining room.
Oysters don’t get any fresher than this: Taylor, a fifth-generation, family-owned company, opened its own restaurant in order to serve their products in the manner most befitting such pristine shellfish. The simple preparations—raw, cooked, and chilled—are all designed to best show off the seafood with light broths and sauces and a few accoutrements. This is the place to come for a true sense of the Pacific Northwest’s “merroir”—taste of the local waters, including the (in)famous local giant clam, the geoduck, which is mostly known for its unique, somewhat lewd shape. Proximity to the stadium makes this the perfect destination for Seattle’s quirky local tailgaters, who often prefer a dozen fresh-shucked bivalves to chili or barbecue.
Enjoy traditional Italian-style espresso, pastries, and paninis at this full-service wholesale roaster and flagship retail location for the local brand. Set in a historic brick building with indoor and sidewalk seating, the café also serves Italian beer and wine.
In addition to its navy-blue exterior and cheeky name, this small, upscale gastropub is known for simple craft cocktails made by devoted mixologists and a small but spot-on menu of comfort foods. The bar offers several snacks (olives, nuts, fries) and small plates ideal for sharing as well as heartier options including a shrimp po'boy and classic burger with fries at lunch. Damn the Weather's supper menu features specials such as mushroom gumbo and guanciale stew alongside lighter small plates like a green salad, and beets and burrata on farro. Tucked into a historic Pioneer Square building, it's the perfect cozy spot to pop in during a Seattle downpour.
This tiny lunch-only spot serves only a couple of delicious handmade pasta choices each day.
Tuscan and southern Italian cooking blend to create soul-satisfying dishes such as veal osso buco, homemade ravioli, linguine alle vongole (with clams), and eggplant Parmesan. Ceiling-to-floor draperies lend the dining room understated dignity, and intoxicating aromas waft from the kitchen to the restaurant's small outdoor patio that sits beneath a canopy of lights. Reservations are recommended.
Already a familiar name in the Seattle wine scene, Locus Wines recently debuted a bright, modern tasting room that showcases food-and-wine pairings. The small menu features flights served with a small bite that perfectly complements each pour—like a caramelized onion and lamb pastry square matched with the signature Locus Red—although Locus also offers wine by the glass and a few light snacks, including a kale salad and pillowy meatballs, as well as a brunch on weekends.
In an airy building right on the corner of Occidental Square, The London Plane is a gorgeous multipurpose space that also includes a small artisanal shop, florist, and bakery. The daytime menu (until 3 pm) features mostly vegetarian light bites, many with Mediterranean-inspired flavors, from classic pastries and quiches to grain-enriched salads and seared albacore. From 3 to 6 pm, a snack menu complements the wine, beer, and cocktail offerings.
A colorful local favorite among coffee shops: even Seattleites who don't haunt Pioneer Square will happily hunt for parking to spend a few hours here. In one of Pioneer Square's great brick buildings, with high ceilings and a few artfully exposed ducts and pipes, Zeitgeist has a simple, classy look that's the perfect backdrop for the frequent art shows held in this space.
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