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Founder Shiro Kashiba is no longer here (he's now at Downtown's Sushi Kashiba), but this sushi spot is still the best in Belltown, with simple decor, ultra-fresh fish, and an omakase service that's a bit more affordable than at other spots.
2401 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Chef's choice omakase
- Affordable sushi
- Simple ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$ | | Coffee
With a handful of locations throughout Seattle, this local roaster gets coffee just right: smooth, bold, and full of flavor. Breakfast items at the laid-back café include same-day-fresh Seattle Bagels with schmear and bagel (or pita) egg sandwiches, while the lunch menu features gyro and falafel sandwiches as well as a signature Persian rice bowl with house-made yogurt, pickled vegetables, and a choice of beef or eggplant.
2719 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Friendly service
- Bagels and Middle Eastern fare
- Reliably good coffee
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$ | | Coffee
Attached to Serious Pie, this fragrant bakery will make you reconsider cookies as a valid breakfast choice. The coffee, fresh pastries, and breakfast sandwiches here are delicious, but Dahlia is particularly famous for its peanut butter sandwich cookies. The decadent coconut cream pie is also a local favorite. Lunch items including sandwiches, soups, and salads are served until 3 pm.
According to lore, the late director Nora Ephron was such a fan of the peanut butter cookies while filming the iconic rom-com "Sleepless in Seattle" that she requested the recipe and briefly even had the sweet treat named for her.
2001 4th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Convenient lunch options
- Coconut cream pie
- Peanut butter sandwich cookies
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Waistcoated waitstaff coolly navigate the packed floor of this retro steak house serving satisfying fare in a swanky, expansive room. King crab legs, crispy seared chicken, and cool tableside Caesar salads (possibly the city's best) all tantalize, but the eatery is best known for perfectly cooked steaks—and the virtuoso presentation seems to make everything taste better. Ritzy yet comfortable, a meal at El Gaucho can make you relax no matter how stressful your day. Of course, you may get heart palpitations once again when you see the prices—just sit back, enjoy your luscious cut of meat, and listen to the live piano music. Valet parking is available for $12.
2200 Western Ave Ste. 101, Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Luscious steaks
- Tableside Caesar salad
- Live piano
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Stepping inside feels like a temporary island getaway, from the cheery yellow walls and rum barrels repurposed as palm planters to the complex aromas wafting through the air. The Caribbean food here is the real deal—Seattle-born chef Trey Lamont has Jamaican roots—with a menu featuring signature jerk-spice-dredged meats and seafood as well Cuban sandwiches, black beans, collard greens, tropical fruit salads, and fried plantains.
2510 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Big flavors and even bigger portions
- Sun-dappled fenced-in patio
- Island-style cocktails
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Tom Douglas dishes out his signature Northwest style, spiked with Greek and Mediterranean touches—another huge success for the local celebrity chef. Try a spice-rubbed lamb chop or the eggplant shakshuka, which elevates the humble eggplant to new heights. Also on the menu: a variety of kebabs (including a halloumi cheese-and-fig version for vegetarians) and scrumptious spreads including hummus, tzatziki, and harissa (a red-pepper concoction). Booths are usually full at this bustling, dimly lit restaurant, which anchors the Hotel Ändra. The weekend brunch is also fabulous; save room for the doughnuts.
2000 4th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Greek flavors
- Popular brunch
- Made-to-order pillowy square doughnuts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$ | | Coffee
One of Seattle's favorite bakeries is also popular for breakfast and brunch and an excellent place to take a delicious break on your way to or from the Olympic Sculpture Park. With its perfectly executed breads and pastries—from Nutella brioche and ginger cookies to almond croissants and dark chocolate, sugar-dusted brownies—it's become a true Belltown institution. You can also wait for a table and have a larger breakfast or lunch—sandwiches, quiches, and salads are all fresh and expertly made.
2408 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Baguettes
- Breakfast and lunch options
- Pastries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Serious artisanal pizzas are worth the wait here—and there will be a wait at this tiny Belltown restaurant. Famed local restaurateur Tom Douglas delivers chewy, buttery crusts anchored by such toppings as fresh arugula, guanciale (cured pork jowl), and a soft egg; or Meyer lemon, chili, and buffalo mozzarella. Wash it down with a local brew, a glass of local wine, or some bubbly. High seats and communal tables crowd this bustling space. There's also larger locations in South Lake Union and inside the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill.
2001 4th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Fun atmosphere
- Egg-topped pizza
- Local wine and beer selections
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Like the Edgewater Hotel that houses it, Six Seven would be noteworthy for its views of Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound alone, especially if you opt to dine at the café tables lining the deck at sunset. Regionally sourced seafood such as planked salmon, miso-glazed black cod, and a flavorful bouillabaisse take top billing on the menu, which also features dishes like lamb ragout pasta and Roquefort-crusted filet mignon alongside an award-winning wine list.
2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Budget-friendly brunch
- Classic shareable sides
- Nice alternative to touristy waterfront seafood restaurants
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This Belltown favorite is helmed by superstar-chef Ethan Stowell (also of How to Cook a Wolf and Staple & Fancy), who is known for his way with fresh pasta. Serving up Italian goodness by the plateful in an industrial-chic bi-level space, Tavolàta is a decidedly lively, loud, and delicious night out on the town. The bar serves simple, elegant cocktails (Campari or Cynar with soda never fails). Start with a chickpea salad, buffalo mozzarella, or chilled heirloom tomato soup. Homemade pasta is the main draw here, such as fresh campanelle with mussels, squash, preserved lemon and pesto, or linguine with clams, garlic, and chili. Meat offerings are traditional with flair: the pork chop is vivified with currants and grilled radicchio; fresh halibut is poached in olive oil with escarole and mushrooms. A second location serves Capitol Hill.
2323 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Community-style dining
- Housemade pasta
- Elegant cocktails
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$$$ | Belltown |
Closed Permanently
Romantic Dahlia Lounge has valentine-red walls and deep booths, providing a cozy space for Seattle diners since 1989. Chef Tom Douglas's famous crab cakes, served as an appetizer or an entrée, lead a regionally-oriented menu. Local foraged mushrooms, Alaskan halibut, and produce from the chef's own farm just outside of the city are all types of ingredients you'll find on the menu. Desserts such as blissful triple-coconut cream pie and fresh doughnuts have earned Seattle-classic status. Brunch is served on the weekends. Grab some extra delectable baked goods to-go at the adjoining Dahlia Bakery.
2001 4th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Foraged mushrooms and local seafood
- Outrageously good triple coconut cream pie
- Weekend brunch (or pop over to nearby Dahlia Bakery)
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$$$ | Belltown |
Closed Permanently
The star of this chic yet convivial Tom Douglas eatery may be the 45-foot bar, but the real show takes place in the giant open kitchen at the back. Wood-grilled chicken wings, olive poppers, Penn Cove mussels, roast-pork ravioli, and a nightly selection of cheeses vie for your attention on the ever-changing menu of small plates. The half-pound Palace Burger Royale is one of the city's best, and there are always a few entrées, mouthwatering desserts, and a rotisserie special from the apple-wood grill. If it's after 10 pm, order the late night garlic fried rice.
2030 5th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Half-pound Palace Burger Royale
- Decadent desserts
- Late-night food offerings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Belltown |
Closed Permanently
Reservations are sought after at this chic eatery on a high-traffic corner. Its tall windows, lively bar scene, and charming waitstaff add to the popularity, which comes mainly from its inspired kitchen. The talents of chef-owner Scott Staples can be seen in his Painted Hills beef short rib served with roasted potatoes and blue cheese, and his roasted halibut served with English-pea puree and artichoke-butter sauce. Salmon is prepared sous vide and accompanied by corn hash. Zoë is a great representative of the kind of fine dining experience that Seattle excels at, wherein a sleek urban space, upscale cooking, and a hip crowd that enjoys people-watching come together to create not a pretentious, overblown, and overpriced spectacle, but a place that is unfailingly laid-back, comfortable, and satisfying. Reservations are recommended.
2137 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Belltown |
Closed Permanently
The oft-changing menu from restlessly creative chefs Dana Tough and Brian McCracken sneaks in touches of molecular gastronomy—the eggs will be cooked sous-vide and the yogurt might be smoked—but all in pursuit of excellence, not gimmickry. Try the tagliatelle with duck egg if it's available, or the pork belly sliders, or splurge on a five-course tasting menu for $75. This loosely Western-themed restaurant in Belltown is officially a gastropub (it's 21-and-over only); the bar takes up significant real estate and boasts serious cocktails—McCracken and Tough's sophisticated mini-empire also includes Tavern Law, a hot Capitol Hill bar.
113 Blanchard St., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | Belltown |
Closed Permanently
Flavorful tapas and Spanish favorites are all the rage at this intimate, warm space in Belltown. Start with a house sangria, then order to your heart's content from the tapas list: mini lamb burgers, Penn Cove mussels with white wine, Serrano ham, a traditional egg "tortilla," and gazpacho. Larger dishes include paella, rack of lamb with rosemary, and grilled duck breast with fried polenta. Happy hour, desserts, and brunch all receive very high marks from happy locals—as does the attentive service. A real slice of Madrid in Belltown—olé!
2328 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
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