Help with Seattle, please!
 

My husband is going to be in Seattle for a business meeting, and his company is flying me out as a surprise. They're also putting us up at the Alexis hotel for three nights.

I don't have much time to do research, and I'm wondering if you could recommend the top few things to do in Seattle? We both love food and wine, and I'm hoping to make it a relaxing visit.

TIA!

We loved the Pikes Place Market -- aside from the food, there's a gorgeous flower market and some nice crafts as well. We stayed at the Inn at the Market and everyday we'd get a pastry from Piroshky Piroshky (a tiny bakery across from the market) and a cup of coffee from Starbucks, go across to the market and sit at the lookout overlooking the harbour and have our breakfast. There are some good restaurants in there too, I believe.

We loved the little restaurant called Le Pichet which was around the corner from our hotel. Good wine list and some unusual and delicious dishes (I had wonderful fig and shrimp soup).

We enjoyed the EMP (Experience Music Project, I think) -- basically, the rock and roll museum. For the exhibition, I preferred the one in Cleveland, but the building itself is fascinating, a real Frank Gehry tour de force. We also had a surprisingly good lunch in the restaurant there.

SO is an airplane nut, so we rented a car for the day and drove out to Boeing for their tour -- very interesting. I believe you can also do this via a guided bus tour. Your hotel will know.

The Seattle Underground tour was interesting but not something I'd do if time were short.

We heard great music and saw some great swing dancers at a little bar called the Havana Cafe (or Bar, maybe) quite near your hotel. It's pretty much a dive of a place but the music and dancing were really worth going for. That's what got us on our swing-dancing kick!

It's a fun city and you'll have a great time. What a nice thing for your husband's company to do!

Alexis is a great hotel in a perfect location downtown!

There is a wine tasting shop on Post Alley. Steelhead is a new restaurant that is very good with inventive food closeby. Chez Shea or Matts in the Market are classics. Le Pichet as recommended above is lovely. Same street Bacco or Virginia Inn two other casual places.

(I'll check and post later with some websites for you.)

From your hotel you can easily walk south on 1st to the Pioneer Square historic district. Walk north on 1st and you'll come to Pike Place Market, then Belltown.

If the weather is clear it is worth getting somewhere up high to see the city... Space Needle, Smith Tower, or Columbia Tower are all options.

Again only if the weather is clear & if you have a daytime free, walking on to the Bainbridge Ferry is a fun thing to do. It's only about 1/2 an hour each way costs $6.75 (includes round trip). You can just turn around and come back on the same boat, or walk about 10 mins. up to get to a small main street with some shops and restaurants.

www.steelheaddiner.com
www.winesofwashington.com

Wines of Washington is a great little tasting room...very cozy, and a nice haven after walking through the Market.

My other favorite wine spots are Purple Cafe and Wine Bar (good food, too) at 4th and University and The Local Vine at 2nd and Vine in Belltown. The Local Vine has a much much smaller food/wine menu than Purple - which is huge (and also popular...if you're going on a weekend night, get a reservation via Open Table).

The ultimate wine/food experience, in my opinion, is a night at the Herbfarm Restaurant in Woodinville. I just went there over the weekend and it was one of my top dining experiences ever! BUT - with your limited amount of time in Seattle, it's probably best to save that for your next trip to Seattle!

The Alexis is very nice as Suze mentioned. And an easy walk up to the market.

I just got back today from a week in Seattle. We had breakfast almost every morning at Bacco.

There is a nice glas blowing studio on 5th, just down from the Westin. Very interesting and some fantastic pieces! Great if it is a cold day and you want to warm up.

I also enjoy Cutters and Anthony's at Pier 66. The food is nice enough both places but mostly because they have waterfront views.

If you want to turn it into a special occasion, consider the Herb Farm for an evening meal.

http://www.theherbfarm.com/?gclid=CM...FQ8XiQodomBHpw