free2b4862

Will be staying downtown in Seattle mid week in July. Staying at the Sheraton Hotel and would like to avoid having to eat breakfast in the hotel. Any suggestions on nice places in the downtown area that offer nice breakfasts, interesting even, and not too crowded?

Thank you...

Gardyloo

Well, for the record, the cafe in the Sheraton is actually pretty good.

However, breakfast nirvana exists around five blocks from the hotel, in and around the Pike Place Market.

Depends what you like...

Lowells and the Athenian in the main market arcade have good to very good breakfasts, tending to the traditional side (bacon and eggs, etc.) although the Athenian's menu is bigger. Both have fabulous views of the waterfront, Olympic mountains, ferry boats, etc.

Le Pichet on First Avenue has no view (except the street) but comes pretty darn close to basic French brasserie standard; Cafe Campagne (Post Alley, below the Inn at the Market) also offers a near-perfect expression of a Parisian joint. Maximilien, also in the main arcade, does a good French-style breakfast, too, except also with a view of the waterfront.

Or you can hit numerous bakeries - American, Russian, French and Chinese, or the Sound View Cafe, or... well, there are a bunch of places, sit-down, carry-out, bar stool, booth, table cloths... Follow your eyes and nose.

Just go early - the earlier the better - before the big crowds hit. The market is at its absolute best before 10 AM IMO.

Oh, also Top Pot Doughnuts is a five min. walk up 5th Avenue from the Sheraton - under the monorail. To die for.

suze

Seattle just isn't that much of a sit-down hot breakfast kind of city. The various hotel restaurants are options... Andaluca's at Mayflower Park, Brasserie Margaux at the Warwick, etc.

Cafe Campagne is very nice but only serves brunch on the weekends. During the week they don't open until 11am for lunch.

Top Pot Donuts and Dahlia Bakery are both wonderful (head north on 4th for Dahlia, 5th for Top Pot).

Lowells and Athenia are good suggestions - they are old-timey places right in the Pike Place market both with water views.

paulhelmick

This might or might not go along with some things you are planning in Seattle.
Toulouse petit
www.toulousepetit.com
They feature New Orleans and southern style food and serve breakfast.
To get there you would take the monorail to Seattle center. Stroll through the center (15-20min.)to Mercer st. and walk 2 blocks north.

free2b4862

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, we will have no problem finding a great breakfast place!

happytrailstoyou

In addition to the foregoing, the restaurant in the Sheraton is The Daily Grill, a chain: http://www.dailygrill.com

Not far from the Sheraton, breakfast is served in the Georgian Room at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, at Andaluca in the Mayflower Hotel, and at Lola--Tom Douglas' restaurant in Hotel Andra:

http://www.fairmont.com/seattle/Gues...heGeorgian.htm
http://www.andaluca.com
http://tomdouglas.com/index.php?page=lola-breakfast

About a mile from your hotel, the 5 Point Cafe dishes up classic diner fare:

http://the5pointcafe.com/Menu.php

HTTY

christy1

If a limited menu/espresso shop type menu is good enough, I love the scrambled eggs bagel at Cherry St Coffee House (multiple locations downtown). There is a little waffle shop on 3rd called Sweet Iron that is also a quick but good spot.

The 5 Point is a serious dive. It hits the spot for some folks but is not for everyone. The Athenian and Lowell's are very atmospheric and old-school Seattle (and views!), but definitely greasy spoons.

suze

If you're OK eating on the go you could also include Dahlia Bakery on 4th. They have a hot breakfast sandwich along with all the pastries.

'The Mexican Market' (just north of the original Starbucks in the Pike Place Market) does wonderful breakfast burritos very inexpensive.

sorval

Macrina bakery for downtown, theres a belltown and a south downtown location.

If you can make it over the university bridge and its sunday, definently take in the brunch at ivars longhouse. Its on the water-- and decadent. eat in the whalemaker lounge.

If you end up in near greenlake take in beths cafe for their 12 egg omlettes. Its the kind of place that ends up on the food channel on those shows that show people going to places where they serve you way too much food.

I also liked blue star in wallingford. The city is chock full of breakfast places-- it has more than almost any other city I can think of. Its just that downtown amongst the hotels is sparse. You have to get out of there. People reccomended the sheraton for breakfast, but they didnt mention its your typical upscale hotel breakfast and you wont get out for less than 20 dollars no matter what you order. skip that.

suze

Well sure, I agree. There's loads of great places out in the surrounding neighborhoods... Capitol Hill, Ballard, Greenlake, Wallingford, Fremont, Queen Anne, etc. But these people specifically asked about eating downtown convenient to the Sheraton

free2b4862

Thanks again for all the recommendations!

Any opinions on the HOTEL MONACO ?

Sheraton seems "ok" , kind of business feel to it, looking for something more "fun", but not weird. Like nice hotel rooms with nice comfortable beds and nice bathrooms, inviting lively lobbies. Willing to pay, but not as much as like the Four Seasons. Grand Hyatt looks very nice, gets great reviews, but still kind of businessy feel to it???

suze

Hotel Andra

Gardyloo

The Grand Hyatt is very nice, but yes, it's mainly a business hotel.

The Monaco is a Kimpton property, well known for quirky features. It's location is quite good, and the restaurant on the ground floor, Sazerac, is one of our faves downtown (and they do a great breakfast too, BTW.) It's across from the new central library.

The Andra, mentioned by Suze, is also a good place, with one of Tom Douglas' places (Lola) on the ground floor, and our favorite Italian restaurant in Seattle adjacent (Assaggio.)

If you're still hotel shopping, look at the Mayflower. Best location of the bunch, usually well priced, easy access to all sorts of restaurants etc. as well as the Pike Market. There's a light rail station (to the airport) the Seattle Center monorail, and the Lake Union trolley, all within steps.

suze

It's only a few blocks difference but I'm not all that crazy aboutthe Monaco location (don't have any experience with the hotel specifically).

I love the Mayflower Park as my #1 choice (but there's nothing hip about it, it's an historic hotel) for it's excellent most central location. Great bar and restaurant. Really great hotel imo.

Or Hotel Andra which is on the same block as... Dahlia Bakery, Dahlia Lounge, Lola's, Assagio's, and Ralph's Deli & Grocery.

angel322

A great place for a sit down breakfast close to downtown is the Boat Street Cafe. http://www.boatstreetcafe.com/
not far from the Seattle Center.
Also, the Hotel 1000 is a great alternative to large chain hotels.