Hello friends! Wow it’s been awhile. My last post was back in April 2020… 5 months ago! The world has been so heavy recently with COVID, racial injustice (although sadly this is nothing new in our country), wildfires on the west coast, political tension… and so much more, that my blog hasn’t been much of a priority. Today I’m jumping back in and sharing 12 must-visit spots in Seattle!
Not only have I felt uninspired to write blog content, I’ve also been busy starting up my real estate career! I’ve officially joined Windermere and am now available to help clients which I am SUPER excited about. Please keep me in mind if you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home! (Or if you just want to chat real estate and ask questions).
This blog post is one I have been wanting to write for some time now. I’m in love with Seattle for so many reasons and I often have people ask me for recommendations of what to do in the city, but I’ve always felt a bit overwhelmed by the thought of writing a post like this. Seattle has so much to offer that I was caught up on how to approach writing about it. Eventually I will do some posts on individual neighborhoods, but for now I’m just going to dive right in and share a few “must-visit” spots in Seattle. These are places I’ve been to countless times and absolutely love!
Disclaimer: Some of these spots may have shortened business hours or even be temporary closed due to COVID. Be sure to check their websites (which I’ve linked) before going!
Zig Zag Cafe
If you ask me, this is one of THE best restaurants in Seattle. It’s small, dark, and intimate with cool red lighting. It sort of feels like a French speakeasy or something. Their cocktails are so tasty and inventive and the menu never disappoints. Perfect for date night! I also celebrated my 25th birthday here with about 15 friends… so honestly it’s great for whatever. Tip: Zig Zag is only a block or two down from Pike Place Market!
Old Stove
Old Stove is most definitely at the top of my list. It’s a brewery + restaurant downtown with stunning views of the waterfront (as you can see in the gorgeous pic by my sister Layne below!). The beer, food, service, and atmosphere are all 10/10 in my experience. It’s located just right off of Pike Place Market! They can get busy (especially when the weather is nice) so I recommend making a reservation if you can. Tip: The Elliott Bay Trail, a great trail for biking or running, leads pretty much right up to Old Stove. This makes for a perfect afternoon – go for a bike ride and then reward yourself with beer afterwards!
Pike Place Market
You really can’t visit Seattle without going to the market (that’s what we call it – short and sweet). 🙂 Buy beautiful fresh flower bouquets at great prices, explore all of the different vendors, and watch the famous Pike Place Fish guys! Some of my favorite stops nearby/in the market include Ellenos Yogurt (get the marionberry pie flavor, it’s like dessert), Old Seattle Paperworks, Pasta Casalinga (super yummy, owned by the cutest Italian family), and Storyville Coffee. The left photo below was taken from a room at the Palihotel, an adorable boutique hotel downtown that overlooks the market/waterfront! Tip: Try going to the market early in the morning when the vendors are setting up. So peaceful and WAY less crowded.
Pioneer Square
This is one of the most historic parts of Seattle as it’s known as the first neighborhood in the city. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the market/downtown core. (Occidental Park is what you’d want to put in your maps as it’s more of an exact location). Think brick buildings covered in ivy, tall lampposts, and fun shops + restaurants! Most of the original buildings were burnt down in the “Great Fire” of 1889 which is pretty fascinating. There’s even an Underground Tour you can do which takes you underneath the streets to see part of the old city! I’ve never done it but I’ve heard it’s wild. Tip: Visit The London Plane while you’re there – a beautiful restaurant/store!
Casco Antiguo
Another one of my favorite restaurants! Their carnitas enchiladas are delicious. (So are the chips, guac, and margs hehe). They have a location in Pioneer Square that I love (the cantina in the back opens to a cool alley) or you can check out their newest spot in South Lake Union (right across the street from the Amazon Spheres). Tip: Casco Antiguo’s happy hour is DAILY from 3-6pm. Their prices can be a bit expensive so if you can go during HH, do it!
Kerry Park
If you want an unreal view of Seattle, this is the spot to go. That said, this is common knowledge and it’s a pretty tiny park so it’s almost always packed. If you can go super early in the morning I would recommend doing that! You could grab a coffee at Caffe Fiore nearby and turn it into a peaceful morning stroll with a view. The houses in this area are also gorgeous and fun to look at. Tip: If you happen to go later in the day, get some ice cream at Molly Moon’s! This is one of the most popular ice cream shops here in Seattle (there are a few locations).
Elliott Bay Book Company
If you love a good bookstore like me, you’ll enjoy Elliott Bay Book Company up on Capitol Hill. The vibes in there are great. The interior is all wood and there’s a coffee shop plus a cute little upstairs! They have a great selection of books and stationary and they also host events with various authors (at least pre-COVID they did). Tip: When I visit I usually also do brunch at Oddfellows Cafe next door!
Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden
This is a fun outdoor brewery with a ton of delicious beers on tap! If you didn’t already know, Seattle is crazy about beer. We have what feels like a zillion breweries in the span of like a 10 mile radius. Fremont Brewing doesn’t serve food but you can easily order UberEats there or pick up a pizza or something on your way. Try to go on a weekday if possible… the wait can get pretty long on the weekends! Tip: One of my favorite boutiques, Pipe & Row, is just a 10 minute walk away! Bonus Tip: While we’re on the topic of beer… some of my other favorite Seattle breweries are Rooftop Brewing, Elysian, and Georgetown Brewing.
Discovery Park + Magnolia Bluff
Ask anyone in Seattle and they will tell you how wonderful Discovery Park is! So many different trails, grassy hills, huge trees, and beachfront areas. The Magnolia Bluff is nearby and has gorgeous views of the water, downtown, and Mt. Rainier all in one place. Picnic-ing here is one of my favorite things to do in the summer… I feel so lucky to live in Magnolia! Tip: Discovery Park is massive – you could wander for HOURS and easily get lost. That said, I suggest mapping your route or just planning to walk down to the West Point Lighthouse on the beach.
Shopping on Ballard Ave.
Ballard is probably my favorite neighborhood in Seattle. One of the main streets, Ballard Avenue, is lined with too many good restaurants, bars, and shops to count. (So is Market Street, perpendicular to Ballard Ave). I couldn’t pick just one store for this post because it’s so easy to visit several in one day! Stop in Lucky Dry Goods (vintage), Ballard Consignment (mostly furniture), Lucca Great Finds (fun gifts and paper goods), Trove Vintage Boutique, Prism (great sustainable style options for men and women + home goods), and September (PNW/boho style clothing). They also have a great farmer’s market on this street on Sundays! Tip: After a day of shopping, visit Percy’s for happy hour!
San Fermo
Such a special, quaint Italian restaurant on Ballard Ave. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Also every single table is a good one at San Fermo… it’s actually a really old, tiny house so they have seating on both floors inside + the patio outside. Tip: Get the bolognese!!! (It’s the pasta on the right in the photo below).
Bongos + Green Lake
My cousin Jessica introduced me to this match made in heaven and I’m forever grateful! Bongos Cafe serves the most delicious Caribbean food… chicken curry, pulled pork, black beans, rice, maduros (fried sweet plantains), etc. The restaurant is an old repurposed 76 gas station – where the pumps used to be is a giant sand pit with short tables and umbrellas. Such a fun atmosphere! Green Lake is right across the street from Bongos and there is a path that goes all the way around it (almost 3 miles total). You can take a nice walk and enjoy Bongos after, OR you can get your food to go and eat picnic-style by the lake. 🙂 Tip: The Desi Plate is my go-to!
And there you have it – 12 must-visit spots in Seattle! Wow that was tough. It’s harder than you’d think to narrow down your favorite places in your city. 🙂
Seattle has a reputation for being rainy, but in reality it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Yes it’s gloomy most months out of the year, but it doesn’t rain like people think it does. However, I do suggest visiting in the summer (September may be your best bet… it’s less busy with tourists but the weather is still incredible).
I hope you enjoyed this post! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you might have about any of these places or Seattle in general. You can reach me on IG @autumnsorelle or send me an email at autumnsorelleblog@gmail.com.
As always, thank you so much for reading!
XO Sorelle
P.S.: If you liked this post on must-visit spots in Seattle, check out my other Seattle blog content here, or my Seattle highlights on Instagram!
