Heading to Seattle, crashing my husband’s business trip what are great places to visit, eat, drink and see for a party of 1?

Question

Danielle · Answer

inside passage: great tiki bar! named after a pnw trading route. love the light up drinks.

Carolyn T · Answer

The pastry project: Soft serve and baked goods

Jess · Answer

Eagle harbor book company: Take the ferry to Bainbridge and walk over to the bookstore to browse for awhile

Jess · Answer

Seattle underground tour: If you like knowing how things came to be the way they are, you’ll love this

Ella McMahan · Answer

Elliott Bay Book Company

Ella McMahan · Answer

Fremont Sunday Market: If you’ll be in town for the weekend, this is the best market! So many fun vintage finds and cool vintage malls around the area

Ella McMahan · Answer

Hello Robin Cookies in Seattle: Best cookies ever imo! The s’more, flourless chocolate, salted butterscotch, and birthday cake are to die for - grew up in Seattle and this is on my list every time I’m home!

Aubrey Bergeron · Answer

Henry Art Gallery: I always try to hit an art museum/gallery, specially for solo travel. The Henry Art Gallery was super chill and small enough that you can see all the exhibits in one visit. It’s also tucked away on the college campus, which is a beautiful walk afterwards.

Leah S · Answer

Rent a kayak at Agua Verde and kayak to gasworks park: Best place in Seattle summer is as close to the water as possible. Kayak past the house boats and fantasize! (Also it’s near saint bread which is yum.) this is my ultimate Seattle day.

Varsha · Answer

Din Tai Fung

Varsha · Answer

Bellevue | JINYA Ramen Bar: Best ramen I've ever had. Need to go back.

Varsha · Answer

Beecher's Handmade Cheese: The best Mac and cheese ever at this cheese shop in Seattle. You can even see them making the cheese in store!

ALI D. · Answer

Loretta's Northwesterner: We always go right when we land in Seattle! Burger & a Manny's pale ale will set you up for a great visit🍔

AdriKay · Answer

Seattle is the best ❤️ top recs are Discovery Park and Din Thai Fung: Art

Seattle Art Museum

MoPop at Seattle Center (not super exciting but if you’re in the area and need time to kill or the weather is bad)

Shopping

Bellevue square (the Nordstrom is really nice)

5th & 6th Avenue from like Union to pine (some more upscale stores), a lot have closed tho

Westlake shopping center Nordstrom is also super nice

Pike place market for nick-nacks (some janky stuff)

Sam shop (local artisan)

Coffee:

Storyville coffee in pike place market (it’s kind of hidden. It’s up some stairs in an entryway by pike place flowers before you get to the sign on the corner of pike and 1st). There are other locations but that one is cool and right by the market

Zeitgeist coffee

Starbucks roastery reserve in capital hill (capital hill is a very LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhood, they have a lot of cool/unique bars)

Wineries: Woodinville is the area for wineries, you can Uber around there

Chateau St Michele in Woodinville (ok wine but really pretty grounds)

Cougar crest winery

Novelty hill januik winery

JM Cellars

Drinks:

Leny’s in green lake - dive bar with cheap drinks and really good pudding shots

Get a fancy cocktail at the bar in the Fairmont Olympic hotel -such a beautiful hotel

Purple cafe and wine bar downtown Seattle or in Woodinville (get the baked Brie as an app/snack)

Stampede cocktail club - cool vibes. Get a cocktail or two here, walk to woodsky’s then walk (15 mins) or Uber to dinner at Bocca Al Lupo

Woodsky’s (dive) bar in Fremont (they have a shot ski lol)

Breweries:

Go to Ballard (it’s a neighborhood, my personal fav) you can pretty much walk all the breweries Stoup and Ruben are the most popular

Bine Beer & Food in Bothell (small town, not a lot else going on but the bine is so good. It’s a microbrewery and the cheese curbs with chipotle aioli are chefs kiss their food is like hipster modern American, it’s all good and the staff is very friendly)

Fremont brewing beer garden if it’s nice out

Pike place brewery (pretty good food and beer and cool inside) and it’s by the market

Old stove (perfect for a nice day outside) and probs the best brewery in Seattle

Optimism

Food:

Din Tai Fung (Bellevue or Seattle) (TO DIE FOR dim sum) highly recommend the garlic green beans, Sticky Rice & Pork Shao Mai, rice cakes, pork soup dumplings but everything is amazing (can get pricey)

Bocca al Lupo in Fremont - best tiramisu I’ve ever had, it’s imported from Italy. Really good wood fired pizza and fresh pasta

Purple cafe and wine bar (Seattle or Woodinville, Seattle is better tho) if you like Brie cheese, try the baked Brie!! The rest of their food is just ok but I’d recommend for wine and an appetizer

Toulouse Petit for brunch

Asadero Ballard

Fogon Cocina for Mexican

Taylor’s shellfish oyster bar in capital hill

Maximilien Restaurant in pike place (follow entry near the spice market) really good French cuisine and pretty view of the bay and ferris wheel

San Fermin Italian in Ballard - quaint small delicious Italian feels like you’re in an Italians home lol

Ice cream:

Salt and straw in Ballard (super unique flavors)

Things to do:

Glossier store is cute

Pike place market: I’d stick to the first 2 levels, the rest is kind of crap. You probably won’t buy much but it’s cool to experience and take a pic with the sign (try the confectional mini cheesecakes, le panier for French pastries, people love Beechers cheese but I’m not a fan personally. The “first Starbucks” is overrated, get a pic of the sign but don’t wait in line for coffee you can get anywhere)

If you want a view of the city, skip the space needle and go to the top floor of the Columbia tower. It’s the tallest building in Seattle, cheaper to go in ($50ish per person I think), and better views (if it’s cloudy you won’t see anything tho) and there is a cool bar up there

Climate pledge area: new hockey area, amazon built but it’s almost all net 0 carbon, pretty cool concept go see a show or game there if something is going on

South lake Union is the amazon neighborhood where the amazon campus is. Not much to see, there are tons and tons of buildings so it’s not like “oh that’s Amazon”.  you can see Google buildings and the amazon go store and amazon spheres, safe neighborhood to walk around in just not a ton to do

Amazon spheres - a really cool greenhouse with a coffee shop, touristy but kinda cool if you go to south lake Union. The public has to make reservations (https://www.seattlespheres.com/the-spheres-weekend-public-visits) so make sure you do they if you want to go! (Heads up it kinda smells in there lol)

Ferry ride if it’s nice day to see the mountains

Outdoorsy:

Discovery park (my fav!!) - you can walk it (like 5 miles one way) and it’s so so beautiful and has the best view of Mount rainier by the water if it’s a clear day. Lots of walking paths and roads or just sit by the water (puget sound) on a good day you can see cool sea life. Heads up it’s really hard to get an Uber/Lyft to pick you up from the park so plan to walk.

Poo-pop point hike (moderate hike (I think 4ish miles one way, uphill)) pretty views at the top, if the weather is nice people paraglide off the top. You can just sit up top and watch people paraglide and it’s really pretty

Rattlesnake ledge trail hike (easy hike, beautiful water, super touristy tho so if it’s a nice day and you go, go really early or on a weekday)

Walk around green lake

Gas works park in Fremont. Pretty view along the water sit and have a drink and takeout or a picnic and relax then walk around Fremont

Alexandra Clark · Answer

Gas Works Park: One of the best parks I’ve been to, beautiful views of the city and Lake Union, rolling grassy hills, and industrial ruins. Take a wander through it and sit and watch the sunset!

Alexandra Clark · Answer

Fremont Troll: An actual troll under a bridge… stop by on your way to gas works park! Weird and lots of fun

eva h · Answer

screwdriver: happy hour chicken dumplings with black star sauce & a coors light (bottle) is the way to happiness.

maeve ⭐️ · Answer

the walrus & the carpenter  (Ballard, WA): Renée Erickson, James Beard Award Winning Chef

table for one? I’d suggest grabbing a seat at the oyster bar

perfect little corner for a view of the open kitchen, a chance to chat with fellow diners, and the kind fella shucking oysters!

some of the best oysters to grace my gullet. the crudo is dare I say… incrudoble? & that wine list fux!

delightful taste of Seattle & its maritime bounty

***worth acknowledging the recent labor strike. solidarity with the workers who make places like this worth returning to!***

Coofandy · Answer

marinationmakai: Take the West Seattle water taxi from downtown waterfront to the doorstep of the best patio in Seattle. Also the best city skyline view. Also great food.

Unicorns · Answer

Un Bien Seattle: I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about these Caribbean sandwiches. The location by Shoshone marina is rad.

Gabe · Answer

Chihuly Museum: Truly an artist that just blows me away anytime I see his work in the wild. So so sad I didn’t get to go to the Mecca the time I was in Seattle, hope you get to!

Amy · Answer

Rock Box Japanese Style Karaoke: Book yourself a private room and sing all of your favorites! 🎤

Laurel · Answer

Smith Tower: Beautiful building with an interesting self-guided tour. End it at the top of the building with a drink and great views!

Laurel · Answer

Lonely Siren: Great little spot hidden away at the back of Pike Place Market. Excellent cocktails and tapas.

Caro · Answer

Shibuya Hi-Fi Vinyl Bar: Do you ever want to intentionally listen to one of your favorite albums on vinyl and the best speakers with a group of people in a very cool cozy room? Bring your partner or your friend or your dad.

Leslie · Answer

saint bread: this (excellent) bakery is a little out of the way but makes for a pleasant solo excursion on a nice day!

Clara · Answer

The sweet and savory danishes at Flora Bakehouse in Seattle: Especially the asparagus goat cheese one in the springtime.

Clara · Answer

Geni’s Ethiopian at Seattle area farmer’s markets: Insanely good food, but the lentil sambusas and (seasonally available) chai have a special place in my heart. For the former, get extra green sauce.

Clara · Answer

Sandwiches at Un Bien in Ballard: Truly the best sandwich I’ve ever had. I always get the #5, but the #12 does seem extremely amusing (and the caramelized onions really are as incredible as they sound).

Noelle · Answer

Pioneer Square: Pioneer Square is the oldest neighborhood in Seattle and it’s charming and also crusty and I love it. Go shopping at Frida and Friend Museum (vintage), Arundel Books, Peter Miller Books, Open Books, Flora and Henri (fancy home goods and clothes), eat at Mio O Mio or Taylor Shellfish. Go up Smith Tower if you want a view.

Loose Links · Answer

Volunteer Park (Seattle): One of my favorite parks in the city because: spectacular views, Seattle Asian Art Museum, a dahlia garden, a conservatory with a rare plant collection, an open air auditorium for concerts/Shakespeare in the Park. Walk to the Volunteer Park Cafe for a great breakfast sandwich or Monsoon for a Vietnamese lunch.

Ainsley Bourque Olson · Answer

Smith Tower is a very fun alternative to the Space Needle!: Other touristy ideas: Our aquarium has a very cool new building (buy tickets in advance) & the surrounding water front area has been recently redone (if going on a weekday grab lunch at Post Alley Pizza)!