Seattle: What to Do and Where to Dine in the Emerald City
Seattle, in America’s Pacific Northwest, is a city surrounded by nature. You’ve got water, mountains, forests and parklands to satisfy all your outdoorsy needs. But don’t escape the city too quickly (although you should definitely get out into the nature if you can). There’s things to be done, drinks to be drunk and food to be chewed inside the city.
But where…? We’ll hand that over to our esteemed locals. Take it away!
Food
“The 5 Point is as classic Seattle as it gets and the food is so tasty (and relatively cheap). Oddfellows is great for a mid-range sit-down place. Sizzle Pie for pizza. Big Mario’s for drunk pizza. Local 360 is pretty delicious if you’re willing to shell out. You can also find Thai food just about everywhere, which we appreciate in a city.”
Sammi Chancey, Copywriter, and Keslie Watts, Art Director, Wexley School for Girls
“I live in one of Seattle’s oldest neighbourhoods - Queen Anne — and there’s a little 15-table restaurant on Queen Anne Avenue called How To Cook A Wolf. Extra points for the name, of course. And the pasta is some of the best in the city. We always take friends visiting from London there and they love it. So that says something.
“Chan is another favourite, which is Nouveau Korean. My husband and I worked in Seoul for six years so every once and while we have to get our Korean food fix!”
Nicole Michels McDonagh, Creative Director, POSSIBLE Seattle
“Cheap: Mean Sandwich. Quick: Nosh Food truck. Cozy & Nice: Mkt. Brunch: The Fat Hen
“Also, one of the few tourist activities that the locals actually stand by is visiting the market. Pike Place Market is a wonder, despite the summertime crowds. Grab a piroshky, some smoked salmon, a fresh baguette and more — you won’t be disappointed.”
Candice Noel Nagel, Designer, WONGDOODY
“Cantina Lena. Maneki Sushi. Chili’s (Southern Indian in the University District). Din Tai Fung. Sandwiches and homemade ice cream at Husky Deli. Wild Ginger. Staple and Fancy (Order the Fancy!). Dim Sum King. Canlis. Sitka and Spruce. The London Plane. Salumi. Beecher’s.
“ANY of the food stalls in the Pike Place Market!”
Eva Doak, Account Supervisor, WONGDOODY
“Cantina Lena. Umi. SeaStar. Monsoon.”
Mairi McCaslin, Assistant Strategist, WONGDOODY
Drink
“Shorty’s for the creepy clowns and cheap drinks (and proximity to work). Hula Hula for karaoke. Montana for the photobooth. Neon Boots for the colorful, fun atmosphere. Two Bells because it’s down the street from Wexley and has outdoor seating and we’re not that complicated. The Tin Lizzy Bar for some speakeasy vibes. I’ve never been, but we hear Zig Zag Cafe is supposed to be pretty great.
“Analog Coffee for the comics and Porchlight Coffee and Records for the records. Cloud Burst Brewing and Rooftop Brewing for local craft beer. As far as bars go, The Bait Shop is owned by ex-Schoolyard Heroes bassist Jonah Bergman, The Redwood is owned by a member of Band of Horses, The Sloop has huge pints and great wine and beer and The Zoo is classic old Seattle.”
Sammi Chancey, Copywriter, and Keslie Watts, Art Director, Wexley School for Girls
“Brimmer & Heeltap: Award winning bartenders make this a must, but make sure to order the house-made bread as well!
“Essex: Pop in on Tiki Tuesday’s for a special menu & a few surprises.
“Rachel’s Ginger Beer: Causal & quick, they make killer drinks with their flavourful ginger beer. My personal favourite is The Porch Swing.
“White Horse Trading Co.: Tucked away in Pike Place Market’s Post Alley, this little gem of a British bar is the perfect place to wind down and throw a few back. Their champagne cocktail is always my drink of choice.”
Candice Noel Nagel, Designer, WONGDOODY
“Tavern Law. Bar Ferd’nand. Canon. Capitol Cider. The Pink Door deck on a summer day.”
Eva Doak, Account Supervisor, WONGDOODY
“Percy’s. Kings. Black Bottle. Some Random Bar. QueenAnne Beer Hall.”
Mairi McCaslin, Assistant Strategist, WONGDOODY
Do
“Check out the Theo Chocolate Factory in Fremont for the best tasting curiosity fix in town. They have tours throughout the day that reveal their secrets, and let you sample the goods as well.
“Don’t be afraid to hop on a ferry. You can walk on the Bainbridge ferry from the downtown waterfront, and in 30 minutes you will feel like you’re are a world way.
“The Olympic Sculpture Park is a special wonder. If the sun is out, be sure to wander the paths and take in the art, as well as the fantastic view.”
Candice Noel Nagel, Designer, WONGDOODY
“There are tons of great hiking spots around if you’re into that kind of thing. We’re both frequenters of weekend markets and flea markets. There’s also plenty of great movie theatres – Cinerama is classic and their chocolate popcorn is dangerously good. There’s always a gallery opening or art show to go to, like Vermillion & The Factory for some fun local art. There’s also a pretty vibrant and active music scene. Beautiful parks and outdoor spaces too. Even the touristy spots are worth checking out, like MoPOP and the Chihuly exhibit.
“Also, if you’re a Twin Peaks fan, the diner and the waterfall featured in the show are only half an hour away. That was a pretty big deal for us.”
Sammi Chancey, Copywriter, and Keslie Watts, Art Director, Wexley School for Girls
“Ride the ferry to Bainbridge Island and hang out in Winslow. Summer concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Seattle Repertory Theatre. Walk Alki Beach. Watch the crew races and boat parade at Opening Day of the Boating Season along the canal. Rent an electric boat on Lake Union. Kayaking on Lake Union. Seattle Art Museum. Canoeing through the arboretum. West Seattle Farmer’s Market. Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. Hiking in the Cascades. Whale watching in the San Juan Islands. Shows at the Triple Door. Jazz Alley. Drive along Chuckanut Drive. Eat and explore in the International District. Hang out at the pocket beach in Madison Park on summer days.”
Eva Doak, Account Supervisor, WONGDOODY
“Wandering around the Madison Park neighbourhood in summer or early fall is a great, lazy way to spend the day. (And it boasts one of Seattle’s few true beaches.)
“In the late summer, I never miss attending the Seattle International Film Festival. Hundreds of films from all over the world spread across theatres throughout the city. The variety of films are insane. I always pick a few that I have zero interest in — intentionally going outside my creative comfort zone — and every year I leave inspired.
“The School of Visual Concepts is a Seattle treasure. Many of the creative directors in Seattle and throughout the country honed their craft there (including myself). One of the best things about the school is their beautiful letterpress studio — visible from the street — where anyone can come in, learn the lost art of letterpress, and create something amazing.
“And I’ll probably be run out the city for saying this, but the Space Needle is not a landmark. It’s a ride left over from the World’s Fair. (It’s taken me 40 years to get that off my chest. Feels kind of good.)”
Nicole Michels McDonagh, Creative Director, POSSIBLE Seattle
