Category: Misc.

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Seattle top spots near the Westin

By seattlekp
updated 4 months ago

This guide includes many of the best places to visit when staying at the downtown Westin hotel. Seattle is one of my favorite cities and it has inspired the founding of Nordstrom, Starbucks, Costco, Microsoft, Amazon.com, R.E.I., Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Sur La Table, plus grunge music, Dale Chihuly glassblowing, and asian fusion cuisine (at Wild Ginger Restaurant).

Westin Hotel Seattle

1900 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

A good Starwood property in an excellent location. Some parts of the hotel are a bit long in the tooth and other parts are very nice and newly renovated. The best attribute is that most rooms come with a view of the ocean, lake, mountains or skyline.

Palace Kitchen

2030 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

My favorite among the quartet of notable Tom Douglas restaurants (the others are Dahlia Lounge, Etta’s Seafood and Lola) although it can get loud in the cramped space. One of the greatest proponents of Pacific Northwest cuisine, Tom Douglas is the closest thing to a celebrity chef in Seattle.

Marjorie

2331 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

Eclectic but real food served with a great vibe, Marjorie is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. They live up to their tagline “Food for the Soul”. The indoor space is a bit cramped and diners vie for seats out in the alley courtyard. Website is at www.trenchtownrocks.com.

Canlis

2576 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109

One of the consistently great restaurants in Seattle, Canlis been family run for 56 years, with a beautiful dining space and stunning views of Lake Union. Located just North of downtown Seattle.

Wild Ginger Asian Restaurant

1403 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

Inventors of the style of asian fusion cooking that has now become so widespread, this may be the most popular restaurant in Seattle for tourists. At least half the people I’ve talked to about their Seattle trips have all raved about visiting this gastronomic temple.

Dahlia Lounge

2001 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

Another of the Tom Douglas restaurant group, Dahlia Lounge is known for its red decor and Chinese hanging lanterns in addition to it’s inventive Northwest cuisine and it was even named the “Quintessential Seattle” restaurant in 1999 by Food & Wine Magazine. Also attached to the Dahlia Bakery and Serious Pie for great pizzas.

Metropolitan Grill

820 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

The favorite place of professionals, sports stars and celebrities with fat expense accounts, this old-school dark-wood steakhouse has hosted many celebration parties over the years and is considered the city’s best place for prime grade beef.

Cafe Campagne

1600 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

A great French casual restaurant famous for breakfast and as the less expensive version of the great Campagne restaurant.

Le Pichet

1933 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

A very French Cafe & Bar. The type that makes their own pate and writes all menu items in chalk on the walls. Casual but high quality food.

Earth and Ocean

1112 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

The notable restaurant in the W Hotel has gone through many chef changes (some of whom have been considered rising stars in the industry) over the last seven years. At one point they were known for the best gourmet french fries in Seattle but that may not be true now.

Lola Seattle

2000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

The newest of the quartet of notable Tom Douglas restaurants, Lola is a Greek restaurant that is also famous for it’s breakfasts.

Frontier Room

2203 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

This is not great barbeque by Southern standards but it is the best place to go in downtown Seattle if you are craving ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, mac-n-cheese, and corn muffins.

Six Seven Restaurant

2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121

Probably the best views of any restaurant in Seattle. Six Seven is located in the historic Edgewater Hotel on Pier 67 and while most of the food is merely average, they do have some addictive dinner rolls.

Armandino's Salumi

309 3rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104

Father to noted New York Italian chef Mario Batali, Armandino is credited with creating some of the best sandwiches in Seattle.

Ivar's Restaurants

Pier 54, Seattle, WA 98104

Ivar Haglund started serving fish and chips at the Seattle waterfront in 1938 after opening the Seattle Aquarium next door. Also famous for fried clams and clam chowder which explains why he coined the restaurant chain motto “Keep Clam”.

Pike Place Market

85 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

A charming, historic sprawl of buildings make up Pike Place Market, filled with independent vendors selling everythin...

A charming, historic sprawl of buildings make up Pike Place Market, filled with independent vendors selling everything from fresh pasta to handmade clothing to the freshest seafood available. One of the most famous sights is found at Pike Place Fish, where workers toss massive fish back and forth while completing orders. Home to the original Starbucks coffee shop, the Downtown market sits only a few blocks from the waterfront, close to the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum.

Pure Food Fish Market

1515 Pike Place, Seattle, WA 98101

Best alderwood smoked salmon you will ever taste period. Everyone knows The Flying Fish seafood vendor for putting on continuously entertaining shows by throwing 20 pound salmons half way across the market, but for the best quality seafood (especially the smoked salmon) just walk North from the crowds about 100 feet to Pure Food Fish Market. This is not inexpensive, we’re talking about $25 per pound or more but it is worth every penny.

Paramount Theatre

911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Crafted in the elaborate Beaux Arts style, the 1928 Paramount Theatre has been praised as one of the most visually ap...

Crafted in the elaborate Beaux Arts style, the 1928 Paramount Theatre has been praised as one of the most visually appealing theaters on the western seaboard. Today, top-name touring musicians, bands and dance companies bring their acts to the nearly 4,000-seat theater. The historic theater is in downtown, two blocks east of the Pacific Place mall.

Seattle Center

305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

The Seattle Center was originally the site of the 1962 World's Fair, and almost all of the popular attractions now st...

The Seattle Center was originally the site of the 1962 World's Fair, and almost all of the popular attractions now standing in the complex, including the Monorail and the towering Space Needle, were built for the celebration. Some of the city's top attractions reside at the center, including the Pacific Science Center, The Children's Museum Seattle, KeyArena at Seattle Center (home to the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics) and the Experience Music Project. Performing arts thrive at the center, with venues like the Seattle Repertory Theatre, the Intiman Theatre and Marion Oliver McCaw Hall hosting companies including the Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Rep. The center is in the Queen Anne neighborhood, just north of Downtown, near Myrtle Edwards Park.

Space Needle

400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109

The Space Needle, Seattle's iconic 605-foot-tall building, was originally built to be the crown jewel of the 1962 Sea...

The Space Needle, Seattle's iconic 605-foot-tall building, was originally built to be the crown jewel of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair Expo; when it was completed, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi. Today, visitors to the Needle can peer out over the city from the 520-foot-high observation deck or enjoy a luxurious meal and stunning views in the slowly-spinning SkyCity restaurant. The beautiful landmark is located within the Seattle Center, next to the Pacific Science Center and the Experience Music Project.

Experience Music Project

325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Designed by Frank Gehry and funded by Paul Allen, the EMP is a museum of music history located next to the Space Needle and the Monorail at The Seattle Center.

Pioneer Square

202 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104

The oldest neighborhood in the city, Pioneer Square is a local hub of social life and activity, famous for its nightc...

The oldest neighborhood in the city, Pioneer Square is a local hub of social life and activity, famous for its nightclubs, restaurants and art galleries. Architecturally, the neighborhood is characterized by Victorian Romanesque styles, with lovely open spaces, like Occidental Park and the Waterfall Garden, and monuments, such as the Fallen Firefighters' Memorial, providing further scenic and artistic beauty. Located just south of the Central Business District in downtown, the neighborhood is best toured on foot.

Elliott Bay Book Company

1st & S Main, Seattle, WA 98101

An enormous independent bookstore in the heart of Pioneer Square, that’s smaller than Powell’s in Portland, but also a significantly more enjoyable environment for browsing.

Safeco Field

1250 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134

The 47,000-seat Safeco Field is home to Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. The field is located just south of ...

The 47,000-seat Safeco Field is home to Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. The field is located just south of the city, within walking distance of Pioneer Square. The field's state-of-the-art retractable roof allows for the feeling of watching baseball outdoors whether rain or shine.

Qwest Field

800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Qwest Field is home turf to the NFL's powerful Seattle Seahawks, seating up to 67,000 fans for adrenaline-pumping foo...

Qwest Field is home turf to the NFL's powerful Seattle Seahawks, seating up to 67,000 fans for adrenaline-pumping football games. Built where the Kingdome used to reside, the arena features a partially covered structure, which protects fans from precipitation, and is known as one of the loudest stadiums in the nation. Sitting just south of the Pioneer Square neighborhood, the stadium is directly north of Safeco Field, home to the Seattle Mariners.

The Seattle Public Library

1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

Characterized by its unique exterior architectural design, The Seattle Public Library is revolutionary not only in it...

Characterized by its unique exterior architectural design, The Seattle Public Library is revolutionary not only in its layout but also in its significant role in the community. Through the heart of the four-story building, a spiraling shelf holds the library's nonfiction collection, creating a seamless flow of the Dewey decimal system where other libraries have to parse it up. A 275-seat auditorium provides ample room for special events and lectures, which occur frequently and cover topics from preventing back pain to adult story times. There are fun programs for children, technology classes for adults and language classes for native speakers of other languages. The library is in the Central Business District of Seattle, just blocks east of the breathtaking Seattle Art Museum and the spectacular Seattle Waterfront.

Washington Park Arboretum

2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle, WA 98112

Washington Park Arboretum holds 230 acres of leafy and flowering plants and trees, largely those native to the Pacifi...

Washington Park Arboretum holds 230 acres of leafy and flowering plants and trees, largely those native to the Pacific Northwest and the larger Pacific Rim. Highlighting the rich variety of plant life in the region, the arboretum holds the continent's largest collection of Sorbus plants and maple trees. One of the most unusual and beautiful areas in the park is the traditionally designed Japanese Garden, filled with ponds and sculpture, plants and man-made structures. Located next to Broadmoor Golf Club in the Capitol Hill district, the arboretum reaches north to Duck Bay, offering miles of shaded walking trails.

Seattle Art Museum

1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

The Seattle Art Museum is the city's most prestigious art exhibition building, featuring a variety of exhibits and re...

The Seattle Art Museum is the city's most prestigious art exhibition building, featuring a variety of exhibits and retrospectives that highlight well-known classic and contemporary artists. SAM contains an impressively large collection, totaling over 23,000 artifacts, including a 3,000-piece African art collection and a comprehensive Asian Art collection. The museum is located in the heart of downtown, just blocks from Rainier Square and the Seattle Aquarium.

The Museum of Flight

9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108

Holding an extensive collection of aerospace and aviation artifacts, The Museum of Flight features an amazing array o...

Holding an extensive collection of aerospace and aviation artifacts, The Museum of Flight features an amazing array of historical and modern aircraft, along with fascinating exhibits about the history of space travel. Visitors can board the British Airways Concorde plane, see authentic and replica pieces from various spacefaring nations and walk around and underneath more than three dozen modern aircraft. Interactive activities at the museum include rides aboard the 13-person 4D-X flight simulator and the a round on space shuttle simulator, where the goal is to successfully connect with the Hubble Space Telescope. Located at the King County International Airport, commonly known as Boeing Field, the museum is close to the small but fascinating Museum of Communications, which explores the history of the telephone.

Seattle Aquarium

1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101

The Seattle Aquarium offers its visitors a taste of the wild world of aquatic life, featuring hands-on exhibits that ...

The Seattle Aquarium offers its visitors a taste of the wild world of aquatic life, featuring hands-on exhibits that showcase the habitats and lifestyles of a variety of underwater creatures. A recent addition to the aquarium is Life on the Edge, a 40-foot wave pool that employs man-made waves to show visitors the ways in which underwater lifeforms live amongst the constant motion of the ocean. Another top exhibit is the Underwater Dome, where a plastic bubble in the center of a 400,000-gallon tank allows unrivaled up-close sightings of multi-hued fish, sharks and sturgeon. The aquarium is located at Waterfront Park on Pier 59, just west of the Seattle Art Museum.

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

3015 Nw 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107

Visitors can come to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to view boats passing from the freshwater of Lake Washington into ...

Visitors can come to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to view boats passing from the freshwater of Lake Washington into the salt-water of the Puget Sound. The locks are located in the Ballard area, across the canal from Commodore Park. Another wildly popular attraction is the fish ladder, a place where visitors can watch migrating salmon leap up the series of small steps to navigate past the Locks.