Best Restaurants in Seattle
Looking for the best restaurants in Seattle? You’re in luck! Seattle has experienced a culinary revolution over the past decade and is quickly becoming one of America’s leading food frontiers.
Due to Seattle’s temperate weather and direct access to farm and sea, the restaurants here offer some of the best ocean, field, and stream food on the west coast.
From fine dining to casual eats, there’s something here for everyone. So tuck in your napkin, sip some wine, and get ready for your next culinary adventure.
MBar
A rooftop restaurant hiding out at the top of one of Seattle’s business high rises might pique your interest. MBar is a savory demonstration of Seattle’s open and welcoming personality. You’ll quickly notice that there are no walls here. Instead, MBar brings South Lake Union and the Space Needle into the dining room with floor to ceiling windows and patio seating. And don’t worry about chilly weather — the patio is equipped with outside heating and quilts.
That delicious aroma? A fusion of Lebanese, Greek, Italian, and American flavors. Look for the grilled trout served with caramelized onions and seasoned with fenugreek and za’atar. Or try the Lebanese-style fried romanesco small plate.
A great choice if you’re looking for the best restaurant in Seattle with a view, complimented by hand-made pasta.
Sharps Roasthouse
Sharps Roasthouse is operated by the same food geniuses who run Vonn’s 1000 Spirits. It serves classic, homestyle American food in a gastro-pub atmosphere. Sharps is the perfect location for people wanting a Seattle restaurant near the airport.
Step through Sharps’s front door and you be greeted by the smokey fragrance of prime rib that has been slow-roasting for over 14 hours. Try the cold smoked St. Louis style ribs (smoked over smoldering Washington Applewood) or the Carolina Gold BBQ Sandwich served between the golden halves of Sharp’s famous homemade sourdough brioche. Chase dinner with one of the 25 beers on tap or sample your way through the curated small-batch liquours created by Sharps’s in-house bar scientist.
Canlis
Michelin doesn’t cover Seattle, but if it did, Canlis would have two stars. Canlis is where you go to celebrate that new milestone, salve a loss, or to simply treat yourself. It was called “Seattle’s fanciest, finest restaurant” by the New York Times and ranked as one of the top 20 restaurants in Seattle.
Wooden, exotic interiors, a formal dress code, and romantic views of Gasworks Park and the Cascades define the dining room. A live piano sets the mood, and hushed conversation lets you focus on the flavors unfolding on your plate.
Canlis offers fixed-price, four-course meals, with four options per course. Start off with a fresh Canlis Salad before moving to savory courses, like the dry-aged lamb with cauliflower and sweet potato.
For a restaurant experience that rivals Michelin’s best, make a reservation at Canlis. Take advantage of the time between now and dinner to muse through their 80-page wine list.
Pike Place Chowder
Stop any Seattleite on the street, ask them where to get lunch, and 9 times out of 10 the answer will be “Pike Place Chowder.” Among its many accolades, Pike Place Chowder earned a spot in the Great Chowder Cook-Off Hall-of-Fame, won People’s Choice Award (twice) at the West Coast Chowder Cook-Off, and claimed the title the “Nation’s Best Clam Chowder” three years in a row.
Don’t be intimidated by the lines, they move fast and the chowder is worth it. Order the New England Clam Chowder (bread bowl is a must) to experience a true Seattle delicacy. Or, if you can’t decide which flavor to try, get the Sampler and savor 4-8 chowders.
Pro tip: seating at the Pike Place Market location is limited. We recommend grabbing your order and walking next-door to Rachel’s Ginger Beer. Rachel’s has lots of seating and allows outside food as long as you order a drink.
Oriental Mart & Kitchenette
This Filipino lunch-counter is Pike Place Market’s best-kept secret, but since the prestigious James Beard Foundation has recently broken the silence by giving Oriental Mart the “America’s Classics Award,” we think it’s okay to let you in on the fun.
The dedicated Apostal family has been operating this kitchenette since 1980. They built up a reputation as the go-to spot for Pike Place Market’s vendors, employees, and insiders. Oriental Mart’s self-taught chef, Auntie Leila, serves up a rotating menu of hearty mains like salmon tamarind soup and bangus (fried milkfish).
If you’re new to Filipino food and don’t know where to start, ask Auntie Leila for the “Can You Trust Me” plate. This combination platter earns you samples from everything on that day’s menu. This is a happy chaos that often includes Leila’s pancit fried noodles, longanisa sausage, and delightful adobo.
Seattle’s food scene is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. These five best restaurants in Seattle are just a small taste of what makes it so special. Whether you’re craving fresh seafood, global flavors, or locally inspired comfort food, there’s something here to satisfy every palate. And if you’re looking for a fun, flavorful way to sample a wide range of Pike Place Market’s best bites, consider joining a Pike Place Market food tour. It’s the ultimate meal replacement! You won’t wait in any lines, just delicious tastings, fascinating stories, and a deep dive into the people and culture that make the Market so beloved. It’s a win-win for food lovers and curious travelers alike!
