Downtown Seattle

Explore

Seattle’s supremely walkable urban center is filled with sleek skyscrapers, charming buildings, and bustling businesses. Along with visits to celebrated museums and theaters, plan for a stop at Pike Place Market (85 Pike St), where buskers entertain and hundreds of vendors have artisan wares, freshly picked fruit, and vibrant bouquets on offer. From that historic landmark, venture up to a modern one at Sky View Observatory (700 Fourth Ave), whose floor-to-ceiling windows on the 73rd floor showcase glistening waters, downtown’s hustle and bustle, and even Mount Rainier. Prefer a little more action? SPIN Seattle (1511 Sixth Ave) ups the ante with ping-pong tables and a menu of cocktails, burgers, and pizzas to fuel you late into the night.

Eat and Drink

Diverse menus await across downtown. Start the day off right with hearty breakfast sandwiches and artisan espresso drinks at Mr. West (720 Olive Way). For lunch, keep it casual and oh so delicious at Asean Streat (400 Pine St), a collection of street food vendor–style stalls featuring a range of Southeast Asian fare. Find everything from Hainanese chicken and rice to curry to milk tea. Complete the culinary rounds with a satisfying meal at any number of restaurants: Metropolitan Grill (820 Second Ave) for a classic steak house, Cortina (621 Union St) for on-point pasta and Italian dishes, and Japonessa (1400 First Ave) for sushi with a Latin twist, like crab-leg rolls topped with pico de gallo. 

Shop

Every downtown shopping experience should include a stop at the flagship Nordstrom (500 Pine St) store to discover floor upon floor of designer fashions and curated accessories. Nearby Pacific Place (600 Pine St) hosts a collection of delightful finds, including statement jewelry and decor items from Bezel & Kiln, a variety of artisan gifts from local makers at The Handmade Showroom, and sustainable clothing basics at Proto101. For those itching to emulate the Seattle grunge era, Dr. Martens (1527 Fourth Ave) should fit the bill with its iconic footwear.