YOU’VE GOT SHOPPING to do! Where better than downtown, which this solstice month manages to be starlit and twinkly night and day. Below, a few festive spots to give your belly a worthy nosh and those barkin’ dogs a break.
Andaluca The glossy, cushiony dining room of the Mayflower Park Hotel is open for all-day Mediterranean fare. Great salads, a tapas list, and a long gluten-free menu. 407 Olive Way, Downtown, 206-382-6997; andaluca.com
Belle Epicurean The patisserie near the Fairmont Olympic gives you a little butter with your butter: luscious brioches and croissants with Caffé Vita by morning, soups and salads and baguette sandwiches all afternoon. 1206 Fourth Ave, Downtown, 206-262-9404; belleepicurean.com
Fonte Café and Wine Bar Off the new Four Seasons at First Avenue’s southern approach to the Market. Perfect coffee, terrific wine, sophisticated nibbles, Euro vibe. 1321 First Ave, Downtown, 206-777-6193; fontecoffee.com
The Georgian For High Tea. Sure it’s spendy, Scrooge—but the $35 spread of civilized sweets and savories, served 11:30 to 2:30 weekdays (from noon on weekends), has made generations of grandmas very popular this time of year. 411 University St, Downtown, 206-621-7889; fairmont.com/seattle
Lecosho Foodie darling Matt Janke just opened this sexy urban lunch/dinner joint on the Harbor Steps, which starts its happy hour every day at 3pm. Beef short ribs for $7. Enough said. 89 University St, Downtown, 206-623-2101; lecosho.com
Mistral Kitchen The casual front room is just the refined, designed place to pause for an unstuffy lunch—wood-fired pizzas, strip-loin sandwiches—from one of Seattle’s finest chefs. Cocktails ain’t too shabby either. 2020 Westlake Ave, South Lake Union, 206-623-1922; mistral-kitchen.com
Purple Café and Wine Bar There’s a reason this soaring wine bar is always packed—it’s downtown’s number-one crowd-pleaser, with a genuine comfort-food-for-everyone menu. Kids, too. 1225 Fourth Ave, Downtown, 206-829-2280; thepurplecafe.com
Sip Wine Bar and Restaurant See Purple—only on Fifth Avenue, not Fourth, with a decidedly more singles-y gleam in its eye. 909 Fifth Ave, Downtown, 206-682-2779; siprestaurant.com
Steelhead Diner It doesn’t get more Pike Place Market than the dead-central diner with the sweeping view of Elliott Bay. Lots of fresh local seafood done to creamy N’awlins specs. 95 Pine St, Pike Place Market, 206-625-0129; steelheaddiner.com
Taste After the Picasso show, pause for a nibble at Seattle Art Museum’s dining room—don’t miss dessert!—then knock off the rest of your gift list in the city’s best museum store. 1300 First Ave, Downtown, 206-903-5291; tastesam.com
Published: December 2010
The ribs at Lecosho truly are an amazing bargain but you’d better get there early or they sell out. Learned this the hard way. Apparently they take 24 hours to prepare… There’s no rushing genius.