Seattle Travel Guide
After visiting Seattle for the third time now, I figured it was time to write a Seattle travel guide. I absolutely love visiting this city! This most recent visit was my first time staying in the Summer and let me tell you - it is absolutely gorgeous. So if you’ve ever been wanting to pay a visit, do it in July or August. You’ll get mostly clear skies, sunshine, and 80-degree weather.
I did not include a “where to stay” section because I personally don’t recommend either of the places I stayed during my visits. One was at an AirBnb and the other was at the Kimpton Hotel Vintage. The latter of which is more like a boutique hotel and nothing at all like you would imagine Kimpton to be.
Read more below for my recommendations on where to eat, move your body, and things to do.
Where to Eat
This modern Mexican restaurant was delish! The food was very high quality and had the perfect amount of spice. We ordered chips, salsa, and guac for starters. For the main, we ordered chipotle braised chicken and baja fish tacos with rice and beans, and the el pablo bowl with beef birria. For drinks, I had the virgin strawberry hibiscus margarita. It definitely filled us up!
The restaurant is located in the Fremont neighborhood and is a great place to stop for lunch, especially if you’re craving tacos + margs. Afterward, you can walk to Gasworks Park to catch a beautiful view of the city (more on this below).
This is my go-to spot for breakfast and/or brunch in Seattle. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. It not only tastes great, but the food is local, organic, and sustainable. I usually go for a combo of pancakes/French toast and an egg dish.
They have 5 locations throughout the city. Click here to find the one closest to you.
This is one of Seattle’s famous American Chef’s restaurants. It’s a modern Mediterranean restaurant with Greek-inspired dishes. I went for brunch, and it was different but delicious! I ordered the Greek scramble, which had some yummy Greek sausage, and the made-to-order doughnuts, which were oh-so-good! I definitely recommend both.
Another delicious spot for good Mexican food with a PNW twist. Located in Capitol Hill.
Things to Do
1 - Pike Place Market
This farmer’s market is one of Seattle’s famous landmarks. There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, specialty food shops, and other stores to check out here.
Specific places to check out:
The famous gum wall
Ellenos Greek Yogurt
Piroshky Piroshky
Beecher’s Cheese
Indi Chocolate
Old Stove Brewing Co.
Rachel’s Ginger Beer
2 - Walk around Capitol Hill
I always like to do local things as much as I can when I travel to really get a feel for what a city is like. Capitol Hill provides that for Seattle. It’s one of my favorite neighborhoods to walk through. Known as the LGBTQ+ epicenter, it offers plenty of bars, brunch spots, and boutique shops.
Places I’d recommend:
Ice Cream: Molly Moon’s or Frankie & Joe’s - Molly Moon’s offers homemade, seasonal ice creams and Frankie & Joe’s is a plant-based ice cream shop.
Elliot Bay Book Company - Seattle-based bookstore that’s been around since the 70’s. It has a cafe inside as well. The perfect place to sit inside for a few hours to hang out and read.
Barrio - PNW-inspired Mexican restaurant
Portage Bay Cafe - Mentioned above.
3 - Check out the Seattle Center
The Seattle Center is a hub for culture, art, and, of course, the Space Needle. Beyond that, you can explore museums, gardens, and more.
Space Needle - Seattle’s iconic landmark. You can enjoy the views from outside, but I highly recommend going to the top for amazing views of the city, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) – Dedicated to music, film, and pop culture, this museum is a must for fans of all things creative.
Chihuly Garden and Glass – A stunning exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s glasswork, with both indoor galleries and outdoor installations.
4 - Stop by Belltown
Belltown is one of Seattle’s trendiest neighborhoods, filled with lively restaurants, cocktail bars, and music venues. It’s a great area to explore in the evening when the city’s nightlife comes alive. If you’re into art, you’ll also find galleries sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.
5 - Walk Alki Beach
If you’re looking for ocean views and a more laid-back vibe, Alki Beach is the spot. Located in West Seattle, it has a long stretch of sandy shoreline perfect for walking, biking, or rollerblading. On a clear day, you’ll get incredible views of the Seattle skyline across the water.
6 - Visit Kerry Park
Kerry Park is small, but it offers one of the most famous views in all of Seattle. From this hilltop park, you’ll get a postcard-perfect shot of the city skyline with the Space Needle front and center — and on clear days, Mount Rainier in the background. It’s especially stunning at sunset or at night when the city lights up.
Where to Workout
DRYP Yoga
Great for all levels! I took the 9:30 am Saturday class, and it was just what I needed. The class was slow and very intentional with movement, which I loved. The room was not very hot but warm, so I didn’t sweat or “dryp” as much as I wanted to, but I know some people prefer that.
Corepower Yoga
When I want to know what to expect from a yoga class when traveling (like guaranteeing I will be challenged and break a sweat), I go to Corepower. I love the C2 classes because they provide both of these things, and I feel good afterwards.
SoulCycle
If you’re coming from a city that doesn’t have a SoulCycle, definitely check it out here. Seattle seems to have a big spin scene. I was recovering from a cold, so I wanted something more low-key during my visit, but I walked by the studio and it was vibing with people.
Others on my list that I didn’t get to try:
Mind.Body.Hum
SweatBox
Commune Yoga