Where natural wonders meet a world-class urban center

The center of Seattle is home to everything from glassy skyscrapers to historic brick buildings, modern boutiques to flagship department stores, and some of the country’s hottest restaurants.

Eat

Pike Place Market Photo: Suzi Pratt

For a true taste of the city, there’s no better place to start your trip than at Pike Place Market, a staple since 1907. Grab quick bites at spots like Piroshky Piroshky (Russian pastries) and Pike Place Chowder, or sit down for a meal at The Pink Door, a romantic Italian-American restaurant with trapeze performances in the dining room on Sunday and Monday evenings.

Elsewhere, the options are just as abundant. New American Heartwood Provisions excels in food and drink pairings, while Tulio’s sweet potato gnocchi is not to be missed. End the day with a sweet treat at the adorable Shug’s Soda Fountain, a vintage-style ice cream parlor, or Bottega Italiana, serving up authentic gelato.

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Shop

Paper Hammer Photo: Lauren Stelling

As the home of Seattle’s retail core, downtown is where you’ll find the famed Nordstrom flagship store, along with specialty shops like Byrnie Utz Hats (the oldest hat shop in the city) and Paper Hammer (flush with letterpress cards). Even if you’re not in the market for a wedding gown or designer cocktail dress, breeze past the windows at Luly Yang for an eyeful of haute couture creations. You can stylishly suit up for the great outdoors at Fjällräven, a Swedish import known for its colorful gear. Next door, Chrome is everything an urban cyclist could want, with custom-made messenger bags built to last forever.

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Play

The Chocolate Box Courtesy The Chocolate Box

Opened in 1926, The 5th Avenue Theatre plays host to Broadway musicals on tour. There are plenty of other notable venues in the vicinity, including The Showbox for popular concerts, Benaroya Hall for symphony shows, and The Triple Door for dinner and a night of music.

For a hands-on experience, take a class at The Chocolate Box, where you can learn to hand-temper chocolate and take home your own custom creation—even if it’s not beautiful, it’s guaranteed to be delicious.

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