Seattle Favorites in 40 Hours

One weekend and one plan: see all the sites of Seattle…in 40 hours. What can I say, I like a good challenge? Was there meticulous planning? Nope. Was there some curiosity-induced wandering? You betcha. Did I get a few tips from the locals? Yes indeed. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. From Pike’s Place to Bainbridge Island to the Space Needle and neighborhood gems, suffice to say that I’m 100% satisfied with all the sites, sips and eats of Seattle. Read on for my top 10 of all the touristy and not-so-touristy spots!

Mission: make the most of a work trip to Seattle and see all the sites…in 40 hours or less. We had little to no plans, but with a few well-planned conversations with Seattle friends and the help of Google, the hubs and I mastered all there was to see. Did it feel rushed? Surprisingly, no. Were we efficient task masters? Yes. Was there any social media posting? Nope. Because we were living in the moment and latergramming to our hearts desire! So let’s start, shall we?

1.) Friday night dinner at Tavolàta

Tavolàta is a cozy little Italian spot in Belltown, which was just a mile walk from the W Seattle where we were staying downtown. Bonus points for walking because 1.) pre-pasta exercise and 2.) pre-dinner drinks and people watching ath the Taproom at Pike Place. We met a couple of our local friends at Tavolàta, one of a few locations run by Chef Ethan Stole. Quaint, dark and cozy with Italian food at its finest. The surprise hit? Roasted pistachios as an appetizer with calabrian chile, lime and salt seasoning. Never would have picked it, but think of it as a fancier version of warm peanuts with more complex flavors. The hands down favorite? My husband’s ribbons of pappardelle pasta in a house ragu of pork and beef. The miss? My halibut in a bland bath – note: if something is online, but not on the paper menu…there’s probably a reason! Sugar covered donut holes with a lemon curd finished the night in a sweet splendor before a busy day ahead!

2.) Saturday Morning Coffee at Ghost Alley

Jump to Saturday morning and we were ready to explore Pike’s Place Market! But first, coffee. Right as you enter the market by the infamous fish stand, there is a discreet staircase with a sign for Ghost Alley Coffee. Down below you’ll find a tiny coffee shop with superb espresso and a mystery mocha – you decide white or dark chocolate, the barista will ask you a few questions about your preferences and the rest is a mystery! And as you’re on your merry way, you’ll find quite possibly the most disgusting, gum filled wall along Post Alley. In fact, it’s been named one of the top 5 germiest tourist attractions, second to the Blarney Stone. Turns the tradition started in the early 90’s when people waiting for shows outside the Market Theatre stuck gum to the wall. And the tradition…stuck.

3.) Must-See Spots at the Market: Fish Stand, Ellenos Greek Yogurt, Beecher’s Cheese

On to the more appealing aspects of the market. Top spots to hit in the market are of course the infamous fish stand where the workers fling fish back and forth chanting in unison as customers place orders. Then, there’s Ellenos Greek yogurt, a local favorite for its family recipes of creamy fruit-filled yogurts like the passion fruit (crowd favorite) and lemon cheesecake (my personal fav). And finally, you must visit Beecher’s where you can see literally tons of fresh cheese curds being made on-site daily. (Also, pick up some rainier cherries, which have a thinner skin and are sweeter than regular cherries.)

Things to skip at the market? The original Starbucks store – expect massive lines for not much special. Instead…

4.) Visit the Starbucks Roastery in Capitol Hill

The Starbucks Roastery & Tasting Room in Capitol Hill is amazing. There you can do a self-guided tour to see the beans being roasted, visit the cold brew bar to get a custom cold bevy, do a tasting of unique blends like a whiskey-barrel-aged coffee, then dine on pastries like chocolate tortes, cannolis and even freshly made pizza. And, hardly any lines, even on a Sunday morning. My brew of choice? The Bianco Latte made with a pistachio and hazelnut-infused milk. Super creamy, slightly sweet and even better, you can’t find it at your average Starbucks.

5.) Chowder with a View at Ray’s Cafe

After seeing all the fresh seafood at the market, we had a hankering for some chowder. Our friends suggested a drive up to Ballard to get a feel for a hip neighborhood, the coastline and some of the parks. Along the way, we spotted Ray’s Cafe and Boathouse right off of Elliot Bay. Hot deal alert: we each got a bowl of chowder (mine salmon, my husband’s clam), a side of asparagus and rolls for $20! Plus, the view of the bay off the porch was stunning! Win and win.

6.) Travel the Seas on the Ferry to Bainbridge Island

After being on our feet and on the road, the next obvious choice for our Saturday afternoon was a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. We brought our car so we could drive around the island, but there’s plenty of cafe’s and shops within walking distance, too. For the two of us, it cost about $30 to ride the ferry with our car, but the views were worth it and we were able to venture a bit off of the beaten path once we got to the island. The actual ferry ride was only about 30 minutes and you could sit on the sundeck or get coverage in plenty of spaces, but the loading added another 30 minutes to the trip. Once there, we stopped at Blackbird Bakery for some sweet treats and cold brew coffee. The hub’s multi-seed sticky bun comes highly recommended!

7.) A Must-Stop On the Island: Eleven Winery

If you have a car, definitely venture north to visit 1.) some of the gorgeous parks and 2.) round out the afternoon at Eleven Winery. It’s the only winery on the island that only uses Washington grapes and has won a multitude of awards for every hue of wine. You’ll get a tasting of 5 wines for $10 and if they really like you, you might get a 2 for 1 deal like we did on the tasting! Another tip: buy a bottle, drink a glass while you take in the nature on-site, then cork it and save it for the ferry ride back.

8.) A Return to Post Alley for Dinner at Pink Door

With no dinner plans, we figured the market was a good bet for some wandering. We happened upon Pink Door on Post Alley, an eclectic Italian restaurant that supposedly hosts trapeze and burlesque shows, along with views of the bay. We were able to get a seat right away because this place is HUGE! The winners of the night were the fresh spring pea risotto with shrimp and rhubarb-filled donut holes with lemon cream. Sensing a theme? What can I say, I like pasta and donuts?

9.) Sunday Morning Spin at SLU Followed By Brunch at Portage Bay

After two nights in a row of pasta, I had a hankering for something more active than our random wanderings across the city. And I’m always up for an early morning dance party at SoulCycle! Tip: bring your shoes to avoid the $3 rental fee and take a class with Earl! That double tap roll was on point and who doesn’t love a little Missy Elliot in the morning? Afterwards, hit up the brunch bar at Portage Bay to pile your pancakes with mountains of fresh berries and whipped cream. Tip: split an order of pancakes because these are MASSIVE! The restaurant also sources a majority of its ingredients locally with a focus on organic and sustainably grown foods – yes even those heirloom wheat pancakes.

10.) It’s Not a Visit to Seattle Without the Space Needle!

And finally, the most obvious destination: the space needed. We visited on a sunny Sunday morning as our final destination. We couldn’t quite get there in time to get the pre-10:00 a.m. discount of $5 per ticket, but the brunch was worth it. And so were the views! You can buy tickets in advance for a specific time slot, but we didn’t really see the benefit after doing so – there were plenty of kiosks and registers on site; most of the wait was once you had tickets. The line was probably 20-30 minutes, but there were interesting factoids along the way. Once you get up to the viewing deck, the views are stunning. And, they have lots of fun features in the app that allow you to take cool selfies and videos at various points completely free. The really cool part is the rotation glass deck just a few floors down. Talk about trippy being able to see the ground beneath you!

Holy, moly! That’s a wrap on 10 spots in 40 hours. We definitely left with a sense of accomplishment and absolutely no regrets. Sure, a hike would have been nice, but let me tell ya, those city hills are something else! Onto the next adventure to…who knows where next!