We certainly packed a lot into our Seattle weekend trip and had a blast doing it! From Seattle must-sees to rooftop bars with waterfront views and even the infamous gloomy weather, the Pacific Northwest completely stole our hearts.
We only had three days in Seattle so I know we merely scratched the surface on things to do and places to eat, but our Seattle weekend itinerary was well-rounded and thoroughly explored so I thought I’d pay it forward 😊
How We Got To Seattle
Our Seattle weekend actually began in Portland earlier that week. We spent two nights in the infamous “weird” city on a work trip then hopped on a train up to Seattle. We boarded at the Portland Union Station and got off at the Seattle King Street Station. It was about a 3 hour ride and totally worth it – the views were so pretty! Plus, it saved us money on a plane ticket so it was a win-win 😊
Where We Stayed
The State Hotel
The State Hotel is a fun, contemporary hotel within a historic building, conveniently located a block away from Pike Place Market. This was a great place to spend our first night in Seattle as we took full advantage of being in the heart of downtown. The hotel’s location allowed us to walk to many of the places we toured including The Gum Wall, Pier 57 and so many others!
Hotel 1000
Hotel 1000 was our second and final hotel for our Seattle weekend. My financially savvy husband scored an amazing deal so we were able to indulge this luxurious hotel for one night. Our spacious room came with a bathtub and beautiful waterfront views – we felt spoiled! Hotel 1000 is a little further from the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market, which was a nice change of pace.
Where We Ate
COFFEE SHOPS
Monorail Espresso
We landed at Monorail on a whim and I’m SO glad we did. We passed this place on our way to the Starbucks Reserve (when in Seattle am I right?) and I clocked it because it was aesthetically unassuming, but seemed popular and loved by the locals. When we got to Starbucks and saw how long the line was (over an hour), we decided to try Monorail and it was wonderful. Friendly service and quality coffee!
Top Pot Doughnuts & Coffee
Top Pot was an impromptu breakfast and coffee stop after our morning workout class – well deserved if you ask me! We tried the glazed and cinnamon sugar (very boring donut flavor taste, I know) and they were fluffy and perfect. I would have sampled more if we weren’t flying home later that day, but that just gives me an excuse to visit next time I’m in the area!
RESTAURANTS
The Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar
This was our first food stop in Seattle and it definitely set the bar high. Athenian is located in the historic Pike Place Market with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding popular piers. I got a bread bowl of clam chowder and it was HEAVENLY. My husband got oysters which were also great, but even he couldn’t get enough of my clam chowder. Highly recommend if you visit!
We did not have reservation (I don’t think they take one?) but they were able to seat us pretty quick despite the crowd.
Goldfinch Tavern
This was definitely our splurge meal of the trip. The Goldfinch Tavern is located in Seattle’s Four Seasons Hotel and offers gorgeous, waterfront views. We split their Rigatoni and a salad alongside live acoustic music. I sipped on their Cherry Mule cocktail throughout my meal and it was delightful. If you enjoy light, citrusy drinks then definitely try this one! It also makes for a pretty photo 😉
We booked our reservation a few weeks in advance and I would recommend doing the same if you want to avoid the wait. This is a popular spot!
Von’s 1000Spirits
This place was recommended to us and I’m glad we went because it was our favorite meal of the trip! Von’s is famous for their sourdough pasta and pizza, which worked out great because I’ll take any excuse to consume carbs 😉 We had their bolognese pasta and fish and chips – both very filling and very good. I also enjoyed their Lavender Seas cocktail, which is another great citrusy drink!
We did not have a reservation, but we went for a late lunch and they seated us right away. This place seems pretty popular so I would grab a reservation if you can!
Purple Cafe and Wine Bar
This place wins for best ambiance of the trip! Purple‘s dark and moody lighting pairs perfectly with the impressive thirty-foot wine tower in the middle of the restaurant. We enjoyed a delicious bottle of red with the tomato soup and caesar salad.
We did not have a reservation, but were able to get a table pretty quickly for a late Sunday dinner. If I did it over, I would have made a reservation just to get a better table – closer to the wine tower of course 😉
BARS
Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails
If you’re a rooftop bar enthusiast, then make sure you add Frolik to your itinerary for a Seattle weekend! It’s a spacious patio rooftop with large modern fireplaces, giving that perfect cozy, date-night ambience. We enjoyed a slice of cheesecake and a glass of red to end the night – it was perfect.
We did not have a reservation and immediately got prime, fireside seating on a Saturday night so you should be fine to walk in. They do take reservations so if you’re a planner and want to play it safe, then by all means 😊
The Fog Room
This was another fun rooftop bar we visited. The Fog Room has an upbeat modern atmosphere with cool views of the city. We went on a Sunday for happy hour and it was very crowded – so crowded that we actually had to wait for our table even though we had a reservation. All that to say, definitely grab a reservation if you plan to visit and expect a crowd!
What We Toured
Miners Landing Pier 57
My husband surprised me with tickets to Wings Over Washington at Pier 57 – surprised as in he bought these tickets instead of the Seattle Great Wheel lol 😑 I was skeptical at first, but it was actually really fun! It’s very similar to the Soarin’ Around the World ride at Disneyland so if you like that kind of thing, then this show is for you!
The Space Needle
I know you don’t need me to convince you, but I highly recommend visiting the Space Needle when you’re in Seattle. As crowded and (at times) chaotic as this adventure was, this is an exhibit worth braving the tourists for – I say that as an avid tourist lol. The views, the architecture, the height – everything about it blew my mind! We visited around sunset and it made for a perfect end to the night.
The Museum of Flight
This museum has been on my husband’s list for a while so of course we squeezed it in. I’m not a huge museum girl but The Museum of Flight was actually really cool – I wish we had more time there! The Apollo exhibit was my favorite and probably where we spent most of our time. There’s also a hanger where you can walk on board different types of planes, including the very first Air Force One and the Concorde!
The museum is conveniently located ~10 minutes from the airport and they let you leave your luggage in a secured location while you tour the museum. It’s perfect if you’re on your way in/out of Seattle.
The Gum Wall
This is a place we couldn’t NOT visit! As cool as The Gum Wall is, it’s also (sorry) nasty. We visited around mid morning and only stayed long enough to snap a few photos. Being surround by stranger’s gum in a dark alley with anxious tourists trying to get THE photo is a weird phenomenon. I’m glad we crossed it off the bucket list, but it wasn’t the highlight of our Seattle weekend or anything 😉
Hotel Golf Simulator
This was a fun perk of our Hotel 1000! This virtual-reality golf simulator lets you pick from over 50 courses around the world. I was not very good at it, but I enjoyed watching my husband swing 😊 Make sure you call the hotel to reserve your hour time slot.