3 Best Restaurants in Downtown, Seattle

One of the most beloved of Pike Place Market's restaurants, Matt's is all about intimate dining, fresh ingredients, and superb service. You can perch at the bar for pints and the signature deviled eggs or be seated at a table—complete with vases filled with flowers from the market—for a seasonal menu that synthesizes the best picks from the restaurant's produce vendors and an excellent wine list. Dinner entrées always include at least one catch of the day—perhaps a whole fish in saffron broth or Alaskan halibut with pea vines. Your first dinner at Matt's is like a first date you hope will never end. It is owned by Dan Bugge, a bit of a celebrity himself, having appeared on TV shows with Martha Stewart, Anthony Bourdain, and Bobby Flay.

Tucked into Post Alley, this hole-in-the-wall joint serves award-winning chowders. Skip the wait and order ahead for pick up, then snag a table in the outdoor section of the market and enjoy with a view. The smoked salmon chowder and crab and oyster chowder give the traditional New England chowder a run for its money. While most people come for the chowder, it also sells seafood rolls–brioche buns stuffed with fresh Dungeness crab or lobster. Few places draw longer lines than the Pike Place Starbucks—but Pike Place Chowder gives Seattle's flagship coffee shop some stiff competition. 

After decades spent earning a reputation as one of Seattle’s top sushi chefs, Shiro Kashiba opened his own spot in a location as notable as his skills with seafood. Diners in the simple-but-elegant Pike Place Market space can opt for the omakase (chef’s choice) selection of the best fish from around the world and just up the street, or order from the menu of Japanese classics and sashimi. Arrive early for a coveted spot at the sushi bar or reserve ahead of time for a table.