7 Best Restaurants in Pioneer Square, Seattle

Even Seattleites who don't haunt Pioneer Square will happily hunt for parking to spend a few hours at this colorful local favorite. In one of Pioneer Square's great brick buildings, with high ceilings and a few artfully exposed ducts and pipes, Zeitgeist has a simple, classy look that's the perfect backdrop for the frequent art shows held here. If you're feeling hungry, Zeitgeist has a modest breakfast and lunch menu, featuring sandwiches, salads, and baked egg dishes. The roasted veggie topped with goat cheese on a local Macrina baguette is a fresh and filling lunch. 

Located on the first floor of Populus Hotel, Salt Harvest echoes the hotel's commitment to sustainability and the local ecosystem; its menu is an ode to the flavors of Washington's land and seas. Dine on green marble tables enveloped by draping plants and bold paintings, tasting your way through seasonal plates sourced from local farms. Meats, fish, and some vegetable dishes are wood-fired, subtly infusing the food with hints of smoke from local woods. The cocktail menu is equally as enticing, drawing on seasonally-sourced herbs and fruits to inspire its libations. While dinner steals the show, breakfast and lunch aren't to be overlooked, with dishes like breakfast fried rice, Turkish eggs, and a crispy fish sandwich. 

The lines are long for hearty, unforgettable sandwiches filled with superior house-cured meats and more at this shop, originally founded by famed New York chef Mario Batali's father Armandino. The oxtail sandwich special is unbeatable, but if it's unavailable or sold out (as specials often are by the lunchtime peak) order a salami, porchetta, or meatball sandwich with onions, peppers, cheese, and olive oil. Vegetarians can't go wrong with the eggplant parm sandwich. You can order whole or half sandwiches. Most people opt for takeout, or grab one of the tables in the packed dining room.

Oysters don’t get any fresher than this: Taylor, a fifth-generation, family-owned company, opened its own restaurant to serve their products in the manner most befitting such pristine shellfish. The simple preparations—raw, cooked, and chilled—are all designed to show off the seafood with light broths, sauces, and a few accoutrements. This is the place to come for a true sense of the Pacific Northwest’s “merroir”—taste of the local waters, including the (in)famous local giant clam, the geoduck, which is mostly known for its unique, somewhat lewd shape. Proximity to the stadium makes this the perfect destination for Seattle’s local tailgaters, who often prefer a dozen fresh-shucked bivalves to chili or barbecue.

In addition to its navy-blue exterior and cheeky name, this small, upscale gastropub is known for simple yet crafty cocktails and a concise menu of creative comfort foods. The bar offers snacks and small plates ideal for sharing, as well as heartier options featuring seasonal veggies, local seafood, and pastas. Tucked into a historic Pioneer Square building, Damn the Weather is the perfect spot to cozy up in during a Seattle downpour.

Since the 1980s, Il Terrazo Carmine has specialized in Tuscan and southern Italian cooking, creating soul-satisfying dishes such as homemade ravioli, linguine alle vongole (with clams), and eggplant Parmesan. The impressive wine list represents vintages from the West Coast of the U.S. to Italy and France. Ceiling-to-floor draperies give the dining room understated dignity, and intoxicating aromas waft from the kitchen to the restaurant's small outdoor patio that sits beneath a canopy of lights. It's your Italian home-away-from-home that you may never want to leave.

Take a seat on the aqua-painted chairs and tables beneath leafy trees with a flaky croissant in hand, and you’ll almost believe you’re in Paris. A new neighborhood favorite, Mirabelle is a French-inspired pâtisserie located next to Occidental Park. Browse the mouth-watering case filled with croissants, macarons, and berry-topped tarts, or take a seat and order a croque monsieur, salade Niçoise, or quiche. Given the cafe's proximity to the stadiums, expect to find lines out the door on game days, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait. Mirabelle is also stocked with a few French specialty items, including fromage and baguette.