5 Best Restaurants in The Central District, Seattle

A popular neighborhood coffeehouse, Broadcast roasts its own ethically sourced coffee; many locals pick up bags of coffee beans here. Choose from well-made standard espresso drinks or more creative options like the Disco Pony (espresso with Perrier, half 'n' half, and a lemon twist over ice) as well as seasonal offerings. Broadcast also carries tasty pastries from Temple Pastries, along with a few other light breakfast and lunch items. If there's no seating, check out the nice park right across the street.

Don't let the modest digs dissuade you: the Ethiopian cuisine here is delicious. Open all day, Cafe Selam serves specialties like beef or lamb tibs (cubed meat sautéed with onions and spices) and ketfo (steak tartare), but is particularly known for its ful, a spicy breakfast dish of lightly pureed fava beans topped with eggs, onions, peppers, and feta cheese, served with two fluffy French loaves.

Offering a taste of New Orleans in the Central District, Fat's Chicken & Waffles serves authentic Southern cuisine in a hip spot filled with furniture and murals made by local artists. Helmed by a chef with deep Louisiana roots, Fat's serves shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, biscuit sandwiches, and other soul food classics in addition to the namesake chicken and waffles.

Order ahead online so you won’t experience the heartbreak of an empty bakery case—doughnuts go fast here. Tucked into the ground floor of a multi-use development, Raised turns out simple but perfectly airy classics and creative monthly specials with seasonal flavors and a mochi-flour gluten-free option. They also make raised cakes that fall somewhere between Asia’s light and fruity cakes and American-style, oil-based cakes; they’re sold by the slice on weekends.

This bright, plant-adorned cafe has lines out the door for its weekend specialties. Temple Pastries specializes in croissants and butter-forward pastries with a seasonal twist: think stone fruit and custard croissants, sour cherry tea cake, passion fruit coconut cronuts, and fig and oat cookies. Fresh loaves of bread and breakfast sandwiches are also on offer, as well as a small selection of tea and coffee drinks. Come early, as baked goods tend to sell out quickly.