Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)

Central Seattle

Map 15

The residents of the LQA are mostly single, urban professionals in their mid-twenties to early thirties who enjoy a healthy nightlife and unassuming upscale residences. The neighborhood retains a slightly more economical Belltown vibe. Plus, sometimes they have an express train (some call it a "Monorail") to Westlake Center.

✵ Experience Music Project ✵ 325 5th Ave N

206-770-2700

A billionaire's rock memorabilia collection and a public eyesore.

✵ International Fountain ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-684-7200

Water show set to music.

✵ Key Arena ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-281-5800

The former home of the Seattle Sonics is now dominated by ladies sports.

✵ McCaw Hill ✵ 321 Mercer St

206-733-9725

Seattle Center home of the Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera.

✵ Pacific Science Center ✵ 200 2nd Ave N

206-443-2001

You're never too old for a Floyd or Zeppelin laser show.

✵ Seattle Center ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-684-7200

Site of the 1962 World's Fair. Also, the Monorail terminus.

✵ Seattle Monorail ✵ 5th Ave & Pine St

206-905-2620

90 thrilling seconds zipping through Seattle (if it's actually running).

✵ Space Needle ✵ 400 Broad St

206-905-2100

Like so many things in life, it's not as big as you'd expect.

✵ Caffe Ladro ✵ 600 Queen Anne Ave N

206-282-1549

Strong coffee for the strong coffee drinker.

✵ Caffe Vita ✵ 813 5th Ave N

206-285-9662

The best of the local chains.

✵ Caffe Zingaro ✵ 127 Mercer St

206-352-2861

Lighthouse Roasters plus food.

✵ Espresso Elegance ✵ 122 Elliott Ave W

206-282-8155

Worth a trip off the beaten path for their $2 espresso happy hour.

✵ Forza Coffee Company ✵ 100 4th Ave N

206-404-3679

Come for the coffee. Leave for the food.

✵ Uptown Espresso ✵ 525 Queen Anne Ave N

206-285-3757

Self-proclaimed "Home of the Velvet Foam" but the coffee underneath is just so-so.

✵ Buckley’s On Queen Anne ✵ 232 1st Ave W

206-691-0232

A fine, friendly neighborhood pub with tasty eats.

✵ Crow Restaurant and Bar ✵ 823 5th Ave N

206-283-8800

Good food and cocktails, but make a reservation or don't bother.

✵ Jabu’s Pub ✵ 174 Roy St

206-284-9093

A friendly, comfortable place to get drizunk.

✵ Mecca Café ✵ 526 Queen Anne Ave N

206-285-9728

Visit the Queen Anne of olden days.

✵ Ozzie’s ✵ 105 W Mercer St

206-284-4618

Where frat boys go to sing karaoke and bust the occasional head.

✵ Peso’s ✵ 605 Queen Anne Ave N

206-283-9353

If you like your meat market with a side of guac.

✵ Plaza Garibaldi ✵ 129 1st Ave N

206-397-4088

Veg-friendly Mex turns LQA karaoke bar on weekends, becomes less friendly.

✵ The Sitting Room ✵ 108 W Roy St

206-285-2830

Warm and orange. You'll see what I mean.

✵ Solo Bar ✵ 200 Roy St

206-213-0080

Faith No More (remember them?) serves up some cocktails.

✵ Spectator Bar & Grill ✵ 529 Queen Anne Ave N

206-599-4263

Typical sports bar transforms into epic punk rock karaoke party at week's end.

✵ Sport ✵ 140 4th Ave N

206-404-7767

A place where intellectuals debate existential theory. Just kidding!

✵ Teatro Zinzanni ✵ 222 Mercer St

206-802-0015

A fine night out. If someone else is paying.

✵ Ten Mercer ✵ 10 Mercer St

206-691-3723

You'll think you've died and gone to a Bret Easton Ellis novel.

✵ The Tin Lizzie Lounge ✵ 600 S 244th St

206-282-7407

The MarQueen's gorgeous hotel bar might want to see the Wizard for a heart.

✵ The Vera Project ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-956-8372

Keeping the kids out of trouble in the coolest way possible.

✵ Bamboo Garden ✵ 364 Roy St

206-282-6616 ✵ $$

Chinese vegetarian spot that makes fake meat taste unnaturally good.

✵ Bigfood ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-719-5549 ✵ $

Mobile S'quatch-themed food truck now has a stationary spot in the Armory.

✵ Blue Water Taco Grill ✵ 515 Queen Anne Ave N

206-352-2407 ✵ $

Cheap Ameri-Mexican that's at least pretty fresh.

✵ Citizen ✵ 706 Taylor Ave N

206-284-1015 ✵

Delicious crepes and sandwiches that'll make you count as two citizens.

✵ Collections Cafe ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-753-4935 ✵ $$

The Chihuly Museum's highfalutin eatery decorated with crap from Dale's attic.

✵ Crow Restaurant and Bar ✵ 823 5th Ave N

206-283-8800 ✵ $$

Scoff at the small plate trend and indulge in hearty, sausage-stuffed lasagna.

✵ Dick’s Drive-In ✵ 500 Queen Anne Ave N

206-285-5155 ✵ $

A local obsession, specializing in cheap burgers and shakes. Perfect at 1 am.

✵ Kidd Valley ✵ 531 Queen Anne Ave N

206-284-0184 ✵ $

Like a slightly fancier Burger King with not much more to offer.

The hub of LQA is contained in the several blocks near the Seattle Center that are packed with restaurants and bars. Relish delectable Indian at Roti. Even carnivores appreciate the faux-meat delights at Bamboo Garden. In terms of nightlife, Ozzie's and Peso's draw the biggest crowds and chiefly deal in meat-marketing. Start or end your night at the classic dive Mecca Café.

✵ Laredos Grill ✵ 555 Aloha St

206-218-1040 ✵ $$

Queso and tacos till 1am. Ole!

✵ Mecca Café ✵ 526 Queen Anne Ave N

206-285-9728 ✵ $

Your taste buds will thank you. Your heart and liver will disown you.

✵ The Melting Pot ✵ 14 Mercer St

206-378-1208 ✵ $$$$

Gimmicky and retro, perhaps, but dipping things in cheese can never be bad.

✵ New York Pizza & Bar ✵ 500 Mercer St

206-913-2565 ✵ $$

A family house of junk food where mom and dad can also get plastered.

✵ Obasan ✵ 11 Mercer St

206-282-2333 ✵ $$

Casual Japanese spot.

✵ Pagliacci Pizza ✵ 550 Queen Anne Ave N

206-726-1717 ✵ $

Local favorite pizza chain makes crispy-chewy delights with seasonal ingredients.

✵ Peso’s ✵ 605 Queen Anne Ave N

206-283-9353 ✵ $$$

Mexican with substance. Same can be said for the margaritas but not the patrons.

✵ Pie ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-428-6312 ✵ $

This sweet/savory hand pie-oneer (sorry) now has a stall at Seattle Center.

✵ Plaza Garibaldi ✵ 129 1st Ave N

206-397-4088 ✵ $$

Vast and varied Mexican menu made from "family recipes."

✵ Plum Juice Bar ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-428-6337 ✵ $

Contributing to the classing up of the Armory with vegan lunch food.

✵ Racha ✵ 23 Mercer St

206-281-8883 ✵ $$$

Safe bet for pad thai, once you get past the yuppies.

✵ Roti Cuisine of India ✵ 530 Queen Anne Ave N

206-216-7684 ✵ $$

Tasty, reasonably priced lunch buffet. Guaranteed food coma.

✵ Shiki Japanese ✵ 4 W Roy St

206-281-1352 ✵ $$

One of the only places in the state to get fugu. Non life-threatening dishes available, too.

✵ Skillet Counter ✵ 305 Harrison St

206-428-6311 ✵ $$

Great organic meal if you can withstand their cutesy menu and city prices.

✵ SkyCity ✵ 400 Broad St

206-905-2100 ✵ $$$

Ridiculously overpriced, mediocre food—but what a view. For tourists.

✵ Solo Bar ✵ 200 Roy St

206-213-0080 ✵ $$

ItalEthioSpaBulgarian cuisine. And tapas.

✵ Spectator Bar & Grill ✵ 529 Queen Anne Ave N

206-599-4263 ✵ $$

Typical sports bar transforms into epic punk rock karaoke party at week's end.

✵ Sushi Land ✵ 803 5th Ave N

206-267-7621 ✵ $

Fun, cheap sushi.

✵ Taylor Shellfish ✵ 124 Republican St

206-501-4442 ✵ $$$

Farm-to-table oysters from the purveyors.

✵ Ten Mercer ✵ 10 Mercer St

206-691-3723 ✵ $$$$

Hip bar and romantic upstairs area—heavy on the meat options.

✵ Toulouse Petit ✵ 601 Queen Anne Ave N

206-432-9069 ✵ $$

From the guy who brought you Peso's. Different food, same attitude.

✵ Uptown China ✵ 200 Queen Anne Ave N

206-285-7710 ✵ $$

Efficient, spice-a-licious Chinese, best complemented by a Tsingtao.

✵ Mercer Street Books ✵ 7 Mercer St

206-282-7687

Indie bookstore with used stock.