Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)

Central Seattle

Map 17

Seattle's a gay-friendly city and there's no neighborhood pinker than Capitol Hill, particularly along the main drag, Broadway. Rainbow flags festoon the lampposts, bold displays of affection are commonplace, and leather daddies can be spotted strolling grocery store aisles in full regalia. Meanwhile, runaway street urchins make themselves at home and no one seems to care about vowels anymore. Get an espresso at Espresso Vivace and contemplate it all.

✵ Public Toilet on Broadway ✵ 115 Broadway E

A crap capsule of sex and drugs.

✵ Saint Mark’s Cathedral ✵ 1245 10th Ave E

206-323-0300

Colossal cathedral on the hill; compline choir attracts yuppies, grannies, and street kids alike.

✵ Seattle Asian Art Museum ✵ 1400 E Prospect St

206-654-3100

Gorgeous Art Deco building with a superb collection of Asian art.

✵ Spooky Coke Machine ✵ E John St & Broadway E

Press the mystery button if you dare.

✵ Top Pot Doughnuts ✵ 609 Summit Ave E

206-323-7841

The planet's best donut shop.

✵ Analog Coffee ✵ 235 Summit Ave E

A sweet little neighborhood coffee joint that, luddite moniker aside, totally allows laptops.

✵ Espresso Vivace ✵ 532 Broadway E

206-860-2722

The ultimate coffee hut.

✵ Espresso Vivace ✵ 321 Broadway E

206-324-8861

Watch the beautiful Broadway freak show stroll by.

✵ Joe Bar ✵ 810 E Roy St

206-324-0407

Solid joe from Joe.

✵ Roy Street Coffee & Tea ✵ 700 Broadway Ave E

206-325-2211

Another incognito Starbucks.

✵ TNT Espresso ✵ 324 Broadway Ave E

206-323-9151

You could get better coffee, but probably not as fast.

✵ Bait Shop ✵ 606 Broadway E

206-420-8742

Linda Derschang brings her hipster revolution to the Seafood world.

✵ Captain Black’s ✵ 129 Belmont Ave E

206-327-9549

Here be booze, chicken, waffles, and a patio.

✵ Dilettante Mocha Café ✵ 538 Broadway E

206-329-6463

Premium chocolate orgy.

✵ Herb & Bitter Public House ✵ 516 Broadway E

206-708-6468

Crafted cocktails and small plate Mediterranean dishes.

✵ Highline ✵ 210 Broadway E

206-328-7837

Valhala for vegan punks. Plus Cake-aroke!

✵ The Stumbling Monk ✵ 1635 E Olive Way

206-860-0916

Discuss the waning political climate over Belgian beers. NFT fav.

✵ Summit Public House ✵ 601 Summit Ave E

206-324-7611

The quintessential neighborhood pub.

✵ Sun Liquor ✵ 607 Summit Ave E

206-860-1130

What's better than freshly-juiced cocktails and warm nuts? Not a damn thing.

✵ Altura ✵ 617 Broadway E

206-402-6749 ✵ $$$$

Occasion dining with the full Italian treatment, from aperitif to dolce.

✵ Aoki Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar ✵ 621 Broadway E

206-324-3633 ✵ $$$

Japanese owned, Japanese served.

✵ Bait Shop ✵ 606 Broadway E

206-420-8742 ✵ $$

Linda Derschang brings her hipster revolution to the Seafood world.

✵ Barriga Llena ✵ 219 Broadway E

206-782-1220 ✵ $

Tortas are Mexican food in sandwich form. These are really good versions of that concept.

✵ Charlie’s Bar & Grill ✵ 217 Broadway E

206-323-2535 ✵ $$

Bar food that tastes like home cookin'. Or tries to.

✵ Crumble & Flake Patisserie ✵ 1500 E Olive Way

206-329-1804 ✵ $$

Aptly-named bakery which sells out of its popular treats every single day.

✵ Deluxe Bar & Grill ✵ 625 Broadway E

206-324-9697 ✵ $$

Kitchen stays open late, and the fries will leave you begging for mercy.

✵ Dick’s Drive-In ✵ 115 Broadway E

206-323-1300 ✵ $

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

✵ Dilettante Mocha Café ✵ 538 Broadway E

206-329-6463 ✵ $$

Just skip dinner and indulge in a chocolate dessert orgy. You deserve it.

✵ Glo’s ✵ 1621 E Olive Way

206-324-2577 ✵ $

Almost puts Grandma's biscuits and gravy to shame. Great on a rainy morning.

✵ Irwin’s Cafe Hydro House ✵ 1201 Eastlake Ave E

206-623-1510 ✵ $$

Quaint cafe with great pastries and a carb-heavy lunch menu.

✵ Jai Thai ✵ 235 Broadway E

206-322-5781 ✵ $

Consistently good Thai; the curries are always kickin', and the happy hour menu is tops.

✵ Lionhead ✵ 618 Broadway E

206-922-3326 ✵ $$$

Jerry Traunfeld's take on Sichuan cuisine.

✵ Noah’s Bagels ✵ 220 Broadway E

206-720-2925 ✵ $

Better to wait for your next trip to New York.

✵ Pagliacci Pizza ✵ 426 Broadway E

206-324-0730 ✵ $$

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

✵ Panevino Trattoria ✵ 416 Broadway E

206-328-7187 ✵ $$

A good Italian joint.

✵ Pho Cyclo ✵ 406 Broadway E

206-329-9256 ✵ $

Super-tasty bowls of pho. Not the cheapest, but one of the yummiest.

For Vietnamese pho, try Pho Cyclo or the Capitol Hill Than Brothers. Aoki pulls off good quality sushi and a wide selection of sakes. Feed your Broadway posse at Dick's Drive-In late Friday night after sipping a divine cocktail at Sun Liquor. The Stumbling Monk is a comfy spot for Belgian beers and good conversation. Glo's is the place for breakfast (also open late), but be prepared to wait.

✵ Pho Than Brothers’ ✵ 516 Broadway E

206-568-7218 ✵ $

Three words: free cream puff.

✵ Poppy ✵ 622 Broadway E

206-324-1108 ✵ $$$

Fine dining in an IKEA show room.

✵ Queen Sheba ✵ 916 E John St

206-322-0852 ✵ $

Finger-lickin' spicy goodness to mop up with injera bread. Bring friends.

✵ Rom Mai Thai ✵ 613 Broadway E

206-726-9058 ✵ $

Friendly people and top-notch Thai; one of the best on Broadway.

✵ Stateside✵ 300 E Pike St

206-557-7273 ✵ $$$$

Duck duck good.

✵ Table 219 ✵ 219 Broadway E

206-328-4604 ✵ $$

Same brunch classics from the El Greco days; dinner's got new creative touches.

✵ Tacos Chukis ✵ 219 Broadway E

206-328-4447 ✵ $

What they do to your meat with a pinepple is illegal several states.

✵ Thomas Street Bistro ✵ 421 E Thomas St

206-323-0914 ✵ $$

Euro dining without the need to learn a foreign language.

✵ Top Pot Doughnuts ✵ 609 Summit Ave E

206-323-7841 ✵ $

Top Pot is tops!

✵ Zhivago’s Café ✵ 416 Broadway E

206-328-0500 ✵ $

Delicious piroshkies. No Bolshevik.

✵ American Apparel ✵ 200 Broadway E

206-709-8100

Soft t-shirts and free porn!

✵ Broadway Video ✵ 512 Broadway E

206-328-5023

With five-day specials and reservations, who needs Netflix?

✵ Castle Megastore ✵ 206 Broadway E

206-204-0126

An adult mega-store.

✵ Crossroads Trading Co. ✵ 325 Broadway E

206-328-5867

Buys and sells only fashionable designer clothing.

✵ Metro Clothing Company ✵ 231 Broadway E

206-726-7978

Goth Wear. Costumes for some. Business Casual for others.

✵ Mishu Boutique II ✵ 321 Broadway E

206-802-8022

Unique, affordable clothing made by folks in Asia who get lunch breaks.

✵ Pretty Parlor ✵ 119 Summit Ave E

206-405-2883

Vintage and locally designed couture that make you feel pretty.

✵ Red Light Vintage Clothing ✵ 312 Broadway E

206-329-2200

Vintage clothing for people with 10-inch waists.

✵ Spin Cycle ✵ 321 Broadway Ave E

206-971-0267

As lovingly stocked as that shop in High Fidelity but without all the attitude.

✵ Urban Outfitters ✵ 401 Broadway E

206-322-1800

Fashionable and affordable clothes for faux-city dwellers.

✵ Vino Verite ✵ 208 Boylston Ave E

206-324-0324

These guys love wine even more than you do.