DK Travel : Seattle : Downtown

What strikes many visitors to downtown Seattle is how easy it is to see the sights, since key attractions lie within walking distance of one another. Bookended by Belltown to the north and Pioneer Square to the south, downtown can be seen on foot or by city bus at no cost – since all of it lies in the Ride Free Zone. Alternatively, for a small fare, the waterfront streetcar stops at several key points between the Market and the International District. In addition to being a business district full of skyscrapers, downtown offers a wide range of options – such as gourmet restaurants, attractive shopping centers, and a perfect place to begin exploring the city.

Many seafood vendors at Pike Place Market package fish for long-distance travel. Head inside the Koolhaas Library for a visual treat as spectacular as the glass and steel exterior shell. Be sure to leave the bus while still in the Ride Free Zone; if you stay on beyond the boundary, you’ll have to pay upon exiting.

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Mistral

Known for its formal atmosphere and haute cuisine, the Mistral has prix-fixe tasting menus featuring delicacies such as asparagus and English pea fricassee, or artisanal seared foie gras.
Monorail

In May 2004, Monorail services were suspended due to a fire on one of the original trains. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future you’ll be able to hop aboard once again to experience the future of mass transit from the perspective of engineers who built the elevated rail as an attraction for the 1962 World’s Fair. The Monorail travels speedily and nonstop for 1.2 miles (2 km) between Seattle Center and Westlake Center. (see Monorail & Monorail.
Nancy Meyer

Supplement your purchases of trendy outerwear with lingerie that’s as sexy as it is elegant and tasteful.
Paperhaus

Shop for contemporary presentation supplies and storage materials from award-winning manufacturers such as NAVA, Prat, and Rexite. Unique binders or photo albums are also available.
Patagonia

Its roots as purveyor of first-rate gear, rugged wear, and polar fleece comfort began with alpinist and founder Yvon Chouinard.
Pendleton

Thomas Kay founded this popular retail outlet specializing in blankets, and clothes for men and women.
Peter Miller

A specialty bookstore that makes you feel sleek and creative. Scout for anything on architecture, graphic design, landscaping, and art in general, or Corbu letter stencils, planners, business-card holders, and artimbibed gift items.
Pike Place Market

There is no other attraction in Seattle that shows so many different qualities of a city and its people. Anyone descending on the Market to stroll by innumerable stalls of seafood, fresh produce, crafts, and flower bouquets can feel the rapid pulse of a scene that’s all about hard work and hustle. Today, the Market is famous for its salmon-throwing fishmongers and street musicians who entertain tourists daily.

Elliott Bay Book Company

Fish-flinging fishmongers
Pioneer Square

Find art galleries, intricate Victorian architecture, bookstores, and cafés in a constantly changing National Historic District. Pioneer Square’s 20-block neighborhood became Seattle’s commercial center during the boom years of logging, fishing, railroads, and Klondike Gold Rush economies. An exclusive 90-minute underground tour (see Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour) offers a lively look at the 19th-century storefronts that were periodically flooded by tides from Elliott Bay until street levels were raised. Key sights include the Smith Tower, Elliott Bay Book Co. and Café, and an art walk on the first Thursday night of each month.
Queen City Grill

Treat yourself to a softly lit dining room, superb cocktails, great dishes such as grilled fish or lamb chops, and live jazz.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with two glasses of wine (or equivalent) and tax.
- under $20
- $20–$40
- $40–$55
- $55–$80
- over $80