Fine dining scene in Seattle

Last updated: 2025-05-06

Seattle’s culinary landscape rises above the misty Puget Sound, offering a dining experience that blends Pacific Northwest ingredients with world-class technique. From waterfront views to intimate dining rooms, the Emerald City’s top restaurants showcase innovation and local flavor.

Legendary chefs transform local seafood, foraged ingredients, and regional produce into extraordinary dishes that reflect Seattle’s unique gastronomic identity. These restaurants aren’t just mealsβ€”they’re edible narratives of the city’s rich, multicultural culinary heritage.

Discover Seattle’s most extraordinary dining destinations!

Altura

What to Expect

Seasonal Pacific Northwest tasting menu with Italian culinary philosophy

Description

Altura crafts an intimate, ingredient-driven tasting menu celebrating the Pacific Northwest's seasonal bounty through the lens of Italian cooking principles. The restaurant features meticulously sourced ingredients from local farmers, foragers, their own garden, and regional seafood, transformed into an elegant multi-course dining experience.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Altura

Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi

What to Expect

31st-floor panoramic dining overlooking Pacific Northwest landscape

Description

Perched on Bellevue's 31st floor, Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi offers an extraordinary dining experience with sweeping Pacific Northwest panoramas. The restaurant features an elegant dining room with sophisticated steakhouse and sushi offerings, combining premium aged steaks with precision-crafted Japanese seafood preparations in a dramatically elevated urban setting.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi

Cafe Campagne

What to Expect

Classic Parisian bistro in Pike Place Market

Description

A classic French bistro nestled in Pike Place Market, Cafe Campagne offers an authentic Parisian dining experience with intimate candlelit rooms and traditional French cuisine. The restaurant features intimate table settings, classic French wine selections, and a charming Post Alley location that transports diners straight to France.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Cafe Campagne

Canlis

What to Expect

James Beard Design Icon Award-winning architectural landmark

Description

Situated in a Roland Terry-designed mid-century modern building with panoramic Seattle views, Canlis offers an extraordinary fine dining experience featuring innovative Pacific Northwest cuisine. The restaurant provides an intimate, art-filled dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Union and the Cascade mountains, delivering meticulously crafted tasting menus that showcase local ingredients and culinary artistry.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Canlis

Il Terrazzo Carmine

What to Expect

Classic Northwest Italian cuisine in an intimate downtown setting

Description

Il Terrazzo Carmine offers an elegant Italian fine dining experience in a sophisticated downtown Seattle setting. The restaurant features white-tablecloth dining with refined Northwest Italian cuisine, known for impeccable service and an intimate, warmly lit dining room. Signature dishes highlight seasonal ingredients and traditional Italian culinary techniques.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Il Terrazzo Carmine

Lark

What to Expect

James Beard Award-winning Pacific Northwest cuisine

Description

Lark offers an intimate, James Beard Award-winning fine dining experience in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Chef John Sundstrom crafts New American cuisine celebrating Pacific Northwest ingredients through seasonally-inspired menus served in an elegant, comfortable dining room with impeccable hospitality.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Lark

Metropolitan Grill

What to Expect

Seven-time Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning wine cellar

Description

Nestled in Seattle's historic Marion Building, Metropolitan Grill is a premier steakhouse offering USDA Prime and Japanese A-5 Wagyu steaks with world-class wine service. The classic dining room features expertly prepared cuts, an award-winning wine list with seven consecutive Wine Spectator Grand Awards, and a sophisticated atmosphere that celebrates Seattle's finest beef-driven culinary tradition.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Metropolitan Grill

Spinasse

What to Expect

Handmade pasta using authentic Piedmontese techniques

Description

Nestled in Capitol Hill, this intimate Italian restaurant showcases handmade pastas and traditional Piedmontese cuisine crafted with Pacific Northwest ingredients. The rustic-chic dining room offers an immersive experience with an open kitchen, communal seating, and a carefully curated Northern Italian wine list that complements Chef Stuart Lane's soulful, seasonally inspired dishes.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Spinasse

Sushi Kashiba

What to Expect

Omakase sushi by Seattle's renowned 'Sushi Sensei

Description

Located next to Pike Place Market, Sushi Kashiba offers an exceptional omakase experience crafted by legendary sushi master Shiro Kashiba. The intimate sushi bar features chef-driven Japanese cuisine, with Kashiba personally preparing intricate sushi courses using pristine local and imported seafood. Guests can watch master sushi chefs create delicate, artfully composed dishes at the chef's counter.

Where: Seattle | More Info: Sushi Kashiba

The Pink Door

What to Expect

Live trapeze performances during dinner service

Description

Nestled in Seattle's Post Alley, The Pink Door delivers an enchanting Italian-American dining experience with unexpected theatrical flair. The restaurant features an intimate, eclectic dining room with live entertainment, including occasional trapeze performances. Candlelit tables and a warm, spirited atmosphere create a uniquely immersive culinary journey that transcends traditional restaurant expectations.

Where: Seattle | More Info: The Pink Door

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