Justin's Guide to Seattle

Fresh-squeezed lime margaritas and killer guac on a heated patio facing Lake Union. Come for sunset, stay for another round.

Sit on the patio and watch the sunset hit Puget Sound. This is the definition of a Seattle moment.

Sicilian food done right, everything made from scratch including the pasta. Tell Sofana I say hi. She's the best.

Great wagyu beef tacos and delicious margaritas.

Mediterranean wood-fired cooking with handmade pasta and Northwest ingredients so good you'll book the next night before you leave.

Tom Douglas's Greek-inflected breakfast — crab-filled scrambles, made-to-order doughnuts with mascarpone. Reason alone to visit downtown.

Happy hour drinks with unobstructed Sound and Olympic views. The only hotel bar that justifies the price tag.

Get the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) right now. The broth and delicate dough are why this place always has a line.

Oyster house with Champagne pairings and Thursday fried chicken nights that people actually plan around.

Tiny French tasting-menu gem. Book early if you want the most refined meal in Seattle.

Lebanese-Mexican fusion tacos that are fried, sewn together, and then pan-fried. Esquire named it one of the best new restaurants in America for a reason.

The best pasta in Seattle, full stop. Housemade Piedmontese egg-yolk noodles in an intimate room that feels like northern Italy.

Ethan Stowell's Italian small plates transform simple ingredients into magic. Go hungry and stay for the wine list.

New American comfort food with a happy hour that's actually worth your time. Try the seafood linguine.

Creative tacos (ribeye bulgogi, prawn & rockfish burritos) and margaritas in a vibrant, fun space.

Dutch babies (giant baked pancakes) in a historic Seattle gem near Seattle Center. Get the blueberry-lemon ricotta or go savory.

Waterfront views of the lake and mountains, award-winning chowder, and sustainable seafood that actually tastes like the Pacific Northwest.

Parisian wine bar with $10 Beaujolais pours and charcuterie boards that won't break your budget. Romantic without trying.

Modern Korean steakhouse with shareable small plates. Order 3-4 dishes and experience the vibe.

Izakaya-style sushi and Japanese small plates with sake flights and a bar where you can watch the chefs work.

Casual Italian in one of Seattle's oldest houses with rotating pastas, fresh burrata, and tiramisu that justify the reservation scramble.

Oysters by the dock on Lake Union with views of the skyline, seaplanes, and houseboats. Stay for dinner on the heated patio.

Globally sourced fresh seafood in a reclaimed-wood fishing lodge vibe. Great preparations without the pretense.

Grass-fed steaks in Greenwood with an anchovy-paprika butter that's the only topping you need. The tomahawk is worth the splurge.

French bistro with golden-hour views of Elliott Bay and the Olympics. Seasonal menu rooted in market ingredients since 1981.

Order the Acadiana Benedict with crab and creole hollandaise at brunch. Arrive early — it lives up to the hype.

Lychee margarita, Hawaiian-Korean fusion sliders, and a picnic table under string lights on Alki Beach facing the skyline. Peak summer move.

Raw fish dinner with over 60 imported sake options and an intimate sushi bar. Great date night.

House-made pasta, meatballs, and $8 happy hour bowls at the bar. Sit at the counter for the best bartenders in town.

Spanish tapas with woodfire octopus, Basque cheesecake, and inventive cocktails. Order 2-3 plates per person.

Late-night gourmet pizza by the slice, open until midnight with 50% off 10pm-midnight. Your post-drinks savior.

Open until 2am with hand-cut fries and milkshakes since 1954. The Dick's Deluxe is a Seattle institution and a rite of passage.

Sandy beach with tide pools, Puget Sound views, and Olympic Mountain sunsets. Best beach in the city.

Repurposed gas plant on Lake Union with a hill perfect for kite-flying and sweeping skyline views. Bring a blanket.

Free salmon viewing as fish navigate the ladder between salt and fresh water. Watch them through underwater windows — peak season July through September.

5.5-mile out-and-back hike with three viewpoints of Mount Si and Cedar River watershed. Moderately challenging and absolutely worth the drive.

Order a Dungeness crab to-go cup at City Fish and crack it while wandering the market. Worth the trip for the produce alone.

Jimi Hendrix's guitars, Nirvana recordings, and Frank Gehry architecture. Music lovers can lose hours in here.

15-minute ferry from Pier 50 to West Seattle beach. The commute is half the fun. Pair with lunch at Marination Ma Kai.

Paddle past floatplanes, houseboats, and the Space Needle with Moss Bay. Sheltered waters make it beginner-friendly.

Kenmore Air's seaplanes take off and land right by the lake. Grab a coffee and watch — it never gets old.

Massive glass sculptures, a vibrant garden, and 40 years of Chihuly color experiments. Budget 1-2 hours.

Sailing Seattle's 70-foot racing yachts depart regularly. A 2-hour float on Puget Sound beats any shore-based activity.

130+ tasting rooms 30 minutes outside the city.