Briana Jo & John William
Guide to Seattle
EAT | Westward
One of our most special and favorite places in Seattle to enjoy a cocktail and oysters. And for the Howard clan - where Sam and Jason got married!
EAT | Walrus and the Carpenter
Another fantastic place for oysters and super fresh PNW seafood. They have an incredible kitchen but a fairly small dining space - so small groups recommended and expect a wait.
EAT | Portage Bay Cafe
One of the best brunches in Seattle, no if ands or buts. Pro tip: order the Migas or Dungeness Crab Eggs Benny... or if you're into something sweet, there is a serve yourself topping bar for the waffles and pancakes. There's always a wait but you can make reservations on Yelp.
EAT | Porkchop & Co
When we don't feel like waiting at Portage Bay - Porkchop & Co. is the move. This order at the counter spot has Cincinnati roots and a breakfast sandwich called "The Howard" (Citrus-braised pork, ham, kimcheese, pickled onion, & a sunny egg on ciabatta).
EAT | Mai Thaiku
Super authentic Thai food... And some of the BEST Pad Thai we've ever had. We find ourselves at Mai Thaiku nearly every other week.
EAT | Marination Ma Kai
Take the Water Taxi from Downtown Seattle to West Seattle. It leaves from Seattle at the bottom of every hour and is a beautiful ~15 minute ride... Right off the other side is Marination Ma Kai - an amazing, casual Hawaiian fusion restaurant with gorgeous views of Seattle back across Elliott Bay. Walk (or bike) off the Kimchi Fried Rice on a paved trail that wraps north around Alki Beach.
EAT | Din Tai Fung
DTF will change your life. Order as many Dumplings "Xiao Long Bao" as you can, then order more. Also be sure to get the String Beans with Garlic and Pork Fried Noodles. There is one location downtown on the top floor of Pacific Place Mall, another location in U-Village and another in Bellevue.
EAT | Salumi
This is a tiny, weekday-lunch-only mecca of house-cured Italian meat and handmade mozzarella. The move is to take your sandwiches (and/or a couple pounds of sliced sopressata and salami) to-go and have a nice picnic at Discovery Park.
DRINK | Slate Coffee
Although Seattle is known for Starbucks, the best coffee in town is Slate Coffee... Hands down. There's a location in Ballard, Pioneer Square and U-District.
DRINK | La Marzocco Cafe
La Marzocco makes the finest espresso machines in the world. Their NA HQ is in Seattle and they have a showroom / cafe in a shared space with local a indie radio station, KEXP. It's very unique, and very cool. If you're in the area and need a pick-me-up, we highly recommend.
DRINK | Starbucks Reserve
This is the ONLY Starbucks John will ever recommend and is one of five "Reserve" locations in the world. The menu is expansive and the space is extremely cool. Any trip to Seattle wouldn't be complete without a visit to Starbucks, right?
DRINK | Ballard Breweries
Set your course for the Ballard Brewery District and explore more than a dozen craft breweries all within a one-mile radius. Here are some of our favorites... REUBEN’S BREWS | LAGUNITAS BREWERY | PEDDLER BREWING COMPANY | STOUP BREWING | LUCKY ENVELOPE BREWING
DRINK | Fremont Brewing Company
Fremont Brewing Company is making some great beer... and they've got a cool space just down the hill from the "Fremont Troll". Definitely worth snagging a cold one if you're in the area.
DRINK | Cloudburst Brewing
Arguably the best microbrewery in the PNW. Delicious beers and experimental brews make this a worthwhile visit... Just a walk away from Pike Place, it's a welcome retreat from the crowds!
DRINK | Red Hook Brewlab
Redhook Brewlab is in a very slick, newly-constructed building in Capitol Hill. You can see the entire brewery operation churning around inside, and each beer is a small-batch experiment with local Washington crops and flavors - hence the term “brewlab.” The beers don’t drink themselves, though. Bring your entire group and camp out at a long table with some beer flights, salami cotto pizzas, and awesome smoked brisket tacos.
DRINK | Charles Smith Wines - Jet City Winery
One of our favorite places in the city... Jet City Winery is directly north of Boeing Field. We go here to drink good wine and plane watch the day away.
DRINK | Woodinville Wineries
Just ~30 minutes north of Seattle is an area called Woodinville which is chalk full of wineries and tasting rooms. We recommend visiting the "Hollywood District" for JM Cellars, Chateau St. Michelle and Columbia Winery.
DO | Ballard Farmers Market
One of our favorite Sunday activities! We recommend going earlier in the morning for the smaller crowds, best produce selection and puppy watching. It starts at 10am and goes until 3pm every Sunday, rain or shine.
DO | Pike Place Market
The first time John visited Seattle we went straight for Pike Place Market - you just have to. It's home of the original Starbucks but note: Don't wait in line - they serve the same coffee as every other Starbucks.. That said, you should plan to be hungry enough for Pike Place Clam Chowder and/or Beecher's Mac n Cheese.
DO | Space Needle
One of Seattle's most iconic attractions, The Space Needle, has just under-gone massive renovations... Glass floors and 360 degree views makes this spot a great way to see Seattle and the Sound.
DO | Ballard Locks
This is a super cool lock system for boats traveling between the inland lakes and the Sound. It is one of Seattle’s most popular tourist attractions. The grounds feature a fish ladder (the salmon should be running this time of year!) and the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden.
DO | Golden Gardens Park
This park is located just down the street from our venue and offers sweeping views of the Sound and Olympic Mountain Range... All while hanging on the beach!
DO | Hike to Rattlesnake Ledge
Just a quick ~45 minute drive from downtown Seattle, Rattlesnake Ridge is one of our favorite hiking trails nearby. The ~4 mile hike up-and-back is relatively strenuous but the views of the Cascades are worth the workout!
DO | Hike to Poo Poo Point
This hike is a little closer to Seattle, but more intense than Rattlesnake. Totaling ~7 miles up-and-back, there are quite a few switchbacks and some rugged terrain. Those who stick-it-out are treated to gorgeous views of Mt. Rainier and East Seattle. If you're lucky, you might also catch a hang-glider or two.
DO | Seaplane Tour
This is one of our most memorable dates.. Kenmore Air not only flies small commercial flights around the Sound, they also do an amazing aerial tour of Seattle for ~$100 per passenger.
DO | Bumbershoot Festival
Bumbershoot, Seattle's biggest music, comedy, and arts festival, will take over Seattle Center for Labor Day Weekend. The lineup has yet to be released, but expect major touring artists mixed with local talents across the music, art, and comedy spectrums, with a special food selection known as B-Eats.