What to Eat On a Day Trip to Seattle

Unsplash/Ryan Stone

Seattle, home of Starbucks, is famous for its abundance of delicious coffee. But that's not all there is to it. Nor even is it just about tech. There's a lot to explore, beautiful views to pause and take in, and as a bonus: in the summer, because of its Northern and Western location, it's one of the places in the US with the longest evenings. And if you're a foodie, you won't be disappointed, either.

A breakfast sandwich at Storyville Coffee

Back in 2015, I had the perfect breakfast sandwich in Seattle, and I’ve never forgotten it. Eggs, bacon, and a choice of cheddar on pesto and goat’s cheese, and, here’s what makes it truly special: it’s all on pretzel bread. In truth, I had forgotten that last detail, but once I saw it on the menu, I realised that was why it had stood out to me. If you had asked me to tell you one single thing I was excited about when it came to seeing Seattle again, it would have been that breakfast sandwich.

Alas, it was not to be.

The reason it was not to be, though, is the reason I’m still confident recommending it to you after all this time: perenially popular, it had sold out just before I got there at 11.30 am. Lesson learned: don’t try and be responsible and run what should have been a quick errand at Bank of America (sigh) before your long awaited breakfast sandwich.

Regardless, though, I highly recommend this place. Their latté is delicious -- equalled in my mind only by my other two favourites, Peregrine in DC and Café Grumpy in NYC -- and I consoled myself with a lovely salted caramel cookie which quickly dried my metaphorical tears. And you can’t beat the views: the iconic entrance to the Pike Place Market to one side and, to the other, the expanse of the water and the mountains in the distant background, part of what makes Seattle such a great place to visit (and, probably, live). Storyville have been thoughtful enough to provide quite a few window seats, and I have this unprovable feeling that if I could only hang out there for enough mornings, fuelled by a pretzel bread breakfast sandwich and this inspiring view, I could get the Great American Novel written in no time.

A blackened salmon sandwich at the Market Grill in Pike Place Market

Though I’d just missed out on the very last breakfast sandwich at Storyville, at the market I managed the opposite: I snagged the very last "world-famous" Blackened Salmon Sandwich at Market Grill just to the right of the entrance. On Memorial Day, the market was busy -- social distancing a distant dream -- and it was fun to watch the various sandwiches lined up and being made with skill and at lightning speed: bread toasted and slathered in mayo, then the addition of salad and caramelised onions while the fish cooked on a grill which from time to time burst with flames. I walked past the flower stalls and other market vendors and headed outside with my sandwich to eat outside looking out onto the water. It was a perfect lunch on a perfect sunny Seattle Day.

Triple Chocolate Cookie at Fonte Cafe

Walking back from the market to our hotel, we passed a coffee shop with a sandwich board outside: the first item a triple chocolate cookie with orange zest. Convincing ourselves we didn't need it, we continued on -- but I made a mental note and returned the next day. The cookie was something between a cookie and a brownie in texture and thickness and the hint of orange zest made the chocolatiness really pop. On the basis of this cookie alone -- and the kindness and warmth of the staff -- I have no hesitation in recommending the rest of their menu, including their extensive brunch.

Granny's Pork Belly Bao At Meekong Bar

If you're hungry after your Space Needle visit, there's no end of options nearby. One great one is the Asian Fusion restaurant, Meekong Bar, on 4th Avenue. If you're craving a burger, as we were, you'll find one there, but we deemed it unremarkable, and there are far better things on the menu. The coconut curry was spicy and flavoursome, but what really makes my mouth water when I think about it over a week later is the appetiser of Granny's Pork Belly Bao. Served on soft bread, the combination of apple slice, green onion, cilantro and plum sauce makes for a heady combination of flavours.

More?

I've no doubt that Seattle is brimming with excellent food as well as its renowned coffee. This visit was supposed to be my last hoorah there, but I'd love to go back, finally get that Storyville breakfast sandwich, and explore some more restaurants.

What's your best Seattle foodie recommendation? Leave them in a comment below.

Follow me to see more articles like this.

...

Follow