A 2-Day Pre-Cruise Local's Guide to Seattle

Morning

Head over to Pike Place Market early. The market opens at 9 am, but you can walk around as early as 8 or 8:30 to see everyone set up.and grab a tasty warm pastry from Piroshky Piroshky.

• Breakfast recommendations:

  • Sit-down: The Hart and The Hunter (across the street at the Palihotel)

  • Grab and go: Honest Biscuits

  • Excellent coffee: Storyville Coffee Company

Make your way down to the waterfront and take a 30-minute boat tour on Argosy Cruises to get a great overview of and feel for the city.

Afternoon

Walk around the waterfront when you are done and stop for lunch at Ivar’s, or walk back up to the market and hit up Lowell’s (where they filmed Sleepless in Seattle) or Old Stove and enjoy some outdoor casual dining.

• Lunch recommendations (all sit-down because you are on vacation!):

  • Ivar's: An iconic seafood restaurant right on the waterfront

  • Lowell’s: They filmed Sleepless in Seattle here! Cozy little spot tucked in the market. Try the fish and chips!

  • Old Stove: Casual American food with great beer and indoor/outdoor dining with views!

If the boat tour had enough sitting for you, Savor Seattle Tours offers excellent walking food tours of the market.

After lunch, Pike Place Market will have more bustle.

• My favorite must-see shops at the market:

  • DeLaurenti: If you like to look at beautiful food, this is a great stop

  • Market Spice: Pick up some loose-leaf tea or spices

  • Truffle Queen: Wine tasting and truffle products

  • Chukar Cherries: Make a great gift to bring home

  • Lamplight Books: One of the oldest bookstores in Seattle—grab one before you get on the cruise

  • Artist market: Never the same two days in a row, so if you see something you like, get it! The vendor may not be there tomorrow.

Once you have worn yourself out, take a break and do a wine tasting at The Tasting Room! Alternatively, go back to the hotel and take a cat nap before dinner.

Evening

Make sure you've made reservations in advance for any dinner restaurant in Seattle.

• Dinner recommendations:

  • Von’s 1000 Spirits: Casual, kid-approved, and well known for their over-75-year-old sourdough starter. They also make many of their own spirits, and their scratch Manhattans and martinis are usually under $10. Get any pasta or the Seattle sea stew (my mom’s favorite) and you will not be disappointed.

  • For sushi:

    • Shiro’s is world famous, as the original owner and chef studied under the Michelin three-star and Netflix famous Jiro Dreams of Sushi sushi master. Reservations must be made well in advance!

    • Japonessa is on First Avenue and serves an excellent variety of sushi rolls. You should still make a reservation, but it isn’t as competitive (or expensive) as Shiro’s.

  • Purple Café & Wine Bar: This isn’t a wine lover’s guide to Seattle, but maybe it should be. This American-style cuisine focuses on pairing excellent wine with excellent food, and the tower of wine in the center of the restaurant creates a beautiful setting for a lovely dinner.

  • Pink Door: Excellent Italian-style restaurant hidden in the market behind a pink door. If you went to The Tasting Room earlier, it is just across the alley.

If you are looking for a nightlife or brewery scene, I recommend hoping in an Uber and heading to Ballard (about 20 minutes away), where you will find many great, cozy cocktail bars with some of the most delicious cocktails or beer you have ever had!

Morning

Have breakfast at your hotel or one of the places you didn’t visit yesterday.

Take the Monorail to the Seattle Center to visit Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Space Needle. Make sure to reserve your times in advance so you can get in in the morning! If you wish to do the Space Needle during the day and at night, you can buy that ticket, too. I haven’t been able to try out the new cocktail bar here, but I have heard really great things!

Afternoon

The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass features Dale Chihuly’s eclectic collection and an excellent menu for lunch.

After lunch, head out of downtown to explore one of Seattle’s neighborhoods.

• Capitol Hill: You will find some great shops and restaurants, and it's easy to walk around and closest to downtown (you can walk there if you want to!)

• Fremont: The "Center of Universe," Fremont is home to the Statue of Lenin that is for sale and has been since anyone can remember.

• Ballard: Near Fremont, this neighborhood is my favorite of them all—I used to live here after all. If you didn't hit up the nightlife here, check it out today. The shops are so cute, too!

• Green Lake: Take a stroll around the lake before tucking in for another excellent meal at Duke’s Seafood—if you are looking for the city's best chowder, it is here!

• West Seattle: This one is a little ways away, but you can take in beautiful views of Downtown while hanging on the beach or walking around and exploring some of their local shops.

I would recommend picking a neighborhood to explore and having dinner here. Rideshares in Seattle are some of the most expensive in the country, so keep that in mind to try and consolidate adventures.

Grab some breakfast at the hotel, pack up and catch your pre-arranged ride to the pier for your Alaska cruise! Check-in is typically between 11 am and 3 pm.