Washington · best-of list
The 18 Best Restaurants in Washington
All 18 restaurants our route editors picked in Washington, across 8 destinations, gathered in one list. 1 spot on this list appears on more than one of our routes.
Our curated picks
18 restaurants in Washington, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Seattle 8 picks
Pike Place Market
Seattle · On our Pacific Northwest route + 2 more
Century-old public market with fishmongers, produce stalls and the original market arcades over Elliott Bay.
Tip: Go before 10am to beat cruise crowds; lower levels are quieter.
Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Elliott's Oyster House
Seattle · On our Pacific Northwest route
Waterfront seafood institution on Pier 56 with a long raw-oyster list.
Tip: Oyster happy hour runs weekday afternoons.
Photo: REbranding 360 · Google
Ivar's Acres of Clams
Seattle · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
Waterfront seafood house on Pier 54, serving clam chowder and fish and chips since 1946.
Tip: The walk-up Fish Bar next door is the quick, cheaper way to get the chowder.
Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Paseo Caribbean Food
Seattle · On our Pacific Northwest route
Fremont's cult Cuban-style sandwich shop; the Caribbean Roast pork sandwich is the order.
Tip: Lines move fast; grab extra napkins.
Photo: Paseo · Google
Pike Place Chowder
Seattle · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Award-winning New England clam chowder stall in Post Alley.
Tip: Try a sampler to taste several chowders.
Photo: Pike Place Chowder · Public domain
Piroshky Piroshky
Seattle · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Russian bakery in the market selling fresh beef-and-cheese and salmon piroshky.
Tip: Get the smoked salmon pate piroshky.
Photo: GoToVan · CC BY 2.0
The Pink Door
Seattle · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
Italian-American restaurant behind an unmarked pink door in Post Alley, open since 1981, with cabaret and trapeze nights.
Tip: Book ahead; walk-ins can usually get a seat at the bar.
Photo: MarmadukePercy · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Seattle · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Ballard oyster bar from Renee Erickson, known for local oysters.
Tip: No reservations; arrive at opening.
Photo: ZAGAT · Google
Bainbridge Island 2 picks
Blackbird Bakery
Bainbridge Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Winslow bakery and coffee shop since 1999.
Tip: Pastries sell out by midday.
Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Harbour Public House
Bainbridge Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Pub on Eagle Harbor marina with local seafood and beer.
Tip: Grab a deck table in good weather.
Photo: Harbour Public House · Google
Leavenworth 2 picks
Andreas Keller
Leavenworth · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
German cellar restaurant under Front Street with schnitzel, sausages and an accordion player on busy nights.
München Haus
Leavenworth · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
Open-air Bavarian grill on Front Street serving bratwurst and German beer year-round, with heaters and fire pits in winter.
Tip: Try the house-made mustards and cider kraut.
Pike Place Market & Waterfront 2 picks
Cafe Campagne
Pike Place Market & Waterfront · On our Seattle New Year's Eve route
Parisian-style cafe in Post Alley, known for oeufs en meurette and croque madame at brunch.
Tip: Book a late-morning table; holiday hours can change.
Photo: Masohpotato · CC BY-SA 3.0
Le Panier
Pike Place Market & Waterfront · On our Seattle New Year's Eve route
French bakery on Pike Place since 1983, known for croissants and baguettes baked on site.
Tip: Open every day from 7 am; take pastries to the rail overlooking the bay.
Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Olympic NP 1 pick
Lake Crescent Lodge
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
Historic 1915 lodge whose dining room serves Northwest dishes with lake views.
Tip: Seasonal; dinner reservations recommended.
Photo: Zandcee · CC BY-SA 3.0
San Juan Island 1 pick
Duck Soup
San Juan Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Long-running island restaurant using local produce and seafood.
Tip: Reserve; seasonal hours.
Photo: Kayla Warner · Google
Seattle Center & Queen Anne 1 pick
Canlis
Seattle Center & Queen Anne · On our Seattle New Year's Eve route
Family-run fine dining since 1950 in a mid-century glass house on a hillside above Lake Union.
Tip: Reservations open months ahead, and guests dress up; New Year's Eve is one of its most sought-after nights.
Snoqualmie Pass 1 pick
Twede's Cafe
Snoqualmie Pass · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
North Bend diner that played the Double R in Twin Peaks, still serving cherry pie and coffee under Mount Si.
Photo: Dawid Glawdzin · CC BY 3.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Washington?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 18 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Washington has the most restaurants on this list?
Seattle has the most (8 of 18), followed by Bainbridge Island (2) and Leavenworth (2).
More lists for Washington
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Seattle 8 on this list
- Bainbridge Island 2 on this list
- Leavenworth 2 on this list
- Pike Place Market & Waterfront 2 on this list
- Olympic NP 1 on this list
- San Juan Island 1 on this list
- Seattle Center & Queen Anne 1 on this list
- Snoqualmie Pass 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.