Spending a Day in Pioneer Square
Learn how to navigate Pioneer Square like a local. If you’re interested in wine tasting and local recommendations, this article is for you!
Washington State’s food and drink scene has grown into something genuinely worth making a trip for. The same state that produces world class wines in the Walla Walla Valley and Yakima hop farms is also home to a craft brewery scene that punches above its weight, independent coffee roasters doing serious work, and a coastal seafood tradition that starts about as close to the source as you can get.
This section covers the eating and drinking side of exploring Washington. You will find restaurant recommendations, brewery and winery guides, coffee shops worth seeking out, food trucks worth tracking down, and the kind of local food finds that do not show up on national best of lists but should. Every post is written by someone who actually ordered the food and formed an opinion.
Washington is a genuinely interesting food state. The agricultural diversity east of the Cascades alone produces ingredients most other states can only import. Pair that with a Pacific coast seafood supply and a serious Pacific Northwest food culture and you have the conditions for some exceptional eating, whether you are in a city or a small town.
Browse recent posts below, or use the county tags to find food and drink recommendations near where you are headed.
Learn how to navigate Pioneer Square like a local. If you’re interested in wine tasting and local recommendations, this article is for you!
Spicy. Creamy. Zesty. Oozing with a fiery sauce and a cold side of ranch, the Nashville Cauliflower Bites served at Julep Kitchen & Bar are a one-of-a-kind delight. Located in downtown Ellensburg — the heart of Kittitas County — Julep has a flair for southern comfort food that can’t be found elsewhere. The owners, Jillian…
Seattle is stereotypically associated with its rainy weather, tech companies such as Amazon, being the birthplace of grunge music, and having some of the loudest football fans in the country. But perhaps The Emerald City is most symbolically known as a place that really loves coffee. Being the birthplace of Starbucks definitely deserves a significant…
“What are you in the mood to eat for lunch?” Seattle’s stretch from Pike Place Market down to SoDo is one of the best food corridors in the city. Below are my five favorite places to grab a quick lunch. 1. Maiz Located next door to the original Starbucks Coffee at Pike Place Market, Maiz…
As the crispness moves into the air, I look forward to those fall walks. A warm cup of coffee nestled in between my hands. The delicious smell of a local roast keeping me company. There are plenty of wonderful coffee shops on Whidbey Island. It’s one of my favorite things to stop and get when…
Issaquah Coffee House Anyone who loves a warm cuppa shouldn’t miss the good old Issaquah Coffee Company. Tucked in the heart of Issaquah’s downtown, this place has been my favorite since I moved to Washington. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries, the sound of people talking and catching up with friends, and the…
The Yakima Valley may be best known for its must-visit wineries, but there’s more than grapes growing in this American Viticultural Area. Home to over 75% of all US hop production, Yakima is a craft beer powerhouse. And nowhere are those hoppy brews fresher than from the source. Visit these five Yakima breweries to get…
What started in 1871 — with Missionaries and French fur traders bringing vinifera plants to eastern Washington — turned into the American Wine Growers launching Ste. Michelle wines in 1967 and creating their first Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Semillon and Grenache Rosé. In 1974, the Washington State winery phenomenon, Chateau Ste. Michelle, broke ground in…
When you imagine a cidery what comes to mind? For me, it’s sweeping orchards and farm animals nestled in a quaint valley, the sound of buzzing bees and baaing lambs abound with a cool breeze wafting through the trees and rustling the leaves. While many cideries do fit this description, a recent surge in urban…
Did you know that your Friday night IPA is likely made from juicy hops grown in Yakima, Washington? Or even the apple on your counter, and the sprig of mint in your salad? I’d say it’s well known to most Washington residents that Yakima Valley has a fascinating geographical and native history, killer views of…
When you think of culinary hotspots in the greater Seattle area, Renton might not spring immediately to mind – but it should. This suburb best known for its history of airplane manufacturing has an exciting and diverse food scene that’s worth checking out. This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are my top…
“300 days of sunshine” is a promise worth traveling for — especially in the winter. So after spending much of the season in hibernation, my partner and I hit the road for a destination just three hours from the Seattle area: Lake Chelan. This massive, glacially-carved lake runs over 50 miles from the Cascade Mountains…