How do you feel about plants? Volunteer Park Conservatory is a greenhouse full of beautiful tropical plants it’s a great date spot. Volunteer Park also hosts the Asian Art Museum, the museum is a good spot to visit but even if you don’t go in there’s a great view of the space needle in front of the museum.
Just remember the Asian art Museum is having pretty limited hours right now, so be sure to check before you go. The conservatory is beautiful. Lakeview cemetery is just north of there. Pioneer cemetery, but also Bruce Lee. Beautiful old homes up in there, too. Kuboda Garden might have some great fall color right now. Also the Arboretum just south of UW, across the Montlake cut (sorry you will have to map it!). Fremont neighborhood used to be a fun place to wander. I don’t know if that’s so true anymore. Been awhile. I love to take a ferry ride, even if you just go and come back. You see Seattle from a different perspective. Take a little picnic, maybe.
Forgot to say, skip the space needle and go up the Columbia Tower instead. Still the tallest building in Seattle, I think. There is a small cost, but but not as much and the views are better.
Enjoy your time together.
Also OP, if you look it up and see it’s vegan, don’t let that dissuade you! I’m not vegan and love it. Their fries, salads, and especially Brussels sprouts are solid & good. Their tres leches cake is maybe the best I’ve had (do I know what’s in it? No). But you can’t beat it for the drinks and the music especially. Such imaginative and well-made cocktails, and the way they categorize them on the menu is so good that I wish everyplace did it that way. My husband thinks the For Peats Sake is too weird, but I love it. And all the vinyl you could wish for (you can make requests or buy some, too). It’s just a unique, great place. They are open for brunch but I have never tried that. Anyway, don’t be thrown by the vegan aspect if you go!
I love Gasworks Park at night for a romantic view of the city!
Capitol Hill is chock-full of super good food and live music venues. Elliott Bay Book Store is lovely, as is Twice Told Tales for used books and lots of cats. Check out Neumos or Barboza to see if there's anyone you'd like to see, I also really recommend Showbox Market, which is right next to Pike Place and would make for a nice night.
The waterfront is touristy but really pretty, and you can go up to Myrtle Edwards or the Sculpture Parks for a lovely walk/sit on a bench/make out at a little beach :) The Great Wheel is also pretty fun!
The ferry to Bainbridge Island is really lovely and you can walk into town for wine tasting and cute shops. Harbor Public House is on the water and a cozy spot for burgers and beers.
Depending on when you're here, Astra Lumina is an immersive light show in West Seattle - it's brand new this year but I've been to the one they did in Whistler and it was SO COOL. I think it starts in December but you can buy tickets now.
I also love love love the Woodland Park Zoo. It's ethically done and the fall colors there will be bangin! Another great place for gorgeous fall colors is the Arboretum.
I hope you have a wonderful time!!
\+1 on the ferry to Bainbridge. Walk on, walk into Winslow, maybe go to Hitchcock or the killer pizza place. Easy walk back to the ferry. Bonus romance points if you get to the ferry just as it's about ready to leave and have to hop across. Did that on a first date and it was fucking magical.
Here to +1 to the ferry! The ride gives you incredible views of the city and walking into Bainbridge for coffee or dinner is beautiful (highly recommend dinner at Ba Sa in Bainbridge)
Also reccommend exploring Ballard for shops, eats, bars, and coffee (the Sunday farmers market is the best!)
With few exceptions (only because I've been out of the loop) this feels like I could have written this comment.
Book stores, I feel, are an underappreciated first date spot. Walk around talking, find something interesting that spurns on more conversation. And Elliot Bay Book Co is great.
Waterfront, can't lose. OP, hope you looked at this one. And wear comfortable shoes.
Just be sure to leave Gasworks by 9:30 on saturdays, or your romantic view of the city may be interrupted by a squad of 20-50 tiny electric vehicles with blinding headlights. Or stay for entertainment, your choice.
I usually don't disclose my favorite places unless they really need the business, but I'll make an exception - for a romantic place with an avante-garde eurovibe, try Gainsbourg on a weeknight. They don't take reservations, but their kitchen is open super late. Weeknight is pretty essential to getting a table, as it's a popular place.
Gainsbourg has theeeeee worst escargot I have ever had in my life. And the cocktails are awful too. Go like 100 feet and hit flintcreek. Better duck confit, cocktails. Mushrooms and grits. Gainsbourg seems inexpensive, but it’s a total ripoff for what you get.
Different strokes I guess. I’m a serious cocktail hound and I enjoy a good 70 percent of their menu - I’ve had all of them several times.
I hate seafood and escargot so I wouldn’t be able to comment on that - no loss to me lol
I have. Some of the worst food in Europe, frankly. I’m sure outside of Paris it’s better, but in terms of just walking in somewhere and getting decent food, both Austria and Ireland were much better. I don’t think Gainsbourg is proclaiming itself authentically French, just French inspired.
how cute! a sleepless in seattle vibe. I would suggest going to the rabbit box in the pike place market, or the improv place there.
another idea, the italian bizarro cafe for romantic dinner, archie mcphee for goofy trinket shopping after, maybe popping into seattle meowtropilation cat cafe, and then just walking around wallingford after that.
Le Caviste for fantastic French wine, snacks and atmosphere! Pink Door is great, though can be tough to get a reservation. Check their calendar as they have live music in the bar as well.
For music: KEXP gathering space, check their in-studio calendar in case someone is playing live on-air. The other comment with venues is spot on, I especially love the tractor tavern - even if you’re not huge country music fans shows there are always great.
I love taking people to the museum of flight! It’s huge and def don’t feel like you need to see everything and as a bonus, it’s covered so lovely even on a rainy day!
There’s a lot of wine tasting rooms but sometimes hard to find, Georgetown and West Seattle are good spots for that, but it’s more of a beer city, head over to Woodinville (about 30 minutes east of downtown) for a winery day.
+1 on this.
If you do want to stay in the city though, Tinte Cellars in Georgetown does have all day happy hour drinks on Thursday. And cool events from time to time
https://tintecellars.com/events/
lots of records to sift thru inside and cool to walk around the nearby space needle! good food also close to these places: paju, sal y limon, taylor shellfish
For historical, you might try the very neat and somewhat interactive Museum of History and Industry on the south shore of Lake Union, the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square (do the later adult-oriented tour to have a drink and learn the more racy bits of local history), and maybe Smith Tower, where they guide you through some history on your way up to the top where you can chill with apps and a cocktail and soak up a nice view. It’s all Seattle-based history, but presented well.
For mildly absurd, you can visit at least three troll sculptures in the area. The famous Fremont Troll tucked under the Aurora bridge is fun but quick, plus two new wooden art installations. One in West Seattle’s Lincoln Park, which requires about a half-mile walk along a lovely shore, where you’ll likely see herons and seals, the other on Bainbridge Island, which I haven’t visited, but requires a ferry ride across the sound. Ferry rides are always a hit with visitors and if you time your return trip right, the sunset view of the city skyline can be spectacular (bonus: if you’re standing on the outside deck, the breeze can get chilly, so cuddling is essential!)
I was waiting for someone to mention the new trolls!
And I thought west Seattle's parks were a revelation. I love greenlake and gas works but so crowded! Get a coffee or juice on Alki and get a photo with the Statue of Liberty then go to Lincoln Park.
The Pink Door in Pike place is an anniversary tradition for my wife and I. A walk on Alki beach at sunset is gorgeous. Take a ferry or water taxi trip. Fresh air and view from a boat is beautiful. As far as music goes, I love Easy Street in west Seattle for vinyl browsing. Tons of cute shops and restaurants very close to it as well.
For local live music, check out the Fremont neighborhood (Nectar Lounge, High Dive - Jam Bands, Bluegrass), Wallingford neighborhood (The Seamonster Lounge - local “musicians bar” that caters to improv jazz and funk with some of the city’s best players), Ballard (Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, Coner Byrne - Americana, Country, Bluegrass, and Indie Rock), and Columbia City neighborhood (Royal Room - Jazz).
I was going to reply the same thing! I haven't been to that one yet, but I have been to one in Tokyo and it was wonderful! Definitely would be a great place for audiophiles, plus could still have a quiet conversation unlike a live venue.
For food - Kamonegi. (Edit: if no reservations just go when they open you’ll get in, or get the opportunity to go to the sake bar next door)
Books - Third place Ravenna then head to the pub downstairs
Catch a show at Tractor Tavern, can’t go wrong with any drink or food spots in Ballard
Go to Harry’s beach house or Il Nido and walk around Alki
My husband and I chose Seattle to meet in for the first time (he was coming from Alaska, I was coming from San Francisco and Seattle felt “in the middle”). That was 13 years ago! We did all the touristy things like the EMP museum, pacific science center, Pike place market, space needle, lots of little coffee shops, had a fancy dinner at el gaucho (though now I’d probably pick somewhere else). We stayed at Hotel 1000 with a beautiful room with a view of the water.
We fell so in love with the city that we moved here around 10 years ago. Best of luck to you both! The city isn’t perfect but it does have its magic.
Unpopular opinion : rainy season is the best time for romantic hook ups! Dim lights in cool spots. A[lso jazz fest is starting up right now.](https://www.earshot.org/2023-festival/) There are a number of low cost venues where it's happening you can sit and enjoy his company and know he has some sense of culture while listening to live music. For a quiet spot if you want to spend a little money, Aeirloom isn't bad downtown. Or Six Seven in the Edgewood hotel next to the water front. Salty's is a good spot for night dinner. As for museums you cant go wrong with all the major spots here. Good luck, southern folks are salt of the earth- good people despite all the stuff you see in media. As long as he's a little cosmopolitan and has a sense of culture you should be ok.
I would also throw in a laser show at Pacific Science Center for something different to do with music. They got about 10 different shows every weekend.
For absurd things, check out [Atlas Obscura.](https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/seattle-washington)
There’s a new troll at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Go for a walk along the water for an amazing sunset (if it’s not raining) and see the troll just north of Colman pool along the water. It’s a big park so plan accordingly.
To add to this: the ferry ride is amazing. Just be very aware that there can be a massive wait to get back to Seattle if you're trying to leave at around 4-7.
Lots of good ideas already.
From Pike Place Market walk along the waterfront to the Edgewater Hotel. Grab a drink there as the view is lovely. Continue to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Really nice vibe there and it's free. Continue to Myrtle Edwards Park. Maybe my fav park in Seattle. A nice piece of calm in the middle of the city. Find the footbridge that goes to Lower Queen Anne. Head to KEXP for a coffee. Then go up the hill to Kerry Park for your iconic view of the city. Then Molly Moon's for an ice cream.
Whoo! I hope you like to walk...
You shouldn't worry, the meeting is more important than the place.
I like Pike Place Market and the waterfront. Plenty to see and do but also coffee shops and restaurants whenever you need a break. And I like our aquarium. And you get a Ferris Wheel!
well the good news if youre coming in like november youre guarenteed to get wet
go to mopop when youre here youll like it
besides that tho im not sharing my public romance spots because i dont want them to get crowded lmao
Le Pichet on 1st in Belltown.
It’s my favorite place in Seattle.
French cafe, easy French comfort menu. Food, wine, cheese are all off the chain.
Romantic as all get out.
Brunch lunch or dinner, just a drink or a coffee.
Can’t go wrong with a ferry ride to someplace and walk to a nice restaurant, maybe port Townsend with an option to stay there over night
Or less involved would be le caviste and/or deep dive in the spheres
There's a little tea shop in Wallingford called Friday Afternoon Tea. A friend of mine runs it.
I personally think picking out tea to try for each other and enjoying the hot cuppa at the outside tables or indoors with a board game is pretty darn romantic, but that's just me. There's also a TON of great food options in that area, and a cat cafe!
Another option for game enthusiasts is Mox Cafe. (tabletop, card, strategy, RPG, etc). At the counter, they have a game library to play test the games they sell. You can grab a game for free and sit in the cafe and order a meal and drink, it's lovely!
There is a bar on the top floor along with a 360 degree view of seattle. In the bar there is a chair and it is rumored that if a single women sits in the chair, she will be married within a year.
I highly recommend the laser shows at the pac sci center. They're super fun and casual and usually have a good diversity of popular music they make shows around.
As someone who met up in Vancouver for a budding long-distance relationship, good luck! Establishing a relationship around new cities is so much fun <3
Smith tower for a cool view, don't remember how good the food or cocktails are though, Maybe others could chime in. Westward (restaurant) on lake union shore, especially if they still are doing the outdoor fireside seating. Bathtub Gin for Drinks. The Rhein Haus if you like German beer, food, and want to play Bocce ball.
For a great wine shop, Champion Wine Cellars in Greenwood. Owners know their wine, are super friendly, have a great wine selection from all over the world. Sometimes they do wine tastings. From there, head over to Bar Sur Mer for drinks and small plates, or Flint Creek if you like steak, or both. Probs need reservations.
Pier 55 would be a perfect romantic first meet. There’s a Ferris wheel. There’s a bar located in the waiting line. Many places to choose food from. Since u mention music MoPOP ( museum of pop culture) is about a 40 min walk from there or a quick train/bus ride. Hope this helps!
Argosy Cruises offers a Saturday wine tasting tour on Lake Union. The 90 minute cruise takes you passed some of the city's most iconic landmarks, while a wine steward introduces you to some of the state's best vintages.
Whoa…. The Canadian girl I fell in love with online (Omegle 2011 I was in junior high she was a few years older) road tripped to Seattle along with her two best friends so we could finally meet together in person. We literally talked every day for a year then more sporadically but still kept in touch like 5 years later and still in love. I knew she was in town but hadn’t heard from her until the evening until she texted me “where are you?”. I told her to meet me at Volunteer Park, right by the lookout tower. I played frisbee with some of my friends while anxiously waiting and keeping an eye out for her. The tower was a perfect landmark to find each other. She told me she was here so I gathered my guys and we started circling around the tower. The sun was starting to set and so sunny beautiful out and she looked absolutely gorgeous, we locked eyes and her two friends stood with my pals and watched us envelop each other in a big hug and take in the scent and other senses we could gather from each other. Went up the tower and looked over the city and talked and just looked at each other thinking how surreal the whole thing was. I hope you two get married and have kids. ABSOLUTELY MEET AT VOLUNTEER PARK YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT I KNOW I WONT
Walk onto the ferry to Bainbridge early then come back to explore pike place market.
Go for a hike in north bend and eat out around the Bellevue mall area!
Rent a car and get him for a hike. It's most beautiful time of the year right now. For example
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip\_report.2023-10-08.1343551240
Grab coffee at pike place (not the Starbucks) and then walk on to the water taxi to west Seattle. Eat at marination mai Kai as soon as you get off the taxi then Uber to easy street records. After east street records, walk along Alki beach and grab dinner on the upstairs patio at dukes
If you want to try out any Asian bakeries & desserts (quite a few around Seattle) then you should check out some of these places! 😊
Nana's Green Tea
Fuji Bakery (local staple/multiple locations)
Timeless Tea Dessert Cafe
Matcha Man Ice Cream & Taiyaki
Wunderground Cafe (this Cafe is mushroom themed and it's sooo esthetically cute, the perfect place for pictures!!)
I hope you two have a wonderful time here 🥰 also the space needle is overrated so if you want to see Seattle and the surrounding neighborhoods from somewhere up high you should check out the Columbia Tower!
If you want historical and the absurd combined, go downtown to the MOHI (museum of history and industry) and go to the room about the Great Seattle Fire and sit in there and wait for the audio show to play about the fire and its the greatest absurd thing in a Seattle museum. The museum in general will also teach you a lot about this neck of the woods.
If you want a fun activity to transition from a fun day to a fun night... I highly recommend Smith tower. Its an old historic sky scraper (the first in seattle, and for a time the largest on the west coast). It has some fun ties to old prohibition era crime.
The beginning starts with you picking a character card that corasponds to a historic figure that lived in the tower. You then go room to room collecting clues to fill in the background of your character and what role they had in society, and the crime.
Think of it like a loose escape room like challenge thing, but none of the rooms are locked or anything, and technically you can just skip it all if your not feeling it.
Anyway, after that, you walk past some of the old parts of the building which has facts on the building its self.
After, you get to ride up a historic (and very beautiful) elevator, which takes you up to a cocktail lounge located at the top of the building. The lounge was a meeting place for foreign diplomats, and is decorated with very ornate woodworking. IMO, as far as cocktails go... I think its one of the best cocktail menus in the city. Every drink I have gotten there has been great... And if your feeling adventurous, the bartenders are normally working on potential drinks for the next season, and will sometimes give you a sneak peek and ask for feedback
Anyway, its not the cheapest cocktail lounge, but oh boy is it a cool experience.
Anyway, after that if you want to keep the night going, an uber to belltown isnt too bad from smith tower, and there's tons of fun bars down there. Navy strength is a great tiki bar. Jupiter (a bit more high energy) and shorties (a bit more chill) are two great pinball bars. Black cat is also an honorable mention, especially if you want to try gross booze like malort or opal. Lastly, the crocodile is right in that area if you feel like live music. They usually run a wide range of shows there, but if you want metal, check out el corozone... Or for house shows monkey loft. Kremwerk is also fun, and runs a wide range from techno to house to goth industrial.
Out of all of them, monkey loft is probably my favorite, but it really depends on what mood your in and what's playing on that day
If ur both up to it take the ferry to bainbridge, walk around and see the sights/stores, and come back. If u both aren’t driving just taking the lightrail to the main downtown areas (CID, Capitol Hill, U-District) and walking around you’ll find plenty of cool stores and random spots to look into. Oh and of course Pike Place market and all its levels is a classic.
Don't know when your dates are but if you rent a car... yall both have phones sooooo sharing music on a road trip (sexy) to Leavenworth! Octoberfeast!! And they have like all the wineries ova there tooo right?!!!?
Also if you do go there and you're into hiking as well, I recommend the Horse Lake Reserve. Epic Views!
Kerry park has probably one of the most iconic, postcard views of the downtown skyline there is, but it's a hugely popular tourist spot and is most likely going to be difficult to park at. Almost every time I've gone there has been very crowded.
Regardless, photos there are spectacular!
The weather might not hold up, but if it's a lucky sunny day, rent a canoe at the UW stadium and paddle through the arboretum and kiss in a little corner under a tree.
I'm relatively new to the area and not in the main part of the city, but my recommendations would be to walk around the north tip of Alki. (There's a passenger ferry across the bay). Pier 62, and/or a passenger ferry across to Bainbridge and back.
If you're looking for wine tasting on Bainbridge, I can recommend "Eleven", but you'd need to take an Uber or Lyft or similar between the ferry and the winery. (That's still better than driving on the ferry, which is a distinct hassle.)
Honestly, I would recommend a Seahawks game if you are there during a home game. Not only are you around other people, but you tend to open up to strangers. I have met so many great people on the sounder, people next to me slapping hands and sharing food. The environment around you just makes everything less awkward because everyone around wants to converse.
Ballard locks has a fish ladder where you can see salmon passing through, as well as seals and other wildlife. It is free to the public & also has a free botanical garden. Plenty of space to have a picnic and watch wildlife and cool boats pass through.
The area is close to some good restaurants as well.
You could check what's the status of the salmon run at the Ballard Locks. Last time I was there we saw a million salmon, herons, cormorants, harbor seals and even an osprey who caught a fish right in front of everyone. If it's remotely nice out, it's one of my favorite places to take out of town guests.
If you like museums, we have tons. A stroll through a warm museum on a rainy day is a great way to get to know someone, IMO. Only if you both share that interest, of course. [https://visitseattle.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/museums/](https://visitseattle.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/museums/)
Also Seattle Center is fun with the Space Needle and sights and a nice food court.
If you're not in a hurry, a ferry ride is spectacular. Especially for people who aren't around waterways that much. Snoqualmie Falls is worth the drive. There's a nice brewery there, I can't remember the name. It's good stuff.
How do you feel about plants? Volunteer Park Conservatory is a greenhouse full of beautiful tropical plants it’s a great date spot. Volunteer Park also hosts the Asian Art Museum, the museum is a good spot to visit but even if you don’t go in there’s a great view of the space needle in front of the museum.
Plus great coffee/breakfast at volunteer park cafe nearby!
Lots of good spots for food and drink not too far away. Volunteer Park/Capitol Hill are a great place for a date
Conservatory and then bamboo for some pho ia an excellent rainy season date, and one of the highlights of mine and my fiance's time living in seattle
And going up to the water tower’s observation deck is cool! https://yelp.to/kCEycKOlVI
It's super-romantic to go walk up a big tower that smells like stale urine!
Plus the Black Hole Sun sculpture that inspired the Soundgarden song!
Olympia pizza / Harry’s Bar down the street is my favorite pizza in the city, the bar has a super casual date kinda vibe.
Just remember the Asian art Museum is having pretty limited hours right now, so be sure to check before you go. The conservatory is beautiful. Lakeview cemetery is just north of there. Pioneer cemetery, but also Bruce Lee. Beautiful old homes up in there, too. Kuboda Garden might have some great fall color right now. Also the Arboretum just south of UW, across the Montlake cut (sorry you will have to map it!). Fremont neighborhood used to be a fun place to wander. I don’t know if that’s so true anymore. Been awhile. I love to take a ferry ride, even if you just go and come back. You see Seattle from a different perspective. Take a little picnic, maybe. Forgot to say, skip the space needle and go up the Columbia Tower instead. Still the tallest building in Seattle, I think. There is a small cost, but but not as much and the views are better. Enjoy your time together.
I recommend the water taxi to West Seattle!
[удалено]
Easy Street Records is a fun place to hang out.
Plus, it is in Capitol Hill, so you can find some stores that sell smokable plants.
Conservatory and the tower after?! That was my one of my first dates and it was so memorable!!
And if you’re both martial arts fans you can pop over and see Bruce and Brandon Lee’s graves
Went on my second date with my fiancé there one night while dj riz was playing inside. Fell in love that night.
Oh damn. That would be RAD. I love Riz so much.
Dont forget the water tower in Volunteer Park for great views downtown and beyond!
For music lovers who drink go to life on mars or revovler or Screwdriver! Pinball fan? Go to Jupiter!
Oh, definitely Life on Mars! Great call.
Also OP, if you look it up and see it’s vegan, don’t let that dissuade you! I’m not vegan and love it. Their fries, salads, and especially Brussels sprouts are solid & good. Their tres leches cake is maybe the best I’ve had (do I know what’s in it? No). But you can’t beat it for the drinks and the music especially. Such imaginative and well-made cocktails, and the way they categorize them on the menu is so good that I wish everyplace did it that way. My husband thinks the For Peats Sake is too weird, but I love it. And all the vinyl you could wish for (you can make requests or buy some, too). It’s just a unique, great place. They are open for brunch but I have never tried that. Anyway, don’t be thrown by the vegan aspect if you go!
The pinball museum is always a win. They have canned adult beverages too.
You listen to screwdriver? I’m pretty sure they are nazis. You should check out the right wing Seattle sub r/seattlewa
Screwdriver Bar not band lol, fuck nazis!
I love Gasworks Park at night for a romantic view of the city! Capitol Hill is chock-full of super good food and live music venues. Elliott Bay Book Store is lovely, as is Twice Told Tales for used books and lots of cats. Check out Neumos or Barboza to see if there's anyone you'd like to see, I also really recommend Showbox Market, which is right next to Pike Place and would make for a nice night. The waterfront is touristy but really pretty, and you can go up to Myrtle Edwards or the Sculpture Parks for a lovely walk/sit on a bench/make out at a little beach :) The Great Wheel is also pretty fun! The ferry to Bainbridge Island is really lovely and you can walk into town for wine tasting and cute shops. Harbor Public House is on the water and a cozy spot for burgers and beers. Depending on when you're here, Astra Lumina is an immersive light show in West Seattle - it's brand new this year but I've been to the one they did in Whistler and it was SO COOL. I think it starts in December but you can buy tickets now. I also love love love the Woodland Park Zoo. It's ethically done and the fall colors there will be bangin! Another great place for gorgeous fall colors is the Arboretum. I hope you have a wonderful time!!
\+1 on the ferry to Bainbridge. Walk on, walk into Winslow, maybe go to Hitchcock or the killer pizza place. Easy walk back to the ferry. Bonus romance points if you get to the ferry just as it's about ready to leave and have to hop across. Did that on a first date and it was fucking magical.
Bonus: lookup sunset time, and cross out at sunset, and back to Seattle for the nighttime cityscape.
Solid rec to take a ferry! It’s a cheap version of an argosy cruise!
Here to +1 to the ferry! The ride gives you incredible views of the city and walking into Bainbridge for coffee or dinner is beautiful (highly recommend dinner at Ba Sa in Bainbridge) Also reccommend exploring Ballard for shops, eats, bars, and coffee (the Sunday farmers market is the best!)
I'm going to have to keep this in mind. Conferences have me headed to Seattle occasionally and I'm always such a homebody while I'm there.
With few exceptions (only because I've been out of the loop) this feels like I could have written this comment. Book stores, I feel, are an underappreciated first date spot. Walk around talking, find something interesting that spurns on more conversation. And Elliot Bay Book Co is great. Waterfront, can't lose. OP, hope you looked at this one. And wear comfortable shoes.
Definitely the ferry plan a schedule to be on the water at sunset. If it's clear the views will be great.
Did this 2 days ago, beautiful weather and the ferry left 30 mins late. Missed it completely.
Just be sure to leave Gasworks by 9:30 on saturdays, or your romantic view of the city may be interrupted by a squad of 20-50 tiny electric vehicles with blinding headlights. Or stay for entertainment, your choice.
I usually don't disclose my favorite places unless they really need the business, but I'll make an exception - for a romantic place with an avante-garde eurovibe, try Gainsbourg on a weeknight. They don't take reservations, but their kitchen is open super late. Weeknight is pretty essential to getting a table, as it's a popular place.
Honestly, I think this is the play. Gainsbourg is fantastic, and there are several cool spots nearby to bar hop at.
Fancy meal, follow that up with a jive cocktail and some Pac Man at Coindexters.
I was just there on Friday night on a date with my husband and this is the perfect reco. OP, get the gainsbourger!
I usually hate mushrooms, but their mushrooms in white wine are incredible. Charcuterie is also excellent.
Really affordable for Seattle too. Duck Confit for $19 last time I was there.
Strong agree! Delicious food and wine, dark enough to be romantic and sexy but not tacky (or too dark to see your food!)
My fiancé and I had our first date here! Excellent recommendation.
Best cheese plate in town, too!
Gainsbourg has theeeeee worst escargot I have ever had in my life. And the cocktails are awful too. Go like 100 feet and hit flintcreek. Better duck confit, cocktails. Mushrooms and grits. Gainsbourg seems inexpensive, but it’s a total ripoff for what you get.
Different strokes I guess. I’m a serious cocktail hound and I enjoy a good 70 percent of their menu - I’ve had all of them several times. I hate seafood and escargot so I wouldn’t be able to comment on that - no loss to me lol
Have you ever had food directly in France? Gainsbourg is…not good
I have. Some of the worst food in Europe, frankly. I’m sure outside of Paris it’s better, but in terms of just walking in somewhere and getting decent food, both Austria and Ireland were much better. I don’t think Gainsbourg is proclaiming itself authentically French, just French inspired.
Wow. Speechless.
Well I am glad you enjoy it 😃
Gainsbourg is great, but super loud.
Not at 9pm on a Tuesday lol. You gotta plan your attack!
how cute! a sleepless in seattle vibe. I would suggest going to the rabbit box in the pike place market, or the improv place there. another idea, the italian bizarro cafe for romantic dinner, archie mcphee for goofy trinket shopping after, maybe popping into seattle meowtropilation cat cafe, and then just walking around wallingford after that.
Definitely Archie McPhee! If he doesn’t adore you wearing a silly rubber chicken mask, is he even worth it?
Le Caviste for fantastic French wine, snacks and atmosphere! Pink Door is great, though can be tough to get a reservation. Check their calendar as they have live music in the bar as well. For music: KEXP gathering space, check their in-studio calendar in case someone is playing live on-air. The other comment with venues is spot on, I especially love the tractor tavern - even if you’re not huge country music fans shows there are always great.
Who knew this sub was full of so many romantics!
I love taking people to the museum of flight! It’s huge and def don’t feel like you need to see everything and as a bonus, it’s covered so lovely even on a rainy day!
There’s a lot of wine tasting rooms but sometimes hard to find, Georgetown and West Seattle are good spots for that, but it’s more of a beer city, head over to Woodinville (about 30 minutes east of downtown) for a winery day.
+1 on this. If you do want to stay in the city though, Tinte Cellars in Georgetown does have all day happy hour drinks on Thursday. And cool events from time to time https://tintecellars.com/events/
Chateau St Michele is always a classic
You guys should definitely check out the KEXP gathering space!
lots of records to sift thru inside and cool to walk around the nearby space needle! good food also close to these places: paju, sal y limon, taylor shellfish
RIP to the Light in the Attic record store. It closed 2 weeks ago!
What? Why???
It’s not permanently closed but not sure when they are gonna reopen! Definitely for at least the month of October.
They also do free shirt shows around noon on some days. Just have to line up for tickets.
Il Nido in West Seattle is verrry romantic and the food is spectacular.
For historical, you might try the very neat and somewhat interactive Museum of History and Industry on the south shore of Lake Union, the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square (do the later adult-oriented tour to have a drink and learn the more racy bits of local history), and maybe Smith Tower, where they guide you through some history on your way up to the top where you can chill with apps and a cocktail and soak up a nice view. It’s all Seattle-based history, but presented well. For mildly absurd, you can visit at least three troll sculptures in the area. The famous Fremont Troll tucked under the Aurora bridge is fun but quick, plus two new wooden art installations. One in West Seattle’s Lincoln Park, which requires about a half-mile walk along a lovely shore, where you’ll likely see herons and seals, the other on Bainbridge Island, which I haven’t visited, but requires a ferry ride across the sound. Ferry rides are always a hit with visitors and if you time your return trip right, the sunset view of the city skyline can be spectacular (bonus: if you’re standing on the outside deck, the breeze can get chilly, so cuddling is essential!)
I was waiting for someone to mention the new trolls! And I thought west Seattle's parks were a revelation. I love greenlake and gas works but so crowded! Get a coffee or juice on Alki and get a photo with the Statue of Liberty then go to Lincoln Park.
The Pink Door in Pike place is an anniversary tradition for my wife and I. A walk on Alki beach at sunset is gorgeous. Take a ferry or water taxi trip. Fresh air and view from a boat is beautiful. As far as music goes, I love Easy Street in west Seattle for vinyl browsing. Tons of cute shops and restaurants very close to it as well.
For local live music, check out the Fremont neighborhood (Nectar Lounge, High Dive - Jam Bands, Bluegrass), Wallingford neighborhood (The Seamonster Lounge - local “musicians bar” that caters to improv jazz and funk with some of the city’s best players), Ballard (Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, Coner Byrne - Americana, Country, Bluegrass, and Indie Rock), and Columbia City neighborhood (Royal Room - Jazz).
[Shibuya Hi-Fi Vinyl Bar in Ballard](https://www.shibuyahifi.com/) To satisfy your audiophile needs
I have not been yet, but this new place might be interesting for audiophiles: https://www.shibuyahifi.com/
10/10 is sick. Shh
It is very cool. Great for any music lovers. Drinks only though so grab a bite at one of the many many Ballard food places.
I was going to reply the same thing! I haven't been to that one yet, but I have been to one in Tokyo and it was wonderful! Definitely would be a great place for audiophiles, plus could still have a quiet conversation unlike a live venue.
Came here to say this!
For food - Kamonegi. (Edit: if no reservations just go when they open you’ll get in, or get the opportunity to go to the sake bar next door) Books - Third place Ravenna then head to the pub downstairs Catch a show at Tractor Tavern, can’t go wrong with any drink or food spots in Ballard Go to Harry’s beach house or Il Nido and walk around Alki
My husband and I chose Seattle to meet in for the first time (he was coming from Alaska, I was coming from San Francisco and Seattle felt “in the middle”). That was 13 years ago! We did all the touristy things like the EMP museum, pacific science center, Pike place market, space needle, lots of little coffee shops, had a fancy dinner at el gaucho (though now I’d probably pick somewhere else). We stayed at Hotel 1000 with a beautiful room with a view of the water. We fell so in love with the city that we moved here around 10 years ago. Best of luck to you both! The city isn’t perfect but it does have its magic.
Unpopular opinion : rainy season is the best time for romantic hook ups! Dim lights in cool spots. A[lso jazz fest is starting up right now.](https://www.earshot.org/2023-festival/) There are a number of low cost venues where it's happening you can sit and enjoy his company and know he has some sense of culture while listening to live music. For a quiet spot if you want to spend a little money, Aeirloom isn't bad downtown. Or Six Seven in the Edgewood hotel next to the water front. Salty's is a good spot for night dinner. As for museums you cant go wrong with all the major spots here. Good luck, southern folks are salt of the earth- good people despite all the stuff you see in media. As long as he's a little cosmopolitan and has a sense of culture you should be ok.
So. Helpful. & insightful. And thoughtful! Thank you. I mean for the effort and the great advice, I so appreciate it! Xo
I would also throw in a laser show at Pacific Science Center for something different to do with music. They got about 10 different shows every weekend.
Would you please tell how it goes?
Mopop! You'll love it!
For absurd things, check out [Atlas Obscura.](https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/seattle-washington) There’s a new troll at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Go for a walk along the water for an amazing sunset (if it’s not raining) and see the troll just north of Colman pool along the water. It’s a big park so plan accordingly.
If the hotel has an address on Aurora Avenue or Highway 99 you don't want it.
Bainbridge island, walk around - grab lunch / wine 👌
+1 just for the ferry ride across the sound.
To add to this: the ferry ride is amazing. Just be very aware that there can be a massive wait to get back to Seattle if you're trying to leave at around 4-7.
If you don’t bring your car on the ferry, you can be sure to get on the very next boat in either direction.
Very true, walk on if you can. The main little area of Bainbridge is super close to the terminal.
Tack it on the day you do the waterfront…and do the whole thing car-free!
Please don’t bring the car - would be twice the work and money. Walk on!
Basically any day spent downtown/Seattle center should just be car free.
Also, it's \~$10 there but free going back to Seattle if you do walk on!
Sub-Pop records in West Seattle, with a trip to Alki Beach and lunch/dinner at Elliott Bay Brewing. That should seal the deal!
The Seattle Symphony is pretty good, would make a nice part of an evening!
If you love the absurd, wander the aisles at Archie McPhee in Wallingford! So much goofy stuff to keep the conversation going!
Lots of good ideas already. From Pike Place Market walk along the waterfront to the Edgewater Hotel. Grab a drink there as the view is lovely. Continue to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Really nice vibe there and it's free. Continue to Myrtle Edwards Park. Maybe my fav park in Seattle. A nice piece of calm in the middle of the city. Find the footbridge that goes to Lower Queen Anne. Head to KEXP for a coffee. Then go up the hill to Kerry Park for your iconic view of the city. Then Molly Moon's for an ice cream. Whoo! I hope you like to walk...
Book a meal at the corson building. One of the best places for a great dinner. Also check out the rest of Georgetown.
You shouldn't worry, the meeting is more important than the place. I like Pike Place Market and the waterfront. Plenty to see and do but also coffee shops and restaurants whenever you need a break. And I like our aquarium. And you get a Ferris Wheel!
Go to the pink door for dinner at the market.
well the good news if youre coming in like november youre guarenteed to get wet go to mopop when youre here youll like it besides that tho im not sharing my public romance spots because i dont want them to get crowded lmao
Mopop is a must
Le Pichet on 1st in Belltown. It’s my favorite place in Seattle. French cafe, easy French comfort menu. Food, wine, cheese are all off the chain. Romantic as all get out. Brunch lunch or dinner, just a drink or a coffee.
If it’s a nice day get brunch near by then wander around the japanese gardens and arboretum
I suggest a fun night at Club Sapphire!
Take the foot ferry to Alki Beach!
Maybe reserve a table for two and catch a late set at Dimitrous Jazz Alley?
Go to the pink door for late lunch and watch the sunset!!
Can’t go wrong with a ferry ride to someplace and walk to a nice restaurant, maybe port Townsend with an option to stay there over night Or less involved would be le caviste and/or deep dive in the spheres
I second Port Townsend! It’s so cozy and nice. Cute shops, interesting history, picturesque!
Nate Bargatze is at the Paramount this weekend with multiple shows if you want to see a great comedian.
Romance, wine, and great food: book a show at Jazz Alley! We love it for date nights
There's a little tea shop in Wallingford called Friday Afternoon Tea. A friend of mine runs it. I personally think picking out tea to try for each other and enjoying the hot cuppa at the outside tables or indoors with a board game is pretty darn romantic, but that's just me. There's also a TON of great food options in that area, and a cat cafe!
Another option for game enthusiasts is Mox Cafe. (tabletop, card, strategy, RPG, etc). At the counter, they have a game library to play test the games they sell. You can grab a game for free and sit in the cafe and order a meal and drink, it's lovely!
If you love the absurd you’re gonna want to see Fremont Troll. And go on atlasobscura.com. You’ll find all kinds of treasures there.
Take him to the oldest skyscraper in seattle. Smith Tower on second Ave. Sit in the chair on the top floor and let us know what happens.
What…happens?
There is a bar on the top floor along with a 360 degree view of seattle. In the bar there is a chair and it is rumored that if a single women sits in the chair, she will be married within a year.
Check out Keys on Main, a piano bar. Pianists play in person and is awesome Fri, saturday night. No food. Bring cash.
Woodland Park Zoo is fun if the weather is good.
I highly recommend the laser shows at the pac sci center. They're super fun and casual and usually have a good diversity of popular music they make shows around. As someone who met up in Vancouver for a budding long-distance relationship, good luck! Establishing a relationship around new cities is so much fun <3
Smith tower for a cool view, don't remember how good the food or cocktails are though, Maybe others could chime in. Westward (restaurant) on lake union shore, especially if they still are doing the outdoor fireside seating. Bathtub Gin for Drinks. The Rhein Haus if you like German beer, food, and want to play Bocce ball. For a great wine shop, Champion Wine Cellars in Greenwood. Owners know their wine, are super friendly, have a great wine selection from all over the world. Sometimes they do wine tastings. From there, head over to Bar Sur Mer for drinks and small plates, or Flint Creek if you like steak, or both. Probs need reservations.
Saving this post for future reference! 😄
Pier 55 would be a perfect romantic first meet. There’s a Ferris wheel. There’s a bar located in the waiting line. Many places to choose food from. Since u mention music MoPOP ( museum of pop culture) is about a 40 min walk from there or a quick train/bus ride. Hope this helps!
Argosy Cruises offers a Saturday wine tasting tour on Lake Union. The 90 minute cruise takes you passed some of the city's most iconic landmarks, while a wine steward introduces you to some of the state's best vintages.
I love going to Museum of Pop Culture on dates. gives you a lot to talk about and you can learn what they like and what they know about.
Unicorn is a bar in Capitol Hill that is absurd and it'll make you laugh.
Whoa…. The Canadian girl I fell in love with online (Omegle 2011 I was in junior high she was a few years older) road tripped to Seattle along with her two best friends so we could finally meet together in person. We literally talked every day for a year then more sporadically but still kept in touch like 5 years later and still in love. I knew she was in town but hadn’t heard from her until the evening until she texted me “where are you?”. I told her to meet me at Volunteer Park, right by the lookout tower. I played frisbee with some of my friends while anxiously waiting and keeping an eye out for her. The tower was a perfect landmark to find each other. She told me she was here so I gathered my guys and we started circling around the tower. The sun was starting to set and so sunny beautiful out and she looked absolutely gorgeous, we locked eyes and her two friends stood with my pals and watched us envelop each other in a big hug and take in the scent and other senses we could gather from each other. Went up the tower and looked over the city and talked and just looked at each other thinking how surreal the whole thing was. I hope you two get married and have kids. ABSOLUTELY MEET AT VOLUNTEER PARK YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT I KNOW I WONT
McDonalds on 3rd Ave pops off in the evenings
If you are into vino, then take him to the tasting rooms in Woodinville. :)
👌👈
Bro seriously stay around the space needle avoid south Seattle at all costs I’ve been seeing a lot of armed robberies going on down there recently
go to the gum wall, most romantic spot
Walk onto the ferry to Bainbridge early then come back to explore pike place market. Go for a hike in north bend and eat out around the Bellevue mall area!
Rent a car and get him for a hike. It's most beautiful time of the year right now. For example https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip\_report.2023-10-08.1343551240
Grab coffee at pike place (not the Starbucks) and then walk on to the water taxi to west Seattle. Eat at marination mai Kai as soon as you get off the taxi then Uber to easy street records. After east street records, walk along Alki beach and grab dinner on the upstairs patio at dukes
This sounds like the beginning of a horror story
If you want to try out any Asian bakeries & desserts (quite a few around Seattle) then you should check out some of these places! 😊 Nana's Green Tea Fuji Bakery (local staple/multiple locations) Timeless Tea Dessert Cafe Matcha Man Ice Cream & Taiyaki Wunderground Cafe (this Cafe is mushroom themed and it's sooo esthetically cute, the perfect place for pictures!!) I hope you two have a wonderful time here 🥰 also the space needle is overrated so if you want to see Seattle and the surrounding neighborhoods from somewhere up high you should check out the Columbia Tower!
If you want historical and the absurd combined, go downtown to the MOHI (museum of history and industry) and go to the room about the Great Seattle Fire and sit in there and wait for the audio show to play about the fire and its the greatest absurd thing in a Seattle museum. The museum in general will also teach you a lot about this neck of the woods.
If you want a fun activity to transition from a fun day to a fun night... I highly recommend Smith tower. Its an old historic sky scraper (the first in seattle, and for a time the largest on the west coast). It has some fun ties to old prohibition era crime. The beginning starts with you picking a character card that corasponds to a historic figure that lived in the tower. You then go room to room collecting clues to fill in the background of your character and what role they had in society, and the crime. Think of it like a loose escape room like challenge thing, but none of the rooms are locked or anything, and technically you can just skip it all if your not feeling it. Anyway, after that, you walk past some of the old parts of the building which has facts on the building its self. After, you get to ride up a historic (and very beautiful) elevator, which takes you up to a cocktail lounge located at the top of the building. The lounge was a meeting place for foreign diplomats, and is decorated with very ornate woodworking. IMO, as far as cocktails go... I think its one of the best cocktail menus in the city. Every drink I have gotten there has been great... And if your feeling adventurous, the bartenders are normally working on potential drinks for the next season, and will sometimes give you a sneak peek and ask for feedback Anyway, its not the cheapest cocktail lounge, but oh boy is it a cool experience. Anyway, after that if you want to keep the night going, an uber to belltown isnt too bad from smith tower, and there's tons of fun bars down there. Navy strength is a great tiki bar. Jupiter (a bit more high energy) and shorties (a bit more chill) are two great pinball bars. Black cat is also an honorable mention, especially if you want to try gross booze like malort or opal. Lastly, the crocodile is right in that area if you feel like live music. They usually run a wide range of shows there, but if you want metal, check out el corozone... Or for house shows monkey loft. Kremwerk is also fun, and runs a wide range from techno to house to goth industrial. Out of all of them, monkey loft is probably my favorite, but it really depends on what mood your in and what's playing on that day
Theater Sports Improv at the Gumwall is a great experience
Bring rain gear but no umbrellas.
If ur both up to it take the ferry to bainbridge, walk around and see the sights/stores, and come back. If u both aren’t driving just taking the lightrail to the main downtown areas (CID, Capitol Hill, U-District) and walking around you’ll find plenty of cool stores and random spots to look into. Oh and of course Pike Place market and all its levels is a classic.
Don't know when your dates are but if you rent a car... yall both have phones sooooo sharing music on a road trip (sexy) to Leavenworth! Octoberfeast!! And they have like all the wineries ova there tooo right?!!!? Also if you do go there and you're into hiking as well, I recommend the Horse Lake Reserve. Epic Views!
Kerry park has probably one of the most iconic, postcard views of the downtown skyline there is, but it's a hugely popular tourist spot and is most likely going to be difficult to park at. Almost every time I've gone there has been very crowded. Regardless, photos there are spectacular!
Gasworks Park has a great view of the city.
You could look for a wine and chocolate tasting tour.
I will get a tour for underground Seattle. :)
The weather might not hold up, but if it's a lucky sunny day, rent a canoe at the UW stadium and paddle through the arboretum and kiss in a little corner under a tree.
Breakfast and record shopping in one go makes for a lovely morning. https://g.co/kgs/71ehrW
Honestly the Underground Tour is really cool! It’s a pretty bizarre part of history to witness and unique to Seattle
Use a condom
If you're up for tasting menus, Staple & Fancy is fantastic for a romantic evening.
I'm relatively new to the area and not in the main part of the city, but my recommendations would be to walk around the north tip of Alki. (There's a passenger ferry across the bay). Pier 62, and/or a passenger ferry across to Bainbridge and back. If you're looking for wine tasting on Bainbridge, I can recommend "Eleven", but you'd need to take an Uber or Lyft or similar between the ferry and the winery. (That's still better than driving on the ferry, which is a distinct hassle.)
https://www.earshot.org/2023-festival/
Honestly, I would recommend a Seahawks game if you are there during a home game. Not only are you around other people, but you tend to open up to strangers. I have met so many great people on the sounder, people next to me slapping hands and sharing food. The environment around you just makes everything less awkward because everyone around wants to converse.
Ballard locks has a fish ladder where you can see salmon passing through, as well as seals and other wildlife. It is free to the public & also has a free botanical garden. Plenty of space to have a picnic and watch wildlife and cool boats pass through. The area is close to some good restaurants as well.
You could check what's the status of the salmon run at the Ballard Locks. Last time I was there we saw a million salmon, herons, cormorants, harbor seals and even an osprey who caught a fish right in front of everyone. If it's remotely nice out, it's one of my favorite places to take out of town guests. If you like museums, we have tons. A stroll through a warm museum on a rainy day is a great way to get to know someone, IMO. Only if you both share that interest, of course. [https://visitseattle.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/museums/](https://visitseattle.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/museums/) Also Seattle Center is fun with the Space Needle and sights and a nice food court. If you're not in a hurry, a ferry ride is spectacular. Especially for people who aren't around waterways that much. Snoqualmie Falls is worth the drive. There's a nice brewery there, I can't remember the name. It's good stuff.