Even though Seattle is just a three hour drive from Portland, I hadn’t been in years. So my husband and I decided to have a little getaway up north, stay in a nice hotel, eat some good food, and simply be tourists for a couple of days.
We started by checking into our hotel, the Inn at the Market, which true to its name sits right by Pike Place Market. Our room was spacious and elegant, and the view of Puget Sound was stunning. The location has its pros and cons. If you want to be within walking distance of Pike Place, shops, the Seattle Art Museum, etc, then this hotel cannot be beat. If you want to steer clear of any hint of tourism, then obviously you need to look elsewhere. We found that for two nights it was perfect for our needs and we were able to walk everywhere.
After we checked in, we walked a few blocks to an incredible ceramics shop, Art on the Table, which has the most impeccably curated selection of handcrafted ceramics from Japan. I could have perused this corner store for hours. I managed to leave with only two pieces, which took great restraint let me tell you!
After ceramics shopping, we took a long walk to the Fremont neighborhood which took us along the waterfront and into the cutest neighbored of houseboats just before we crossed the Fremont Bridge which is also adorable. Our final destination was The Whale Wins where we ate a delicious dinner of salad, salmon, chicken and roasted potatoes. I’m not much of a food photo taker in restaurants, so hopefully you can use your imagination!
The next day, we had a relatively unremarkable breakfast at a place I can’t remember the name of, but the highlight of the day was the Seattle Art Museum. I was truly impressed not only by the collection, but how the art was curated. For instance, the American Room houses works by Native American artists, European American artists, African American artists, and Asian American artists all in the same space. Experiencing their art side by side in a thematic way was fresh, thought provoking and I really appreciated this “out of the box” way of exhibiting a museum’s collection.
One of the highlights was seeing Kehinde Wiley’s work for the first time. His Anthony of Padua was utterly mesmerizing.
While we were there, the Ikat: A World of Compelling Cloth exhibit was on view (through May 29, 2023) and well worth the visit. Ikat textiles are on display from Japan, Africa, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Uzbekistan, and Central America and the exhibit dives into the deep cultural significance of these breathtaking cloths.
There is so much more to share regarding the Seattle Art Museum, and I highly recommend you visit the next time you are in the Seattle area. If you do go, do not miss the porcelain room. This was one of the most surprising experiences I have ever had in a museum. If you’re like me, you typically think stiff and boring when it comes to how porcelain is traditionally displayed. Well, the Seattle Art Museum did it again with their innovative curation, and grouped the pieces by color and style rather than by country of origin as is typically done. Combined with creative lighting, and aesthetically brilliant grouping choices, this room blew me away. The pictures do not do it justice.
After spending the morning and early afternoon at the museum, we worked up an appetite and ate tasty tacos at Maíz which is across the street from Pike Place. They hand make their tortillas from single origin freshly ground Mexican heirloom corn and use ingredients from local farms to make their tacos, sopes, chilaquiles, and many more delicious offerings. Don't miss their fantastic aguas frescas and be prepared to stand or take your food to-go as there are only four barstools in this popular spot!
Later that night, we met up with friends that I met during my trip to Japan and had dinner at the cutest restaurant, Tilikum Place Cafe. It’s in the Belltown neighborhood and has a cozy ambiance that was perfect for a rainy evening with friends. I had the roasted cabbage salad and halibut entree which was delicious, and my husband ordered the pan roasted chicken (their specialty) which was out-of-this-world yummy. I highly recommend Tilikum Place Cafe if you’re in the area. Again, no restaurant photos, sorry!
The next morning, we met up with another friend that I met on my Japan trip for coffee and a light breakfast at Storyville Coffee which is a gorgeous cafe that has wall to wall dark wood and a beautiful view of Puget Sound. It’s right by Pike Place Market, so the prices are crazy high! I had the gluten fee granola which was very delicious, but I have to say my coffee drink left a little to be desired. Overall, it’s a beautiful cafe to meet up with a friend, and the location was perfect.
After breakfast we did a little shopping. My husband stopped in a map store while I popped into Pirkko, a Scandinavian shop that has clothing, accessories and home goods. I tried on a Marimekko dress (didn’t fit quite right) and I almost got this shirt dress by Papu but the fact that it didn’t have pockets was a deal breaker for me. Although I came out of the store empty handed, I absolutely fell in love with it and adore the store owner’s taste for pretty much everything!
I hope you enjoyed this recap of our getaway to Seattle. We had such a lovely trip there and won’t let so much time pass between visits as I can’t wait to get back to the Seattle Art Museum and also Pirkko! Please let me know some of your favorite places to visit while you’re in Seattle.
Such a fun excursion! I've been to Seattle many times (and Pike Place) but haven't been to any of these places! Making note of them on Maps to hit them next time 🥰 Thank you for sharing, Trish!
P.S. Love your two ceramic pieces; I can only imagine how hard it was to restrain oneself in such a beautiful store!