Seattle is made of scenery. Mountains, skyline, water: This city has it all. And when it comes to views, here are the restaurants that occupy choice real estate — overlooking the likes of Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, Puget Sound, and Lake Union. A selfie stick is highly recommended.
Note: Map points are ordered geographically, not ranked by preference. What’s your preferred restaurant with a view?
Loads of fresh seafood with a view of Puget Sound and the sun setting behind the Olympic Mountains — classic Ray’s Boathouse on Shilshole in Ballard is the total package.
Scenery-seeking diners have two great options at this Wallingford staple: Park it in one of the Adirondack chairs and sip rosé while gazing at Lake Union, or opt for a patio table and dine on an outstanding menu of Mediterranean seafood and snacks.
Patrons can work up a thirst at this waterfront U District spot, renting a kayak and exploring Lake Union before recuperating with mangodillas and prickly pear margaritas. An early start is key to beating the crowds.
Perched above Lake Union in the Eastlake neighborhood, Little Water Cantina has an outstanding deck space that draws crowds when the weather is nice. Tacos and margaritas pair perfectly with sailboat-watching.
Seattle’s iconic fine-dining restaurant is encased in a gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-esque cantilevered building that seems to float over Queen Anne Hill. Incredible views, impeccable meal.
Palisade specializes in steaks and seafood, plus a nice selection of cocktails at its choice location on Elliott Bay in the Magnolia neighborhood. It’s a bit of an old-school favorite, and certainly not at the cutting edge of Seattle cuisine, but those views are still hard to beat.
Crowd-pleasers like fish and chips and a turkey club get a serious boost from the scenery here. The restaurant opens onto Elliott Bay Marina from Magnolia, and diners can ogle sailboats whether they sit inside or on the patio. Bottles of wine are half-off on Wednesdays.
The experience at Mbar is epic from the moment diners are whisked to the rooftop in a private elevator. The glass-walled restaurant has taken great care to emphasize the views, which stretch to the Space Needle, Queen Anne, Lake Union, and Capitol Hill. Looking down is important, too, though, as chef Jason Stratton’s carefully concocted fare, melding Middle Eastern, Spanish, and Italian influences, is a worthy distraction.
The restaurant’s perch at the end of Pier 70 should say it all. Every seat here, inside or out on the patio, comes with an Elliott Bay view, and the menu is packed with impeccable seafood and steaks.
Located in the historic Edgewater Hotel where Interbay begins, Six Seven brings an epic view that’s hard to beat. The downtown skyline, ferry terminals, West Seattle, and distant Olympics vie for diners’ attention alongside very good food and drink. The large menu offers a decidedly upscale experience, with an emphasis on local sourcing.
Read about the remaining 7 restaurants on SeattleEater.com
Header Image: Downtown as seen from the iconic Smith Tower. Courtesy of Smith Tower.
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