Secrets of Seattle for DrupalCon 2019

I couldn’t be more excited about the fact that DrupalCon is in my town this year. I’ve lived in Seattle for more than 25 years and during that time, I’ve discovered some amazing places. 

So if you are looking to avoid the typical, touristy hot spots that cater to conventioneers (and I know that you are) and fast track your knowledge of where the in-the-know locals go, this list is for you. 

Drinking and Dining

Knee High Stocking Company

There’s a reason why the Knee High Stocking Co., is at the top of my list. Patterned after a Prohibition-era speakeasy Knee High stirs up some superior libations. Among my faves is the Cup of Awesome. One of these offers some insight into why the crazies, back in the day, thought that they needed to make liquor illegal. I’ve also been known to enjoy the Love and Violets--not currently on the cocktail menu, but if you ask nicely, I’m sure they’d be happy to mix one up for you. The full menu with a Filipino flair has has proven to be a perfect sidekick to some of the best cocktails in town.
Reservations are recommended. Call ahead to “get on the list.” In true speakeasy style, you’ll need to ring a doorbell for someone to invite you in.
1356 East Olive Way
206-979-7049

The Pink Door

Fabulous, fresh, classic, seasonal Italian fare is just the beginning. With a burlesque, cabaret vibe, the Pink Door has basically reinvented the restaurant experience. Delighting all five senses, and then some--the artwork, the lighting, the view of Elliot Bay, the element of surprise, entertainment that includes trapeze, cabaret, music and tarot--the Pink Door is a world unto itself that doesn’t take itself too seriously. What’s even more amazing to: it’s located right along the quaint Post Alley at Pike Place Market.
1919 Post Alley
306-443-3241  Reservations recommended

Dahlia Lounge

Another one of my favorites, Dahlia Lounge is viewed by many as a quintessential Seattle restaurant experience, and I couldn’t agree more. A pioneer of Seattle’s local, sustainable, and organic food movement, Dahlia features world-class wine and fresh-daily  Seafood. The menu feels completely original. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. In other words, Dahlia Lounge is combines everything there is to love about Seattle in one delightful experience that's only a half mile from the convention center. My team was thrilled to discover that this was my pick for our DrupalCon kickoff dinner.
2001 4th Ave
202-682-4142 

Marrakesh Seattle

IMHO, Moroccan deserves a seat at the table of the world’s finest cuisines. Marrakesh Seattle promises a “True Moroccan Experience” and that includes extreme hospitality, a Sultan’s tent atmosphere, belly dancing Thursday through Sunday, a Hookah Lounge open from 9 p.m. to Midnight, AND dishes that combine a perfect mix of the most fabulous spices--cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, coriander, and cumin--along with culinary ingenuity that dates back many centuries. 
2334 2nd Ave.
206-956-0500 

Queen City Seattle

Located where many claim to be the site of the oldest bar in Seattle, Queen City is a first-class neighborhood bar and restaurant that’s just about a mile from the convention center. The classic black leather and dark wood interior has the feel of a storied spot where ordering a martini just seems like the right thing to do.
2001 First Avenue
206-402-5095

IL Bistro  

In the heart of the Pike Place Market, IL Bistro is authentic, Northern Italian, and there’s nothing not to love about that. While you are there, check out Pike Place Flowers, where you can pick up a phenomenal bouquet for a mere $10--not a bad idea to stop in on your way out of town.
93A Pike Street
206-682-3049

Lowell’s Restaurant

With a tagline of “Almost Classy Since 1957,” Lowell’s is a Seattle institution whose loyal customers (myself among them) are perfectly happy with things staying just the way they always have been. Seafood is delivered fresh daily and incorporated into hearty and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. What else? Five unique bloody mary creations, a “market mule” that takes the Moscow mule to a new level, three floors of seating with each one offering views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound, and the Port of Seattle. Never will there be a need to change a thing at Lowell’s. 
1519 Pike Place
206-622-2036

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

The world needs more institutions that use words like Dedication, Passion, Commitment, and Ardent Skill, in reference to their Cheese-Making Mission. Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is a cheese shop and a cheese-focused cafe where you can witness the miracle of cheese making, learn about cheese, taste cheese, buy cheese, and order dishes with cheese as the star ingredient.
1600 Pike Place
206-956-1964

Coffee

The Original Starbucks

It all started in Seattle--the elevation of coffee from something you percolated at home to an experience with a vibe that of course included WIFI. The first Starbucks opened in Seattle in 1971. Five years later it moved to this First and Pike Street location in Pike Place. While Starbucks is a few decades away from being considered off the beaten path, a visit to this location is recommended--if for no other reason than to get a glimpse of what LEED® gold certification is all about. Practically the entire interior is constructed from recycled or upcycled materials.  
1002 Pike Street

Caffe Ladro

Seattle takes its coffee very seriously. We are all required to have a favorite coffee place and to have strong opinions about it. For me, it’s Caffe Ladro. No question. With 15 distinct locations throughout Seattle, I am luckily never too far from a Caffe Ladro. The closest one to the convention center is to at
801 Pine St.
206-405-1950

Beyond Food and Drink

UPS Garden Waterfall Park

Hardly among the “secrets” but definitely worth seeing, Waterfall Park is just a little over a mile South of the convention center. Built to commemorate James Casey, the founder of UPS, Waterfall Park features a 22-ft. artificial waterfall--amazing--and a monument to Postal Service workers.   
219 2nd Ave. S
206-624-6096

Freeway Park

Nowhere in the world is there anything like Seattle’s Freeway Park and the excellent news for us at DrupalCon is that it connects to the Convention Center. The 5.2 acre Freeway Park bridges over Interstate 5 and a city-owned parking lot. Brilliant and right in the heart of Seattle.
700 Seneca St.
206-684-4075

Gum Wall

From the sublime to the ridiculous ... Seattle’s Gum Wall is a brick wall covered in used chewing gum. It’s A local landmark, in an alleyway under Pike Place Market, and a popular spot among both non-germaphobe tourists and locals to get their picture taken. 
1428 Post Alley