Seattle's Most Iconic Restaurants

Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Seattle dining scene. Here are Seattle’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.

The OpenTable team

8 Restaurants

Updated February 19, 2020

Restaurants:	Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - Seattle, Wild Ginger Downtown Seattle, Lola Seattle…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	American, Asian, Mediterranean…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown…

Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - Seattle

$$$$

American

Downtown

4.5

4859 reviews

You know the scene in Beauty and the Beast when Belle enters the beast’s soaring, book-lined library? If you’re a wine lover, you’ll feel the same way walking into Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. The walls are filled with bottles of all types and denominations, and the staff is eager to help you navigate the extensive menu. Plus, there are plenty of excellent pizzas and pastas to nourish you on your journey.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Wild Ginger Downtown Seattle

$$$$

Asian

Downtown

4.5

5462 reviews

When Wild Ginger opened almost 30 years ago, the food scene in America was markedly different: there were few sushi bars, few ramen joints, few places to eat Korean barbecue. Wild Ginger, which features dishes from all over Asia, was a trailblazer then, and it’s still relevant—and delicious—today. Make sure to get a few of the offerings from the satay bar, and don’t miss their famous “fragrant duck.”

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Lola Seattle

$$$$

Mediterranean

Downtown

4.7

3761 reviews

On its surface, Lola is an excellent Greek spot—dig deeper, though, and you’ll see a Seattle institution, a restaurant with a true sense of place. Chef Tom Douglas uses the best of what’s around him—the bounty of the Pacific Northwest—and then cooks them in the Mediterranean spirit, giving us dishes like sockeye-salmon kebabs, lamb-shoulder tagine, and slow-roasted leg of lamb with oregano, rosemary, and lemon.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Shuckers

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown

4.6

2172 reviews

Shuckers is a Seattle classic in every sense of the word, from the oak paneling to the gleaming fixtures to the perfect platters of oysters. Come for a martini and a dozen at happy hour, or stay for dinner and dine on some of the freshest seafood the area has to offer.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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The Capital Grille - Seattle

$$$$

American

Downtown

4.8

3428 reviews

For a true steakhouse experience—the charred, meaty steaks, the perfectly crisp wedge salads, the rainbow of sides—it’s hard to beat The Capital Grille. The staff knows what they’re doing, and the consistency is always on point. Round out the meal with a martini or two, and you’re in for a luxurious night.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Tulio

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.6

3591 reviews

Tulio is a stately, handsome Italian restaurant in the downtown Hotel Vintage Park, where chef Walter Pisano infuses Northern Italian cuisine with the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. We’re particularly fond of the pastas, which include dishes like pappardelle with rabbit ragu, orrecchiete with spicy sausage, and linguine with local clams.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Cafe Juanita

$$$$

Italian

Kirkland

4.9

3089 reviews

There are few places better than Cafe Juanita for pitch-perfect Italian food—and this Seattle institution has been going strong since 1980. And after a recent renovation, the space is as befitting a special occasion as the food itself; it’s the perfect place for a celebration.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Umi Sake House

$$$$

Japanese

Downtown

4.6

2021 reviews

Umi Sake House is one of the more fun spots to dine in Seattle, with a voluminous menu devoted to sushi and Japanese-American classics and, unsurprisingly, an extensive sake list. They do a particularly great happy hour, which is served on their back porch—lucky for you, those are the best seats in the house.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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OpenTable Classics: Iconic Restaurants on OpenTable