Seattle Shopping and Restaurant recommendations

Apologies for the long post:

Hi Ladies: This is off topic but I was hoping to tap those of you who live in or are very familiar with Seattle. The weekend of January 25th DD (16 years old) and I will be in Seattle for a national cheer competition in Bellevue. Its a short and jam packed weekend of cheer. However, we arrive at SEATAC early Friday am (10:00am) and its our only "free" day to explore. Comp is Sat/Sunday and we fly out Monday am. I have little time to plan due to work and now mother in law in the hospital and away this weekend for another cheer comp. I need HELP! I am overwhelmed.

I am looking for recommendations for a mom and 16 year old. Nordstroms Flagship store is on the agenda (as is Pikes Mkt). But I was wondering if any of you ladies have recommendations of cool boutiques or other unknown shops to check out either downtown or in Bellevue. I don't want to over extend ourselves but we are both walkers and love to explore. Also looking for restaurant recommendations. I thought I would splurge on one good seafood place (Friday evening) because the rest of the trip will be grabbing whatever is near the Meydenbauer Center. However, we both love all sorts of different and international foods - we are not afraid to try something new. So if any of you have other food recommendations that would be amazing.

Oh lastly DD style currently is "Brandy Melville" for those of you who are familiar. She also LOVES THRIFT SHOPPING. So if there are any cool Thrift stores - please let us know.

Thank you so much ladies - this is the most amazing and supportive forum. I truly appreciate what Angie has built here. I am juggling work and hospital and kid duties today so I may not have much time to check in but this weekend I will have more opportunities to check in.

P.S. I also posted in off topic but then realized the "shopping" category may be more appropriate.

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

mtnsofthemoon, how lovely! Are you sure we can't meet up?

Are you staying in Bellevue? That's in the suburbs, and you'll need a car to get to downtown Seattle. It's quite a long way to Uber or Lyft. Traffic in Seattle in TERRIBLE. 2nd worst in the US after LA.

I have lots of restaurant suggestions, but not in Bellevue. What type of foods do you like?

rebekahphoto

Veteran

great fun! so much shopping and eating in Seattle! Tons of Thrift and vintage, depending on where you are staying. Ballard and Fremont have several shops

The Walrus and the Carpenter (Ballard) & Bar Melusine (capitol hill-both owned by same owners) and Taylor Shellfish are both amazing. Westward is newer also a recommended (I have not been there yet) with a fantastic ambiance

Shiros Sushi is one of my favorite sushi restaurants, and there are lots more

There are also larger seafood restaurants that are a bit more fancy
Dahlia Lounge is a classic, Tom Douglas is a local chef with a whole group of restaurants.

Elliotts Oyster house is on the waterfront, which offers great views, and many varieties of seafood. also Matts in the Market is a mainstay

some quick links for more detailed reviews:
https://travel.usnews.com/feat.....cals-picks

https://www.zagat.com/l/best-s.....in-seattle

https://foursquare.com/top-pla.....es-seafood

mtnsofthemoon

Angie i sent you a dm.. you already answered my follow-up question about Transportation. Thank you. Will for sure get a rental car.

We literally love all kinds of food. We are both very adventurous with our taste buds. We are from the LA area and have access to all sorts of ethnic foods. So anyting you think would be different and or is super yummy. We are game.

rebekahphoto... thank you so much for all the great recommendations. I'm on my phone right now but can't wait to research them!

Nebraskim

My 18-yo nephew and I were in Seattle last summer and we took light rail to and from SeaTac to DT and also up to Bellevue. I didn't want to fuss with a car and I am too old at 63 to learn how to use (or trust) Uber/Lyft. Light rail was super cheap and reliable and we didn't have to then pay to stow a vehicle. Sounds like you will have a lot of fun.

annagybe

There’s no light rail to Bellevue, yet.

Thea

Active Member

Lots of restaurants close to the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue - and near Bellevue Square / Lincoln Center malls. My 16 yo loves the Chik-fil-A in that area Here's the link to the Bellevue Collection (BellSquare mall complex) https://bellevuecollection.com/
-- Dukes Seafood & Chowder and Taylor Shellfish are good options for seafood if you dont find a place Friday night

Kathie

For thrift stores, the Bellevue Goodwill has a great reputation for selection. (I only went there once, and can’t remember if it’s close to the Meydenbauer Center, but picked up three designer skirts in one trip.) Seconding Westward (ate there many times before I moved to the East coast and still try to squeeze it in every trip back) and Matt’s in the Market. Also, Cafe Campagne, St. Helen’s Cafe, Joule, The Whale Wins. (Clearly, I have too many fond memories of wonderful meals in Seattle.) Enjoy your trip!!

If you're prepared to drive to Seattle - about half an hour from Bellevue - here are my favourite restaurants:

Nishino, Voila Bistro, Harvest Vine, RN74(for happy hour), How to Cook a Wolf, Lola, Lark, Suika, Lecosho, and Reckless Noodle

Bellevue has two big shopping centers: Belle Square and Lincoln Centre. There is a fun restaurant called Japonessa in Lincoln Centre.

SarahD8

Secondhand stores on Capitol Hill (you could walk there from downtown):
Le Frock, Pretty Parlor (both vintage and on lower cap hill — closer to downtown)
Further up, on Broadway, are the lifelong AIDS alliance thrift shop, and a crossroads trading company across the street.

If you are at the market and need lunch or a quick snack, piroshky piroshky is super fun, and delicious. Be prepared for a line! (Not a sit down place, so you’ll have to be prepared to munch on the go.)

For restaurants, I SUPER love Mamnoon on lower Capitol Hill. Amazing middle eastern food, not too expensive, and with a great community/social conscience. Get the cauliflower!!! It’s right across the street from the Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar so you could restaurant hop. Oh and scotch & soda is right down the block!

I don’t know Bellevue/the Eastside very well at all but dang, now I think I need to make a trip to the Bellevue goodwill!

cherylm

My favorite cheap eats in Bellevue is Garlic Crush about a 15 minute walk from Meydenbauer Center. Also Main Street in Old Town Bellevue is cute and close by. Other boutiques - Margaret O’Leary for sweaters, La Ree (expensive) and Smith and Main.

Near Mamnoon (which I second is yummy) is a boutique - Glasswings. Other restaurants in that area - Starbucks Reserve (only coffee or pastry’s duh), Trove and Stateside.

Enjoy - bring a raincoat

Thanks ladies for all the suggestions. I am away this weekend at another 2 day comp. But will research all the great places when i can. Thanks for the AWESOME thrift shop recommendations!!

I liked Mamnoon and Joule too. And there is an excellent thrift store on 1st Ave in Seattle. Anna will know the name of it.

greycat6

Agree with all the shopping suggestions and would add the Seattle Children’s Hospital thrift stores (several locations) and Value Village (several locations) as fun thrift store treasure hunts.

Some of my favorite eateries on the Eastside include Monsoon, Nibanna and Mercato Stillena in Bellevue. Also, the Mexican place in the food court in Lincoln Square in good. Pomegranite in Redmond in also good.

For something not fashion related check out the glassybaby retail location in Bellevue or visit their glass blowing/retail space in Madrona. Beautiful and sweet hand blown glass votives. https://www.glassybaby.com/

Wishing your DD good luck in her cheer competition and safe travels to both of you!

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