2016.8.13We have been to Seattle several times. This time, we just wanted to take one-day off and have an easy trip, spending one day at the city and the rest days at Olympic National Park. We arrived on Friday night and checked into Sheraton in the downtown. Many people walking on the downtown street at almost midnight. It’s pretty safe around here.

I had a morning walk to the Public Market. There were less tourists before 8am. Locals come to shop as well. After I came back with my wife at 10am, it’s so crowded in the public market, we could barely move.

Flowers in the Public Market.

Most people there were just watching this famous fish store. I wonder how many were actually buying.

There were probably around hundred people waiting outside of this first Starbucks cafe, which opened in 1971, at the other end of the Public Market.

All restaurants around Public Market were crowded. Anyone with some specialty had a long waiting line. We finally found a restaurant with open seats in a small alley, named Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar. They intentionally made the restaurant a down-to-earth style. Their food was just OK.

Pike Place Chowder was the restaurant we planned to dine in, but the waiting line was still quite long even after we finish our lunch. We walked back to our hotel and felt having the appetite again. Pike Place Chowder has another site on the top floor of the shopping center just around the corner. We ordered their sampler with 4 different chowders. Probably because we were not hungry, we were not super impressed.

Pike Place Chowder, Seattle

After having a short break at the hotel, we set off to explore the opposite side of the downtown. We walked along Pike St. over highway I-5 overpass. There are some trendy stores and apartment buildings in this area, and much less crowded.

We first stopped at Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room around the corner between Pike St. and Melrose Ave. If you are a coffee lover, you got to be here. Space is huge, with cool decor and awesome atmosphere. The coffee and drink options are plenty and unique, which cannot be found in any other Starbucks stores. I had our best one and half hours in the city.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room, Seattle

We had some walk around and had dinner at Terra Plata. I like their contemporary arrangement. Food is nice and looks good too. A little pricey though.

Terra Plata, Seattle

We walked back to the downtown center and spent some time in Barnes & Noble, then we continued walking down to the Public Market. Most stores are closed there. There are homeless people hanging around.

Public Market at night, Seattle