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Fine dining in the Seattle area

The Seattle food scene has plenty of fine dining options that are worth dropping major moolah on. Here are a few of our favorite fine dining restaurants that will be worth trying.

Whether you’re in the city for a day or longer, we invite you to try the vast culinary experience the city has to offer, especially the fine dining in Seattle!!

Favorite personal dining restaurants

#1 Altura

Altura is located in Capitol Hill. The restaurant offers Italian fare that is focused on locally sourced and foraged ingredients. Their tasting menu comes with a creative amuse bouche and can be paired with their modern or classic beverage pairings.

Visit Altura’s website to book your reservation. They will require a deposit during the reservation process.

#2 Canlis

This is probably the quintessential fine dining experience in Seattle. Canlis has been operating in Seattle since 1950 in their midcentury restaurant.

The place is located in Queen Anne off the 99 freeway. The dining room offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Union with an amazing view of Gasworks Park. James Beard Award winner, chef Brady Williams, creates a unique tasting menu highlighting Pacific Northwest ingredients.

During the pandemic, Canlis has pivoted to offer creative seasonal menus and even dine-in yurts.

We highly recommend trying out their tasting menu options.

Visit the Canlis website for more information and to book your reservation.

#3 Copine

Copine is located in the Ballard neighborhood across from Addo. They offer a French-inspired menu on exquisitely plated dishes. Their aim is to highlight locally sourced ingredients. The menu is typically a la carte, but they do Sunday prix fixe dinners during non-pandemic times.

Currently, the dining room isn’t open, but they’re offering prix fixe takeout menus and larder items for pickup.

Their menu changes based on the season. In particular, we recommend getting the smoked cherries and house rolls with butter. They’re super delicious and we promise you’ll keep wanting more!

Visit the Copine website to see their current menu offerings and to book a reservation as soon as it’s safe to dine in again.

#4 Addo

Addo has been very masterful at navigating the pandemic. They offer a Puerto Rican fusion menu. You can also ask for their pantry with a wide assortment of prepared foods and ingredients that you can take home.

We highly recommend their take-home tasting menus that are often quirkily themed. We did an Election Night tasting menu with friends once. It was definitely an experience!

During non-pandemic times, you can enjoy tasting menus in their restaurant and even a chef’s counter dining experience where chef Eric Rivera will curate a menu on the whim for your party specifically.

Visit the Addo website for more information and to book your experience.

#5 Il Nido

Il Nido is one of the best fine dining restaurants in West Seattle. Mike Easton of now-closed James Beard award-nominated Il Corvo, opened Il Nido. He is known as a pasta master in Seattle.

We love that the restaurant is in a refurbished historic building and is super close to Alki Beach.

The restaurant is temporarily closed, but during non-pandemic times you could choose between a prix fixe menu or ordering a la carte. Everything we had was divine and very fresh.

We highly recommend ordering pasta (any of them are great), a salad, and the steak if it is available.

Visit the Il Nido website for more information and updates.

#5 Butcher’s Table

If you ask the team at Fun Stuff WA what their favorite fine-dining steakhouse is, you bet we’ll agree on Butcher’s table. They consistently offer high-quality delicious meats with sides that will blow your mind away. We love their fries, which are like hashbrown toast sticks. It is to die for.

This restaurant has is located in South Lake Union in the middle of the Amazon campus. You walk into an impressively decorated atrium with a multi-story chandelier. Downstairs is a dining area and a second bar. Upstairs is their steak display where you can see exactly what you’ll be ordering.

We highly recommend the steak samplers where you get to try different cuts and is about 16 oz total of meat. We also love their salads and side dishes. Everything is delicious and very memorable.

Visit the Butcher’s Table website for more information and to make a reservation.

#6 Cafe Juanita

Cafe Juanita is owned by James Beard award-winning chef Holly Smith, who also appeared on Top Chef Masters. She opened a beautiful fine dining restaurant in Kirkland walking distance from Juanita Beach Park.

We recommend their tasting menu which changes regularly. They offer northern Italian dishes with locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients.

Currently, you can order Cafe Juanita to take home. You’ll need to order 24 hours in advance. There is a mix of pre-made menu items and other options like fresh pasta to cook at home.

Visit the Cafe Juanita website for more information and to order.

#7 Sushi Kashiba

Located in Pike Place Market, Sushi Kashiba is regarded as one of the best fish and seafood restaurants in Seattle.

Shiro Kashiba, the owner and chef, learned the art of sushi making from master Jiro in Japan. He opened up Shiro’s in Belltown then left to create a new iteration of sushi and seafood. From his and his team’s hands you’ll enjoy some of the freshest, most tasty sushi you’ll likely ever try.

During pandemic times, they’re open and doing takeout sushi boxes with the chef’s choice selection of fresh fish from the day.

We recommend splurging on their Omakase menu, as they have several options. Expect to pay around $200 per person for their tasting menu experience.

Visit the Sushi Kashiba website for their current offerings.

#8 Art of the Table

Finally, The Art of the Table is located in the Fremont neighborhood and is one of our favorite fine dining spots. They source local ingredients to create a beautifully plated experience that is fitting for Anniversary and Birthday dinners.

We recommend the seasonal tasting menu either from the chef’s counter or at one of their tables.

Visit the Art of the Table website for more information and to book your reservation.

If you’re interested, we also have a guide of women-owned restaurants in Seattle that you can read or if you’re looking for more options for eating in the area, feel free to check our food category posts.

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