The Downtown Seattle retail core surrounding the Convention Center is packed with high-end and chain restaurants, but you don’t have to go far for a more affordable and interesting meal to fuel your day at ARVO. Here are some centrally located breakfast and lunch spots to check out before and between sessions.
BREAKFAST
Monorail Espresso – Walk-up espresso window 2 blocks from the Convention Center and the world’s first espresso cart! Solid coffee drinks from nearby Whidbey Island Mukilteo Coffee Roasters, plus baked goods. A few sidewalk café tables can seat 2-3, timing and weather permitting.
Coffee bar at Caffe Ladro at the base of Tower 801.
Caffe Ladro – Great local roaster’s shop at the base of an interesting building one block from the Convention Center is a unique space to enjoy coffee and pastries. Seating regularly available for groups of 2-4, or you can work solo and people-watch from angled floor-to-ceiling windows.
Le Panier – French bakery and café at Pike Place Market 11 minutes from the Convention Center on foot. The warm savory turnovers are incredible; good croissants and locally roasted Caffé Umbria coffee. Can usually find seating for 2-4.
Top Pot’s Bavarian Crème Bismark.
Top Pot Doughnuts – Easily one of Seattle’s best donut shops just a 12-minute walk from the Convention Center. Perfectly crispy old-fashioneds pair nicely with house-roasted coffee. Good place to meet with 2-6 people or use wi-fi.
LUNCH
Baguette Box – Hot grinders and banh mi, rice bowls, and salads just 8-minutes walk away from the Convention Center. The Drunken Chicken Baguette is a favorite among UW grad students, and they offer to-go lunch boxes. Only a few small tables and counter.
Fare at Marination – left to right, Kalbi beef tacos, kimchi fried rice, and pork katsu sandwich
Marination – Korean-Hawaiian fusion street food another 8-minute walk from the Convention Center. Simple menu of tacos, sandwiches, and fried rice showcases their short ribs, chicken, pork or tofu, each distinctly excellent; the housemade “Nunya Sauce” will have you coming back. Modest seating for 2-4 during non-peak hours.
Seattle has experienced a multiplication of food trucks in recent years, bringing an exciting rotation of cuisine to our neighborhoods, including downtown. The website Roaming Hunger can pinpoint some of the food trucks open near you.
Benches and lawn at Victor Steinbrueck Park for sweeping views during your Pike Place Market lunch.
Pike Place Market, just 12 minutes on foot from the Convention Center, boasts a diverse bunch of lunch spots that are delicious, cheap, and usually tiny. If the weather is nice, it is a great option for large and indecisive groups because everyone can get the food they like and picnic together at Victor Steinbrueck Park at the north end of the Market. Here are just a few of the lunch options:
- The Mexican Grocery, one of Pike Place’s two Latin markets, serves up homemade tamales, tacos, and burritos; if you like moderate spice, ask to add salsa quemada to your order.
- The café at DeLaurenti Italian Grocery has generous squares of pizza with gooey cheese for $3-4 plus hot panini and Italian pastries.
- If the line isn’t around the corner, Piroshky Piroshky offers flaky Russian pocket sandwiches and rolls (sweet pastries, too). Free smells!
- Macaroni and cheese lovers cannot miss the offerings of Beecher’s Handmade Cheese factory and café.
- Pear Delicatessen and Market features its own gourmet deli and an impressive selection of beverages to round out your lunch.
If you need a low-key lunch place for a group and it’s rainy, two food courts just a few blocks from the Convention Center will keep everyone covered, seated, and fed with both local and chain restaurant offerings. The top-floor food court of Westlake Center overlooks bustling Westlake Park; another small food court, the Market at Century Square, is just across the street at the base of Century Square Tower.
Are you vegan, or just looking to get some fiber, fresh juice or great taste during your trip? Juicy Café (on the Convention Center’s 2nd floor), Veggie Grill, and Evolution Fresh are nearby options.
What other notable food have you discovered in Seattle? Share it with us below!