Secret?! i think not. ;) Although it can appear rather secretive if you consider walking through it…read morethe first time (w/o knowing it's a tunnel) and ask yourself upon exiting "I was in an underground tunnel?" Yup. And a super COOL one at that, too. :) Fine shops, great lunch options, and a jackpot of historic Seattle photos - everything from the early days of dumping Pill Hill fill into Elliot Bay to the early Boeing airplanes. Downtown? Take a stroll down this tunnel. It begins/ends in Rainier Square and ends/begins in One/Two Union Square. Happy strolling. :)

I haven't visited enough underground tunnels to know if this one deserves 5 stars or not, so let's…read morework this out, arithmetic-style! 1 star for keeping me out of the rain, cold, and wind and away from motor traffic and waiting for crosswalk signals. 1 star for neat photos of old-time Seattle 1 star for a display of upcoming shows from the 5th Ave 1 star for the convenience store selling cards and snacks. There are also some little deli type eateries, a salon, and an art gallery, though I haven't taken advantage of any of them yet. All in all, this is a pretty spiffy way to get from 7th and Union to 4th and University without having to set foot outside - always a plus when it comes to dealing with Seattle's variable weather.

The garden is beautiful and it's a nice activity to do end of fall/early winter. It used to be free…read morethen they started tickets and now they've increased the price just like anything else. But it's worth going around the holiday time each year. I suggest going on a week day of you can to avoid lines and parking craziness. The first slot 4:30 is less busy also.

Wonderful, festive and pretty affordable for the holidays. Ticket cost $10 per person over 11 years…read moreold. Kids 10 and your gets in for free. The lights were fun to look at and had many floral and crops themed ones. It was also larger than I thought cause from the outside you can see a portion of it. The cafe was also open and I wish I can try all their drinks. Their white hot chocolate with whip cream was so good for the cool weather. Also very glad it did not rain on that day.

We couldn't get a reservation a month ahead, so we decided to walk in around 3:30 on a Friday and…read moregot seated right away. Desiree was so friendly and explained the menu really well. Everything we ordered was delicious, especially the halibut and linguine. We also loved the cozy Western vibe. Definitely a must-try if you're in Seattle!

DUOMO PINK! 4.8…read more The restaurant can be a little tricky to find, tucked away in an alley with no signage to guide you. It felt a bit like hunting for a hidden restaurant or speakeasy, with both of us keeping our eyes peeled for the elusive "pink" door. I had imagined a bright, eye-catching pink, but the actual door was a soft, milky pink set against a gray building. I later learned that its color was inspired by the tiles of the Duomo in Florence, Italy. We had reservations and arrived early, just before the restaurant opened for lunch. Two lines were already forming: one for guests with reservations and another for walk-ins. As the minutes passed, the walk-in line grew exponentially. I distinctly remember thinking, 1) This place must be really good, and 2) Thank goodness we made reservations! Once inside, I was surprised by the restaurant's sheer size and variety of dining spaces, each with its own personality and vibe. The options included a lounge and bar area featuring a rotating lineup of scheduled performers/musicians, several indoor dining rooms, and an al fresco dining area on the view deck overlooking the bustling street below, Pike Place Market, and Elliott Bay. We dined in one of the indoor dining rooms, which was bathed in natural light. Seated beside one of the large hopper windows, we opened it slightly to let in the fresh ocean air. Our order included: *Hot Lemon Tea ~ A comforting beverage to start our meal. *La Fettunta ~ Crispy, buttered garlic bread. We hadn't realized that complimentary bread and butter were included with the meal, so we ordered this as an extra. We're certainly glad we did! The irresistible crispness was perfect, and it paired beautifully with our pasta dishes. *Antipasto of the House ~ An assortment of prosciutto, Tuscan bean salad, fresh mozzarella, tapenade, grilled vegetables, and salumi. A lovely medley of flavors to begin our Italian lunch. *Linguine Alle Vongole ~ Baby clams in their shells, pancetta, garlic, chilies, and white wine. So fresh and absolutely delicious! The clams, paired with garlic and white wine, made this dish especially memorable. *Pappardelle al Ragù Bolognese ~ Slow-simmered meat sauce finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano. I sampled my husband's dish and especially loved the broad ribbons of pappardelle, cooked to perfection and ideal for catching every bit of that rich, savory sauce. Between the sweeping views, delicious food, attentive service, and lively, upbeat energy, this restaurant has so much to offer. The atmosphere was every bit as memorable as the meal itself. It's places like this that make traveling such a joy, turning an ordinary lunch into a delightful experience and another memorable chapter in our adventures!

You can not travel to Seattle and not come here. It's a tourist dream spot! But I have to say if I…read morewas a local I'd still be here often getting all my produce, meats and other goodies! I can't think of anything I would need outside of this market. We went it was a beautiful day, during the week. So crowd was not as bad as I assume it is on the weekends. But we decided to do a market food tour, which I would highly recommend doing The market is a nice size and I know for sure if we had not done the food we would of missed some things. The tour was also nice because we got to skip lines in some popular spots for food tasting and samples. Loved seeing them throw the fish. Sad they don't throw to non employees anymore but still a great show. All the stands provided samples and tastings. The flowers were beautiful and well priced. I could go on an on, but I would definitely save a day or two if visiting Seattle to visit, shop, eat, drink and just get some steps in. Lot of the places ship, I did ship home some expensive salmon, but hey when in Seattle ..lol

our last day in Seattle started early with Pike Place Market. pulling up at 7AM, the market was…read moregetting open, some areas already busy and giving out free samples, such as tuna and foods. i bought some seafood for later we also got breakfast here: we went or Le Panier, high end french breakfast. lastly, we took in the market and really spent 2-3 hour here

I first learned about the existence of this place when I saw some really cool photography at an art…read morewalk, and the person representing the photographer mentioned the photos were taken at the Georgetown Steam Plant. They mentioned it was a National Historic Landmark in Seattle, with free tours on second Saturdays. Whoa! I knew I had to check it out. Fast forward a few years later and I finally remembered it on a second Saturday, and set to go there. It's an open house from 10am-2pm, with tours at 10:30am, 11:30am, and 12:30am. We walked in and a kind gentleman at the entrance greeted us and let us know that admission was free, we could walk around and explore the main parts of the plant on our own, read some info displayed along the walls, view art scattered around for an art event they had, and if we like, they accept donations. He also mentioned their next tour was happening in about ten minutes. While waiting for the tour, we explored the main floor a bit, skimming the timeline on the walls, and passing by huge structures; a couple which we later found out are the last remaining operable vertical turbine generators of their kind in the world! The tour was led by a docent who did a wonderful job explaining everything we saw with its historic significance, especially relating to the city of Seattle. I never thought I'd be so engaged in learning about a Steam Plant, but somehow, he made it happen! This tour was awesome. It made me so glad the Georgetown Steam Plant still exists, and hope it continues to for years to come.

What an amazing space! This is a jewel on the south end of Georgetown and the steampunk rating is…read moreoff the chart. I came here to watch an innovative concert and the acoustics and overall experience made for a feast for the senses. The lighting work made for a truly ethereal moment but the permanent hardware is a sight to behold - tanks and pipes and valves galor. Reading the other reviews, I would love to come check out a tour and understand its history more, but it was a huge privilege being able to take in and enjoy the space for a few hours.

This was our first night in town. Our visit started out a little rough, but once they understood a…read moreservice dog they were great and so was he. We had a large party and ordered a few pizzas and several drinks. The staff was very sweet, on point, and the food was amazing (the pepperoni pizza with honey was amazing!).

I liked the freshness of this pizza. Delivery was quick not much of a wait and I ordered two…read moredifferent pizzas. Excellent taste. The thin slice fire pizza didn't have the fire roasted flavor but it's still delicious.

Ah, yes, The Gum Wall. One of the most exciting and disgusting things to see. And for me, it was…read moreone of the hardest/confusing places to find. Not because it is, but because I had no idea where I was in relation to this place. I was mere feet away from here and still somehow took the long way to get here. When I realized this, I wanted to kick myself. Who knew a wall covered in gum would be such a tourist draw. Located in Post Alley just off of Pike Place Market you will find this Seattle marvel. What started as an unexpected way to discard gum, became a well known city landmark. When the nearby Market Theater would not allow patrons to enter with gum, this became an area where that gum would go. At first, the gum had pennies pushed into them, later being removed, but the gum remaining. This wall extends over fifty feet and is as high as eight feet. It has been cleaned on several occasions. Reasons being to preserve the bricks. Not to worry, it returns after each cleaning. One cleaning it was said that 2 tons of gum was removed from the wall. Some contributors to the wall will put designs in their gum. Others, just push it into a mess that ever grows. Mostly on the wall, but anything near the wall can end up with gum on it, including street posts/signs. Great distraction, and definitely earned the tourist trap honor. One of a kind attraction to see.

A little bit disgusting but fun at the same time. Lol! It is located on the street below the big…read morePublic Market Center sign. We purchased gum from the window of the shop at the entrance of the gum alley. After a few minutes of chewing, we were ready to add our contributions. Haha! We went on a Monday around noon and it wasn't crowded at all.

We spent our last evening in Seattle with Chef Traci and it was so much fun! First, she is an…read moreamazing human being who clearly loves and gives so much back to the community she lives in. Our evening started with a tour of the market and we had a total blast tasting samples along the way. The special relationships she has built with so many of the businesses there made our tour extra special! Our group was small which made the cooking class so fun. We whipped up a fabulous meal in not time and everything tasted great! I appreciated her willingness to customize the menu based on my food preferences. We left feeling full and not just in our bellies but also in our hearts for the special evening we had!! Thank you Traci!

This spring I surprised my wife with Chef Traci's Market to Table cooking class at Atrium Kitchen…read more It was an amazing experience, and I'm already wondering when I can bring out-of-town guests. Chef Traci kicked off our morning class with freshly baked pastries as we discussed what we might want to cook that day. Then we headed into Pike Place Market, stopping at multiple businesses to meet the owners and try their delicious products. I've been to Pike Place many times, and there were a handful of shops I was experiencing for the first time. It really felt like we got VIP treatment because of the friendships Traci has built over the years. We picked out a beautiful King salmon and halibut cheeks at Pike Place Fish Market, and I even got to throw and catch a fish! Traci was knowledgeable and shared Pike Place Market's complex history along the way. Once we returned to Atrium Kitchen with our ingredients, we created two beautiful mains with the salmon and halibut, plus a couple of sides with the seasonal market vegetables we had picked up. Then it was time to dig in and enjoy our feast while chatting with Chef Traci and the other guests. There is something very special about being in Pike Place Market early in the morning before the throngs of tourists arrive. I highly recommend the morning tour and cooking class. It felt like a perfect way to experience Seattle's most famous attraction.

Very proper old school Italian with tremendous value…read more Caesar, caprese, good bread, puttanesca, simple spaghetti and meatballs all done well

dined at Sansonina Ristorante Italiano few days back, and the vibe was inviting and warm. perfect…read morefor a catch-up with friends or even a date night. We started with bruschetta, which was fresh and well-balanced. The gamberoni fiorentini stood out - prawns with great flavor. Had a immediate yes from everyone on the table. For pasta, we had linguine carbonara and tortellini con piselli - both rich and satisfying, and i belive they were hand made tortellini - I liked them and finished the entire plate by myself (nothing left to take home ) The tiramisu was good, but the chocolate lava cake fell short. It wasn't warm enough and lacked that molten center we hoped for. Overall, the service was friendly and helpful, rounding out a pleasant experience. We'll be back for the pasta! Rating: 4/5 Standout: Gamberoni Fiorentini, Tore

Came by the mural today to pay my respects , grab a bite to eat @ Tai Tung and do some KUNG FU…read moreFIGHTING! Great mutual of " The Master " Bruce Lee & kareem abdul-jabbar out front of an old school dining joint in Chinatown. The was no Game of Death meal but an opportunity to pay respects and dine. Props to for adding a mural to the front of business. It's very lifelike and great branding for a legendary eating establishment.