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United States historic place
Photo: Christopher S. Maloney (NorthLights), CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Pioneer Square is Seattle's oldest neighborhood, showcasing a wealth of art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, cool restaurants, and buzzing nightclubs within easy walking (or bus) distance of Downtown. The classic red brick buildings, cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages are a reminder of life a century ago. Just to its east, the International District is Seattle's historic Asian neighborhood.
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Formerly the city's leading theater. Only its exterior survives as the shell of a parking garage.
A key attraction in the Pioneer Square area, this is the Seattle branch of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the remainder of which is in Alaska. The site highlights the city's key role as the "Gateway to the Gold Fields" for most of the Klondike stampeders of 1897-1898. National Park Service Rangers and volunteers staff the museum and can provide information and perspective not only on the gold rush but also on Seattle's past. The museum contains many artifacts and historical photographs related to the Gold Rush, and movies about the gold rush and Seattle's history are shown upon request (except in summer, when they're shown on a regular schedule). Rangers also conduct free walking tours of the Pioneer Square area in the summer and demonstrate gold panning to school groups.
Japantown (Nihonmachi) once stretched 20 blocks, but the residents were forced into internment camps during World War II, and Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This alley features murals and exhibits of four landmark businesses that persisted after incarceration.
In the summer the community hosts a Japanese bon odori festival on the street out front.
Built in 1914, the Smith Tower was Seattle's first skyscraper, and the tallest building on the West Coast for nearly half a century before being overtaken by the Space Needle. Uniformed attendants operate the old copper and brass elevators from which you can peer into the different floors and offices as you ascend, an experience most people today have probably only witnessed in old movies. The outdoor Observatory on the 35th floor wraps completely around the four sides of the tower, providing panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, including Mt. Rainier, as well as of Elliott Bay, Downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square. The interior of the 35th floor contains a speakeasy-themed bar, formerly known as the Chinese Room for its ornately carved ceiling and a number of decorative flourishes imported from China in the early 20th century. There is an excellent 45 minute guided tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide (separate admission fee) about Seattle's history from the 1920s and beyond that is available. Also, there is an excellent independent coffee shop (Caffe Vita) in the Smith Tower (hours M–F: 7AM-5PM, Sa–Su: 8AM–3PM). Washington state residents can get admission for only $18 (with Washington state ID) and after 4pm Monday to Thursday admission is available to all for only $18 to the observation deck and bar only (museum not included for this price).
The Wing
The first Smithsonian affiliate in the Pacific Northwest, this museum features exhibits and programs related to pan-Asian American art, history, and culture. Admission includes a first-come-first-served guided tour of the preserved rooms in its historic 1910 building: an import grocery store, rooms of a hotel and a Chinese family association (allow 45-60 minutes). Neighborhood walking tours are also offered on weekends. Bruce Lee fans will enjoy the exhibits of his personal items. They are open until 8PM on the first Thursday of the month.
A small park in the center of Chinatown. Though you're not too likely to see old folks doing tai chi or playing checkers, it still has character.
This urban park is best known for its four totem poles carved by local artist Duane Pasco. It also has bocce courts, ping pong and foosball tables.
Pioneer Square proper is just a small corner park that's often occupied by homeless folks, but generally safe during the day.
This small, tranquil park features a 22-foot high waterfall cascading over granite boulders. The park occupies the site where two 19-year olds, James Casey and Claude Ryan, began a messenger service in 1907 in the basement of a tavern, which eventually grew up to become United Parcel Service (UPS). The Annie E. Casey Foundation, started by James Casey and his siblings in honor of their mother, created the park and maintains it "in honor of the men and women of United Parcel Service."
The Art Walk is almost synonymous with Pioneer Square and takes place on the first Thursday of every month. Galleries are open until 9PM. Show up early for the free wine and hors d'oeuvres.
A pinball machine museum where all the machines are on free play once you pay admission. There is soda and beer available.
A venue for cutting-edge theatrical productions.
The original Underground tour. Tours last 75 minutes, including a 15 minute introduction.
Search for ghosts and other paranormal activity at night. Tours last 90 minutes; arrive 15 minutes early to borrow and get trained on paranormal detection equipment.
An adults-only tour with a focus on the red-light district. Admission include a cocktail. 21 and older.
Groups are limited to 25 people for a more personal experience. Tours last 60 minutes. Spanish language tours available by appointment.
An adults-only tour with a focus on the "underside" of underground history: prostitution, gambling, drinking and vice. 18 and older. Tours last 90 minutes.
Numerous stalls and performances, and don't forget to partake in all the cheap food!
Chinese festival of food and outdoor market.
Specializes in pak mor, steamed rice flour dumplings or wraps served as street food in Thailand. You can have them served up in a range of soups and noodle dishes from a menu that's quite unlike other Thai food available in the states.
A restaurant/bar that serves homey Japanese food and pseudo-Western Japanese dishes like spaghetti with cod roe and curry rice. Popular with exchange students and occasional Seattle Mariners.
An odd, red boat-shaped shack serving Vietnamese noodle soup. Don't ask for a menu; the only choices are regular or large, and what kind of beef you want.
Flavorful tacos and burritos made entirely from plant-based ingredients.
East Coast style deli specializing in hoagies, including the delightful pastrami (dubbed Tastrami) and Philly cheesesteak with more varieties of cheese and wit's.
The food court of the Uwajimaya grocery store features 12 stands serving Asian cuisine, from Hawaiian BBQ to Hong Kong style baked goods and everything in-between, though the Thai offerings are not so good. The Chinese steam tables offer reliable, Western-style treats in large quantities for cheap. There aren't any real Japanese offerings, but just inside the grocery store, the deli to the right has plenty of sushi and other Japanese lunch items available, including some excellent bento meal sets that disappear quickly.
Very good vegetarian pizza place (a tasty vegan pizza is also available; call ahead to request it). The place also serves espresso, wine and Manny's Pale Ale on tap. World Pizza's signature pizza features roasted potatoes, garlic, rosemary and Gorgonzola.
Local favorite for dim sum. While very popular, don't let the seemingly long wait for a table sway you -- the line usually takes less than 30 minutes.
Hotpot style dining with your very own seemingly large pot and soup, with as much add-ons as you want. They also offer macaron ice cream.
Hong Kong-style noodle soup and congee (jook); great with a side order of Chinese donuts (you tiau). Very inexpensive.
Northern Chinese dumplings are perfect for sharing with a group. The different types of dumplings come with a multitude of fillings and prepared in various ways. While there are several other chains for dumplings (including the international Din Tai Fung and local Dough Zone), Ping's is an independent shop that's more homey and a bit cheaper.
This is not a fusion restaurant, but rather a Macau style restaurant. Which explains why you can order your Hong Kong style dishes with spaghetti and cream sauce. Purple Dot is open until really late on the weekends, where packs of 80 lb. red-faced co-eds can be spotted stumbling around in their glittery halter tops. The restaurant's decor may remind one of a Hong Kong style Mickey Mouse Club, with its colorful curved furnishings and fiesta patterned carpet. But at Purple Dot, the draw for authentic food overpowers the teeny bopper atmosphere, as during the day there are just as many families as there are clubbers at night. Wash down the Cajun chicken wings with an iced lemon tea, or stick to Cantonese soul food like jook and wonton mein.
The name in Chinese is Lao Sichuan (Old Sichuan Restaurant). Great dry-fried beans with chicken. Simple hotpot and tasty dumplings.
The name of the shop in Chinese means "Great King of Beef Noodles". Hole-in-the wall place. Limited selection of spicy noodle soups. Also provides dumplings.
This restaurant has been open since 1935 and is now the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle. It is run and owned by Harry Chan, who is the 3rd generation to continuously operate the restaurant. Look for the table where one-time regular Bruce Lee liked to sit.
Smaller pieces and a bit pricier, but fresh and tasty.
Family-run pub with a homely menu and atmosphere. Get your favorite Japanese entrées like tempura, teriyaki, donburi, noodles, and sushi (or an obento with an assortment of everything), or have some beer or shochu and linger for a while ordering small plates.
Very good sushi, as well as many non-sushi Japanese dishes. The restaurant claims to be at least 100 years old, although it has moved since its estimated founding date in 1904, and is considerably smaller than the grand space it occupied prior to World War II. Their sushi pieces are very large, and their prices are very reasonable. It is highly suggested to reserve on the day before you wish to eat here.
Salami sandwiches on artisan bread... can't beat it. There is often a line that can take over an hour to get through.
At the back of a steep and congested parking lot, three Vietnamese brothers created an atmosphere that feels like a Belltown Hotel than a rough Vietnamese strip mall, with a cool contemporary-style fountain. Try the fish paste with bacon, the spring rolls with a side of fresh peanut sauce, or the seven courses of beef. High quality service, sauces, and appetizers, served up artfully at Little Saigon prices.
Pool tables, Ikea furniture, and music videos entertain a mostly younger crowd. Oasis is known for its more fragrant-tasting bubble teas; specifically, they make fruit teas with real fruit.
The result of a unique renovation, Panama Hotel is both a teahouse and historical museum. Fine tea connoisseurs appreciate the wide selection of quality teas. The Panama Hotel once housed the personal belongings of interned Japanese Americans who had to sell their homes and abandon their businesses. The belongings that were never claimed, including pieces of furniture and a piano, are on display here.
Elegant and arty.
Pub with an indoor underground minigolf course.
Built in 1920 and refurbished a number of times, it's the most decent hotel in the Pioneer Square area. Rooms are compact but breakfast are generous and it's close to the King Street station and the stadiums.
In the historic Alaska Building, just around the corner from Pioneer Square.
formerly the American Hotel
Offers free breakfast, free wifi. Excellent common areas including a library, tv room, computer room and clean, spacious kitchen facilities. The location isn't the greatest, given the grit outside, but it is near everything and just a block from King Street Station.
Private, old-fashioned rooms, modest but clean, with bathrooms down the hall. Very relaxing tea and coffee house (see above), with free wireless internet connections. On the street level.
The commercial, if not cultural, hub of the International District is Uwajimaya Village, a huge Japanese supermarket with many smaller eateries and a branch of the Kinokuniya bookstore. If you need anything at all from Japan while in Seattle, this is the place to find it.
A branch of the international Japanese bookstore, crammed full of books from and about Japan as well as other merchandise. Stationery, plushies, K-pop CDs, and calligraphy supplies are just a few of the things you can find in the jam-packed aisles here.
An enormous and well-known Japanese supermarket, in business since 1928. The grocery store offers specialty items for almost all forms of Asian cooking. They have great produce, though not always the best prices. But most importantly, they have obscure items like kaffir lime leaves or entire lotus roots, labeled in English. An area on the side has Asian kitchen appliances like rice cookers, kitchenwares including a lot of Asian cookware, dishware, and utensils, and other home goods and supplies. Validated parking available.
By public transit
Most buses traveling south through Downtown on 2nd, 3rd or 5th Ave will stop near Yesler Way or Jackson St.
By train
King Street Station, served by Amtrak and Sounder, sits directly in the center of the area at 4th and Jackson.
These two neighborhoods are compact, with small blocks built for getting around on foot.
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