If you’re looking for the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle, you must be celebrating a special occasion or looking for a unique date night meal. Lucky you, there are a lot of options.
When I first moved here that wasn’t the case. I grew up just outside New York City, one of the world’s capitals of fine dining. More than a decade ago there were only about 3 Seattle fine dining options, as this is a city that prefers its cheap eats and casual restaurants.
Now you can find a bunch of upscale restaurants with multi-course tasting menus, servers who would give you a kidney, and luxurious ambiance that emerges you in how the other half lives…if only for a few hours.
Whether you’re looking for splurge-worthy sushi, beautifully tweezed micro greens, or anything in between, here are the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle, Washington.
Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Seattle
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more restaurants as I discover them!
Archipelago
website | 5607 Rainier Ave S (Hillman City) | cuisine: Filipino
Funny story about Archipelago. I had reservations to dine at this Filipino restaurant in March 2020, but they were obviously canceled because of the pandemic. I finally ate here for the first time in July 2021 and let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
Husband and wife owners, Aaron and Amber, built an exceptional fine dining restaurant in Seattle that’s not too stuffy. They only serve about 10 people at a chef’s counter, but it feels like you’re in the home of that friend who’s fanatic about cooking.
There’s often 90s hip hop music playing while the staff serves everyone simultaneously a 6-12 course menu that changes with the season. The dishes look Michelin-star plated, but then you write down how hungry you are halfway through so they can adjust the amount of the last entree to ensure you don’t go home hungry.
They share personal stories connecting each course to their Filipino heritage, bust out jokes, and even have Cora natural tampons in the bathroom. It’s this balance of luxury, warmth, and personal touches that got them noticed by James Beard and countless national foodie magazines. Getting noticed makes reservations hard to come by, but trust me, you should persevere so you can dine here.
What to order
You can’t choose because it’s a set menu that runs ~$255pp all in, but make sure to get the juice pairing. It’s thoughtful and more interesting than your typical wine with dinner (though no judgement if another person in your party gets that and you go splitsies). Note, dietary restrictions need 4 days advance notice.
Cafe Juanita
website | 7202 NE 120th Pl (Kirkland) | cuisine: Italian
Ok I know this isn’t in Seattle proper, but it’s one my favorite fine dining restaurants near Seattle worth the drive. Plus it’s in the same town as DERUmarket, which serves my favorite cake in all the world and some of the best desserts in Seattle.
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 a quiet part of Kirkland surrounded by lush trees. The tasting menu changes regularly to create northern Italian dishes using locally-sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients.
There was almost a 10 year gap between when I last went to Cafe Juanita and when I went more recently for Dan’s birthday. Every single dish was excellent and the staff was so kind. Given their penchant for pasta, some of our favorite dishes were the tajarin and risotto dishes we added to our meal. We also couldn’t stop gushing about their house-made bread, particularly the potato bread.
What to order
The tasting menu is the only option. It runs around $185-$205pp not including drinks. The difference depends on if you order the omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, or vegan menu. You can also add on dishes for an extra fee.
The Corson Building
website | 5609 Corson Ave S (Georgetown) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
This is one of the best Seattle restaurants good for private dining events. It’s in a historic stone home with lush English country garden vibes surrounding it. I saw photos from someone who had a wedding here and have since kept it on my short list of wedding venues or spaces for a special occasion.
The menu changes regularly and focuses on Pacific Northwest cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients. They offer both an a la carte menu on Thursdays and Fridays or a prix fixe menu Saturday and Sunday. They have a covered outdoor heated patio which is a great spot to sit for seriously romantic vibes.
What to order
The ~$115pp prix fixe is the way to go to really appreciate the ever-changing seasonal menu. If you do go a la carte, don’t miss their salads. They are always so well balanced and highlight the season’s produce.
Altura
website | 617 Broadway E (Capitol Hill) | cuisine: northern Italian meets Pacific Northwest
Altura is one of the hidden gem Seattle restaurants among this list of fine dining options. It’s tucked among a bunch of casual restaurants, bars, and shops. You wouldn’t expect to find a fancy spot in such an unassuming place, but Altura is worth seeking out for their inventive take on Italian.
They focus on northern Italian dishes using seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients. But unlike places like Spinasse or Cafe Juanita that lean into the rustic elegance of this region’s cuisine, Altura delivers a more avante garde, almost Japanese-like approach. For example, one dish during my last meal was a mussel served in a cigar-like box with smoke billowing out of it.
However, flare like this doesn’t mean the restaurant is stuffy. Rather, it’s homey thanks to plenty of irreverent statues and biblical tchotchkes you’d fine in any nonna’s home.
Oftentimes you get a few dud courses when you order a multi-course tasting menu, but the vast majority of what I’ve eaten at Altura is exceptional. During our last meal the only comments we had were that we wished one of the desserts was less boozy, that the pasta dish lost the pork belly and gained more acid, and that the salmon and veal tartare had more salt. But honestly, all of these observations were splitting hairs.
We’d be here all day if I took you through every standout dish I’ve had at Altura, but one of the most memorable parts of the meal is the stuzzichini small bites course at the beginning. You get an array of about 6 bites that pack a lot of creativity for only a brief moment on your palate. I’m still thinking about the white asparagus and sturgeon custard that was smoky and silky. Oh, and the sea urchin parsnip cannoli that somehow made me like uni thanks to the sweet parsnip cutting down the brine.
Altura also makes excellent desserts and cocktails. My meal ended with their take on an affogato, which had pistachio gelato and the most comforting hot chocolate that was zhuzhed up with an aerator. I was equally as impressed with the candied kumquat garnish on my cocktail, which somehow evoked the flavors of orange candy. No detail is missed at Altura, so you’re in for a treat if you choose to dine here.
What to order
The only option is their tasting menu, which runs about $175pp for 9-10 courses. There’s also often an option for an add-on dish. When we went it was Japanese wagyu beef rated an 11 on the 12-point scale. It cost $25 per ounce with a 2 ounce minimum per person, which is a lot of money but believe it or not, cheaper than most other steak restaurants in Seattle.
If you’d like to try their cuisine, but don’t want to splurge on a tasting menu, try their a la carte restaurant Carrello across the street, one of Seattle’s best Italian restaurants.
Eden Hill
website | 2209 Queen Anne Ave N (Queen Anne) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
This is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle for birthdays and anniversaries. During non-pandemic times you’re led through a tasting menu with special little touches from the staff. For example, when I went we were given thyme tattoos that the server literally put on us at the table. I had a thyme-scented scratch-and-sniff tattoo on my arm for days to remember the experience.
The restaurant in Queen Anne offers indoor and outdoor dining in a fancy-but-not-stuffy setting. There is whimsical floral wallpaper and clean, modern furnishings to avoid it looking granny. You can also experience the magic of the restaurant sans the in-person ambiance with their take home tasting menu.
What to order
I had life changing pork belly here when I went, so if you see it on the menu, get it. However, since this is a seasonal, ingredient-driven restaurant, you’re best bet is to enjoy the ~$130-$150pp set tasting menu selected by the chef.
Pro tip: Their more casual concept, Big Max Burger Co. (previously known as Eden Hill Provisions), is open for takeout. They make one of Seattle’s best burgers, so add this to your list to try too!
Copine
website | 6460 24th Ave NW (Ballard) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
Copine is another Seattle fine dining restaurant I went to for my birthday. They focus on exquisitely plated dishes highlighting locally sourced ingredients. The menu is pre fixe for ~$140pp, but they also have a bar where they offer a la carte snacks too.
What to order
Their menu changes regularly based on the season, but two staples are the smoke cherries and house rolls with butter. The smoked cherries are divine in cocktails and on desserts. You can even take a jar home! And those rolls and butter…oh my god I could eat them for days. Make sure to get these!
Spinasse
website | 1531 14th Ave (Capitol Hill) | cuisine: Italian
Spinasse is not only one of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle hands down. They serve gorgeous northern Italian cuisine in a cozy restaurant that could be mistaken for a trattoria right out of Italy.
The menu is mostly served a la carte, but I like getting the Menu Degustazione tasting menu. For ~$115 per person you get every item on the menu except desserts and sides served family style. It’s an awesome way to experience everything they have to offer, especially if you struggle to decide what to get like me!
What to order
Spinasse is serving some of the best pasta in Seattle, so definitely make sure to get this. I’m partial to their butter and sage tajarin, but you can’t really go wrong with any of their pasta dishes.
The other secret stunner on the menu is the milk-braised pork when available. It comes with the most addictive sauce that reminds me of sausage gravy you’d get on grits at a southern breakfast spot. But it’s more deeply flavored with herbs.
84 Yesler
website | 84 Yesler Way (Pioneer Square) | cuisine: Italian-French leaning
84 Yesler is a quiet restaurant in a historic building near downtown Seattle. The space is all open with uninterrupted views into the kitchen so you can watch the women-led culinary team deftly work. The building’s character is evident through wooden beams and brick walls, but there’s a cozy moderness in the decor.
You can expect a seasonal menu with flawless executed dishes and beautiful preparation. You’ll always find pasta on the menu. In fact, you’ll oftentimes see chefs making pasta while you dine.
What to order
They have a tasting menu for ~$120pp for 4 courses or ~$160pp for 6. I recommend going a la carte though because there are a few mainstays on the ever-changing menu that you must try.
The first is the Parmesan churros. They somehow managed to marry the exact flavor of crispy Parmesan into the texture of a churro. I couldn’t stop saying, “Oh my god,” as I ate it.
Lemon beurre blanc and Dungeness crab pappradelle is the second must-try dish. It’s so lemony and fresh, with the most perfect chew on the homemade pasta.
Lastly, don’t skip the steak tartare. Visually it had finely-minced fried shallot and chives symmetrically divided on the top. It was creamy thanks to an egg yolk jam, with the perfect balance of acid to cut through the meatiness.
Atoma
website | 1411 N 45th St (Wallingford) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
Atoma is one of the newer spots on this list of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle. It opened in the craftsman home on 45th that used to house Maria Hine’s restaurant, Tilth, so it’s a welcome revival of one of the cutest restaurants in Seattle.
It’s owned by Chef Johnny Courtney and his wife, Sarah. Johnny used to be the executive sous chef at Canlis, so he has fine dining chops and a slight Asian influence to his otherwise southern and European-style cooking. But while Atoma makes dishes as intricate and beautiful as you may find at Canlis, this place is anything but stuffy, and the menu is a la carte so it’s not as pricey.
“Atoma” is Greek for invisible and that’s what the team tries to do: celebrate the invisible craft that goes into executing a spectacular dish from farm to table. The menu is focused, so you can order a bunch of dishes. We enjoyed every dish we got, but there are some standouts.
What to order
The rosette cookie is probably the most novel. Don’t just take my word for it: the dish was featured in the NY Times’ best dishes of 2023. It’s a delicate savory pastry shaped like the famous Scandinavian cookie and filled with onion jam. It’s crunchy, rich, and the perfect bite to start your meal.
Other standouts included the radish cake, kampachi ceviche, black cod, and roasted sunchokes. The latter was like patatas bravas and super addictive. If any of these are on the menu, definitely get them!
Off Alley
website | 1/2 4903 Rainier Ave S (Columbia City) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
I remember hearing a lot of buzz about Off Alley when they opened. However since it’s tiny and I live in North Seattle, it took me a while to try it. That’s a shame, because this place is making exceptional food.
There are only ~12 seats running along a bar. You’ll see brick walls on either side that indeed make it feel like an alley. In fact, it was. Someone with an entrepreneurial spirit enclosed it in the early 1920s and it’s been operating as a restaurant ever since.
Given it’s tiny, you can expect to wait as a walk-in. Luckily there are plenty of nearby bars to grab a drink while you wait. Or you can plan ahead and try to snag a reservation.
The menu is handwritten on a board and changes daily with what’s in season. They’ve been a bit branded as a nose-to-tail restaurant given there’s often a lot of off-cut meats, but they actually focus on what’s in season. For example, when we went there was a ton of seafood on the menu. The food is both simple and creative, and just about everything is flawlessly executed. So expect to eat well at Off Alley.
What to order
You can get a ~8 course set menu for ~$205 pp, but you can also order a la carte dishes. While it’s likely not going to be on the menu, my favorite dish during my last visit was a geoduck with black trumpet mushrooms. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked in butter and the geoduck sliced thin so it wasn’t chewy despite being raw. It was also served with an acidic vinaigrette that cut through the butter and made the dish feel lighter.
Violet
website | 1734 12th Ave (Capitol Hill) | cuisine: American
Violet is a restaurant that flies under the radar as one of Seattle’s best fine dining restaurants. That’s because its a la carte menu and energetic space makes it feel appropriate for a weeknight gathering with friends, but it also serves a 5-course tasting menu perfect for a special occasion.
The food is focused and simple, yet prepared with near flawless execution. You won’t find a ton of foams and avante garde techniques, but rather a finessed craftsmanship that lets their high-quality ingredients shine.
What to order
Food wise there were so many winners. If you decide to go a la carte instead of getting the ~$95 American omakase, the black cod with brown and miso butter is an absolute must. Black cod dishes are often Asian-leaning, so I love Violet’s take. If it’s available, definitely get this dish.
Another standout? The Nerdzzzzz cocktail. It actually has crushed Nerdz candy as a sugar rim and I find myself thinking about it often.
Sushi Kashiba
website | 86 Pine St (Downtown) | cuisine: Japanese
While I prefer the equally high-end Taneda, one of the other best sushi restaurants in Seattle, Sushi Kashiba is easier to get into and so it’s a more accessible fine dining option. Located in Seattle’s best farmers market, this is is one of the best fish restaurants in Seattle. It’s owned by Shiro Kashiba, who learned the art of sushi making from master Jiro in Japan.
You’ll often see him still slinging perfectly-crafted nigiri and rolls being the chef’s counter. From his and his team’s hands you’ll enjoy some of the freshest, most tasty sushi you’ll likely ever try. Despite being pricey, it’s one of my go-to restaurants in Seattle for sushi.
What to order
While you can order a la carte, splurge for the omakase tasting menu, preferably enjoyed from the chef’s counter. They just bring you out sushi and don’t tell you how much it’s going to cost or how much you’ll get, but you can expect around 20 pieces. At the end they’ll ask you if you want to revisit anything or if you want to order from the a la carte menu. I always do this and never regret the $400+ price tag for 2 afterwards.
Tomo
website | 9811 16th Ave SW (White Center) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
Tomo is owned by a Canlis alum, so the fine dining chops run deep here. Yet it’s a touch more casual and hip, catching the attention of local food publications and the James Beard Foundation. As a result, it can be difficult to snag a reservation here.
For ~$115pp you get 6 courses in addition to an amuse bouche. One of the biggest complaints I hear about this restaurant is that they claim it’s an affordable tasting menu, but the portions are small. Maybe because our menu had a hearty bean dish, but we didn’t leave hungry. We weren’t stuffed, but comfortably satisfied.
Highlights from our meal included the opening fried potato cake with caviar and dill sauce, perfectly-roasted salsify, and a sesame semifreddo with orange creamsicle-like vibes. We also couldn’t stop gushing over the cocktails and sauces. It must be the fine dining pedigree of its chef, but dang they know how to make a sauce!
What to order
The tasting menu used to be the only option, but they now have an a la carte menu too. It changes regularly, so get what looks good. Don’t miss the cocktails!
Harvest Beat
website | 1711 N 45th St (Wallingford) | cuisine: vegan
You heard that right: one of the best vegan restaurants in Seattle is also one of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle. They use hyper-local ingredients and change the menu regularly to utilize as much of the food as possible so as to reduce waste.
They’re doing super interesting things with vegetables. Seriously, I didn’t even miss the meat when eating things like “beet poke” or “mushroom lasagna’.
But the best part is their obvious reverence for sustainability as told by the dining experience during non-pandemic times. A light gong sound hushes the dining room so that the chef can share a story about the farmers who helped bring the dishes to life for the meal. I love hearing stories about makers, so I found this to be one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
What to order
There’s nothing specific to recommend because the ~$135pp set menu changes so often, but definitely get the non-alcoholic drink pairings. This was one of my favorite parts of the meal. I didn’t even miss the alcohol!
Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
website | 10400 NE 4th St (Bellevue) | cuisine: steakhouse
I stalled on going to Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi for a long time. It’s all over Instagram thanks to its dazzling drinks and desserts leveraging a heavy dose of dry ice. I thought it’d be all theatrics and no substance, but boy was I wrong. This is hands down one of Seattle’s best restaurants with views and good food.
Ascend is on the 31st floor of Lincoln Square mall. When you enter there are floor-to-ceiling windows on most of the walls, with an outdoor patio that rivals most of the rooftop bars in Seattle. You can choose to sit at normal tables in the dining room or couches in the lounge. Reservations are recommended, but they don’t take specific requests for window seating. No matter, there are great views from most seat.
While they have sushi, I’d say this fine dining restaurant near Seattle is more of a steakhouse. It’s like what you’d find in Las Vegas: everything is immaculately plated and they love grande gestures like picking up lids to reveal a ton of smoke. They serve both American and Japanese wagyu beef that will rack up a pretty penny, but it’s likely some of the best steak you’ll eat in your lifetime.
The service here is also exceptional. Case in point, they overcooked our wagyu steak that we splurged on for more than $200 (I know, don’t judge me!). I never, ever send anything back, but we couldn’t justify not sending back something so expensive. They immediately apologized, brought out an immaculately-cooked replacement, comped the steak, and gave us a free dessert. I’ve had others tell me their inconsistent, but if they make up for it by trying again, I’ll take it.
What to order
So much of Ascend’s menu is awesome. Try to go for happy hour so you can take advantage of some of the discounted prices since this place is pricey. If they’re on the menu get the deviled eggs, tuna and prosciutto hand roll, burger, and Dungeness crab mac and cheese. You should also probably get steak! While I don’t know if I’d ever spend $200 on steak again, the miyazaki prefecture wagyu beef from Japan was like literal butter.
Il Nido
website | 2717 61st Ave SW (West Seattle) | cuisine: Italian
Il Nido is not only one of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle, it’s also one of the best best restaurants in West Seattle. It was opened by Mike Easton of now-closed Il Corvo fame. He is one of the godfathers of pasta in Seattle, so it was a sigh of relief knowing you could still try his James Beard award-nominated food at this fine dining restaurant concept built in a refurbished historic building.
However, he’s since sold the restaurant to his employees and is no longer affiliated with the restaurant. However, it’s common for popular chefs to get further away from the kitchen as they grow in popularity, so rest assured you are still getting the same pasta expertise that he handed down to his staff.
What to order
Pasta is an absolute given, but one of the secret stunners on the menu is the pork or steak, when available. Make sure to get this too!
Aerlume
website | 2003 Western Ave (Downtown) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
Aerlume has arguably one of the best Seattle viewpoints. Located across the street from Pike Place Market, the back of the restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows and a small deck with sweeping views of the Puget Sound. The ambiance is luxurious and modern, with glass separating areas of the dining room and a huge fire pit right in the middle of the restaurant.
What to order
If it’s on the menu, get the steak tartare. It’s one of the best steak tartare in Seattle.
The Butcher’s Table
website | 2121 Westlake Ave (South Lake Union) | cuisine: steakhouse
In trying to decide which of the Seattle steakhouses I’d consider the best fine dining in Seattle, it was a bit of a toss up between The Butcher’s Table, The Metropolitan Grill, and Bateau. But after thinking long and hard about my experience at all of them, The Butcher’s Table had the best food of the bunch.
This restaurant has incredibly glamorous decor. You walk into an atrium with a multi-story chandelier, art installation thing that I don’t even want to know how much it cost. The dining room is split into zones with posh and moody lounge vibes. If you’re led downstairs, you’ll be met with a cigar-lounge-type space in the basement that really highlights the extravagance of a fine dining steakhouse.
What to order
Get the beef flight sampler. It’s a great way to experience a bunch of different meat cuts at once. They also make a mean burger, so get it if it’s on the menu to try one of the best sandwiches in Seattle.
Canlis
website | 2576 Aurora Ave N (Queen Anne) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
This is probably the fine dining restaurant in Seattle most people think of when asked where to go for a fancy meal. It’s been in Seattle since 1950 and still exudes hyper cool, original midcentury vibes.
Located in Queen Anne, the dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Union. In fact, parties of 2 are seated next to each other so they can both take in the gorgeous views while celebrating a special occasion.
What to order
The ~$180pp tasting menu is the only option.
The Herbfarm
website | 14590 NE 145th St (Woodinville) | cuisine: Pacific Northwest
The Herbfarm is another of those best fine dining restaurants in Seattle not technically in Seattle. Rather it’s located in Woodinville 30 minutes east of the city, the perfect location for spending the day exploring the best wineries in Woodinville.
They focus on locally-sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients and turn them into a 9-course tasting menu served during one seating time per night. The menu is themed and changes regularly. For example, one time I went for a special occasion and it was salmon themed. Another time, truffle themed. Another time still, 100-radius themed where all the ingredients came within 100 miles of the restaurant.
Their commitment to local is evident in the ambiance of the restaurant. It’s made to look like an English countryside cottage. Across the parking lot is a micro greens garden they use for meals and to house their adorable pigs. You get to take a tour of the gardens before your meal, as well as the wine cellar with a bottle as old as George friggin’ Washington.
What to order
This isn’t relevant given the ever-changing themed menu that runs ~$325pp, but if you’re feeling wild get a glass of a once-in-a-lifetime bottle of wine from their impressive cellar.
More date night ideas in Seattle
After you make it through this list of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle, check out my other guides.
- Go on a self-guided food crawl
- Dine at the best Seattle restaurants for a date night
- Road trip to these restaurants worth the drive from Seattle
- Bond over these epic experience gifts in Seattle
- Cross off items from this Seattle for foodies bucket list
- Spend the day wine tasting around Seattle
- Book a night in one of these dreamy winter cabins
I think Copine does such a great job, we are ordering takeout from there soon!
I agree! Such a good spot for a special meal! I haven’t gotten their takeout yet, but totally bought a jar of those cherries and have them in my fridge right now!