I was surprised how many best French restaurants in Seattle I could find, considering I had trouble finding awesome Italian restaurants when I first moved here. However there are some truly excellent French places to eat in the Emerald City. Yes, even after the famous Bastille and Cafe Presse closed!
To help you find the most delicious French food in the city, here’s my roundup of the best French restaurants in Seattle. Get ready to experience some seriously yummy versions of French classics like mussels, steak tartare, and more!
8 Best French Restaurants in Seattle
Pin this for later and check back, as I’ll update this list of the best French restaurants in Seattle when I find more!
The Walrus and the Carpenter
website | 4743 Ballard Ave NW | neighborhood: Ballard
There’s so much to love about The Walrus and the Carpenter, a restaurant inspired by the coast of France. It’s owned by James Beard-winning chef Renee Erickson, who is known for making beautiful, Instagram worthy restaurants.
I include Walrus in a lot of my “best of” articles because it churns out consistently excellent food. It has a cult following for serving some of the best fresh oysters in Seattle. It’s also on my list of the best fish restaurants in Seattle because overall the team knows how to handle seafood properly.
Be ready to wait for a table because this place is small. But trust me, it’s worth the wait. Plus you can grab a drink at their amaro bar, Barnacle, until your seat is ready.
What to get: Where do I start? The oysters and grilled sardines have both made it onto my ultimate list of must-eat dishes in Seattle. But this place is also home to the best steak tartare in Seattle too. It somehow manages to be creamier than any tartare I’ve ever tried. And it’s served with raw egg and thin rye toasts which give it a signature crunch. Add in some flakes of sea salt and oh man, it’s just life-changing.
Le Caviste
website | 1919 7th Ave | neighborhood: Belltown
Le Caviste is a hidden gem I almost don’t want to tell anyone about. It’s on my list of the best wine shops in Seattle because it’s a wine bar where you can buy bottles. But what most people don’t know is it has some of the best French food in Seattle.
It’s owned by David Butler, who used to actually be the sommelier at Le Gourmand (remember, the old restaurant by the owners who later opened the now-closed Marmite?). I remember going to Le Gourmand for special occasions, where David would crouch down by the table and take us on a journey of how he found the wine we were drinking in some desolate area of France (yes, I hated him because I was jealous).
When Le Gourmand closed, he opened Le Caviste so he could teach people about French wines and champion small producers. All the wine is written on a blackboard. So chances are you won’t be familiar with them, let alone know how to pronounce anything. But David and his friendly staff will do all the work if you tell them what you normally drink.
Squint and you’ll notice one of the blackboards also has food. Though small, the menu is an ode to French bistros with charcuterie boards, small plates, and a salad. There’s also usually an off-menu steak tartare and roast mushroom dish you can ask for.
What to get: I always get the Beaujolais charcuterie plate because it has the best butter I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously. I eat the butter.
I also always get the fish in parchment. It’s served with thinly sliced potatoes and garlicky butter, making for one hell of an irresistibly French dish.
Cafe Campagne
website | 1600 Post Alley | neighborhood: Downtown (inside Pike Place Market)
If you’re planning to take a self-guided tour of Pike Place Market, it’s worth slotting in a trip to Cafe Campagne while you’re exploring downtown Seattle.
The market itself may be all hustle and bustle, but this upscale French restaurant is tucked away on the quiet Post Alley. On the extensive menu, you’ll find a selection of classic appetizers like French onion soup and escargots with garlic and shallot butter. If you’re traveling as a group, the farmer’s board is a great way to sample comtè cheese and charcuterie with a generous serving of fresh baguette.
For something heartier, you can’t go wrong with steak frites or the boeuf bourguignon which is beautifully braised in red wine. Oh, and did I mention that it has one of the best wine lists around? Magnifique, indeed.
What to get: This is another French restaurant that kills it on the steak tartare front. But they also serve a super-fresh goat cheese salad with a sherry vinaigrette that I adore. It’s creamy, layered, and will transport you to a Parisian café on the banks of the Seine. Well, sort of.
Place Pigalle
website | 81 Pike St | neighborhood: Downtown (Pike Place Market)
Place Pigalle is tucked toward the back of Pike Place Market. It’s prime location gives it epic views of the waterfront from a small outdoor patio and big picture windows inside.
Service can sometimes be slow, but they make well-executed French classics like escargot, pate, pomme frites, and duck confit.
What to get: I always get their bouillabaisse. It’s served with a tomato saffron broth and comes heaping with a ton of fresh seafood.
L’Oursin
website | 1315 E Jefferson St | neighborhood: Central District
L’Oursin is one of the best French restaurants in Seattle because it combines local ingredients with classic French flavors to produce a blend that they call “Pacifique Northwest”.
This phrase is featured in the restaurant’s menu and describes the place well. You’ll find halibut from the Salish Sea, but will quickly see that it’s been transformed with a sea urchin veloute. Or take the arctic char that’s jazzed up with salmon roe. Everything is fresh, unique, and mouth-wateringly delicious, but this restaurant retains the signature character of French cuisine every step of the way.
The natural wines here are sourced from Maine and Chile for the most part, but you’ll also find local options from France and a selection of signature cocktails too. The Marguerite with Blanco tequila, grapefruit, and sparkling wine is a favorite in case you were wondering!
While you’re eating and drinking, you’ll be brightly lit by orb-shaped lamps. The accompanying rustic decor also gives off an earthy, woodsy vibe that feels warm and welcoming. If you can, call ahead and book a table by the wall as it feels way more private than some of the central tables.
What to get: The menu changes on the reg, so I recommend ordering whatever’s in season. If in doubt, check-in with the friendly servers who are always on hand to help you out.
Le Pichet
website | 1933 1st Ave | neighborhood: Downtown
Le Pichet has been open for as long as I’ve lived in Seattle. It’s just outside Pike Place Market and is the ideal spot for a cozy, no-nonsense meal that doesn’t cut corners when it comes to flavor and excellent service.
The food menu here is second-to-none, and you can choose from a variety of tantalizing appetizers, cold cuts, hearty mains, and sprawling cheese plates. Le Pichet is also known for its natural wines, and there’s an excellent selection of sparkling, red, and white options to suit every palate.
What to get: The slow-roasted chicken is moist, beautifully seasoned, and always perfectly cooked. I seriously found myself repeatedly saying how good this dish was as I was chowing down on it! Make sure you order it as soon as you sit down though, as it’s made to order and takes an hour to cook.
Gainsbourg
website | 8550 Greenwood Ave N | neighborhood: Greenwood
Gainsbourg is an unassuming spot that looks more like a dive bar from the outside than one of Seattle’s best French restaurants. But once inside you’re met with an old world-looking cocktail bar that has a robust menu of classic French comfort food.
This place is always buzzing with people chatting excitedly over cocktails. Since it’s a lounge, there’s a laid back vibe you won’t find at most of the other French restaurants in Seattle. So if you’re looking or a casual spot without the fuss, Gainsbourg is your answer.
What to get: The must gets here are the poutine and steak frites. Yes, you’ll be having fries on fries, but both are flawlessly executed with deep and complex flavors.
Maximilien
website | 81A Pike St | neighborhood: Downtown (Pike Place Market)
Maximilien is another one of the best French restaurants in Seattle located right inside Pike Place Market. Despite that though, it still feels like a hidden gem because it’s tucked in the back of a long hallway away from the market stalls.
It’s worth seeking out though because the food is flavorful and it’s home to one of the best restaurant views in Seattle. You can dine inside, but I always recommend asking for a table on the small outdoor patio next to the restaurant’s herb garden so you can take in those unbeatable views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.
They have one of the best happy hours in Seattle, so I usually try to get here on weekdays from 5-7 PM and Saturdays from 8-10 PM. It’s a great excuse to try a few signature cocktails, chow down on hearty French cuisine, and appreciate the views for a couple of heavily discounted hours!
What to get: The must-try dish here is the moules frites. The mussels are fresh and flavorful, and the fries are crispy and piping hot. If you’re a fan of French onion soup, they’re also known for serving a mean cup.
More Seattle food to try
If you’re looking for more great food in Seattle, check out a few more of my favorite places to dine in the city!
