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Monica Dimas is a chef, and Founder of Little Neon Taco and Westman’s Bagel & Coffee. Her guide takes you from historic Seattle hotels to time-tested city favorites and back again.
There are too many good things in this city to narrow down to a single list, so this is a “choose your own adventure” guide for Seattleites and visitors alike. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel and the Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel are both centrally located, historic hotels that make for perfect starting points. In a city that has seen so much new development in recent years, it’s rare to stay at a luxury hotel built on the original site of the University of Washington (the Fairmont) or one that rose from the ashes of the Great Seattle Fire (the Alexis). Let’s begin!
Ready for a day of adventure, I’d head downtown to Monorail Espresso for coffee, the original Seattle espresso stand that’s been fueling the city since 1980.
Lunch would be a sandwich from another time-tested favorite, George’s Deli. Later in the day, a stop at Freeway Park, the very first park built over a highway, is a favorite place to rest between downtown and Capitol Hill.
I’d recommend an afternoon walk through Seattle University’s campus gardens, a visit to the Museum of Museums, and browsing the shelves at Elliott Bay Book Co., an independently owned bookstore that’s been in Seattle for almost 50 years. Grab a coffee and bagel from my place, Westman’s Bagels. My favorite is our B.E.C. (bacon egg and cheese) on a roll. Ask for Aardvark hot sauce to do it right. For the veggie lovers out there, we do a carrot lox (yes, you read that correctly) that will blow your mind.
After a packed day, dinner would have to be takeout from Stateside, complete with duck rolls, goat curry (or the crispy chicken!), jasmine rice, and a chocolate torte.
FROM THE ALEXIS ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL
For more unique finds, head to FruitSuper, a curated gift shop featuring independent designers.
Spend the afternoon in the Chinatown-International District with lunch at Szechuan Noodle Bowl (order the green onion pancake, dumplings, and beef noodle soup), modern Vietnamese coffee from Hello Em, and fruit tarts from Cake House.
Rest your feet and take in the views at Kobe Terrace before heading back to the hotel. A little late-night room service via Metropolitan Grill while relaxing with a virtual tour of the Wing Luke Museum is a perfect way to end a day of adventure.
About the Author
Monica Dimas
For nearly two decades Monica Dimas has established herself as a leader in the Seattle food world whose passion for collaboration and innovation drives the growth of her successful restaurant group. Monica’s dedication to her businesses and the relationships behind them has resulted in a career focused on curating creative culinary spaces that fuel and inspire communities.
Currently, serving as chef and founder of Milkwood & Company, a restaurant group that includes her three Capitol Hill eateries, Monica combines her talent for brand building with business development, resulting in thriving, inclusive spaces that reimagine the roles that restaurants play as tools for transformative change.
Born in Mexico and raised in Yakima, Washington, Monica now divides her time between Tacoma and Seattle, with deep ties to both cities. When she’s not busy running her businesses, you’ll often find her refinishing antique furniture, spending time with her daughter, Fox, and exploring the communities that inspire her.
