Seattle WA, home to Amazon and Microsoft who I name because I do avail myself of their services, and also the birthplace of a Coffee house chain I tend not to. Why is there no Cafe Nervosa?
I have always associated Boeing with Seattle as an uncle worked with them for decades. However, having been to Renton, I now know differently.
Spectacular sunsets over the Olympic Mountains can be viewed from the Pike – Public Market. Mt. Rainier, part of the Cascade volcano range, sits menacingly on the south-eastern horizon. One day …
In 2018, booked to stay at the Marco Polo Motel in Fremont, a link with Nirvana was established, I have none of their albums. Having seen every episode of Frasier and Grey’s Anatomy, it is now fun to spot the second unit insertion of scenes from Seattle, places at which I have stood, and presumably most of the actors have not.
Places of interest visited:
Space Needle
Pike Place Market
Monorail
The Museum of Flight
The original Starbuck’s
Marco Polo Motel
Arriving in Seattle
Arriving by ‘Plane
Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Sea Tac) lies some thirty minutes by Light Rail from Downtown. The Green – 1 Line – in the direction of Lyynwood City Center takes you there faster than any bus. It is a ten minute walk through the car park, Level 4, from Arrivals to the train station.
Passport Control queues entering the USA have long been dreaded. 2026 was the first time arriving at Sea Tac on an international flight. Thirty minutes wait for the luggage before joining the longest line ever seen at an airport for immigration. Fifty minutes, significantly less than reported at European airports for – Non Schengen / British travellers.
Arriving by Train
The terminus is in the south of the Downtown area – King Street. If you have checked in your luggage it is collected for an airport-style conveyor belt.
A tip to all travellers relying on public transport, get yourself an ORCA card as soon as possible. Over 65’s – Honored Citizens – receive a significant discount. The ticket office is on the far corner of the block facing – King Street – the main train station at 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104.
Once ticketed, travel by Bus, Transit and Tram at your will. The online app – Transit Go Ticket – may additionally cover water taxis, however, it appears one may have to buy passes for each mode of transport separately.
Buy an ORCA card! The Senior card even has your name printed on it and lasts for as long as the bearer.
Four nights were spent in Seattle in June 2018 on a trip that was all about – chasing the hop. Fremont was chosen as the optimum location to stay. Outlander Brewery and Pub (nothing to do with another TV series) became our local. Another four nights in 2024, Belltown was the chosen Downtown locus, one learns having put feet on the ground. 2026, eight nights split with a four day trip to Portland OR, and the realisation that this was still not enough time to get round all the brewery taprooms.
In 2018, a certain Seattle Curry House was visited twice, Chili’s South Indian Cuisine. This was only eatery on the entire trip from California through Oregon to Washington where this occurred. That should say everything.
There was a celebrated return in 2024 on Days 50 and 52 of Around The World In 80 Days.
The Space Needle? It doesn’t exactly get very close to – space.
The Bier
There are more options than any tourist could ever manage. This is where Bier-Traveller comes into its own.
The Brewpubs, taprooms and bars visited:
Downtown / Belltown
Cloudburst Brewing – 2116 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Here Today Brewery & Kitchen – 2815 Elliott Ave Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98121
Elysian Fields – 542 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Just The Tap Belltown – 90 Blanchard St, Seattle, WA 98121
Locust Cider Market Place – 2003 Western Ave Suite 110C, Seattle, WA 98121
Teku Tavern + Cafe – 552 Denny Way, Seattle WA 98109
The Pike Brewing Company (closed) – 1415 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
still to be visited:
Old Stove Brewing Company – 1901 Western Ave, WA 98101
Seattle Beer Co – 1427 Western ave, Seattle WA 98101
The Taproom at Pike Place – 1525 1st Ave #16, Seattle WA 98101
Rueben’s Brews – Downtown Seattle Taproom – 1201 1st ave, Seattle WA 98101
Lowlander Brewing – 419 Occidental Ave S, Seattle WA 98104
Fast Fashion Brewing – 1723 1st Ave S, Seattle WA 98134
Ghostfish Brewing Company Taproom – 2942 1st ave S, Seattle WA 98134
Seapine Brewing Company – 2959 Utah ave S, Seattle WA 98134
Ballard / NW
Stoup Brewing – 1108 NW 52nd St, Seattle, WA 98107
Urban Family Brewing Co. – 1103 NW 52nd St, Seattle, WA 98107
Reuben’s Brews – The Taproom – 5010 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Great Notion – Ballard – 5101 14th Ave NW Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98107
Lucky Envelope Brewing – 907 NW 50th St, Seattle, WA 98107
Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom – 826 NW 49th St, Seattle, WA 98107
Trailbend Taproom – 1118 NW 50th St, Seattle, WA 98107
still to be visited:
Obec Brewing – 1144 NW 52nd Street, Seattle WA 98107
Wheelie Pop Brewing – 1110 NW 50th Street, Seattle WA 98107
Fair Isle Brewing – 936 NW 49th Street, Seattle WA 98107
The Canning Line at Reuben’s Brews – 800 NW 46th Street, Seattle WA 98107
Maritime Pacific Brewing Company – 1111 NW Ballard Way, Seattle WA 98107
Jolly Roger Taproom and Rooftop Brewing – 1111 NW Ballard Way, Seattle WA 98107
Cloudburst On Shilshole – 5456 Shilshole Ave NW, Seattle WA 98107
Old Stove Brewing Co – Gardens – 1550 NW 49th Street, Seattle WA 98107
Fremont
Fremont Brewing Company – 1050 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Outlander Brewery and Pub (closed) – 225 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103
still to be visited:
Gasworks Brewing – 2441 N Northlake Way, Seattle WA 98103
NE / University Area
Ravenna Brewing Co. – 5408 26th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Big Time Brewery & Alehouse – 4133 University Way Northeast Seattle WA 98105
Floating Bridge Brewing (closed) – 722 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105
still to be visited:
Ladd & Lass Brewing – 722 NE 45th Street, Seattle WA 98105
Burke-Gilman Brewing Company – 3626 NE 45th Street #102, Seattle WA 98105
Capitol Hill (still to be visited)
Outer Planet Brewing – 1812 12th Ave. #100, Seattle WA 98122
Elysian Capitol Hill Brewery – 1221 E Pike Street, Seattle WA 98122
Stoup Brewing Capitol Hill – 1158 Broadway, Seattle WA 98122
Beacon Hill
Perihelion Brewery – 2800 16th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
Georgetown (still to be visited)
Georgetown Brewing Co., 5200 Denver Ave S, Seattle WA 98108
Great Notion Brewing – 6235 Airport Way S, Suite 102, Seattle WA 98108
Jellyfish Brewing Company – 917 S Nebraska Street, Seattle WA 98108
Original Rainier Brewery – 5900 Airport Way S, Seattle WA 98134
Mirage – 927 S Homer Street, Seattle WA 98108
The restaurants and cafes visited:
Chili’s South Indian Cuisine – 4220 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Qazis Indian Curry House – 473 N 36th St, Fremont, Seattle, WA 98103
Sound View Cafe – 1501 Pike Pl #501, Seattle, WA 98101
Starbucks – 1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101
Salt and Straw Cap – Pike Motorworks, 714 E Pike St Suite A, Seattle, WA 98122
Gelatiamo – 1400 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Wings Cafe – 9404 E Marginal Wy S, Seattle, WA 98108
