Pioneer Square
Establishment
neighborhood
Peter Miller
304 Alaska Way, Pioneer Square
Seattle is home to a healthy roster of excellent bookshops, of which design-focused Peter Miller is arguably the most notable. In addition to a library of tomes that span all manner of topics from architecture to landscape design to interior decorating, the shop carries a tight selection of design-y home décor, drafting supplies, and other related goods.
Taylor Shellfish
410 Occidental Ave., Pioneer Square
While there’s certainly no shortage of great seafood joints in Seattle, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bars is our pick for pre-dinner appetizers (their selection of oysters is one of the city’s biggest). The fifth-generation family fishing business has expanded to include three oyster bars in Seattle, all of which uphold the family commitment to sustainable fish farming and sourcing locally grown produce. The Shuckers Dozen, a composition of various oysters, is a good entry point. There are now three locations in Seattle (the other two are in Capitol Hill and Queen Anne).
Slate Coffee Roasters
602 2nd Ave., Pioneer Square
The baristas at Slate are total connoisseurs—from the source of the beans to the grinding process to the water quality, they're obsessed with every detail of the coffee-making process. What's more, they're extraordinarily friendly and happy to give you a full education on the current (generally always light) roast. While the original Ballard location has Wifi, the tiny space can get pretty crowded: The newer University and Pioneer Square locations are better suited for working.
Good Bar
240 2nd Ave. S, Pioneer Square
Business partners and husband-wife pair Josh and Nancy Kelly had been dreaming of their own restaurant for years when they fell in love with Good Bar's historic space in Pioneer Square. Unfortunately, preserving the same vintage details they fell in love with severely limited the space Josh (a long-time chef) would have to cook in. To adapt, he flipped the concept from a restaurant with a bar to a bar with food. The cocktail and beer program here is one of the city's best, but Josh's culinary pedigree means that even the limited bar food menu is pretty show-stopping. This place is best enjoyed during happy hour, when you can order a pile of charcuterie, or the surprisingly good sloppy joe, to snack on with an after-work cocktail.