We've all been there.
You've had a long day of sightseeing, or shopping, or exploring and you are all exhausted and hungry and it's easier to find yourself a Cheesecake Factory or a Red Robin than to convince your children that they might find something they like at an upscale, innovative eatery with rave reviews on Trip Advisor. Nothing against the aforementioned places but Seattle is rich with delectable dining options. You can branch out!
As adventurous as our kids can be, sometimes the "unknown" can be the enemy when traveling with young children. My usually finicky eater will try all sorts of new foods when we are on vacation and my more adventurous eater will choose Pasta Bolognese at every opportunity. Your kid wants nothing but chicken fingers and ketchup? I won't judge! I'll help you find a place. Will your kid try anything and everything you put in front of them? I won't judge, I'll just be a little jealous.
Here are ten tried and true restaurants that offer a kids menu AND have posted their menu's online. There are a number of wonderful restaurants in Walkable Seattle that offer kid's menus, but for the purposes of this post I am only listing the downtown restaurants that have them posted online.
1. Von's 1000 Spirits 1225 1st Ave.
This sounds like an odd location for one othe most kid-friendly spots in town. Von's has quite the reputation as an upscale martini bar and yet their kid's menu and family friendly staff make this a great option for adult dining with kid options. Von's is located across from the Seattle Art Museum (just look for Hammering Man) in the Harbor Steps.
The Harbor Steps is a great public hang-out where you can catch a free concert on some weekday afternoons! If you are there early enough, consider exploring the Seattle Art Museum. They also have a great kid-friendly gift shop.
2. Anthony's Bell Street Diner 2201 Alaskan Way
If you are looking for waterfront dining without the crowds of the main tourist area, head a few blocks north of the ferris wheel to Bell St. Anthony's focuses on seafood but you can also get sandwiches, burgers, tacos and more!
After your meal, head towards the water and look for the fish fountain (unofficial wading pool) and be sure to climb up the stairs, or take the elevator to the Bell Street overlook for spectacular views and a great spot to run around.
3. Purple Cafe and Wine Bar 1225 4th Ave.
Tucked in the heart of the downtown Seattle Business district, you will find Purple, another unlikely family friendly dining spot. This is my daughter's choice for a fancy evening out and a great place for parents to slow down and enjoy a nice glass of wine and a lovely adult meal. Service is kind and your kids will feel special. Consider heading a couple blocks north to check out our state of the art Public Library!
Consider heading a couple blocks north to check out our state of the art Public Library!
4. Nordstrom Grill 500 Pine St.
I'll be honest, I have never been here! My daughter likes to take her surrogate grandmother here on their special Downtown Seattle dates. It is their special place and we parents are not allowed. I'll just have to take her word for it!
My daughter's suggestion would be to pair a meal with a trip to Macy's furniture department to lay on each and every one of their beds. If your child isn't as into home furnishings as my little weirdo, I might suggest checking out the small play structure and free children's activities in Westlake Park.
5. The Pike Pub 1415 1st Ave.
Locals know this place as the Pike Place Brewery. This spot is tucked downstairs in an inconspicuous spot. Sure, it's a brewery but your kids will feel right at home with their quirky decor, friendly staff and tasty and generous kid's fare. This is a good spot for casual dining and they can usually accommodate large parties. Whether you are a beer drinker or not, watching the brewery workers do their thing is quite fascinating!
If you can stomach it, head back toward the Market Atrium and take the secret steps down the stairs and out to the world famous Gum Wall and maybe check out The Market Theatre for some gummy germs and improv.
6. Ivar's Acres of Clams 1001 Alaskan Way (Pier 54)
Ivar's is a local gem and you'll be hard pressed to find a wider selection of seafood in Downtown Seattle. This is the place we take grandparents and out-of-town guests. The food is consistently good and many tables have a great view of the ferries coming in and out of Elliot Bay. Ivar's has a terrific happy hour that they will serve outside of the bar, in a family friendly section upon request. Not a seafood fan? Many people aren't. They have you covered, with a number of other options.
After dinner, bring some starchy leftovers outside and feed the Seagulls next to their Outdoor Fish Bar. It's not just allowed, it's encouraged! There is a statue of Ivar Hagland covered in seagulls, look underneath and find the hidden clam.
For a fancy night out, consider Goldfinch Tavern, Don't let the name "tavern" scare you away, just like Purple Wine bar, Pike Place Brewery, and Von's Martini Bar, This place is kid-tolerant! Who knew?! Housed in the swanky Four Seasons, Goldfinch Tavern has a mouthwatering array of culinary goodness for the adults and lovely kid's menu for the wee ones.
Kid's Menu- Scroll to the bottom for kid's menu
It's hard to ignore the view of the Ferris Wheel from the Entrance of the Four Seasons. Take the stairs down to Western Ave and then towards the waterfront for The Great Wheel, Carousel or Wings Over Washington.
Urbane is located in the Olive 8 building, very close to the Central shopping district and the Paramount
Theatre. "Urbane is a Farm to Table style restautrant that serves Northwest Cuisine in a relaxed and comfortable neighborhood setting." I lifted that from their website, as the explain it better than I could.
They welcome families and have a kids menu to prove it.
Wander down to Pacific Place Mall. During Winterfest, they have snow fall in the atrium and last summer they added Bubble Up , where bubbles rain down upon guests on select Saturdays.
9. BlueAcre Seafood 1700 7th Ave.
Yes, Seattle is teeming with stellar seafood restaurants. I have only hit the tip of the iceberg with this list. Very close to Urbane, you will find BlueAcre Seafood, relaxed but upscale spot for family dining. Their kids menu is small but mighty with some selections that don't involve seafood. Their sister restaurants Steelhead Diner and Orfeo are also kid-tolerant, but don't have a posted kid's menu.
If you are a glutton for punishment or someone who enjoys video game arcades BlueAcre is very close to Gameworks. If like me, frenetic video game places aren't your thing...They also have a bar.
10. Palomino 1420 5th Ave.
Palomino is very close to Benaroya Hall, home to the Seattle Symphony and 5th Avenue Musical Theatre. Consider pairing dinner and a show!
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