48 Hours in Seattle, Washington (Winter 2025)
This winter, my husband and I decided to kick off the year with a little Valentine’s weekend getaway in one of our favorite cities. It felt so good to treat ourselves to a cozy couple of days filled with amazing food, art, city strolls, and quality time (plus a solid reality TV binge - The Traitors, anyone?). This is 48 Hours in Seattle, Washington!
48 Hours in Seattle, Washington
Stay @ Hotel Max
Hotel Max has become one of our favorite go-to spots to stay in the city. It’s got that signature Seattle grunge vibe (in the best way) and it’s one of the most affordable and centrally located hotels in downtown - just a 10-minute walk from Pike Place Market and close to everything else we love. Bonus points for their complimentary happy hour every evening in the lobby!
Dinner @ Din Tai Fung
No trip to Seattle is complete without a stop at Din Tai Fung - it’s tradition at this point! We lucked out and were seated quickly in the bar area. I tried the vegan spicy wontons for the first time and they are now officially my go-to alongside the vegan noodles, steamed buns, and garlicky green beans. Perfection.
Brunch @ The Dressing Room: Bistro and Bar (at Can Can Cabaret)
We stopped in for brunch at The Dressing Room right near Pike Place Market and were seriously impressed! I had the avocado toast with poached eggs, Jared went for the fried chicken with a side of beignets, and we split the berry french toast for dessert - all delicious. Hoping to return soon for the full cabaret experience!
Exploring @ Pike Place Market + Downtown
You can’t come to Seattle without spending time wandering Pike Place. On this trip, we discovered a local artist called Memories Unlimited selling stunning tote bags and sweatshirts - we picked up a few and they’ve become fast favorites. The quality is amazing, and I get compliments on the prints constantly!
Lunch @ Ramen Danbo (Capitol Hill)
We first tried Ramen Danbo on our honeymoon in Vancouver, B.C., so visiting the Capitol Hill location has been on our list for a while. It totally lived up to the memories! A quick tip: The wait can get long due to the small space, so plan accordingly if you’re on a schedule. But truly, so worth it.
Browsing @ Elliott Bay Book Company + Little Oddfellows Coffee Shop
We always love a stop at Elliott Bay Book Company, and this time we also discovered the darling Little Oddfellows café tucked in the back. We enjoyed seasonal pistachio lattes and picked up some new reads - one of which Jared still talks about months later. Major win!
Romantic Dinner @ Lola
For our splurge dinner of the trip, we made reservations at Lola, and it was so worth it. The pita and dip spread was one of the most unique things we’ve ever tasted, and the kebob-style entrees were packed with flavor. Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for something extra special.
Breakfast @ Cafe Hagen
Cafe Hagen has become one of my favorite little hidden gems - incredible coffee, tasty breakfast sandwiches, and a beautiful view of the Space Needle. We parked by the Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) and walked up the road to enjoy a slow morning here. So cozy and peaceful.
Art @ MOPOP – Keith Haring Exhibit
I’d been wanting to see the Keith Haring exhibit at the Museum of Pop Culture for months, and I’m so grateful we caught it before it ended. His work is not only iconic in the art world, but such an important part of queer history. It meant a lot to experience it together.
Snacks for the Road @ Chung Chun Korean Corn Dog + Mochinut
Before heading out, we made one final stop at Chung Chun Korean Corn Dogs + Mochinut! We grabbed a box of mochinut donuts and a couple dogs to go, and I can confirm they were just as good a few hours down the road.
This trip was everything we needed to reset, reconnect, and start the year on a good note. We’re already dreaming up our next Seattle weekend soon!
