Have you ever taken a staycation before? This was my very first one and I'm convinced it's the way to go when you're itching to travel but aren't able to due to limited time or resources. Hal and I recently celebrated 12 years of togetherness right here in town. Best date day/night/day ever.
Friday after work we met up for dinner at Matt's In The Market, a beautiful restaurant on the third floor of a sun-drenched loft overlooking Pike Place Market. They've been a staple in Seattle for quite some time, and we were surprised we'd never been there before. It might be my new favorite spot to take visiting guests.
Compliments to Chef Shane Ryan who served up incredible (and artistic) Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes from the local and seasonally changing menu. I ordered a lambretta cocktail (gin, cocchi americano, elderflower, lemon, dandelion & burdock bitters) and a few small plates, including the best cheese board and beet salad I've ever had, hands down. Hal was equally impressed with the deviled eggs, wings and wild boar chop with fennel and farro. I almost got the burrata with nettle pesto (!) and pickled fiddlehead fern, but I'll save that for next time. We were tempted to get dessert, but knew there would be some sweets waiting for us at our hotel.
We left Matt's feeling full and giddy, then checked into our room at the Pan Pacific to see this....
Our suite on the 9th floor had a 180 degree view of the Space Needle and Lake Union. We knew there could be Space Needle views, but we weren't expecting this. It was jaw dropping.
Our suite had a full dining room table, floor to ceiling windows, shoji doors opening up to a European soaking tub, and the coziest L-shaped velvet sofa where we snuggled up to watch a movie and nibble on chocolate truffles and a tower of white chocolate coconut cream pie. Pure decadence.
In the morning, the curtains were opened to reveal a whole new view in daylight. We ordered room service for breakfast, and got pampered with a couple's massage at Vida Spa. Have you ever had an Ayurvedic treatment? This was my first and certainly not my last. You fill out a questionnaire to discover your dosha: Vata, Pitta, Kapha or a combination thereof. Based on those results, your therapist will personalize your massage with the appropriate essential oils. Lots of oil. We were pretty greased up by the end, but it felt wonderful. Hal's massage was the best he's ever had in the city.
We took the Pan Pacific town car to the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle stands) for lunch at Collections Cafe. Right as we walked in and observed the hanging accordions from the ceiling, I was sold. Since the owner has a lifelong passion for collecting, the tables were filled with his vintage cameras and the walls were lined with old bottle openers and funky vintage radios. My collection of Viewfinders would have fit right in!
The menu was extra tasty. We feasted on crispy Beecher's cheese curds with bourbon tomato jam, rainbow chard and oyster mushroom salad and a to-die for pear-brie ravioli.
Right next door is the Chihuly Garden & Glass exhibit which was built 2 years ago, but we'd never had a chance to see it until now. Glassblowing is a big deal in the Northwest and Washington is very proud of our renowned local glass artist, Dale Chihuly. His pieces and large architectural installations have been commissioned all over the world, from museums to schools and private residences.
Don't you love how the glass sculptures seem to be growing out of the ground? Chihuly often said, “I want my work to appear as though it came from nature so if someone found it… they might think it belonged there.”
We really couldn't have asked for a better staycation. It's so much fun to celebrate a special occasion by experiencing your city through the eyes of a tourist. And if you're not local and happen to be in town for a quickie trip, this would be a perfect itinerary for your overnight stay....
HOW TO DO SEATTLE IN 24-HOURS:
- Stroll through Pike Place Market
- Dine at Matt's In The Market
- Stay at Pan Pacific Hotel (I highly recommend the Space Needle suite!)
- Order room service breakfast from Seastar Restaurant (within Pan Pacific)
- Receive Ayurvedic massages at Vida Spa (within Pan Pacific)
- Take a complimentary town car to the Seattle Center
- Eat lunch at Collections Cafe
- Visit the Chihuly Garden & Glass exhibit next door.
Got a few more hours to spare? Order a lunar orbiter at the top of the Space Needle and then go Ride The Ducks!
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