Just came back from a weekend trip to Seattle 
This time my bf and I decided to save some bucks for shopping (Amazing exchange rate!!) and opted for the Holiday Inn Express downtown, a roomy king suite with flat screen TV and an over-sized shower head, free hot breakfast with cinnamon rolls,scrambled eggs,bacon and free wi-fi… not bad not bad.
The premium outlets had some good deals, especially Calvin Klein (clutches,lingerie,shirts) and Kenneth Cole (shoes,belts). Downtown shopping was also a surprise, Macy’s had great deals on brand name shoes and wonderful customer service also. Nordstorm was fun..reminded me of Holt Renfrew but much less intimidating…i wonder why.
As for dining, our first meal was happy hour at Thoa —- a Vietnamese fusion fine dining restaurant. It was right beside the waterfront and the pike place market. We enjoyed the happy hour menu, edamame beans,pot stickers, spring rolls and the original Vietnamese french style pork sandwich. It wasn’t amazing but it was refreshing. The decor is really pretty, rice paper lanterns and paper umbrellas filled the ceiling and thatch umbrellas just covered over-sized booths.
The first night we headed to the super busy Toulouse Petite, an escape for adults, restaurant and open lounge layout, described as the best happy hour menu in the nation with 75 choices at $5. A raw decor with lots of wood and a vibrant bar scene.
The second night, we made our way to the famous “The Georgian” at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel but to our disappointment they didn’t serve the restaurant week menu on weekends. The decor is simply elegant, with Victorian style lounge chaise chairs, screaming high ceilings garnished by gleaming chandeliers….a definite indulgence.
A short stroll to the waterfront was torturing experience with the harsh wind beating at us and slapping our skin from all directions. Nevertheless, we made it to the crab pot and within half an hour we were seated without a reservation. We chose the Westport on the menu and was surprised by the original freshness of the crab legs, corn and mussles… a must to complete the Seattle experience .
To end our trip, we enjoyed a scrumptious Sunday brunch at the Palisade Restaurant at the Marina, a must if you have the time. Excellent attentive service, excellent crab mahi mahi and Kobe steak, excellent dessert—-the chocolate creme brulee!! hhHHHMMMm goood!! And a fantastic view of the marina and downtown Seattle.
Touring the city in our smart was a great choice… compact parking spaces were never a problem. Overall, it was great…a stay of 2 or more days…visit the 24 hour metropolitan market for groceries and fine wines
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