Imagine a free seat at a fine dining restaurant where each dish goes beyond flavor, offering a unique connection to Filipino culture and community—this is Archipelago. Archipelago is a minority, family, and women-owned Filipino American restaurant that creates delightful tasting menu experiences through culinary excellence and inspiring stories. The restaurant’s attention to detail is evident from the uniquely shaped and beautifully sculpted dishware to the intricate placement of each ingredient highlighted in every bite. Each guest is intimately around the dinner table like warm-hearted friends and family.

Past the coffee cup, a thriving coffee shop is filled with satisfied customers having the ability to sit at a table, lounge leisurely, and possibly work on a laptop with free wifi. Seattle shops routinely deliver these modest customer requests.

Here are four coffee shops around the Seattle area that can be ideal for finding your next open seat—and of course local art.   

One of the great American seafood sins of our times pertains to albacore tuna, specifically that we view this truly beautiful and delicious fish as essentially canned cat food. Shockingly few Pacific Northwest denizens are even aware that the waters off our coast are a notable seasonal albacore fishery, one rated Best Choice by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch List no less. Sometimes you just need to hit the docks of Fishermen’s Terminal to learn the truth. Enter Joe Malley, captain and owner of 95’ fishing vessel St. Jude.

Teatro ZinZanni’s “Sizzle” is not just a show, but an entire experience. With a dress code of “fancy-shmancy” cocktail attire required, I went to SANCA & Emerald CIty Trapeze in SODO, already in a good mood because my outfit worked out exactly as I’d planned in my head (a big win). 

There are many ways to appreciate the land we are on and honor those who were here before colonization, and recently, I decided to spend time amongst the talented artisans of the Duwamish people and give back to their community at their annual Duwamish Native Art Market. As the original caretakers of the land we now call Seattle, the Duwamish people are an important and integral part of this city’s history and future. You can learn more about them and their culture, past and present, on their site.

When it comes to fish around these parts, it’s hard to deny that salmon is king—literally in the case of the king salmon species. But what if I told you there was another fish that quietly reigns in abundance from our West Coast to Alaskan waters? What if this hypothetical fish had just as many, if not more, healthy OMEGA-3 fatty acids and loaded superfood proteins? This fish is already hot stuff in Japan and mostly found as a high-end restaurant item here in the states.

100% vegan, 100% house made. A lot of people don’t know that we make everything from scratch. It’s plainly written on our menu. That’s the biggest thing I'd like to get across, is that’s what separates us from everybody else. We make everything from scratch. You will not find anywhere else like us.

Tending bar is an art. We’ve all been to spots with awesome service, spots with wicked drinks, and spots with your favorite person making the job look easy. Here’s what it’s like behind the pine, straight from real bartender Justin “the Ron” Swanson: