Seattle Culture

Best of Seattle: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

Seattle magazine’s annual spotlight on the best of the city

By Seattle Mag October 27, 2023

Snow Lake in King County was voted the best place for a hike.

Photo by Cavan Images / ALAMY

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In this annual tradition, we call out the businesses, services, and local establishments that have contributed to making our city truly unique. These awards represent the collective voice of our readers, who have cast their votes to recognize and appreciate the best of what our city has to offer.

Food and Drink

Best New Restaurant – Rough & Tumble Pub

Best Restaurant – Six Seven

Ba Bar in University Village.

Photo courtesy of Ba Bar

Best Neighborhood Restaurant – Via Tribunali

Best Seafood – Six Seven

Best Outdoor Dining – Six Seven

Best Take-out – Ba Bar

Best Food truck – Off The Rez Cafe

Best Pizza Place – Via Tribunali

Best Burger Joint – Dick’s Drive-In

Best Fried Chicken – Ezell’s Famous Chicken

Best Cheap Lunch – Dick’s Drive-In

Best Barbecue – Jack’s BBQ

Best Sushi Restaurant – Japonessa Sushi Cocina

Din Tai Fung, voted best dim sum.

Photo courtesy of Din Tai Fung

Best Dim Sum – Din Tai Fung

Best Ramen Restaurant – Arashi Ramen

Best Pho Restaurant – Ba Bar

Best Coffee Shop – Off The Rez Cafe

Best Bakery – Bakery Nouveau

Best Ice Cream Shop – Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream

Best Cake/Cupcake Shop – Trophy Cupcakes & Party

Best Cocktail Bar – Water’s Table

Best Brewpub – Elliott Bay Brewing

Best Wine Bar – Sip Lounge

Best Wine-tasting Room – DeLille Cellars

Best Local Distillery – Copperworks Distilling

Best Happy Hour – Six Seven

Best Gay Bar – Rough & Tumble Pub

Indoor plants and pots at Swanson’s Nursery in Ballard.

Photo courtesy of Swanson's Nursery

Shopping

Best Boutique – Leiren Designs

Best Shopping Mall – University Village

Best Jewelry Store – Ben Bridge

Best Consignment Store – Ballard Consignment

Best Gardening Store – Swanson’s Nursery

Best Bookstore – Elliott Bay

Seattle Art Museum, voted best museum and art gallery.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Art Museum

Arts

Best Museum – Seattle Art Museum

Best Art Gallery – Seattle Art Museum

Best Theater Company – 5th Avenue Theatre

Best Dance Ensemble – Pacific Northwest Ballet

Entertainment

Best Movie Theater – Majestic Bay

Best Concert Venue – Climate Pledge Arena

Best Sports Venue – Climate Pledge Arena

Best Northwest Golf Course – The Golf Club at Newcastle

Best Casino – Snoqualmie Casino

Rudy’s Barbershop in Ballard.

Photo courtesy of Rudy's

Beauty

Best Salon – Fix Salon

Best Brow Bar/Lash Extensions – Penelope & The Beauty Bar

Best Men’s Salon – Rudy’s

Best Mani/Pedi – Nova Nail Lounge

Best Spa – DK Spa

Oregon’s Cannon Beach, voted best northwest beach getaway.

Photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash

Travel

Best Northwest Resort – Hyatt Regency Lake Washington

Best In-city Hotel – Edgewater

Best Boutique Hotel – Edgewater

Best Mountain/Ski Resort – Crystal Mountain

Best Northwest Beach Getaway – Cannon Beach

Best Northwest Wine-Tasting Region – Woodinville

Gregg’s has been in the same Green Lake location since their founding in 1932.

Photo courtesy of Gregg's Greenlake Cycle

Outdoors

Best Bike Shop – Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle

Best Park – Discovery Park

Best Hike – Snow Lake

Best Outdoor/Sporting Goods Store – REI

Best Local Ski Area – Crystal Mountain

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Tour 10 locations from the iconic '90s movie filmed in Seattle and Tacoma

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