Travel

48 Hours in Seattle Washington with Vy Nguyen

April 22, 2020

Here is your 48 Hour Guide by Vy Nguyen.

You can follow Vy by simply clicking on her name or any of names of her recommendations below.

Cafés

La Marzocco Café

Headquartered in Seattle, La Marzocco Café is a mix-use space. This is an Italian expresso machine showroom, which showcases monthly revolving boutique coffee companies. But what makes this space unique is the collaboration with the KEXP radio station that broadcasts alternative and indie rock music live from the café.

Monorail

Monorail Espresso is the world’s first espresso coffee cart that started right here in Seattle. It has since matured into a coffee walk-up window in Downtown and is still locally run and now woman-owned and operated. Besides their delicious espresso, you must try the Chubbie, a delicious chocolate chip cookie that sits in a jar next to the register. If you’re lucky, the jar might hold a few of these chocolate nuggets, since they quickly sell out on a typical day.

General Porpoise

General Porpoise is perpetually in my thoughts. These donuts are that yummy. You’ll typically find 5-8 flavors with a rotating season flavor on the menu. The donuts are light, yet slightly crispy and not too sweet, with just the perfect amount of filling. Noms! GP serves Elm Coffee, which is a delicious locally owned and roasted coffee.

Restaurants

Spinasse

A cute Northern Italian cuisine restaurant in Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill is known for its rambunctious pride-friendly nightlight, filled with bars, restaurants and plenty of people watching to be had. Spinasse is known for their famous Tajarin, a fine hand cut egg pasta made fresh with butter and sage. This is a dish that you will not want to share – it’s THAT good. With an extensive wine menu, I’m sure the sommelier will have a few recommendations for you to wet the whistle with.

Walrus & the Carpenter with a side of Barnacle

Walrus & the Carpenter is fun tiny tucked away oyster bar in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. The neighborhood is known for its Nordic heritage and the popular all year round Sunday farmers market. The food at W&C is always fresh, light and embodies everything that the Pacific Northwest palate has to offer. My favorite dish is the delicious steak tartare; it is so light and delicate in flavors and texture but yet bursts with flavor. Chances are, you will have to wait to get into W&C, so you might as well stop in and have a quick artisanal drink at Barnacle bar, also owned by Chef Renee Erickson.

Stateside

Stateside is a Vietnamese and Chinese Asian-Fusion restaurant with an homage to the French influences on the Vietnamese cuisine. We so often hold Vietnamese restaurants at a high bar when it comes to authenticity with the expectation that it tastes like it came out of Grandma Nguyen’s kitchen. But there’s something to be said when Vietnamese fusion is done well and Stateside does a beautiful job of this. The crispy duck spring rolls are delicious!

Bars

Deep Dive Bar

Deep Dive is a swanky cocktail speakeasy lounge nested under the Seattle Spheres located right in the heart of Downtown Seattle. The lounge is the perfect after-dinner spot for dessert and a few fancy artisanal libations, which range from the classics to the modern translations. The drink menu also has a long list of spirits, if you’re more of a “neat” person. Besides the delicious cocktails, I absolutely love the sexy theatrical ambiance, with the cigar lounge furnishings and undertones of the deep sea.

Foreign National

Foreign National is a tiny intimate speakeasy bar in Capitol Hill that sits next door to its sister restaurant, Stateside. Keeping with the Vietnamese fusion tones, you’ll find all the classic cocktails on the menu but refashioned with subtle Asian flavors. Like Stateside, your palate is introduced to new flavor profiles, without straying too far from its nucleus or compromising on authenticity.

The Nest

There are no other words to describe Seattle summers other than — perfection. Temperatures are mild: not too hot, not too cold, just…perfect. Sunset is scheduled late every night, almost 9pm or sometimes even a smidge after, making the summer months a favorite time of the year for every Seattleite. Those extra daylight hours give us the luxury of time to squeeze in outings we would typically reserve for the weekend. With that being said, The Nest rooftop bar is one of my favorite venues for an after work outing during the summer months. This rooftop bar has the most breathtaking view of the Puget Sound, making it a perfect venue to watch the sunset. With delicious drinks, small bites and swanky music to set the mood, The Nest is a great way to unwind after a long summer day.