If I had to choose one area of Seattle to do all of my eating and drinking, it would be Belltown. The beauty of this part of Emerald City is that it is not amidst the craziness of Downtown, where all of the tourists are. You are able to move away from the hustle and bustle a bit, and get the real urban feel of the 206.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, it’s my job to sniff out all of the hot spots for happy hour and dinner—my favorite time to try out new places. I say if happy hour is great, you already know dinner will be just as great or even better. Happy hour allows you to get a taste of the real thing without committing to a full-on evening meal.

When you enter Belltown, Shaker + Spear is one of the first places you run into. It is one of the most well rated restaurants in Belltown (5 out of 5) and with good reason. It’s ultra classy and ambient, but still very welcoming. The kitchen is on one side of the restaurant, so you’re able to watch the chefs prepare food right before your eyes.

For drinks, they have an extensive selection of wines. I recommend the chilled red wine. Yep, you heard me—chilled red wine. Not only is it out of the ordinary, but Shaker + Spear is the only place in the United States to carry Tormaresca Fichimori 2013 from Puglia, Italy. It is light with fruity tones, just how I prefer my reds.

Since Shaker + Spear is a seafood restaurant, it was only right that I ordered the Rainier Beer Steamed Clams with Bacon and Corn as well as the Alderwood Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad as appetizers. For the main course, I ordered the Lemon Roasted Chicken with Broccoli Rabe, White Bean Puree, and Rosemary Jus. All of the dishes I tried were very flavorful and enjoyable.

Traveling further into Belltown, therein lies my go-to sushi restaurant: Wasabi Bistro. Not only do I love the décor, but they also play awesome music. Wasabi has amazing deals during happy hour, but I usually go for dinner. All of their rolls—so many to choose from—are delicious and the drinks are yummy as well!

Deeper into Belltown is Black Bottle. My new favorite spot! They have innovative, small dishes meant to share with others. Their Pork Belly and Kimchi, and Butter Chicken dishes are out of the world. Also, you must try their cocktails! Their sangria is unlike any other I’ve tasted and they have a nice selection of beer + wine.

After trying all of the decadent food and drinks Belltown has to offer, stroll down to the waterfront to walk off your meal. The places I enjoy most are Pier 66 and Olympic Sculpture Park. There are several piers on the waterfront, but Pier 66 has the best view and vibe of them all. Plus, Olympic Sculpture Park houses all of the sculptures that are not able to fit in the Seattle Art Museum – a park and museum in one!

Be sure to add these places to your Seattle list. We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!