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When the need for a Parisian vacation strikes but transatlantic plane tickets are out of reach, settle for second best: dinner at this quintessential French bistro in the Central District. Chef JJ Proville puts together dishes that feel true to their French roots, but also highlight Pacific Northwest ingredients, particularly seafood, and to pair, Kathryn Olson’s wonderful selection of naturally minded wines.

Home to arguably the most charming secret garden patio in the city, this Ballard gem succeeds with a menu of inventive small plates and creative cocktails to pair. The sleeper hit is the thick-cut toast slathered in butter — a welcome twist on traditional bread service — which you’ll want to offset by going big on the vegetable dishes.

This cozy restaurant has something for everyone, and a perennial favorite here is the Eve hot bowl. It’s as cozy as it sounds: a rotating blend of ancient grains, nuts, seeds, hearty greens, seasonal veggies, and dressing guaranteed to satisfy and nourish.

Though namesake and founder Shiro Kashiba is no longer associated with this downtown hotspot (find him instead at Sushi Kashiba at Pike Place Market) his Edomae-style sushi lives on as a Seattle benchmark. Order the freshest cuts as nigiri by the piece (keep an eye especially on the day’s specials from Japan, like house-smoked king mackerel or buttery sea urchin), or simply turn yourself over to the omakase: the chef’s-choice coursed menu includes 18 pieces of sushi, and you’re guaranteed to experience the restaurant’s greatest hits.

Situated along the Harbor Steps, this sweet spot has long been celebrated as one of downtown’s best happy-hour choices. Plan your visit between 3 and 6 p.m. to take advantage of discounted bites like grilled sardines on toast, cauliflower bagna cauda, or an excellent cheese board, plus great prices on wine by the glass. Or settle in for a larger meal later, with porky favorites like housemade sausage or a porchetta sandwich.

The panoramic views from the 16th floor of the new Lotte hotel are stunning, but the Pacific Northwest cuisine is just as enticing. All-day menus trend toward local seafood like Penn Cove mussels and Hama Hama oysters, though if you’ve brought younger, finickier diners, they’ll be happy to find buttered pasta, chicken tenders, and even a PB&J, on the kids’ menu. If you’re spending the night, take advantage of the lengthy list of PNW wines.

What’s coming out of the kitchen — classics like fried brussels sprouts and steak frites — is the kind of comfort food you’ll want to enjoy all year long. And don’t forget the drinks: Joli has more than 175 varieties of gin, so start with one of a dozen or so creative gin cocktails.

This popular spot on the fifth floor of the Motif hotel downtown is the perfect place to cozy up near the fire with a hot toddy, or soak in the afternoon sun — yes, sun — over a plate of fries. It’s the sort of spot that makes having a simple drink with a friend feel extra special.

The sibling to Redmond’s Woodblock focuses on wood-fired pizza, and all for the better. Those pizzas are the obvious draw, with clever names like Pretty Fly for a White Pie and Everyday I’m Trufflin’, as is the outdoor covered, heated patio. Go on Sundays, when the regular 12-inch pies get supersized to 18 inches, and try the Honey & Spice, topped with pepperoni and hot honey.

Because dining here feels like you’ve stepped inside someone’s home, literally. Located inside an historic Craftsman bungalow built between 1914 and 1916, The Stone House is a cozy gem of a restaurant, serving a menu of New American classics made with the best of the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle’s long been a haven for Japanese food enthusiasts, but mostly when it comes to sushi, noodles, and the special-to-Seattle wonder that is teriyaki. This Belltown spot, though, is all about yakitori: A Tokyo-trained chef skewers and grills all the traditional chicken parts, from thighs with green onion, to cartilage, gizzards, and heart. There’s also wagyu steak, seafood, and more served with tare sauce or simple sea salt.

Because their humble M.O. is to serve tasty food that’s good for you, meaning the kitchen is entirely free of gluten, grains, preservatives, trans fats, refined or cane sugar, emulsifiers, GMO, and soy — but not flavor. The owner, a local chiropractor and wellness coach, translated that passion into a menu where the burgers are grass-fed, the guacamole comes with bacon chips (for all your Paleo friends), and the chocolate is as dark as it comes.

Unless you’ve been on a social media hiatus since 2019, you’ve likely seen a photo of this Ballard café’s signature dish: a technicolor mountain of cereal-crusted French toast topped with peaks of whipped cream. And though that brunch staple is definitely worth an order, don’t sleep on savory options like the gochujang-coated fried chicken wings with a rosemary waffle, which highlight the shop’s Korean influence.