Forget the Nines! You’ll Want to Dress to the Tens at These Fancy Seattle Restaurants

Whether it’s for a special occasion like a birthday, an anniversary, or a promotion or you just feel like treating yourself to some of the finest things that life has to offer, everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy a fancy dining experience one and a while. If you have a special occasion coming up or you and your friends just really want to treat yourselves soon, you might be wondering just which restaurants in the area are the fanciest. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best fancy restaurants in Seattle.

About GiftYa

Fancy restaurants have a lot to offer. From beautifully presented delicious food to impeccable service to dreamy ambiances, you’re getting quite a bit for your money when you eat out at an upscale restaurant. That being said...you will have to spend quite a bit of money to eat there. At GiftYa, they understand that this isn’t necessarily always easy for everyone to swing, and that’s why they’ve come up with a way to help you find fancy restaurants near you and get e-gift cards to help pay for one of these unforgettable experiences. Order one for your favorite fine diner today!

Canlis

2576 Aurora Ave N | Westlake | community.canlis.com

Fine dining isn’t just the kind of experience where they serve you up some fancy food and place an expensive bill for your meal beneath your nose at the end. In order for a fine dining experience to truly be considered “fine,” it has to go above and beyond in every aspect of the experience it offers.

At Canlis, this is exactly what they provide to you. The good news about dining out at this fancy establishment? There will be no surprises in the final bill you’ll receive at the end of your experience.

With a flat rate for dining here in place, you can experience some of the best service Seattle has to offer amidst four courses of your choosing in one of the loveliest upscale restaurants in the Westlake area - and it’s all thanks to a Greek runaway.

“From the minute you sit down, until you walk out, usually with a small white box of goodies to take home, you will have an experience that will be - while definitely not by most means affordable - worth every dollar.” - Yelp Review

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2120

2120 6th Ave | Denny Triangle | 2120restaurant.com

Not all fancy restaurants around Seattle are uptight in that way many of us have come to expect when we dine out at local upscale places. At 2120, aptly named for the address at which it’s located on 6th Avenue, they like to have fun with both their menu and drinks.

Preferring to work with locally sourced ingredients has its perks for you as one of their patrons. Not only will you be treated a different selection of items on their menu every time you stop by, but you can also be sure that each and every one of your meals will be put together with the freshest ingredients possible.

Here at 2120, they aren’t by any means conventional when it comes to the fancy dining experience they’ve put forth for you, but that doesn’t make them any less brilliant at what they do. Their team behind the bar works diligently to carefully craft new and fun cocktails that will pair perfectly with the different dishes they offer on their seasonal menus.

“Everything was delicious and plated nicely! The avocado toast was the best I've ever had! The atmosphere was very cool too, it was very chic but classy. I definitely am coming here again to bring more friends!” - Yelp Review

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The Pink Door

1919 Post Alley | Downtown | thepinkdoor.net

Hidden behind a salmon colored door tucked away in Post Alley, you might find yourself wondering just how the rustic barn ambiance of this restaurant might translate to a “fancy restaurant,” but we’re pretty sure you’ll change your mind as soon as you’ve had the opportunity to experience everything they have to offer.

Not many restaurants out there offer up both delicious, well-plated dishes and top-notch entertainment at the same time, but at The Pink Door, this is exactly what you’ll be faced with from the moment you walk through the door.

From the little stage in the corner, you’ll have access to anything from jazz music to trapeze artists to tarot card readings during one of the nightly events they offer up while you dine. Don’t let the wood floors and fairy lights deceive you - this is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss out on.

“Both dishes were masterful, flavorful, and light to the palate, which I prefer when it comes to Italian food. The live jazz band added another delicious layer to this whole experience.” - Yelp Review

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The Butcher’s Table

2121 Westlake Ave | Denny Triangle | thebutcherstable.com

Whether you’ve come to one of their swanky private dining rooms for an event or you’d just like to enjoy your meal down in the main dining area, it doesn’t get much fancier than the service they have to offer here at The Butcher’s Table.

When you’re trying to decide whether or not to dine out here, keep in mind the name of this particular restaurant. The Butcher’s Table doesn’t currently offer up any vegetarian entrees on their menu (although you can find a few side dishes), so you may want to consider opting for one of the other fancy restaurants on this list if you try to stay away from beef and seafood.

That being said, they do have some options for people with specific food allergies, such as their gluten free smoked pork chop or their dairy free cauliflower steak. Make a reservation to enjoy some of the best cuts of meat in the city - and some of the best service, too!

“Came here for an anniversary dinner and was completely wowed. Our waiter (who I wish I could remember his name, totally my fault) was fantastic. He had great steak and wine recommendations, and we happily took them.” - Yelp Review

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SWeL Restaurant

3417 Evanston Ave N, Ste 104 | Fremont | swelrestaurant.com

Everyone knows that old cliche: “treat other people the way that you want to be treated.” Well, here at SWeL Restaurant, they’ve really taken that adage to heart, and it shows in pretty much every aspect of how they treat you to their version of fine dining.

They say that the best way to show someone you love them is to share all of the things you enjoy with them. With a mission statement that simply reads “Is this sh*t we like?” the folks at SWeL are practically oozing with love in everything they give you.

Focusing on service first, you might find this fancy restaurant a bit unconventional when it comes to the specific style they’ve chosen to do upscale in (you might find yourself asking “Are those...plants?”). Give it a chance and you may just find your new favorite fine dining restaurant.

“SWeL is a place I've been wanting to try and I was worried that my expectations would be too high. They weren't. Holy carp, this place!  Atmosphere-wise it's charming. Dark but not too dark. Cozy but not cramped.” - Yelp Review

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AQUA By El Gaucho

2801 Alaskan Way, Pier 70 | Interbay | elgaucho.com

If you’ve been in Seattle for a while, you’ve probably at least heard of El Gaucho. The restaurant group is pretty legendary in the Seattle restaurant scene, having been offering up some of the best food and service in the city for over 70 years now.

AQUA By El Gaucho is the restaurant group’s take on locally sourced, deliciously seasoned seafood. Located on the pier overlooking Elliot Bay, AQUA offers up a waterfront dining experience that is unlike most of the fancy restaurants you’ll find scattered about the city.

Alongside exceptional service, mouthwatering seafood dishes, and some pretty fantastic decor, you’ll have access to some of the best views in the entire city here as you look out at the water while you eat. 

“Last evening in Seattle was a memorable one. Unbelievable views of the water, attentive (and safe) staff made our experience excellent. Oysters were super fresh, briny and the perfect temperature.” - Yelp Review

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Art of the Table

3801 Stone Way N | Fremont | artofthetable.net

Contrary to popular opinion, fine dining is about more than the high price tag that accompanies it. Service is a must, of course, but if anything, a restaurant shouldn’t forget the importance of the “dining” in fine dining.

That is to say: the food should be the priority of any restaurant and then be complemented by exceptional service. At Art of the Table, this is precisely what they aspire to do with every plate they place in front of their patrons.

For them, food truly is art, and it’s exactly for this reason that they carefully select each of the individual ingredients that will go into all of their dishes to create something that is both delicious and beautiful. You’ll even find them foraging for mushrooms in the woods and growing some of their own herbs in a garden!

“Art of the Table is one of very, very few to deliver refined and elevated dishes as part of a tasting menu while maintaining a high degree of warmth and approachability.” - Yelp Review

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Fine dining doesn’t have to be completely out of your budget. Let us know which one of these fancy restaurants tickled your fancy down in the comments below!