A Foodie’s Guide: Best Places to Eat in Bellevue, WA

 
Are you planning a trip to Bellevue, WA, and looking to satisfy your taste buds? Look no further!

The beautiful city of Bellevue offers many dining options that will leave your palate wanting more. With over 600 restaurants to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide where to eat. The kind folks over at Visit Bellevue recently invited me on a foodie tour curated by local celebrity chef Shota Nakajima, and we got to experience some of the most incredible restaurants the city had to offer in a whirlwind 48 hours.

From mouth-watering sushi to savory steaks, here are some of the best places to eat in Bellevue for any visitor. So put on your stretchy pants and get ready to indulge in a culinary journey unlike any other!

A Foodie’s Guide: Best Places to Eat in Bellevue, WA

A Foodie’s Guide to Bellevue, WA: Getting There & Getting Around

Bellevue, Washington, is just minutes from Seattle, WA — and many visitors like to call this town their home base for their Pacific Northwest adventures. Bellevue is very clean, safe, walkable, and incredibly cosmopolitan, and you can also travel to Seattle easily via public transit.

If you are traveling from afar, your best bet is to fly to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Bellevue is about 16 miles away from the airport, and you can take a rideshare, taxi, or public transit to the city. 

As for getting around Bellevue, I found the city to be very walkable, and I don’t think you need to rent a car here. The town of Bellevue also offers a free BellHop Electric Shuttle. To use this service, download the BellHop app in advance, and you can request your ride to get around town. The BellHop has a very extensive service area with a 6-mile perimeter, so you’ll be covered no matter where you want to travel in the city!

A Foodie’s Guide to Bellevue, WA: Where to Stay

For our stay, we opted for the W Bellevue, one of three hotels located in the Bellevue Collection. If you book via the Bellevue Collection’s website, you can receive a $100 gift card to the Bellevue Collection for every night you stay, 1 pm late checkout, and complimentary overnight parking on Friday and Saturday nights. 

I absolutely loved having the W Bellevue as a home base for our visit. This hotel is upscale and luxurious, yet the design details feel very cozy and modern — almost as if you were staying in a boutique property. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the customer service was exceptional. I also loved the location; it was a quick walk to Old Bellevue and other points downtown. When I return to Bellevue, I will 100% stay at the W Bellevue again!

Best Things to Do in Bellevue, WA

Outside of eating to your heart’s content, some other things I’d recommend doing in Bellevue include:

• A Duffy Boat Tour of the Lake. A new Duffy Boat experience just launched this year in Bellevue, and it is a must if you’re coming to town. Your group will meet at the beautiful Meydenbauer Bay Park and enjoy a cruise on Lake Washington, incredible views of Downtown Bellevue Mount Rainer, some impressive lakefront real estate, and much more.
   
  You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks on this tour and your own playlist, so grab some friends and enjoy a nice time out on the lake!
   
• Shopping local at Old Main Street. Old Main Street, also known as Old Bellevue, is home to dozens of local boutiques and shops, and you can also visit some of the most exciting and unique small businesses in the entire state of Washington. A couple of shops that I particularly enjoyed were glassybaby and Whisk. 
   
• Wander Around the Bellevue Downtown Park. One of the most impressive things about Bellevue is how well the city was planned out. This 20-acre public park in the middle of Downtown Bellevue feels like an oasis and has a waterfall, playgrounds, formal gardens, and plenty of lawn space to enjoy a picnic or take your dogs out.
   
  The Bellevue Downtown Park also hosts several free special events throughout the year, so check their schedule if you plan on visiting soon.
   
• Experience the Bellevue Collection. As a millennial, I can’t get enough of a good indoor mall. I was amazed when I stepped foot into the Bellevue Collection—it is massive, has almost any retailer you’d want to shop at, has incredible dining options, and is connected to three hotels. I could have spent hours here, but that would have been not very good for my bank account.
   
• Visit the Bellevue Arts Museum. This museum is located in the heart of Downtown Bellevue and emphasizes arts, crafts, and design. One thing I love about this museum is that it showcases and highlights the works of Northwestern artists. You can even purchase items crafted by local artisans at the museum gift shop.
   
• Enjoy local foods at the Bellevue Farmers Market. Open from May to October, the Market is a great place to gather if you want seasonal produce, unique artisan goods, delicious prepared foods, and has a unique mix of vendors. I cannot wait to revisit and try new vendors on my next trip!

Best Restaurants and Bars in Bellevue, WA

I was so surprised at how delicious the food was in Bellevue — even coming from Los Angeles. There were a lot of diverse food offerings and plenty of innovative restaurants and bars to explore. Here is a round-up of some of the best places to eat (and drink!) in Bellevue, WA:

Breakfast & Brunch

• Bellden Cafe: You won’t want to miss breakfast at the Nicest Place in Washington. Bellden Cafe is a woman and BIPOC-owned cafe that is steps away from Old Bellevue and serves up some of the best coffee, lattes, and bites in town.
   
  One thing I love about Bellden Cafe is that they offer seasonal Community Drinks. If you purchase one of these, 10% of the proceeds will go to a local charity. Bellden Cafe partners with a number of local charities and groups, making their community a better place, one delicious latte at a time.
   
• The Lakehouse: Located in the Bellevue Collection, The Lakehouse is a Northwest farmhouse concept that offers simple, fresh, market-driven craft cooking. Since they use only the freshest ingredients, their menus are seasonal and are always changing. 
    
• Other Recommended Spots for Coffee: Third Culture Coffee, Matcha Magic, Coffeeholic House

Lunch and Dinner

• Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi: If you’re looking for a high-end dining experience, Ascend should absolutely be at the top of your list. Not only is this rooftop restaurant stunning, but it also offers some of the finest cuts of steak, innovative sushi dishes, and one of the most impressive wine lists I’ve seen. Ascend is one of the best fine dining options you can book in town.
   
• Carmines Bellevue: Craving some Italian food? Carmines Bellevue serves up reimagined Italian cuisine in an upscale yet approachable environment. Some of the menu standouts at Carmines include the daily Risotto, Bruschetta Trio, and Insalata Di Maria (a salad with King Salmon).
    
• Farzi Cafe: Farzi Cafe, a restaurant serving avant-garde Indian cuisine with a twist, was easily one of the best restaurants I visited during my trip. Their butter chicken was a highlight—smoked for several hours and incredibly flavorful. I’d also recommend skipping the beer and wine here and grabbing one of their signature craft cocktails.

Bars:

• Civility & Unrest: This bar is tucked away on the W Bellevue’s first floor and is frequented by locals and celebrities alike. Here, you can enjoy some of the finest craft cocktails, live music, and a lively atmosphere that resembles a speakeasy. 
   
• Paddy Coyne’s: Looking for a more low-key bar experience? Paddy Coyne’s, an Irish pub, is a local favorite and is right in the heart of Downtown Bellevue.

Have you ever visited Bellevue, WA? Let me know your favorite restaurants, and check out my travel guides for more recommendations!

Thank you to Visit Bellevue for hosting me on a media trip! All thoughts and opinions are my own.