Il Bistro Bar & Restaurant

Address: 93 Pike Street, (by Pike Street Market), Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Tel: +1 206 682 3049
Website: view Il Bistro Bar & Restaurant’s website
Door: Open door/walk-ins
Style: Restaurant bar
Food: Set menu

Review

Pike Street Market is one of the Seattle's main attractions with locals and tourists alike attracted by its sprawling food stalls, quirky shops and general buzz. Il Bistro has a plum spot at the southern end of the market, lying low and partially hidden as Pike Street slopes down towards the sea.

As per the apt name this is a traditional Italian bistro, relaxed and laid back, serving homely pizza and pasta dishes. Il Bistro finds it's way onto this site thanks to its small bar area, serving carefully constructed cocktails and a good range of grappa, cognac and malt whisky. Until early 2014 it was also occasionally maned by San Francisco's most venerable bartender, Murray Stenson. Now retired he pops in now and again but to imbibe rather than shake.

If at the market in the late afternoon then Il Bistro is worthy of a visit, especially 5pm to 6:30pm when happy hour makes the tasty dishes elementally affordable. It also sits at the top of the steps above Zig Zag should you find they've no room for you. Otherwise there are plenty of more notable eateries and watering holes in the city