Brian Nagele
Seattle is a culturally diverse city with a rich culinary scene.
It’s a particularly great destination for fans of seafood, as Seattle’s cool waters favor oyster growing.
Moreover, there are dozens of oyster bars around the city.
As a seafood enthusiast, I love coming to Seattle when I want to combine great food with exploring the city’s delights.
From the Space Needle to the Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle offers a wide range of attractions and balances them with plenty of surrounding greenery, which earned it the moniker Emerald City.
So whether you love oysters as much as I do or wish to try them for the first time, read on as I share my favorite places to get the best oysters in Seatle.
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar
Multiple locations
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The restaurant has three locations around Seattle, offering unique oyster menus.
Queen Anne Oyster Bar is on Republican St. across the street from Seattle Center and Space Need.
I visited the eatery with some colleagues, and we all enjoyed their perfectly shucked oysters while we chatted the evening away on their pleasant patio setting.
Their other location, Capitol Hill Oyster Bar, is located on Melrose Avenue, next to the Melrose Market and Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
For some fantastic discounts, you can catch up with their happy hour, which runs from 2 pm to 4 pm Monday through Friday.
Pioneer Square Oyster bar is their third location, in Washington Shoe Building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, steps away from Amtrak and Link Light Rail station.
This oyster Saloon is a favorite among Seahawks and Mariners fans but is perfect for all patrons, including out-of-town visitors.
Elliott’s Oyster House
1201 Alaskan Way Ste 100, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-623-4340
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Elliott’s Oyster House is located on Pier 56 on Seattle’s historic Waterfront close to the Pike Place Market.
They serve excellent seafood, with more than 30 varieties of fresh oysters on offer.
From pan-fried to roasted and fresh oysters, Elliot’s Oyster House has every preference to delight your taste buds.
The establishment is upscale and more touristy, but even locals find the great water view and the hotel’s warm ambiance alluring.
If you love outdoor dining, they have a patio from where you can take in the breathtaking views of the surroundings.
RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
4300 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-557-7532
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RockCreek Seafood & Spirits is located in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. It’s a full-service restaurant with some really good fresh oysters.
If you prefer the cooked varieties, you may want to try out their crispy fried oyster po’boy.
The restaurant serves dinner Sunday to Thursday from 4 pm to 10 pm and Friday to Saturday from 4 pm to 11 pm.
You can have your meal indoors or on their covered patio.
In addition, the restaurant has a private room upstairs for intimate dinner with your date or a group of friends or family.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: 206-395-9227
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My friend and I decided to try out the famous chubby oysters of The Walrus and the Carpenter, and they didn’t disappoint us.
Located on Ballard Avenue, the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining experiences in a friendly, homey atmosphere.
They serve oysters sourced from different locations as well as various other delicacies, ranging from halibut tartare to chicken liver mousse.
They mainly take guests on a first come, first served basis, but we had no trouble finding a table.
If you wish to take advantage of their happy hour, make sure to visit between 4 pm and 5 pm Monday through Thursday.
The White Swan Public House
1001 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-588-2680
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A sister restaurant of Matts in the Market, The 100 Pound Clam, and Radiator Whiskey, The White Swan Public House is located in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood.
Characteristic of their causal ambiance, the joint is a buzzy location for chatting the evening away with some companions while enjoying the picturesque views of the waters.
They also have some of the yummiest oysters I’ve tasted in Seattle, with my personal favorite being the half shell, which they serve with lemon and mignonette.
However, they have a variety of selections to suit every taste bud.
They are open Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 10 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 10 pm and 10 am to 8 pm, respectively.
You can also catch up with their happy hour on weekdays from 3 pm to 5 pm.
Westward
2501 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-552-8215
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Westward is located in Seattle’s Northlake Union along Northlake Way.
If you’re after experiencing more than a sumptuous meal, you’ll surely enjoy the restaurant’s waterfront dining, complete with a fire pit and cheery outdoor seating.
I love sampling oysters on the half shell, and I was blown away by the freshness of their servings and the spicy accompaniments.
However, there have larger plates if you want to share a hearty meal amid a warm conversation with friends or family.
Dinner is served between 4 pm and 9 pm Monday through Sunday, while you can catch their happy hour between 4 pm and 5 pm Monday to Thursday and 12 pm to 2 pm on Friday.
Brunch is available between 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Seattle Fish Guys
411 23rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
Phone: 206-485-7388
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Seattle Fish guys have some of the most delicious seafood delicacies on this side of Seattle.
Located at Avenue Street, they have a fantastic selection of oysters.
I especially love their fresh pacific oyster, served with a lemon wedge and cocktail sauce.
Their staff is efficient and friendly, too, which complements their great food well.
Whether you visit alone or with a group of friends, I wager the place will delight you.
Pike Place Chowder
Multiple locations
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Pike Place Chowder is best known for chowder, which they serve in their two locations – Pike Place Market on Post Alley and Pacific Place Center on Pine Street in Pacific Place Shopping Center.
If you have read in magazines about Pike Place Chowder, you’ll agree once you visit that the eatery is worth the fame.
Though eating at Pike Place Market might require you to join the queue of patrons around the block, their oyster recipes are worth the wait.
The alternative to this acclaimed eatery is its other location in Pacific Place Center.
Strategically located within the Pacific Place Shopping center, you can stop over for an equally hearty oyster dish on your way to shopping.
Or you can catch up with their daily 4 pm to 6 pm happy hour and escape the long queues of the former.
East Anchor Seafood
1126 34th Ave #101, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-708-6669
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East Anchor Seafood is located on Seattle’s 34th Avenue and is another oyster eatery worth trying.
They offer a variety of servings – half dozen, one dozen, anchor seafood tower, etc., daily from 11 am to 7 pm.
What I love most about this joint is its universal oyster accompaniment, which comprises fresh horseradish, shallot & black pepper mignonette, and lemon.
If you’re an environmental sustainability enthusiast, you might also like the fact their seafood is sourced sustainably.
Bar Harbor
400 Fairview Ave N #105, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-922-3288
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Located along Fairview Avenue, Bar Harbor sits about 0.7 miles from Space Needle.
Whether you want to visit alone or host a party, you’ll especially love feasting on some fresh oysters on their deck.
I visited them on a Wednesday evening and fell in love with their stellar and highly professional staff.
Their servings were also generous, which I didn’t mind since I conveniently had a light breakfast earlier.
The place usually is open for lunch and dinner between noon and 8 pm.
Ivar’s Acres of Clams
1001 Alaskan Way Ste. 102, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-624-6852
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Ivar’s Acres of Clams sits along Seattle’s waterfront on Pier 54.
This one is a striking eatery exuding an aura of rich history as a testament to its iconic roots.
It has expansive indoor and dining settings and offers epic views of Puget Sound and the surrounding scenery.
The restaurant does not have a long-standing history for no reason.
Their seafood delicacies are out of this world.
In my oyster sampling expedition, I dropped to catch their happy hour offerings, which run between 3 pm and 6 pm, and I wasn’t disappointed.
However, you can visit from 12 pm to 8 pm any day of the week.
Shuckers Restaurant
411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-621-1984
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Located inside the historic Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Shuckers Restaurant lives to its name.
The eatery opens for dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm from Tuesday to Saturday.
Being one of the oldest oyster bars in Seattle, I was not surprised by the impeccable service of their staff.
Whether you prefer fresh, baked, or fried oysters, I recommend you try Shuckers Restaurant and sample their delicious offerings.
Also, their staff is attentive and knowledgeable, making it ideal for taking out-of-town visitors.
Duke’s Seafood
1111 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-382-9963
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Duke’s Seafood is a popular seafood establishment in Seattle with multiple locations.
I visited their South Lake Union joint and loved their oysters and the location.
The restaurant offers spectacular views of the sprawling lake, the Seattle Locks opening, and the Space Needle.
It was my lucky day as I got to enjoy their amazing oysters at a discounted price.
Usually, they serve lunch and dinner daily from 11 am to 3 pm and 3 pm to 11 pm, respectively, while their happy hour runs every day between 3 pm and 6 pm.
