Photo provided by the Four Seasons Seattle
Ah, Seattle in the summertime – there really is nothing sweeter. The skies and water are so blue you can almost get lost in them, fresh seasonal fruits and veggies abound and Pike Place Market comes alive in a way that it only does this time of year. Even with all the tourists that flock to our city, I still can’t get enough of this Pacific Northwest summer. I recently had the pleasure of indulging in a luxurious staycation at the Four Seasons in downtown Seattle (which ironically is only one block from my apartment) and it was so lovely and rejuvenating (and not to mention delicious!) that I’m ready to go back for another one!
Photo provided by the Four Seasons Seattle
The best thing about the Four Seasons in the summertime is the pool on the fifth floor. It offers views for days of Elliott Bay and you can sip on your favorite cocktail while you watch the ferries slide across the Sound. Swoon. How have I been living in Seattle for four years (and one block away no doubt!) and not been to this pool? And, hey, Seattle folks – good news for you – locals can access the pool on Monday through Thursday from now through the end of September with the purchase of an 80 minute spa treatment! Or purchase an all-day spa package which includes pool access all year round any day of the week!
Well y’all know that for me it’s all about the food! Executive Chef Joe Ritchie has gone above and beyond to create an incredible dining experience for you at the Four Seasons, whether it be poolside with their fantastic, seasonal menu or at their rock star restaurant downstairs, Goldfinch Tavern (which just so happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle). There’s nothing better than fresh Dungeness crab in the summer and I could not get enough of this Dungeness Crab Cocktail: avocado, cocktail sauce, shredded lettuce and herbs.
Photo provided by the Four Seasons Seattle
Two words: LOBSTER DOG. Wow, thank you for creating this Chef Ritchie, it needed to exist in this world. At $29, it is definitely the most expensive hot dog I’ve ever had but so worth it. Trust me, it’s a must order if you’re dining poolside. The Chef’s Lobster Haute Dog includes lobster sausage, lobster claw meat, mango salsa and avocado cream on a brioche roll.
From delectable dining alfresco by the pool to unique cocktails and fantastically flavorful dishes at Goldfinch Tavern, the Four Seasons is really bringing it in the food department. No staycation would be complete without happy hour here! You can enjoy it Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm (and there’s a good chance you’ll see me at the bar if you do pop in!). Cocktails, plates and wine are all discounted, cheers!
After the happiest of happy hours, dinner awaits at Goldfinch Tavern. Now I have dined here many times, but doing it staycation style is just so much more fun! I started with the octopus and it was fantastic. Octopus is not something I usually order, not because I don’t like it, but because it’s such an easy thing to over or undercook and it often is. However, the team at Goldfinch nailed it. I must recommend the Braised Octopus here, served with tomato sauce, taggiasca olives, fingerling potatoes and merguez.
I kept it in the seafood department and went with the Fennel Crusted Halibut for dinner. It was so fresh and the skin was perfectly crispy, just how halibut should be. This is a perfect summer dish; it’s served with spring peas, wilted pea vines, fava beans, green beans and a lemon thyme sauce.
You must conclude your evening at Goldfinch with after dinner drinks! Their bar program is exquisite and I’m constantly amazed at the innovative and tasty cocktails I’m finding on their menu. This time I let them create something for me, dealer’s choice style. This southern girl loves bourbon so bar manager William crafted me a play on an Old Fashioned using Japanese whiskey (it’s all the rage right now).
I ended my staycation in delicious fashion – with room service for breakfast. Fresh juices, fruits and a delightful Pacific Northwest focused menu await you when you pick up the in room dining menu. The egg white frittata, tomato + cucumber + cream cheese toast and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice were the perfect way to start my day. Oh, Four Seasons, you are ruining me for all other hotels!
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