Visiting Seattle on Business - Inexpensive Dining ideas? (Pacific, Starbuck: hotels, safe area)

[Hoosier]

My wife is headed to Seattle for a week-long business trip and needs to find affordable food options that will not break her daily per diem. She's staying at the Renaissance hotel in downtown off Madison and 6th. Any recommendations on restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Also, is that a safe area for her to be walking alone in day and night? One time she was in Dallas and was almost mugged in the mid-morning by some homeless men...so want to make sure she's going to be safe. Thanks!

[Heiwos]

Downtown Seattle is not a good place for a woman to walk alone in the early morning (before 7am weekdays) or at night (after 9pm say); less strength in numbers then. Before 9pm or so is fine to walk around. There's Pacific Place at 6th & Pine, that has many food options cheaper than a hotel's, also a multiplex theater and Barnes & Noble bookstore. Also Westlake Center at 4th & Pine has a decent food court, and Pike Place Market at 1st & Pike has many interesting inexpensive choices (also a major tourist attraction, places here close earlier and the area can get shady after 7pm).

[Hoosier]

Originally Posted by Heiwos

That's a tough one. Downtown Seattle is not a good place for a woman to walk alone in the early morning (before 7am weekdays) or at night (after 8pm say); less strength in numbers then. Her per diem doesn't cover the hotel's (or nearby hotels') cost of meals?

No sadly it may not. She is going to be there for a week and doesn't want to be bound to the hotel. She likes variety.

[Heiwos]

Well when I thought about it some more, there are some good options (see edits), she should just be back before the ghouls come out.

[Hoosier]

Originally Posted by Heiwos

Downtown Seattle is not a good place for a woman to walk alone in the early morning (before 7am weekdays) or at night (after 9pm say); less strength in numbers then. Before 9pm or so is fine to walk around. There's Pacific Place at 6th & Pine, that has many food options cheaper than a hotel's, also a multiplex theater and Barnes & Noble bookstore. Also Westlake Center at 4th & Pine has a decent food court, and Pike Place Market at 1st & Pike has many interesting inexpensive choices (also a major tourist attraction, places here close earlier and the area can get shady after 7pm).

Great options. Thanks!! I'm so jealous that she gets to visit Seattle...even if on business. We both love it there so much. I miss all the great coffee of the Northwest. Somehow they just don't know how to do coffee in Minnesota.

[Heiwos]

Ah you didn't mention coffee before

Tully's and Seattle's Best Coffee are the best of the chains IMO (even though the latter is owned by Starbucks, the worst). Many of those downtown, including a nice Seattle's Best at Pike Market. But if she wants true coffee she should go to Stumptown at 616 E. Pine. The first-ever Starbucks is at Pike Market.