New restaurants are constantly opening in the Seattle area, which is super exciting, but it can also be overwhelming to keep up with. That’s where we come in! Here are some of our current favorites.

Pintxo by Valdemar

Pintxo by Valdemar is a vibrant tapas, wine, and cocktail bar that is located in the trendy downtown district of Woodinville. The area is super walkable and is full of wine tasting rooms. Rooted in northern Spain, ‘Pintxo’ (pronounced peen-cho) embodies the spirit of sharing small bites and drinks with friends and family. Pintxo by Valdemar celebrates Spanish tradition through their authentic tapas and Spanish wines.

Menu highlights include the famous jamón ibérico (a type of cured leg of pork that is 100% acorn fed), the salt roasted beets with 12 month manchego, the chorizo stuffed dates, and the charred octopus. We also love the wagyu carpaccio with saffron aioli, and the croquetas de jamón, that are oozing with creamy bechamel. Those with a sweet tooth have to try the Basque cheesecake—it’s a Valdemar family recipe and is so deliciously creamy. Pintxo by Valdemar has an expansive wine list, which showcases selections from both of their estates—Bodegas Valdemar in Spain and Valdemar Estates in Walla Walla, Washington. They also have a fantastic selection of cocktails, many with Spanish influenced ingredients such as the Agua de Valencia made with Sevilla orange, and the Jerez Old Fashioned made with Pedro Ximenez sherry.

Pintxo by Valdemar is open Wednesday to Friday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information or to make a reservation, visit pintxobyvaldemar.com. We also highly recommend a visit to their winery in Walla Walla!

Meliora

Meliora is a new Seattle restaurant that opened a few months ago inside the former space of the historic Canterbury Ale House. Meliora offers a New American inspired menu centered on sustainability, and a highly curated beverage program that is focused on Pacific Northwest wines. The space shares vibrant Pacific Northwest vibes with a a touch of medieval influence, merging both old and new to honor the history of the space.

Thoughtfully crafted dishes showcase high quality and locally sourced ingredients, allowing the food itself to shine. Menu highlights include the watermelon gazpacho, beef tartare, seared scallops, and foraged mushroom risotto. For dessert lovers, the pot de crème is a must-try. The beverage program serves as the perfect supporting character, offering an array of carefully crafted cocktails and wine selections to complement the kitchen’s culinary creations.

Meliora is open for dinner service Monday to Thursday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm. They are located at 534 15th Ave E in the Capitol Hill. For more information or to make a reservation, visit melioraseattle.com.

The Fonté Bar

The Fonté Bar is a swanky coffee shop and cocktail bar that opened at the beginning of summer in downtown Seattle. Located in the expansive lobby of the new 58-story Rainier Square, The Fonté Bar offers both locals and travelers a new central gathering area that operates as a lively café by day, and a craft cocktail bar experience by night. The Fonté Bar is the flagship location of Fonté Coffee Roaster, one of the best independent coffee roasters in the Pacific Northwest.

Naturally, the must-try cocktail at The Fonté Bar is an espresso martini. With fall in full force, we are also loving their pumpkin spice espresso martini, a seasonal twist on the classic. There are lots of tasty daytime offerings, including the popular Fonté breakfast burritos and the hand-made fresh baked goods. While The Fonté Bar also offers a great happy hour, we highly recommend visiting for dinner. The dinner menu offers outstanding dishes like the grand marnier prawns, the seared scallops with succotash, and the duck carbonara bucatini. Seasonal desserts include a pumpkin mousse served in a pumpkin made out of chocolate (so cute!), as well as a chai spiced peach cobbler that is to die for.

As football fever takes hold, The Fonté Bar is the ultimate destination for game day excitement with a newly installed big screen TV and lots of Sunday football specials, including pitchers of Heidelberg Beer ($15) paired with a Seattle Dog and Fries ($10). Go Hawks!

The Fonté Bar is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm on Saturdays, and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sundays. Guests can enjoy validated parking daily after 3:00 pm. For more information, visit thefontebar.com.

Fruit Wine Co.

A harmonious merger is taking place in the world of wine, as Crunchy Red Fruit, a wine club and digital retailer founded and curated by Master Sommelier and Canlis alum Jackson Rohrbaugh, and popular and locally loved Seattle Wine Co. come together to establish Fruit Wine Co., a powerhouse in the wine industry. Located in Bellevue’s Spring District, this thoughtfully developed, experiential wine company will offer shopping, tasting experiences, and special events, while furthering operations of their successful wine club.

Aligning with what wine club members have loved, the retail shop will have an emphasis on a selection of epic, collectable wines like Quintarelli and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti; fun low-intervention and natural wines; and myriad bottles that reflect their soil of origin. There will also be chocolate, handmade gifts from local producers and cookbooks available for purchase. The core values of Fruit Wine Co. are hospitality, generosity, and intentionality. “More than anything, we want people to feel comfortable—the vibe is welcoming, inviting, experiential and hospitable,” notes Rohrbaugh.  A small selection of non-alcoholic wines and amaro and bitters will be available as well as craft beer growler fills and kombucha on tap.  

Fruit Wine Co. is located at 1950 130th Ave NE in Bellevue. They’re open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit fruitwineco.com or @Fruit.Wine.Co on Instagram.

STELLA.

STELLA. is a trendy Italian restaurant located at Hotel Sorrento in First Hill. Executive Chef Paolo Pezzali is an Italian-born, gastronomic aficionado who brings a rich culinary background to elevate the coastal Italian-inspired cuisine at STELLA. The expansive menu focuses on seasonal produce in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the local bounty.

One of the best things about STELLA. is their dreamy, expansive patio, which is open year-round. Dinner highlights include the Mediterranean mussels with Walla Walla onions and tarragon cream sauce, the Muscovy duck with cherry gastrique and grilled chicory, and the seared lamb loin with roasted golden beets, cipollini, and balsamic glaze. We also loved the Mediterranean octopus and the truffle and parmesan fries.

STELLA. is located at 900 Madison Street in Seattle. They are open for weekday breakfast and lunch, and for dinner service daily from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a daily happy hour from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Weekend brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information or to make a reservation, visit stellaseattle.com.