Where To Celebrate Christmas In Seattle

With downtown decked out in twinkling lights and the ground speckled white from the recent snow, Seattle is dressed up in holiday cheer. This winter wonderland is brimming with ways to ring in the holidays, from Italian fish feasts to chocolate buffets. 'Tis the season to savor Seattle's culinary scene, and here's our guide to the best it has to offer this Christmas:

Anchovies & Olives
Each year, Italian seafood gem Anchovies & Olives hosts Festa dei Sette Pesci, their Feast of the Seven Fishes. Dive into chef Kyl Hasselbauer's oceanic fare: fried baby octopus with chile and mint; linguini with uni butter, and steamed clams with guanciale. In Southern Italian Christmas Eve custom, we Seattleites get to savor the tradition one day early on Tuesday, December 23. The family-style feast will be served from 5 to 11 p.m., and is $75 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $35. Reservations are highly recommended.

ART Restaurant
If you're dreaming of a chocolate Christmas, head to ART Restaurant in the Four Seasons for their fourth-annual Chocolate Holiday Buffet, brimming with tempting treats from the pastry team. Past delights have included chocolate peppermint cake, milk chocolate pudding shots, and chocolate cheesecake pops. It will be available Sundays, December 14 and 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. Adults: $25; children under age 12: $12.

Georgian Room
Treat yourself after holiday shopping with a sumptuous tea at the Georgian Room in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Their traditional afternoon tea of tiny sandwiches, fresh-baked scones, and homemade pastries gets the holiday treatment with gingerbread houses, twinkling garlands, and a towering Christmas tree. Served Monday to Saturday 12 to 2:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m. Adults $65; children ages 4 to 12 $25. Reservations welcome.

Lark
Be one of the first to ring in the holiday at Lark's new digs. Just a snowball away from the original locale, chef John Sundstrom's soaring space is a lovely setting for his seasonal, Pacific Northwest fare. For Christmas Eve, choose from Kusshi oysters with green apple; Wagyu streak with smoked potatoes and Brussels sprouts, and pear tarte tatin with Calvados caramel. The three-course prix fixe is $65 per guest and will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. Reservations encouraged.

Salish Lodge
Salish gives the gift of a holiday getaway just a quick drive away. On Christmas Day, Snoqualmie's luxury resort is offering a Pacific Northwest-themed menu: locally foraged mushroom soup; roasted Dungeness crab, and pan-seared salmon with local oysters. Salish's dining room overlooks Snoqualmie Falls — a special setting perfect for Christmas cheer. Served 4 to 9 p.m.; adults $100, kids ages 6 to 12 $30; and children ages 5 and under are free. Reservations required.

Tulio Ristorante
Come see why Travel and Leisure picked Tulio as one of the best holiday restaurants across the U.S. This Italian stalwart at the Hotel Vintage gets decked out in festive decorations, and chef Walter Pisano celebrates his Italian roots with a Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. Taste tuna carpaccio with Ligurian olives and preserved lemon, scallop risotto, and baccala insalata (salt cod salad). The à la carte menu, available from 5 to 10 p.m., allows guests to feast as little or as big as they wish.