By Nino Padova

Seattle is a world-class culinary arena—the food scene here is "tenacious, inviting, and full of talent," according to Nancy Leson, restaurant critic for The Seattle Times. A visit to the downtown Pike Place Market is a must: You'll find everything from the original Starbucks to Philippine fast food. Dine at the French café-bar Le Pichet (206-256-1499) and order roast chicken for two, well worth the one-hour wait; head to Belltown for melt-in-your-mouth bluefin tuna at Saito's Japanese Café & Bar (206-728-1333); or belly up to the 21-foot-long oyster bar featuring some 30 types of bivalves at Elliott's Oyster House on the waterfront (206-623-4340). Be sure to order the ab fab coconut cream pie at Tom Douglas's Dahlia Lounge (206-682-4142). And make a reservation at Lola, Douglas's fourth restaurant, set to open this summer (206-441-1430).