The Pink Door

The Pink Door has been on Post Alley, at the edge of Pike Place Market, since 1981. Look for the pink door that gives the restaurant its name. Inside, there are three areas: the dining room, the lounge and a seasonal view deck that looks out over Elliott Bay.

The food is Italian-American and based on the Italian classics, with an emphasis on simple, fresh and seasonal cooking. Many dishes come from the family recipes of the owner, Jackie Roberts. Much of the produce is grown by Butler Green Farms on Bainbridge Island, which supplies around 90 per cent of what the kitchen uses during the peak growing season. Ask the staff about what is in season.

What sets The Pink Door apart is the entertainment. The restaurant hosts live music and aerial performances in the lounge, and tarot readings also appear on the programme. It is a lively, theatrical evening rather than a quiet dinner, so it is a good choice for birthdays, groups of friends and couples looking for something different.

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am to 10pm, with the final dinner seating at 10pm and cocktails until 11:30pm. Check the website for any other days. Reservations are taken through OpenTable, and booking ahead is wise for evenings and weekends, when the room is very busy. Lunch is usually calmer and is a good chance to sit on the deck in summer, when the view across the bay is at its best.

Allow around two hours for dinner if you want to enjoy the performances. The atmosphere is informal, so there is no need to dress up, though many people do for a night out. If you are coming with children, lunch is likely to suit them better than late evening. Because the lounge programme changes, check what is on before you book if a particular performance matters to you. If you are planning a celebration, mention it when reserving so the staff can seat you accordingly. Outside the main dinner hours, the cocktail service until 11:30pm makes it a good late stop after a show downtown.

Getting there is easy on foot from downtown hotels: the restaurant is a short walk from the market's main entrance. Combine a meal with an afternoon at the market, or follow it with drinks in one of the bars along Post Alley.