Restaurant
Canlis
Family-owned since 1950, Canlis is a Seattle fine-dining restaurant on Aurora Avenue North, known for its award-winning building, wine list and tableside Canlis Salad.
Tilikum Place Cafe
Named after the small square with Seattle's Chief Sealth statue, Tilikum Place Cafe serves European-inspired seasonal food at brunch, lunch and dinner near Seattle Center.
At a glance
- Type
- European-inspired cafe restaurant
- Area
- Belltown, Seattle, United States
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- tilikumplacecafe.com
Good to know
- Weekend brunch
- Reservations recommended
- Space Needle views
Why we recommend it
Tilikum Place Cafe is a neighbourhood restaurant on Cedar Street, at the north end of Belltown, close to Seattle Center. It takes its name from Tilikum Place, the small park nearby where the statue of Chief Sealth stands; Chief Sealth is the leader after whom Seattle is named. The restaurant's daytime windows offer views of the Space Needle.
The menu is inspired by European traditions and built on local, seasonal ingredients, with dishes made by hand in the kitchen. It is the kind of place that changes its plates with the time of year, so check the current menu online. Weekend brunch is a good time to visit.
Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm. Lunch runs on Thursday and Friday from 10am to 2pm, and dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 9pm. Other days are not listed, so check before you go. The restaurant recommends reservations, especially when there are big events in the area, and you can book online or by phone. General questions can be emailed to the cafe.
Because it is so close to Seattle Center, Tilikum Place Cafe is a convenient choice before a show at the theatres or the opera, or before or after visiting the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture. It also suits couples looking for a relaxed dinner and friends meeting for a long weekend brunch. Families with children will find brunch the easiest service.
Allow an hour or so for brunch or lunch, and longer for dinner. A booking is the best way to avoid disappointment at weekends. Reservations can be made through the Schedule Online link on the website, and the cafe also lists a separate email address for bookings. If you are planning a pre-theatre dinner, book an early table and tell staff your curtain time, so the kitchen can pace the meal to get you there on time.
Parking is on the street, and there are a few car parks nearby. The Seattle Center Monorail stop and the main sights at Seattle Center are a short walk away, and Belltown's bars and the Olympic Sculpture Park are also close, so you can easily walk off a meal afterwards.
Tilikum Place Cafe FAQs
When is brunch served?
Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm.
When is it open for lunch and dinner?
Lunch is Thursday and Friday from 10am to 2pm, and dinner is Thursday to Saturday from 5pm to 9pm.
Do you need a reservation?
Reservations are recommended, especially when there are big events nearby. Book online or by phone.
What kind of food does it serve?
European-inspired dishes based on local, seasonal ingredients.
Where does the name come from?
From nearby Tilikum Place, where the statue of Chief Sealth, Seattle's namesake, stands.
Is it near the Space Needle?
Yes. It is close to Seattle Center and has views of the Space Needle from its windows.
Is there parking?
There is street parking and a few car parks nearby.
Is it good before a show?
Yes. Its location near Seattle Center makes it a convenient pre-theatre or opera stop.