Cat & Chika's Guide to Pioneer Square
Not to brag or anything, but our neighborhood is such a good place for a December day trip! We've got so many spots to eat, drink, and discover delightful things: You can gift shop for everyone on your list AND treat yourself to a fun day out in the city. Plus, all the lights and historic buildings will make you feel like you wandered into a holiday movie!
If you're far away or can't make it down, almost all of our picks also have online stores & gift cards, so you can show Pioneer Square some long-distance love or encourage your Seattle-based pals to visit.
Step 1: Do some surprise-me gift shopping!
Start your day off with these curated shops, full of delightful things that you didn't even know you were looking for:
- Fruitsuper has all kinds of cool, unexpected home goods, plus excellent pantry staples.
- Clementines has fun accessories and bags (and you can pick up some cute new boots or house shoes for yourself while you're there!)
- Try Flora & Henri if you need some gifts for men, for kiddos, or for your friends with intimidatingly good taste.
- Bon Voyage Vintage is THE place to find one-of-a-kind vintage goods—if you're into treasure hunting this is your spot. (Our fave find? This t-shirt.)
Step 2: Pause for snacks.
- Warm yourself up with a latte or keep it chill with a shrub soda over at Elm Coffee Roasters...then sign up your coffee-fiend friend for a monthly subscription!
- Swing by our neighbors at Cone & Steiner if you just want a quick treat. We highly recommend these little pretzel bites. While you're there, you can also grab everything you need for a last-minute charcuterie board.
- Wanna take a seat? Stop at D&E for lunch and don't forget to order a side of the world's best french fries.
Step 3: Polish off your shopping list.
If you've got some major checking-off to do, head to these guaranteed-win shops—and when in doubt, grab a gift card!
- Stop by Arundel Books for any and all reading material (plus the experience of roaming through a magical bookstore.)
- Dry Goods Design is the perfect gift stop the crafty people in your life--and if you're the crafty person in your life, this shop has the materials for your holiday projects! We're currently loving this book about mending.
- Got some kiddos and/or family gatherings to shop for? Magic Mouse has games, toys, and puzzles for daaaays.
- Stock up on treats from Intrigue Chocolate: Get truffle flights for your faves & a variety of artisan cocoa mixes for those last-minute host/co-worker/cousin gifting emergencies.
Step 4: Unwind
- Head over to J. Rinehart Gallery to bask in the inspiring atmosphere and pick out some original artwork for your walls—everything from their latest Off the Wall exhibition is $100!
- Need a drink? Head to Locus for a wine tasting, or swing by Goodbar for a cocktail or three.
- Treat yourself to a loaf of sourdough bread or a seasonal bouquet from London Plane to take home with you!
Cat & Chika
