It’s Seattle’s most iconic landmark. And it recently got a big facelift. Including the addition of the world’s only revolving glass floor. Since it recently held its big grand reopening, I thought it would be fun to look back at how it once looked before we go back and try the new and improved version. You know I love old stuff and nostalgia. What a lot of people don’t know, and this might be a controversial Seattle statement, is that the Space Needle holds one of the city’s best brunches. There. I said it. Because I grew up with a grandmother who cooked Sunday brunch more religiously than she went to church, and I once lived in the south and don’t ever let anyone around me forget it, sometimes I take brunch a little too seriously. When we moved here two years ago Seattle’s brunch spots had a lot to live up to in my mind. Some are just fine, some are okay, and a few are really good. My top two are Porkchop & Co in Ballard and Oddfellows in Capitol Hill, but surprisingly the Space Needle does sit in my top 5.
We took my mom there for brunch one weekend last Spring and it didn’t disappoint. Not only were the views of the city way better than I imagined, the food was on point. They do a three course brunch with surf and turf options. My only complaint was that mimosas weren’t included. We made reservations ahead of time, which I highly recommend. We arrived and checked in on the ground floor and it wasn’t long before we were whisked away into a massive elevator to rocket into space.
The Space Needle sits on the edge of downtown and is surrounded by some wonderful museums including the Museum of Pop Culture, the Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Children’s Museum and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Art Museum which makes the scenery from the top even more fun to peer down at all of the different sculpture exhibits dotting the landscape. Including gigantic spiders – maybe the creepiest installation of all time.
About 3/4 of the way to the top is the restaurant. If you want to go all the way to tip of the needle it’s another quick elevator ride up, which you can just do if you want to skip the restaurant all together. The top does have its own food and beverage options. But we wanted to experience the whole meal deal. Stepping off the elevator, we were immediately inside the bustling restaurant with the wait staff running off and on the spinning outer portion where all the tables sit. I did not expect the entire restaurant to spin. The beauty of it is that you continuously get 360 degree views of the city, but was quite the trip for my easily motion-sick brain to grasp at first. It helped to focus out on the view and once we settled in I was over it. Then the food came and I forgot all about anything else.
Landmarks like the Space Needle can seem touristy and an easy thing to forgo altogether when visiting cities, but now being a Seattle resident I can honestly say this one is worth it. How could you say no to delicious brunch at 605 feet up? We can’t wait to go back to experience the upgrades and walk out on the new glass floor!
Cheers to spinning ocean brunch views and facelifts! ~ Amanda