clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

The Hottest New Restaurants in the Seattle Area, June 2023

14 Destinations for Sensational Sushi in the Seattle Area

14 Phenomenal Chinese and Taiwanese Restaurants in the Seattle Area

More in Seattle See more maps
Dessert Thali at Poppy.
Dessert Thali at Poppy.
Poppy/Official

Finish a Meal Strong With Must-Have Seattle Restaurant Desserts

Say yes to the dessert menu, even if you're full

by Dylan Joffe
1 comment / new
View as Map
Dessert Thali at Poppy.
| Poppy/Official
by Dylan Joffe
1 comment / new

Sweets Week wouldn't be complete without a list of restaurants in Seattle who have the ultimate digestifs: slices of cake, pieces of pie, chewy cookies, rich or refreshing ice cream, and decadent donuts available for a pleasant end to a satisfying dinner out. (Digestif is French for dessert, right?)

When you're in the mood for something sugary, but don't have the self-control to allow an entire coconut cream pie in your house, you need to find the place for a delicious bite that has a full stop at the end. That's what this list is for: the best finish to any meal — or even a glorious replacement for dinner all together.

Note: Map points are listed roughly south to north and are not ranked by preference. Have a favorite way to cap off dinner? Show it some love in the comments, send an email, or start a forum thread in its honor.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Super Six

Copy Link

Cheap can be bad — but cheap can be so, so good. The Portuguese-Hawaiian specialty at Super Six, the malasada, is the perfect example. These little doughnuts with lilikoi caramel will only set you back four bucks, and they will likely be the best things you eat all day.

3714 S Hudson St, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 420-1201
(206) 420-1201
Super Six/FB

Also featured in:

Bottlehouse

Copy Link

This neighborhood wine oasis boasts a killer vino list and a standout dessert board, ranging from cheese (curated by an in-house cheesemonger) to truffles. The best bet? The rotating pot de créme. With flavors like tawny port, dark chocolate vermouth, and lavender mint, it's a worthy reward for climbing the hill to Madrona.

1416 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 708-7164
(206) 708-7164

Also featured in:

Ba Bar

Copy Link

Ba Bar’s fancy pho and other Vietnamese specialties are enough to get lines of people in the door. However, the best thing about Ba Bar might just be its pastry shelf. Macaroons, påté chaud, pineapple upside-down cake, the dessert formerly known as Cronuts™ — everything you can get here is a home run.

550 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 328-2030
(206) 328-2030
Ba Bar/FB

Also featured in:

RN74

Copy Link

It’s easy to get lost in the sea of Downtown restaurants. While some are good, many simply aren't on par with the rest of Seattle's dining scene. Luckily, there's RN74 to save the day. If you find yourself Downtown and craving something sweet, head to the French eatery for hand-cut beignets, served warm with salted caramel and Macallan 12 butterscotch custard.

1433 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 456-7474
(206) 456-7474

Also featured in:

Dahlia Lounge

Copy Link

The Triple Coconut Cream Pie is truly a Seattle institution — Tom Douglas has been making it for more than 25 years, and it has President Obama's seal of approval. With coconut in its crust, in its smooth custard filling, and resting atop its whipped cream as toasted flakes, this pie is a must-try at the end of a meal at any Douglas restaurant, even if it's not listed on the menu (the restaurateur keeps a back-up in every kitchen).

2001 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 682-4142
(206) 682-4142
Suzi Pratt/Eater

Also featured in:

Vestal

Copy Link

It’s rare to see a borderline health food like zucchini cake cluttering a best restaurant dessert list, but have faith that Vestal’s version with huckleberries, corn ice cream, and candied squash blossom deserves its spot.

513 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 456-2660
(206) 456-2660

Single Shot

Copy Link

Perhaps the best ice cream in Seattle doesn’t come from an ice cream shop — it’s handmade in small batches for the customers of Capitol Hill’s Single Shot. Rotating options have included Chartreuse chocolate chip, Bailey’s, wild huckleberry, and crème fraîche — the flavors are often unexpected, always delicious.

611 Summit Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 420-2238
(206) 420-2238

Also featured in:

Poppy

Copy Link

Poppy’s Thalis, platters served individually to each guest with a variety of small dishes, allow you to sample the best of the restaurant. And no trip to Jerry Traunfeld’s Capitol Hill digs would be complete without a sweet Thali for two. The dessert option highlights house-made ice cream, pies, chocolate terrine, and more.

622 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 324-1108
(206) 324-1108
Poppy/Official

Also featured in:

Canlis

Copy Link

Anticipation is an extra ingredient in the Canlis soufflé, which takes 30 minutes to prepare. giving you ample time to enjoy your fine surroundings. The classic dessert, embossed with a Canlis “C,” drips with crème Anglaise; its texture is heavenly, its flavor redolent of Grand Marnier and orange zest. The wait is well worth it.

2576 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-3313
(206) 283-3313

Also featured in:

Delancey

Copy Link

The beauty of Delancey is its simplicity — ridiculously good pizza, a couple of fresh salads, and an out-of-this-world cookie. The chocolate chip cookie with grey sea salt is available fresh from the oven or in its raw dough form for you to take home and do what you like with it (i.e. eat with a spoon immediately).

1415 NW 70th St, Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 838-1960
(206) 838-1960
Delancey/FB

Also featured in:

Gainsbourg

Copy Link

Greenwood's dimly lit French lounge is famous for its absinthe, reasonable prices, and decadent desserts. Get the strawberry Cava cheesecake — and an actual glass of bubbles to go with it.

8550 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 781-2224
(206) 781-2224

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Super Six

3714 S Hudson St, Seattle, WA 98118

Cheap can be bad — but cheap can be so, so good. The Portuguese-Hawaiian specialty at Super Six, the malasada, is the perfect example. These little doughnuts with lilikoi caramel will only set you back four bucks, and they will likely be the best things you eat all day.

3714 S Hudson St, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 420-1201
(206) 420-1201
Super Six/FB

Bottlehouse

1416 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

This neighborhood wine oasis boasts a killer vino list and a standout dessert board, ranging from cheese (curated by an in-house cheesemonger) to truffles. The best bet? The rotating pot de créme. With flavors like tawny port, dark chocolate vermouth, and lavender mint, it's a worthy reward for climbing the hill to Madrona.

1416 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 708-7164
(206) 708-7164

Ba Bar

550 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Ba Bar’s fancy pho and other Vietnamese specialties are enough to get lines of people in the door. However, the best thing about Ba Bar might just be its pastry shelf. Macaroons, påté chaud, pineapple upside-down cake, the dessert formerly known as Cronuts™ — everything you can get here is a home run.

550 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 328-2030
(206) 328-2030
Ba Bar/FB

RN74

1433 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

It’s easy to get lost in the sea of Downtown restaurants. While some are good, many simply aren't on par with the rest of Seattle's dining scene. Luckily, there's RN74 to save the day. If you find yourself Downtown and craving something sweet, head to the French eatery for hand-cut beignets, served warm with salted caramel and Macallan 12 butterscotch custard.

1433 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 456-7474
(206) 456-7474

Dahlia Lounge

2001 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

The Triple Coconut Cream Pie is truly a Seattle institution — Tom Douglas has been making it for more than 25 years, and it has President Obama's seal of approval. With coconut in its crust, in its smooth custard filling, and resting atop its whipped cream as toasted flakes, this pie is a must-try at the end of a meal at any Douglas restaurant, even if it's not listed on the menu (the restaurateur keeps a back-up in every kitchen).

2001 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 682-4142
(206) 682-4142
Suzi Pratt/Eater

Vestal

513 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

It’s rare to see a borderline health food like zucchini cake cluttering a best restaurant dessert list, but have faith that Vestal’s version with huckleberries, corn ice cream, and candied squash blossom deserves its spot.

513 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 456-2660
(206) 456-2660

Single Shot

611 Summit Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102

Perhaps the best ice cream in Seattle doesn’t come from an ice cream shop — it’s handmade in small batches for the customers of Capitol Hill’s Single Shot. Rotating options have included Chartreuse chocolate chip, Bailey’s, wild huckleberry, and crème fraîche — the flavors are often unexpected, always delicious.

611 Summit Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 420-2238
(206) 420-2238

Poppy

622 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102

Poppy’s Thalis, platters served individually to each guest with a variety of small dishes, allow you to sample the best of the restaurant. And no trip to Jerry Traunfeld’s Capitol Hill digs would be complete without a sweet Thali for two. The dessert option highlights house-made ice cream, pies, chocolate terrine, and more.

622 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 324-1108
(206) 324-1108
Poppy/Official

Canlis

2576 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Anticipation is an extra ingredient in the Canlis soufflé, which takes 30 minutes to prepare. giving you ample time to enjoy your fine surroundings. The classic dessert, embossed with a Canlis “C,” drips with crème Anglaise; its texture is heavenly, its flavor redolent of Grand Marnier and orange zest. The wait is well worth it.

2576 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-3313
(206) 283-3313

Delancey

1415 NW 70th St, Seattle, WA 98117

The beauty of Delancey is its simplicity — ridiculously good pizza, a couple of fresh salads, and an out-of-this-world cookie. The chocolate chip cookie with grey sea salt is available fresh from the oven or in its raw dough form for you to take home and do what you like with it (i.e. eat with a spoon immediately).

1415 NW 70th St, Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 838-1960
(206) 838-1960
Delancey/FB

Gainsbourg

8550 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

Greenwood's dimly lit French lounge is famous for its absinthe, reasonable prices, and decadent desserts. Get the strawberry Cava cheesecake — and an actual glass of bubbles to go with it.

8550 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 781-2224
(206) 781-2224

Related Maps