The holiday season is decidedly different this year but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the fun and festivities happening around town in a safe and responsible way. In fact, businesses in King County are counting on you to get out and celebrate the season by shopping and dining locally. Visit Seattle recently launched a "Do Something Nearby" campaign to encourage Seattleites to get out and do something. Whether you're grabbing take-out in your neighborhood, enjoying a socially-distant glass of wine, or shopping for the loved ones on your holiday list from local boutiques, we can each do something to make a difference for the businesses in King County. While there may be modifications to the usual holiday festivities this year, there's still something for everyone to enjoy around town.
Here's your Insider's Guide to #DoSomethingNearby in Bellevue. Pick a few places to shop, a few places to eat (or snack), add a few holiday activities, and you've got a full day! Every business featured on this list is locally owned + operated!
Eat
Jujubeet - Jujbeet believes that the foundation of a healthy diet is whole, unprocessed food. In fact, everything on their menu is made fresh and perfectly crafted to provide healthy nutrition for an on-the-go lifestyle. Female-founded and locally owned, Jujubeet has an amazing assortment of light bites, Complete Meals, and Cleanse Packages that make great holiday gifts. In addition, they also have a great retail section that includes artisanal chocolates, single-source CBD oils, cookbooks, and organic skincare. Don't miss their recently released holiday gift baskets.
Cactus - Located at Bellevue Square, Cactus is one of my favorite places to go for Mexican food. I love their hand-crafted cocktails and inspired menu which includes a full range of my favorite dishes including the Butternut Squash Enchiladas, the Sonoran Spa chicken with cotija cheese, and the Braised Brisket Tacos. In October, Cactus invested in Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization systems for its restaurants which help kill pathogens in the air and on surfaces. Oh, and they also have a great kids menu!
Tavern Hall - Boasting a full menu of burgers, fried chicken and waffles, and even stadium nachos, Tavern Hall at Bellevue Square is a great place to grab a bite when you're in Bellevue. Their Sesame Salmon Bowl is amazing, too! During COVID, Tavern Hall is offering delivery, takeout, and patio dining.
Japonessa - If you're craving sushi, don't miss Japonessa in Lincoln Square South. The menu takes traditional Japanese cooking and fuses it with hits of Latin flair including signature rolls, sashimi sets, tempura tacos, and more. Open for patio seating, take-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery.
The Lakehouse - I've dined at The Lakehouse many times over the past few years, and I'm always inspired by the simple, yet insanely delicious food prepared by Chef Jason Wilson. Located inside W Bellevue, The Lakehouse is now doing "dinners to go" Wednesday through Saturday, with pick-up available from 4 - 6 p.m. The menu includes grilled organic carrots in a red curry cashew yogurt, Alaskan halibut, beef wagyu burgers, and grilled octopus with pancetta. Order now for dinner, date night, or even Christmas eve.
Lady Yum - For a sweet treat, I'm a BIG fan of Lady Yum's macarons. Seasonal flavors include Gingerbread Lemon, Peppermint Bark, Cherry Coconut Cordial, and Frosted Sugar Cookie, which looks strikingly similar to the macaron Baby Yoda was eating in a recent episode of The Mandalorian. The holiday packs make a great stocking stuffer or gift!
Third Culture Coffee - For a pick-me-up while you're out shopping and enjoying the holiday festivities, don't miss Third Culture Coffee in Bellevue. It's locally-owned and completely dedicated to serving up perfectly brewed coffee and tea. Need an easy stocking stuffer? Gift cards are available for purchase online.
Molly Moon Flagship - While many things closed during COVID, Molly Moon took the bold step of opening a brand new flagship in Bellevue. Located just a few steps from Downtown Bellevue Park, guests can visit and carry-out delicious Molly Moon ice cream. Shoppers can even peer inside Molly Moon's pastry kitchen to see the culinary team at work while they shop for gifts and splurge on a sweet treat. Shop MM merch online here.
Shop
La Ree - Established in 2006, La Ree curates a beautiful mix of apparel and accessories for women from emerging designers and independent labels. If you have fashion fans on your list, this is a must-visit boutique in Bellevue. They also have a limited assortment of travel-sized gift sets that make great stocking stuffers! During COVID, private shopping appointments are available and can easily be booked online in advance.
jarbo - Owned locally by Sharon Roth, jarbo creates timeless, sophisticated clothing for women. The assortment includes beautiful cashmere sweaters, goose down parkas, Italian suede bags, and even face masks and accessories. (Tip: jarbo shares a small parking lot with glassybaby and Jujubeet, so you can easily hit all 3 places when you stop by for holiday shopping).
glassybaby - If you've never experienced glassybaby, this is the *perfect* season to discover these gorgeous local gems that make beautiful gifts. Each glassybaby is hand-blown in Seattle and made with love. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from every glassybaby sold goes back to those in need. To date, glassybaby has donated over $10.8M to charitable causes and non-profits. Gift cards are also available.
Made in Washington - A one-stop-shop for holiday gifting, Made in Washington at Bellevue Square makes it easy to #Shoplocal for everyone on your list. From local teas, to handcrafted soaps, bath salts, regional foods, and even chocolates, Made in Washington has it all. In fact, I dedicated an entire post to my favorite holiday gift picks that you can check out here.
City Flowers - I always say that a house is not a home without fresh flowers. City Flowers makes giving beautiful arrangements fun and easy any time of year, but especially during the holiday season. In addition, they have great ornaments, gifts, candles, and decor.
Farinaz - Well-known for her beautiful collection of tailored shirts and timeless fashion for women, local designer Farinaz Taghavi also has gorgeous sweaters, structured jackets, and silk blouses that make extraordinary holiday gifts. Farinaz also offers digital gift cards. Shop in person at The Bellevue Collection.
Karan Dannenberg Clothier - Located in the Bellevue Hyatt Hotel, Karan Dannenberg Clothier carries women's clothing and accessories from brands like Adore, Hale Bob, Sympli The Best, and Myka Designs. During the holidays, Karan also stocks gorgeous gifts like gloves, hats, scarves, ornaments, and more.
Bellevue Arts Museum - While the museum is closed due to COVID, you can still shop for gifts online and cruise by for curbside pick-up Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The epic assortment of gifts includes silk scarves, organic soaps, jewelry, ceramics, and more.
Play
Yuan Spa - Located in Bellevue on 106th Ave N.E., Yuan Spa is just off the main strip but perfectly situated to be the "destination spa" you don't have to travel to. They are operating at a reduced capacity due to COVID but still have a full range of spa services available from facials, to signature massages, therapeutic body treatments (including a CBD body scrub!), and even an ASMR service designed for deep relaxation. Spa gift cards are also available.
Obadiah & 02 Blow Dry Bar - "In the before", I used to get my hair done all the time and I miss the salon experience so much, so during COVID I treat myself to a "snack size experience" at the Obadiah O2 Blow Dry Bar. Everyone wears masks while in the salon and all precautions are taken to ensure your visit is a safe one. If you have beauty fans on your list, gift cards are also available and make a great stocking stuffer!
Bellevue Farmers Market - The Bellevue Farmers Market is a non-profit dedicated to supporting small farms and businesses on the Eastside. Operating every third Saturday of the month, the next market is scheduled for Saturday, December 19th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Bellevue Presbyterian Church. This year you can shop in person from local vendors or buy curated gift baskets online.
Snowflake Lane - There's no parade this year, but you can still catch the holiday magic of Snowflake Lane nightly from 5-9 p.m. along Bellevue Way. Guests will get to see classic Snowflake Lane decor, enjoy holiday music, and even get caught in a surprise snow shower.
Stay
W Bellevue - If a staycation is in your future, I recommend a getaway at W Bellevue. Perfectly situated on Bellevue Way in the heart of the shopping and dining scene, W Bellevue is a great home base for weekend shopping adventures and it's pet-friendly, too! Face coverings are required and COVID precautions are being taken.
There's still time to get out and #DoSomethingNearby this holiday season! Whether you're shopping, dining, or taking in the sights and sounds of the season, there's plenty to do in Bellevue and actual people do happy dances when you support local businesses. Tag me in your posts @Sydlovesfashion and @VisitSeattle and @VisitBellevue as you shop around town and don't forget to use the hashtag #DoSomethingNearby #VisitBellevue. Wishing you a healthy & safe holiday season!
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