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Spend the Summer at Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe!

Casual dining on the waterfront at Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe

Summer is officially here in Seattle, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by dining at Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe. As a beloved Seattle restaurant with stunning water views, Ray’s is the perfect spot to relax, enjoy fresh seafood, and make the most of these beautiful long days.

Ray’s has been a favorite waterfront restaurant for locals and visitors alike for decades. Nestled right on Shilshole Bay in Ballard, it’s the ultimate destination for casual dining on the Seattle waterfront. Whether you’re looking for a lively lunch with friends, a fun happy hour, or a sunset dinner with a breathtaking view, Ray’s has you covered.

Water View Dining at Its Best

One of the best things about Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe is the unbeatable water view. Both the Boathouse and the Cafe feature spacious patios where you can soak up the sun, watch the boats drift by, and catch one of Seattle’s epic sunsets over the Olympic Mountains. If you’re searching for a water view restaurant that offers an authentic Seattle experience, look no further.

Our outdoor patios are open daily for walk-in seating, weather permitting, so grab your shades, bring your friends, and get ready for some of the best casual dining on the Seattle waterfront.

Fresh Seafood and Summer Flavors

At Ray’s, we believe great seafood starts with the freshest ingredients. Our new summer menus are bursting with the best the season has to offer—sweet corn, juicy peaches, ripe tomatoes, local greens, and the freshest Pacific Northwest seafood.

Whether you’re craving oysters, wild salmon, or a hearty seafood platter to share, our chefs have crafted dishes that celebrate the flavors of summer. Pair your meal with a crisp local beer, a refreshing cocktail, or a glass of wine as you relax by the water.

The Perfect Seattle Restaurant for Every Occasion

Whether you’re planning a casual lunch, a fun dinner with friends, or a special date night, Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe has something for everyone. The Boathouse downstairs offers an elevated seafood dining experience, while the Cafe upstairs is perfect for a laid-back vibe with classic favorites like fish and chips, burgers, and tasty shareables.

We’re open every day at 11:30am for lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Our welcoming team is ready to make your summer days delicious, memorable, and full of waterfront fun.

Make Ray’s Your Summer Tradition

Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe is more than just a Seattle restaurant—it’s a place where memories are made. From spectacular sunsets to mouthwatering seafood and friendly, casual dining, it’s the best way to experience everything Seattle’s waterfront has to offer.

So, gather your crew, swing by, and grab a seat on our patio this summer. Let’s toast to sunshine, fresh flavors, and good times at your favorite waterfront restaurant. We can’t wait to welcome you to Ray’s!

Plan Your Visit to Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe

📍 Located in Ballard on Shilshole Bay — see our hours & directions here.

📅 Open daily for lunch, happy hour & dinner.

🌅 First come, first served patio seating — weather permitting.

View our menus and reserve in our 1st floor Boathouse! We’ll see you soon!

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Father’s Day at Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe!

Ray's Boathouse Seattle's best waterfront business meeting venue

Treat Dad to an Epic Father’s Day at Ray’s!

Feast on Father’s Day only specials on Sunday, June 15 at Ray’s, Seattle’s best waterfront restaurant! Specials include Grilled Kalbi Short Ribs with jasmine rice, kimchi, ginger-garlic green beans, and gochujang barbecue sauce. And Grilled Prime NY Strip with garlic whipped potatoes, grilled Washington asparagus, and ramp butter.

Don’t forget the drinks! Here’s a few Dad-approved selections:
Buffalo Trace ‘Ray’s Private Selection No. 1
Old Forester 100 Proof ‘Ray’s Private Selection No. 4
Dad’s Perfect Manhattan Buffalo Trace ‘Ray’s Private Selection No. 1’ Bourbon, Carpano Classico sweet vermouth, Dolin dry vermouth, orange and Angostura bitters, up

Celebrate with delicious steak, fresh seafood, mega Seattle waterfront views, and great memories! Enjoy a casual lunch or dinner in our 2nd floor Cafe, or an elevated dinner in our 1st floor Boathouse.

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Ray’s In The News

Ray’s Boathouse guests dining in Seattle WA

Check out these great articles featuring Ray’s Boathouse and Cafe, Seattle’s best seafood restaurant!

From casual lunches and dinners at Ray’s 2nd floor Cafe, to date nights and friend dinners over sharable plates in our 1st floor Boathouse — Ray’s has it all! Reserve in our Boathouse here, Cafe is walk-ins. See you soon!

13 Classic Seattle Restaurants That Define Seattle – Eater Seattle 

Graduation Dinner Guide – Seattle Met
The Best Restaurants for Weddings in Seattle – Eater Seattle

Mother’s Day Dining – Seattle Magazine

Eating Well in Seattle – Woman Around Town

Washington’s Best Waterfront Restaurant – Newstalk870

Washington’s Best Waterfront Restaurant – KEYW

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Copper River Salmon is Here!

Fresh, wild Copper River King and Sockeye salmon is on the menu at Ray’s Boathouse and Cafe, Seattle’s best waterfront restaurant! From the icy waters of Alaska to your plate, enjoy this local, seasonal delicacy while it lasts, during a casual lunch or date night out.

Grilled Copper River King or Sockeye sautéed morel mushrooms and leeks, fried baby rainbow potatoes, Pinot Noir gastrique.

You know we love to pair it with an Oregon pinot noir, but there’s many other delicious options our sommeliers can help you select from our wine lists. Don’t miss out on enjoying this perfect fish at Seattle’s best seafood restaurant!

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Celebrate Easter at Ray’s April 20, 2025!

Gather the family at Ray’s for a delicious Easter brunch or dinner at Seattle’s best waterfront seafood restaurant on Sunday, April 20, 2025! 

Easter reservations are strongly encouraged for our upstairs Cafe holiday buffet and our first floor Boathouse holiday menus. We can accommodate parties of 10 people or fewer, including high chairs.

RESERVE RAY’S UPSTAIRS CAFE HERE.

RESERVE RAY’S FIRST FLOOR BOATHOUSE HERE.

CAFE EASTER BUFFET (2nd floor)
Enjoy our Cafe grand holiday buffet from 9am (first seating) to 8pm (last seating). $95 per person including coffee, juice and sodas (excluding tax and gratuity). $47.50 for children 5 to 11 years of age.

Menu
Complete range of appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts, plus Ray’s traditional carving and shellfish action stations featuring Northwest seafood. Breakfast items will be served on the buffet until 3pm then we will transition to a dinner buffet until 9pm.

The Cafe Bar will be open from 9am (first seating) to 8pm (last seating) and is seated on a first come basis. Cafe Bar is 21 and over only.

BOATHOUSE EASTER A LA CARTE (first floor)

Boathouse Brunch
10:30am (first seating) to 3pm (last seating)
Enjoy our best-selling Boathouse appetizers, salads and entrées along with holiday inspired breakfast and brunch specials.

Boathouse Easter Brunch A La Carte Menu

  • Fresh Berry Parfait vanilla whipped yogurt, fresh berries, house-made almond granola, honey GF
  • Avocado Toast  toasted Como loaf, smashed avocado, pickled red onion, cherry tomatoes, everything bagel seasoning DF
  • Vegetarian Quiche fried breakfast potatoes, mixed green salad V
  • Steak & Eggs*  8oz Double R Ranch bavette steak, two eggs, fried breakfast potatoes, chimichurri GF
  • 8oz House-Ground Beef Burger*  brioche bun, American cheese, shredded lettuce, special sauce, fried breakfast potatoes
  • Two Eggs*  choice of bacon or Uli’s breakfast sausage, fried breakfast potatoes, toasted Como loaf
  • Challah French Toast  Uli’s breakfast sausage, spiced Vermont maple syrup, whipped cream, fresh berries, fried breakfast potatoes
  • Prawns, Grits & Eggs*  Del Pacifico Day Boat prawns, Anson Mills grits, chorizo vinaigrette, two eggs, Como loaf
Boathouse Dinner
3pm (first seating) to 8pm (last seating)
Enjoy our full a la carte dinner menu alongside an $80.00 Easter inspired 3-course dinner menu of appetizer, entrée and dessert (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Full children’s menu available all day.

Boathouse Easter Dinner 3-Course Menu

Choice of one from each

Appetizers

  • Caramelized Carrot Soup, coconut milk, carrot top pesto, fried carrot chips GF
  • Roasted Beet Salad, arugula, goat cheese, pistachio, anchovy, sherry vinaigrette GF
  • Seared Oregon Albacore, green curry coconut milk sauce, wakame GF/DF

Entrées

  • Double R Ranch Spice Rubbed Prime Rib of Beef, garlic whipped potatoes, seared broccolini, demi-glace GF
  • Panseared Wild Alaskan Halibut, pearled couscous, sauteed snap peas and mushrooms, lemon-chive beurre blanc
  • Panfried Tofu, Roasted Cabbage, harissa-chimichurri, cabbage cream, fresh herbs GF

Desserts

  • Chocolate Pot de Crème, Chantilly cream, brownie biscotti crumbles
  • Spiced Carrot Cake, cream cheese frosting, candied pecans
  • OIympic Mountain Ice Cream/Sorbet GF
Kindly review our Easter guidelines for a seamless experience!
*Reservations for parties of up to 10, including highchairs.
*All of our availability is posted on RESY. If the time and party size you are seeking is not listed, it is not available. This includes Cafe Lounge high top seating.
*All reservations are for inside tables only.
*We cannot accommodate window seating requests.
*Walk-ins are only accepted for our bar top seating in the Cafe and Boathouse bars (both ages 21 and over). Our Cafe Lounge  high top seating accepts reservations but is also ages 21 and over.
*Sorry, no promotional discounts available. Loyalty cards accepted and encouraged!
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Sip & Celebrate Washington Wines this March!

Celebrate Washington’s incredible breadth of wines at Ray’s this March during Taste WA Wine Month! We’re featuring special cellar selection glass pours and Washington selections by the bottle.

Raise a glass of WA wine at Seattle’s best seafood restaurant. Cheers!

Cellar Selections by the Glass
3oz & 6oz pours

Woodward Canyon Chardonnay
WA 2023
aromas of white floral, crushed apple, seashell, and pear marry perfectly with understated oak creating subtle spice and vanilla notes 

Figgins Estate Red
Walla Walla Valley, WA 2018 
Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Petite Verdot. Explosive nose of candied cherries, blueberries and pencil shavings. The palate has layers and layers of plum and dried figs 

Selections by the Bottle

 Gorgiste ‘Ray’s 50th’ Rosé

Columbia Gorge, WA 2022

This Gamay Noir Rosé from the Rainmaker Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA is a delightful and playful expression of the varietal. On the nose, the wine exhibits subtle mineral undertones intertwined with vibrant red fruit aromas. On the palate, it is light to medium body, with bright acidity that brings a refreshing crispness to each sip.

Delille ‘Chaleur Estate’ Blanc

Columbia Valley, WA 2022

blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. classic Sauvignon Blanc notes of gooseberry lead on the nose, followed by green apple, apricot and white flowers.  The palate has flavors of lemon brioche and peach-infused mascarpone, buttressed with flinty, mineral qualities.

Gorman Chardonnay

Columbia Valley, WA 2023

100% barrel fermented in French oak.  25% of the barrels are new. This is an expressive offering of chardonnay, with notes of marzipan, barrel spice and herb. Rich, full-bodied, textured flavors follow

Delille Cellars ‘Sagemoor Vineyard’ Riesling

Columbia Valley, WA 2022

Bosc pear, lychee, Meyer lemon and wet stone are showcased initially on the nose.  A touch of residual sugar is just enough to balance out the bustling acidity and create a more full-bodied mouthfeel, full of honeysuckle, dried apricot and jasmine.  There is a freshness and liveliness to this wine that makes it very easy to enjoy on its own but will pair easily with a variety of seafood dishes.

Beautiful Figgins Estate Vineyard in Walla Walla pictured above.

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Seattle Cocktail Week March 2-9!

Seattle Cocktail Week is the perfect time to get out and find a new favorite cocktail–NA or spirited! And Seattle’s best seafood restaurant happens to have an incredible bar program!

Grab your friends and try our line up of featured cocktails available daily in our first floor Boathouse and upstairs Cafe through Sunday, March 9. Cheers!

Evergreen Negroni 
Uncle Val’s Botanical gin, Ransom Old Tom gin, Carpano Classico sweet vermouth, Campari, Clear Creak Douglas fir Eau de Vie rinse, large rock

Unintended Consequences 
Casamigo’s Reposado tequila, Del Meguay ‘Vida’ Mezcal, Lustau Pedro Ximenez ‘San Emilio’ Sherry, Bittermen’s Xocolatl mole bitters, up

The Last Night in Barbados 
Planteray ‘Stiggins’ pineapple rum, Planteray Original Dark rum, B.G. Reynolds falernum, Laphroaig scotch rinse, large rock

Garden Party (NA Cocktail)
Seedlip Garden NA spirit, lime, pineapple, jalapeño, salt rim, rocks

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Shellfest Returns all March at Ray’s!

Bask in the flavors of the Pacific Northwest during Ray’s Shellfest, now through March 31!

Savor an exclusive menu brimming with limited-time shellfish creations, available daily at Seattle’s best waterfront restaurant! Join us in our first floor Boathouse and upstairs Café to enjoy this celebration while it lasts!

Littleneck Clams on the Half Shell
a delicately sweet, pure taste of the ocean served with passionfruit mignonette

Chilled Seafood For Two
4 chilled Del Pacifico Day Boat Prawns, 2 kumamoto oysters, 2 beach glass oysters, 4 littleneck clams on the half shell, ahi tuna poke, crisp wontons, passionfruit mignonette, cocktail sauce

Sake Steamed Manila Clams
garlic, green onion, tamari soy sauce, butter, grilled baguette

Ale Steamed Mussels
local pale ale, leeks, shallots, Dijon mustard, butter, herbs, grilled baguette

Baked Oysters
lime-seaweed butter, pickled sea beans GF

Mussels Escabeche
pimentón, house made thick cut potato chips DF

Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy Slider
crispy fried shrimp, shredded lettuce, tomato, rémoulade

Oysters on the Half Shell
shallot mignonette

Ray’s first floor Boathouse is open nightly for dinner from 5-9pm and happy hour from 5-6pm. Reserve below.

Ray’s second floor Cafe is open daily 11:30am to 9pm and accepts walk-ins for lunch, happy hour (4-6pm), and dinner.

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Oysters & Bubbly All February at Ray’s!

Bring on February! The perfect month to indulge in fresh, Washington oysters at Ray’s Boathouse and Cafe.

Facts: icy winter waters produce plumper oysters, that are richer in flavor and ideal for slurping by the dozen.

So grab your date or group of friends and join us at Ray’s Boathouse and Cafe for Bubbles & Bivalves all month! Pair your oysters with Champagne or sparkling wine for a match made in seafood heaven! Choose a bottle, or opt for a glass of bubbly in 3 and 6 ounce pours.

Oyster selections will change based on availability, served with Ray’s classic red wine mignonette and limited time passionfruit mignonette.

Sparkling Wine Pairings

Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, CA 2019 13 3oz / 26 6oz / 94 bottle

Aromas of Granny Smith apple, tangerine, and lemon-lime. Flavors of fresh grapefruit, and white peach

Jacquart ‘Mosaique’ Brut Champagne, FRA NV 16 3oz / 32 6oz / 126 bottle

Fresh, delicate, and white fruit-forward. Notes of pear, peach, apricot, white flowers, and rose

Bubbles

by the bottle

Bollinger ‘Special Cuvée’ Brut Aÿ, Champagne FRA NV   145 btl

The bottle that started it all. James Bond’s favorite

Laurent Perrier ‘La Cuvée’ Brut Champagne, FRA NV   94 btl

Floral aromas of brioche and sweet orchard fruits. The palate is soft and approachable

Argyle Brut Willamette Valley, OR 2019   62 btl

Founding winemaker, Rollin Soles, came to the Willamette Valley in the 1980’s to make this wine. It is the foundation on which everything at Argyle is made. Orchard fruits, citrus peel, and toasted brioche are framed around a creamy center and long, graceful finish

Mestres ‘1312’ Brut Reserva Cava Penedes, ESP 2020   46 btl

Green apples, orange zest, notes of white fruits, flowers, herb cuttings, and brioche toast. On the palate it is fresh, revealing a great balance

Gran Moraine Brut Rosé Willamette Valley, OR 2022   118 btl

That rare domestic rosé that captures the vibrant acidity of Champagne, offering delicate strawberry, raspberry flavors laced with steely minerality and sprinkle of graham cracker on the finish

Pierre Trichet ‘L’authentique’ Brut Rosé Champagne, FRA NV   85 btl

It reveals notes of crushed / fleshy strawberry and a hint of raspberry associated with fine notes of ripe white fruit (peach, pear) as well as discreet hints of mandarin and exotic fruit

Landmass ‘Heavy Glow’ Brut Rosé Columbia Gorge, OR 2023   68 btl

Refined yet playful, this sparkling rosé of comprised of Champagne varietals, shows off notes of honeydew melon, vanilla biscuits, pears, and bright minerality.

See you soon on the Ballard waterfront for fresh local oysters!

Ray’s first floor Boathouse is open nightly for dinner from 5-9pm and happy hour 5-6pm. Reserve here.

Ray’s second floor Cafe is open daily 11:30am to 9pm and accepts walk-ins for lunch, happy hour and dinner.