A Visit to the Sky View Observatory and Cafe

May 17, 2026

A Visit to the Sky View Observatory and Cafe | Spring 2026

The view from the Sky View Observatory in Seattle! The Columbia Tower is 933 feet tall and is the tallest tower in Washington.

Head to the top of the Columbia Tower, the Sky View Observatory, for the best views in Seattle. This is just our opinion, of course, but after visiting all of the observation towers in Seattle and most of the rooftop lounges, this view is our favorite.

This was our second time visiting this Seattle observatory and we found the prices not bad at all. Since our kids are under thirteen, we paid $20 for the two of them and we paid $27 for my husband and I. But we also got a Spring discount, so our total was $82. This is less than half the price of visiting the Space Needle, and I like the views at the Sky View Observatory better. Why? I can see the Space Needle, and even more of the city and the surrounding areas. They also have a cafe with a small menu and a full bar, along with plenty of tables next to the windows.

The elevator takes about a minute and a half to reach the 78th floor where the observatory is. We did a couple of laps around and took in the 360-degree views of Seattle, Bellevue, West Seattle, and more. Since it was my husband's birthday, we ordered cocktails and some food. We found a table for four right by a window looking out towards Elliot Bay and the downtown skyscrapers.

He sipped on a 5th Ave Manhattan, and I selected an Emerald Elevation. This pretty drink had vodka, Cointreau, huckleberry, and lime. So instead of a Cosmopolitan with cranberry juice, it had huckleberry. I loved it for the tartness and fruitiness. My husband also liked his Manhattan and was happily surprised to see three cocktail cherries in his drink.

My son's each ordered a Grilled Cheese. These had a three-cheese blend on a Ciabatta Roll and served alongside some house seasoned Kettle Chips. They both really liked their sandwiches and gobbled them up while admiring the sky-high view of the city. My husband and I shared the Charcuterie Board and the PBW Smoked Salmon Dip. Both of these sharable items were great! The Salmon Dip came with Kettle Chips for dipping, and we all loved the fresh and savory flavor of the dip. The Charcuterie Board had a nice selection of crackers, meats, nuts, green olives, cheese, and apricot jam. I was impressed with the quality of the food and drinks, especially for being served at an observation deck, where at some places it can be lacking and more of an afterthought.

After we were done eating, my husband surprised me with a pin he purchased for me. I was so excited, since pins are some of my favorite things! It went right onto my pin board when we got home.

Before we knew it, a couple of hours had flown by, and it was time to board the elevator and go home. It was kind of sad being back outside at ground level again. There's something special and fun about being up in the clouds and seeing the world look so tiny from above. This Seattle attraction is underrated, and more locals and visitors should check it out!