Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Seattle Meets the Sky

On the 16th floor of Lotte Hotel Seattle, Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge frames sweeping views of Elliott Bay while serving a brand of Pacific Northwestern cuisine that draws confidently from Asian culinary traditions. The setting is polished without being stiff — a place equally suited to a leisurely weekend brunch or a considered dinner with serious wine.

The Kitchen's Approach

The menu is built around depth, balance, and what the kitchen calls "thoughtful technique." Savory anchors include the Tamari Braised Dino Short Rib, served alongside mushroom risotto and a dry-aged jus, and the Garden Vegetable Risotto brightened with preserved lemon, fresh herbs, and herb roulé cheese. The Romanesco Cauliflower Soup brings together duck prosciutto, Beecher's Flagship cheese, and brioche croutons into something rich and grounding.

Desserts carry the same flavor-forward logic. Executive Pastry Chef Merlyn Permata Martin draws on Asian influences and seasonal instincts to produce standout plates like The Stone — a black sesame cake — and the Nashi Pear Tart finished with whiskey cream sauce and salted corn ice cream. Her New-Fashioned Carrot Cake rounds out a pastry program that consistently surprises.

Cocktails Worth the Detour

The bar program evolves with the seasons, leaning on house-made infusions, fresh herbs, and unexpected spice pairings. The Goalkeeper pairs Woodinville bourbon with saffron and edible gold; the Dark Matter is built for rye and dark chocolate devotees; and the Butterfly Effect layers pisco, passion fruit, and butterfly pea flower into something visually striking. A thoughtful selection of spirit-free creations ensures no one is left out.

A Wine List That Earned Its Recognition

Charlotte holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — recognition given to restaurants with wine programs that go beyond the expected, featuring premium producers and bottles rarely found on retail shelves. Behind the list is Wine Specialist Gene Dexter, whose more than 40 years in hospitality inform a collection of over 250 wines spanning Napa Valley, Tuscany, the Yakima Valley, and beyond. Guests describe his approach as "an engaging conversation rather than a lecture" — knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely curious. His philosophy is disarmingly simple: Good is good.

The Full Picture

Charlotte operates across breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, and lounge service, making it one of the more versatile fine dining destinations in Seattle. The Pacific Northwestern cuisine at its core — local, seasonal, technically precise — is elevated at every turn by the Asian influences woven through the menu, a wine list of real distinction, and a room with one of the better views in the city.