I recently had the opportunity to get all dressed up and eat an unforgettable meal at the Loupe Lounge, the new experience at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. It was an amazing experience that I highly recommend – if you’re on the fence, it’s totally worth it!
Aside from enjoying an amazing meal, it was the perfect excuse to try a new-to-me designer (Pat Bo) and the most fitting occasion take my Seattle skyline bag out on the town.
Do You Have to Dress Up for the Loupe Lounge?
When we ate dinner at the Space Needle, I noticed the other guests were in a range of clothes, from men in blazers and polos to casual tourists in jeans and sweatshirts. I don’t think there’s a particular dress code that’s strictly enforced.
For me, a special occasion calls for a special outfit, and I wasn’t going to miss my chance to get decked out for this unique experience. The Space Needle was built for the World’s Fair in 1962, a time when America was very into the idea of space exploration and atomic furniture and home decor were still in vogue. I love a theme, so I decided to riff on these ideas with a metallic dress, starburst earrings, and my Seattle skyline purse.
I knew we would be going to dinner at the Space Needle at some point, and was lucky to find this Seattle skyline box clutch brand new on Poshmark a few months prior. The rest of my look really sprang forth from this purse. It’s Nordstrom brand, which made it even cooler for me as the Nordstrom flagship store is in Seattle and is a place I love to visit when I can.
My dress is Pat Bo, which I got for a steal on The Real Real and could not be happier with. It’s the most perfect shade of gilver, actually composed of alternating runs of silver and gold thread, and the quality is amazing. I know I will have this dress for a long time, can wear it for so many different occasions, and just seeing it hanging in my closet makes me smile. A very worthwhile investment.
How Much Does Dinner at the Space Needle Cost?
Dinner at the Space Needle is one of the most unique dining experiences in America, if not the world. (Yes, the glass floor is a little freaky, but only adds to the fun.) Aside from the setting, the food is decadent, luxurios and a little exotic – think wagyu steak tartare, sea urchin, caviar, and edible 24K gold!
We dined at the Loupe Lounge near the opening of the 2023-2024 season, and it cost over $500.00 for the two of us, with no add-ons like extra drinks or parking. Aside from the meal itself, there are some other factors that affect the price that I didn’t know about until we took the plunge and bought our tickets.
- Dinner at the Space Needle costs more on weekends than it does on weekdays. We had to go on a weekend, so an additional $50 per person was added to the base price of our meal.
- You still have to purchase admission to the Space Needle itself. This was automatically added onto our tickets at the time of booking, but it is at a reduced rate compared to if you were just visiting the Space Needle itself.
- A 20% gratuity was automatically added to our tickets at the time of booking.
- Seattle city tax was added on top of all of that.
Is Dinner at the Space Needle Worth It?
Our dinner for two at the Loupe Lounge was by no means a cheap dinner for us, and I have to admit we were hoping that it would be worth the price and the hype surrounding it. It totally was – so much so that we want to do it again at least one more time.
Our server was awesome and super knowledgable, able to speak to each drink and make recommendations (you get a new cocktail with each course!). They were also a pretty great photographer, taking multiple photos for us each time we asked and at different orientations and angles so we’d have a good selection of pics from each mini “session”.
The portions are small, but incredibly rich and flavorful. We ordered the Buther’s Tower and the Seafood Tower, and split every item in half so we could both try everything. By the time dessert came, we were almost too full. (Don’t worry, we finished it!)
Presentation is everything at the Loupe Lounge, especially with the drinks. One of our first cocktails was chilled using liquid nitrogen, and without spoiling anything I’ll just say that the flourish it was served with provided a very wowing Bill Nye-esque moment of wonder. Another that was described as having a smoked flavor was actually carried to the table still in the smoker. If you’re into details, dinner at the Space Needle will not disappoint – down to the stamped ice cube in your glass.
Aside from all of that, the time of day we chose to go made the experience that much richer. We arrived about an hour before sunset and knew we’d be there until about an hour after, which if you can is the way to do it. We got to see the skyline change from glinting in the bright afternoon sun to glowing beautifully at the golden hour and then lighting up at night, all while we spun around 500 feet above Seattle, indulging in a decadent, fun meal.