The Past and Present of This Downtown Seattle Restaurant
The name Ben Paris stirs up a lively chapter in Seattle’s history. It all began with a businessman and his landmark spot, Ben Paris Cigars, Lunch & Cards, which once sat right where today’s Ben Paris now invites you in—just a stone’s throw from Pike Place Market.
Ben Paris, the man himself, wasn’t your average entrepreneur. He was a sportsman, conservationist, and all-around mover and shaker. His passion for the outdoors and business was perfectly captured in one of his restaurants, where a giant fish tank full of live bass sat front and center—because why not? In 1931, he kicked off Seattle’s first fishing derby to promote his fishing rods, and just like that, the legendary Ben Paris Salmon Derby was born, reeling in a community of avid fishers.
Paris didn’t stop at business. He made waves in conservation, helping to ban commercial salmon traps in Puget Sound by 1935—a huge win for local fish and fishermen alike. And if that wasn’t enough, he also fought for your right to enjoy a cold one on a Sunday. Though the Supreme Court wasn’t having it, Paris’s fiery spirit never dimmed.
Today, Ben Paris keeps that same adventurous vibe alive with creative cocktails, classic dishes with a twist, and a bustling atmosphere that draws in friends and family alike. Every bite and sip is a nod to Ben Paris’s bold, pioneering legacy—a delicious tribute to Seattle’s past and a taste of what’s to come.
Masthead image photo courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives