Bellevue’s Cantina Monarca sets sights on Seattle waterfront debut in 2027

From gourmet tacos to lobster enchiladas, guests will soon enjoy a 45-year-old legacy from both sides of Lake Washington. Bellevue’s Cantina Monarca is coming to Seattle, specifically to the Lake Union Piers.

The new Seattle space

The 11,000-square-foot space will include both indoor and outdoor dining and entertainment space, according to a restaurant news release. Guests will enjoy cocktails and Mexican cuisine with sweeping views of Lake Union and the Space Needle. The restaurant’s design will include lush greenery and natural materials to highlight the waterfront setting.

When will doors open?

Restaurant leaders hope to open the restaurant next summer.

The legacy across Bellevue and the Puget Sound

“Creating restaurants and spaces that bring people together has always been my passion,” founder Bernie Garcia noted in a statement. “This project is an opportunity to take everything we’ve learned over the years and elevate it to an entirely new level. Our goal is to create one of Seattle’s most exciting restaurants, a place that both locals and visitors will love coming back to.”

Restaurant founders have called the region home since 1978, with the first establishment being Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant. Moctezuma’s has locations in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Southcenter, and Silverdale.

The first Cantina Monarca opened in Bellevue in late 2022 and has an elevated dining style. That is in comparison with Moctezuma’s, which leans more traditional, family-style, according to the Bellevue Downtown Association.  Cantina Monarca is also known for over 100 world-renowned tequilas as well as Mexican cuisine that offers vegan and gluten-free options.

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