Then and now: 16 historic Seattle restaurants still open today

It's no secret that Seattle is rapidly changing. With cranes in every direction and rising costs, the Emerald City has seen its fair share of once-stapled restaurants closing up shop.

However, some restaurants have managed to make their place in this ever-changing city, finding a foothold in their neighborhood and building a community around them. Whether it's Seattle's oldest Chinese restaurant where Bruce Lee used to dine or the famed lunch counter at the Athenian Inn from "Sleepless in Seattle," these legendary spots define the city's food culture.

Scroll down to see our list and click through the slideshow above to see past and present photos of a few of the Emerald City's beloved local institutions.

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1. Lockspot Cafe: Lockspot Cafe has been open for over 90 years, staying true to its no-frills roots and representing the character of "old" Ballard in the rapidly growing neighborhood. It has doled out platters of crispy fish and chips through numerous world wars, market crashes, and natural disasters. "When you walk into the Lockspot Cafe, it's like coming home. This is a generational place," said owner Pam Hanson, who started working at the cafe as a bartender in 1996.

2. Mecca Cafe: This Lower Queen Anne institution opened in 1930 by C. Preston Smith and his wife Frances, who a year earlier opened 5 Point Cafe. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the two historic joints were the first legal bars in Seattle. The Mecca stayed in the Smith family until it was sold in 2001. The late-night establishment still stands today, serving up burgers, benedicts and sandwiches at reasonable prices.

3. Merchant's Cafe: Merchant's Cafe claims the title of "Seattle's Oldest Restaurant" and has stood on the corner of James and Yesler since 1890. The restaurant's long and sometimes spooky history makes it a popular destination for those interested in hauntings, ghosts and the paranormal.

4. Ray's Boathouse: In 1939, founder Ray Lichtenberger, moved his growing boat rental and bait house to the current location and opened a coffee house in 1945. Throughout the 60s, it operated as a fish and chips joint, known for it's iconic neon sign. Ray's Boathouse caught fire due to a wiring problem on May 26, 1987. Some of the boats kept at the pier were damaged, and when the fire was finally out, only Ray's sign remained standing. No one was injured and the restaurant reopened on April 9, 1988.

5. Ivar's: Beloved local showman Ivar Haglund (1905-1985) established Seattle's first aquarium at Pier 54 and started a fish-and-chips stand in 1938 that grew into a restaurant empire. In 1946 Mr. Haglund opened the renowned "Acres of Clams" restaurant, one of 25 fish bars still operating in the region.

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6. Canlis Restaurant: Opened in 1950, Canlis is still relevant more than 70 years later. Located at the south end of the Aurora Bridge, the building was designed by Roland Terry and has a wonderful view to the north and east. It's still Seattle's traditional, luxury restaurant and has maintained a reputation as one of the city's finest dining establishments with a James Beard Award in 2019.

7. 5 Point Cafe: Opened in 1929 by C. Preston Smith and his wife Frances, who also opened Mecca Cafe. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the two historic joints were the first two legal bars in Seattle. When the restaurant opened, coffee, two eggs, a ham steak, hashbrowns, and four pieces of buttered toast with jelly only cost 40 cents. Prices are a lot more now, but the legendary dive bar still maintains its unpretentious attitude.

8. The Athenian: The Athenian has been serving seafood in Pike Place Market since 1909. In 1933, it was one of Seattle's first restaurants to receive a beer license. It became a tourist hotspot after it served as a colorful backdrop for Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner to talk about tiramisu and the anxieties of dating in 1993's "Sleepless in Seattle." Today, you can still grab burgers, salads and seafood from the bustling eatery and impress your parents who love the movie.

9. Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar: Watson was a longtime Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist who opened the city's first oyster bar in Pike Place on Feb. 18, 1979 with his friend Sam Bryant. Watson's journalistic work reached the national radar in 1961, with the exclusive on Ernest Hemingway's real cause of death -- suicide. Watson passed away in 2001, but the oyster bar named in his memory still remains and is operated by Bryant's son, Thurman.

10. Tai Tung: This historic Chinatown International restaurant opened in 1935, making it the oldest remaining Chinese restaurant in the city. Bruce Lee used to frequent the restaurant, and would order their chow mein and fried rice. The third-generation owner, Henry Chan, has been working at Tai Tung since 1968, and can happily point out Lee's preferred table.

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11. Ballard Smoke Shop: Once a fisherman's hangout, the Smoke Shop opened in 1971 and is now in a neighborhood of new condos. You can't smoke in there any more, but the drinks are still strong and the longtime servers will remember you. Rumor has it that you'll often find the cast of TV's "The Deadliest Catch" grabbing a pint here.

12. Maneki: The Maneki Japanese restaurant has been around the ID for over 100 years. They serve traditional delicious family-style dishes in a warm, quaint atmosphere. Initially built at 212 Sixth Ave South in 1904, Maneki had to be relocated after the restaurant was ransacked when Japanese citizens were sent to internment camps during WWII. Once it was rebuilt, this Japanese classic has been pleasing customers for over a century, and maybe for the next 100 years to come.

13. Central Saloon: Opened in 1892, this Pioneer Square bar is said to be (one of) Seattle's oldest. In the late 1980s, it hosted bands that went on to spawn the city's grunge scene, like Nirvana. There's hipper places to drink now, but this place - once a brothel and card room during the Gold Rush - is full of history.

14. Dick's Drive-In: The famed Dick's Drive-In opened its windows on Jan. 28, 1954, by Portland-born Dick Spady. The first location was located in Wallingford on 45th, which is still serving up their famed deluxe burger, fries and milkshakes with a friendly smile and quick service to this day. Members of the Spady family still operate the franchise as well. The beloved chain has opened a total of 8 locations across Puget Sound (Bellevue closed in 1974) and has become an iconic landmark in the city.

15. The Virginia Inn: This Belltown restaurant and bar has been around since 1903, and appeared in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle." Almost three decades after its Hollywood debut, the menu has become fancier and the crowd is more touristy, but the vibe is still laidback. The building itself is one of the oldest in the Pike Place Market area that is still standing.

16. Lowell's: Before it was serving up fish and chips and clam chowder, the space was a combination coffee roaster, peanut roaster and cafeteria in Pike Place Market called Manning's Cafeteria. In 1957, it officially became Lowell's. The three-storied restaurant with fantastic views of Puget Sound has become a tourist destination.