Celebrating 25 Years of
AQUA Memories on the Waterfront
For a quarter of a century, AQUA by El Gaucho has been Seattle’s iconic destination on the waterfront—a place where breathtaking views, exquisite dining, and heartfelt hospitality come together to create unforgettable experiences. In celebration of this milestone, we invited our guests to share their most cherished AQUA memories as part of our Iconic Experience Contest.
We received over 40 heartfelt stories, each a testament to the connections, celebrations, and special occasions that make AQUA more than just a restaurant -it’s part of people’s lives. Choosing winners was no easy task. The grand prize winner will enjoy Dinner for Two and an overnight stay at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. Our second-place winner receives a $200 to dine at AQUA by El Gaucho, and in the spirit of celebration, we selected two more stories who will each receive $100 AQUA dining credits.
With their permission, we are honored to share excerpts from these winning stories – each one a reflection of the magic that happens when AQUA becomes the backdrop for life’s most meaningful moments.
Grand Prize Winner: “NO SEATTLE FREEZE AT AQUA”
Kenisha & Arthur Baxter-Schulte
I didn’t know a single person when I moved to Seattle in 2014. It was just me in a new city, across the country from everything familiar. People warned me about the Seattle Freeze, but I was fortunate. AQUA was one of the first places that made me feel instantly welcome. Just down the street from my apartment, it quickly became my go-to spot. I would sit by the windows, soaking in the views of Elliott Bay, and realize that Seattle was beginning to feel like home in a new and magical way.
A few months later, I started a new job and overheard a coworker saying she and her friends were going to dinner at AQUA. “Of all places,” I thought. I couldn’t believe it and literally invited myself along. Shyness isn’t really my thing anymore, and that spontaneous moment sparked a friendship that has lasted more than a decade.
Fast forward a few more years, and my then boyfriend became my fiancé. After a beautiful anniversary dinner at AQUA, he surprised me with our engagement at Sculpture Park, overlooking that same beautiful view of Elliot Bay. It was a full circle moment.
Then came wedding planning. We felt excitement and some fear with the pandemic still lingering. The one thing we knew for certain was that AQUA had to be part of it. It had already been the setting for so many special moments, and we trusted the team to make everything feel just right. And of course, they did! AQUA brought our wedding reception vision to life with such care and creativity. Chef Maggie designed a menu that reflected our love of food, my Midwest roots and our PNW home. The team created an atmosphere that felt warm, beautiful, and completely us. Even though it rained, the day glowed with joy. Our guests raved about the dishes and the attentive service. For us, it was unforgettable because we know it was, and likely always will be, one of the only times in our lives when both of our families and all of our friends were gathered in one room at our favorite restaurant. That memory is beyond special.
More than a decade after that first visit, AQUA is still the place we turn to. What began as my go-to has become ours, a place my husband and I share for great food, celebration, and everything in between. Just a few months ago, after a flat tire nearby, we made a beeline to AQUA for dinner. One meal later (steak, crab mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and asparagus) and our day was saved. Who knew AQUA could be the best roadside assistance too?
Our wedding day will always be the pinnacle, but every visit has written its own chapter in our story. AQUA is more than a restaurant. It’s where life is seasoned with joy, laughter is always a main course, and memories are the sweetest dessert. We love you, AQUA. Cheers to another 25 years!
Runner Up: “A birthday dinner became a memory stitched into the heart of our family”
Mariana Maton
Some birthdays are forgotten; this one became a story I will carry forever.
It began with small gestures—a valet’s warm smile, the gentle hum of conversation, the smoky whisper of mezcal on my tongue. The evening already felt like a promise.
At our table, that promise bloomed. A menu lay before me, my name printed across the top with “Happy Birthday” in elegant letters. Such a simple detail, yet it made my heart flutter. For a moment, the restaurant leaned closer, as if to whisper: This night is yours.
Then came the bouquet, radiant and alive. A personalized card celebrated not just my birthday but the baby we were expecting. My husband’s hand squeezed mine. And before I could speak, a tiny onesie appeared, “Aqua” stitched across its chest. Suddenly, this dinner was more than a meal—it had become a memory stitched into the fabric of our family’s story.
What lingered most was not the elegance or the gifts, though each was exquisite. It was the way I felt utterly seen. Surrounded by strangers, I was celebrated as if the evening had been composed for us alone, every detail a note in a melody written just for our hearts.
That night, Aqua didn’t just serve us dinner – it became part of our story.
Third Place: “AQUA Wedding”
Eric Copperthwaite
On June 26, 2010, my wife and I were married at The Waterfront Grill before you changed the name to Aqua by El Gaucho. At the time, Chris Sparkman was the General Manager and Sivi Mennen was the Events Manager. We chose The Waterfront for several reasons.
1. One of our first dates early on was at The Waterfront and Chris Sparkman made certain that we had a very special evening.
2. We absolutely loved the idea that we could “take over” the place for four hours before needing to start the dinner for the evening. We had the restaurant for 4 hours, from 11:30 – 3:30.
3. We wanted to have cocktails, dinner, and celebrate with our friends and family at one of our favorite restaurants.
4. Sivi agreed, as part of the whole thing, to help us coordinate everything. It was like having the best wedding planner in Seattle without having to go find that person!
Our day included bagpipes, our daughters as flower girls, our best friends as Best Man, Maid of Honor, and attendants. My stepfather officiated, and our families and friends enjoyed a ceremony with us at the end of the pier.
After that, we enjoyed a cocktail with everyone and then had a fantastic dinner that showcased the best of The Waterfront.
We are still here, still going strong, and still love The Waterfront Grill, even if you call yourselves Aqua now.
Thank you for memories that will live forever!
4th Winner: 25 Years of Sunsets & Love at Aqua
Brad & Elyse Battiste
In 2000, my uncle was part of the crew installing the now-iconic lights at Pier 70. When he told me about a beautiful new restaurant opening — The Waterfront Seafood Grill — I knew it was where I wanted to celebrate my University of Washington graduation.
That night, surrounded by family and friends, we toasted my future against a backdrop of Elliott Bay sunsets and sparkling city lights. I didn’t know it then, but that evening would mark the beginning of a love story with a restaurant that has lasted a quarter of a century.
In those early years, Saturday nights at Aqua became our ritual. We’d gather with friends for martinis, champagne, and laughter before heading into the city nightlife. When The Waterfront evolved into Aqua by El Gaucho, it became so much more than a restaurant to us — it was our touchstone, the place where ordinary nights transformed into unforgettable memories.
Over the years, Aqua has been our constant. We’ve celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, New Year’s Eve countdowns, Valentine’s Day dinners, and countless date nights. We’ve hosted private dinners with dear friends, clinked glasses at milestone achievements, and watched sunsets that felt like they were painted just for us. Aqua has always been our “Cheers” — where the staff knows our names, where the booth feels like home, and where every detail is perfection.
Some memories are forever etched in our hearts. Like the Valentine’s Day when Sivi, the manager then, walked our newborn son Bond around the restaurant in his tiny three-piece suit so Brad and I could savor our first romantic dinner as new parents. Or the piano player, Ben, who delighted Bond by teaching him notes between songs, creating a bond as sweet as the music itself.
We’ve also been blessed by the captains who wove magic into our evenings. For many years, Kelly and Sparkman made every visit feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience — treating us as though we were the only people in the room. And that legacy has carried on. Every captain since, including James today, continues that tradition of warmth, attention, and extraordinary care. Derek from valet, with his ever-present smile, has welcomed us for years, always making our arrival feel like coming home.
Through it all — the wine, the food, the music, the sunsets — Aqua has been more than a place to dine. It has been the backdrop to our love story, the witness to our laughter and dreams, and the place where time seems to stand still. From carefree twentysomethings to seasoned parents with laugh lines, we’ve grown up here. And through it all, those same lights my uncle hung have shone brightly above us, marking every beautiful chapter.
To our Aqua family: thank you for giving us 25 years of magic. Cheers to the next 25 — more sunsets, more celebrations, and more love, illuminated by those iconic lights.
