Bellevue's Cantina Monarca is expanding to Seattle's waterfront. The Mexican restaurant plans to open an 11,000-square-foot location at Lake Union Piers by summer 2027, as first reported by MyNorthwest.

The space will include about 8,300 square feet of indoor dining and 2,700 square feet of outdoor patio, according to a company news release.

The restaurant will face Lake Union and the Space Needle from Vulcan Real Estate's redeveloped waterfront complex at 901 Fairview Ave. N.

Architect Gulla Jonsdottir is designing the new location. Bernie Garcia, founder of Cantina Monarca and president of Elev8 Hospitality Group, said in a statement that the Lake Union site gives his team "an opportunity to create something truly special."

The expansion is a sizable wager on Seattle dining at a moment when the industry is under strain. Seattle's minimum wage rises to $22.14 an hour on Jan. 1, 2027, as MyNorthwest reported in September. Anthony Anton, president and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association, told KIRO Newsradio that the region is heading toward what he called "a recipe for disaster." Anton said labor costs now consume more than 40% of what customers pay.

Westside Seattle reported that Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya is closing its West Seattle location after 10 years, citing a slow business environment. That outlet described the closure as part of a broader wave of full-service dining contractions across King County.

Garcia's family has operated restaurants in the Puget Sound region since 1978, when his father Arturo opened Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant in Tacoma, according to the Bellevue Downtown Association. Moctezuma's now has locations in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Southcenter and Silverdale. The first Cantina Monarca opened in Bellevue in late 2022 with an upscale menu featuring more than 100 tequilas, Wagyu carne asada and handmade tortillas.

Lake Union Piers already houses Daniel's Broiler and The Cove wine bar. Benihana has also announced plans for a nearly 9,000-square-foot location at the complex, according to Secret Seattle, though no opening date has been confirmed. The redevelopment includes 60,000 square feet of retail space in renovated 1980s-era buildings.

Cantina Monarca said additional details on the Seattle restaurant's menu and opening timeline will follow as the project progresses.