Guidebook for Seattle
Food Scene
Delicious artisan pizza in a no-nonsense yet smartly designed area. Prepare yourself for a long wait (it's worth it)... but since it's so close to the house you can go up early to put your name in, or wait at Essex the bar next door.
123 locals recommend
Delancey
1415 NW 70th StDelicious artisan pizza in a no-nonsense yet smartly designed area. Prepare yourself for a long wait (it's worth it)... but since it's so close to the house you can go up early to put your name in, or wait at Essex the bar next door.
Possibly the best spot in the city to have breakfast > lunch. They're open nice and early (8am) and this place gets busy most every day. The food is delicious and familiar, but somehow also very special (without being precious). They also have fabulous pastries and good coffee. Good for families but it is small so calling ahead to check on the wait and table situation is always a good idea.
143 locals recommend
The Fat Hen
1418 NW 70th StPossibly the best spot in the city to have breakfast > lunch. They're open nice and early (8am) and this place gets busy most every day. The food is delicious and familiar, but somehow also very special (without being precious). They also have fabulous pastries and good coffee. Good for families but it is small so calling ahead to check on the wait and table situation is always a good idea.
Wonderful Thai street food, haven't had a bad meal there ever and they can do pretty much any substitution you can ask for if you have restrictions or preferences. Also great for takeout!
53 locals recommend
Mai Thaiku
6705 Greenwood Ave NWonderful Thai street food, haven't had a bad meal there ever and they can do pretty much any substitution you can ask for if you have restrictions or preferences. Also great for takeout!
Oysters! And lots of other lovely small plates of fresh local fare prepared with a french flair though still distinctly Northwest. World-renowned but charming and unassuming. Small and the wait gets kind of insane, it's worth it if you have the time and too there are plenty of shops and bars around to walk to while you wait.
246 locals recommend
The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NWOysters! And lots of other lovely small plates of fresh local fare prepared with a french flair though still distinctly Northwest. World-renowned but charming and unassuming. Small and the wait gets kind of insane, it's worth it if you have the time and too there are plenty of shops and bars around to walk to while you wait.
Must go. A lovely cafe with fantastic everything. They have a parking lot and a nice little outdoor area. Natural wines to-go too!
41 locals recommend
Vif Wine|Coffee
4401 Fremont Ave NMust go. A lovely cafe with fantastic everything. They have a parking lot and a nice little outdoor area. Natural wines to-go too!
Not your mama's Italian food. While I love a good gingham table cloth, this is anything but. The design of this place rivals the meal. It's chic and easy in terms of level of 'fancy' but still make a reservation.
39 locals recommend
San Fermo
5341 Ballard Ave NWNot your mama's Italian food. While I love a good gingham table cloth, this is anything but. The design of this place rivals the meal. It's chic and easy in terms of level of 'fancy' but still make a reservation.
Tucked in a neighborhoody corner of Ballard, this is a g e m of home-style Lebanese food! Sundays they have a set menu for a steal (I think $25 pp!?) and other nights they have a lovely menu of small plates to share family style. Also, an oddly nice selection of whiskeys. Very casual. Call for a reservation (recommended)
52 locals recommend
Cafe Munir
2408 NW 80th StTucked in a neighborhoody corner of Ballard, this is a g e m of home-style Lebanese food! Sundays they have a set menu for a steal (I think $25 pp!?) and other nights they have a lovely menu of small plates to share family style. Also, an oddly nice selection of whiskeys. Very casual. Call for a reservation (recommended)
Really good authentic Mexican food. Careful with the margaritas... have everything on the menu and it probably won't cost you more than $150 total. While it's always packed, you can usually cram into the bar for a drink and the wait doesn't usually take that long (this is not a spot where you linger over a meal). Best for couples or small groups.
100 locals recommend
La Carta De Oaxaca
5431 Ballard Ave NWReally good authentic Mexican food. Careful with the margaritas... have everything on the menu and it probably won't cost you more than $150 total. While it's always packed, you can usually cram into the bar for a drink and the wait doesn't usually take that long (this is not a spot where you linger over a meal). Best for couples or small groups.
Green Market is perfect little local market for all of your daily essentials. All the things organic and fresh.
10 locals recommend
Green Market
6400 24th Ave NWGreen Market is perfect little local market for all of your daily essentials. All the things organic and fresh.
Vegan donuts that don't skimp on the good stuff. Good coffee here as well and plenty of room for kiddos. Open bright and early on the daily. Note that parking can be kind of tricky.
19 locals recommend
Mighty-O Donuts Ballard
1555 NW Market StVegan donuts that don't skimp on the good stuff. Good coffee here as well and plenty of room for kiddos. Open bright and early on the daily. Note that parking can be kind of tricky.
The biscuits here are so good it doesn't even make sense. The lines can look insane (out the door) but goes fast and is worth it.
51 locals recommend
Biscuit & Bean
5905 15th Avenue NorthwestThe biscuits here are so good it doesn't even make sense. The lines can look insane (out the door) but goes fast and is worth it.
Salt & Straw
714 East Pike StreetIce cream!
Frankie & Jo's
Local plant-based ice cream - it's amazing even if you're not vegan. There is also a sweet secret succulent garden.
1411 NW 70th St
1411 Northwest 70th StreetFrankie & Jo's
Local plant-based ice cream - it's amazing even if you're not vegan. There is also a sweet secret succulent garden.
Drinks & Nightlife
Lovely selection of cocktails, kind staff and really good food. Their burger is famous, but there are good veggie nibbles as well.
44 locals recommend
Essex
1421 NW 70th StLovely selection of cocktails, kind staff and really good food. Their burger is famous, but there are good veggie nibbles as well.
Tiki tiki! This place is tons of fun and has great cocktails ("exotic libations") and fun food (do try the puffy tacos). It's nice and big inside, so usually easy to grab a table. Anytime of the evening is a good time to swing through or stick around.
23 locals recommend
Hotel Albatross
2319 NW Market StTiki tiki! This place is tons of fun and has great cocktails ("exotic libations") and fun food (do try the puffy tacos). It's nice and big inside, so usually easy to grab a table. Anytime of the evening is a good time to swing through or stick around.
Serving up lays potato chips with some of the finest spirits and wine in the city. Love this tucked-away spot, but note it's a popular hideaway as it is sisters with the famous Walrus and the Carpenter restaurant right next door. It's worth seeking out though and easiest on a weekday evening.
23 locals recommend
Barnacle
4743 Ballard Ave NWServing up lays potato chips with some of the finest spirits and wine in the city. Love this tucked-away spot, but note it's a popular hideaway as it is sisters with the famous Walrus and the Carpenter restaurant right next door. It's worth seeking out though and easiest on a weekday evening.
Arts & Culture
Amazing new architecture and location for the new iteration of the Nordic Heritage museum (Ballard has deep Scandinavian roots). A fun spot to spend the afternoon, rain or shine.
127 locals recommend
National Nordic Museum
2655 NW Market StAmazing new architecture and location for the new iteration of the Nordic Heritage museum (Ballard has deep Scandinavian roots). A fun spot to spend the afternoon, rain or shine.
Entertainment & Activities
A great family activity, this zoo is very fun and there is plenty to do rain or shine! They also have a nice concert series in the summer.
625 locals recommend
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave NA great family activity, this zoo is very fun and there is plenty to do rain or shine! They also have a nice concert series in the summer.
Lovely local theater, always showing a great selection of the latest releases. Comfortable and clean.
96 locals recommend
Majestic Bay Theatres
2044 NW Market StLovely local theater, always showing a great selection of the latest releases. Comfortable and clean.
Climbers rejoice - this is a world class gym. New to the sport or never done it at all? They have great lessons and it is a fun thing to try out on a vacation - especially if you want an activity and it's raining :) Also good for families with kids older than 5.
8 locals recommend
Vertical World Seattle
2330 W Commodore WayClimbers rejoice - this is a world class gym. New to the sport or never done it at all? They have great lessons and it is a fun thing to try out on a vacation - especially if you want an activity and it's raining :) Also good for families with kids older than 5.
GREAT activity with littles. This spot has recycled arts and crafts materials and your kids can go crazy. You pay for what you use no matter how long you stay and it's usually not more than $10... Next door to a good juice bar (Chaco Canyon) and also a quick walk away from a fantastic toy store called "Top Ten Toys"
Seattle ReCreative
8408 Greenwood Ave NGREAT activity with littles. This spot has recycled arts and crafts materials and your kids can go crazy. You pay for what you use no matter how long you stay and it's usually not more than $10... Next door to a good juice bar (Chaco Canyon) and also a quick walk away from a fantastic toy store called "Top Ten Toys"
Requires a bit of pre-planning, but this is a great resource for sailors, or those looking to become sailors. Fantastic memberships for boat rentals too.
Seattle Sailing Club
7001 Seaview Ave NWRequires a bit of pre-planning, but this is a great resource for sailors, or those looking to become sailors. Fantastic memberships for boat rentals too.
Parks & Nature
Quintessential to Ballard, this park has a lot to offer including beautiful gardens and the locks for boats heading in and out of the Puget Sound. Perfect for a picnic.
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StQuintessential to Ballard, this park has a lot to offer including beautiful gardens and the locks for boats heading in and out of the Puget Sound. Perfect for a picnic.
Made-made lake that has a flat surface to walk all the way around (~3mi). Perfect for a solo-stroll or with kids. There are play grounds, soccer fields and basketball courts. Some days there are crew races which make for a very busy but fun scene.
148 locals recommend
Green Lake Park
7201 East Green Lake Dr NMade-made lake that has a flat surface to walk all the way around (~3mi). Perfect for a solo-stroll or with kids. There are play grounds, soccer fields and basketball courts. Some days there are crew races which make for a very busy but fun scene.
Beautiful park and beach. Plenty to do here and packed in the summertime!
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWBeautiful park and beach. Plenty to do here and packed in the summertime!
Sightseeing
While this is a park, it's all about the view here. Look due west and do nothing else... you'll see mountains, water and the islands across the way.
83 locals recommend
Sunset Hill Park
7531 34th Ave NWWhile this is a park, it's all about the view here. Look due west and do nothing else... you'll see mountains, water and the islands across the way.
Essentials
Huge grocery market with a great selection. Hot bar and sandwiches made to order.
149 locals recommend
Ballard Market
1400 NW 56th StHuge grocery market with a great selection. Hot bar and sandwiches made to order.
Trader Joe's
1700 E Madison StGood ol' TJs