Seattle Recommendations (2025 edition)
Aug. 15th, 2025 11:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
queenluaCreating a new version of an older post because some of those recommendations were a little dated.
Ballard
* Have the best brunch in the city at the Portage Bay Cafe location here. (Said brunch place's big draw is the "breakfast bar": if you order something sweet like pancakes, French toast, etc, it comes with a free trip to a giant bar piled high with fresh fruit & and you can glop as much as you want on top of your dish.) (If you're not able to make it to this neighborhood, note they have lots of locations all over the city!) Then walk to the Ballard Locks (<5min away) and check out some boats moseying between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington in an immensely charming little park (often has live music in the summer).
* Right next to both of those is Edgeworks, a great climbing gym. Perhaps you'd like to try rock climbing? (The gym has both toprope and bouldering but their bouldering options are more extensive.)
* Drive a bit south and you can hit Discovery Park, my favorite park in the city. Hiking down to the lighthouse takes you across vast fields, through a dense forest, past some wetlands, and yields some breathtaking ocean views. It makes for a good long afternoon activity.
* Or, if you're feeling more sedentary, just amble toward Card Kingdom / Cafe Mox, a literal mecca if you're an M:tG type (the chandeliers are made out of Magic cards!!!), and a cozy spot if you're into board games of any sort. Browse their huge selection, or rent any of dozens of board games for free, and play while you grab some nachos and/or beer.
* Just wandering around the Market-and-24th-ish area is great fun; there's a notable concentration of quirky/hipster shops, some excellent tea, and the area's Sunday farmer's market is my favorite in the city.
* Finally: breweries! Ballard probably has the highest density of breweries of any spot in the city; spending a sunny afternoon wandering from brewery to brewery or just chilling on one of their patios can be great fun. Urban Family Brewing is spectacular if you're into sour beers; really high-quality stuff. If you like other beer, anything in walking distance of that spot is solid; I particularly like Lucky Envelope Brewing.
* Oh and actually-finally, a couple more food recs: if you want raw oysters while in Seattle, The Walrus and the Carpenter is your spot, and Outsider BBQ is some of the better BBQ in the city, with lots of sitting room, and it's kid-friendly (high chairs available etc).
West Seattle
West Seattle is the most "California boardwalk-y" neighborhood in Seattle. You can take the water taxi from downtown Seattle to West Seattle easily (great views on the way), which will put you right next to Salty's, a touristy but fun and good restaurant, or you can head to Alki Beach Park, which has lots of restaurants and cute shops just across from it. Or, head into the more dense, central part of West Seattle and get a bite at the delicious, meat-forward menu at Lady Jaye (and be sure to wander the shops nearby!), or some fantastic pizza from Moto, or A++ garlic-forward ramen at Kizuki. (It's a pretty "foodie" part of town.)
Fremont
* The famous Fremont Troll is here. The less-famous but honestly more-charmingly-strange Vladimir Lenin statue is also here. People like to dress him up for the holidays.
* For the nerds among us: Seattle's best escape room is Locurio; definitely book if you're interested but book in advance!
* Add-a-Ball is an excellent barcade in easy walking distance of the aforementioned statues. Seattle actually has a ton of barcades, but this one's probably my favorite for its laid-back not-trying-to-impress vibe. There's a Killer Queen machine here, absolutely worth checking out if you've never played before. And make sure to check out the upstairs, where they've hidden a Baby Pac-Man machine.
* The Barrel Thief is probably my favorite place to have a moderately-to-very-fancy drink with good friends. They have top-shelf scotch but also a menu of cheap wines and such. It's got good ambiance, but is still quiet enough to have good conversations with your compatriots. (The bartenders are pretty great if you're flying solo and want to be chatty.) I like Red Star Taco Bar a lot if I want a vibe like that, but also with solid food, margaritas instead of fancy drinks, and somewhat cheaper prices. (This used to be the first place I'd take people after picking them up from the airport, back when I lived in the neighborhood.)
* There is a piece of the Berlin Wall here?? It just appeared one day. I don't really know the story. But it's at the intersection of 34th and Troll if you're interested. It's super tall.
* On a sunny day, eating a deliciously-greasy-amazing Caribbean sandwich at Paseo and then strolling to Gas Works Park (featuring an actual abandoned gasification plant, which you can like, climb on I guess, when no one is watching) is a good time.
* People often think of seafood when they think of Seattle, and ask what the best option is. There's a few fancier sit-down dinner places by the harbor (e.g. Anthony's Pier 66), and they're all totally solid, but I'd actually recommend Local Tide right here in Fremont. There's usually a line, but it moves pretty fast, and it's my favorite seafood in the city. Great for lunch. If the line is WAY too long, secret hack: go into Aslan Brewing right next door. They serve a more limited subset of Local Tide's menu. So, you won't be able to get the clam chowder there, but you'll be able to get the salmon sandwich and such.
* In recent years Fremont has gotten some really good ramen. I can personally vouch that Kayava (Japan-owned) and midnite ramen (locally-owned by a really adorable couple) are both excellent; I cannot personally vouch for Ooink but I've heard good things; I would avoid Nuna Ramen.
* Seattle-style chicken teriyaki is Its Own Thing & it's been a beloved "quick cheap delicious" lunch food for decades, and my personal favorite is right here in Fremont: I Love Teriyaki.
* Wait wait there's also Ester's (excellent sangria & small plates) and Rockcreek Seafood & Spirits (EXCELLENT upscale brunch; great oysters; great shrimp & grits). Wow Fremont is spoiled for food options huh.
Uptown / Lower Queen Anne / Downtown Kinda
Right between the Space Needle and Pike Place Market is a neighborhood that's either called "Uptown" or "Lower Queen Anne", depending on who you ask. It's a great neighborhood with wide sidewalks and lots to do, but a little removed from the peak touristy hustle-and-bustle of the tourist spots on either side of it.
* Some Random Bar is my FAVORITE bar in this neighborhood. Quiet enough to have a conversation, loud enough to feel cozy/bustling, tons of TVs for sports if you're into that (& easy to ignore if you're not), stellar food and cocktails. Their chicken parmesan is a winter-only menu item but it's to die for.
* Jupiter is a huge & quirky "art bar" + arcade. Lots of pinball and arcade machines and a weird vending machine with tarot cards and such.
* Other notable neighborhood restaurants: 5 Point Cafe (a beloved historic dive bar, and crucially it's open 24hrs, which is a rarity in Seattle), Toulouse Petit (New Orleans food; I love their shrimp & grits), and Mario's (late-night pizza place; good if you need a bite and everything else is closed).
* Note that this neighborhood is walking-distance to both the Seattle Symphony and the Seattle Opera and these are all excellent pre/post-show dining/drinking options. If you need food or a drink reasonably quickly before a symphony show, I heartily recommend Diller Room, which is right next to the symphony. The food here is only okay, but definitely edible, and the service is really fast if you're like "I need to be at a show by 7pm" or whatever. And also the drinks are quite good. If you come here after a symphony concert there's a good chance you'll run into one of the musicians at the bar!
University District-ish
* Thai Tom is very very good and very very hole-in-the-wall. There is always a line but it moves fast. Bonus: it's right in the heart of the U District, so you can wander around to all the quirky used video game stores, psychic consultants, etc nearby. If Korean food is more your speed, the nearby Chi-Mac is also great; get the wings!
* If you're not in a hole-in-the-wall mood, Miopostohas my personal favorite brunch in the city (the bacon-and-egg breakfast pizza is to die for), and in general serves some of the best pizza I've ever had. Try ordering one of their quirky special pizzas—you'll always say "I have no idea how those ingredients work together," and once you try a bite you'll achieve Enlightenment. WAS CRASHED INTO BY SOME JACKASS WITH A BIGASS CAR???? Tragedy of tragedies ;_; Their Eastlake location just opened, though, and isn't too far from the University District; plz support them in their time of need...
* And then there's Union Bay Natural Area, a stunningly gorgeous nature area across the lake from University of Washington's football stadium. I go there for the birds, of course, and there's ample opportunities to view ducks, herons, and other feathered friends year-round, but even a bird hater should enjoy the pleasant 1.5 mile loop trail.
* Foodies generally want to hit up Din Thai Fung. Those dumplings are very good, but note that it'll be a wait, and the surrounding shopping complex is basically Yuppiedom To The Max, but I like browsing the overpriced fancy jewelry at TWIST and gawking at whatever the hell Restoration Hardware has going on
* Scarecrow Video: for all your analog/physical media/VHS/DVD (!!!) needs
Capitol Hill
* This neighborhood has a metric ton of excellent bookstores. Twice Sold Tales, which features a cast of kitties you can cuddle with while you browse, and Elliott Bay Books, which has a massive selection and frequent events, are both particular standouts.
* Seattle isn't really a Mexican/Tex-Mex food kinda place but Carmelos has the best al pastor burrito in the city if you're craving that. (Make sure you use the hot sauce they give you on the side!)
* This is something of the "party" district in the city, and is historically the LGBTQ neighborhood—e.g. the oldest lesbian bar in the US is here. The place is really dense and walkable and you can't really go wrong with any of the food or bars here, so I'd recommend exiting Elliott Bay Books and just walking around a bit!
Georgetown
* This neighborhood's pretty far south of the city, but if you manage to get there, it's a fun & funky neighborhood to wander around. I've been there to e.g. look at a fantasy art show, then chilled in a nearby biker bar for a while, before buying some junk at the Trailer Park Mall and stumbling into a cool glassblowing demonstration. Try an adventure of your own!
Classical Touristy Stuff That Is Pretty Good Even Though It's Touristy
* Pike Place Market! Inside of Pike Place, Market Grill is The Famous Salmon Sandwich Place™ if that's your kind of thing. Once you're done browsing all the wares, I like to duck into The Alibi Room for post-adventuring pizza, or ZigZag Cafe for excellent cocktails and Cowboy Bebop vibes. Or, if you planned far enough in advance to make a reservation, The Pink Door serves great Italian food but also an experience—there was a live aerial performer & a tarot reader last time I was there. ALSO: Birds Connect Seattle (née Seattle Audubon) has an adorable gift & nature store just north of Pike Place that is highly worth checking out imo. They have some taxidermied study bird specimens that you're free to touch & ask questions about!
* Seattle Underground Tour. Check out the literal seedy underground of Seattle and vaguely hope that the really big one doesn't strike while you're deeply underground.
* Chihuly Garden & Glass. Fabulous art, and if you go at the right time, you can watch live glassblowing demos.
* Woodland Park Zoo. Our zoo is great. The penguins are especially adorable. Food options close to the zoo that I particularly like include Lupo (sourdough pizza) and Windy City Pie (excellent Chicago-style pizza).
Miscellaneous Further-Afield Spots
* Tourists don't really have much cause to ever be in Interlake, but if you are there for some reason: Dantini is some of my favorite pizza in the city. It's inside a distillery, so you can get an alright cocktail with your pizza, and also they just have really huge tables and lots of space and a laid-back atmosphere, so you can definitely chill out and play a long board game here.
* Columbia City, I am told, is "the new Capitol Hill," eg the new up-and-coming super-trendy neighborhood in the city. Tragically I am unhip and have never been. But you could go there and out-trendy/out-cool me!
* Seward Park is substantially south of where most tourists go, it's a really lovely park, with the only patch of proper "old growth" forest left in the city. It's more shaded and dense and foresty than most Seattle parks. There's an Audubon Center there that runs tons of free hikes, talks, and that sort of thing; check them out!
* Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is an hour drive south of the city but is absolutely gorgeous.
Ballard
* Have the best brunch in the city at the Portage Bay Cafe location here. (Said brunch place's big draw is the "breakfast bar": if you order something sweet like pancakes, French toast, etc, it comes with a free trip to a giant bar piled high with fresh fruit & and you can glop as much as you want on top of your dish.) (If you're not able to make it to this neighborhood, note they have lots of locations all over the city!) Then walk to the Ballard Locks (<5min away) and check out some boats moseying between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington in an immensely charming little park (often has live music in the summer).
* Right next to both of those is Edgeworks, a great climbing gym. Perhaps you'd like to try rock climbing? (The gym has both toprope and bouldering but their bouldering options are more extensive.)
* Drive a bit south and you can hit Discovery Park, my favorite park in the city. Hiking down to the lighthouse takes you across vast fields, through a dense forest, past some wetlands, and yields some breathtaking ocean views. It makes for a good long afternoon activity.
* Or, if you're feeling more sedentary, just amble toward Card Kingdom / Cafe Mox, a literal mecca if you're an M:tG type (the chandeliers are made out of Magic cards!!!), and a cozy spot if you're into board games of any sort. Browse their huge selection, or rent any of dozens of board games for free, and play while you grab some nachos and/or beer.
* Just wandering around the Market-and-24th-ish area is great fun; there's a notable concentration of quirky/hipster shops, some excellent tea, and the area's Sunday farmer's market is my favorite in the city.
* Finally: breweries! Ballard probably has the highest density of breweries of any spot in the city; spending a sunny afternoon wandering from brewery to brewery or just chilling on one of their patios can be great fun. Urban Family Brewing is spectacular if you're into sour beers; really high-quality stuff. If you like other beer, anything in walking distance of that spot is solid; I particularly like Lucky Envelope Brewing.
* Oh and actually-finally, a couple more food recs: if you want raw oysters while in Seattle, The Walrus and the Carpenter is your spot, and Outsider BBQ is some of the better BBQ in the city, with lots of sitting room, and it's kid-friendly (high chairs available etc).
West Seattle
West Seattle is the most "California boardwalk-y" neighborhood in Seattle. You can take the water taxi from downtown Seattle to West Seattle easily (great views on the way), which will put you right next to Salty's, a touristy but fun and good restaurant, or you can head to Alki Beach Park, which has lots of restaurants and cute shops just across from it. Or, head into the more dense, central part of West Seattle and get a bite at the delicious, meat-forward menu at Lady Jaye (and be sure to wander the shops nearby!), or some fantastic pizza from Moto, or A++ garlic-forward ramen at Kizuki. (It's a pretty "foodie" part of town.)
Fremont
* The famous Fremont Troll is here. The less-famous but honestly more-charmingly-strange Vladimir Lenin statue is also here. People like to dress him up for the holidays.
* For the nerds among us: Seattle's best escape room is Locurio; definitely book if you're interested but book in advance!
* Add-a-Ball is an excellent barcade in easy walking distance of the aforementioned statues. Seattle actually has a ton of barcades, but this one's probably my favorite for its laid-back not-trying-to-impress vibe. There's a Killer Queen machine here, absolutely worth checking out if you've never played before. And make sure to check out the upstairs, where they've hidden a Baby Pac-Man machine.
* The Barrel Thief is probably my favorite place to have a moderately-to-very-fancy drink with good friends. They have top-shelf scotch but also a menu of cheap wines and such. It's got good ambiance, but is still quiet enough to have good conversations with your compatriots. (The bartenders are pretty great if you're flying solo and want to be chatty.) I like Red Star Taco Bar a lot if I want a vibe like that, but also with solid food, margaritas instead of fancy drinks, and somewhat cheaper prices. (This used to be the first place I'd take people after picking them up from the airport, back when I lived in the neighborhood.)
* There is a piece of the Berlin Wall here?? It just appeared one day. I don't really know the story. But it's at the intersection of 34th and Troll if you're interested. It's super tall.
* On a sunny day, eating a deliciously-greasy-amazing Caribbean sandwich at Paseo and then strolling to Gas Works Park (featuring an actual abandoned gasification plant, which you can like, climb on I guess, when no one is watching) is a good time.
* People often think of seafood when they think of Seattle, and ask what the best option is. There's a few fancier sit-down dinner places by the harbor (e.g. Anthony's Pier 66), and they're all totally solid, but I'd actually recommend Local Tide right here in Fremont. There's usually a line, but it moves pretty fast, and it's my favorite seafood in the city. Great for lunch. If the line is WAY too long, secret hack: go into Aslan Brewing right next door. They serve a more limited subset of Local Tide's menu. So, you won't be able to get the clam chowder there, but you'll be able to get the salmon sandwich and such.
* In recent years Fremont has gotten some really good ramen. I can personally vouch that Kayava (Japan-owned) and midnite ramen (locally-owned by a really adorable couple) are both excellent; I cannot personally vouch for Ooink but I've heard good things; I would avoid Nuna Ramen.
* Seattle-style chicken teriyaki is Its Own Thing & it's been a beloved "quick cheap delicious" lunch food for decades, and my personal favorite is right here in Fremont: I Love Teriyaki.
* Wait wait there's also Ester's (excellent sangria & small plates) and Rockcreek Seafood & Spirits (EXCELLENT upscale brunch; great oysters; great shrimp & grits). Wow Fremont is spoiled for food options huh.
Uptown / Lower Queen Anne / Downtown Kinda
Right between the Space Needle and Pike Place Market is a neighborhood that's either called "Uptown" or "Lower Queen Anne", depending on who you ask. It's a great neighborhood with wide sidewalks and lots to do, but a little removed from the peak touristy hustle-and-bustle of the tourist spots on either side of it.
* Some Random Bar is my FAVORITE bar in this neighborhood. Quiet enough to have a conversation, loud enough to feel cozy/bustling, tons of TVs for sports if you're into that (& easy to ignore if you're not), stellar food and cocktails. Their chicken parmesan is a winter-only menu item but it's to die for.
* Jupiter is a huge & quirky "art bar" + arcade. Lots of pinball and arcade machines and a weird vending machine with tarot cards and such.
* Other notable neighborhood restaurants: 5 Point Cafe (a beloved historic dive bar, and crucially it's open 24hrs, which is a rarity in Seattle), Toulouse Petit (New Orleans food; I love their shrimp & grits), and Mario's (late-night pizza place; good if you need a bite and everything else is closed).
* Note that this neighborhood is walking-distance to both the Seattle Symphony and the Seattle Opera and these are all excellent pre/post-show dining/drinking options. If you need food or a drink reasonably quickly before a symphony show, I heartily recommend Diller Room, which is right next to the symphony. The food here is only okay, but definitely edible, and the service is really fast if you're like "I need to be at a show by 7pm" or whatever. And also the drinks are quite good. If you come here after a symphony concert there's a good chance you'll run into one of the musicians at the bar!
University District-ish
* Thai Tom is very very good and very very hole-in-the-wall. There is always a line but it moves fast. Bonus: it's right in the heart of the U District, so you can wander around to all the quirky used video game stores, psychic consultants, etc nearby. If Korean food is more your speed, the nearby Chi-Mac is also great; get the wings!
* If you're not in a hole-in-the-wall mood, Mioposto
* And then there's Union Bay Natural Area, a stunningly gorgeous nature area across the lake from University of Washington's football stadium. I go there for the birds, of course, and there's ample opportunities to view ducks, herons, and other feathered friends year-round, but even a bird hater should enjoy the pleasant 1.5 mile loop trail.
* Foodies generally want to hit up Din Thai Fung. Those dumplings are very good, but note that it'll be a wait, and the surrounding shopping complex is basically Yuppiedom To The Max, but I like browsing the overpriced fancy jewelry at TWIST and gawking at whatever the hell Restoration Hardware has going on
* Scarecrow Video: for all your analog/physical media/VHS/DVD (!!!) needs
Capitol Hill
* This neighborhood has a metric ton of excellent bookstores. Twice Sold Tales, which features a cast of kitties you can cuddle with while you browse, and Elliott Bay Books, which has a massive selection and frequent events, are both particular standouts.
* Seattle isn't really a Mexican/Tex-Mex food kinda place but Carmelos has the best al pastor burrito in the city if you're craving that. (Make sure you use the hot sauce they give you on the side!)
* This is something of the "party" district in the city, and is historically the LGBTQ neighborhood—e.g. the oldest lesbian bar in the US is here. The place is really dense and walkable and you can't really go wrong with any of the food or bars here, so I'd recommend exiting Elliott Bay Books and just walking around a bit!
Georgetown
* This neighborhood's pretty far south of the city, but if you manage to get there, it's a fun & funky neighborhood to wander around. I've been there to e.g. look at a fantasy art show, then chilled in a nearby biker bar for a while, before buying some junk at the Trailer Park Mall and stumbling into a cool glassblowing demonstration. Try an adventure of your own!
Classical Touristy Stuff That Is Pretty Good Even Though It's Touristy
* Pike Place Market! Inside of Pike Place, Market Grill is The Famous Salmon Sandwich Place™ if that's your kind of thing. Once you're done browsing all the wares, I like to duck into The Alibi Room for post-adventuring pizza, or ZigZag Cafe for excellent cocktails and Cowboy Bebop vibes. Or, if you planned far enough in advance to make a reservation, The Pink Door serves great Italian food but also an experience—there was a live aerial performer & a tarot reader last time I was there. ALSO: Birds Connect Seattle (née Seattle Audubon) has an adorable gift & nature store just north of Pike Place that is highly worth checking out imo. They have some taxidermied study bird specimens that you're free to touch & ask questions about!
* Seattle Underground Tour. Check out the literal seedy underground of Seattle and vaguely hope that the really big one doesn't strike while you're deeply underground.
* Chihuly Garden & Glass. Fabulous art, and if you go at the right time, you can watch live glassblowing demos.
* Woodland Park Zoo. Our zoo is great. The penguins are especially adorable. Food options close to the zoo that I particularly like include Lupo (sourdough pizza) and Windy City Pie (excellent Chicago-style pizza).
Miscellaneous Further-Afield Spots
* Tourists don't really have much cause to ever be in Interlake, but if you are there for some reason: Dantini is some of my favorite pizza in the city. It's inside a distillery, so you can get an alright cocktail with your pizza, and also they just have really huge tables and lots of space and a laid-back atmosphere, so you can definitely chill out and play a long board game here.
* Columbia City, I am told, is "the new Capitol Hill," eg the new up-and-coming super-trendy neighborhood in the city. Tragically I am unhip and have never been. But you could go there and out-trendy/out-cool me!
* Seward Park is substantially south of where most tourists go, it's a really lovely park, with the only patch of proper "old growth" forest left in the city. It's more shaded and dense and foresty than most Seattle parks. There's an Audubon Center there that runs tons of free hikes, talks, and that sort of thing; check them out!
* Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is an hour drive south of the city but is absolutely gorgeous.
