Tracy's Neighborhood Guidebook
Drinks & Nightlife
Total hipster cocktail bar. Complete with mismatched glassware, Edison bulbs & whale wallpaper. The cauliflower toast can't be beat.
44 locals recommend
Essex
1421 NW 70th StTotal hipster cocktail bar. Complete with mismatched glassware, Edison bulbs & whale wallpaper. The cauliflower toast can't be beat.
Ok-- I admit it... I love a dive bar. Karaoke, the eclectic crowd & an easy, tipsy walk home make this my favorite. LGBT friendly.
20 locals recommend
Waterwheel Lounge
7034 15th Ave NWOk-- I admit it... I love a dive bar. Karaoke, the eclectic crowd & an easy, tipsy walk home make this my favorite. LGBT friendly.
Mexican & American pub food. Food truck style tacos. Over a dozen craft beers & ciders on tap. Outdoor space & TVs for watching sports. Also very yummy for brunch!
73 locals recommend
The Yard Cafe
8313 Greenwood Ave NMexican & American pub food. Food truck style tacos. Over a dozen craft beers & ciders on tap. Outdoor space & TVs for watching sports. Also very yummy for brunch!
Live music venue. Performances vary widely from roots rock to reggae to folk to country. Gritty & laid-back.
165 locals recommend
Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NWLive music venue. Performances vary widely from roots rock to reggae to folk to country. Gritty & laid-back.
BEERVANA!! Over 35 beers & ciders on tap plus hundreds more in bottles & can lining the store. Food trucks every day. A super low-key & super local hangout.
91 locals recommend
Chuck's Hop Shop & Kegs To Go
656 NW 85th StBEERVANA!! Over 35 beers & ciders on tap plus hundreds more in bottles & can lining the store. Food trucks every day. A super low-key & super local hangout.
Smaller sister bar to The Yard. Plenty of unique beers on tap. Less food oriented. Expect to see lots of dogs!
35 locals recommend
The Dray
708 NW 65th StSmaller sister bar to The Yard. Plenty of unique beers on tap. Less food oriented. Expect to see lots of dogs!
If you aren't up for a tour of all the amazing breweries that have been popping up in Ballard over the last 5 years.. then I highly suggest stopping at Trailbend. Tons of interesting beers on tap & simple but delicious bites to go with (I had a great salad here!)
16 locals recommend
Trailbend Taproom
1118 NW 50th StIf you aren't up for a tour of all the amazing breweries that have been popping up in Ballard over the last 5 years.. then I highly suggest stopping at Trailbend. Tons of interesting beers on tap & simple but delicious bites to go with (I had a great salad here!)
The brewery scene east of Ballard keeps getting better & better. I personally love Lucky Envelope for their amazing sours...which are growing in popularity but still a little hard to find.
You often find families, groups or couples here whiling away a few hours playing cards or other table games & enjoying their pints.
31 locals recommend
Lucky Envelope Brewing
907 NW 50th StThe brewery scene east of Ballard keeps getting better & better. I personally love Lucky Envelope for their amazing sours...which are growing in popularity but still a little hard to find.
You often find families, groups or couples here whiling away a few hours playing cards or other table games & enjoying their pints.
Everything Else
Portalis features 500+ notable, adventurous, lovingly selected world wines including an expanded selection from Washington State. I would definitely suggest going for the staff picks.. and off-the-beaten-track varietals. Open until 7 pm most days of the week.
16 locals recommend
Portalis Wine Shop
6754 15th Ave NWPortalis features 500+ notable, adventurous, lovingly selected world wines including an expanded selection from Washington State. I would definitely suggest going for the staff picks.. and off-the-beaten-track varietals. Open until 7 pm most days of the week.
Year-round green market with 100-plus vendors for organic, handmade & locally grown foods. A wonderful place to stroll with cute restaurants, cafes, & eclectic retail stores lining the street. So much to explore!
Open 10am-3pm every Sunday; Rain or shine
220 locals recommend
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWYear-round green market with 100-plus vendors for organic, handmade & locally grown foods. A wonderful place to stroll with cute restaurants, cafes, & eclectic retail stores lining the street. So much to explore!
Open 10am-3pm every Sunday; Rain or shine
Parks & Nature
The water of the Puget Sound may be freezing- but the sand is warm & the views are stunning. Bonfires are allowed on the beach with untreated wood!
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWThe water of the Puget Sound may be freezing- but the sand is warm & the views are stunning. Bonfires are allowed on the beach with untreated wood!
Easy hiking through meadows & along the bluff. You can also make your way down to the water & check out the gorgeous Olympic Mountain views!
756 locals recommend
Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdEasy hiking through meadows & along the bluff. You can also make your way down to the water & check out the gorgeous Olympic Mountain views!
A decently challenging day hike. Beautiful views at the ridge line and a lovely little alpine lake. Easy to start and hard to finish to the top. 3-4 hours round trip. About 1 hour outside of Seattle. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/ira-spring-memorial
Ira Spring Trailhead
Ira Spring Memorial TrailA decently challenging day hike. Beautiful views at the ridge line and a lovely little alpine lake. Easy to start and hard to finish to the top. 3-4 hours round trip. About 1 hour outside of Seattle. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/ira-spring-memorial
Beautiful, tough hike. Pretty much all incline until the end...but very much worth it! The lake is stunning beautiful, crystal clear and peaceful with camping spots if you want to spend the night. Many waterfalls along the way make this a rewarding trek. 4+ hours round trip. About 1 hour outside of Seattle. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/annette-lake
7 locals recommend
Annette Lake Trailhead
Beautiful, tough hike. Pretty much all incline until the end...but very much worth it! The lake is stunning beautiful, crystal clear and peaceful with camping spots if you want to spend the night. Many waterfalls along the way make this a rewarding trek. 4+ hours round trip. About 1 hour outside of Seattle. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/annette-lake
Essentials
Great produce. High-quality deli. Expansive wine selection. Amazing bulk food options like granola, nuts or other snack mixes.
149 locals recommend
Ballard Market
1400 NW 56th StGreat produce. High-quality deli. Expansive wine selection. Amazing bulk food options like granola, nuts or other snack mixes.
Food scene
A neighborhood stalwart for 14 years! Wood-fired pizzas, fresh out of the oven with top quality meats & seasonal toppings. I suggest you order a Jersey salad too! Expect a wait, but you can pass the time with a drink at one of the places below.
123 locals recommend
Delancey
1415 NW 70th StA neighborhood stalwart for 14 years! Wood-fired pizzas, fresh out of the oven with top quality meats & seasonal toppings. I suggest you order a Jersey salad too! Expect a wait, but you can pass the time with a drink at one of the places below.
French pastries, quiches, bread, espresso. Their amazingly flaky croissant is repeatedly voted “Best of Seattle”. I also highly recommend trying their macarons & canelés!
84 locals recommend
Rosellini’s Fine Cakes & Baked Goods
1413 NW 70th StFrench pastries, quiches, bread, espresso. Their amazingly flaky croissant is repeatedly voted “Best of Seattle”. I also highly recommend trying their macarons & canelés!
Italian & American style brunch. Lines out the door most weekends… but that will be everywhere because Seattleites love to queue up for brunch.
143 locals recommend
The Fat Hen
1418 NW 70th StItalian & American style brunch. Lines out the door most weekends… but that will be everywhere because Seattleites love to queue up for brunch.
A more traditional British-style, cozy pub. Daily specials plus great standards like the reuben sandwich. Seasonally changing beer & cider. 21 & over only.
54 locals recommend
74th Street Ale House
7401 Greenwood Ave NA more traditional British-style, cozy pub. Daily specials plus great standards like the reuben sandwich. Seasonally changing beer & cider. 21 & over only.
French-inspired in a small, dimly lit café kind of way. You’ll usually find the owner behind the bar making cocktails. The simple menu & daily specials are rich & wonderfully decadent.
38 locals recommend
Gainsbourg
8550 Greenwood Ave NFrench-inspired in a small, dimly lit café kind of way. You’ll usually find the owner behind the bar making cocktails. The simple menu & daily specials are rich & wonderfully decadent.
Great specialty pizzas. Very relaxed & totally family-friendly. Big tables for large groups.
31 locals recommend
Ridge Pizza
7217 Greenwood Ave NGreat specialty pizzas. Very relaxed & totally family-friendly. Big tables for large groups.
I always find this restaurant to be buzzing with happy social energy. The food is next level and the service is spot on. The menu rotates regularly with unique & fresh recipes. Chef & owner, Jen Doak, lives in the neighborhood!
72 locals recommend
Brimmer & Heeltap
425 NW Market StI always find this restaurant to be buzzing with happy social energy. The food is next level and the service is spot on. The menu rotates regularly with unique & fresh recipes. Chef & owner, Jen Doak, lives in the neighborhood!
A combination cafe and market serving seasonal food and drink as well as specialty grocery items.
18 locals recommend
Mainstay Provisions
612 NW 65th StA combination cafe and market serving seasonal food and drink as well as specialty grocery items.
Funky, punky Mexican spot cooking Mission-style food in an old house decorated with Day of the Dead art & fantastic margaritas!!! The outdoor seating is packed on sunny afternoons.
53 locals recommend
El Chupacabra Greenwood
6711 Greenwood Ave NFunky, punky Mexican spot cooking Mission-style food in an old house decorated with Day of the Dead art & fantastic margaritas!!! The outdoor seating is packed on sunny afternoons.
Looking for something a little fancier? Autumn is one of six restaurants owned by local chef, Brian Clevenger. His forte is hand-made pasta with the freshest & often unique ingredients. The meat, seafood & vegetable dishes are all top-notch, as well.
Autumn Seattle
Looking for something a little fancier? Autumn is one of six restaurants owned by local chef, Brian Clevenger. His forte is hand-made pasta with the freshest & often unique ingredients. The meat, seafood & vegetable dishes are all top-notch, as well.
Fabulous cocktails, amazing wine list & super special small bites. Don't worry if you don't have a reservation! Renee Erickson created this restaurant to be a local's place with most tables available first come/ first served.
Lioness
Fabulous cocktails, amazing wine list & super special small bites. Don't worry if you don't have a reservation! Renee Erickson created this restaurant to be a local's place with most tables available first come/ first served.
Oysters & other seafood plus American plates & specialty cocktails in a small, simple space. Inspired by the seaside cafes of France. No reservations accepted. Expect a wait most any night.
246 locals recommend
The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NWOysters & other seafood plus American plates & specialty cocktails in a small, simple space. Inspired by the seaside cafes of France. No reservations accepted. Expect a wait most any night.
Tapas!! Extensive menu with daily specials, sangria & house cocktails in a tiny, candlelit space.
62 locals recommend
Ocho
2325 NW Market StTapas!! Extensive menu with daily specials, sangria & house cocktails in a tiny, candlelit space.
These tacos celebrate local and sustainable meat and seafood and with tortillas using masa made from Oaxaca-grown heirloom corn. Fancy a margarita to go with that? The bar has a fantastic tequila and mezcal selection.
19 locals recommend
Gracia
5313 Ballard Ave NWThese tacos celebrate local and sustainable meat and seafood and with tortillas using masa made from Oaxaca-grown heirloom corn. Fancy a margarita to go with that? The bar has a fantastic tequila and mezcal selection.