Guidebook for Seattle
Food Scene
This place is good for locally sourced food, and even better, it's the closest brunch place in walking distance, and it's never disappointed! Pro tip: pancake/waffle topping bar! It's always packed on the weekends. Go very early or make a reservation online ahead of time to avoid a 45-minute wait during weekend brunch.
57 locals recommend
Portage Bay Cafe - Ballard
2821 NW Market StThis place is good for locally sourced food, and even better, it's the closest brunch place in walking distance, and it's never disappointed! Pro tip: pancake/waffle topping bar! It's always packed on the weekends. Go very early or make a reservation online ahead of time to avoid a 45-minute wait during weekend brunch.
Some of the best coffee in town. If you're really interested in coffee, don't miss the slow bar. You can choose which preparation of coffee you prefer, and your barista will make it and explain the mechanics. You'll definitely notice a difference in flavor, compared with regular espresso. This space is also great for doing some work on your computer or plain old people-watching.
54 locals recommend
Ballard Beer Company
2050 NW Market StSome of the best coffee in town. If you're really interested in coffee, don't miss the slow bar. You can choose which preparation of coffee you prefer, and your barista will make it and explain the mechanics. You'll definitely notice a difference in flavor, compared with regular espresso. This space is also great for doing some work on your computer or plain old people-watching.
Solid Italian-style espresso. It's slightly less busy than the ever-popular Ballard Coffee Works. The interior is very pleasantly spare and fancy at the same time. Kendra is nerdily very excited that they provide sparkling water on tap.
89 locals recommend
Caffe Umbria
1201 Westlake Ave NSolid Italian-style espresso. It's slightly less busy than the ever-popular Ballard Coffee Works. The interior is very pleasantly spare and fancy at the same time. Kendra is nerdily very excited that they provide sparkling water on tap.
They're not open all the time, and they may not have a wide selection, but trust us - sweet or savory, you want their baked goods.
155 locals recommend
Cafe Besalu
5909 24th Ave NWThey're not open all the time, and they may not have a wide selection, but trust us - sweet or savory, you want their baked goods.
Quick, cheap, and delicious. Pho in various forms is the only thing on the menu. You can get a small size for about $6, and all the pho comes with a free cream puff. Possibly the best deal for a quick lunch.
42 locals recommend
PHO THAN BROTHERS
527 Broadway EQuick, cheap, and delicious. Pho in various forms is the only thing on the menu. You can get a small size for about $6, and all the pho comes with a free cream puff. Possibly the best deal for a quick lunch.
It's a neighborhood favorite. You'll find locals there all the time. They have games and music some nights, and also serve beer, wine, and ice cream.
14 locals recommend
Walter's
6408 32nd Ave NWIt's a neighborhood favorite. You'll find locals there all the time. They have games and music some nights, and also serve beer, wine, and ice cream.
Skillet serves food that seems to be what northwesterners think people eat in the south. It might seem a bit odd, but we've never had a bad meal there. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
23 locals recommend
Skillet - Ballard
Skillet serves food that seems to be what northwesterners think people eat in the south. It might seem a bit odd, but we've never had a bad meal there. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
For the oyster lovers out there: this is the only place you need to go. Ever. The decor and service are classy yet unpretentious. If you prompt the servers, you will learn more than you ever imagined about oysters: how does the farming method affect the flavor? Wait, there are different oyster farming methods? We didn't even know we preferred small, briny oysters until after we came here. For those who don't love raw oysters, don't worry: there is plenty of other fancy food on the menu (which changes seasonally). Be sure to check online for what's current. Be prepared to spend some money. This place is not great for vegetarians. Don't even think about it if you're vegan.
246 locals recommend
The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NWFor the oyster lovers out there: this is the only place you need to go. Ever. The decor and service are classy yet unpretentious. If you prompt the servers, you will learn more than you ever imagined about oysters: how does the farming method affect the flavor? Wait, there are different oyster farming methods? We didn't even know we preferred small, briny oysters until after we came here. For those who don't love raw oysters, don't worry: there is plenty of other fancy food on the menu (which changes seasonally). Be sure to check online for what's current. Be prepared to spend some money. This place is not great for vegetarians. Don't even think about it if you're vegan.
Very authentic Thai food - some of the best we've found in the city, and definitely the best within walking distance to our place!
51 locals recommend
Pestle Rock
2305 NW Market StVery authentic Thai food - some of the best we've found in the city, and definitely the best within walking distance to our place!
Straight up burgers and fish n' chips. They also serve good milkshakes. It's a nice start or finish to a walk in the Locks across the street.
21 locals recommend
Red Mill Totem House
3058 NW 54th StStraight up burgers and fish n' chips. They also serve good milkshakes. It's a nice start or finish to a walk in the Locks across the street.
Ballard is full of bars and restaurants that present as upscale and chic - sometimes it's hard to tell whether you're getting your money's worth. Gracia has certainly delivered, in our opinion. Here, you can get classy, authentic Mexican food in a bustling restaurant with great service. We particularly enjoyed the chicharrones (pork rinds), ceviche, fish tacos, and the flan. It's busiest on the weekends during dinner. While it's not the cheapest place to eat, it is great for a date night, or a nice treat. Hot Tip: if there's a wait, put your name on the waiting list, and grab a drink from one of the many nearby bars. Gracia will text you when your table is ready.
19 locals recommend
Gracia
5313 Ballard Ave NWBallard is full of bars and restaurants that present as upscale and chic - sometimes it's hard to tell whether you're getting your money's worth. Gracia has certainly delivered, in our opinion. Here, you can get classy, authentic Mexican food in a bustling restaurant with great service. We particularly enjoyed the chicharrones (pork rinds), ceviche, fish tacos, and the flan. It's busiest on the weekends during dinner. While it's not the cheapest place to eat, it is great for a date night, or a nice treat. Hot Tip: if there's a wait, put your name on the waiting list, and grab a drink from one of the many nearby bars. Gracia will text you when your table is ready.
Drinks & Nightlife
This place serves consistently good Puerto Rican food.f you get a full meal, you will almost definitely have leftovers. What might seem like a pricy meal often turns into 2 or 3 meals. Instant savings! While it's primarily a restaurant, we heartily recommend taking advantage of their happy hours (early and late-night). Their happy hour appetizers are great deals, and their Puerto Rican cocktails are good and stiff.
51 locals recommend
La Isla
2320 NW Market StThis place serves consistently good Puerto Rican food.f you get a full meal, you will almost definitely have leftovers. What might seem like a pricy meal often turns into 2 or 3 meals. Instant savings! While it's primarily a restaurant, we heartily recommend taking advantage of their happy hours (early and late-night). Their happy hour appetizers are great deals, and their Puerto Rican cocktails are good and stiff.
Great cocktails (on the pricy side, but fancy) in a quirky tiny bar. Good for dates. Sometimes they have a DJ spinning odd music at night.
37 locals recommend
Hazlewood
2311 NW Market StGreat cocktails (on the pricy side, but fancy) in a quirky tiny bar. Good for dates. Sometimes they have a DJ spinning odd music at night.
This place is one of the oldest businesses in Ballard, and we hope it never goes away. It's a diner on one side, and a bar on the other. Go here for cheap, stiff drinks, service by wonderful women, and play with the cheapest jukebox in town. If you're lucky, you could get free soup late a night. Probably our favorite bar in Seattle.
8 locals recommend
Ballard Smoke Shop
5439 Ballard Ave NWThis place is one of the oldest businesses in Ballard, and we hope it never goes away. It's a diner on one side, and a bar on the other. Go here for cheap, stiff drinks, service by wonderful women, and play with the cheapest jukebox in town. If you're lucky, you could get free soup late a night. Probably our favorite bar in Seattle.
An old Ballard business that serves solid bar food and stiff drinks. Great happy hour specials. Have you ever wanted to eat one barbecue rib? Now you probably can't stop thinking about it. Go here. They also serve brunch.
45 locals recommend
Hattie's Hat Restaurant
5231 Ballard Ave NWAn old Ballard business that serves solid bar food and stiff drinks. Great happy hour specials. Have you ever wanted to eat one barbecue rib? Now you probably can't stop thinking about it. Go here. They also serve brunch.
It's a fancy scotch bar! Also attached to a fish n' chips place. Nice decor inside. It's a fun place that gets quite lively on the weekends.
19 locals recommend
Macleod’s Scottish Pub
5200 Ballard Ave NWIt's a fancy scotch bar! Also attached to a fish n' chips place. Nice decor inside. It's a fun place that gets quite lively on the weekends.
Sightseeing
You can watch the unique locks system for boats to move from the Puget Sound into Lake Union. There is a sizeable garden, and during the right season, you can even watch the salmon through glass windows as they make their way to fresh water to spawn. Really, the best part about the Locks is just walking around. You can see trains chugging across the bridge nearby and see a beautiful sunset. Even in inclement weather, it's still a peaceful place to watch some boats and some people. If you're feeling adventurous, walk through the Locks on your way to Discovery Park.
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StYou can watch the unique locks system for boats to move from the Puget Sound into Lake Union. There is a sizeable garden, and during the right season, you can even watch the salmon through glass windows as they make their way to fresh water to spawn. Really, the best part about the Locks is just walking around. You can see trains chugging across the bridge nearby and see a beautiful sunset. Even in inclement weather, it's still a peaceful place to watch some boats and some people. If you're feeling adventurous, walk through the Locks on your way to Discovery Park.
This unassuming little plaza contains a few things: Kendra's favorite fish n' chips from Little Chinook's, an excellent and reasonably priced fish market, a solid pub called the Highliner, and a beautiful view of the water. The piers sometimes house famous fishing boats, as seen on Deadliest Catch.
42 locals recommend
Fishermen's Terminal
3919 18th Ave WThis unassuming little plaza contains a few things: Kendra's favorite fish n' chips from Little Chinook's, an excellent and reasonably priced fish market, a solid pub called the Highliner, and a beautiful view of the water. The piers sometimes house famous fishing boats, as seen on Deadliest Catch.
Parks & Nature
This is a large park with lots of trails. Follow them around to the sandy beach and find the old lighthouse. It gets busy on the weekends, but if you hit it right, it will feel like you're in the forest in the middle of the city.
756 locals recommend
Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdThis is a large park with lots of trails. Follow them around to the sandy beach and find the old lighthouse. It gets busy on the weekends, but if you hit it right, it will feel like you're in the forest in the middle of the city.
Drive down a windy road to find Carkeek Park in a gully. The park has short trails in the woods and around some wetlands, and finally a sandy beach reached by walking on an overpass over the train tracks. There is also a playground and a big field for running around and getting the sillies out.
251 locals recommend
Carkeek Park
950 NW Carkeek Park RdDrive down a windy road to find Carkeek Park in a gully. The park has short trails in the woods and around some wetlands, and finally a sandy beach reached by walking on an overpass over the train tracks. There is also a playground and a big field for running around and getting the sillies out.
One of the most popular parks in Seattle. Have a barbecue, build a bonfire, enjoy a sunset, and say hi to the beavers who live at the north end in the wetland area. During the summer, parking is impossible - we recommend just taking the 1.3 mile walk from our place.
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWOne of the most popular parks in Seattle. Have a barbecue, build a bonfire, enjoy a sunset, and say hi to the beavers who live at the north end in the wetland area. During the summer, parking is impossible - we recommend just taking the 1.3 mile walk from our place.
Shopping
Rain or shine, every Sunday. See a selection of local wares, including produce, meat, dairy, and art. Street performers are also a common sight.
220 locals recommend
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWRain or shine, every Sunday. See a selection of local wares, including produce, meat, dairy, and art. Street performers are also a common sight.
Arts & Culture
Learn about Ballard's history as a Scandinavian fishing village, and its reluctance to be incorporated into the city of Seattle.
127 locals recommend
National Nordic Museum
2655 NW Market StLearn about Ballard's history as a Scandinavian fishing village, and its reluctance to be incorporated into the city of Seattle.
The museum is located in beautiful Volunteer Park. Learn about the rich history of Asian-Americans in Seattle. There are constantly fantastic traveling exhibits.
97 locals recommend
Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
719 S King StThe museum is located in beautiful Volunteer Park. Learn about the rich history of Asian-Americans in Seattle. There are constantly fantastic traveling exhibits.
Seattle's history is fantastically displayed in this museum. The museum features beautifully put-together exhibits. Don't miss the display of Seattle's Great Fire. You won't regret it!
357 locals recommend
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
860 Terry Ave NSeattle's history is fantastically displayed in this museum. The museum features beautifully put-together exhibits. Don't miss the display of Seattle's Great Fire. You won't regret it!
Essentials
10-minute walk from our house. This place will have all your basic needs covered. We like their "under $5" cheese basket.
165 locals recommend
QFC
11100 Roosevelt Way NE10-minute walk from our house. This place will have all your basic needs covered. We like their "under $5" cheese basket.