Guidebook for Seattle
Entertainment & Activities
Theo Chocolate Factory is a fair-trade, bean-to-bar operation in the heart of the Fremont neighborhood. Call ahead to book a tour, or (if you're short on time) stop in their shop for free samples!
201 locals recommend
Theo Chocolate
3400 Phinney Ave NTheo Chocolate Factory is a fair-trade, bean-to-bar operation in the heart of the Fremont neighborhood. Call ahead to book a tour, or (if you're short on time) stop in their shop for free samples!
Blue Highway is a terrific gathering spot. On Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open until 11:00 so you can try out their extensive collection of board games and puzzles. Drinks and snacks, too!
15 locals recommend
Blue Highway Games
2203 Queen Anne Ave NBlue Highway is a terrific gathering spot. On Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open until 11:00 so you can try out their extensive collection of board games and puzzles. Drinks and snacks, too!
Just down the stairs from our place, this spot rents out kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour. We've been known to head straight here after waking up on a sunny morning!
42 locals recommend
NorthWest Outdoor Center
2100 Westlake Ave NJust down the stairs from our place, this spot rents out kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour. We've been known to head straight here after waking up on a sunny morning!
This nonprofit is dedicated to preserving the craft of handmade wooden boats. Peek into the workshop (no cost) or rent a rowboat and take a picnic to the middle of Lake Union. Free sails on Sundays!
101 locals recommend
The Center for Wooden Boats
1010 Valley StThis nonprofit is dedicated to preserving the craft of handmade wooden boats. Peek into the workshop (no cost) or rent a rowboat and take a picnic to the middle of Lake Union. Free sails on Sundays!
Food Scene
This year-round Sunday market is one of our very favorite things in Seattle! Great people watching and tasty local produce. Don't forget veggie quesadillas for lunch!
220 locals recommend
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWThis year-round Sunday market is one of our very favorite things in Seattle! Great people watching and tasty local produce. Don't forget veggie quesadillas for lunch!
Delicious, locally made ice cream using seasonal ingredients. The Earl Grey ice cream is incredible.
468 locals recommend
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
917 E Pine StDelicious, locally made ice cream using seasonal ingredients. The Earl Grey ice cream is incredible.
This independent fro-yo shop lets you mix and match your own flavors and toppings. Take your edible masterpiece for a walk around Green Lake (about a 3-mile loop).
12 locals recommend
Zoëyogurt
6900 East Green Lake Way NThis independent fro-yo shop lets you mix and match your own flavors and toppings. Take your edible masterpiece for a walk around Green Lake (about a 3-mile loop).
One of Seattle's hippest new restaurants, Westward features fresh oysters and craft cocktails. It can be pricey, but you're paying for the waterfront view, one of the city's best.
172 locals recommend
Westward
2501 N Northlake WayOne of Seattle's hippest new restaurants, Westward features fresh oysters and craft cocktails. It can be pricey, but you're paying for the waterfront view, one of the city's best.
Widely regarded as one of the best oyster bars in the country, if not the world. If you're new to oysters, don't worry: the expert bartenders will coach you through your selection and meal. Divine!
246 locals recommend
The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NWWidely regarded as one of the best oyster bars in the country, if not the world. If you're new to oysters, don't worry: the expert bartenders will coach you through your selection and meal. Divine!
This elegant but accessible Italian restaurant serves excellent, traditional-style pizzas. Always bustling and delicious.
65 locals recommend
Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria - Wallingford
4411 Stone Way NThis elegant but accessible Italian restaurant serves excellent, traditional-style pizzas. Always bustling and delicious.
Fresh and flavorful Mexican food upstairs; kayak rentals downstairs. Work up an appetite paddling around the houseboats on Portage Bay, then return for a refreshing margarita!
168 locals recommend
Agua Verde Paddle Club
1307 NE Boat StFresh and flavorful Mexican food upstairs; kayak rentals downstairs. Work up an appetite paddling around the houseboats on Portage Bay, then return for a refreshing margarita!
Sweet little French patisserie and coffee shop. A great spot to read the paper or meet up with a friend.
47 locals recommend
Le Fournil French bakery and catering
3230 Eastlake Ave ESweet little French patisserie and coffee shop. A great spot to read the paper or meet up with a friend.
Like a reliable friend, Joe Bar is there for you whether you need to crank out some work on your laptop or unwind with a sidewalk dinner. The crepes are generous and delicious.
57 locals recommend
Joe Bar
810 E Roy StLike a reliable friend, Joe Bar is there for you whether you need to crank out some work on your laptop or unwind with a sidewalk dinner. The crepes are generous and delicious.
Flaky pastries, buttery scones, dense coffee cakes, and more. Well worth the drive! Take your treats to Golden Gardens and enjoy along with a view of the sea.
57 locals recommend
Coyle's Bakeshop
8300 Greenwood Ave NFlaky pastries, buttery scones, dense coffee cakes, and more. Well worth the drive! Take your treats to Golden Gardens and enjoy along with a view of the sea.
Best brunch in Seattle. Fresh, local, and oh-so-satisfying. Call ahead: everybody wants to be here on Sunday morning!
88 locals recommend
Portage Bay Cafe - South Lake Union
391 Terry Ave NBest brunch in Seattle. Fresh, local, and oh-so-satisfying. Call ahead: everybody wants to be here on Sunday morning!
A good budget option for dinner. Fresh pizzas and salads with delicious, often seasonal ingredients.
229 locals recommend
Pagliacci Pizza
1614 W Dravus StA good budget option for dinner. Fresh pizzas and salads with delicious, often seasonal ingredients.
Arts & Culture
This gem of a theatre company specializes in literary adaptations and always stars local talent.
Book-It Repertory Theatre
305 Harrison StThis gem of a theatre company specializes in literary adaptations and always stars local talent.
This world-class museum celebrates Seattle's quirky history with innovative, interactive exhibits. The gorgeous atrium alone is worth the visit. Don't miss the Great Seattle Fire musical theatre!
357 locals recommend
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
860 Terry Ave NThis world-class museum celebrates Seattle's quirky history with innovative, interactive exhibits. The gorgeous atrium alone is worth the visit. Don't miss the Great Seattle Fire musical theatre!
Classical and modern ballet performances full of vitality and expressiveness. Elise has been coming here since she was 4, and now I'm a convert!
35 locals recommend
Pacific Northwest Ballet
301 Mercer StClassical and modern ballet performances full of vitality and expressiveness. Elise has been coming here since she was 4, and now I'm a convert!
Shopping
This bookshop for foodies has an incredible selection of cookbooks, and chef's memoirs. Author events and cooking classes are held on a regular basis.
15 locals recommend
Book Larder
4252 Fremont Ave NThis bookshop for foodies has an incredible selection of cookbooks, and chef's memoirs. Author events and cooking classes are held on a regular basis.
REI's flagship store has a climbing wall, mountain bike trail, and all the outdoor gear you could ever dream of! The employees are friendly and super-informative.
90 locals recommend
REI
222 Yale Ave NREI's flagship store has a climbing wall, mountain bike trail, and all the outdoor gear you could ever dream of! The employees are friendly and super-informative.
Browse the smartly curated selection of books on science, technology, nature, crafts, and history. The vegetarian-friendly cafe is superb.
179 locals recommend
Volunteer Park Cafe & Marketplace
1501 17th Ave EBrowse the smartly curated selection of books on science, technology, nature, crafts, and history. The vegetarian-friendly cafe is superb.
Essentials
Safeway
516 1st Ave WConvenient, mid-range grocery store. Free parking lot.
Mid-range grocery store that specializes in house brands. Has a definite cult following in Seattle! Free parking garage.
722 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1700 E Madison StMid-range grocery store that specializes in house brands. Has a definite cult following in Seattle! Free parking garage.
Our neighborhood corner store. Prices run high, so we recommend it only for emergencies (for example, late-night ice cream cravings).
24 locals recommend
Lyon's Grocery
2100 Dexter Ave NOur neighborhood corner store. Prices run high, so we recommend it only for emergencies (for example, late-night ice cream cravings).
This food co-op is about a 20-minute walk from our place. High standards are maintained for products' sustainability and business practices. This is reflected in the price. Free parking garage.
171 locals recommend
PCC Community Markets - Fremont
600 N 34th StThis food co-op is about a 20-minute walk from our place. High standards are maintained for products' sustainability and business practices. This is reflected in the price. Free parking garage.
This mid-range grocery store is about a 20-minute walk from our place. Located directly across from Seattle Center and the Gates Foundation. Free parking garage.
768 locals recommend
QFC
1401 BroadwayThis mid-range grocery store is about a 20-minute walk from our place. Located directly across from Seattle Center and the Gates Foundation. Free parking garage.
Parks & Nature
The best view in the city. Skip the lines and steep prices at the Space Needle and come here instead. We like to grab an ice cream at Molly Moon's, then walk over to the park to watch the sunset.
881 locals recommend
Kerry Park
211 W Highland DrThe best view in the city. Skip the lines and steep prices at the Space Needle and come here instead. We like to grab an ice cream at Molly Moon's, then walk over to the park to watch the sunset.
This former utility site has been transformed into a grassy city park with a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline. Check out the sundial atop Kite Hill (whose name is well-deserved).
860 locals recommend
Gas Works Park
2101 N Northlake WayThis former utility site has been transformed into a grassy city park with a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline. Check out the sundial atop Kite Hill (whose name is well-deserved).
Somewhat off the beaten path, the Ballard Locks are well worth a visit. Engineering nerds will enjoy watching the boats pass through. At the right time, you can watch salmon swimming upstream, too!
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StSomewhat off the beaten path, the Ballard Locks are well worth a visit. Engineering nerds will enjoy watching the boats pass through. At the right time, you can watch salmon swimming upstream, too!
Climb the water tower for a 360-degree view of the region. This Olmstead park also offers a historic conservatory, art museum, and shady paths. Outdoor plays in the summer.
563 locals recommend
Volunteer Park
1247 15th Ave EClimb the water tower for a 360-degree view of the region. This Olmstead park also offers a historic conservatory, art museum, and shady paths. Outdoor plays in the summer.
No trip to Seattle is complete without a trip across the Puget Sound on a Washington State Ferry. We recommend the 35-minute ride to Bainbridge Island, where you can walk to cute shops and good food.
36 locals recommend
Seattle Ferry Terminal station
801 Alaskan WayNo trip to Seattle is complete without a trip across the Puget Sound on a Washington State Ferry. We recommend the 35-minute ride to Bainbridge Island, where you can walk to cute shops and good food.
If you don't have time for the Cascades or Olympics, Discovery Park is a great urban hiking spot. The network of trails crosses meadows and forests, leading to a lighthouse with stunning sea view.
756 locals recommend
Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdIf you don't have time for the Cascades or Olympics, Discovery Park is a great urban hiking spot. The network of trails crosses meadows and forests, leading to a lighthouse with stunning sea view.
Drinks & Nightlife
Washington is a center of the growing global hard cider industry. Schilling Cider House carries 30+ craft ciders (many of them local) on draft. Bring your own food and try a flight!
30 locals recommend
Schilling Cider House
708 N 34th StWashington is a center of the growing global hard cider industry. Schilling Cider House carries 30+ craft ciders (many of them local) on draft. Bring your own food and try a flight!
One of our favorite bars in the city. Try a freshly-pulled pint of Finn River Cider (from the Olympic Peninsula) while you browse the collection of hiking and travel guides.
19 locals recommend
The Noble Fir
5316 Ballard Ave NWOne of our favorite bars in the city. Try a freshly-pulled pint of Finn River Cider (from the Olympic Peninsula) while you browse the collection of hiking and travel guides.
This quirky neighborhood bar is popular with theatre folks getting off work late at night. The service is hit-or-miss, but the atmosphere is great and the food is often excellent.
6 locals recommend
Solo Bar & Eatery
200 Roy StThis quirky neighborhood bar is popular with theatre folks getting off work late at night. The service is hit-or-miss, but the atmosphere is great and the food is often excellent.