The Best Seattle Neighborhoods To Explore

Seattle sits on Puget Sound in the ice-blue waters of the Pacific Northwest. The city of Seattle resides on the traditional land of the Coast Salish Peoples. The Olympic mountains loom in the distance, and the area and evergreen trees pepper the area. The Emerald City is home to over 725,000 residents and is synonymous with innovation and creative style.

Seattle is famous as the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, grunge rock, Amazon, and Google. Whether it be transcendent cuisine, art, and entertainment or the discovery of unparalleled technology, Seattle offers a diverse lifestyle throughout its many micro-communities.

Looking at some of Seattle’s best neighborhoods, we find cultural meccas.

Columbia City

Columbia City was once a dense conifer forest before settlers renamed the area after Christopher Columbus in 1891. History is still revered in this landmark-protected historic business district a century later. Columbia City remains one of the few Seattle neighborhoods with a long history of ethnic and income diversity.

Nestled in South Seattle, the thriving pedestrian district along Rainier Avenue S hosts a plethora of international restaurants with fusion cuisines – including Caribbean, Senegalese, Ethiopian, and authentic Vietnamese. Rounding out the community are local coffee shops, art galleries, and a solid live music nightlife. Another landmark of this unique community is the Columbia City Theater, where live performances light up the night. During the day, meander through local boutiques for international shopping. The Columbia City Farmers Market and BeatWalk festival in late Summer is a must.

Central District

The Central District, commonly called The CD, is a historically dynamic community. The culture and demographics have changed repeatedly throughout the years. The city grew with predominantly Jewish beginnings, changing to Japanese-American during the depression. The Central District is now the heart of Seattle’s Black community. The Central District is home to at least 18 community green spaces. Home to Bruce Lee and Jimi Hendrix, its vibrant soul is still alive in locally-owned businesses and restaurants. Central District’s past and present artistically combine in the magnificent Martin Luther King mural and other urban art celebrating African American history around the Douglass-Truth Public Library.

Georgetown

Georgetown is located south of Downtown and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle. Hometown diners like All City Coffee and shabby-chic bars like Star Brass Works Lounge are great local haunts. Starr Pizza and Industrial Coffee are both area businesses famous for creating a Georgetown music scene for open-air performances. But for a real Seattle experience, find the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall. An open-air mall of old RV trailers hides aquariums, delicious candies, cookies, or artisan jewelry. There is even a wedding chapel if you feel the need to tie the knot.

Magnolia

Magnolia is the second-largest neighborhood in Seattle by area occupying a hilly peninsula northwest of downtown. Magnolia has been a part of the city since 1891, with the majority of the peninsula taken up by Discovery Park. Discovery Park is a 534-acre natural area. It sits on Magnolia Bluff, the former Fort Lawton site, overlooking Puget Sound, offering a breathtaking view of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges.

Green Lake

The Green Lake neighborhood developed as an evergreen space north of central Seattle. At the community’s center is Green Lake Park. The Vashon Glacial Ice Sheet, which also dredged Puget Sound, formed Green Lake 50,000 years ago. The park’s 2.8-mile path around the lake is ideal for runners, bikers, skaters, and walkers. Family-friendly, Green Lake has multiple boat access points along the cove’s 50-foot shoreline.

Hillman City

Located southeast of Seattle, Hillman City was formed as a community in the 1890s. The quiet, tree-lined streets of Hillman are primarily residential. Hillman City is easily accessed by Link light rail and a bus or two, claiming an eccentric vibe. The Rainer Valley area combines East African, Ethiopian, and Somali cultures, creating a unique nightlife. Popular haunts such as the NW Peaks brewery and taproom, a local brewery. Another favorite of the international community is Archipelago, a modern Filipino American fusion restaurant.

Ballard

Initially settled by the Duwamish Tribe, Scandinavian settlers claimed the land in the mid-19th Century. And ownership of the 160-acre land tract was decided by a coin toss between Captain William Ballard and Judge Rankin- a local landowner.

The micro-community of Ballad sits in Seattle’s northwest. This modern waterfront neighborhood has a strong Scandinavian heritage, celebrated at the famous National Nordic Museum. Its trendy eateries and indie shops line historic Ballard Avenue, making it a great place to dine and shop. After sunset, the many bars and craft breweries such as The Brewery District define pilsners and IPAs. Hotspots like Lucky Envelope Brewing treats such as peanut-butter cream stout. The sandy beach at Golden Gardens Park draws sunbathers, and the nearby Hiram M. Chittenden Locks or Ballard Locks is home to Pacific Salmon fishers from Union Lake to Puget Sound.

Belltown

Belltown was originally a simple hill until the Denny Regrade Project in the 19th and early 20th centuries flattened the land, preparing the way for this lively community. At the center of town is Olympic Sculpture Park, 9 acres of monumental urban artwork with views of Puget Sound. In addition to art, Belltown is known for its nightlife. The Seattle Times named this trendy part of Seattle “bar-hopping hub to watch in 2017.” The Crocodile bar, which hosted genre-defining bands like Nirvana, Cheap Trick, and REM, has moved to greener pastures, but the neighborhood is a must-see.

Bellevue

Bellevue is a city on the Eastside of Seattle across Lake Washington. It is the third-largest city in Seattle. Bellevue is home to some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Amazon. Economic growth has provided this downtown area with rapid change including numerous luxury condos and high-rise developments that present scenic vistas of the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Mountains.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill encourages individuality and personal expression. This central micro-community satisfies even the strongest cravings for creamy dips at the local favorite, the Avis Hummus Bar, or sipping fresh margaritas at the Mex-flavored fave La Cocina y Cantina, and after dinner, pop into the top live-music venue Neumos. While touring the area, there are several places to see, including the Volunteer Park complex, which combines the Volunteer Park Conservatory, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Bruce Lee’s grave. And no trip is complete without a respectful stop at the Jimi Hendrix Statue.

South Lake Union

South Lake Union, SLU, is named because it sits at the southern tip of Lake Union, just beyond Capitol Hill. Initially developed as Cascade, a neighborhood of small company housing, only a few of the older residential and light industrial structures of the historic area remain today. The historic Immanuel Lutheran Church and Saint Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral, as well as Denny Park, the oldest park in the city, remain.

Chinatown-International District

The Chinatown-International District, known as “the C-ID,” is the cultural hub for Seattle’s Asian American communities. Comprised of four culturally distinct neighborhoods, Chinatown, Japantown, Little Saigon, and Filipinotown, the International District is home to family-owned shops and restaurants and some of the best food and nightlife in the city. The C-ID is also known for local art and Seattle’s Asian Pacific culture-rich museums, such as the Wing Luke Museum.

Downtown

Downtown Seattle fuels the energy and vitality that is Seattle. Complete with landmarks such as the Pike Place Market and incomparable upscale shopping at the Nordstrom Seattle flagship store, visitors are never at a loss for things to do in this compact, high-rise-adorned area. Downtown Seattle is also a hub for the performing arts. Smaller venues such as 5th Avenue Theater or Paramount Theater compete with The Showbox and Benaroya Hall. And the Seattle Art Museum is world-renowned.

Fremont

Fremont claims it is the Center of the Universe. The city combines an eccentric resident counterculture with a paradigm-shifting industry. Fremont is also home to unparalleled, trendy boutique-style shopping. The Fremont Sunday Market, one of Seattle’s longest-running, year-round street Markets, features vendors selling food, antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, and world imports. While perusing the stalls, grab a cup of artisan-roasted coffee at the Fremont Coffee Company. In the Fall, Fremont celebrates Oktoberfest, and in the Summer, the Solstice Parade.

Greenwood

Originally named Woodland, the neighborhood was christened Greenwood in 1907. Located just north of Green Lake, this authentic, family-friendly neighborhood hides a buzzing commercial zone. Greenwood’s eclectic mix of bookstores, trendy cafes, restaurants, and specialty stores are popular destinations. Greenwood is also home to the Taproot Theater, an arty playhouse, and the Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery. Blocks from Shilshole Bay, Greenwood’s real estate market offers young professionals unique and oftentimes quirky industrial and single-family home designs.

Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is considered the most walkable neighborhood in Seattle. Located in the southwest corner near the city center, it is accessible by water taxi, King County Metro, or the First Hill Streetcar. Settled in 1852, it is the city’s birthplace and first neighborhood. Known for its prominent Renaissance Revival architecture, Pioneer Square is one of the best Seattle neighborhoods to explore. Home to Seattle’s oldest bar, Central Saloon, this proud community boasts an art walk with the city’s largest concentration of art galleries. Pioneer Square also has quirky boutiques and a bustling nightlife. For a taste of the area’s true history, tour the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Museum.

Queen Anne

Queen Anne is located northwest of Downtown and is considered one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods. It is named for the prominence of Queen Anne architecture in the area. These single-family homes have steep roofs, large wood-trimmed porches, and round, front corner towers. The affluent neighborhood sits on the eponymous hill, making it Seattle’s highest hill. Queen Anne’s streets are home to seven of the area’s twenty steepest slopes. This attraction-rich community houses Seattle Center, including the Pacific Science Center, Museum of Pop Culture, Space Needle, and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Lower Queen Anne, also known as Uptown, sits at the base of Queen Anne Hill. The area refers to the shopping, office, and residential districts to the north and west of Seattle Center. While in the area, grab a scoop of “yeti” or “cold brew coffee” Molly Moon’s Ice Cream.

SoDo

SoDo is a cursory nod to its New York City counterpart, SoHo. SoDo was initially a hip abbreviation for ‘South of the Dome,’ referring to the former sports venue for the Seattle Mariners, the Kingdome. No longer in use, SoDo most often stands for ‘South of Downtown.’ Bordered on the west by the Duwamish River and King Street Station, this industrial neighborhood has developed a unique micro-community and flavor, including a burgeoning nightlife led by Showbox SoDo. Residents have repurposed SoDo’s warehouse buildings into artists’ lofts, art galleries, and local businesses.

University District

The University District, or U-District, is home to the University of Washington. A vibrant collective of neighborhoods with numerous nooks, cafes, and meeting places like the University Village and the Ave. The neighborhoods within the district include University Park, Greek Row, University Heights, the Brooklyn Addition, and the three major campuses of the University of Washington. Wallingford is a mostly residential neighborhood along the University District’s southern edge along with Lake Union. But the area is also known for great museums such as the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum and artesian events such as the University District Street Fair or the weekly University District Farmers Market.

Waterfront

Elliott Bay centers on a collection of lively piers from pier 48 through pier 58, filled with seafood restaurants, including Ivar’s Pier 54 Fish Bar. The Waterfront covers the area from Century Link Field to the beginning of The Alaskan Way. It is the perfect place to stroll before or after dinner and is home to many city landmarks, such as the Seattle Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium. Walking to the Waterfront involves traversing the steep Pike Street Hillclimb, but the magnificent urban landscape-art is worth the effort.

West Seattle

Accessible by water taxi, this hidden corner of Seattle offers a peaceful, laid-back, beach-town vibe. California Avenue shopping is all Seattle – stylish and casual, perfect for beachside or bar-hopping. West Seattle’s creative cuisine includes Food Truck-inspired Korean-spiced fried chicken or Spam musubi at Ma’ono. The Westside has many opportunities to play outdoors, kayaks and bike rentals are prominent throughout West Seattle. And in the evening, the sunset views from Alki Beach are spectacular from the highest elevation in the city, 520 feet.