Lisa’s Seattle for visitors that want to live like locals guidebook.
Food scene
Monsoon Seattle
615 19th Ave EFantastic Vietnamese food with quaint atmosphere
Chuck's Hop Shop & Kegs to go
2001 E Union St50 taps, growler fills, 1,000 bottles, food trucks
Tacos Chukis
219 Broadway EGo for the view but you'll want to stay for the fantastic food and unusual craft cocktail concoctions! Great Happy Hour and enjoyable dinner in dining room
29 locals recommend
Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
10400 NE 4th StGo for the view but you'll want to stay for the fantastic food and unusual craft cocktail concoctions! Great Happy Hour and enjoyable dinner in dining room
The Harvest Vine
2701 E Madison StSpanish/Basque cuisine
Smith
332 15th Ave EGet the poutine and an Old Fashion or Manhattan
Great spot to eat with excellent views. Located just about Waterfront Adventures Boat rentals.
18 locals recommend
Le Grand Bistro Americain
2220 Carillon PointGreat spot to eat with excellent views. Located just about Waterfront Adventures Boat rentals.
Agua Verde Cafe
1303 NE Boat StGreat Mexican food locate at the paddle club
Sits right on the water with phenomenal views. Excellent food but dinner can be expensive. Brunch, Lunch and Happy Hour are my favorite times to dine and drink here.
25 locals recommend
Six Seven restaurant
2411 Alaskan WaySits right on the water with phenomenal views. Excellent food but dinner can be expensive. Brunch, Lunch and Happy Hour are my favorite times to dine and drink here.
Hello Robin
522 19th Ave ECookies and Ice Cream that will not disappoint!
Salt & Straw
714 East Pike StreetUnique ice cream flavors out of Portland
Small location with limited menu but a must for oyster lovers
150 locals recommend
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar
1521 Melrose AveSmall location with limited menu but a must for oyster lovers
Full menu with delicious crab, mussels, shrimp. If you love FRESH seafood you will LOVE this place
150 locals recommend
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar
1521 Melrose AveFull menu with delicious crab, mussels, shrimp. If you love FRESH seafood you will LOVE this place
Neighborhoods
Capitol Hill
Ballard is a hip waterfront neighborhood with trendy restaurants, indie shops, bars and craft breweries centered on historic Ballard Avenue. Ships and salmon pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, also a popular picnic spot. The sandy beach at Golden Gardens Park draws sunbathers and volleyball players and offers mountain views. The Nordic Heritage Museum displays the area’s Scandinavian roots. ― Google
261 locals recommend
Ballard
Ballard is a hip waterfront neighborhood with trendy restaurants, indie shops, bars and craft breweries centered on historic Ballard Avenue. Ships and salmon pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, also a popular picnic spot. The sandy beach at Golden Gardens Park draws sunbathers and volleyball players and offers mountain views. The Nordic Heritage Museum displays the area’s Scandinavian roots. ― Google
Capitol Hill runs east, west and has lots of neighborhood pockets that are unique and fun. Walking from North Cap Hill, a very residential yet connected neighborhood, toward the waterfront and Pike Place Market area you will find amazing shops, restaurants, dispensaries to visit along the entire way.
344 locals recommend
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill runs east, west and has lots of neighborhood pockets that are unique and fun. Walking from North Cap Hill, a very residential yet connected neighborhood, toward the waterfront and Pike Place Market area you will find amazing shops, restaurants, dispensaries to visit along the entire way.
A quaint neighborhood that has a vibe similar to villages in the Hamptons. There are fantastic shops and restaurants along with a great market. right across the streetMadison Park residents work hard to make their neighborhood quiet, friendly, and relaxed. The grassy park slopes down to a 400-foot beach with lifeguard chairs. . The park offers a beautiful view to the East of the floating bridge, Mt. Rainier and the Cascades beyond.
61 locals recommend
Madison Park
A quaint neighborhood that has a vibe similar to villages in the Hamptons. There are fantastic shops and restaurants along with a great market. right across the streetMadison Park residents work hard to make their neighborhood quiet, friendly, and relaxed. The grassy park slopes down to a 400-foot beach with lifeguard chairs. . The park offers a beautiful view to the East of the floating bridge, Mt. Rainier and the Cascades beyond.
Located between Capitol Hill and Madison Park. Great restaurants and shops along Madison Street
6 locals recommend
Madison Valley
Located between Capitol Hill and Madison Park. Great restaurants and shops along Madison Street
West Seattle is a laid-back residential area. The sandy strip of Alki Beach is popular with volleyball players, kayakers and sunbathers, while its coastal path has views of Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline. West Seattle Junction is the area’s commercial heart, with casual eateries, coffeehouses and funky shops. Lincoln Park has walking and biking trails on a bluff above the Sound, plus a heated saltwater pool.
53 locals recommend
West Seattle
West Seattle is a laid-back residential area. The sandy strip of Alki Beach is popular with volleyball players, kayakers and sunbathers, while its coastal path has views of Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline. West Seattle Junction is the area’s commercial heart, with casual eateries, coffeehouses and funky shops. Lincoln Park has walking and biking trails on a bluff above the Sound, plus a heated saltwater pool.
Drink time!
Liberty
517 15th Ave ECraft Cocktails are their specialty!
Lagunitas Brewing Company TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary
1550 NW 49th StBeer garden and games.
Optimism Brewing Company
1158 BroadwayGreat spot to taste beers and gather with a group
Sightseeing
Arboretum
Beautiful hikes close to home
Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdGreat Hikes and views
Volunteer Park
1247 15th Ave EFantastic view of the Space Needle
Paddle Boards, Kayaks and variety of boat rentals . Reservations a must.
Woodmark Waterfront Adventures
1200 Carillon PointPaddle Boards, Kayaks and variety of boat rentals . Reservations a must.
Rent a paddle board or kayak before or after a Mexican lunch at the cafe.
168 locals recommend
Agua Verde Paddle Club
1307 NE Boat StRent a paddle board or kayak before or after a Mexican lunch at the cafe.
West Seattle is an oft overlooked part of Seattle that offers one of the few destination beaches on Puget Sound. Alki Beach has a two and a half mile long pedestrian walkway, and in the summer is populated by beach volleyball players, sun worshipers, and beachcombers. Most of the beaches on Puget Sound are covered in rock and shells, but on Alki you can get sand between your toes, get some exercise, learn about Seattle’s earliest settlers, and take in a great view of the Seattle skyline.
865 locals recommend
Alki Beach
West Seattle is an oft overlooked part of Seattle that offers one of the few destination beaches on Puget Sound. Alki Beach has a two and a half mile long pedestrian walkway, and in the summer is populated by beach volleyball players, sun worshipers, and beachcombers. Most of the beaches on Puget Sound are covered in rock and shells, but on Alki you can get sand between your toes, get some exercise, learn about Seattle’s earliest settlers, and take in a great view of the Seattle skyline.
An extension of the Seattle Art Museum all outdoor along the waterfront.
653 locals recommend
Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western AveAn extension of the Seattle Art Museum all outdoor along the waterfront.
The restaurant and bar here are smack dab on top of the water. A photo of the Beatles taken here become famous.
18 locals recommend
The Edgewater Hotel
2411 Alaskan WayThe restaurant and bar here are smack dab on top of the water. A photo of the Beatles taken here become famous.
City advice
Getting around
Avoid Belltown and Pikes Place areas after dark.
Homeless situation can feel unsafe.
Don't miss
Golden Gardens at sunset
Take a picnic and bottle of wine - or two- and enjoy the spectacular views. Gets chilly at night so bring jackets!
Getting around
Don't miss a ferry ride! https://www.wsdot.com/ferries/sche
Inexpensive way to get out on the water! Take a short ride to Bainbridge or a long ride to Bremerton. Walk off the ferry and find a nice restaurant or bar and poke around the town for the day.
Don't miss
If time allows make a trip to Tacoma.
Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass, Lemay Car Museum won't disappoint. Point Ruston has great shops and restaurant on the water front with phenomenal views of Mt. Ranier
Don't miss
What do you enjoy
Wine, Beer, music, hiking, donuts, French bakeries, oysters what ever it is Seattle has it so let me know and I can give you a list specifically focused on what you want to see, taste or hear even feel ie nature!