Things To Do
Ballard Locks Fish Ladder
See the fish ladder and the salmon swimming up stream. Nice gardens around here, too!
Bangrak Market
Very good thai street food! Cool spot in town with other bars abundant around.
Bathtub Gin & Co.
Small speakeasy in an alleyway. Good drinks.
Some Random Bar
Good for dinner, sunday brunch, or a drink and a tv sportsball game (if that's your thing).
Golden Gardens Beach
Our own beautiful Ballard beach! Consider biking or taking public transit/walking.
Gas Works Park
Great park to catch a view of the Seattle skyline. Right along the Burke Gilman bike trail. As seen in the paintball scene from 10 Things I Hate About You.
Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom
Cider maker and brewery together under one roof (and not under a roof, outside too). Lots of space to hang out with a food truck outside. Down the street from another favorite brewery of ours...
Fair Isle Brewing
Delicious Farmhouse style beers made with local ingredients. Has a favorite butcher of ours, Beast and Cleaver with a popup residency.
Urban Family Brewing Co.
Good beers of all styles and a nice indoor/outdoor space (complete with food trucks, usually). Across the street from Stoup Brewing.
Ballard Farmers Market
Our favorite Sunday market (9am-2pm), just down the street from our home. Mix of prepared and raw foods. Some of our commonly seen favorites are Sno Valley mushrooms, King Mozarella, The Bangalore Kitchen, and Falafal Salam.
Green Lake
Big lake in middle of city. Walk the loop, go fishing, or rent a boat and paddle out to the center.
Von's 1000 Spirits
First restaurant we went to when we moved to Seattle. It's got something delicious for everyone. We like the sourdough flatbreads and $6 dirty martinis.
Staple & Fancy
Our favorite fancy date night spot. Happy hour is great to try a sample of their food and have some drinks. For dinner, the prix fixe meal is delicious and filling.
Saint Bread
Really good baked goods by the lake and university. Burgers, too!
Assembly Seattle
Our go to coffee date spot. Cute inside, great espresso drinks.
Miro Tea
Cute teashop in the heart of ballard. Brewed to order teas from a vast collection. We like their specialty drinks (various chais, tea lattes, etc).
Discovery Park
Huge park on the coast of Seattle. Lots of hiking trails and a great way to sample a PNW forest right in the City.
Lake Twenty-Two Trailhead
Our favorite hike. Other's favorite, too, so arrive early (before 9AM). Be prepared for some snow at the top.
Snoqualmie Falls
A big waterfall as seen in the Twin Peaks (90s) intro. Just off the highway.
Mount Rainier
The glacial capped volcano. Awesome hiking trails around Paradise area (requires a permit to drive to and hike). You can see it from most of Seattle looking Southeast on a clear day.
Rattlesnake Ledge Trailhead
Accessible hiking trail from Seattle with a lake at the bottom and a nice view of it from the top of a 5 mile hike.
Brouwer's Cafe
Belgian beer bar boasting bodacious bottle list. Great fries, beers, and pretzels.
Navy Strength
Our favorite Tiki bar. Great, strong cocktails, sometimes themed. Interesting food.
Meeples Games
Joe's weekly MTG game store (shoutout, modern Tuesdays). Has selection of games to borrow and serves drinks. In West Seattle.
Phở Bắc
Best Pho
Deep Sea Sugar And Salt
Lizzy's favorite cake slice place.
Uwajimaya Seattle
Japanese grocery store with delicious hot prepared foods. Across the street is a Daiso.
Food Junction
Tiny Indian restaurant (and grocery) for dosas and chaat.
Lake Union
Lake near the Ruins full of house boats and serving as a landing strip for sea planes. Checkout the center for wooden boats or walk along the path and take in the beautiful august Seattle weather.
Spice Waala
Delicious Indian chaat and kathi rolls (get extra green chutney!). Rotating soft serve, too. There is another location in Capital Hill.
Mezzanotte
Fresh pastas (Sage/Butter is the best), and other Italian food.
SODO Urbanworks
So many wineries in one spot! Our favorites are Lotta and Structure. We also enjoy getting a pizza at Nine Hats (along with their wine).
Georgetown Trailer Park Mall
Art for sale in a nice part of Georgetown.
S/T Hooligans
French-creole and then some. Delicious food, with great drinks incorporating house fermented shrubs.
The Ice Box Arcade
Backyard Arcade serving canned beverages.
El Moose
Great mexican food in Ballard.
Asadero Ballard
Mexican steakhouse great for lunch or dinner. Wagyu tacos, loaded baked potatoes, chile colorado tenderloin are some favorites. Or go for a steak served on a sizzling platter.
Portage Bay Cafe - South Lake Union
Big breakfasts made with all local ingredients.
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The speakeasy was inside The Ruins, the whole time!
FOB Poke Bar
Great build your own Poke bar. Tons of options all delicious with fresh fish.
Maneki Restaurant
Oldest Japanese restaurant in Seattle. Try the black cod collar.
Harbor City Restaurant
Best Dim sum in Seattle. Jade garden across the street is also great.
Dough Zone Dumpling House Seattle Pine Street
Great dumpling spot with soup dumplings, fried dumplings, boiled dumplings, and non-dumplings. There are a few locations around, all great.
Mamnoon Street
Casual take out spot for the best fries in the city. Great falafel and chicken sandwiches (everything here is delicious).
King's Hardware
Divey bar with chicken strips, burgers, salads, and drinks and both a front and back patio. We play bingo here, too.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Nice oyster spot with a wide selection of freshly shucked critters alongside non-shelled delicacies. If they're crowded you can sip a local Amaro at the Barnacle bar across the hallway.
Spinasse
Handmade pasta in Capital Hill. Also makes an amazing Sage butter pasta. Sit at the bar to get a view of the pasta making action.
Din Tai Fung
Famous dumpling spot with all manner of dumplings. Also has many locations.
Pike Place Market
Seattle's famous wet market. Buy fish, cheese, produce, or some locally grown bouquets. We like Maíz for tamales and coffee (it's next to the first Starbucks). You can get lost in the shops below the street and browse local crafts at the popup stalls all around.
Museum of Pop Culture
Museum of pop culture (formerly the EMP museum). Contains exhibits on some local bands of the past and present, a rotating indie game exhibit, and more!
Seattle Art Museum
Our downtown art museum with a rotating gallery. Range of styles on display.