French
DeutschPioneer Square is Seattle's oldest neighborhood, showcasing a wealth of art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, cool restaurants, and buzzing nightclubs within easy walking (or bus) distance of Downtown. The classic red brick buildings, cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages are a reminder of life a century ago. Just to its east, the International District is Seattle's historic Asian neighborhood.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Pioneer Square
[edit | edit source]The Pioneer Square neighborhood sits, from east to west, between 3rd Ave. and the waterfront; and between Downtown proper to the north, and the sports stadiums to the south. The square itself is nothing much — people talking about the square are referring to the area.
Local lore holds that the term "skid row" originated in Pioneer Square, when timber would be slid down Yesler Way to a steam powered mill on the Seattle waterfront. By the late 1800s, it had developed into the original city center. The early structures were mostly wooden, and nearly all burned in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. The architectural character of the neighborhood derives from the brick and stone buildings erected in their stead in the 1890s. The business district shifted northward to the present downtown, somewhat sparing the neighborhood from additional development.
- Pioneer Square website
International District
[edit | edit source]The International District is southeast of Downtown, loosely bounded by 4th Avenue S. and S. Dearborn Street.
- The old Chinatown shops are concentrated west of the Interstate 5 freeway, especially along King St and Weller St.
- A few remaining blocks of Nihonmachi (Japantown) are on the north side of Jackson St and along Main St.
- The area east of I-5 is Little Saigon, centered on 12th and Jackson St.
- Along Rainier Avenue, the stores transition from Vietnamese to Cambodian as the neighborhood flows into South Seattle.
Chinese immigrants have come to Seattle nearly since its founding. While there were earlier Chinese communities elsewhere in the young city, in the wake of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, a stretch of King Street became an enduring Chinatown. By then, Japanese immigrants also began arriving, concentrating two blocks north on Main Street. (Unfortunately, most of the Japanese presence was lost during the World War II internment). During the 20th century, waves of Filipino, African-American and Vietnamese migration further shaped this small area.
Get in
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From Downtown, the walk is short and not steep.
There are a few pay parking lots, and limited street parking is available too.
By public transit
[edit | edit source]Most buses traveling south through Downtown on 2nd, 3rd or 5th Ave will stop near Yesler Way or Jackson St. Ask the driver before getting on, as there are a few buses that turn before reaching the Pioneer Square/International District, and a few others that drive through without making stops.
Link light rail, operated by Sound Transit, has two stops in the district:
- 1 Pioneer Square Station, James St and 3rd Ave (a few blocks north of the main neighborhood).
- 2 International District/Chinatown Station, Jackson St and 5th Ave.
A train runs on each line every 8-15 minutes from 5:00 to midnight. $3
- The 1 Line from Downtown Federal Way to the south via Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Tukwila and South Seattle, and from Lynnwood City Center to the north via Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, University of Washington, Capitol Hill and Downtown.
- The 2 Line from Downtown Redmond, Bellevue and Mercer Island to the east, and from Lynnwood with the same stops as the 1 Line.
The 3 First Hill Street Car line runs along Jackson Street, connecting the district to First Hill and Capitol Hill via Jackson and then Broadway. The southern terminus in Pioneer Square is on S Jackson between S 1st Ave & Occidental (location of marker).
By train
[edit | edit source]4 King Street Station, served by Amtrak and Sounder, sits directly in the center of the area at 4th and Jackson.
Get around
[edit | edit source]These two neighborhoods are compact, with small blocks built for getting around on foot. The neighborhoods are separated by King Street Station and the corresponding railroad between 3rd and 4th Avenues, with a bit of an incline and only a few crossings.
Occidental Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) is closed to cars between Washington and Jackson Streets and forms a pedestrian mall lined with galleries and shops.
It's typically faster to get around by walking than by driving through all the controlled intersections blocked by near-continuous foot traffic. This is especially true on game days for the two SoDo stadiums, which funnels thousands of cars through these streets on their way to events. On the flip side, there is readily available parking near the stadiums when there isn't an event.
See
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- 1 Grand Opera House, 213–217 Cherry St. Formerly the city's leading theater. Only its exterior survives as the shell of a parking garage.
- 2 Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Seattle Unit, 319 2nd Ave S (at S Jackson St), ☏ +1 206- 220-4240. Daily 9AM-5PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. A key attraction in the Pioneer Square area, this is the Seattle branch of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the remainder of which is in Alaska. The site highlights the city's key role as the "Gateway to the Gold Fields" for most of the Klondike stampeders of 1897-1898. National Park Service Rangers and volunteers staff the museum and can provide information and perspective not only on the gold rush but also on Seattle's past. The museum contains many artifacts and historical photographs related to the Gold Rush, and movies about the gold rush and Seattle's history are shown upon request (except in summer, when they're shown on a regular schedule). Rangers also conduct free walking tours of the Pioneer Square area in the summer and demonstrate gold panning to school groups. Free.
- 3 Nihonmachi Alley (from Jackson St to Main St, between 6th Ave and Maynard Ave). Japantown (Nihonmachi) once stretched 20 blocks, but the residents were forced into internment camps during World War II, and Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This alley features murals and exhibits of four landmark businesses that persisted after incarceration.
- 4 Seattle Buddhist Church, 1427 S Main St (south of Yesler Way), ☏ +1 206-329-0800. In the summer the community hosts a Japanese bon odori festival on the street out front.
- 5 Smith Tower, 506 2nd Ave, ☏ +1 206 624 0414, [email protected]. M-W Noon-7PM, Th and Su Noon-8PM, F and Sa Noon-9PM. Built in 1914, the Smith Tower was Seattle's first skyscraper, and the tallest building on the West Coast for nearly half a century before being overtaken by the Space Needle. Uniformed attendants operate the old copper and brass elevators from which you can peer into the different floors and offices as you ascend, an experience most people today have probably only witnessed in old movies. The outdoor Observatory on the 35th floor wraps completely around the four sides of the tower, providing panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, including Mt. Rainier, as well as of Elliott Bay, Downtown Seattle, and Pioneer Square. The interior of the 35th floor contains a speakeasy-themed bar, formerly known as the Chinese Room for its ornately carved ceiling and a number of decorative flourishes imported from China in the early 20th century. There is a excellent 45 minute guided tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide (separate admission fee) about Seattle's history from the 1920s and beyond that is available. Also, there is an excellent independent coffee shop (Caffe Vita) in the Smith Tower (hours M–F: 7AM-5PM, Sa–Su: 8AM–3PM). Washington state residents can get admission for only $18 (with Washington state ID) and after 4pm admission is available to all for only $18 to the observation deck and bar only (museum not included for this price). Self tour and observatory: adults $27, seniors/military $24, students/children 5-13 $21, under 5 Free, locals with Washington state ID $18. Guided 45 minute tour is additional.
- 6 Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (The Wing), 719 S King St, ☏ +1 206 623-5124. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. The first Smithsonian affiliate in the Pacific Northwest, this museum features exhibits and programs related to pan-Asian American art, history, and culture. Admission includes a first-come-first-served guided tour of the preserved rooms in its historic 1910 building: an import grocery store, rooms of a hotel and a Chinese family association (allow 45-60 minutes). Neighborhood walking tours are also offered on weekends. Bruce Lee fans will enjoy the exhibits of his personal items. They are open until 8PM on the first Thursday of the month. $25/adult, $22/senior, $18/students, $15/child.
Parks
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- 7 Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave S, ☏ +1 206 684-4075. A small park in the center of Chinatown. Though you're not too likely to see old folks doing tai chi or playing checkers, it still has character. 6AM-10PM.
- 8 Occidental Park, Occidental Ave between Main St and Washington St, ☏ +1 206 684-4075. 6AM-10PM. This urban park is best known for its four totem poles carved by local artist Duane Pasco. It also has bocce courts, ping pong and foosball tables. Free.
- 9 Pioneer Square (Yesler Way and 1st Avenue). Pioneer Square proper is just a small corner park that's often occupied by homeless folks, but generally safe during the day.
- 10 Waterfall Garden, 2nd Ave at S Main St. This small, tranquil park features a 22-foot high waterfall cascading over granite boulders. The park occupies the site where two 19-year olds, James Casey and Claude Ryan, began a messenger service in 1907 in the basement of a tavern, which eventually grew up to become United Parcel Service (UPS). The Annie E. Casey Foundation, started by James Casey and his siblings in honor of their mother, created the park and maintains it "in honor of the men and women of United Parcel Service."
Do
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- Art Walk. The Art Walk is almost synonymous with Pioneer Square and takes place on the first Thursday of every month. Galleries are open until 9PM. Show up early for the free wine and hors d'oeuvres.
- 1 Seattle Pinball Museum, 508 Maynard Ave S, ☏ +1 206 623-0759, [email protected]. Su-M noon-5PM, Th-Sa noon-10PM. A pinball machine museum where all the machines are on free play once you pay admission. There is soda and beer available. $13/adult, $10/child.
- 2 Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave S, ☏ +1 206-340-1049. A venue for cutting-edge theatrical productions.
Underground tours
[edit | edit source]Seattle's oldest neighborhood has a hidden history: after being destroyed by a fire in 1889, large parts of the city were regraded, raising what is now Pioneer Square by one story. This simultaneously solved the problems of steep hills, tidal flooding, and sanitation, and created the Seattle Underground.
Today, two companies run multiple tours through different sections of the Underground, with informative commentary about Seattle's history.
You will have to go up and down several flights of old stairs, and walk over some uneven terrain in poor lighting; choose footwear appropriately.
- 3 Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, 614 1st Ave, ☏ +1 206 682-4646. Apr-Sep: daily 9AM-7PM, Oct-Mar: daily 10AM-6PM. Tours on the hour; Jun-Aug: also on the half-hour daily 9:30AM-4:30AM. The original Underground tour. Tours last 75 minutes, including a 15 minute introduction. Adult $22, senior/student $20, youth (7-12) $10.
- 4 Bill Speidel's Underground Paranormal Experience, 614 1st Ave, ☏ +1 206 682-4646. Jun-Aug: daily 9PM, Sep: F Sa 9PM, Oct-Mar: F Sa 8PM, Halloween 10PM, Apr-May: F Sa 9PM. Search for ghosts and other paranormal activity at night. Tours last 90 minutes; arrive 15 minutes early to borrow and get trained on paranormal detection equipment. $33.
- 5 Bill Speidel's Underworld Tour, 614 1st Ave, ☏ +1 206 682-4646. Apr-Sep: daily 8 & 9PM, Oct-Mar: Th-Sa 7 & 8PM, extra tours some holidays. An adults-only tour with a focus on the red-light district. Admission include a cocktail. 21 and older. $27.
- 6 Beneath the Streets, 102 Cherry St, ☏ +1 206 624-1237. 10AM-4:30PM, tours every 30 minutes. Groups are limited to 25 people for a more personal experience. Tours last 60 minutes. Spanish language tours available by appointment. $19.
- 7 Beneath the Streets' Red Light District Tour, 102 Cherry St, ☏ +1 206 624-1237. Th-M 6:30PM. An adults-only tour with a focus on the "underside" of underground history: prostitution, gambling, drinking and vice. 18 and older. Tours last 90 minutes. $22.
Events
[edit | edit source]The International District hosts several festivals throughout the year to celebrate major Chinese and lunar calendar holidays.
- Chinese Lunar New Year (King St, Hing Hay Park). Jan/Feb. Numerous stalls and performances, and don't forget to partake in all the cheap food!
- Night Market & Autumn Moon Festival (Centered on Hing Hay Park). Early September. Chinese festival of food and outdoor market.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- Uwajimaya Village, 513 S Weller St. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM. The commercial, if not cultural, hub of the International District is Uwajimaya Village, a huge Japanese supermarket with many smaller eateries and a branch of the Kinokuniya bookstore. If you need anything at all from Japan while in Seattle, this is the place to find it.
- 1 Kinokuniya, 525 S Weller St, ☏ +1 206 587-2477. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 10AM-8PM. A branch of the international Japanese bookstore, crammed full of books from and about Japan as well as other merchandise. Stationery, plushies, K-pop CDs, and calligraphy supplies are just a few of the things you can find in the jam-packed aisles here.
- 2 Uwajimaya, 600 5th Ave S (entrances on Weller St at 5th Ave through the food court, in the middle of the block, and from the parking lot along Lane St), ☏ +1 206 624-6248. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM. An enormous and well-known Japanese supermarket, in business since 1928. The grocery store offers specialty items for almost all forms of Asian cooking. They have great produce, though not always the best prices. But most importantly, they have obscure items like kaffir lime leaves or entire lotus roots, labeled in English. An area on the side has Asian kitchen appliances like rice cookers, kitchenwares including a lot of Asian cookware, dishware, and utensils, and other home goods and supplies. Validated parking available.
- Most of the older businesses in the International District are, of course, Chinese. There are a few general stores where you can pick up good woks and other imported items.
Eat
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True to its name, the International District has a great variety of East Asian cuisines. While tourists and most non-Asian Seattleites stick to the large Chinese restaurants, the smaller places serve mostly locals and offer a quite authentic atmosphere as well as food. Chinese seafood restaurants are a Seattle institution, many with live seafood tanks; they're not particularly elegant, but the food is great (if a bit venturesome for some tastes). And while most of Seattle's Japanese population has long since moved out to the suburbs (as have the upscale sushi bars), a few restaurants still stick it out in the area.
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 Fort St. George, 601 S King St (2nd floor), ☏ +1 206 382-0662. Su-Th 11:30AM-midnight, F Sa 11:30AM-1AM. A restaurant/bar that serves homey Japanese food and pseudo-Western Japanese dishes like spaghetti with cod roe and curry rice. Popular with exchange students and occasional Seattle Mariners.
- 2 Pho Bac, 1240 S Jackson St, ☏ +1 206 323-4387. Daily 7AM-9PM. An odd, red boat-shaped shack serving Vietnamese noodle soup. Don't ask for a menu; the only choices are regular or large, and what kind of beef you want.
- 3 Rojo’s Mexican Food, 217 James St, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-4PM, F-Sa 11AM-7PM. Flavorful tacos and burritos made entirely from plant-based ingredients.
- 4 Tat's Deli, 159 Yesler Way, ☏ +1 206 264-8287. M-F 8AM-3PM, Sa 11AM-5:30PM, Su open 3 hours before any Seahawks, Sounders, or Mariners matches. East Coast style deli specializing in hoagies, including the delightful pastrami (dubbed Tastrami) and Philly cheesesteak with more varieties of cheese and wit's. Sandwiches: 8-inch $9, 12-inch $13.
- 5 Uwajimaya Village Food Hall, 600 5th Ave S, ☏ +1 206 624-6248. Hours vary by restaurant, generally daily 10AM-8PM; food court and grocery store M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM. The food court of the Uwajimaya grocery store features 12 stands serving Asian cuisine, from Hawaiian BBQ to Hong Kong style baked goods and everything in-between, though the Thai offerings are not so good. The Chinese steam tables offer reliable, Western-style treats in large quantities for cheap. There aren't any real Japanese offerings, but just inside the grocery store, the deli to the right has plenty of sushi and other Japanese lunch items available, including some excellent bento meal sets that disappear quickly.
- 6 World Pizza, 672 S King St, ☏ +1 206 682-4161. M-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su noon-9PM. Very good vegetarian pizza place (a tasty vegan pizza is also available; call ahead to request it). The place also serves espresso, wine and Manny's Pale Ale on tap. World Pizza's signature pizza features roasted potatoes, garlic, rosemary and Gorgonzola. Happy hour Monday to Friday from 3PM to 6PM featuring $2.75 slices, and $2.50 bottles of Rainier beer. 16 inch pizza for $20.
Chinese
[edit | edit source]- For a cheap eat, try a dim sum lunch. Roving servers bring steam carts of exotic (e.g., chicken feet) but often delicious food, then stamp your meal ticket for each dish. When you're done, take your ticket up to the register and pay. If you aren't a complete master of chopsticks, bring your own fork for the slippery shrimp and rice noodles, because the staff will rarely get around to bringing you one. If you're not getting what you want, or you don't see it, ask the staff - you may have to be a little aggressive.
- 7 Jade Garden, 424 7th Ave S (at S King St), ☏ +1 206 622-8181. M-Sa 9AM-2:30AM, Su 9AM-1AM. Local favorite for dim sum. While very popular, don't let the seemingly long wait for a table sway you -- the line usually takes less than 30 minutes.
- 8 Boiling Point, 608 S Weller St (at the corner of Uwajimaya), ☏ +1 206 737-8506. Daily 11AM-11PM. Hotpot style dining with your very own seemingly large pot and soup, with as much add-ons as you want. They also offer macaron ice cream. Lunch $12, dinner $13, selected soups +$3.
- 9 Canton Wonton House, 608 S Weller St (at 6th Ave S), ☏ +1 206 682-5080. Hong Kong-style noodle soup and congee (jook); great with a side order of Chinese donuts (you tiau). Very inexpensive.
- 10 Ping's Dumpling and Tea House, 508 S King St, ☏ +1 206 623-6764. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Su 11AM-10PM. Northern Chinese dumplings are perfect for sharing with a group. The different types of dumplings come with a multitude of fillings and prepared in various ways. While there are several other chains for dumplings (including the international Din Tai Fung and local Dough Zone), Ping's is an independent shop that's more homey and a bit cheaper.
- 11 Purple Dot Cafe, 515 Maynard Ave S, ☏ +1 206 622 028. Su-Th 9AM-1AM, F-Sa 9AM-3:30AM. This is not a fusion restaurant, but rather a Macau style restaurant. Which explains why you can order your Hong Kong style dishes with spaghetti and cream sauce. Purple Dot is open until really late on the weekends, where packs of 80 lb. red-faced co-eds can be spotted stumbling around in their glittery halter tops. The restaurant's decor may remind one of a Hong Kong style Mickey Mouse Club, with its colorful curved furnishings and fiesta patterned carpet. But at Purple Dot, the draw for authentic food overpowers the teeny bopper atmosphere, as during the day there are just as many families as there are clubbers at night. Wash down the Cajun chicken wings with an iced lemon tea, or stick to Cantonese soul food like jook and wonton mein.
- 12 Sichuanese Cuisine, 1048 S Jackson St, ☏ +1 206 720-1690. 11AM-9PM daily. The name in Chinese is Lao Sichuan (Old Sichuan Restaurant). Great dry-fried beans with chicken. Simple hotpot and tasty dumplings.
- 13 Szechuan Noodle Bowl, 420 8th Ave S, ☏ +1 206 623-4198. Tu-Su 11AM-9PM. The name of the shop in Chinese means "Great King of Beef Noodles". Hole-in-the wall place. Limited selection of spicy noodle soups. Also provides dumplings.
- 14 Tai Tung, 655 S King St, ☏ +1 206-622-7372, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-10:30PM, F-Sa 11AM-Midnight, Su 11AM-10PM. This restaurant has been open since 1935 and is now the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle. It is run and owned by Harry Chan, who is the 3rd generation to continuously operate the restaurant. Look for the table where one-time regular Bruce Lee liked to sit. $6.25+.
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 15 Fuji Sushi, 520 S Main St, ☏ +1 206 624-1201. Lunch M-F 11:30AM-2PM, Dinner Su-Th 5PM-9:30PM, F-Sa 5PM-10PM. Smaller pieces and a bit pricer, but fresh and tasty.
- 16 Itsumono, 610 S Jackson St, ☏ +1 206 682-1828. Lunch Tu-F 11:30AM-2PM, dinner Tu-Th, Su 5PM-9PM, F-Sa 5PM-10PM; M closed. Family-run pub with a homely menu and atmosphere. Get your favorite Japanese entrées like tempura, teriyaki, donburi, noodles, and sushi (or an obento with an assortment of everything), or have some beer or shochu and linger for a while ordering small plates.
- 17 Maneki, 304 6th Ave S, ☏ +1 503-897-8941. Tu-Su 5:30PM-10:30PM, M closed. Very good sushi, as well as many non-sushi Japanese dishes. The restaurant claims to be at least 100 years old, although it has moved since its estimated founding date in 1904, and is considerably smaller than the grand space it occupied prior to World War II. Their sushi pieces are very large, and their prices are very reasonable. It is highly suggested to reserve on the day before you wish to eat here.
- 18 Salumi, 404 Occidental Ave S (between Main and Jackson), ☏ +1 206 621-8772. Tu-F 11AM-4PM. Salami sandwiches on artisan bread... can't beat it. There is often a line that can take over an hour to get through.
- 19 Tamarind Tree, 1036 S Jackson St, ☏ +1 206 860-1404. Su-Th 10AM-10PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight. It's worth the awkward crawl through Seattle's steepest and most congested parking lot to relax with a Tamarind Soda next to the cool contemporary-style fountain. Tamarind Tree is an anomaly in Little Saigon, to say the least. Three Vietnamese brothers created an atmosphere that feels like it should be located in a Belltown Hotel rather than a Vietnamese ghetto, and the place packs in more flavors for under $9 than any other restaurant. Try the fish paste with bacon, or the seven courses of beef. High quality service, sauces, and appetizers, served up artfully at Little Saigon prices. Try the spring rolls with a side of fresh peanut sauce.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Bubble tea
[edit | edit source]Bubble tea arrived in the International District in the late 90s. Places here originally served it in basic plastic cups with dome lids, though now all the bubble tea cafes in the district vacuum seal the tops of each cup with semi-permanent plastic covers.
- 1 Oasis Tea Zone, 519 6th Ave S, ☏ +1 206 447-8098. Pool tables, Ikea furniture, and music videos entertain a mostly younger crowd. Oasis is known for its more fragrant-tasting bubble teas; specifically, they make fruit teas with real fruit.
Coffee
[edit | edit source]- 2 Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House, 607 S Main St, ☏ +1 206 515-4000. The result of a unique renovation, Panama Hotel is both a teahouse and historical museum. Fine tea connoisseurs appreciate the wide selection of quality teas. The Panama Hotel once housed the personal belongings of interned Japanese Americans who had to sell their homes and abandon their businesses. The belongings that were never claimed, including pieces of furniture and a piano, are on display here.
- 3 Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson St. Elegant and arty.
Bars
[edit | edit source]Pioneer Square has the closest dining and drinking to the two SoDo stadiums. It is filled with sports bars for people attending games.
- 4 Flatstick Pub, 240 Second Ave S, ☏ +1 206 682-0608. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-1AM. Pub with an indoor underground minigolf course.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Best Western Plus Pioneer Square, 77 Yesler Way, ☏ +1 206 340-1234, toll-free: +1-800-800-5514. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11PM. Built in 1920 and refurbished a number of times, it's the most decent hotel in the Pioneer Square area. Rooms are compact but breakfast are generous and it's close to the King Street station and the stadiums. From $180 per night.
- 2 Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square, 612 2nd Ave, ☏ +1 206 625-1111. In the historic Alaska Building, just around the corner from Pioneer Square.
- 3 Hostelling International Seattle (formerly the American Hotel), 520 S King St (at 6th Ave S), ☏ +1 206 622-5443, fax: +1 206 299-4141, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Offers free breakfast, free wifi. Excellent common areas including a library, tv room, computer room and clean, spacious kitchen facilities. The location isn't the greatest, given the grit outside, but it is near everything and just a block from King Street Station. Starting at $29.
- 4 Panama Hotel, 605 1/2 S Main St (middle of the building along south side of Main St between 6th Ave & the alley in the middle of the block; fourth door up the hill to right), ☏ +1 206 223-9242. Private, old-fashioned rooms, modest but clean, with bathrooms down the hall. Very relaxing tea and coffee house (see above), with free wireless internet connections. On the street level. From $90.
Cope
[edit | edit source]The nature of this area (homelessness and crime) means that there are no public toilets in the area. So, unless you're planning to visit a restaurant or an attraction, consider making a stop before you arrive here.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Pioneer Square (especially Occidental Park) and the International District (especially near 12th Ave and Jackson St) have more homeless people hanging around than other parts of Seattle. The original "skid row" and the historic immigrant neighborhood are where the city has concentrated its shelters and services for the homeless. The area was hit hard in the early 2020s from both the opioid epidemic and the COVID closures. The area is generally safe during the day, but violent crime is not unknown, and you should keep your eyes on your belongings.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Seattle Public Library offers open Wi-Fi at all branches, using the SSID spl-public. Public computers with Internet access and basic office software are available for up to 30 minutes for those without a SPL library card; get a temporary pass from the circulation desk. All services are free.
- 1 International District/Chinatown Branch, 713 8th Ave S, ☏ +1 206-386-1300. M-Tu 1-8PM, W-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 1-5PM.
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