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Northwest of Downtown Seattle, Queen Anne is a hilly residential neighborhood with marvelous views of the city's skyline. Magnolia, a wealthy residential neighborhood, sits on a peninsula west of Queen Anne, separated from Queen Anne by Interbay, an unexpected commercial and industrial strip in the valley between the two hilly neighborhoods.
Seattle Center, at the southern base of Queen Anne Hill, was built to host the 1962 World's Fair. Today, Seattle Center is a park-like facility surrounded by many of Seattle's finest event venues and museums, as well as two iconic relics from the World's Fair: the Monorail and the Space Needle. The restaurants and bars of Uptown, also called Lower Queen Anne, surround Seattle Center.
Directly north of Downtown is South Lake Union, a former industrial neighborhood until Amazon's headquarters and a range of biotech organizations kicked off a wave of gentrification, quickly filling out Seattle's skyline with mid-rise office and apartment towers.
Get in
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Map of Seattle/Queen Anne-South Lake Union
Seattle Center and South Lake Union lie within easy walking or bicycling distance of Downtown. Climbing up Queen Anne Hill, on the other hand, is more of a workout. Aurora Avenue (SR-99) is a highway that emerges from a tunnel north of Seattle Center and can only be crossed in a few spots.
Queen Anne Avenue is the dividing line between the "North" and the "West" roads. So don't be surprised if you cross 1st Avenue N, and then shortly thereafter find yourself crossing 1st Avenue W without having changed direction!
By car
[edit | edit source]Queen Anne Hill can be difficult to navigate due to its geography, especially by car. There are two simple ways to get to the center of the neighborhood:
- via Queen Anne Avenue from the south (though take note: Queen Anne Avenue traffic is south-only when south of Roy Street).
- by 3rd Avenue W from the north side, near Seattle Pacific University.
- Approaching by Dexter Avenue, Gilman Avenue, W Dravus Street or any of the numerous side streets should not be attempted unless you have time to kill.
Seattle Center and South Lake Union are best reached by Denny Way along the south end, and Mercer St along the north. Mercer Street is the most convenient from I-5, although it's amongst the most traffic-congested streets in the city. Parking is plentiful, albeit often expensive.
Dexter, Westlake, Fairview, and Eastlake Avenues pass through South Lake Union.
To access Magnolia, from the north take Emerson Street Bridge over 15th Avenue towards the Fisherman's Terminal. From the south, take 15th Avenue W (Elliott), exiting at the Magnolia Bridge.
By public transit
[edit | edit source]- King County Metro. Queen Anne is served mainly by frequent and all-day bus routes 1, 2, 4, 8, 13 and the RapidRide D line, all of which make stops close to the Seattle Center. Upper Queen Anne Hill (up the hill) is served only by 1, 2, 4 and 13. South Lake Union is served by frequent bus route 62 on Dexter Avenue, while Fairview Avenue is served by frequent bus route 70. Magnolia is served by the all-day bus routes 24 and 33, with 33 serving Discovery Park from Downtown Seattle. Route 31 connects Magnolia to University District through Wallingford, Fremont and Seattle Pacific University without going through Downtown. See the King County Metro website for schedules and maps.
- 1 Seattle Center Monorail, Northern terminus at Experience Music Center (EMP) (Seattle Center), ☏ +1 206-905-2620. M-Th 7:30AM-9PM, F 7:30AM-11PM, Sa 8:30AM-11PM, Su 8:30AM-9PM. An attraction in itself, the historic monorail makes a direct connection between Westlake Center in Downtown and Seattle Center. One-way $4 adults, $2 seniors/youth/military, ORCA cards accepted, no paper transfers accepted.
- 2 South Lake Union Streetcar, Northern terminus on Fairview & Campus Dr (next to Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center). M-Th 6AM-9PM, F Sa 6AM-11PM, Su 10AM-7PM, all at 15 minute intervals. This streetcar runs from Westlake Center in Downtown to the southeastern shore of Lake Union. The streetcar was announced as the "South Lake Union Trolley" until the developer realized the unfortunate acronym, which is still used by many residents. $2.25 adults, $1 seniors, $1.50 youth.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Discovery Park, 3801 W Government Way, ☏ +1 206-684-4075. 4ː30AM-11PM. The largest park in the city can be thought of as Seattle's unofficial central park given its huge, somewhat secluded nature, with a number of trails that meander through the green forests down to the lighthouse at the beach. Discovery Park used to be an army installation called Fort Lawton, and several of the fort's buildings remain. The park features the highest point in the city and wildlife you don't typically find in a large city. A visitors' center with information about the wildlife living in the park and the best trails to hike are in the center of the park. The visitor center is closed until summer 2027.
- 2 Kerry Park, 211 W Highland Dr, ☏ +1 206-684-4075. 6AM-10PM. A photographer's paradise, this is perhaps the most obvious spectacle in Queen Anne. This park affords the quintessential view of Downtown Seattle with the Space Needle in the foreground, and (depending on the weather) Mount Rainier and the Cascades, as well as across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island.
- 3 Bhy Kracke Park, 1215 5th Ave N. Pronounced "By Crackie". You can get a view comparable to that from the Space Needle for free.
- 4 Fishermen's Terminal (just southwest of the Ballard Bridge). Carefully wander the docks (avoiding stepping on ropes or nets) and look at the boats. Many of them sell fresh crab or fish right off of the boat in season. Much of the Alaska crab fishing fleet moors here (or elsewhere in Lake Union) during the off-season, including vessels featured in the long-running Deadliest Catch television series. Visit the Fishermen's Memorial dedicated to all of those who have lost their lives at sea while engaged in commercial fishing.
Seattle Center
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The 1962 World's Fair left Seattle with Seattle Center, the region's largest cluster of civic spaces. Pedestrian avenues, lined with small parks and fountains, connect a collection of museums, fine arts venues, and monumental architecture.
- 5 Space Needle, 400 Broad St, ☏ +1 206-905-2100, [email protected]. 8AM-11:30PM. A symbol of Seattle, built for the 1962 World's Fair and still a wildly popular attraction. The view is spectacular on a clear day when the sun sets, when Downtown Seattle contrasts beautifully with the ocean to the west and the snow-capped mountains in every other direction. There are floor-to-ceiling windows on both levels, a rotating glass floor ("The Loupe") on the lower level that completes one revolution every 45 minutes, and open-air glass walls where you can lean backwards and take a selfie. The revolving Sky City restaurant has been closed due to renovations, but the wine bar is still open. Lower price available in morning only; $35-37.50 adults, $30-32 seniors, $26-28 ages 5-12; tickets are $2 less if you buy them online in advance. Day/night tickets, which allow you to visit twice within 24 hours, are available; Combined tickets available for Chihuly Garden and Glass.
- 6 Pacific Science Center, 200 Sue Bird Ct N, ☏ +1 206-443-2844, fax: +1 206-443-3631, [email protected]. W-Su 10AM–5PM. An interactive science museum featuring permanent and temporary exhibits, a butterfly atrium, IMAX theater, planetarium, and laser shows. Adults from̩ $22.95-̩$28.20 depending on day. Planetarium and daytime laser shows included, but requires timed tickets.
- 7 Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), 325 5th Ave N, ☏ +1 206-770-2700, [email protected]. Summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day) 10AM-7PM daily; rest of year 10AM-5PM daily. An excellent pop culture museum housed inside a visually striking building designed by Frank Gehry to "evoke the rock 'n' roll experience", with exhibits on all manner of popular culture: film, television, music, video games, fashion, etc. There's a particular focus on science fiction and Seattle musicians, with a sci-fi hall of fame and exhibits dedicated to Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Top-notch special exhibits have included the likes of David Bowie, Star Trek, the Marvel comic and movie universe, and Minecraft. There are many interactive exhibits, but don't expect to get a turn without a long wait. Outside, the large playground is a big hit with kids. $28 adults, $25 seniors/students, $22 military, $19 youth, children 4 and under free. $2 discount if purchased online. Additional $8 for special exhibit. Outdoor playground free.
- 8 Seattle Children's Museum, 200 2nd Ave N, ☏ +1 206-441-1768. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-6PM. An independent non-profit museum which hosts popular traveling exhibits and features permanent exhibits and programs geared towards children. General exhibits: $7.50, $6.50 seniors, children under 1 free; no adults admitted without a child.
- 9 Chihuly Garden and Glass, 305 Harrison St, ☏ +1 407 956-3527, [email protected]. M-Th 10AM–10PM, F-Su 10AM-11PM; last ticket sold one hour prior to closing; combined tickets with Space Needle available. This museum provides a look at the inspiration and influences that inform the career of artist Dale Chihuly. The on-site exhibition hall contains eight galleries and three drawing walls, offering visitors a comprehensive look at Chihuly’s significant series of work. The centerpiece of the museum is a glasshouse with a suspended 1,400-piece, 100-foot-long sculpture. Also on the grounds is a lush garden, which serves as a backdrop for four monumental sculptures and other installations. $19 adults, $17 seniors, $12 children, children 3 and under free.
South Lake Union
[edit | edit source]- 10 Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N (on the Lake Union Waterfront), ☏ +1 206-684-4075. 4AM-11ː30PM. Home to the Center for Wooden Boats and the Museum of History and Industry. Spray park open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- 11 The Center for Wooden Boats, 1010 Valley St, ☏ +1 206-382-2628. Opens daily at 10AM except Mondays November through mid-April; closing hours vary by season. Free boat sails Sunday 10AM (signup), 11AM-3PM (cruise). An intriguing museum where you can learn about maritime culture and experience sailing traditional wooden boats. The center's programs allow you to get a hands-on feel, putting in control of crafting and sailing your own wooden craft. On Sundays, rain or shine, you can get a free boat ride on a classic wooden boat around the lake for an hour. At times artist-in-residence Saaduuts leads programs. Free.
- 12 Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), 860 Terry Ave. N, ☏ +1 206-324-1126. Daily 10AM–5PM, Thursdays until 8PM. The museum focuses on the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region, with exhibitions focusing on the maritime history of the city and the rise of the region's technology industry, as well as a set of changing exhibits. $25 adults, $20 seniors, children under 14 free; free first Thursday of the month.
- 13 Northwest Seaport/Maritime Heritage Center, 1002 Valley St (in Lake Union Park), ☏ +1 206-447-9800. Home to a number of historic ships, including a schooner, a tugboat, a fireboat, a lightship, a steamer, and several others.
- 14 South Lake Union Discovery Center, 101 Westlake Ave N, ☏ +1 206-342-5900. 11AM-6PM daily. An introduction to the neighborhood, with displays explaining the history of South Lake Union. There is also a model of the whole neighborhood in the building.
- Amazon.com built their headquarters in South Lake Union. The expansive construction of Amazon office towers and apartments and shops, as well as the visually-striking glass Spheres, has made SLU practically synonymous with Amazon.
- Amazon HQ tour. W 10AM, 2PM. 90-minute tour of Amazon's urban campus including Doppler, Day 1, and the Spheres. There is also a self-guided audio tour; you can even get a free pair of headphones to keep from the receptionists at Day 1 (2121 7th Ave; M-F 7AM-6PM).
- 15 Seattle Spheres, 2117 7th Ave. 1st and 3rd Sa of the month 10AM-6PM. A building made of three glass domes filled with lush plants. Take an unguided stroll through the tropical heart of the Spheres. Free; reservations required, available 30 days in advance.
- Understory, 2101 7th Ave, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM. Visitor center about Amazon and the Spheres' flora and design. It's in the bottom floor of the Spheres and doesn't get you access to the upper floors where the plants live, but it's available 5 days a week unlike public access to the building. Free.
- 16 Public Art at Amazon Headquarters, 426 Terry Ave N. While the Amazon buildings are not open to the public, there are several signed outdoor art pieces around the complex and other nearby buildings, and you can hob-nob with "blue badges" at local restaurants and coffee shops. Seattle Architecture Foundation also leads guided walking tours.
Do
[edit | edit source]Events
[edit | edit source]Seattle Center hosts events almost every weekend of the year. These are some of the larger ones:
- Northwest Folklife Festival. Memorial Day weekend (end of May). A more low-key and global version of Bumbershoot. free ($10 donation suggested).
- Bite of Seattle. Mid-late July. Part of the Seafair festivities.
- Bumbershoot. Labor Day weekend (early Sep). A music and arts festival featuring dozens of local and world-class musical acts.
- Seattle Center WinterFest. Late Nov to late Dec or early Jan. Various activities/events during the holidays such as the WinterFest Ice rink (skate rental available for fee), Winter Train & Village, ice sculpting displays.
- Festál Cultural Center. Year-round except Dec. Celebrate the world with festivals from about 25 countries represented, one country nearly every 2 weeks.
Entertainment
[edit | edit source]- 1 Climate Pledge Arena, 334 1st Ave N, ☏ +1 206-460-7825 (ticketing). The region's largest sports arena is home to the NHL's Seattle Kraken, the WNBA's Seattle Storm, and college men's basketball games of the Seattle Redhawks (Seattle University), as well as a major concert venue. It was built for the 1962 World's Fair. The arena's interior was completely gutted and rebuilt for the Kraken, but its original exterior remains intact, maintaining its historic listing. Tours not available; if you want to see the inside, you have to attend an event.
- 2 Seattle Chamber Music Society, 10 Harrison St, ☏ +1 206-283-8710.
- 3 McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St (NE corner of Seattle Center). Home of the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, each considered among the best in the United States.
- 4 Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, ☏ +1 206-443-2222 (call), +1 206-565-2996 (text). Box officeː M-F noon-5PM, by phone noon-6PM. The largest nonprofit resident theatre in the Pacific Northwest.
Film
[edit | edit source]- Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), SIFF Cinemas and other venues, ☏ +1 206-464-5830, [email protected]. May. One of the largest film festivals in North America. Screenings are at the w:SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Film Center, and at venues in adjacent districts.
- 5 SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, ☏ +1 206-464-5830, [email protected]. Three-screen theater showing art, indie, and foreign films and documentaries. Variable pricing.
Water sports
[edit | edit source]- 6 Lake Union Crew, 2520 Westlake Ave N. A club boathouse for the local rowing community. If you have no rowing experience, classes are offered.
- 7 Northwest Outdoor Center, 2100 Westlake Ave N Ste 1. Kayak and paddleboard rentals.
- 8 The Electric Boat Company, 2046 Westlake Ave #102. Electric boat rentals for up to 12 passengers. Offers enclosed and heated vessels for year-round appeal. No prior experience needed.
Also see the museum listing for Center For Wooden Boats, where you can also rent a sailboat or join a free Sunday cruise.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Queen Anne Farmers' Market, Queen Ave N & W Crockett St (Parking Lot 1 block west at 1st Ave & W Crockett St), ☏ +1 206 428-1983. Jun-Oct: Th 3PM to 7:30PM. Farmers market with food booths and vendors selling crafts up on Queen Anne Hill
- 2 South Lake Union Saturday market, 139 9th Ave (On 9th Av between Denny & John at east side of Denny Park). May-Oct: Sa 11AM to 4PM. Farmers market with food booths and vendors selling crafts. Free.
- Once you get to the top of Queen Anne hill (about a mile north from Seattle Center and several hundred feet uphill) there's a few blocks with some nice window shopping. Check out Foundations Seattle and Willa for women's clothes, Queen Anne Book Store, Blue Highway Games for board games, and see what else you can find nestled between the numerous hair and beauty salons.
Outdoors equipment
[edit | edit source]Seattle is one of the best cities in the world to buy high-quality secondhand outdoors equipment — good to know, because brand new equipment can be really expensive. The REI Flagship Store anchors a small pocket of boutique outdoors retail.
- 3 Play It Again Sports, 1304 Stewart St (Stewart St & Denny Way), ☏ +1 206-264-9255. M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa-Su 10AM-6PM. New and secondhand sports equipment, usually in excellent condition. Skis and snowboards, bikes, and a small assortment of other sporting goods.
- 4 REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Ave N, ☏ +1 206-223-1944. M-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 10AM-7PM. Recreation Equipment Inc., the large outdoors equipment retailer, was founded in Seattle in 1938. REI's sprawling flagship store has an outdoor trail for test-driving mountain bikes, a climbing wall, and a small "mountain" in the shoe section for trying hiking boots. It also has a clearance section where you can often find boots, down sleeping bags, tents, etc. with easily repairable damage at a fraction of the cost.
Eat
[edit | edit source]There are a number of food carts that typically cater to office workers at the South Lake Union complex. They generally open for lunch on weekdays, with tenants changing each day.
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 Community Banana Stand. M-F 8AM-3:30PM. A fruit stand offering free bananas to passersby, operated by Amazon from its headquarters. The stand gives away thousands of bananas each weekday, as a cheap and convenient way to give a little boost to employees and the general public alike. Free.
- 2 Dick's Drive In, 500 Queen Anne Ave N.
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 3 Art Marble 21, 731 Westlake Ave N, ☏ +1 206-223-0300. American cuisine and prime sports viewing. Large game room with free arcade games, billiards, giant Jenga, cornhole, bocce ball, and more.
- 4 Cafe Goldinblack, 621 Queen Anne Ave N (Along Queen Ave N between W Roy & Mercer St), ☏ +1 206-466-2737. M-Th 11:30 AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM, Su 11:30AM-8:30PM. A good and inexpensive Korean restaurant with good bibimbap and good lunch specials that also serves alcohol. Located across the street from the Marqueen Hotel and a few doors down from Peso's.
- 5 Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, 321 W Galer St (in Lower Queen Anne, near 4th Avenue West), ☏ +1 206-457-8854, [email protected]. Su -Th Noon–10PM; F Sa Noon-11PM. Molly Moon's offers 14 flavors of ice cream, homemade on the premises within sight of the customers. One vegan option is usually offered. Many staff have learned some basic American Sign Language. $5 for an enormous single scoop.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]Queen Anne is a relatively upscale neighborhood, and generally the restaurants rise to the occasion.
- 6 Canlis, 2576 Aurora Ave N, ☏ +1 206-283-3313, [email protected]. M-Sa 5PM-close. Seattle's longstanding fine dining restaurant, with a wonderful view overlooking Lake Union and Queen Anne Hill. Live piano music. Make reservations well in advance (a week or two ahead) and dress well; it's one of the few Seattle establishments with a strict dress code. $180.
Drink
[edit | edit source]True to Seattle form, you need never go more than a few blocks without stumbling into a coffee shop. At the corner of Queen Anne Ave N and Boston St, for example, there is a Caffe Ladro, a Café Hagen, and a Starbucks.
- 1 Caffe Fiore, 224 W Galer St (W Galer Ave at 3rd Avenue W). Daily until 7PM. An organic coffeeshop three blocks north of Kerry Park, offering a true experience of Seattle coffee house culture: good local art on display that changes on the first day of every month, consistently excellent coffee, environmental consciousness to a fault (the straws are compostable), and neighborly vitality that's easy to witness but hard to describe. Handsome baristas remember the orders of regular patrons, and most everyone you see is a regular patron. The coffee is rich, aromatic, and consistently excellent. Outdoor seating for sunny summer days. The most common order is a short latte, and for good reason.
- 2 Top Pot Doughnuts, 325 W Galer St (At 4th Ave W), ☏ +1 206-631-2120. Lodged in a former neighborhood grocery, this place offers "hand-forged" doughnuts, coffee, juice, and the like. Free wireless available.
- 3 Macrina Bakery (McGraw Cafe), 615 W McGraw St (At 6th Ave W). A premier local bakery whose chef was a finalist for a 2007 James Beard Award. Selection changes seasonally and daily, but there's always something delicious on offer. An excellent choice for a breakfast or light lunch; cafe-style seating encourages you to sit down and stay a while. Espresso can be inconsistent, if you're picky, grab food to go and walk elsewhere for coffee.
- 4 Queen Anne Coffee Co., 1811 Queen Anne Ave N, ☏ +1 206-566-6788.
- 5 Moonrise Bakery, 1805 Queen Anne Ave N, ☏ +1 206-623-7383, [email protected]. 7AM-5PM.
If you're looking for something to balance out all that caffeine as a stimulant, Lower Queen Anne fits the bill.
- 6 Ozzie's, 105 W Mercer St, ☏ +1 206-284-4618. 8AM-2AM daily. Karaoke is the name of the game at Ozzie's and is available every night starting at 9PM.
- 7 Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge, 601 Queen Anne Avenue North (NW corner of Queen Ave N & W Mercer St), ☏ +1 206-432-9069. Daily 8AM-2AM. Excellent restaurant and lounge featuring New Orleans-style food and drink that was listed as a 2012 Travelers Choice Awards winner for one of America's best restaurants and one of the best happy hours in the USA by CNBC survey (great beignets). Happy hour every day from 4PM to 6PM and 10PM to 1AM with a breakfast happy hour from Monday to Friday from 8AM to 11AM.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]There are some business hotels in South Lake Union and along Eastlake Ave. The Seattle Center area hosts several smaller hotels. Downtown offers far more options.
- 1 Comfort Suites Downtown - Seattle Center, 601 Roy St, ☏ +1 206-282-2600.
- 2 Holiday Inn, 211 Dexter Ave N, ☏ +1 206-728-8123, fax: +1 206-728-2779.
- 3 Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle, 206 Western Ave W, ☏ +1 206-281-9393. All-suite hotel with views of Elliott Bay, 4 blocks from Seattle Center and the Space Needle, 6 blocks from the Olympic Sculpture Park.
- 4 MarQueen Hotel, 600 Queen Anne Ave N. Boutique lodging accommodations.
- 5 The Mediterranean, 425 Queen Anne Ave N, ☏ +1 206-428-4700, toll-free: +1-866-525-4700, fax: +1 206-428-4699.
- 6 The Maxwell Hotel, 300 Roy St (between Nob Hill and Third Ave), toll-free: +1-877-298-9728. Unique dog and earth-friendly lodging with a business center, free parking, and views of the Space Needle.
- 7 Travelodge Seattle Center, 200 6th Ave N, ☏ +1 206-441-7878. Two blocks east of the Space Needle and monorail terminal, adjacent to Belltown. About a mile's walk (or a few minutes on the monorail) from the downtown core.
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 Queen Anne Branch, 400 W Garfield St (at 4th Ave W), ☏ +1 206-386-4227. M Tu 1-8PM, W Th Sa 11AM-6PM, Closed F and Su.
- 2 Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave W (at W Armour St), ☏ +1 206-386-4225. M Tu 1-8PM, W Th 11AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM, closed F and Sa.
By mail
[edit | edit source]- 3 Queen Anne Post Office (US Postal Service), 415 1st Ave N, ☏ +1 206-282-0542, toll-free: +1-800-275-8777. M-F 8:30AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-3PM.
- 4 Magnolia Post Office (US Postal Service), 3211 W McGraw St, ☏ +1 206-284-5958, toll-free: +1-800-275-8777. M-F 9AM-1PM & 2-5PM; Sa 9AM-1PM & 2-3PM.