AREA INFORMATION
Seattle neighborhoods offer something for everyone, because they aren't just names for common areas- they are distinct urban villages with their own personalities and attractions.
Central Seattle- Downtown, Midtown, Belltown, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill
Seattle’s Downtown is the historic heart of the city, financial center of a diverse economy, and—increasingly—a popular option for living close to the action. The streets rise sharply from the Puget Sound waterfront and encompass both the city’s tallest skyscrapers and many of Seattle’s premier tourist attractions.
The central downtown area has a multitude of apartment, condo and loft buildings, located throughout these neighborhoods:
Seattle Waterfront- Seattle’s gateway to the rest of the world. Take a cruise to some foreign land, or take a ferry ride to a Puget Sound island. Or just stick around and experience the spectacular views of Elliott Bay and enjoy fresh seafood. Visit the Seattle Aquarium (www.seattleaquarium.org) or stop by one of the many unique businesses and pick up a courtesy umbrella to use during your visit. www.seattlewaterfront.org
Retail Core
Home to dozens of upscale national and international retailers and restaurants, the Retail Core is one of the finest dining and shopping areas in the region. From major department stores and shopping centers, to intimate boutiques, your options are endless. Here you can enjoy a variety of public events including the Holiday Carousel in the winter, and the Out to Lunch concert series in the summer.
West Edge
This 4-block wide urban hike stretching from Belltown to Pioneer Square contains such Seattle landmarks as the Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum and Benaroya Hall. For the true flavor of Seattle, nothing beats the many eclectic boutiques and eateries in this area.
Chinatown-International District
The neighborhood just east of Pioneer Square is where generations of Asian immigrants first arrived in Seattle. It is the ideal area to find the city’s most diverse mix of authentic Asian cuisine and a lively international flavor in the many shops, markets and Asian-influenced public art throughout the district. www.cidbia.org
Pioneer Square
Located at the south end of Downtown and just north of Safeco Field and the Qwest Field, Pioneer Square is home to many of Seattle’s oldest historic buildings. With its many art galleries, nightclubs, restaurants and unique shops, Pioneer Square is an urban explorer’s dream.
First Hill
First Hill is literally Seattle’s first neighborhood where pioneer families established roots, and left behind a rich history of classic homes, gardens and churches. Today, some of the world’s most respected medical and research institutions including Swedish Hospital and Virginia Mason Medical Center call First Hill their home
Capitol Hill is often thought of as Seattle’s gay neighborhood, it has always had a broader cultural identity (unlike The Castro in San Francisco), serving as the heart of the early 90s grunge movement, home to the city’s most vibrant nightlife, and center of Seattle’s famous coffee culture. From cult movies at midnight at The Egyptian to salsa dancing at the Century Ballroom to carousing at any one of a hundred bars, Capitol Hill has something for everyone. The Hill is also home to an ascendant performance arts movement, as seen in the Northwest Film Forum, the Northwest Actors Studio, and dozens of independent recording studios.
Belltown is booming. High-rise condos, trendy restaurants, hip ad agencies all mark the new face of Belltown—the neighborhood that hugs the water northwest of Downtown. In the 70s, artists started to move in, making the neighborhood a Seattle version of Greenwich Village. And like that formerly bohemian part of New York, the hip reputation has made Belltown desirable to the young, successful professionals that continue to flock to Seattle.
Queen Anne is the largest of Seattle’s hills (though not its highest point) and the most varied. The hill is so large it forms two fairly distinct neighborhoods Lower Queen Anne and—you guessed it—Upper Queen Anne. Upper Queen Anne is largely residential and upscale, while its northern slope includes Seattle Pacific University and the more affordable houses and apartments associated with college proximity. It also has a small shopping district and some great cafes.
West Seattle
West Seattle deserves it's own section here because, well, it stands on it's own, across Elliott Bay from downtown. Home to the spectacularly scenic and active Alki Beach, it also has a distinctly suburban vibe, with about 40,000 residents in single family, apartment and condominium homes. It also has 3 distinct districts, or "junctions" as they are known- Admiral, the Junction, and Morgan, lined along 3+ miles of California Ave from north to south. Each has a mix of dining, shopping and nightlife, as well as numerous parks and trails. The most popular, Lincoln Park, spans 135 acres that hug Puget Sound and include sports fields, picnic areas, trails, and beaches, as well as historic and popular Coleman Pool.
Eastlake, University District and North Seattle
Eastlake, along the east side of Lake Union, is most popular as the home of the Houseboats, where residents live full time in these unique dwellings moored on the water. This small neighborhood also includes many condo and apartments with views of the lake and the city, as well as a thriving retail core along Eastlake avenue.
Just to the northeast of this is the University district, which as it's name implies, is home to the Univesity of Washington and a vibrant mix of students, shopping, dining and nightlife, as well as the sprawling University Village shopping destination.
Northgate is an informal district of neighborhoods in North Seattle, named for and surrounding Northgate Mall, the first covered mall in the United States. Bordered by NE Northgate Way and 130th Street, Roosevelt Way NE and Aurora Avenue N . Besides the eponymous mall, the most characteristic distinctions of the area are North Seattle Community College (NSCC) and Maple Leaf, a mostly residential neighborhood and originally a rural suburb. Maple Leaf is bordered on the south by the Roosevelt neighborhood; to the north by Pinehurst and Victory Heights neighborhoods of the Northgate district; to the east by the Lake City and Wedgewood neighborhoods; and to the west the North College Park or Licton Springs.
Notable neighborhood meeting spots nearby include Cloud City Coffee at 88th, family-owned Maple Leaf Ace Hardware at 91st, Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon at 90th, The Jones at 89th, the Reservoir Bar at 85th, and the Maple Leaf Grill at 92nd, while neighborhood meeting spots on 5th Avenue NE include Cafe Javasti and the San Marco Grocery at 84th. Cabinetworks on Roosevelt is long-established and one of the few woodworking manufacturers remaining in Seattle.
South Seattle-Tukwila, Burien, Boulevard Park,
Tukwila incorporated as a City in 1908. Since that time, the city has continued to grow and flourish as a center of commerce for South King County. At the crossroads of two interstate highways -- I-5 and I-405, within five minutes of an international airport, Tukwila is a local leader in retail/commercial sales, warehousing and distribution of goods, and manufacturing. Over 17,000 people reside in Tukwila. Nestled in the hills surrounding the major commerce corridors are quiet residential neighborhoods. Police, fire, schools, libraries, and other vital services work closely with residents to plan for a healthy future. Residents of the City enjoy "small town" warmth, involvement and caring, while having the benefits of quality services and goods associated with larger cities.
Since incorporation in 1993, Burien, a 100-year-old community with a rich heritage, has been busy defining and redesigning itself as a vibrant King County city. Residents see the City of Burien as a friendly community with well-established neighborhoods and a small-town atmosphere... a community with thriving business areas including Bed & Breakfast Accommodations, and an attractive, and customer-friendly city center.