Some of you are uprooting lives in other states, and even other countries, to plant yourselves in Seattle and seek roots at The Seattle School. Some of you are participating via Low Residency, but will no less be making Seattle a part of your identity in the years to come. Part of Seattle’s charm is that it is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character. It’s helpful to have a sense of the different neighborhoods, and to explore them all! Below, we highlight some of the more common neighborhoods that our students and staff inhabit and play in, with brief descriptions that spell out some of what makes each area unique.
City Center Neighborhoods
These are the neighborhoods that surround downtown, which is a very specific area in Seattle—what other cities might call the central business district. These neighborhoods are within walking distance of each other (sometimes up to a 30-minute walk).
Downtown
Downtown is roughly bounded by Pike and Pine Streets to the north, Yesler Way to the south, I-5 to the east, and Puget Sound to the west. There are some condos and apartments with a primarily commercial feel—which means a ton of shopping, financial businesses, and shops. There’s a fair amount of nightlife and restaurants Downtown. The overall vibe here is “businessy” and professional (or at least as businessy and professional as Seattleites get – we’re veeeeerrrrrrrrry casual here). Westlake Center and Pacific Place are downtown, the Seattle Art Museum, and the surrounding streets are shopping central, and also the city’s biggest transit hub—the monorail and the ever-expanding Link Light Rail stop here, as well as almost all the major bus lines. And the ferry! Not to mention, over the summer months there’s a water taxi connecting downtown to West Seattle. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many businesses began closing in Downtown. However, in 2022, Downtown businesses, including shops and restaurants are slowly returning and recovering. Most recently, Seattle’s Waterfront Park got a major facelift, connecting Pike Place Market (Pike Place Market!) to the – you guessed it – waterfront! – with a park, pier, the Great Wheel, and the Seattle Aquarium right there!
Notable Downtown Restaurants: The Pink Door (Pike Place Market), Lowell’s Cafe (Pike Place Market – from “Sleepless in Seattle”!), Pike Place Bar & Grill (Pike Place Market), Biscuit Bitch Pike Place, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, Pike Place Chowder, Serious Pie Pizza, The Crab Pot Seafood Restaurant (waterfront), Ivar’s Fish Bar (waterfront)
Hotels: Hyatt Regency, Panama Hotel, Sheraton Grand Seattle, Four Seasons Seattle
Belltown
Directly north of Downtown, Belltown is bounded by Pike/Pine to the south, Denny Way to the north, 5th Avenue to the east, and Puget Sound to the west. It’s full of apartments and condos, restaurants, bars, and live music venues. The vibe is trendy, upscale, youthful, and at times, not a place to walk around alone after dark. Belltown is home to the Olympic Sculpture Park, and this area is very active on Friday and Saturday nights, but it is quieter and more relaxed during the week. Belltown centers around 1st and Bell, so if you want to be in the thick of things, look on 1st and 2nd Avenues; 3rd Avenue is a major bus route and can be a bit busy, while 4th and 5th Avenues tend to be quieter.
Notable Belltown Restaurants: Six Seven Restaurant (waterfront), Lola, Bagrat Market, Cyclops Cafe & Lounge, Top Pot Doughnut, Virginia Inn
Hotels: Edgewater Hotel, Belltown Inn, Warwick Seattle, Hotel Max, Seattle Marriott Waterfront, Moore Hotel, The Westin Seattle
Lower Queen Anne (AKA Uptown)
Just north of Belltown, Lower Queen Anne is a favorite for many Seattle School students. Formerly known as Uptown, most of Lower Queen Anne boasts great places to eat and study. Its boundaries aren’t really well defined, but it’s approximately the areas directly north and to the west of Seattle Center, which is home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and even an ice skating rink in the winter. Climate Pledge Arena (formerly known as Key Arena) reopened in the Fall of 2021 and has already featured many headliners in its updated space: “the most progressive, responsible, and sustainable arena in the world”. Queen Anne is a very large hill, and Lower Queen Anne is the base of it on the south side. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk to downtown, or you can take the monorail from Seattle Center to Westlake Center. Lower Queen Anne is quieter than Belltown, with more parking (though not a ton) and a more family-friendly vibe, but there’s still an active nightlife scene. In warmer weather months, there’s a Thursday afternoon Farmer’s Market. Queen Anne is also home to the famous Kerry Park, one of the best views of the city.
Queen Anne Restaurants: Queen Anne Beer Hall, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Macrina Bakery, Byen Bakeri, Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge, Canlis (for very special occasions), How to Cook a Wolf, Grappa, Citizen Cafe
Hotels: The Maxwell Hotel, Hyatt House, MarQueen Hotel (they say this one’s haunted)
South Lake Union
Just to the east of Lower Queen Anne and north of Belltown, South Lake Union (SLU) is very central. For years this was primarily an industrial center, but more recently, after the arrival of Amazon and a bunch of biotech companies, it’s become quite the technology hub, with a growing nightlife and great restaurants at its center. There’s a seasonal (summer) Saturday Market in South Lake Union. There are new apartment and condo buildings here, as well as some that are still being built. There’s also the “South Lake Union Trolley” to get you around the neighborhood. Major plus: SLU is right on Lake Union, with its swimming spots, long, beautiful jogging paths, and plenty of options for renting kayaks, paddle boards, and wooden boats. And! The seaplanes take off from Lake Union – which you can take for either scenic tours or travel! Book at Kenmore Air. Finally, don’t forget to see the famous – famous! Sleepless in Seattle-famous! houseboats on Lake Union as well.
South Lake Union Restaurants: Re:Public, LOCAL Public Eatery, Duke’s Seafood South Lake Union (waterfront), M Bar (rooftop), Ba Bar South Lake Union, Cactus South Lake Union, The White Swan Public House, Momiji South Lake Union
Hotels: Silver Cloud Hotel, CitizenM Seattle South Lake Union, Courtyard Seattle Downtown / Lake Union, Residence Inn Seattle Downtown Seattle / Lake Union
Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is where Seattle was first founded. Even though it’s just south of Downtown, the two neighborhoods have very different vibes and aesthetics. Pioneer Square has a lot of beautiful old buildings that attract architecture firms, art and design studios, and other creative endeavors. Many have been converted into lofts and apartments, and some of Seattle’s best restaurateurs are opening new spots here to draw in more people. Lumen Field (home to Seahawks football, Sounders, and Seattle Reign soccer, formerly known as Century Link Field) and T-Mobile Park (home to Mariners baseball, formerly Safeco Field) are down here as well, so if you’re a sports fan you’ll find a great game-day atmosphere in Pioneer Square. There’s also an Underground Seattle Tour here—you may want to put that on your “new to Seattle” to-do list.
Pioneer Square Restaurants: 13 Coins Seattle, Taylor’s Shellfish Oyster Bar, Il Terrazzo Carmine, Flatstick Pub
Hotels: Embassy Suites, Silver Cloud Hotel, CitizenM Seattle Pioneer Square
International District
The International District neighborhood (ID), with a history rooted in Asian and Asian-American culture, is a densely populated area with fantastic restaurants, groceries, and cultural events. With many businesses and transportation options including bus, light rail, and Amtrak, the ID has location, history, and opportunities. The ID is home to the Wing Luke Museum, the Uwajimaya Market, and the historic Panama Hotel and Tea House.
ID Restaurants: Dough Zone, Momosan, Maneki, The Boat
Hotels: Panama Hotel and Tea House, The Art Inn Seattle
Central District / Rainier Valley / Beacon Hill (The Seattle School’s Home!)
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology is in south Seattle, right at the intersection of three three neighborhoods: the CD, Rainier Valley, and Beacon Hill. The CD is home to the Wa Na Wari Black arts and community gathering space, as well as the Northwest African American Museum. Also be sure to check out two parks: Judkins – right across the street from our campus! And Pratt Park. On Beacon Hill, check out Jefferson Park and Dr. Jose Rizal Park, not to mention Seattle’s Bouldering Project – one of our city’s rock climbing gyms.
Notable CD/Rainier Valley/Beacon Restaurants: Temple Pasties, Jackson’s Catfish Corner, Cupcake Royale, Victrola Coffee Roasters, Milk Drunk, Bar del Corso
Just-outside-the-city-center Neighborhoods
These neighborhoods surround the ones we mentioned above. They’re all about a 10-15 minute drive from Downtown (or about $10 for a Lyft). Parking is a bit better in these neighborhoods, but not significantly so.
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, east of downtown, is a large and very densely populated neighborhood that is the center of art, music, and LGBTQ+ culture in Seattle. This was the center of the whole grunge thing and is still a primary part of Seattle’s live music scene (although it now includes many genres, including great electronica and hip-hop venues, among others). The prestigious Cornish College of the Arts is also here, along with a thriving theater community. Capitol Hill has a thriving nightlife, with plenty of options for live music, bars, clubs, and restaurants, and some decent shopping. There is a year round Sunday Farmer’s Market that happens in Capitol Hill, a favorite of locals. Cap HIll is also home to Volunteer Park, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Cal Anderson Park.
Cap Hill Restaurants: Melrose Market, Sweet Alchemy, Skillet Diner, Ba Bar Capitol Hill, Terra Plata (rooftop), Poquitos, Smith, Oddfellows, Lost Lake
Hotels: Silver Cloud Broadway, Hotel Sorrento
Fremont
Just north of Lake Union, Fremont is about a 10-15 minute drive from downtown. It’s a charmingly unusual and eclectic sort of place, full of strange and quirky sculptures (like a 10-foot Vladimir Lenin, an enormous troll eating a real-life Volkswagen Beetle, and hedges trimmed to look like faces)—not to mention the annual Summer Solstice parade of naked cyclists. It’s got some of the artistic cultural vibe of Capitol Hill, but more relaxed. The core of Fremont is smaller than that of Capitol Hill or Belltown, though it does have a selection of good restaurants, bars, and boutique shopping. This area has gentrified a lot in recent years and is now home to the Seattle offices of some big technology companies, including Adobe and Google. Check out Gas Works Park!
Fremont Restaurants: Uneeda Burger, RockCreek, The Whale Wins, Gasworks Brewing
Hotel: Staybridge Suites Seattle
Ballard
Ballard, just west of Fremont and about a 15-minute drive from downtown, has been one of Seattle’s trendiest neighborhoods for the last few years. Old Ballard is right in the middle, with brick streets, boutiques, wine bars, artisan pubs, coffee shops, yoga studios, Saturday Farmers Market, and loft apartments with a vintage/modern feel, and the western edge features incredible views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, including one of Seattle’s most popular beaches, Golden Gardens. Historically a fisherman’s town, now with a nightlife somewhere between the frenzied Capitol Hill and the laid back Fremont, Ballard’s popularity means that there are lots of options. Tour the National Nordic Museum and the Ballard Locks!
Ballard Restaurants: Brimmer & Heeltap, The Walrus and the Carpenter, Ray’s Boathouse (waterfront), Ray’s Cafe (waterfront), Staple & Fancy, Fuego, Matador, Percy’s & Co.
Hotels: Ballard Inn, Hotel Ballard, Watertown Hotel
University District
West of Wallingford is the U-District, the neighborhood surrounding the University of Washington – home to the famous “Harry Potter” library, and as a public university, you can visit! There are a lot of college bars, good restaurants, and some live music options. Even though the U-District is right in the middle of a big city, it can feel very much like any college town in America. It’s pretty affordable and a lot of fun, with all the pageantry Division I college athletics have to offer. The U-District also has a light rail station that runs from the stadium through Capitol Hill to the Downtown Westlake Center (and beyond). Also: The U-District boats a year round Saturday Farmer’s Market! See the Henry Art Gallery, the Burke Museum, and Magnuson Park. Rent kayaks or stand up paddle boards at the Waterfront Activities Center! Shop the University Village and picnic on the Village Green!
U District Restaurants: MCozy Fusion Cafe, Ugly Mug Cafe, Saint Bread (waterfront), Joey University Village, Ba Bar University Village, Big Time Brewery & Alehouse, Cafe Solstice, Dough Zone, Mamma Melina, Shultzy’s, Agua Verde Cafe (waterfront), The Mountaineering Club (rooftop), Portage Bay Cafe
U District Hotels: Graduate, Residence Inn, University Inn, Watertown Hotel
Eastlake
On the south side of the University of Washington is Eastlake. With a large neighborhood of floating homes – Hello, “Sleepless in Seattle”! – , as well as older, more expensive houses, the area can be fun to explore. There’s also a few hidden beaches tucked throughout, and a great restaurant and bar scene.
Eastlake Restaurants: Little Water Cantina (patio with water / city views), Serafina, Cicchetti, Zoo Tavern, Carrot Cafe
Greenlake
Greenlake, north of Fremont and Wallingford, is the neighborhood surrounding its namesake body of water. Swim Greenlake, walk Greenlake – the lake is circled by an incredible, three mile walking/running/biking path that is always packed when the sun comes out – rent paddle boats – hello, “Ten Things I Hate About You”! – It’s a friendly neighborhood! There’s a small but good selection of restaurants and bars (parking can be quite tricky if you live near here). Visit the Woodland Park Zoo!
Greenlake Restaurants: Red Mill, Duke’s Seafood, Spud Fish & Chips, Bongos, Rosita’s Mexican Grill
A bit farther, but still Seattle neighborhoods
These neighborhoods are a bit farther out (10-30 minutes to The Seattle School, depending on traffic). They have become popular with students in recent years, as they tend to be more affordable and provide easier access to large supermarkets, more accessible shopping, and even cheaper gas than what you might find in the city center neighborhoods. They also tend to have ample parking (which can cost $150-250 per month if you live somewhere like Downtown). Look along the 15th Street, Highway 99/Aurora Avenue, and I-5 corridors for easy bus access.
Greenwood
Greenwood, northeast of Ballard and northwest of Greenlake, has risen from the bog of its past (literally!) to become a busy, family-friendly, affordable neighborhood. With a good selection of restaurants, bars, gelato stops, and coffee shops along Greenwood Avenue, this is one of Seattle’s up-and-coming walkable neighborhoods. The Interurban Bike Trail runs north from Greenwood, and there are plenty of bike-friendly streets here.
Greenwood Restaurants: El Chupacabra, Miss Pho, Halcyon Brewing, Alibi Room
Northgate/Pinehurst/Lake City
Another up-and-coming area of Seattle, these neighborhoods include two designated “urban villages”—areas that are walkable with restaurants and nightlife options, as well as convenient transportation. Visit Northgate’s Northgate Station for shopping and dining, there’s also a movie theater, and, most fun: the Kraken Community Iceplex for community open skating sessions. These neighborhoods are also fairly close to Lake Washington and the Burke Gilman trail, a popular bike trail that runs along Lake Washington and joins up with the Sammamish River trail farther north.
Restaurants: Elliott Bay Brewing, The Shambles, Pagliacci Pizza, Magnuson Cafe & Brewery
Hotels: Hampton Inn & Suites Northgate, Residence Inn Seattle Northgate, Hotel Nexus, Courtyard Seattle Northgate
West Seattle
Located across Elliot Bay from Downtown, West Seattle is home to Seattle’s most popular beach, Alki – check out Alki Kayak Tours – and it definitely feels like a beach town. It’s really laid back and chill, even a bit reminiscent of California. There’s also a cool central area with some solid restaurants, a great little movie theater, a fantastic record store and a year round Sunday Farmers Market. The trouble with West Seattle is it’s kind of a pain to get downtown from there—probably a 30-minute drive, through an area where traffic is often quite congested. During the nicer months, there’s a water taxi that, even if it doesn’t save you much time, offers one of the most beautiful commutes in town. Also, Lincoln Park is gorgeous, and hides one of Seattle’s only public outdoor pools.
West Seattle Restaurants: Salty’s on Alki Beach (waterfront), Marination Ma Kai (waterfront), Harry’s Beach House, Cactus Alki Beach, Il Nido, Elliott Bay Brewing, Ma’ono West Seattle, Jak’s Grill, Matador West Seattle, Due Cacina, Mioposto
Hotels: The Grove West Seattle Inn
Georgetown
Georgetown, south of SODO and east of South Park, is a fascinating combo of an industrial zone and a trendy neighborhood that offers some vintage shopping, great restaurants, and world class breweries. With its quirky culture and fun hangout spots, Georgetown reflects some of the charm that first made Seattle so unique. Visit The Museum of Flight and Oxbow Park for that famous Hat n Boots pic!
Georgetown Restaurants: Ciudad, Fonda La Catrina, Mezzanotte, Georgetown Brewing Co., Hangar Cafe, Il Sirenito, BOPBOX, The Corson Building, Loretta’s Northwesterner
Hotel: Georgetown Inn
Columbia City
Everyone’s been buzzing about Columbia City the last few years, and it’s easy to see why: Here you’ll find a cozy residential area, a vibrant business district, great restaurants, a seasonal (summer) Thursday night Farmers Market, easy access to buses and the light rail, and just a short walk to Lake Washington and the stunning Seward Park.Check out the Kubota Garden!
Columbia City Restaurants: Bang Bang Kitchen, Stonehouse Cafe (views of Lake WA), Marination Columbia City, Tutta Bella, Taproot Cafe, Lottie’s Lounge, Milk Drunk, Black & Tan Hall, Geraldine’s Counter
Beyond Seattle neighborhoods
These areas lie outside of the Seattle city limits. Some students find these areas to be more inviting, either because of the cost of living, the quieter neighborhoods, or the chance to be part of the communities that live here. Although with these areas, it’s important to remember that the highways are often congested. A commute that takes about 30 minutes during non-peak times can easily turn into an hour or two during rush hour.
The Northside
If you head north out of Seattle along the I-5 corridor, you’ll come to Greater Seattle’s northern suburbs (Shoreline, Edmonds, Kenmore, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Bothell, Woodinville, and eventually Everett). Each is its own adorable waterfront offering with shops, art scenes, various festivals, beaches, or in the cases of Edmonds and Mukilteo: ferry landings to explore surrounding island communities (Bainbridge Island, Whidbey Island, or even as far north as the San Juan Islands), for either day or weekend trips, so do venture out of the city, should you have the time, or are able to extend your residency.
Northside Honorable Mention Restaurants: The Victor Tavern (Edmonds), Ristorante Machiavelli (Edmonds), Anthony’s Homeport (Edmonds – waterfront), Arnie’s Restaurant (Edmonds – waterfront), Ivar’s (Mukilteo Landing – waterfront), Diamond Knot Brewery (Mukilteo)
The Southside
Head south on the I-5 corridor and you’ll find the southern suburbs of Seattle (Burien, SeaTac, Renton, Federal Way, Puyallup, Tacoma, and eventually Olympia). These neighborhoods offer much of the same appeal as the northern suburbs, though you might also find a busier, more industrial vibe in this direction. In Olympia, visit the state capitol, or in Tacoma, the Point Defiance Zoo!
Honorable Mention Southside Restaurants: El Gaucho Tacoma, Duke’s Seafood Tacoma, Anthony’s Homeport (Olympia), Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill (Olympia)
The Eastside
Beyond Lake Washington is what is locally called “the Eastside,” including the suburb cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Issaquah. A lot of Seattle’s big tech companies have offices in this area (Microsoft, Nintendo, Adobe, T-Mobile, HTC, and others), and a lot of people commute to the Eastside for work. The floating bridges between Seattle and the Eastside make up what is probably Seattle’s biggest traffic issue. So if you’re living in the city but working on the Eastside, or vice versa, it’s worth trying to find a spot that’s easily accessible to one of the two bridges, WA-520 (a toll bridge) and I-90. Seattle is working on wrapping up the light rail project to connect Seattle to eastside more seamlessly *fingers crossed* not to mention, what a beautiful lakeside train ride that will be! Bellevue features amazing shopping and dining – The Bellevue Collection – and plenty of Lake WA beach access.
Honorable Mention Eastside Restaurants: Joey (Bellevue), 520 Bar & Grill (Bellevue), Monsoon (Bellevue), Din Thai Fung (Bellevue)
The “West Side” or West Sound
Check out the cities in the Kitsap Peninsula, west of Seattle, across the body of water known as the Salish Sea. It’s a 35-minute ride to Bainbridge Island on the ferry from Downtown Seattle. A little bit further is Bremerton, and there are two ferry options: the 30-minute Kitsap passenger-only-ferry (foot or bike) or the 60-minute state-run ferry (foot, bike, or car). Once on either island, be it for a day trip or an overnight, there’s shopping, dining, festivals, beaches, hikes, and things to do galore.
Honorable Mention Eastside Restaurants: Bainbridge Brewing
Remember that you are moving to, or visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the country! We will be holding each of you in mind as you make your way out to the PNW, and we can’t wait to see you out here!
[Originally published April 2019, updated 2025]