Sightseeing
Our local neighborhood center was an independent logging town 100 years ago. Lots of restaurants, shops, and independent movie theater, and a lovely Carnegie Library!
117 locals recommend
Columbia City
Our local neighborhood center was an independent logging town 100 years ago. Lots of restaurants, shops, and independent movie theater, and a lovely Carnegie Library!
Entertainment & Activities
Ark Lodge Cinemas
4816 Rainier Ave SGreat local independent movie theater!
The house is just blocks from a walking path that runs along Lake Washington (including past the rowing center).
20 locals recommend
Mt Baker Rowing & Sailing Center
3800 Lake Washington Blvd SThe house is just blocks from a walking path that runs along Lake Washington (including past the rowing center).
Biggest and best indoor climbing gym in the NW. No ropes or experience required - you just land on comfy matts. They also have amazing yoga classes, weights, cardio, etc.
56 locals recommend
Seattle Bouldering Project
900 Poplar Pl SBiggest and best indoor climbing gym in the NW. No ropes or experience required - you just land on comfy matts. They also have amazing yoga classes, weights, cardio, etc.
Food Scene
One of the best bakeries in a city full of awesome bakeries. Great place for coffee and snacks, but crowded on weekends. Great stop before getting on Light Rail!
184 locals recommend
Columbia City Bakery
4865 Rainier Ave SOne of the best bakeries in a city full of awesome bakeries. Great place for coffee and snacks, but crowded on weekends. Great stop before getting on Light Rail!
Wonderful wood-fired Neopolitan Pizza and Salads. A bit loud, but super tasty!
128 locals recommend
Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria
4918 Rainier Ave SWonderful wood-fired Neopolitan Pizza and Salads. A bit loud, but super tasty!
Caffe Vita
5028 Wilson Ave SNot too far a walk - super coffee!
Another good coffee place on way to light rail. Mostly full of folks with faces planted in their Mac Laptops.
85 locals recommend
Empire Espresso
3829 S Edmunds StAnother good coffee place on way to light rail. Mostly full of folks with faces planted in their Mac Laptops.
While I am NO FAN of starbucks, this store has a very diverse crowd of folks that actually sit down and TALK to each other (and not just via a computer).
550 locals recommend
Starbucks
1912 Pike PlWhile I am NO FAN of starbucks, this store has a very diverse crowd of folks that actually sit down and TALK to each other (and not just via a computer).
Super-fantastic home-made ice cream with vintage pinball and video games!
94 locals recommend
Full Tilt Columbia City
5041 Rainier Ave SSuper-fantastic home-made ice cream with vintage pinball and video games!
Just a few blocks from the house, this is one of the BEST pizza places in the city!
60 locals recommend
Flying Squirrel Pizza Co
4920 S Genesee StJust a few blocks from the house, this is one of the BEST pizza places in the city!
This is a lovely little breakfast and lunch place just a few blocks away. At one point, they had menu items named after our kids!
64 locals recommend
Both Ways Cafe
4922 S Genesee StThis is a lovely little breakfast and lunch place just a few blocks away. At one point, they had menu items named after our kids!
The nicest place in the neighborhood. Outstanding Sicilian style cuisine. Uses lots of local organic ingredients and written up in all the big mags.
102 locals recommend
La Medusa
4857 Rainier Ave SThe nicest place in the neighborhood. Outstanding Sicilian style cuisine. Uses lots of local organic ingredients and written up in all the big mags.
A bit outside the neighborhood, but a short light rail or drive from the house. This is our favorite mexican food place - mostly because we LOVE the family that runs the place.
49 locals recommend
Baja Bistro
2710 Beacon Ave SA bit outside the neighborhood, but a short light rail or drive from the house. This is our favorite mexican food place - mostly because we LOVE the family that runs the place.
Seattle has amazing Ethiopian food. Bana cafe is relatively new, very close to the house, and reportedly very good!
TAGLA-CAFE
4423 Rainier Ave SSeattle has amazing Ethiopian food. Bana cafe is relatively new, very close to the house, and reportedly very good!
Drinks & Nightlife
Lottie's Lounge
4900 Rainier Ave SNice neighborhood bar!
Amazing music venue. Live music every night, no cover - artists paid by donation from tables. Mostly jazz, but a great performance space.
121 locals recommend
The Royal Room Seattle
5000 Rainier Ave SAmazing music venue. Live music every night, no cover - artists paid by donation from tables. Mostly jazz, but a great performance space.
The Hummingbird Saloon
5041 Rainier Ave SOur favorite neighborhood bar. Not fancy, just real.
Fine traditional ale house with pretty good food. (Note no minors allowed.)
65 locals recommend
Columbia City Ale House
4914 Rainier Ave SFine traditional ale house with pretty good food. (Note no minors allowed.)
Amazing music venue with touring shows. Mostly indie/folksy/hipster music in a beautifully restored vaudeville theater in the heart of historic Columbia City.
102 locals recommend
Columbia City Gallery
4864 Rainier Ave SAmazing music venue with touring shows. Mostly indie/folksy/hipster music in a beautifully restored vaudeville theater in the heart of historic Columbia City.
Rumba Notes
5041 Rainier Ave SVery fun and diverse music venue - soul, R&B, hip hop, African, etc.
Parks & Nature
This is an amazing and massive park of Old Growth Douglas Firs. It is about 2.5 miles away (up the lake path) and there is a 2.5 mile trail around the park, or a maze of trails through the forest!
477 locals recommend
Seward Park
5900 Lake Washington Blvd SThis is an amazing and massive park of Old Growth Douglas Firs. It is about 2.5 miles away (up the lake path) and there is a 2.5 mile trail around the park, or a maze of trails through the forest!
Essentials
This is our neighborhood "Co-op". It has become somewhat big and commercial, but the upside is that there is a decent hot food bar, salad bar, tacos, etc. This is a great option for grabbing something quick before or after hopping on or off the rail! Easy walk from our house and only a block from Columbia City Rail Station!
243 locals recommend
PCC Community Markets - Columbia City
3610 S Edmunds StThis is our neighborhood "Co-op". It has become somewhat big and commercial, but the upside is that there is a decent hot food bar, salad bar, tacos, etc. This is a great option for grabbing something quick before or after hopping on or off the rail! Easy walk from our house and only a block from Columbia City Rail Station!