Guidebook for Ballard
Sightseeing
This is one of the most epic views of the Olympic Mountains and the Sound. Great for a picnic or just a stroll
83 locals recommend
Sunset Hill Park
7531 34th Ave NWThis is one of the most epic views of the Olympic Mountains and the Sound. Great for a picnic or just a stroll
The locks is one of my favorite places in Seattle. Walk through a botanical garden to reach the water and watch ships and boats go through! Also home to the seasonal fish ladder.
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StThe locks is one of my favorite places in Seattle. Walk through a botanical garden to reach the water and watch ships and boats go through! Also home to the seasonal fish ladder.
A great view of downtown, the Space Needle, and Mt. Rainier on a clear day.
881 locals recommend
Kerry Park
211 W Highland DrA great view of downtown, the Space Needle, and Mt. Rainier on a clear day.
Parks & Nature
This is a lovely neighborhood park with a children's play space, green lawns, and a charming vegetable garden P-Patch built into the ruins of an old church.
14 locals recommend
Kirke Park
7028 9th Ave NWThis is a lovely neighborhood park with a children's play space, green lawns, and a charming vegetable garden P-Patch built into the ruins of an old church.
Very cool little hilltop park overlooking the canal and mountains.
39 locals recommend
Fremont Peak Park
4357 Palatine Ave NVery cool little hilltop park overlooking the canal and mountains.
Carkeek has it all - playground, hiking trails, beach access, greenspace. Plus watch the trains go by from atop the pedestrian bridge.
251 locals recommend
Carkeek Park
950 NW Carkeek Park RdCarkeek has it all - playground, hiking trails, beach access, greenspace. Plus watch the trains go by from atop the pedestrian bridge.
Classic Seattle beach! Great sunset and mountain views next to the marina.
Note: Parking here can get crazy on weekends
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWClassic Seattle beach! Great sunset and mountain views next to the marina.
Note: Parking here can get crazy on weekends
Essentials
This includes neighborhood spots where you can pick up groceries or convenience items.
A very short walk from the house, we love this place for picking up a quick bottle of wine or quart of milk. They make great sandwiches (including for breakfast) and have a small selection of deli items for takeaway like meatloaf and desserts.
34 locals recommend
Take 5 Urban Market
6757 8th Ave NWA very short walk from the house, we love this place for picking up a quick bottle of wine or quart of milk. They make great sandwiches (including for breakfast) and have a small selection of deli items for takeaway like meatloaf and desserts.
Walkable from the house, this convenience store has a wide selection of beer, wine, snacks, and serves takeout teriyaki.
Choice Deli & Grocery
6415 8th Ave NWWalkable from the house, this convenience store has a wide selection of beer, wine, snacks, and serves takeout teriyaki.
Neighborhood fresh fruit/veggies stand. Good prices and a great neighborhood feel.
18 locals recommend
Top Banana
6501 15th Ave NWNeighborhood fresh fruit/veggies stand. Good prices and a great neighborhood feel.
Trader Joe's
1700 E Madison StWho doesn't love TJ's
Now called Town & Country.
This is a slightly more upscale grocery store than your average Safeway. Small and easy to manage with pretty much everything you could need.
149 locals recommend
Ballard Market
1400 NW 56th StNow called Town & Country.
This is a slightly more upscale grocery store than your average Safeway. Small and easy to manage with pretty much everything you could need.
Food Scene
Some of the best pizza around! This is our favorite neighborhood place. Gets very busy for dinner and waiting for a table can sometimes take an hour, so plan ahead! They also offer take out.
123 locals recommend
Delancey
1415 NW 70th StSome of the best pizza around! This is our favorite neighborhood place. Gets very busy for dinner and waiting for a table can sometimes take an hour, so plan ahead! They also offer take out.
A cozy dining spot walkable from the house - slightly more upscale, but still pretty relaxed. Super friendly service and lots of art on the walls.
33 locals recommend
The Blue Glass
704 NW 65th StA cozy dining spot walkable from the house - slightly more upscale, but still pretty relaxed. Super friendly service and lots of art on the walls.
Amazing plant-based ice cream! Superb flavors in an adorable shop.
42 locals recommend
Frankie & Jo's Ballard
1411 NW 70th StAmazing plant-based ice cream! Superb flavors in an adorable shop.
Un Bien
7302.5 15th Ave NWCasual Caribbean place to eat - counter service - delicious!
Korean-adjacent food for breakfast/brunch/lunch. Popular on weekends for brunch. Very tasty.
6 locals recommend
Watson's Counter
6420 15th Ave NWKorean-adjacent food for breakfast/brunch/lunch. Popular on weekends for brunch. Very tasty.
Popular for brunch on weekends - great egg dishes and overall very good eats.
143 locals recommend
The Fat Hen
1418 NW 70th StPopular for brunch on weekends - great egg dishes and overall very good eats.
MOD Pizza
6010 15th Ave NWThis is THE PLACE if you are looking for breakfast or lunch. It is counter service, open air, with seats on the sidewalk or inside. They have excellent coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, etc. plus a huge pantry provisions section and great wines.
18 locals recommend
Mainstay Provisions
612 NW 65th StThis is THE PLACE if you are looking for breakfast or lunch. It is counter service, open air, with seats on the sidewalk or inside. They have excellent coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, etc. plus a huge pantry provisions section and great wines.
Shopping
Prism
5208 Ballard Ave NWThis shop has hip gifts and clothes. I love to buy gifts from here.
A Ballard classic event! Every Sunday the farmer's market offers local goods, including fresh foods, crafts, art, beverages, and food carts with prepared food. My favorite is the raclette cart!
220 locals recommend
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWA Ballard classic event! Every Sunday the farmer's market offers local goods, including fresh foods, crafts, art, beverages, and food carts with prepared food. My favorite is the raclette cart!
Drinks & Nightlife
Essex
1421 NW 70th StRelaxed bar serving Mexican food, which is decent, but not amazing. They have karaoke several days a week, billiards, darts.
14 locals recommend
Tarasco
1452 NW 70th StRelaxed bar serving Mexican food, which is decent, but not amazing. They have karaoke several days a week, billiards, darts.
A bar and food service place in Viking style. Excellent authentic Scandinavian dishes and a super fun interior.
Skål Beer Hall
5429 Ballard Ave NWA bar and food service place in Viking style. Excellent authentic Scandinavian dishes and a super fun interior.
Awesome brewery in the heart of the Ballard brewery scene. Pool tables and other games - lots of space for big groups.
22 locals recommend
Lagunitas Brewing Company TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary
1550 NW 49th StAwesome brewery in the heart of the Ballard brewery scene. Pool tables and other games - lots of space for big groups.
Brewery with a great west-facing view from the upper deck. Lower levels are dog and kid friendly. Good beer too.
110 locals recommend
Stoup Brewing
1108 NW 52nd StBrewery with a great west-facing view from the upper deck. Lower levels are dog and kid friendly. Good beer too.
Trailbend Taproom
1118 NW 50th StBeautifully design taproom serving yummy food.