Ballard Seattle

​Ballard is one of my favorite places to hang out in Seattle, and has a thriving restaurant scene along Ballard Avenue NW. It's located just 20 minutes north of downtown, and is one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods.

Ballard restaurants & shopping

My first stop is always the restaurants along Ballard Avenue NW. This street has a distinctively European vibe, with hip cafes, restaurants and shops inside historic 19th century buildings. It's especially beautiful in fall when the leaves change color along this tree-lined street.

I most frequently eat at the lively Matador (mexican) and delicious Shiku Sushi. My go to for brunch is Sabine Cafe, with scrumptious breakfast wraps and oat skillet pancakes.

There's plenty of great shopping along Ballard Avenue NW, including stylish gifts at Woodland Mod, and trendy boutiques like Studio RA.

One of my favorite activities is browsing the two floors of furniture and accessories at Ballard Consignment to find an amazing bargain. I also regularly visit the bustling Sunday Farmer's Market along this same stretch.

Other attractions in Ballard

There's a lot to do around Ballard, including the fabulous Nordic Museum that documents Ballard's Scandinavian history. This neighborhood was once full of shingle mills and fisheries, employing thousands of Norwegians and Swedes who arrived here in the 1890s.

I also love sitting by a firepit on the beach and watching the summer sunsets at Golden Gardens park in Ballard. It's fun to pick up an ice-cream or burger at Little Coney, and stroll along the foreshore while savoring views of the Olympic Mountains.

Another must-see attraction is the Ballard Locks, where I can watch boats traveling between Puget Sound and upstream lakes. The botanic gardens here are gorgeous, and I also visit the Fish Ladder each year to see salmon swimming upstream.

After I've done a day of sight-seeing, I always head to Ballard's Brewery District, where I can walk to over a dozen breweries in a four block radius.

10 best things to do in Ballard Seattle

1. Visit Ballard's cool restaurants

I love visiting all the restaurants along beautiful Ballard Avenue NW. 

If I crave Mexican food and cocktails, I visit the vibrant Matador restaurant which has been here since 2004 (21+).

The epitomy of chic dining in Ballard is the The Walrus & Carpenter.  This is a super popular restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor dining. I highly recommend the fried oysters and hama hama clams.

I visit Shiku Sushi at-least once a month (pictured above), and enjoy their honey, dream and sashami speciality rolls. Yum! 

Some other top picks near here, include the Stoneburner for mediterranean fare, Staple and Fancy for italian food in the historic Kolstrand Building, and Gracia for traditional mexican dishes.  The cellar room at Staple and Fancy is amazing for private dinners!

I'm also a regular patron at the European-style Sabine Cafe Bar (above and below). Feast on their delicious all day brunch, including breakfast wraps and oat skillet pancakes!

Feast on farm-to-table fare from some of Seattle's top chefs at the fancy Ballard Cut. Highlights include the lamb loin tartare and crispy pork belly. There's also 1,200 whiskies to choose from, like Japanese and Scottish single malts.

Nothing beats the cosy, intimate atmosphere of San Fermo italian restaurant. The restaurant is inside a beautifully preserved home from the 1850s.

I really enjoy the hot and cold sandwiches at The Other Coast Cafe.

2. Shop along Ballard Avenue NW 

Whenever I'm doing a shopping trip along Ballard Avenue NW, I start at the Market Street intersection then walk south. This is one of Seattle's prettiest streets, with 19th century buildings flanked by a canopy of trees. 

The gorgeous interior of Woodland Mod always catches my eye. This is the perfect place for gifts.

I can always see the heavy nordic influence at Woodland Mod, in the scents, vases, lights, and candles.

They've also got a great selection of reasonably priced, modernist artwork.

Sweet Mickey's feels like an old time candy shoppe, and has all my favorites like rocky road fudge and truffles. I love scooping my own candy bag full of childhood favorites like banana runts, watermelon rings and licorice shooters.

It's fun to browse some of the more quirky shops along Ballard Avenue NW, like Lucca Great Finds. It's a feast for the eyes here, with loads of gift ideas including body products, tarot cards, candles and journals.

There are some great deals to be found in the two story warehouse for the Ballard Consignment Store.  You could decorate a whole apartment or house from all the furniture in here, and there's also some stunning artwork, rugs and accessories.

My favorite boutique along Ballard Avenue NW is Studio RA. It has classic items that stand the test of time.

September is full of hipster clothing and trendy gifts.

The clothing at September seems to embrace the Seattle climate and esthetic. 

September has a strong emphasis on original artworks, beautifully illustrated cards, and handmade mugs. Every item has been thoughtfully selected. 

There are so many cool caps to choose from at the USA-themed Standard Goods store.

I always stop by at Re-soul for inspiration on the latest footware and fashions. They really have their finger on the pulse of what's in.

3. Hang out in trendy coffee shops in Ballard

There's also a decent selection of coffee shops along Ballard Avenue NW.  One of the most popular is Caffe Umbria with Italian expresso, wine and beer, and locally baked goods from Macrina.

I can usually find a table at Cafe Umbria.

The Anchored Ship Coffee Bar is one of those cosy, hole in the wall places to sip coffee or wine and escape the world. There's a cute upstairs area above the bar, where you can hang out.

I love the idea behind Hommage cafe, which is a combination coffee and ceramics shop. Order the Shakerato double expresso served neat!

4. Try one of Ballard's many brewpubs.

One of the best things to happen to Ballard in recent years is the emergence of a brewpub district in a former warehouse area. There's over a dozen of these brewpubs in a four block radius, which makes it perfect for a pub crawl.  Learn about the best Ballard Breweries including Urban Family Brewing (below).

5. Enjoy an evening at a cocktail bar or pub.

The Macleod's Scottish pub has over 200 whiskies and scotch cocktails! There's also traditional fare like fish and ships, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie and the mcleod's burger. Check out the map of Scotland on the ceiling, and cheeky Nessie sticking her head out at the bar. McLeods has an amazing atmosphere evocative of an authentic Scottish pub.

Another fun cocktail bar in Ballard is Little Tin Goods & Apothecary Cabinet. This is a speakeasy-themed tiki bar, with Hawaiian eats. Don't miss the lovely patio area outside!

6. Visit the Sunday Farmers Market

I regularly visit the Ballard Farmers Market each Sunday, along Ballard Avenue NW. 

7. Learn about Seattle's Scandinavian roots at the Nordic Museum

The Nordic Museum is housed in a sleek new building, and celebrates Ballard's Scandinavian heritage. There was a huge influx of immigrants to Ballard from the 1840s onwards.

The exhibits celebrate 12,000 years of nordic history, starting with the fascinating viking era.

8. See amazing views at Golden Gardens beach 

One of my favorite beaches in Seattle is at Golden Gardens in Ballard, just 7 minutes drive from Ballard Avenue NW.

It can get pretty busy here in summer, when everyone competes for a spot on the beach to watch the glorious sunset over the Olympic Mountains. In winter I enjoy peaceful walks along the beach as I admire the views across Puget Sound.

The water at Golden Gardens is too cold for swimming, and there are no lifeguards. However, there's plenty to do, including a creek for kids to frolic in, a pirate's ship at the playground, and plenty of walking trails. I also love stopping by Little Coney at the marina for a soft serve and hot dog, and there's also a seasonal cafe adjacent to the Golden Gardens Bathhouse, where I can pick up snacks, sandwiches and ice-creams.

9. Visit the fascinating Ballard Locks 

I always tell visitors that one of Seattle's best free attractions is the Ballard Locks, officially known as the Hiram Chittenden Locks.

Visitors can peer down at the lock chamber at the Ballard Locks, and watch boats being raised or lowered 20 feet as water levels are adjusted. This enables boats to move between the open waters of Puget Sound, and freshwater upstream lakes like Lake Union and Lake Washington.

These lakes were once separate from Puget Sound, making it difficult to transport goods. Therefore between 1911 to 1934 the Army Corp of Engineers carved out a waterway known as the ship canal. The canal actually runs along the southern border of trendy neighborhoods like Ballard and Fremont. They then added the locks in 1917.

The Ballard Locks has a great museum with a movie theater, exhibits and gift shop, and lots of information about this incredible engineering feat. I also enjoy exploring the beautiful botanic gardens, with lots of concerts in summer.

10. Watch salmon at the Ballard Locks fish ladder.

The Ballard Locks fish ladder is another place I highly recommend. To get there, I just walk across the platform at the Ballard Locks, then take the steps down to the fish ladder. It's an amazing experience peering into the large windows at the Ballard Locks, and watching Salmon swimming upstream from June to September. There's also a free video on the migratory habits of salmon.

11. Enjoy water views at Ray's Boathouse.

My #1 recommendation for a water view restaurant in Seattle, is historic Ray's Boathouse in Ballard. The views and location can't be beat. Sit inside or outside on the patio, while enjoying soaring views over Puget Sound towards the Olympic Mountains.  I enjoy watching all the activity out on the water, like the boats entering or exiting the ship canal, lots of paddleboarders and kayakers, and frequent seal spottings!

12. Stay at Ballard hotels.

There are two options for hotels in Ballard, the Ballard Inn and Hotel Ballard.

Both have an excellent location near the shops and restaurants on Ballard Avenue NW. They also have complementary access to the fabulous Olympic Athletic Club and Spa.

Hotel Ballard is the more luxe, expensive option, and is also home to the elegant Stoneburner Restaurant.

This is the beautiful lobby of Hotel Ballard.

The cosy Ballard Inn is my recommendation for budget minded travelers. This two star hotel was completely renovated in 2011, and is is inside the historic American-Scandinavian Bank building (1902), which was converted to a hotel in the 1920s. The rooms have both shared and private bathrooms.