Queen Anne Seattle

Queen Anne is an affluent neighborhood on a hill overlooking Seattle’s downtown, 5 minutes north of the city.

I love driving through Queen Anne to admire it's beautiful, tree-lined streets, with vintage, craftsman homes.

The grandest homes are on it's south slope, commanding spectacular views of the Seattle skyline. Seattle's most famous viewpoint is here at Kerry Park, with incredible views of the Space Needle.

There's a lot of cachet if you live at the "top of the hill" in Upper Queen Anne, and real estate is at a premium here.

The other key benefit of living at the top of the hill is that there's a flat, walkable area with two shopping streets along Queen Anne Avenue North and West Galer Avenue. If you're lucky enough to live near these streets you can walk to everything, including the market, coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques. 

Upper Queen Anne is also home to three parks, especially popular with families. Little Howe has a seasonal wading pool and playground and is perfect for little kids. Big Howe also has a playground, lots of space for baseball and soccer fields, and an indoor swimming pool open year-round. 

David Rogers Park is further north of Queen Anne on a sloped section of the hill in a more forested setting with trails, and has a playground, tennis courts, and soccer field.

10 best things to do in Queen Anne

1. Kerry Park viewpoint

I always tell visitors to put the Kerry Park viewpoint at the top of their must-see list. There are simply no better views of Seattle's downtown, the Space Needle, and distant snowcapped Mt Rainier. It's also wonderful to visit at night when the city is illuminated with twinkling lights.

The viewpoint is in a suburban part of the Queen Anne neighborhood, at 211 W Highland Drive, so please be respectful of nearby neighbors. 

2. Grey’s Anatomy House

I've noticed there's always a tourist getting their photo taken in-front of the famous Grey's Anatomy House. It's just one block from Kerry Park at 303 West Comstock Street. Someone actually lives in the house, so please be respectful of their privacy. 

It's fun to see the fictional house where Meredith Grey lived, from the popular Grey's Anatomy TV series.

3. Parsons Gardens

Whenever I'm searching for a lush, secluded garden in the middle of the city, I head to Parsons Gardens on Queen Anne's south slope. I usually have the park to myself, and bring a picnic blanket and book to read, while enjoying this tranquil oasis. It's just a short, 5-minute stroll west of Kerry Park. 

4. Marshall Park viewpoint

If I'm visiting Parsons Gardens, I always combine it with a walk across the road to Marshall Park. The best time to visit is at sunset, when you can sit on one of three benches, and savor incredible west facing views across the majestic Olympic Mountains.

There are also views of the Cruise Terminal (Pier 91) from this vantage point.

After visiting Marshall Park, I then stretch my legs by walking north along 8th Avenue West on the sidewalk that flanks the West Queen Anne Walls. Walking on this sidewalk gives me a glimpse into Queen Anne's past, complete with vintage lamp posts and an ornate wall. The wall was constructed between 1913 and 1916 and is now a designated a Seattle historic landmark.

I recommend you continue for half a mile along 8th Avenue West, until you reach Blaine Street. The views are incredible, and you also get to see some of Queen Anne's most gorgeous homes.

5. Queen Anne Avenue North

The busiest shopping street in Queen Anne is Queen Anne Avenue North.  The flat section of this street is in Upper Queen Anne at the top of the hill, in a six block stretch between McGraw Street and Galer.

My top restaurant picks here are:

• For hip, upscale restaurants, I recommend Eden Hill (American), How to Cook a Woof (Italian), Ikiiki Sushi Bar, and Grappa (Mediterranean).
• Neighbors hang out for comfort food and beers at the Hill Top Ale House.
• Families love yummy Zeeks Pizza or Big Max Burger Co. 
• My favorite brunch spots are 5 Spot and the Queen Anne Cafe.

Top cafes:

• Moonrise Bakery is perfect for tasty pastries and coffee.
• Queen Anne Coffee Company is in a trendy, minimalist setting, adjacent to the bookstore.
• Cafe Hagen combines brunch and lunch with coffee in a chic setting with high ceilings and big windows.
• Caffe Ladro is homey and welcoming, and ideal for a winter's day.

Boutiques and bookstore:

• Shopaholics can indulge in retail therapy at boutiques like Millie Boutique, the Vixen Collection, and Willa: A Lifestyle Shop.
• The Queen Anne Book Company is a neighborhood gathering spot, with plenty of author readings, and an outdoor patio.

6. West Galer Street

If I'm in search of a quieter shopping area at the top of Queen Anne Hill, I head to West Galer Street. The block between 3rd and 4th Avenue has some great finds, and is only a short walk from Kerry Park.

• Café Vitta is my favorite neighborhood hangout. I love it's cosy, eclectic interior, with plenty of adirondack chairs out front for people watching.
• Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream serves delicious icecream in flavors like honey lavender and cookie dough.
• Via Tribunali serves neopolitan pizzas in a European inspired interior. It has the loveliest ambiance, and is bathed in candelight at night. 

7. Bayview-Kinnear Park playground

I'm always surprised when families visit the Kerry Park viewpoint, but don't realize there's a fabulous, modern playground at the bottom of the stairs at Bayview-Kinnear Park.

8. West Queen Anne Playfield (“Big Howe”)

One of the busiest parks in Upper Queen Anne is the West Queen Anne Playfield, otherwise known by locals as "Big Howe".

This 6-acre grassy park is popular for baseball games in spring, and soccer in fall.  It also has a fun playground at the top of the playfields.

The Queen Anne Community Center flanks the north end of the playfield, and is worth checking out. It's a community hub with an indoor swimming pool, community programs like yoga and summer camps, and a drop-in, indoor basketball court, perfect for kids and teens.

9.  East Queen Anne Park (“Little Howe”)

I also love the smaller park at the top of Queen Anne Hill, known as East Queen Anne Park. Its 1.5 acre size has earned it the nickname "Little Howe".

Smaller kids love this park, with a fun playground and seasonal wading pool. Best of all, there's plenty of benches for parents to sit and relax while their kids play. The other half of the park is a grassy field used for soccer.

10. David Rodgers Park

The third Queen Anne park that I'd recommend is David Rodgers Park, on its sloped, northern side. 

I always feel like this 8.5 acre park is more like an urban forest, with meandering paths through mature trees, making it ideal for quiet picnics or walks. It's an old park, originally known as Evergreen Park before being donated to the city by B.F. Charles in 1883. I prefer the playground here, because it's shaded by trees in summer. There's also three tennis courts nearby.

The most northern section of the park has been fully developed as soccer fields, and is known as the Queen Anne Bowl Playfield. There's also a running track around the playfield, making it popular with locals.