Ballard

Explore

Set in a striking contemporary building, the National Nordic Museum (2655 NW Market St) contains compelling exhibits that celebrate the area’s rich Scandinavian heritage. Nearby, watch ships use the massive “boat elevator” to pass through the Ballard Locks (3015 NW 54th St) before strolling through the adjacent botanical garden. On Ballard’s west edge, Golden Gardens Park (8498 Seaview Pl NW) offers incomparable Puget Sound views, idyllic beaches, and leafy walking trails.

Eat and Drink

Start your day at Old Salt (6309 24th Ave NW) with a perfectly made black sesame–Aleppo pepper bagel topped with lox or smoked cod, while Stumbletown (6256 Third Ave NW) is a great choice for heavenly Italian-style sandwiches. Esteemed favorites for seasonal, locally sourced cuisine that reflects the bounty of the Pacific Northwest include The Walrus & the Carpenter (4743 Ballard Ave NW) and Brimmer & Heeltap (425 NW Market St), with its lush garden and firepit—note the stellar onsite wine shop. Baker’s (6408 32nd Ave NW) is an intimate cocktail bar that also serves tasty tapas, stylish Cafe Munir (2408 NW 80th St) turns out delicious elevated Lebanese fare, and Sunny Hill (3127 NW 85th St) is beloved for its prodigious pizzas and a fantastic baked ricotta gnocchi plate. Try the Knives Out rum and passionfruit cocktail before tucking into creatively prepared Indian cuisine at hip Rupee Bar (6307 24th Ave NW). More than an excellent bottle shop, Ballard Beer Box (2446 NW Market St) also serves seriously delicious pizzas, including an Indian-inspired pie topped with curry tikka masala and marinated paneer. Other welcoming nightspots of note include McLeod’s Scottish Pub (5200 Ballard Ave NW) and Percy’s & Co. (5233 Ballard Ave NW).

Shop

You’ll find an array of boutiques stocked with gorgeous, often hand-crafted, goods in the heart of the neighborhood, including Baleen (6418 20th Ave NW), with its beautiful and sustainably designed jewelry; Prism (5208 Ballard Ave NW), which carries artful candleholders and glassware as well as thoughtfully designed apparel; and Lucca (5332 Ballard Ave NW), with its line of in-house greeting cards, plus bath and body products, incense and candles, and offbeat gifts. Search for more great finds at the fashion-forward clothiers Horseshoe (5344 Ballard Ave NW) and September (5410 22nd Ave NW).