Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)

Eastside

Map 49

Easily accessible to and from the surrounding Eastside cities and Seattle, Redmond claims the title “Bicycle capital of the Northwest”--the eleven-mile Sammamish River Trail takes cyclists to the Burke Gilman Trail ending in Seattle. With what seems like hundreds of Starbucks (and counting) within a five-mile radius, the daily mocha will prevent you from dwelling on the drizzle. Picnic or catch a summer concert at Marymoor Park.

✵ Edge Skate Park ✵ NE 83rd St & 161st Ave NE

Skateboard park and graffiti wall sponsored by the city. Cool.

✵ Marymoor Park ✵

6046 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE

206-205-3661

640 acres for picnics, summer concerts, and chasing dogs.

✵ Cascade Grind ✵ 8005 161st Ave NE

206-881-2500

Recognizing that you can get good coffee from attractive people who keep their clothes on.

✵ Jitters Coffee ✵ 15010 NE 20th Pl

425-747-8030

Go-to for Microsofties.

✵ Kitanda Açaí and Espresso ✵ 16349 NE 74th St

206-556-7999

The Brazilian coffee and pastries that you didn’t know your life was missing.

✵ Mercurys Coffee Co. ✵ 17980 Redmond Way

425-881-0959

Organic fair trade coffee that’s good enough to forgive a missing apostrophe.

✵ Peet’s Coffee & Tea ✵ 17887 Redmond Way

425-968-6125

Bay Area interlopers.

✵ Tapioca Express ✵ 15230 NE 24th St

206-643-9406

Espresso and bubble tea the Taiwanese way.

✵ Victor’s Celtic Coffee & Roasters ✵ 7993 Gilman St

425-881-6451

Own roasters plus wholesale.

✵ Celtic Bayou ✵ 7281 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE

425-869-5933

Irish/Cajun hybrid in case you need to fill that void.

✵ The Matador ✵ 7824 Leary Way NE

425-883-2855

One of the few bar scenes in Redmond. Buffalo wings and stuff.

✵ Family Pancake House ✵ 17621 Redmond Way

425-883-0922 ✵ $

Chocolate chip pancakes that melt in your mouth.

✵ Frankie’s Pizza and Pasta ✵ 16630 Redmond Way

425-883-8407 ✵ $$

Local favorite serving gourmet pizza and the usual Italian fare.

✵ Marinepolis Sushi Land ✵ 8910 161st Ave NE

425-284-2587 ✵ $$

Fun, cheap sushi.

✵ Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge ✵

16651 NE 74th St

425-376-0909 ✵ $$

Almost upscale, but tempered by kids and baseball caps.

✵ Nara Japanese Restaurant ✵ 16564 Cleveland St

425-885-0703 ✵ $$

Head for the sushi bar.

✵ Ooba Tooba ✵ 15802 NE 83rd St

425-702-1694 ✵ $

Flavorful, fresh Mexican.

✵ Pomegranate Bistro ✵ 18005 NE 68th St

425-556-5972 ✵ $$

Cute and tasty.

✵ Sages Restaurant ✵ 15916 NE 83rd St

425-881-5004 ✵ $$$

Intimate, rustic, mouthwatering Italian with candles and white tablecloths.

✵ Spicy Talk Bistro ✵ 16650 Redmond Wy

425-558-7858 ✵ $$

Authentic Szechuan in Redmond.

✵ The Stone House ✵ 16244 Cleveland St

425-558-5625 ✵ $$$$

Inventive cuisine in a charming setting.

✵ Stone Korean Restaurant ✵ 16857 Redmond Wy

425-497-0515 ✵ $$$

Especially the Korean fried chicken.

✵ Thai Ginger ✵ 16480 NE 74th St

425-558-4044 ✵ $$$

Try their trout salad.

✵ Three Lions Pub ✵ 8115 161st Ave NE

425-284-3399 ✵ $$

British cuisine? Yes, it’s not always an oxymoron.

✵ Yummy Teriyaki ✵ 17218 Redmond Way

425-861-1010 ✵ $

Big portions of just that.

For most, the phrase, “Redmond Nightlife,” is an oxymoron. Don’t count on much being open after 10 p.m. With the exception of a few movie theaters and a few restaurants with decent happy hours, people head for downtown Seattle to get their kicks. Organic grocery chains Whole Foods and PCC are decent shopping options. But you can simultaneously support local farmers and save some coin at the Redmond Saturday Market.

✵ Bergman Luggage ✵ 16516 NE 74th St

425-883-8400

Serious stuff for serious travelers.

✵ Half Price Books ✵ 7805 Leary Way NE

425-702-2499

New and used books at discounted prices.

✵ PCC Natural Markets ✵ 11435 Avondale Rd NE

425-285-1400

Organic to the core.

✵ Redmond Saturday Market ✵ 7730 Leary Way NE

425-556-0636

Eastside’s oldest market—go early for the best pick in local fruits and vegetables.

✵ Redmond Town Center ✵ 7525 166th Ave NE

425-867-0808

A mall. Outdoors.

✵ REI ✵ 7500 166th Ave NE

425-882-1158

Heaven for wealthy weekend warriors.

✵ Snapdoodle Toys ✵ 15752 Redmond Way

425-869-9713

Toys galore.