Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)

North Seattle

Map 25

Thanks to the enormous sign atop the local QFC supermarket (a nod to the old Food Giant sign), visitors know when they reach Wallingford. With Woodland Park and Green Lake to the north and Gas Works Park to the south, the neighborhood has a Sunday afternoon vibe all week long. This somewhat sleepy residential neighborhood hosts multiple summer food festivals and is home to the original Dick’s Drive-In.

✵ Blue Moon Tavern ✵ 712 NE 45th St

206-675-9116

Countless artistic luminaries have passed out there.

✵ Dick’s Drive-In ✵ 111 NE 45th St

206-632-5125

A little bit nostalgia, a little bit cholesterol.

✵ Gas Works Park ✵ 2101 N Northlake Way

206-684-4075

Industrial site turned America’s strangest park. Amazing view.

✵ Sadako and the Thousand Cranes Peace Park ✵ NE 40th St & NE Pacific St

A tribute to a young girl that died of leukemia after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

✵ Caffe Appassionato ✵ 1218 N 45th St

206-549-9149

Classic Seattle coffee shop vibe at this small-ish local chain. Frasier would love it here.

✵ Chocolati Cafe ✵ 1716 N 45th St

206-633-7765

Coffee, yes. But it’s really more about the chocolate.

✵ Fuel ✵ 1705 N 45th St

206-634-2700

Now this is a type of fuel that actually has a future.

✵ Mosaic Coffeehouse ✵ 4401 2nd Ave NE

206-369-0326

Community coffee shop with a pay-what-you-can business model and an amazing indoor playground.

✵ Palazzo ✵ 1906 N 34th St

206-634-0922

Plus baked goods.

✵ Seattle Espresso ✵ 4405 Wallingford Ave N

206-632-7178

Fortunately, they put a lot more effort into their coffee than they did their name.

✵ Teahouse Kuan Yin ✵ 1911 N 45th St

206-632-2055

Bulk tea plus cafe.

✵ Uptown Espresso ✵ 2300 N 45th St

206-812-0404

Self-proclaimed “Home of the Velvet Foam” but the coffee underneath is just so-so.

✵ Al’s Tavern ✵ 2303 N 45th St

206-545-9959

Divey and lovable.

✵ Blue Moon Tavern ✵ 712 NE 45th St

206-675-9116

Kerouac, Roethke, and other artists have fallen over drunk here.

✵ The Grizzled Wizard ✵ 2317 N 45th St

206-395-4749

At last, a place for the cool gothy gamer geeks.

✵ The Iron Bull ✵ 2121 N 45th St

206-453-3901

The place to get your sports on in Wallingford.

✵ Kate’s Pub ✵ 309 NE 45th St

206-547-6832

Hidden gem. Specials and games galore. Easy on the Jaeger.

✵ May Restaurant and Lounge ✵ 1612 N 45th St

206-675-0037

Pricey but delicious Thai bar food served late and sluggishly.

✵ Moon Temple ✵ 2108 N 45th St

206-633-4280

Everyone loves stiff drinks.

✵ Murphy’s Pub ✵ 1928 N 45th St

206-634-2110

Drinks for Hibernians.

✵ Boulangerie ✵ 2200 N 45th St

206-634-2211 ✵ $

Even a Frenchman would admit les croissants sont authentiques.

✵ Chocolati Cafe ✵ 1716 N 45th St

206-633-7765 ✵ $$

You haven’t lived till you’ve eaten a chocolate-covered potato chip.

✵ Chutney’s Bistro ✵ 1815 N 45th St

206-634-1000 ✵ $$

Curry cuts across the socioeconimc divide.

✵ Dick’s Drive-In ✵ 111 NE 45th St

206-632-5125 ✵ $

A local obsession, specializing in cheap burgers and shakes. Perfect at 1 am.

✵ Djan’s Modern Thai Restaurant ✵ 264 NE 45th St

206-633-3526 ✵ $$

Solid Thai delivery.

✵ The Essential Baking Company ✵ 1604 N 34th St

206-545-0444 ✵ $

You’ll think you’re in a European bakery.

✵ Fainting Goat Gelato ✵ 1903 N 45th St

206-327-9459 ✵ $

Don’t tell the Italians, but the Turks can make a damn good gelato.

✵ Irwin’s Neighborhood Bakery & Cafe ✵

2123 N 40th St

206-675-1484 ✵ $$

Quaint cafe with great pastries and a carb-heavy lunch menu.

✵ Ivar’s Salmon House ✵ 401 NE Northlake Way

206-632-0767 ✵ $$

It’s all about the chowdah at this Seattle seafood institution.

✵ Julia’s ✵ 4401 Wallingford Ave N

206-633-1175 ✵ $$

Quirky space, awesome breakfast. And your mom will like it, too.

✵ Kabul Afghan Cuisine ✵ 2301 N 45th St

206-545-9000 ✵ $$

Warm family setting with a traditional Afghan menu.

✵ May Restaurant and Lounge ✵ 1612 N 45th St

206-675-0037 ✵ $$

Refreshing, subtly balanced Thai dishes that are utterly devoid of ketchup.

✵ Miyabi 45th ✵ 2208 N 45th St

206-632-4545 ✵ $$$

A soba restaurant you can take your date to without looking cheap.

✵ Molly Moon’s ✵ 1622 N 45th St

206-547-5105 ✵ $

Fresh, local, sustainably organic ice cream—down to the dairy and the compostable dishes.

✵ Rancho Bravo Tacos ✵ 211 NE 45th St

206-830-2657 ✵ $

Mexican served out of a silver trailer. Locals are fanatical for the tacos.

✵ Sutra ✵ 1605 N 45th St

206-547-1348 ✵ $$$$

High-end prix-fixe vegetarian.

✵ Tiny Ninja Cafe ✵ 3510 Stone Way N

206-632-0647 ✵ $

Named after the shop’s mascot: a diminutive wool ninja who apparently likes live music.

✵ TNT Taqueria ✵ 2114 N 45th St

206-322-0124 ✵ $

Dino-mite tacos made from local, happy farm animals. Plus churros for breakfast!

✵ Varsity Inn ✵ 1801 N 34th St

206-547-2161 ✵ $

Friendly, unassuming diner that becomes a delicious taco place by night.

✵ Westward ✵ 2501 N Northlake Way

206-552-8215 ✵ $$$

Go Westward. There is seafood there. In the open air. A lakeside view for me and you.

✵ The Whale Wins ✵ 3506 Stone Way N

206-632-9425 ✵ $$

A great addition to Seattle’s slow food movement.

While Wallingford’s portion of 45th Street isn’t much of a weekend destination, there are more than enough bars, restaurants, and cafes to make a night of it. Miyabi 45th is a fine-dining soba noodle house. Al’s is our favorite little hole in the wall. Happily spend your entire paycheck at Bottleworks--the beer selection is incredible. Or fill your backpack at Wide World of Books & Maps, a Seattle institution since the ‘70s.

✵ Bottleworks ✵ 1710 N 45th St

206-633-2437

The world’s finest beers ripe for the six-packing.

✵ Bootyland ✵ 1815 N 45th St

206-328-0636

Because your baby really needs a Ramones t-shirt.

✵ Comics Dungeon ✵ 319 NE 45th St

206-545-8373

Preventing geeks from getting girlfriends since the early ‘90s!

✵ The Erotic Bakery ✵ 2323 N 45th St

206-545-6969

What a lovely flower cake…er…oh MY!

✵ Fainting Goat Gelato ✵ 1903 N 45th St

206-327-9459

Don’t tell the Italians, but the Turks can make a damn good gelato.

✵ Golden Oldies Records Tapes & CDs ✵

201 NE 45th St

206-547-2260

45s like mad and 99 cent CDs.

✵ Hawaii General Store ✵ 258 NE 45th St

206-633-5233

For all your next luau needs.

✵ I Do Bridal ✵ 2206 N 45th St

206-633-7926

Small bridal shop with a broad range of dress sizes and prices.

✵ Molly Moon’s ✵ 1622 N 45th St

206-547-5105

Fresh, local, sustainably organic ice cream—down to the dairy and the compostable dishes.

✵ Open Books: A Poem Emporium ✵ 2414 N 45th St

206-633-0811

One of the few poetry-only bookstores in the nation.

✵ Sugar on Top Salon ✵ 1601 N 45th St

206-427-9377

You’ll be pretty pleased.

✵ Trophy Cupcakes ✵ 1815 N 45th St

206-632-7020

The perfect combo: cute & tasty.

✵ Wide World Books & Maps ✵

4411 Wallingford Ave N

206-634-3453

The nation’s first travel-only bookstore is now 30 years old.

✵ Wine World and Spirits ✵ 400 NE 45th St

206-402-6086

Show me more, spirits!

✵ Yogurtland ✵ 2320 N 45th St

206-634-2900

Rule over your own froyo fairy tale with endless flavor/topping combos.