Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)
West & South Seattle
Alki / West Seattle / North Admiral
Map 35
Many Seattleites believe West Seattle is on the other side of the world. The monstrous West Seattle Freeway Bridge connects this area with the rest of the city. The California Avenue and Alaska Way intersection--known as The Junction--feels like a small, hip town of its own, littered with fabulous restaurants, shops, and historical landmarks. Similarly, west-facing Alki Avenue feels like a California beach town--with little sunshine, snow-capped mountains, and ferry boats.
Landmarks
✵ Alki Beach Park ✵ Alki Ave SW & Bonair Dr SW
206-684-4075
The closest Seattle gets to SoCal for two months a year.
✵ Birthplace of Seattle Monument ✵
Alki Ave SW & 62nd Ave SW
Includes a piece of Plymouth Rock transported on the first cross-country road trip to Seattle.
✵ Schmitz Preserve Park ✵ 5551 SW Admiral Way
206-684-4075
Old-growth forest paths wind along a creek.
✵ Statue of Liberty ✵ Alki Ave SW & 61st Ave SW
In honor of the little New York that Alki never became.
✵ Whale Tail Park ✵ SW Lander St & 58th Ave SW
Families come from all over Seattle to this little gem of a park. Close to the beach too!
Coffee
✵ Alki Juice & Java ✵ 1619 Harbor Ave SW
206-938-0153
Delicious organic smoothies and coffee. Why not get both enjoy the view?
✵ Alki Mail and Dispatch ✵ 4701 SW Admiral Way
206-932-2556
Come for the fair trade espresso, stay for the notary.
✵ C&P Coffee Company ✵ 5612 California Ave SW
206-933-3125
Lighthouse Roasters and wine tastings.
✵ Cafe Osita ✵ 7349 35th Ave SW
206-932-4299
Coffee and Mike’s Famous Chowdah. It’s not as weird as it sounds.
✵ Caffè Fiorè ✵ 2206 California Ave SW
206-588-0708
Makes the bold claim of being Seattle’s first organic coffee.
✵ Coffee to a Tea with Sugar ✵
4541 California Ave SW
206-937-1495
Brewing Vashon Coffee Company beans.
✵ Cupcake Royale/Verite Coffee ✵
4556 California Ave SW
206-883-7656
Cupcakes and coffee go well together.
✵ Easy Street Records & Cafe ✵
4559 California Ave SW
206-938-3279
Jacked up record shopping is a Seattle tradition.
✵ Freshy’s ✵ 2735 California Ave SW
206-937-4316
Plus beer, wine, food and arcade games.
✵ Hotwire Online Coffeehouse ✵
4410 California Ave SW
206-935-1510
Small-batch roaster.
✵ Pearl’s Tea & Coffee ✵ 4800 Delridge Way SW
206-937-6036
THE place for boba and crepes in West Seattle.
✵ Portside Coffee Company ✵
6720 W Marginal Way SW
206-762-7509
Coffee’s not bad, though the quality matters less when it’s served out of a big silver barge.
✵ Red Cup Espresso ✵ 4451 California Ave SW
206-913-0230
Some of the best chai around and a convenient drive-thru.
✵ Uptown Espresso ✵ 4301 SW Edmunds St
206-935-3753
Self-proclaimed “Home of the Velvet Foam”, but the coffee underneath is just so-so.
Park free in lots around The Junction and start roaming. Get caffeinated before the in-store appearance at Easy Street Records. Stock up on potato guns, slingshots and other wholesome toys for the child in your life at Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boy’s Shop-O-Rama. Head downhill and west to Alki Beach for a Guinness at The Celtic Swell and explore what’s referred to as the birthplace of Seattle.
Nightlife
✵ Bamboo Bar & Grill ✵ 2806 Alki Ave SW
206-937-3023
The location and hours (‘til 2 am) are the best thing they’ve got going.
✵ Bang Bar Thai Restaurant & Lounge ✵
4750 California Ave SW
206-935-8888
A little bit of Belltown in West Seattle.
✵ The Benbow Room ✵ 4210 SW Admiral Way
206-922-3313
A secret pirate ship bar inside a family restaurant.
✵ The Celtic Swell ✵ 2722 Alki Ave SW
206-932-7935
Children and fiddles welcome, just like Ye Olde Country.
✵ Elliott Bay Brewery Pub ✵ 4720 California Ave SW
206-932-8695
Top-notch beers and organic local beef.
✵ The Matador ✵ 4546 California Ave SW
206-932-9988
Loud. Dark. Fifty kinds of tequila.
✵ OutWest Bar ✵ 5401 California Ave SW
206-937-1540
A cozy little bar for the gays who have gone west.
✵ Poggie Tavern ✵ 4717 California Ave SW
206-937-2165
Not for the timid drinker.
✵ West 5 Lounge & Restaurant ✵
4539 California Ave SW
206-935-1966
Hip yet homey, but always crowded.
✵ Yen Wor Village ✵ 2300 California Ave SW
206-932-1455
Known round the hood as the Young Whore. Karaoke seven nights a week.
Restaurants
✵ Angelina’s Trattoria ✵ 2311 California Ave SW
206-932-4550 ✵ $$
Affordable, cozy, and consistently delicious Italian food.
✵ Bakery Nouveau ✵ 4737 California Ave SW
206-923-0534 ✵ $
World Cup-winning baker crafts inexplicably perfect croissants.
✵ Cactus ✵ 2820 Alki Ave SW
206-933-6000 ✵ $$
Pretend you’re in SoCal, straight chillin’ with a margarita by the beach.
✵ Christo’s on Alki ✵ 2508 Alki Ave SW
206-923-2200 ✵ $$
Family friendly with Greek gusto.
✵ Circa ✵ 2605 California Ave SW
206-923-1102 ✵ $$
Exquisite food makes you forget the uncomfortable booths.
✵ Coastline ✵ 4444 California Ave SW
206-743-8027 ✵ $$
Quality burgers and beers served fast food style.
✵ Duke’s Chowder House ✵ 2516 Alki Ave SW
206-937-6100 ✵ $$
The chowder truly is what it’s cracked up to be.
✵ Easy Street Records & Cafe ✵
4559 California Ave SW
206-938-3279 ✵ $
Coffee, breakfast, and music. This place rocks.
✵ El Chupacabra ✵ 2620 Alki Ave SW
206-933-7344 ✵ $$
Frighteningly delicious Mexican munchies and margaritas.
✵ Elliott Bay Brewery Pub ✵ 4720 California Ave SW
206-932-8695 ✵ $$
Ice cream floats made with stout. C’mon, you know you wanna try it.
✵ Heartland Cafe ✵ 4210 SW Admiral Way
206-922-3313 ✵ $$
A little midwestern hospitality, doncha know.
✵ Jak’s Grill ✵ 4548 California Ave SW
206-937-7809 ✵ $$$$
Both the food and atmosphere are upbeat.
✵ La Rustica ✵ 4100 Beach Dr SW
206-932-3020 ✵ $$$$$
Escape the beach buzz. Meat, seafood, and pasta in a seemingly remote setting.
✵ Lee’s Asian Restaurant ✵ 4510 California Ave SW
206-932-8209 ✵ $$
The Seven-Flavor Beef will haunt your dreams.
✵ Ma’ono Fried Chicken & Whisky ✵
4437 California Ave SW
206-935-1075 ✵ $$
They sell other dishes, but the star attractions are in the name.
✵ Mashiko ✵ 4725 California Ave SW
206-935-4339 ✵ $$
Sit back and let the chef choose for you. Good luck.
✵ Mission Tapas and Bar ✵ 2325 California Ave SW
206-937-8220 ✵ $$$
Expensive and inviting atmosphere. Appetizers outdo the entrees.
✵ Pagliacci Pizza ✵ 4449 California Ave SW
206-726-1717 ✵ $$
Local favorite pizza chain makes crispy-chewy delights with seasonal ingredients.
✵ Pailin Thai ✵ 2223 California Ave SW
206-937-8807 ✵ $$
Gigantic fish tank and fresh food makes for peaceful dining.
✵ Pegasus Pizza & Pasta ✵ 2770 Alki Ave SW
206-932-4849 ✵ $$
Starved? Generous salads and loaded pizzas will do the trick.
✵ Pepperdock’s Restaurant ✵ 2618 Alki Ave SW
206-935-1000 ✵ $
Tasty, cheap beach food.
✵ Pho Than Brothers’ ✵ 4822 California Ave SW
206-937-6264 ✵ $
Cheap, fast, and filling, with a free cream puff to boot.
✵ Pizzeria 22 ✵ 4213 SW College St
206-687-7701 ✵ $
Actual Neapolitan-style pizza forged in fire.
✵ Shadowland ✵ 4458 California Ave SW
206-420-3817 ✵ $$
Hearty.
Get the chef specials at Mashiko. Hit Lee’s Asian Restaurant for its encyclopedic Asian cuisine; their Seven-Flavor Beef will haunt your dreams. Meanwhile, there is homemade ice cream to be had at the historic Husky Deli. If you get a jonesing for lubrication by fish and chips, Spud on Alki is classic. Dig on swine at The Swinery. And local chains Pagliacci and Than Brothers’ serve up competent ‘za and pho, respectively.
✵ Shoofly Pie Company ✵ 4444 California Ave SW
206-938-0680 ✵ $
Tons of sweet and several savory pies to please your pie hole.
✵ Spud Fish & Chips ✵ 2666 Alki Ave SW
206-938-0606 ✵ $
This place has been around for 75 years for a good reason.
✵ Sunfish ✵ 2800 Alki Ave SW
206-938-4112 ✵ $$
The best grilled halibut kabobs—batter not included.
✵ The Swinery ✵ 3207 California Ave SW
206-932-4211 ✵ $$
For those that dig on swine.
✵ Tacos Guaymas ✵ 4719 California Ave SW
206-935-8970 ✵ $$
Delicious tacos of all kinds including braaaaiiiins for your zombie friends.
✵ Talarico’s ✵ 4718 California Ave SW
206-937-3463 ✵ $
Huge slices of pizza, but we miss the old New Luck Toy.
✵ Top Pot Doughnuts ✵ 2758 Alki Avenue SW
206-466-6839 ✵ $
Top Pot is tops!
Shopping
✵ Bin 41 ✵ 4707 California Ave SW
206-937-0411
Great selection including many NW wines. Good tastings too.
✵ Capers ✵ 4525 California Ave SW
206-932-0371
Classy, overpriced house wares that you really can’t live without.
✵ Click! Design That Fits ✵ 2210 California Ave SW
206-328-9252
Drool over cement-in-silver jewelry.
✵ Coastal Surf Boutique ✵ 2532 Alki Ave SW
206-933-5605
Costly surf, brand names. Offers bike rental in summer.
✵ Curious Kidstuff ✵
4740 California Ave SW
206-937-8788
Let your kids run wild while you buy them super-cool toys.
✵ Easy Street Records & Cafe ✵
4559 California Ave SW
206-938-3279
You can’t go to W. Seattle without stopping here for music.
✵ Husky Deli ✵ 4721 California Ave SW
206-937-2810
Old-fashioned deli counter and homemade ice cream.
✵ Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama ✵ 4311 SW Admiral Way
206-938-3255
The Archie McPhee’s of West Seattle.
✵ Metropolitan Market ✵ 2320 42nd Ave SW
206-937-0551
Fine grocery shopping.
✵ Northwest Art & Frame ✵ 4733 California Ave SW
206-937-5507
Find an equal amount of useless gifts and art necessities.
✵ PCC Natural Markets ✵ 2749 California Ave SW
206-937-8481
Organic to the core.
✵ Pegasus Book Exchange ✵ 4553 California Ave SW
206-937-5410
Family-owned used bookstore.
✵ Seattle Fish Company ✵ 4435 California Ave SW
206-938-7576
Support the independents who don’t sell farm-raised fish.
✵ Small Clothes ✵ 3215 California Ave SW
206-932-2222
Upscale second-hand for the toddler set.
✵ The Swinery ✵ 3207 California Ave SW
206-932-4211
For those that dig on swine.
✵ West Seattle Farmers Market ✵
44th Ave SW & SW Alaska St
May thru December.
✵ Zamboanga ✵ 4531 California Ave SW
206-933-6399
Eclectic trinkets and flowy clothes.
Map 36 ✵ North Delridge |