Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)

Eastside

Map 45

As business continues to boom, construction cranes have become a permanent fixture amid shiny skyscrapers in downtown Bellevue. Bellevue Way becomes “Snowflake Lane” during the holiday season with nightly parades and Christmas lights on display. Upscale and strictly residential Medina is known for its homes right on Lake Washington’s shoreline.

✵ Bellevue Art Museum ✵ 510 Bellevue Way NE

425-519-0770

Across the street from Bellevue Square, exhibits arts and crafts from local artists.

✵ Carillon Point ✵ 4100 Carillon Point

425-822-1700

Marina waterfront with carillons that ring every 30 minutes.

✵ Meydenbauer Center ✵ 11100 NE 6th St

425-637-1020

Convention center featuring cultural, theater, and musical events.

✵ Café Cesura ✵ 1015 108th Ave NE

425-633-2362

For those who like coffee, but think they should be paying more for it.

✵ T’Latte ✵ 37 103rd Ave NE

425-709-6868

Bubble tea.

✵ Black Bottle Postern ✵ 919 Bellevue Way NE

425-223-5143

This Belltown favorite brings the noise to Bellevue.

✵ Lucky Strike Lanes ✵ 700 Bellevue Way NE

425-453-5137

Bowling gone upscale, with creative televisions and plasma cocktails.

✵ Parlor Billiards & Spirits ✵ 700 Bellevue Way NE

425-289-7000

Upscale pool hall.

✵ 99 Park ✵ 99 102nd Ave NE

425-999-3991 ✵ $$$

Best thing to happen to middle-aged Bellevue since the SUV.

✵ Araya’s Place ✵ 10246 Main St

425-454-2440 ✵ $$

Venerable vegan Thai empire.

✵ Bamboo Garden ✵ 202 106th Ave NE

425-688-7991 ✵ $

Cheap, spicy Sichuan in a strip mall (adjacent to an adult entertainment store).

✵ Bis on Main ✵ 10213 Main St

425-455-2033 ✵ $$$$

Perfect for wining and dining—as long as you got the dough.

✵ Cheesecake Factory ✵ 401 Bellevue Sq

425-450-6000 ✵ $$$

Overpriced food straight from the assembly line.

✵ Daniel’s Broiler ✵ 10500 NE 8th St

425-462-4662 ✵ $$$$$

Fancy folk (or those whose parents are paying) head here for decent steak.

✵ Din Tai Fung ✵ 700 Bellevue Wy NE

425-698-1095 ✵ $$

Seattle outpost of major dumpling multi-national.

✵ Facing East Taiwanese Restaurant ✵

1075 Bellevue Way NE

425-688-2986 ✵ $

Bet you never thought you’d the words oysters and pancakes together.

✵ Ginza ✵ 103 102nd Ave SE

425-709-7072 ✵ $$$

Specializing in Japanese barbecue—rare find (not literally).

✵ John Howie Steak ✵ 11111 NE 8th St

425-440-0880 ✵ $$$$$$

Highest-end steakhouse, no corners cut, priced accordingly.

✵ Koral Bar & Kitchen ✵ 900 Bellevue Way NE

425-623-1125 ✵ $$

A consolation for finding yourself at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency.

✵ La Bu La ✵ 288 106th Ave NE

425-688-7991 ✵ $$

Great Sichuan in welcoming setting; explore at your own pace.

✵ Mediterranean Kitchen ✵ 103 Bellevue Way NE

425-462-9422 ✵ $$$

Garlicky Greek goodness.

✵ The Melting Pot ✵ 302 108th Ave NE

425-646-2744 ✵ $$$$

Gimmicky and retro, perhaps, but dipping things in cheese can never be bad.

✵ Pagliacci Pizza ✵ 563 Bellevue Sq

425-726-1717 ✵ $$

Local favorite pizza chain makes crispy-chewy delights with seasonal ingredients.

✵ Pasta & Co. ✵ 10218 NE 8th St

425-453-8760 ✵ $$

One-stop gourmet chain has fresh bread, wine, and risotto cakes to go.

✵ PF Chang’s China Bistro ✵ 525 Bellevue Way SE

425-637-3582 ✵ $$$

Shamelessly Americanized Chinese food.

✵ PinkaBella Cupcakes ✵ 320 Bellevue Sq

425-453-2253 ✵ $$

Keeping the overpriced sugar bomb dream alive.

✵ Pogacha ✵ 119 106th Ave NE

425-455-5670 ✵ $$$

Translation: yummy Croatian pizza.

✵ Ruth’s Chris Steak House ✵ 565 Bellevue Sq

425-451-1550 ✵ $$$$$

Ubiquitous chain dishes out gargantuan portions of meat.

✵ Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar ✵

205 108th Ave NE

425-456-0010 ✵ $$$

Known for the seafood and oysters.

✵ Tap House Grill ✵ 550 106th Ave NE

425-467-1730 ✵ $$$

160 beers on tap. We repeat: 160 beers. On tap.

Expect crowds and long waits at every nice restaurant within walking distance of Bellevue Square (or “Belle Square” if you’re nasty). Skip the lines at Lincoln Square Cinemas by scoring tickets from kiosks sprinkled around Belle Square. If you’ve got the dough, the membership-only Bellevue Club is recognized for its vast athletic facilities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool and indoor track. Carillon Point is a perfect place to stroll and watch the sunset after dinner.

✵ Bellevue Square ✵ NE 8th St & Bellevue Way NE

425-646-3660

Bellevue behemouth.

✵ Element ✵ 575 Bellevue Way NE

425-453-3448

Looking cool in Bellevue can be hard to pull off.

✵ Fireworks ✵ 196 Bellevue Sq

425-688-0933

Colorful gifts and home décor handmade by local artists.

✵ Green Theory ✵ 10697 Main St

425-502-7033

Their theory is people will pay a ton of money for legal weed.

✵ Lincoln Square ✵ NE 8th St & Bellevue Way NE

425-646-3660

Just what Bellevue needed—an expansion of Bellevue Square.

✵ Made In Washington ✵ 190 Bellevue Sq

425-454-6907

If you must give Northwest smoked salmon as a gift.

✵ Oil & Vinegar ✵ 2086 Bellevue Sq

425-454-8497

Olive oil on tap. Not to mention pestos, dips, mustards, sun-dried tomatoes…

✵ Rudy’s Barbershop ✵ 5 Bellevue Way NE

206-467-1462

Absolute best cheap haircut!

✵ Sephora ✵ 141 Bellevue Sq

425-467-1337

All the make-up you can dream-up in one store.

✵ University Book Store ✵ 990 102nd Ave NE

425-462-4500

UW text books and Husky gear.