The 12 Best Neighborhoods in Seattle for Renters
Seattle has been known to be among the most likable cities in America for a while. Why, might one wonder? Off the top of our heads, the best Seattle neighborhoods! In fact, Seattle’s personality shines through each of its communities, whether it’s the nightlife scene in Capitol Hill, the fancy restaurants in Ballard, or beach-town charm in West Seattle! Are you still wondering why its current population is over three million? We’re not! So, whether you prefer peace and quiet or noise and partying, Seattle has a locale up its sleeve!
Complete guide to the 12 best Seattle neighborhoods:
1. Ballard
Ballard is a trendy and tranquil neighborhood suitable for families. It has small homes that have been cleaned up and expanded. Also, a great place to find a rental house in Seattle. Ballard has a deep connection to history in that it was once a Scandinavian seafaring village with fishing as its means of livelihood.
The area is among the city’s most prominent places for dining, drinking, and shopping. Its commercial center lies on both sides of NW Market Street. You’ll find endless options of restaurants, shops, boutiques, and nightlife, not to mention music locales here.
Farther from Market Street, foodies will have a ball at notable places such as Delancy, serving delicious pizzas and Essex if you’re in the mood for drinks. Drop by the Brewery District and check out Lucky Envelope Brewing for flavored beers-on-tap such as Raspberry Sour Ale and Peanut-Butter Cream Stout if you haven’t had your fill. Plenty of microbreweries line the area.
The Walrus and the Carpenter offers comfort food and lip-smacking seafood that food lovers will pounce on! Want to try something different? Try Lebanese cuisine at the Golden Beetle. For more happening bars, eateries, and shops, head over to Ballard Avenue.
Ballard Farmers’ Market runs on Saturday mornings at 10 and is a community highlight to look forward to. Puget Sound, comprising a blend of waterways and islands, encompasses the western side of the neighborhood. It offers breathtaking vistas of the water as well as the Olympic Peninsula, so be sure to explore the area while you’re there.
Nature lovers can enjoy a stroll on the beach while soaking in jaw-dropping views of the mountains. Other must-see places include the Golden Gardens Park, the National Nordic Museum, and the Ballard Locks.
In a word, Ballard’s a walkable and bikeable neighborhood, so reaching places is easy.
2. Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is a diversified and happening neighborhood with colossal luxury houses, big-budget apartment complexes, and condos in the northeastern part of downtown owned by many successful landlords. It’s also a pretty populous area, perfect for students and young professionals. The neighborhood is inclusive and is home to the city’s LGBTQIA+ community.
The area comprises a ton of gay bars, independent coffee shops, nightclubs, and some of the most prominent restaurants the city has ever seen. Its famous eateries include the Avis Hummus Bar and La Cocina y Cantina, well-known for its margaritas!
Three worthwhile areas to visit include Broadway, the center of all the action, 15th Ave, and the Pike/Pine corridor. If walking’s your thing, make sure you check out these areas on foot. Gay bars, live music clubs, chic eateries, and record stores dot the Pike/Pine area, which housed old brick houses and 1950s car dealerships in the past.
If you want to listen to live music, spend some time at Neumos. Also, don’t forget to visit the Elliott Bay Book Company and the Jimi Hendrix Statue. Among its other notable attractions, there’s Volunteer Park, spread over 48.3 acres, which also houses the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the Volunteer Park Water Tower, and Seattle Asian Art Museum.
15th Ave E is a business district housing some of the most affluent city folks. In the end, Capitol Hill is an excellent location if your workplace is downtown or if you’re a student at the University of Washington.
3. Fremont
Fremont is a prominent residential neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Lake Union. It welcomes residents from various backgrounds, so it’s an inclusive community. The area has a plethora of new apartment complexes and single-family homes, with an excellent school system. You can list your rental property here to get maximum rental income. It’s also a destination for some top-notch companies such as Google Getty Images, and Adobe Systems, not to mention several upscale boutiques. Look out for roommates with best qualities here.
Fremont is home to plenty of yoga studios, Thai restaurants, bike shops, and coffee shops. Festivals and outdoor movie screenings are held here using summers, much to the delight of the residents! Its popular events include the Fremont Sunday Market, Oktoberfest, and the Summer Solstice Parade. The neighborhood has a rocking nightlife scene, so if you wish to see some electrifying performances, your choices are Nectar Lounge and Substation.
Feeling lost without caffeine? Pop by the Fremont Coffee Company for some great coffee. It’s a given that everyone loves chocolates, so if you crave some too, drop by Theo Chocolate for a range of fair-trade bars, candies, and confections!
As far as must-visit places go, you mustn’t miss Fremont Troll, a gigantic troll sculpture located under Aurora Bridge, and Fremont Rocket, a 53-foot rocket sculpture! Take a stroll and unwind with nature at Fremont Canal Park. Fitness enthusiasts can walk, bike, run, and skate along the Burke-Gilman Trail.
Finally, you don’t need a car to survive in this community. The public transit system offers a host of buses to different destinations across the city. You can cycle your way across town too!
4. Belltown
What was once an industrial area is now a fashionable neighborhood with beautiful high-rise condominiums. Belltown is pretty famous for its eateries, which have crossed 100!
The community has the most popular nightlife scene in the city, between Blanchard and Battery streets. So, if you love clubbing and partying, you know where to go! The neighborhood is lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, and renowned recreational venues like The Crocodile. Global music bands such as R.E.M and Nirvana have performed here which you can visit with your perfect roommate. Entertainment venues are not very far from one another, so it doesn’t take much time to reach places.
In other words, it’s a walkable neighborhood. Boutiques and art galleries with outdoor artwork are other exciting places to explore. Olympic Sculpture Park, a public park with a nine-acre outdoor sculpture museum, offers stunning views of Puget Sound. The beach is close by in case you wish to relax and take in its surrounding beauty.
To sum up, Belltown is very close to Downtown if you’re looking for more exciting entertainment options.
5. Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is an old neighborhood and the city’s origin with ancient red-brick buildings, decrepit bars, and antique shops. You’ll find gorgeous Romanesque Revival buildings from the late 19th century, along with new apartments and condos.
Interestingly, Pioneer Square claims to be the first in many events of historical importance. It is supposed to be the city’s first neighborhood, set up in 1852 by the pioneers. The First Thursday Art Walk of the community is also the country’s very first art walk! Last but not least, Smith Tower claims to be the city’s first skyscraper.
The nightlife in the community is worth checking out. There are plenty of bars and prominent venues, such as Wamu Theater, for live music. To satisfy your hunger cravings, head over to Occidental Square and have a variety of dishes from food trucks. The place is known for its bistro tables and bocce (a ball sport) courts. Other equally fabulous dining options include Tat’s Delicatessen, which serves mouth-watering cheesesteak sandwiches made in the east-coast style!
Pioneer Square Park is known for its stunning architecture, so admire its beauty while taking a walk. Other must-visit places include Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, Central Saloon, the oldest bar in the city, and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where you can learn more about the city’s history.
If you wish to spend some time alone with your thoughts, Waterfall Garden Park is the place to be.
6. Queen Anne
Queen Anne is among the most prominent upscale neighborhoods in Seattle, with houses perched on the highest hill in Seattle. Many of its homes are at least 100 years old, with magnificent architecture. The community derived its name from the architectural style of the houses. You’ll also get to see small family homes, apartments, and gigantic mansions. The area is ideal for families looking for budget rooms for rent in Seattle, with many calling it home for a good reason.
Queen Anne Avenue is the heart of all the action, with coffee shops, bistros, and everything you could possibly want available at one place. Incredible, isn’t it?
Some of the area’s most noteworthy attractions are a stone’s throw, such as Seattle Center, which houses the famed Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, and the Museum of Pop Culture. Seattle Center conducts several plays, films, and concerts. Then there’s McCaw Hall, where the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet run performing arts shows and musicals.
Besides the opera and the ballet, the building houses a movie hall, a children’s theater, and a regional theater. Many open-air events take place in the summers. Professional sports teams such as Seattle Storm play basketball matches at Key Arena.
The Ship Canal Trail is perfect for an evening run, walk, or bike ride. Kerry Park offers exceptional views of the Space Needle, in case you’re interested in checking it out.
In conclusion, Queen Anne is a peaceful neighborhood with a low profile.
7. Greenwood
Situated in the northern part of Green Lake, Greenwood is the safest and a fantastic residential neighborhood perfect for young families and bachelors looking for roommates in Seattle. The community offers plenty of city perks.
Greenwood has numerous eateries, bars, theaters, specialty boutiques, and cafes that cater to families, which are so famous that they attract residents and locals from other neighborhoods! The community exhibits an eccentric feel and offers culinary fare that you may not find elsewhere. If you’re interested and don’t mind trying out new things, you could try the alligator at Ed’s Kort Haus or vegetarian food at Carmelita.
In a word, Downtown is just a stone’s throw away from here, so if you feel bored, you have a place to go to!
8. Downtown
Downtown is the city’s business center and comprises the Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Belltown, and several other areas. It’s a diversified neighborhood with multiple high-rise condos and apartment buildings. The area’s known to have bike lanes aplenty and a ton of public transportation options, so traveling to and from this place is a treat!
Nordstrom Seattle’s most popular and frequented store is located downtown, so you can shop till you drop when you’re there! Westlake Center and Pacific Place are shopping centers with branded and non-branded merchandise for all kinds of shoppers! It also has numerous boutiques dotting every nook and corner of the area.
Downtown’s also known for its excellent performing arts venues, such as 5th Avenue Theater, Paramount Theater, The Triple Door, and The Showbox. To soothe your soul, head over to Benaroya Hall for a captivating symphony. If you’re a bookworm, head over to the Seattle Central Public Library and pour over the fantastic book collection there. For visual art that leaves you spellbound, drop by the Seattle Art Museum.
To summarize, Downtown is a thriving area full of life and energy, and it offers endless options for those looking to unwind and chill.
9. Central District
Central District is a neighborhood offering you all the city amenities you wish for while allowing you to live in a place with a suburban feel. Thanks to the influx of refined crowds, the city has undergone massive changes and is more sophisticated. However, the predominantly African-American community has retained its culture, reflected in its many restaurants owned by locals.
Fat’s Chicken and Waffles and Garfield Community Center are some of the popular ones. Bars and coffee shops galore line the neighborhood. Other historic landmarks in the area include Black churches, shops, and businesses.
The community’s visitor attractions include the residence of Bruce Lee, the MLK Mural, and various other art exhibits showcasing African-American history and literature in the Douglass-Truth Public Library. The The Northwest African American Museum is another decent place exhibiting beautiful artwork. For more entertainment options, watch films, plays, and musicals at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute.
Public transit options are readily available, so you shouldn’t have any problems commuting across the city.
10. Columbia City
Columbia City is a reasonably-priced and diversified neighborhood, excellent for families. The area has lots of old homes. Make sure to select a perfect tenant for your rental property here.
The community has plenty of cafes and bars playing live music should you be interested in music therapy. The area’s renowned for its fantastic global cuisine, so there are many restaurants spread all over. What kind of cuisine do you fancy? Caribbean? Vietnamese? Ethiopian? Every culinary delight you can think of is available here, so you might find yourself spoilt for choice when you’re famished!
Head over to Columbia City Theater for live performances. You’ll also find a ton of boutiques with affordable items you can buy for your family and friends. If you’re lucky enough to visit the neighborhood in summer, be sure to attend the Farmers Market and the BeatWalk festival and soak in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the community!
In the end, should you wish to spend some quality time in the lap of nature, head over to Genesee Park, where a ton of greenery awaits you.
11. West Seattle
West Seattle is a quiet and secluded neighborhood with a relaxed vibe. You’ll be happy to know that it’s not pricey, and living here means you can pay frequent visits to the beach! Many families have settled here, so it’s a great place to raise kids.
West Seattle offers its residents many amenities in various businesses, farmers’ markets throughout the year, and a ton of shopping options. You’ll also find plenty of boutiques selling stuff that’s one-of-a-kind, so stock up all you want! Some of the finest shopping and dining options are located in the Junction, which is almost like the neighborhood’s downtown area.
It has everything from ice cream shops to delis to bars, restaurants, and vinyl stores (both first and secondhand)! For your hunger pangs, drop by Lady Jaye, specializing in smoked meats, for delectable pork-belly sandwiches served on rye bread and a Strawberry Manilow to go with it!
If you’re looking for adventure, this is the right place to explore inline skating and paddleboarding. Interested in nine pins? Pop by the West Seattle Bowl and try out a couple of games.
To conclude, spend some time at Alki Beach, the place where settlers first landed and created history by setting up the city!
12. University District (The U-District)
The University District gives you a small-town college vibe and derives its name from the University of Washington, located in the vicinity.
The Ave is the hub of all the exciting action. You’ll find tons of small restaurants, record stores, thrift shops, tattoo parlors, second-hand bookstores, bars, and coffee shops. The coffee shops are swarming with students hard at work and sipping their umpteenth cup of coffee while trying to wrap up their assignments. Have we forgotten about food? Nope! The Ave is the ideal place to find a range of cuisines, Indian and Southeast Asian in particular, at reasonable prices.
If you wish to explore the area further, you could drop by the humongous University Book Store. As far as the university premises go, there are some excellent museums you could check out and learn about art and natural history if it captures your interest. Other equally captivating places outside the university include the Henry Art Gallery and the Burke Museum.
In conclusion, the University District Street Fair and the University District Farmers’ Market are events worth attending.
Conclusion
So, do you think you’re ready to move to Emerald City? We believe you are! Remember that any new city you decide to move to will be a challenge for you to manage everything on your own. At the same time, we urge you to consider your professional and personal choices and whether the city’s offerings match with them before deciding the next steps. This article should also help you make an informed choice for the right fit for you amongst the list of best neighborhoods in Seattle!
