The Captain’s Guidebook
Live Music
Ballard is a fantastic place to see live music. Seattle lives up to it reputation too!
The Tractor Tavern is a Ballard classic. Featuring music nearly every night, inexpensive beer, and the only Monday night square dancing you’ll find with open doors each and every week.
165 locals recommend
Tractor Tavern
5213 Ballard Ave NWThe Tractor Tavern is a Ballard classic. Featuring music nearly every night, inexpensive beer, and the only Monday night square dancing you’ll find with open doors each and every week.
The Sunset Tavern
5433 Ballard Avenue NorthwestBallard Homestead
6541 Jones Ave NWDimitriou's Jazz Alley
2033 6th AveThe Crocodile
2505 1st AveThe Vera Project
305 Harrison StChop Suey
1325 E Madison StMoore Theatre
1932 2nd AveNeumos
925 E Pike StDive Bars
Hattie’s Hat is one of Ballard’s oldest restaurant-bars. The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, dinner, sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, classic cocktails, beer and wine. The live music is a special attraction, with happy hour offering discounts twice a day.
45 locals recommend
Hattie's Hat Restaurant
5231 Ballard Ave NWHattie’s Hat is one of Ballard’s oldest restaurant-bars. The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, dinner, sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, classic cocktails, beer and wine. The live music is a special attraction, with happy hour offering discounts twice a day.
Old-fashioned tavern serving beer & pub grub in a no-frills space with brick and wood accents. Slooper-size your beer.
10 locals recommend
Sloop Tavern
2830 NW Market StOld-fashioned tavern serving beer & pub grub in a no-frills space with brick and wood accents. Slooper-size your beer.
Waterwheel Lounge
7034 15th Ave NWThe 5 Point Cafe
415 Cedar StreetBlue Moon Tavern
712 NE 45th StLove this place, especially once they commit to the eggnog in winter.
20 locals recommend
The Cozy Nut Tavern
123 N 85th StLove this place, especially once they commit to the eggnog in winter.
Ballard Smoke Shop
5439 Ballard Ave NWDottie's Double Wide
9609 1/2 16th Ave SWMecca Cafe
526 Queen Anne Avenue NorthCaptain Friendly
The Pacific Inn Pub is an unpretentious place to drink with cheap beer, a jukebox, and superb fish ’n’ chips. Located in the Stone Way crawlspace between Fremont and Wallingford, this true neighborhood dive is sure to please all old school Seattle enthusiasts.
51 locals recommend
Pacific Inn Pub
3501 Stone Way NThe Pacific Inn Pub is an unpretentious place to drink with cheap beer, a jukebox, and superb fish ’n’ chips. Located in the Stone Way crawlspace between Fremont and Wallingford, this true neighborhood dive is sure to please all old school Seattle enthusiasts.
Barnacle, from Renee Erickson and partners, celebrates the Italian apertivo bar. Think wines by the glass; canned, pickled, smoked, and cured seafood plates; house made charcuterie; hand sliced serrano ham; fresh, seasonal vegetable dishes; and an extensive amaro collection. Barnacle is a lively and comfortable restaurant.
23 locals recommend
Barnacle
4743 Ballard Ave NWBarnacle, from Renee Erickson and partners, celebrates the Italian apertivo bar. Think wines by the glass; canned, pickled, smoked, and cured seafood plates; house made charcuterie; hand sliced serrano ham; fresh, seasonal vegetable dishes; and an extensive amaro collection. Barnacle is a lively and comfortable restaurant.
The Walrus and the Carpenter blends the elegance of France with the casual comfort of a local fishing pub. In addition to oysters, check out their menu that includes locally harvested clams and mussels, house smoked fish, and specialty meats.
246 locals recommend
The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NWThe Walrus and the Carpenter blends the elegance of France with the casual comfort of a local fishing pub. In addition to oysters, check out their menu that includes locally harvested clams and mussels, house smoked fish, and specialty meats.
The Octopus Bar
2121 N 45th StSpud Fish & Chips
6860 East Green Lake Way NPike Place Fish Market
86 Pike PlAnchored Ship Coffee Bar
5308 Ballard Ave NWThey have amazing pretzel buns! They also show up at the Sunday Farmers Market in Ballard.
49 locals recommend
Sea Wolf Bakers
3617 Stone Way NThey have amazing pretzel buns! They also show up at the Sunday Farmers Market in Ballard.
The Whale Wins
3506 Stone Way NLocal Tide
Fresh seafood, casual but so good.
Bar Melusine
1060 E Union StInside Passage
Cool ambiance, great drinks.
Almost secret space below the Amazon Spheres downtown. Features Curtis Steiner ephemera.
10 locals recommend
Deep Dive
620 Lenora StAlmost secret space below the Amazon Spheres downtown. Features Curtis Steiner ephemera.
Thirsty Fish
9041 Holman Rd NWFish Ladder Lounge
Breweries and Taprooms
Just updated this list and the number of breweries in this area is astounding. Try not to get overwhelmed. There are more than 10 in walking distance!
Open with safe outdoor seating. Great local business that has become a phenomenon. Outdoor seating in the sunshine with a great variety of beer including Crikey! Within walking distance.
115 locals recommend
Reuben's Brews
5010 14th Ave NWOpen with safe outdoor seating. Great local business that has become a phenomenon. Outdoor seating in the sunshine with a great variety of beer including Crikey! Within walking distance.
This is the original location of Chuck's. It is reinvented convenience store, which is now a place to have a beer, sit outside in the sun and eat at a visiting food truck.
91 locals recommend
Chuck's Hop Shop & Kegs To Go
656 NW 85th StThis is the original location of Chuck's. It is reinvented convenience store, which is now a place to have a beer, sit outside in the sun and eat at a visiting food truck.
Trailbend Taproom
1118 NW 50th StLagunitas Brewing Company TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary
1550 NW 49th StGreat beer, cool space.
Stoup Brewing
1108 NW 52nd StLucky Envelope Brewing
907 NW 50th StFair Isle Brewing
936 NW 49th StObec Brewing
1144 NW 52nd StUrban Family Brewing Company
1103 Northwest 52nd StreetCloudburst On Shilshole
5456 Shilshole Avenue NorthwestBale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom
826 Northwest 49th StreetBickersons Brewhouse
1514 Leary Way NorthwestGreat Notion - Ballard
5101 14th Avenue NorthwestWheelie Pop Brewing
1110 Northwest 50th StreetLocust Cider & Brewing Ballard
5309 22nd Avenue NorthwestPint Size Brewing
7410B Greenwood Avenue NorthFlying Bike Cooperative Brewery
8570 Greenwood Ave NLantern Brewing
938 N 95th StBelgian beer!!
Dirty Couch Brewing
2715 W Fort StCafes and Coffee Shops
Seattle's favorite pastime.
Tiny place close to Goodwill in a quaint micro hood. Bar and outdoor seating only.
33 locals recommend
Cafe Bambino
405 NW 65th StTiny place close to Goodwill in a quaint micro hood. Bar and outdoor seating only.
Just opened on July 1st, 2020. Our newest favorite. This is the newest component of Brimmer & Heeltap in an historic building at the corner of Market and 6th. 7-1 daily for coffee and delicious breakfast stuffs.
Red Arrow Coffee
425 NW Market StJust opened on July 1st, 2020. Our newest favorite. This is the newest component of Brimmer & Heeltap in an historic building at the corner of Market and 6th. 7-1 daily for coffee and delicious breakfast stuffs.
Woodland Coffee
1417 NW 54th StCoffeeholic House
3700 S Hudson StCaffe Umbria
1201 Westlake Ave NValentinas Cafe
5405 Leary Avenue NorthwestSalt and Sugar Cafe and Bakery
5615 24th Ave NWVenture Coffee Co
5819 24th Ave NWLa Copa Cafe
2410 NW 80th StCaffe Fiore
3125 Northwest 85th StreetThe Other Coast Cafe
5315 Ballard Ave NWSabine Café Bar & Market
5307 Ballard Avenue NorthwestSightseeing
You can bike, drive or walk here. Check out Miri's food at the brick house in the park. You can walk the beach, sail, hike the hills, play volley ball and BBQ here. Great place to watch the sun set.
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWYou can bike, drive or walk here. Check out Miri's food at the brick house in the park. You can walk the beach, sail, hike the hills, play volley ball and BBQ here. Great place to watch the sun set.
Historic Locks You can watch boats pass through. There is also a park and underground access to watching Salmon pass through.
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StHistoric Locks You can watch boats pass through. There is also a park and underground access to watching Salmon pass through.
Fremont Troll
Troll Avenue NorthA classic sight to see in nearby Fremont.
This is where the boat from the Deadliest Catch is anchored. You can always get into Chinook’s bar for brunch. Free heated scones at the table. What???
42 locals recommend
Fishermen's Terminal
3919 18th Ave WThis is where the boat from the Deadliest Catch is anchored. You can always get into Chinook’s bar for brunch. Free heated scones at the table. What???
Seattle Ferry Terminal station
801 Alaskan WayAnother cute old Scandinavian town on the Olympic Peninsula. Just a ferry away.
145 locals recommend
Poulsbo
Another cute old Scandinavian town on the Olympic Peninsula. Just a ferry away.
Fishermen's Terminal
3919 18th Ave WNational Nordic Museum
2655 NW Market StFarmers Markets
Every Sunday. Food, flowers, artisanal products abound. Our favorite featured vendor bakery is the Sea Wolf. Get the pretzel buns and make tiny sandwiches with cheese and jams found at the market. There is a shopping basket & bags left in the mudroom for market shopping.
220 locals recommend
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWEvery Sunday. Food, flowers, artisanal products abound. Our favorite featured vendor bakery is the Sea Wolf. Get the pretzel buns and make tiny sandwiches with cheese and jams found at the market. There is a shopping basket & bags left in the mudroom for market shopping.
Pike Place Market
1531 Western AvePhinney Farmers Market
6761 Phinney Ave N