Unique neighborhoods of Seattle

You will quickly learn that when you ask someone where something is located in Seattle they will often answer with the name of the neighborhood. Each has its own personality and quirks, and many are worth a visit. Within a 30- or 40-minute walking distance (or quick bus ride) the neighborhoods closest to the convention center are:

Capitol Hill

Heading east directly up the hill from the Convention Center will take you to the thriving Capitol Hill neighborhood. This is a fun neighborhood to walk around, with plenty of small locally owned shops along Broadway and the Pike/Pine corridor to pop into or window shop. A favorite is the massive Elliott Bay Book Company located on 10th. If you’re a fan of Jimi Hendrix don’t forget to stop by the statue of him on the corner of Broadway and Pine. Home to many bars, restaurants, concert venues and clubs, you’ll know you’re there when you see the cheery rainbow crosswalks, as this is the heart of the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle.

Great cheap eats in Capitol Hill include:

• U:don Fresh Japanese Noodle Station —  for udon noodles you can customize for around $10-$15

• Dumpling Tzar  — for delicious pelmeni dumplings with different sauces and toppings for around $10-$12

• Dino’s Tomato Pie — for late night pizza

• Lindas Tavern — for a great happy hour

• Tacos Chukis — for $3 tacos or baby burritos for $4.50

• Spice Waala — for tasty Indian street food, everything on the menu is $8.50 or less

Belltown

Located to the northwest of downtown is Belltown, a bustling urban neighborhood with high rise apartments and plenty of bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Belltown was the epicenter of the grunge movement in the 90s, with many of the venues that bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden first played in located here. Some like The Crocodile and The Rendezvous are still going strong.

Things to do in Belltown include:

• Browsing glass artwork that the pacific northwest is known for, or even watching local glass artists work live in the hotshot at Seattle Glassblowing Studio on 5th Ave.

• Grabbing a meal at inexpensive options: Korean Bamboo on 3rd Ave for great tofu soups and huge portions of Korean food; Bangrak Market for delicious authentic Thai food, and Umi Sake House for sushi (catch their happy hour from 4-6pm or 10pm-close)

Uptown/Lower Queen Anne

Go inside the Westlake Mall on 5th Ave and jump on the historic monorail (for $3.50) to enjoy the ride to the Seattle Center, located in the Uptown/Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. It will dump you out right next to the Space Needle.

The main attractions in this area — Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and MoPop-Museum of Pop Culture (site of ARVO Karaoke Night - May 8, 9pm)— all cost around $30 a ticket. But it is free to walk around the grounds of Seattle Center where you can often watch cultural events inside the Armory Building, sit outside on the lawns surrounding the international fountain, and visit local radio station KEXP. Here you can get coffee at the Café Vita located inside, browse records, listen to the live radio broadcast, or even see a free live music show if you’re lucky. If you’re hungry, visit a local favorite, Dick’s Drive-in, for unreasonably low prices (around $3 a burger) and inexpensive fries and shakes just over on Queen Anne Avenue N.