Ballard Basecamp: Local Guidebook!
Food scene
One of our top 5 breakfast spots! Super casual, great food options, solid coffee, and an easy walk from the Ballard Basecamp.
52 locals recommend
Dish
4358 Leary Way NWOne of our top 5 breakfast spots! Super casual, great food options, solid coffee, and an easy walk from the Ballard Basecamp.
A perennially awarded tasting room in a fiercely competitive section of Seattle with tons of great beer (of course!), indoor/outdoor seating.
110 locals recommend
Stoup Brewing
1108 NW 52nd StA perennially awarded tasting room in a fiercely competitive section of Seattle with tons of great beer (of course!), indoor/outdoor seating.
Some great pale ales in particular, this brewery has come a long way in 10 years.
277 locals recommend
Fremont Brewing Company
1050 N 34th StSome great pale ales in particular, this brewery has come a long way in 10 years.
A fantastic deli that even has an option where the "bread" is latke. Highly recommended.
Schmaltzy's Delicatessen
928 NW Leary WayA fantastic deli that even has an option where the "bread" is latke. Highly recommended.
Incredible upscale (but reasonable) dining with a creative and mouth-watering menu. Everything is good!
59 locals recommend
Staple & Fancy
4739 Ballard Ave NWIncredible upscale (but reasonable) dining with a creative and mouth-watering menu. Everything is good!
An old school Ballard bar with cheap (for Ballard) drinks and skeeball!
51 locals recommend
King's Hardware
5225 Ballard Ave NWAn old school Ballard bar with cheap (for Ballard) drinks and skeeball!
Check off two Ballard specialties at once and get a pale ale along with some outstanding fried fish. (pictured: Jalapeno Ceasar with Battered Cod and an Islander Pale Dry Hopped).
21 locals recommend
Jolly Roger Taproom
1111 NW Ballard WayCheck off two Ballard specialties at once and get a pale ale along with some outstanding fried fish. (pictured: Jalapeno Ceasar with Battered Cod and an Islander Pale Dry Hopped).
One of my favorite California breweries has a massive taproom in Ballard. So much fun!
22 locals recommend
Lagunitas Brewing Company TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary
1550 NW 49th StOne of my favorite California breweries has a massive taproom in Ballard. So much fun!
Excellent (really) fish & chips, and you need to be sure and get the Scottish Eggs, too! Great decor, and I love all of the framed Scotch distillery photos.
19 locals recommend
Macleod’s Scottish Pub
5200 Ballard Ave NWExcellent (really) fish & chips, and you need to be sure and get the Scottish Eggs, too! Great decor, and I love all of the framed Scotch distillery photos.
A lesser known but really great brewer in Ballard, perfect for a peaceful outdoor pint. Or more.
31 locals recommend
Lucky Envelope Brewing
907 NW 50th StA lesser known but really great brewer in Ballard, perfect for a peaceful outdoor pint. Or more.
I can't drive by this place without my wife making us stop by and get a 1/2 dozen. (I definitely recommend the double chocolate or carrot cake though - super good)
25 locals recommend
Trophy Cupcakes & Party - Wallingford Center
1815 N 45th StI can't drive by this place without my wife making us stop by and get a 1/2 dozen. (I definitely recommend the double chocolate or carrot cake though - super good)
Sightseeing
A great, beautiful, and free local attraction where you can see the locks (how boats big & small move between the lakes and ocean), a fish ladder (especially during salmon runs!), and a botanical garden all in one spot.
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StA great, beautiful, and free local attraction where you can see the locks (how boats big & small move between the lakes and ocean), a fish ladder (especially during salmon runs!), and a botanical garden all in one spot.
Everyone loves the troll under the Fremont Bridge! Bonus points for an awesome symmetrical photo opp facing away from the troll and looking down the underside bridge. You'll know it when you see it!
583 locals recommend
Fremont Troll
Troll Avenue NorthEveryone loves the troll under the Fremont Bridge! Bonus points for an awesome symmetrical photo opp facing away from the troll and looking down the underside bridge. You'll know it when you see it!
A very walkable and wooded zoo that feels much more natural (ok, I guess much less unnatural) than most big city zoos. They also host some great concerts and holiday themes.
625 locals recommend
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave NA very walkable and wooded zoo that feels much more natural (ok, I guess much less unnatural) than most big city zoos. They also host some great concerts and holiday themes.
Sandy beaches are not a northwest specialty, but this is a great one even when it's not sunny.
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWSandy beaches are not a northwest specialty, but this is a great one even when it's not sunny.
A great albeit modestly sized aquarium with some fantastic exhibits and surrounded by some of the best destinations in Seattle. Don't miss the octopus! Octupi? Octopusses.
(not sure why title is defaulting to "Gift Shop")
390 locals recommend
Seattle Aquarium
A great albeit modestly sized aquarium with some fantastic exhibits and surrounded by some of the best destinations in Seattle. Don't miss the octopus! Octupi? Octopusses.
(not sure why title is defaulting to "Gift Shop")
Such a great museum! Excellent displays of local and ancient animals with all of the evolution in between. You can even see paleontologists and students at work during your visit. And don't miss the "Off the Rez" frybread cafe on the way out. Excellent tacos and espresso.
123 locals recommend
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
4303 15th Ave NESuch a great museum! Excellent displays of local and ancient animals with all of the evolution in between. You can even see paleontologists and students at work during your visit. And don't miss the "Off the Rez" frybread cafe on the way out. Excellent tacos and espresso.
Right next to some of the largest aviation engineering facilities in the world, you'll find the very interactive Museum of Flight with some awesome aviation displays and education.
12 locals recommend
Museum of Flight Restoration Center
2909 100th St SWRight next to some of the largest aviation engineering facilities in the world, you'll find the very interactive Museum of Flight with some awesome aviation displays and education.