Only a few decades ago, sleepy Ballard was the butt of all Scandinavian jokes. A Seattle neighborhood of working class families descended from working class immigrants, Ballard was solid, if a bit rough around the edges. Times have changed and and here is one more Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ballard Washington.
(This post was updated in July 2026)
Sleepy No More
I sure wish I had bought a house in Ballard back then. I’d be a millionaire today. Today, Ballard is hip. A cool place to be for young singles and families….without losing that solid working class vibe. Still home to much of the Seattle area fishing fleet, the history of fishing and shipbuilding runs deep in this community.
What a difference a few decades make. Ballard is blooming and is now not only home to the magnificent Nordic Heritage Museum (opened in 2018), it is also a culinary Mecca – home to dozens and dozens of highly rated restaurants, some difficult to get a reservation for. Ballard, sleepy no more. I love a lot of my home state, and Ballard is one of my favorite places among those.
It’s Time to Rediscover Ballard, Washington
A day in Ballard is a pleasant idea….but even better why not a weekend or several days? There is so much to do here, without ever actually going into downtown Seattle. Beautiful Ballard. We want you to give it the time it deserves, so we share with you a wide variety of our favorite Ballard finds…everything from parks to beaches, coffee to fish, and hiking to vintage. Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ballard Washington.
Our Recommendations to Get You Started
It’s a long, long list but we hope these recommendations will give you a variety of reasons to visit Ballard and it’s surrounding neighborhoods.
Where to Stay
If you can make your visit more than a day, we recommend the beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Ballard, The Hotel Ballard. It’s exceptional and will make your visit to Ballard exceptional. We have also stayed in a few Airbnb’s in Ballard, and our favorite of those is this darling Guest Suite in a quiet neighborhood.
Ballard Airbnb Hideway
Let’s Eat!
It’s impossible to list all the delicious and innovative dining options in Ballard…so I am offering up a few of my old favs as well as some new to me options!
Stoneburner – always popular and delicious,Stoneburner is a must when in Ballard. Reservations are definitely recommended.
The Walrus and the Carpenter a long time standout in Seattle, and one of the best places for oysters and seafood. Great space too. Reservations are recommended.
Lil Woody’s – It’s not hard to find a good burger in Seattle, and locals flock to Dicks. But right here in Lil Ballard I would always choose Lil Woody’s.
El Moose – authentic, funky and delicious, a perfect menu of Mexican traditional food right in the heart of Ballard.
Mean Sandwich – this sandwich shop is so Ballard. Popular, delicious and a bit whacky you gotta come in and try a sandwich when in Ballard.
Frankie and Jos – is a plant based ice cream shop that uses coconut milk instead of dairy. And it is oh so delicious with unique and fun flavors.
Arashi Ramen – teeny little hole in the wall but worth the wait if it’s crowded for one of their delicious bowls of Ramen.
And More Food Options…
Biscuit and Bean – we recently discovered this delicious coffee and biscuit spot and it is a perfect lazy breakfast location or a quick coffee too.
Sabine Mediteranian We recently enjoyed a wonderful meal at Sabine for the first time. Lots of small plate options as well as flatbreads and entre plates. We will be back for sure.
Cafe Umbria – we just recently were introduced to Cafe Umbria by our son, this is his go-to coffee spot in Ballard. It’s easy to see why. Great coffee, service and ambiance.
Un Bien – messy and delicious you must try a sandwich from Un Bien. Two locations in Ballard.
Get Outside
For such a compact neighborhood of Seattle, Ballard is blessed with an abundance of parks, and a visit to beautiful Ballard wouldn’t be complete without a visit to at least one of Ballard’s parks. This is a list of our favorites.
Discovery Park – definitely one of Seattle’s greatest treasures, a visit to Discovery Park is an absolute must.
Shilshole Marina – Nothing like the walk along the path near Shilshole on a summer day.
Golden Gardens – Dare I say this is Seattle’s favorite park? A very special spot no matter what time of year. Make a visit to Golden Gardens.
The Ballard Locks – this is one of the most fascinating places in Seattle, and always worth a visit. Going through the locks on a boat is cool, but it’s just as cool to enjoy it from the shore, and learn from the interpretive signage. Don’t miss it.
Point Shilshole – often called Seattle’s prettiest beach, Point Shilshole is a bit of a hidden gems for getting in the water, watching birds, and enjoying the view.
So Many Things To Do
And so many more things to discover in Ballard;
National Nordic Heritage Museum opened in 2018 this remarkable museum is a must when visiting Ballard. Nordic roots run deep throughout the greater Pacific Northwest and this museum tells the story. It also is a remarkable work of architecture. Make this a priority.
The Ballard Farmers Market a year ’round farmers market is nearly unheard of in the Pacific Northwest, but for the past 26 years the Ballard Farmers Market has been open every Sunday. It is a wonderful place for fresh produce, crafts and lunch as well as fun people watching. Don’t miss it.
Bakke Coffee Museum a must-visit destination for coffee enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The museum showcases the evolution of coffee culture through an impressive collection of espresso machines, grinders, and brewing artifacts. Walk-ins welcome Sundays from 12-4 or other days by appointment. See website for more.
Ballard Reuse is a treasure trove of constantly changing inventory of vintage and eclectic items for any use. Take a stroll and be insprired.
Further Afield
As long as you are here definitely spend as much time as possible at any or all of these wonderful attractions only a few minutes from Ballard. Enjoy the Woodland Park Zoo, Funky Freemont and Green Lake just to name a few.
Are You Convinced?
Have I convinced you that it’s time to rediscover Ballard Washington? I have spent a lot of time there over the last seven years, because my adult son calls it home. If he had never moved there, I would never have rediscovered Ballard myself…and I’m so glad I did. I still have a lot to see in Beautiful Ballard…so I’ll see you there.
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Seattle
Thank you for reading my post Hidden Gems of the PNW – Ballard Washington. Learn more about Ballard at Visit Ballard. See last week’s post
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16 Comments
Ballard looks worth discovering and rediscovering! My mouth is watering with all those delightful eats and drinks too.
May 28, 2021 at 11:34 amThank you Alma
May 29, 2021 at 4:00 pmI know what you mean about wishing you had invested in a place before it became really popular. Great for Ballard. And for everyone who is newly discovering this spot in Washington. We would visit for the seafood for sure. And certainly try one or more breweries. But those outdoor spots would keep us there.
May 28, 2021 at 4:35 pmThanks Linda
May 29, 2021 at 4:00 pmI’m just discovering Ballard for the first time. But it looks like there is much to do there that it may not be possible to do it all in one trip, therefore requiring rediscovering! Thanks for introducing me to someplace new.
May 29, 2021 at 3:41 pmWorth a second trip.
May 29, 2021 at 4:00 pmLove this! Even though you aren’t traveling international at present, you’re doing a stellar job showing us some great places near home. I guess we’d all be rich if we cold have foreseen places that would become booming towns later, wow. Seems like there is a lot to do over there, amazing!
May 29, 2021 at 5:27 pmCome visit!
May 29, 2021 at 6:08 pmI would love to visit any place that for us European tourists are somewhat off the main road. And I would for sure go for the oysters 🙂
May 30, 2021 at 11:36 pmGreat seafood here for sure!
May 31, 2021 at 6:49 pmI have been to Seattle but not to Ballard, so it’s a great idea to discover Ballard also. It’s interesting to see how many Scandinavian roots this place has. Thanks for sharing!
May 31, 2021 at 11:59 amThanks Anita!
May 31, 2021 at 6:50 pmLooks like a fun place to visit. I’m always curious about getting a little taste of Europe while closer to home.
May 31, 2021 at 6:04 pmI agree!
May 31, 2021 at 6:50 pmA beautiful place to visit. I would love to explore Ballard – one of Seattle’s most popular neighborhoods someday!
June 4, 2021 at 12:26 amI loved reading about your experience in Ballard, Washington. Your descriptions really made it come alive for me. Happy travels!
June 8, 2021 at 8:31 pm