Twelve Reasons to Love Ballard
Once its own city, Ballard is now one of Seattle's quintessential neighborhoods. Residents and visitors spend time on the Burke-Gilman trail or taking in views that stun from Shilshole Bay or the Hiram M. Chittenden (“Ballard”) Locks. A marine town primarily comprised of those of Scandinavian descent in its early years, Ballard pays tribute to its history through the widely attended annual Seafood Festival and celebrates its Nordic heritage in a parade on Syttende Mai (Norway's Constitution Day). Whether spending the day in the historic district, at Golden Gardens Park, or at the Nordic Heritage Museum, residents and visitors enjoy the unique neighborhood of Ballard. Here are twelve of our favorite reasons to visit.
Ballard Locks (Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) & Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens
Grab a blanket and a picnic basket and spend a few hours at the locks. Watch the boats, kayaks, and yachts as they come and make sure to check out the neighboring botanical gardens and the treasured salmon as they return to fresh water to spawn.
Golden Gardens
Spend the day at the beach with your feet in the sand. The miles of coastline make it a great destination to cycle to watch the paddle boarders, ferries, fishing boats, and sailboats go by.
Ballard Farmers Market on Sundays
Located along the historic cobblestone of Ballard Avenue NW, the Ballard Farmers Market is Seattle’s first year-round neighborhood farmer’s market to sell produce exclusively from Washington State farmers. Not only do they have delicious offerings like homemade toffee, soups, and peanut sauce, but it’s also a great way to start your Sunday morning by taking a stroll through the market and sampling foods.
National Nordic Museum
Interested in the history of Scandinavian roots in Seattle? Look no further than Ballard’s National Nordic Museum that seeks to tell stories, create connections, promote values, and inspire visitors to create a more vibrant, just, and sustainable world through a Nordic perspective. To see a list of upcoming exhibits, click here. While you are there, stop into Freya, the Nordic café on-site, for some delicious Nordic foods.
Ray’s Boathouse
One of Seattle’s most iconic seafood restaurants, Ray’s Boathouse is ideally located overlooking the Puget Sound in Ballard. They are known for serving the freshest seafood prepared with classic technique, yet inspired by global cuisines. Some menu highlights include the Alaskan King Salmon, Rays Pacific Northwest Chowder and the Pacific Northwest Halibut. When in season, the fresh oysters are a must-try, too!
La Carta de Oaxaca
Established in 2003, this lively and fun boutique restaurant introduced Seattle to cuisine from Oaxaca, Mexico, which is famous for its mole. A family-run eatery, you’ll feel right at home when you walk in. Plus, it’s one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants and a Seattle favorite. Make sure to try their house specialty, the Mole Negro Oaxaqueño and handmade guacamole. If you are a fan of mezcal, give one of their 40 varieties a taste, as well.
Majestic Bay Theatre
An icon in Ballard, this theatre is renowned for its vintage legacy, mahogany wainscotting, and admiral and Neptune themes. Don’t let the nostalgic décor fool you—it has all the comforts of a newer cinema, as well. Stop in for a movie and be wowed!
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Created to be a fun, lively, and approachable oyster bar, The Walrus and the Carpenter is a neighborhood locale with delicious foods served in a contemporary chic setting. Their menu changes daily based on what is in season and fresh, so there is always something new and innovative to try. Some crowd favorites are the scallop crudo, spring tartine, and sea wolf bread, but the real stars are the oysters, so make sure to order a few of them for the table!
Paxtis Pizza
A delicious pizzeria in Ballard, Paxti’s mission is to serve phenomenal pizza in a comfortable, welcoming environment—when you walk through the door, they want you to feel like family. They serve both deep-dish and thin crust varieties, so there is something for everyone, and with fantastic topping options like prosciutto and arugula, you really can’t go wrong! Despite a sometimes-long line, it’s worth the wait.
Sushi
If you’re on the hunt for delicious sushi, look no further than Shiku Sushi and Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya. Both are mainstays and local favorites in Ballard that serve up extensive menus of sushi favorites, both with modern and traditional takes.
Kimchi House
Specializing in quick, affordable, and modern Korean comfort food, this spot is a must-try in Ballard. Though small and unassuming, it’s a hidden gem in the neighborhood that serves up delicious bites like Kimchi Fries, Bi Bim Bap, and Pot Stickers.
Salt & Straw
This place serves up ice cream on steroids. They find flavor inspirations from chefs to farmers to food movements to social causes. Picture honey lavender, sea salt & caramel ribbons, pear & blue cheese, arbequina olive oil, strawberry & coconut water sherbet, Bersharam’s yogurt lassi with raspberries, cold brew coffee cashew praline—the flavor profiles are amazingly unique and the options are endless!