Down in Belltown
Belltown is a beautifully historic district of Seattle that neighbors Pikes Place Market, Elliot Bay, and Denny Way. It’s the most densely populated area of the city, extremely walkable, and full of trendy restaurants, cozy cafes, and mostly new apartments and condos (although there are still some older charming brick residences). One of the more iconic establishments, The Crocodile, opened in the grunge era and played host to dozens of well-known music groups. They are still a popular music venue so check their calendar for a list of shows. Another well-known and highly celebrated restaurant is El Gaucho, which has just celebrated their 20 year anniversary and promise to deliver “Fine dining of a bygone era. We anticipate our guest’s needs with jazz, delivering a personalized and unparalleled service encounter, where the details are carefully and thoughtfully executed. A place where the water glasses never go below an inch, ladies are escorted and carts silently glide to guests awaiting tableside preparations.”
Additionally, you can find tasty and artfully crafted sushi at Umi Sake House, amazing Thai food at Golden Singha, and delightful comfort food at CJ’s Eatery, not to mention indulgent cupcakes at The Yellow Leaf.
One of Belltown’s most unique features is the famous Olympic Sculpture Park, a free, outdoor collection of impressive of both permanent and traveling works of art. It’s operated by the Seattle Art Museum and is one of the only green spaces downtown.
The Belltown neighborhood even features an off-leash dog park and Community Center. Ran by Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Belltown Community Center features drop-in programs, classes, meeting rooms, and a toddler play area. Check out page 23-24 of this brochure to see what’s happening in the upcoming months – you’d be surprised how many great programs you can get involved in!
If you’re not in the mood for classes, restaurants, or sculptures, check out a film in one of Belltown’s two independent movie theaters. The Big Picture, located on First Avenue, was voted one of the top 20 movie theaters in the world! The Cinerama, located on Fourth Avenue is bigger with a capacity of 570 and owned by Paul Allen. Just make sure to see what’s playing and book in advance – they both only show one film at a time!
Whatever you decide to do in Belltown, make the most of it and have a great time!
