This post is about spending a perfect day in Capitol Hill, Seattle was written by a local. Capitol Hill is one of Seattle’s trendiest
This post was written by Renee. Renee is a digital nomad who has lived in Seattle and many other cities around the globe. She writes about travel and teaches people how to become a digital nomad on her blog, Renee the
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Where to stay in Capitol Hill
There’s lots of cozy bed and breakfasts within beautiful old houses in this centrally located neighborhood, perfect for couples looking for a relaxing weekend in Seattle.
Get a Local Cup of Coffee
Of course, what would Seattle be without the coffee? Capitol hill has some of Seattle’s most famous (and best) coffee shops. One of the most unique is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. In this unique Starbucks location, you can watch the beans get ground and processed, and then shot through tubes on the ceiling over to the baristas, where you can order a very freshly ground cup of coffee. Tours are available on some days.
Another one not to miss is Victrola Coffee, which is known for its creamy, delicious lattes and its wide variety of teas. There are two locations in Capitol Hill, but probably the most convenient one is the location on E Pike St, near the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
Finally, Stumptown Roasters makes excellent coffee that has been exported to many other cities around the US. Stop into their cute little shop for a pastry and a pour over.
Your trip to Seattle may be a bit caffeinated if you’re trying to make the most of the excellent local coffee roasters. But that’s ok; that’s how we like to do things!
Check Out Some of the Parks
With all of the rain that falls in Seattle, there are sure to be some great parks. Capitol Hill has its fair share of lush, green parks where you can take a stroll, play some frisbee, or read a book if the weather holds up.
One of the best parks in Capitol Hill is Volunteer Park. From this location, you can climb up to an observation tower (for free) to see the surrounding areas. There is also a conservatory/greenhouse on the property that has free days once a month.
The other park you’ll want to see is Cal Anderson Park. In the summer, there are a variety of beautiful fountains and even a piano in the park that visitors can play. Year round, you could watch the soccer games that go on almost every night of the week.
Soak in the Sauna (Women only)
If you’re feeling chilled after walking around, try the Hothouse sauna. Sorry fellas–
Grab Drinks at a Few Unique Bars
Where do I even begin to tell you about the bars of Capitol Hill? Well, for starters, if you stay on East Pike Street, you will be able to walk around and see a lot of the bars for yourself. You’re not constrained to the locations I’ve mentioned here.
One of the best bars to check out is McMenamin’s. This is a local chain of sorts, but every location is unique. They are known for having some of the best craft beers in the Pacific Northwest Region.
Would you prefer to have some fun cocktails? Tavern Law is a good place to start. Their specialty is whiskey drinks.
Prefer tequila? Poquito’s around the corner, is an upscale Mexican restaurant with a lot of interesting dishes you probably haven’t tried before. Order a dish of their fried crickets, if you dare.
Getting Dinner in Capitol Hill
I also have a few recommendations for dinner spots around Capitol Hill. The first one is called Ba Bar. This restaurant serves unique Vietnamese dishes. This is not your local pho restaurant; everything here is done with top-notch ingredients and the most flavor you’ve tasted in Vietnamese food.
Vegans will enjoy the Plum Bistro, which serves upscale vegan creations. Although I’m not vegan myself, I was extremely impressed with their entrees, which are very filling, rich, and flavorful.
Another favorite is Tacos Chukis. This would be a lighter and more affordable option for dinner. However, be prepared to wait; this place is popular. They have the most amazing sandwich, the Torta Chukis. It includes marinated meat, guacamole, and grilled pineapple– which you just have to experience to understand.
Nightlife in Capitol Hill
While the daytime activities in Capitol Hill are more low key, the nightlife is where things really pick up. Here are some places you might want to try:
- The 12th Ave Arts Center is a good place to attend local plays.
- Capitol Cider often has local comedians,
one act plays, and other entertainment on many nights of the week. Plus, they have a wide variety of hard cider to try. Ray gun lounge is for gamers. They have a wall of board games, plus pinball.
For dancing, you could try the Havana Lounge. This place gets rowdy on the weekends, but you could experience Top 40, hip-hop, salsa, and other musical styles. In contrast, the Century Ballroom around the corner focuses on salsa, bachata, swing, lindy hop, and a few other styles of dance, plus lessons to teach you how to do it.
Sam’s is a unique place, even just to get drinks. The unicorn heads on the wall really say it all. But if you’re lucky, on some nights they offer events like karaoke and bingo.
These are some of my
If you are fine with walking, you could get to Capitol Hill within a 20-minute walk of downtown Seattle. Once you’re there, everything I have mentioned in this article is accessible by foot. I hope you enjoy your trip to Seattle and give Capitol Hill a try. Happy travels!
Have you been to the Capitol Hill area in Seattle? Let us know what you thought of this guide!
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