7.5 out of 10

North Admiral

Ranked 27th best neighborhood in Seattle
47.5774755473312 -122.38723216108
Great for
  • Clean & Green
  • Internet Access
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Schools
  • Neighborly Spirit
Not great for
  • Parking
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Quaint"

Just moved here recently because of the quaintness of the neighborhood. Have found people in the area to be very friendly and welcoming. Access to grocery stores and family run restaurants is terrific. Parking is not great in the area but we don't mind since we live here. Commute into downtown is very manageable. Overall, we are very happy to have moved here.
Pros
  • Quiet residential area
  • Unique dining choices
Cons
  • High traffic volumes on arterial streets
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Beach Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
2yrs+

"The Place Where Seattle Lives Up to It's Movie Star Name"

There’s really no place in Seattle that truly feels like Seattle seems in the movies than North Admiral. This neighborhood is the home of Alki Beach with its amazing coastline, great eateries and stunning views. On a sunny Seattle day you can take an Alki Kayak Tours and explore the waterways and then eat at Salties or Admiral’s Pub, Circa or even Mission.

But Alki isn’t the only attraction of the area, the homes in the area range in price and can be affordable bungalows to sprawling mason but it seems that almost every price range is represented in the area.

North Admiral has some great grocery stores like Metropolitan Market with its great wine selections and organic treats. Safeway and QFC also are in or close to the area. The traffic in the neighborhood can often be a bear and it’s recommended that one plan extra time in their day to travel around the area. Parking isn’t really great when venturing out to eat either so it’s defiantly a place to live if time isn’t a huge concern of yours.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"The Oldest Neighborhood Has Aged Well"

The oldest neighborhood in West Seattle, North Admiral is so named for its orientation to the main road, Admiral Way S.W. The real estate market is up to date, offering both homes and condos to potential buyers, but for a premium. It’s a friendly neighborhood, with close proximity to the action of West Seattle and the splendor and summer activity at Alki Beach. The residential neighborhoods demonstrate a certain type of camaraderie evident in the local bars and restaurants where the neighbors hang out. Other distractions include the multi-use theater that hosts comedy, movies, musical performances, and a monthly showing of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show—an utter necessity for the uninitiated.

The stores in the area run more toward the stylish and the quirky, but with local flair (including the prerequisite Seattle coffee shops). Grocery shoppers have the regular fare to choose from, with the addition of the Metropolitan Market, which makes it a veritable mission to bring interesting ingredients to the area. The North Admiral nightlife offers variety and diversity in pricing and theme. Essentially, the neighborhood is self-sufficient (if not self contained), which is meant to be a good thing in this context, because by contrast, the traffic for to- and from-work commutes can be pretty brutal on Admiral Way.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Panorama, Virgin Forest, And Quality Venues"

The public face of West Seattle, with stunning views of the downtown skyline (http://bitly.com/h9PPmC) from its coastline and a resort-like feel around the perimeter. Virtually shaped like an arrowhead, North Admiral has a massive residential area. Hemmed in on the south by SW Charleston Street. The western boundary is 56th Ave SW (more or less).

The main arterials are Admiral Way through the interior, Harbor Avenue and Alki Avenue along the coast and California running north and south through the center. It's along these routes, obviously, that most of the restaurants and businesses operate.

A couple of venues to note are Salty's On Alki (http://saltys.com/seattle), an elegant steak and seafood restaurant with glorious views of the skyline. Just up the coast from Salty's is Alki Kayak Tours (http://kayakalki.com) where you can take classes and go on kayaking tours. If you have enough experience, you can rent a kayak for an unguided experience. Being near the trails and beaches, they also rent out skates, bikes and long boards. The Water Taxi (http://1.usa.gov/eB0IMN) route to downtown Seattle (http://bitly.com/fwXJkP) is nearby too, especially if you want to avoid the West Seattle Bridge (http://bitly.com/bYearn) congestion and let someone else drive.

Superb pubs and dining are found deeper into Admiral, including Admiral Pub (http://admiralpubseattle.com) - In existence for 22 years with superb entertainment and free WiFi, Elliot Bay Brewery & Pub (http://bitly.com/gE8WbS) - Co-owned by Todd Carden and Brent Norton since July 1997, Circa Ale House (http://circawestseattle.com) - A wide variety of drinks and food dishes, Mission (http://missionbar.com) - Latin cuisine and bar with late hours and facility rentals, and Palin Thai Cuisine (http://pailinthai.com) - Boasts of a cozy and exquisite environment, and the Bohemian.

The coffee establishments include Starbucks (http://sbux.co/fPrNgs), Freshy's (http://freshyscoffee.com) - A place ‘more comfortable than your living room’ with ‘garage sale’ like events and even box lunches for large events, and Alki Mail and Dispatch (http://alkimail.com) - The one-stop location for mailing, WiFi, coffee and copies. The latter, a creative meshing of a cafe and mail room. An uncrowded landing area in the back provides a quiet remote office or a relaxing quarters for unrestrained conversation with a good friend. I met a fellow entrepreneur here last year and was completely at ease, mostly from the serene environment and not having to raise our voices over the usual cafe chatter.

Four parks secure the perimeter of North Admiral. On the eastern edge, along the water, is Jack Block Park (http://bitly.com/eAvCWB). An attractive space with a 45 foot high observation tower, play area, pier, and plenty of panorama. To the north is Hamilton Viewpoint Park (http://1.usa.gov/fzd1JA). It's an environment to basque in, taking in the views of the Sound and of downtown. A supreme location for a family picture on a clear day. Directly south is Hiawatha Playfield (http://1.usa.gov/hNC3bZ), where play greens and playgrounds abound. The center for recreational activity in the community. Enforcing the western side, another one of West Seattle's spacious nature preserves, is Schmitz Park (http://1.usa.gov/ifpxPR). Entering the park allows you to quickly forget the urban setting. The old growth trees, large ravine and waterfalls transport you to another dimension. My two boys and I enjoyed scampering along the ravine, occasionally crossing a fallen tree log, and even scaling a steep slope to re-access the main trail.

Just as an old virgin forest can be found here, the neighborhood itself is the oldest in West Seattle. A variety of home styles, architecture, and eras mesh to create a section that Seattle continues to boast in. It's the Magnolia neighborhood (http://bitly.com/cWwQE0) on steroids. The downside, unfortunately, is access. The West Seattle Bridge is a joy to cross during non-peak times. However, when you hit it during the commutes you better have a good tune playing or have that long phone conversation (On your blue tooth headset, of course).

A great community in many respects. This location will continue to earn a soft spot in Seattle's existence.
Pros
  • Unique dining choices
  • Good night life
  • Quiet residential area
Cons
  • High traffic volumes on arterial streets
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Admiral District is a hidden gem of a Seattle neighborhood."

North Admiral, or as it's known locally, The Admiral District, is a wonderful neighborhood tucked in between the beauty of Alki Beach and the hub of West Seattle, the Alaska Junction. The intersection of California Avenue and Admiral Way is host to great local restaurants, catering to neighborhood regulars. Living in this neighborhood is akin to living in a small town in the 1950s, as sooner or later, you will get to know nearly everyone in the area if you start hanging out at places like Circa or Mission. There is a wonderful theater which hosts movies, music, comedy, a monthly midnight showing of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show (costumes mandatory,) and even an occasional burlesque show. The theater itself is an historic site, which is experiencing a rebirth as of late. The retail environment is quirky, leaning more toward gift/boutique type shops, of which there are plenty of lovable local family-owned businesses. One of the newer additions if Atomic Boys, a retro-themed candy/gift shop, which caters to toys and candy from the 1950s and '60s. The nightlife of the area is well-contained and runs the gamut from the sporty atmosphere of the Admiral Pub, to the classier digs of the aforementioned Mission or Circa. Heading down California toward the Alaska Junction, there are plenty of retail spaces from independent coffee shops to the newest West Seattle addition, Arcane Comics. Let's not forget the Metropolitan Market, host to cheeses, wines, olives, baked goods, and exotic grocery fare from all over the world. If you cannot find it at the "Met", it simply does not exist! Seriously, the place is a gourmet chef's dream come true. Locals often claim proud ownership of the fact that their neighborhood is so self-contained, that there is no need to "cross the bridge" and head out of West Seattle. Perhaps it is the plentiful and stunning views of Seattle's skyline, access to Alki Beach, or the small-town feel of all of West Seattle that is contributing to so many people falling in love with the neighborhoods across said bridge.

If you are looking to move here, there are some slight negatives. Traffic on Admiral can get pretty thick at commute times, and living along Admiral itself can be noisy. Also, as with anywhere else in Seattle, property values are outrageously high. You will be paying close to San Fransisco or New York prices for property.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
4/5
2yrs+

"Every kind of home available here"

The neighborhood of Admiral is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle. In the early days of Admiral, the only way to reach this neighborhood was by cable car or water ferry. Today, Admiral is easily accessible by the West Seattle Bridge.

Admiral is full of various kinds of real estate. The neighborhood offers homes and condos for sale that are in high demand.

Admiral offers views of Downtown, Belltown, the Space Needle. Admiral also offers views of Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier. The closest neighborhoods around The Admiral District are Alki Beach, West Seattle, and Fauntleroy.

From Admiral, you’re able to quickly access highway 509 that runs to South Seattle. You also have quick access to highway 99 just over the West Seattle Bridge. Highway 99 runs north and south and gives you the ability to be anywhere in Seattle very easily.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles

Travelling to North Admiral?

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Best Streets in North Admiral

"The heart of West Seattle provides everything within walking distance."
47.5756226643061 -122.386172464179
"A great place if you want to be close to the beach"
47.5776245959257 -122.400971187529

Unranked Streets in North Admiral

"Not so nice, but leads to a pretty place!"
47.5892352600638 -122.380992753934
"Tiny street but super cute in W. Seattle"
47.5825435296687 -122.374152103342
"A Great Street in my Great Neighborhood"
47.5814512440256 -122.383883218164
"A Long Street Leading Directly to an Ocean View"
47.5773388857563 -122.39731420466
"Lush greenery and very little traffic"
47.5861185902613 -122.379910183484
"Nice homes hidden among the trees"
47.5825521871624 -122.381407064521
"Affordable beach location with desirable views of the Sound"
47.5837767624848 -122.399305458548
"Great beach views but parking can be a problem"
47.5828057997686 -122.399632406958

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