7.3 out of 10

Madrona

Ranked 31st best neighborhood in Seattle
47.6132233463173 -122.288732805314
Great for
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Clean & Green
  • Safe & Sound
  • Neighborly Spirit
Not great for
  • Medical Facilities
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Childcare
  • Internet Access
  • Schools
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Singles
  • LGBT+

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
2yrs+

"Lots of parks"

If Madison Beach Park is too busy on the summer weekends, we will head over to other parks in Madrona to find one that is quieter. There are quite a few, and we sometimes will go to 2 in one day.

Madrona Beach Park also can get busy sometimes. It is a very popular place for swimming, and has some sand, and sometimes a floating swimming dock. Right next to the beach is a theater. It is called Spectrum Dance Theater. They have dance classes for all ages. We havent tried them, but they have a good reputation.

In the north, also on the lake is the Denny Blaine Park. This is right on the water, and you can swim here. It is quieter than Madison Beach or Madrona Beach. But there is no sandy beach, so you have to have water shoes because the rocks hurt your feet. However there is no restroom, which is problematic.

Lakeview Park is in the neighborhood and has some walking paths and a viewpoint. You can see across Lake Washington to Bellevue. There is a grassy area but I wish there were more picnic tables. However I appreciate the large grassy area for kids to play.

Noras Woods is a very small forest. There are walking paths to enjoy the beautiful trees. But it is not stroller friendly.

Madrona Playground is the last park I will mention. However, there are still more. It is a neighborhood with many parks. Madrona Playground has a large play area. It also has a basketball court, a baseball field, a soccer field, and a tennis court with lights. It is good for the youth to have a place to play, especially in the summer. It keeps them busy and out of trouble. Our daughter is too young for most of this except the play equipment right now.

Other than the parks, there is just housing here in Madrona. The houses are very nice, it looks like a good neighborhood. We feel very safe here. Many people with the houses on the lake have docks and boats.
Pros
  • Beautiful mountain and water panorama
  • Great parks
  • Quiet environment
  • Nice waterfront path for running/walking/biking
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Beach Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Lakeside running"

One of my favorite city runs starts at Madrona Beach. You park nearby, then go down to the beachfront road, which is Lake Washington Blvd at this point. There is a path that runs next to the road where you start running south. Because the path doesnt continue nonstop the whole way, youll have to alternate between the path and the sidewalk on the road, but you have a sweet lake view either way.

You can continue to follow this road/path as far as you want basically. I sometimes aim to make it to Seward Park and back, which is 11 miles. Or to mix it up Ill jump on the I-90 walking path and run to Mercer Island and back. Its 6.5 miles round trip if you just go to the edge of Mercer Island, but you can make it longer. Youd think that it would be super smoggy from all the cars but actually its not because of the breeze off the water. But you definitely need sunglasses!

Then when you get back to where you started, you can jump in the lake at Madrona Beach swimming area! Make sure to have lots of water and some food waiting for you, because a lot of this run will be in the sun in the summer. And believe it or not it gets really hot in the summer in Seattle sometimes.
Pros
  • Nice waterfront path for running/walking/biking
  • Beautiful mountain and water panorama
  • Great parks
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Seattle Gentrification"

We live just east of Madrona, in the Mann neighborhood. Even in the short few years we’ve been living in the Central District of Seattle, we’ve seen gentrification sweep over this part of town.

A close friend of mine who lives in her childhood home in East Madrona reminisces about how she used to know all the families on her block, most of which were black, that have now been replaced by white faces as gentrification has swept over the neighborhood.

Gentrification is a complicated social phenomena, because many of us participate in it in our own way, and yet big development projects and the changing city economics are also the main drivers. The ethical side is very complex. What I do know, however, is that we cannot pretend that it is not happening. We must be aware of it, and make a decision, one way or the other, to participate or not. Otherwise we are acting blind by pretending that we have no individual responsibility, when of course we all do.

As for housing, most of the homes in Madrona remain as small and medium single-family houses with quaint yards and tree-lined streets. As you get closer to Lake Washington, the prices increase sharply, so the housing with water views are reserved for the wealthy. Unsurprisingly, the faces also get whiter the closer you get to the water.

However, all people can access the stunning Madrona Park on the waterfront. It is the obvious choice for a hot day, with access to swimming in the lake, a view, picnic tables, etc. However, it can get quite crowded on hot weekends.

Lastly I’ll mention one of my favorite little cafes, Café Flora, on the northernmost border of Madrona. Though the service can be a bit slow at times, the food is excellent, with both vegan and vegetarian options.
Pros
  • Great parks
  • Beautiful mountain and water panorama
  • Quiet environment
Cons
  • Large divide in demographics and income levels
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Beach Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"A Slow-Paced And Quiet Community With A Rich and Diverse History"

A neighborhood which as experienced much change over the last century, having seen an influx of coal miners, ship builders, and now young professionals in a variety of industries. Madrona is located roughly halfway between Interstate 90 and Highway 520. Boundary-wise, it is East Denny Way in the north, Puget Sound in the east, East Cherry Street in the south, and Martin Luther King Jr. Way (MLK) in the west.

Demographics

Over the decades, Madrona has seen an influx of Chinese and African Americans. In recent years, however, the numbers have been favoring the whites. The Caucasian population is approaching 75%, and after 2010 census data is released, it may not be surprising to see that percentage even higher. The Black population predominantly has settled west of 34th Avenue. There is a smattering of Asians and Hispanics, but they make up far less of the demographic. A wide range of age groups live in the neighborhood, with the median age being around 39 years old. These statistics, along with many other details are found at http://bitly.com/bsZ2g2.

Income

Income levels correlate closely with demographic breakdown, with lower income households to the west and the south. Higher paid residents live east of 34th Avenue, with the most affluent dwelling around Madrona Park. The difference in salary level is almost $130,000, dropping sharply around the East Columbia Street and 31st Avenue intersection.

Real Estate

Housing values here ride higher than the Seattle average, due to the affluence of the eastern side of Madrona. Many homes are still valued at $400,000 and above, even breaking the $1 million mark. View a map of housing values at Zillow (http://bitly.com/aF2chm). For more tabular data on Madrona housing, go to Trulia (http://bitly.com/dpfHVN).

Culture

Nicknamed, "The Peaceable Kingdom", for the diverse representation of residents. It carries a slower pace of life, possibly brought on by its "out of the way" location on the lake. A more in-depth experience of the neighborhood can be had at http://madrona.wetpaint.com/.

Restaurants, Pubs and Coffee Shops

Interestingly, much of the restaurant density lies along 34th Avenue. Places like Cupcake Royale (http://cupcakeroyale.com), St. Clouds Restaurant (http://stclouds.com), Hi-Spot Cafe (http://hispotcafe.com), Dulces Latin Bistro (http://dulceslatinbistro.com), and Madrona Eatery & Ale House. A couple of dining experiences near MLK and Cherry are Lalibela Ethiopian and King Creole BBQ ((http://kingcreoleseattle.com). An urban winery to savor is Wilridge (http://wilridgewinery.com), on the north side of Madrona Park.

Shopping and other Amenities

The highest concentration of commerce is near Union and 34th. Some businesses you can peruse are Madrona Market & Deli (http://madronamarket.com) - open 356 days, Glassybaby (http://glassybaby.com) - an artistic lighting store, Norman Courtney Studio (http://normancourtney.com) - a public art studio, Fetch Pet Care (http://fetchpetcare.com) - complete pet care, Buggy (http://shop-buggy.com) - Nearly new clothing for babies, kids, and expecting mothers, Al Doggett Studio (http://aldoggettstudio.com) - restoration and sale of art, and Gina Jonas Calligrapher (http://ginajonascalligrapher) - a wide variety of calligraphy services,

Schools and Recreation Facilities

A wide variety of schools and recreational institutions exist around Madrona. Here is a list of several, YWCA (http://ywcaworks.org), Spectrum Dance Studio (http://spectrumdance.org), Harvard Avenue School (http://harvardavenueschool.com) - toddler, preschool and pre-kindergarten education, Les Enfants de Seattle (http://lesenfantsdeseattle.com) - French immersion preschool, The Cascadia Group LLC (http://cascadiagroup.com) - Human resource development coaching, Conscious Body Pilates (http://consciousbodypilates.com) - private pilates and personal training studio, Community Day School Association (http://communitydayschool.org) - day care enrichment programs, Madrona Elementary School (http://seattleschools.org/schools/madrona) - elementary school with student-centered environment, Epiphany School (http://epiphanyschool.org) - focused on respect, responsibility and resourcefulness, and St. Therese School (http://stthereseseattle.org) - a Catholic elementary and middle school with a rich diversity.

Medical Facilities

It is slim pickings for doctors and medical offices, but there are a couple wellness centers like Kismet Salon (http://salonkismet.com) and Grow Aware (http://grow-aware.com). Larger and more comprehensive medical offices are found to the west, like Swedish Medical Center (http://swedish.org).

Access

The east-central location of Mardrona requires more non-arterial commuting. Reaching Interstate 5 is easily accomplished by taking Cherry Street, which turns into James Street. Finding the on-ramp is just a matter of turning northwest onto 7th Avenue. Make sure to jog to the left, after a couple of blocks, or the ramp is lost and turning back to re-access costs extra minutes and a small migraine. Driving to the east side of Lake Washington involves a few minutes of steering southwest towards Rainier Avenue. Continuing south on Ranier Avenue, if Interstate 90 is undesirable, will lead to Renton. Here, after the road turns into Highway 167, Interstate 405 is accessible for a journey to Bellevue and Kirkland.

Summary

A community of diverse culture, people and amenities. A neighborhood such as Madrona is what makes living in or visiting the west coast of Lake Washington a treat. Why not head here for a latte at Hi-Spot Cafe, making sure not to miss the park and waterfront, which comprise much of Madrona's "fingerprint".
Pros
  • Quiet environment
  • Bicycle friendly
  • Beautiful mountain and water panorama
Cons
  • Large divide in demographics and income levels
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Trendy & Stylish
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Middle class, on its way to the top!"

Madrona is a gentrifying residential neighborhood with a history of ethnic diversity. In the past, industries like coal mining and ship building attracted specific ethnic groups, whose presence can be felt here. Eastern Madrona is seen as high-end side, while the west side is made up of mostly middle class families who are steadily cashing in on increasing property values.

Definitely an area with some great variety in their food selections, there are a couple of places that you’ll want to be sure to hit. I like Lalibela, an Ethiopian restaurant where the proportions are generous and the food is authentic. The atmosphere harkens a hunters’ lodge, with chairs covered in animal skins, bamboo surfaces, music, and an Ethiopian wait staff. I’m a big fan of their Zilzil Tibs and the Shero Wot is delicious. For dessert, go to Cupcake Royale, where the flavors are great and the choices are impossible. Everything looks and smells too good to choose between, so be prepared to grab a box. Finally, for a distinct Latin flair, I like to sit down at Dulces Latin Bistro. It’s a great space with an intimate and chill ambiance, complimented to expertly seasoned and extra fresh food. It’s definitely a high-end type of establishment, with a top-notch presentation and flavors that won’t let you down.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
2yrs+

"Quiet and friendly neighborhood on the waterfront"

The Madrona neighborhood is located on the western side of Lake Washington, just east of Downtown Seattle. Although often grouped with Leschi, a neighboring area, most Madrona residents prefer to think of themselves as their own neighborhood.

The residents of Madrona are quite proud of their heritage; historically, the neighborhood has been one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the city. While the neighborhood was once home to large populations of African Americans and Chinese Americans, today the Caucasian population is climbing at the neighborhood becomes gentrified.

Most shopping is found on 34th Avenue and E. Union, two of the main roads through the area, although residents tend to drive elsewhere in the city to do most of their shopping. This mostly residential area offers a wide range of houses, from mansions on the waterfront to more modest homes and condos away from the water. The housing is a mix of older homes and new construction.

Madrona is home to plenty of green spaces enjoyed by residents, including Madrona Park known for its swimming beach, Madrona Playground, and the Powell Barnett Playground. There are plenty of trails within view of Lake Washington, making this a popular weekend retreat for those living in busier areas of the city.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5
2yrs+

"Former home of Kurt Cobain"

Madrona is a neighborhood that is located along the shores of Lake Washington. Madrona is located between Leschi and Madison Valley. Madrona is also close to Madison Park. The homes here are situated along many winding roads that go up the slope of the mountain on your way into the Downtown Seattle core. This neighborhood has been home to a few celebrities, most notably Kurt Cobain.

The homes are a mix of mid-century, contemporary, brick and bungalow styles. This is a spectacular walking area, with parks and gardens that unfold and bloom throughout the seasons. The small but growing business strip is on 34th, which includes restaurants, shops and retailers, cafes, a local winery and a renovated yellow-stucco gas station (now a frame shop and gallery).

Along the lake you have Madrona Park, which comes with a snack bar, picnic tables and covered shelters that can be reserved through the Public Parks system. A bathhouse doubles as the home to a dance company and offers year-round classes. This swimming beach is full-service: lifeguards, a roped-in swimming area, floating dock and facilities.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees

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Best Streets in Madrona

1

34th Ave

3.5/5
"Slow paced with a splash of feelings of from home"
47.6149060546282 -122.289248713098
"Nice quiet residential area in the heart of Mann"
47.6164891017257 -122.287014604619

Unranked Streets in Madrona

32nd Ave

3.5/5
"Playground nearby is nice."
47.6183786478883 -122.291271992188

30th Ave

3.5/5
"Madrona - A City Within A City"
47.6126602597582 -122.293662177007

31st Ave

3.5/5
"Quiet, residential street through Madrona"
47.6130909137489 -122.292573548794

35th Ave

3.5/5
"Gold Lovers Drive"
47.6131911813735 -122.288205390387

East Pine St

3.5/5
"Chic Shops on Urban Thoroughfare"
47.6152039607007 -122.28818522081

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