West Queen Anne, Seattle

West Quenn Anne is a liviler section of Queen Anne with great resturants and nightspots. Known as the area that everyone visits for good food and entertainment, but make a reservation because otherwise you’ll be waiting for a table at most of the hotspots because of their popularity.

This area of Queen Anne is defiantly more of a neighborhood than the other sections of Queen Anne, more greeniery is in the area and there are more small parks and greenbelts in the area, but watch out for dog droppings in some of these greener parts of West Queen Anne.

All-in-all this area is perfect for young couples. It has a great nightlife, but also has a nice residential feel. The area has a lot of eateries and shopping but it’s not overwhelmed with them. But most importantly the area has some great views of the city, Lake Union and the Olympic Mountains.

Where is a great place for a photo of downtown without paying to ride up the Space Needle? Shortly after moving to the area, some friends urged us to visit Kerry Park near 2nd Avenue and Highland Drive in Queen Anne. We were not disappointed by the astounding panorama available at this ledge! Even within a couple of blocks from arriving at the spot, we doubted its existence as narrow streets, apartment buildings and foliage abounded. Being embedded near non-arterial streets makes this a great stopover for cyclists. However, beware of the climb and complex street navigation. I found this out the hard way, needing to walk innumerable steps carrying my bike!

After taking in the scenery, enjoy a quality cup at either Top Pot Donuts, Cafe Fiore, or Cafe Apassionato. All are roughly three blocks north of Kerry. Any of these establishments, in my opinion, are a great choice. Fiore has an elegant atmosphere, but crowded. A good friend of mine used to roast for Appassionato, so I'm biased there. The donuts at Top Pot could be the deciding factor if a sweet tooth is left to decide. Other coffee choices, if still undecided, lie just blocks away (Starbucks, Cafe Ladro, El Diablo Coffee, Macrina Bakery, or Muse Coffee).

When it comes to good eating, stroll along Queen Anne Avenue with her extensive variety of taste. A few places west of this "strip" include Via Tribunali (Italian), Homegrown Seattle Sandwich Shop, Bustle (Beer and Wine Bar), or Malena's Taco Shop.

Recreation needs can be satisfied at the Queen Anne Community Center on 1st Avenue. Our young boys explored their "play room" and found it to be loads of fun. The life-size building blocks kept their attention for close to an hour. The room is not large, but is a safe haven on blustery winter days. The pool, also, is a nice addition to the experience.

Living in this part of Queen Anne is not cheap. Close proximity to downtown offices and the picturesque aspect drive up demand. However, if budget permits, the experience is quite unlike any other. Close walking distance to dozens of reputable landmarks is reason enough to settle down here. The more elaborate street layouts on the western edge raise the bar on the uniqueness of this community.

The boundaries lie roughly from McGraw Street in the north to Elliott near Kinnear Park in the south. It stretches from Queen Anne Avenue (on the East side) to Elliot Avenue and 15th Avenue on the West.

Kinnear Park, sold to the city for a mere dollar, has final pleasantries before reaching the industrial area along the shore. At a generous size, and with a few amenities for kids, it can be a fantastic zone of leisure. My wife and kids stumbled on this location a couple of years ago. With hungry mouths crying to be fed after not finding the original park we sought, we abruptly found a picnic spot on the hill and absorbed the warmth on an early Spring afternoon.

Any human being would find something to sing about in this portion of Queen Anne. Enjoying "backyard" urban access, possessing the largest hill in Seattle, great eats with other social third places, and drop-dead gorgeous housing make the west side of royalty worth holding a second career just to buy here.

The Western slope of Queen Anne hill, bounded by 15th Avenue West on the western side, Queen Anne Ave N. to the east, and Alaskan Way to the south, is one of the most beautiful places to live in Seattle. Since Seattle's earliest days, the hillside has been a popular place for the building of large mansions, many of which can still be seen today.

By the 1880s, West Queen Anne was already settled enough to call for the Queen Anne School, which opened in 1890. Today, this historic building, located on 5th Avenue West, has been repurposed as luxury condos. Although there are plenty of new condo buildings being built in west Queen Anne, the many older mansions and historic buildings mean the area has retained much of its original charm.

Residents of West Queen Anne enjoy beautiful tree-lined streets and several small but well-kept parks, including West Queen Anne Playfield. Those who move to Queen Anne tend to stay here for many years, though the area is also quite popular with young families. Many homes in Queen Anne are priced over $1 million, though residents here do enjoy expansive views of Elliott Bay. The largest homes on the hill tend to be on the Southwestern slope.

Although West Queen Anne is mostly known as a residential neighborhood, it was also the location of the first television broadcast originating in the Pacific Northwest, from the facilities of KRSC (later bought by KING-TV) in 1949. There are also plenty of shops and gourmet restaurants, making West Queen Anne an in-demand neighborhood.

There is nowhere on Queen Anne hill that isn't a coveted place to live. And the housing prices reflect the desirability of the neighborhoods. Many of the streets on the southwest area of Queen Anne have outstanding views of Puget Sound, which is pretty much what the residents are going for that choose to spend top dollar to live there. The apartment complexes on Queen Anne are smart and well maintained, contributing to the neighborhood they reside in, rather than detracting from it. The homes in the area tend to be on the large and incredibly beautiful side, though you can find some cute, little houses here and there. The streets on Queen Anne are all incredibly green with trees lining the roads and flower gardens in the front yards. The proximity to downtown is a huge draw for the area residents, where public bus stops are close by and the monorail at the Seattle Center is just at the bottom of the hill. Neighborhoods are generally very quiet and residents, while pleasant, generally keep to themselves, unless you're blocking their view.

Queen Anne is one of the best places to raise kids in Seattle. It’s a quiet residential neighborhood situated on a hill overlooking the city with many small streets twisting across its slopes. The houses are small, single-family houses in a Cape Cod-type style with ample backyards and front yards. I have often visited my friend (who live with his wife and son on the hill), and have noticed the kindness the neighbors show him and he shows the neighbors. Plus, it is close enough to downtown Seattle to take advantage of the cultural and entertainment opportunities of the city. Queen Anne is a highly recommended neighborhood.

Queen Anne is one of Seattle’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods, settled on the top of the world—or, crowning one of the most scenic hills in the city. No wonder why Queen Anne is a highly sought-out place to live. Located at the northern end of downtown Seattle, this community has some of the most breathtaking views in the city.

Depending on what side of the hill you’re on, views sweep eastward, over Lake Union and the Cascade Mountains, or they go west, over Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and magnificent sunsets. When looking from the south slope of Queen Anne, you can see the Seattle skyline that is put on thousands of postcards. If you look a little to the west you can see all of Elliott Bay and West Seattle.

The homes offer great charm and original character. Tree-lined streets and a smattering of local parks add to a rich sense of community. Neighbors include young couples new to the area and residents with long standing ties to Seattle and especially Queen Anne. People who move here stay here.

Queen Anne is also known for its high-caliber dining reputation. This, along with its nightlife scene has become a destination for non-locals as well as locals. Area musicians frequent the small coffee shops and clubs, and the community shows their support to the tune of standing-room only.