Thanks to Bellevue’s diverse population, international cuisine abounds. For Taiwanese specialties like soup dumplings, Din Tai Fung (10455 NE 8th St) is worth the wait, while the related jian buns from Dough Zone (15920 NE Eighth St, Ste 3) are delectable. Inside modern Monsoon (10245 Main St), where Vietnam meets the Pacific Northwest, the Drunken Chicken strikes just the right balance of crunch and flavor. For sushi in a fashionable setting, look no further than Flo Japanese Restaurant & Sake Bar (1150 106th Ave NE). On the fun end of the spectrum, Lunchbox Laboratory (989 112th Ave NE, Ste 105) serves up creative cocktails and boozy shakes, like the tasty Cinnamon Toast Crunk (vanilla ice cream and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal with a test tube of cinnamon whiskey).

Whether you just want to do a little window shopping or you have your heart set on something specific, Bellevue has the store for you. The Bellevue Collection (575 Bellevue Square) is an excellent place to start, with about 200 retailers—think everything from Made in Washington and The Container Store to Apple, Eddie Bauer, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom. At The Shops at The Bravern (11111 NE Eighth St), find all the designer labels your closet could crave, including Gucci, Prada, and Jimmy Choo. Outside the malls, Main Street (known as Old Bellevue) houses a variety of cute shops. Whisk (10385 Main St) carries all the kitchen supplies your chef heart could desire. Down the street, Title Nine (10217 Main St) is a friendly place for women to get high-quality activewear, glassybaby (10230 Main St) sells coveted handmade candleholders that are a great Northwest souvenir, and home goods shop Hedge & Vine (10028 Main St) carries an array of eclectic wares.

No matter the time of the year, Bellevue Botanical Garden (12001 Main St) always has something in bloom among its 53 acres. Indoors, relax in a sensory deprivation tank at Float Bellevue (11101 NE 12th St) or indulge in hydrotherapy at Yuan Spa (1032 106th Ave, Ste 125). In the evenings, let your competitive side shine with a game of bowling at vintage-meets-mod Lucky Strike (700 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 250), take in live jazz at Bake’s Place (155 108th Ave NE, Ste 110), and see an aerial performance every Friday and Saturday around 8pm at lounge Suite (10500 NE Eighth St) inside the Hyatt Regency. If you’re here in late July, don’t miss the BAM ARTSfair from the Bellevue Arts Museum (510 Bellevue Way NE), an annual tradition that dates back to the 1940s. During the event, 300 designers and craftspeople gather to display their handmade art that represents everything from classic to modern craft.