South Lake Union

Photo: Nick Hall Photography

Photo: iStock

Photo: John Henderson

Photo: Dana L. Styber

Photo: David Newman

The fast-growing center of Seattle’s tech industry offers trendy dining and shopping and recreational fun in the form of paddling, sailing, and shoreline strolling.

A colorful dish featuring grilled fish covered in herbs, spring rolls, shredded carrots, peanuts, greens, and cucumbers sits stylishly on a black and white patterned surface. This vibrant taste of the South Lake Union neighborhood includes a small bowl of dipping sauce and a fork placed elegantly on the plate.

Ba Bar courtesy Amber Fouts

Explore

Learn about the region’s rich maritime and commercial history at the Museum of History & Industry (860 Terry Ave N), then walk over to neighboring The Center for Wooden Boats (1010 Valley St) and rent a sailboat or human-powered watercraft to venture out on Lake Union. Other rental options for exploring this rippling body of water include Seattle Donut Boat Co. (1001 Fairview Ave N) or the Electric Boat Company (2046 Westlake Ave N). Savor a break from the urban bustle at the captivating Seattle Spheres (2111 Seventh Ave), which contain “living walls” with an incredible array of flora from more than 30 countries.

Eat and Drink

Fuel up for the day at Joe & the Juice (2118 Seventh Ave) or Portage Bay Cafe (391 Terry Ave N), whose hearty breakfasts include gluten-free and vegan hash bowls and traditional Mexican huevos rancheros with pork chorizo. Sample elevated Vietnamese street fare at Ba Bar (500 Terry Ave N), Japanese comfort food at Hurry Curry (825 Harrison St), and robustly seasoned lemongrass prawn salad and local seafood stir-fried with sweet-and-sour chili at industrial-chic Thai Thani Kitchen (201 Boren Ave N). Local Public Eatery (404 Terry Ave N) draws an outgoing crowd for happy hour sipping and international cooking, like steamed shrimp dumplings and slow-cooked beef tacos. At the well-curated market Mainstay Provisions (2295 Seventh Ave), order a chili-tofu salad or slice of pizza for picnicking at leafy Denny Park (100 Dexter Ave N). Zoom up to the 16th-floor Altitude Sky Lounge (300 Terry Ave N)—at the Astra Hotel—and soak up the dramatic cityscape vistas.

Shop

Pamper yourself with a scalp massage or straight-razor shave at posh barbershop Capelli’s (319 Westlake Ave N), and pick up designer footwear from brands like Marni, Camperlab, and Maison Margiela at Likelihood (2201 Seventh Ave), which also stocks hip hoodies, sunglasses, and more. Load up on gear for upcoming adventures at the REI (222 Yale Ave N) flagship store, which features a 65-foot-tall rock climbing wall and a short biking-hiking loop for testing gear. Music mavens should stop at Sub Pop Records (2130 Seventh Ave), where fans can find apparel with the indie label’s logo as well as a curated LP selection.