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North Seattle
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North Seattle

North Seattle is the catch-all label for everything north of the Ship Canal, stretching from Salmon Bay and Lake Union up to N 145th, Puget Sound to Lake Washington. It covers more than two dozen distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character: Ballard's maritime roots and brewery boom, Fremont's quirky public art, Wallingford's craftsman streets, Phinney Ridge's zoo-adjacent calm, Green Lake's walking loop, the U-District's college energy, Lake City's diverse commercial strip, Northgate's mid-century-and-light-rail mix. It's where most of Seattle actually lives, and where the personality of the city shifts from downtown's commercial center to a patchwork of distinctly walkable, distinctly opinionated neighborhood villages.

49
Top picks
On the map

49 picks in North Seattle

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Markers are coloured by score: green ≥ 70, blue 40-69, rust under 40.

The shortlist, by category

Top-5 shortlists by category are being compiled. In the meantime, here are all 49 businesses we track in North Seattle, ranked.

  1. 1
    Fast Penny Spirits
    Distilleries
    98 /100
  2. 2
    Tutu School Seattle
    Dance Studios
    96 /100
  3. 3
    Queen Anne Painting & Carpentry
    Painting
    94 /100
  4. 4
    Model Remodel
    General Contractors
    94 /100
  5. 5
    GIVE Volunteers
    Volunteer Organizations
    93 /100
  6. 6
    T. Vance Webster Insurance & Mortgage Services
    Insurance & Brokers
    93 /100
  7. 7
    Carkeek Hair Salon
    Hair Salons
    93 /100
  8. 8
    Go Green Heating AC & Electric
    HVAC
    92 /100
  9. 9
    MOLLY MAID of Northwest Seattle
    Cleaning Services
    92 /100
  10. 10
    Ballard Electric Co
    Electricians
    91 /100
  11. 11
    Greenhome Solutions
    Flooring
    91 /100
  12. 12
    Miss Pho
    Vietnamese · $$
    89 /100
  13. 13
    45th Vegetarian Thai
    Thai · $$
    89 /100
  14. 14
    Metro Seattle Gamers
    Game Shops
    89 /100
  15. 15
    T Nails & Spa
    Nail Salons
    88 /100
  16. 16
    Vertical World Seattle
    Climbing Gyms
    87 /100
  17. 17
    Jenny Nail Salon
    Nail Salons
    86 /100
  18. 18
    PhinneyWood
    Neighborhood newsletters
    41 /100
  19. 19
    Fremont Mischief
    Neighborhood newsletters · $$
    37 /100
  20. 20
    Seattle Times Neighborhoods
    News + civic newsletters
    23 /100
FAQ

Common questions about North Seattle

What is North Seattle known for?
North Seattle is the catch-all label for everything north of the Ship Canal, stretching from Salmon Bay and Lake Union up to N 145th, Puget Sound to Lake Washington. It covers more than two dozen distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character: Ballard's maritime roots and brewery boom, Fremont's quirky public art, Wallingford's craftsman streets, Phinney Ridge's zoo-adjacent calm, Green Lake's walking loop, the U-District's college energy, Lake City's diverse commercial strip, Northgate's mid-century-and-light-rail mix. It's where most of Seattle actually lives, and where the personality of the city shifts from downtown's commercial center to a patchwork of distinctly walkable, distinctly opinionated neighborhood villages.
What are the best restaurants in North Seattle?
The top-ranked restaurants in North Seattle are Miss Pho, 45th Vegetarian Thai. See the full list at /category/restaurants-dining.
What are the best things to do in North Seattle?
Top picks in North Seattle: Fast Penny Spirits, Metro Seattle Gamers, North Seattle. Browse activities at /category/leisure-entertainment.
Is North Seattle a good place to live?
North Seattle is one of North Seattle's neighborhoods, with 49 ranked businesses tracked here. North Seattle is the catch-all label for everything north of the Ship Canal, stretching from Salmon Bay and Lake Union up to N 145th, Puget Sound to Lake Washington. It covers more than two dozen distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character: Ballard's maritime roots and brewery boom, Fremont's quirky public art, Wallingford's craftsman streets, Phinney Ridge's zoo-adjacent calm, Green Lake's walking loop, the U-District's college energy, Lake City's diverse commercial strip, Northgate's mid-century-and-light-rail mix. It's where most of Seattle actually lives, and where the personality of the city shifts from downtown's commercial center to a patchwork of distinctly walkable, distinctly opinionated neighborhood villages.