University District | Visit Seattle

Photo: Sea Turtle

Photo: Nicholas Boos

Photo: Art Bromage

Photo: Loren Javier

Late-night dining and shopping, verdant parks, and outstanding museums are hallmarks of this youthful neighborhood.

By Aleenah Ansari

A photo of the Quad at the University of Washington showing the cherry trees in bloom and the campus filled with collegiate buildings. In the background you can see Portage Bay, Lake Union, the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound.

The Quad at the University of Washington iStock

Explore

There’s plenty to pique your interest in this cultural and educational hub easily reached by light rail. View contemporary works at the Henry Art Gallery (15th Ave NE & NE 41st St) and fossils, regional Indigenous art, and cultural artifacts at the stunning Burke Museum (4303 Memorial Way NE). For an outdoor adventure, rent a canoe or kayak at UW’s Waterfront Activities Center (3710 Montlake Blvd NE) or watch for birds, frogs, and turtles amid the pristine ponds and wetlands of the Union Bay Natural Area (3501 NE 41st St).

Eat and Drink

Delicious eats in this youthful area include pupusas from Guanaco’s Tacos Pupuseria (4106 Brooklyn Ave NE), soft tofu soup and barbecue from Korean Tofu House (4142 Brooklyn Ave NE), and breakfast sandwiches and coffee from Ugly Mug Cafe (1309 NE 43rd St). Standout tea shops include Bobalust (4553 University Way NE) for smoothies and slushies and Sunright Tea Studio (4545 Roosevelt Way NE) for milk teas with house-made brown sugar.

Shop

Peruse the shelves of University Book Store (4326 University Way NE), which overflows with books, cards, and UW gear. On Saturdays, wander through the University District Farmers Market (5031 University Way NE). The open-air retail community University Village (2623 NE University Village St; uvillage.com) is home to dozens of both familiar and one-of-a-kind boutiques and eateries.