Central District

Explore

Kick things off at Wa Na Wari (911 24th Ave), a thoughtfully curated fifth-generation home converted into a Black arts and community gathering space. Then, mosey on down to Pratt Park (201 20th Ave S), a family-friendly destination named for civil rights activist Edwin T. Pratt that’s perfect for picnics or just relaxing on a blanket—it has a spray park too. You can catch outstanding performances at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (104 17th Ave S), a former synagogue turned historical landmark dedicated to uplifting Black artists in the Seattle area. The Northwest African American Museum (2300 S Massachusetts St) has superb exhibits and is adjacent to Jimi Hendrix Park (2400 S Massachusetts St), an appealing spot for a stroll.

Eat and Drink

Start your morning off at Temple Pastries (2524 S Jackson St) with a cup of locally roasted Broadcast coffee and their famous, perfectly sweet cruffin. For a more substantial meal, head to Communion Restaurant & Bar (2350 E Union St) for jambalaya done the “Seattle soul” way, sup on injera while enjoying the breeze on Cafe Selam’s (2715 E Cherry St) patio, or have a seat at Jackson’s Catfish Corner (2218 S Jackson St) and chow on their scrumptious fried catfish and hushpuppies. If you fancy a nightcap, the city’s first Black-owned brewery, Métier Brewing (2616 E Cherry St), has several hoppy beers on tap.

Shop

Swing by Arte Noir (2301 E Union St) in Midtown Square, a fine art gallery selling products from Black creatives. Down the street, letterpress Grapheme Seattle (2421 E Union St) has all the fountain pens your heart desires. And several blocks away, crack open a book at the social justice-centered bookstore Estelita’s Library (241 Martin Luther King Jr Way S). The aromatherapy skin and body products at QueenCare (2315 S Jackson St) come in mango, sandalwood, lavender, and similarly soothing scents.