Things to do in Seattle this weekend
A locals-first shortlist of what's worth your time in Seattle this weekend — from outdoor escapes to standout food and live music.
Top spots in Seattle
Ballard Locks
FamilyBallard
Watch boats lift between lakes + spawning salmon ladders.
Space Needle
FamilySeattle Center
Glass floor 605 ft up — pair with Chihuly Garden next door.
Discovery Park
OutdoorsMagnolia
534 acres of bluffs, beach and a Puget Sound lighthouse hike.
Mount Rainier Day Trip
OutdoorsCascades
Paradise wildflowers in summer, sledding in winter — 2 hr south.
Capitol Hill
NightlifeCapitol Hill
Indie venues, coffee roasters and the city's best late-night food.
Pike Place Market
Food & DrinkDowntown
Flying fish, fresh donuts and the original Starbucks — open since 1907.
Where to eat
Salare
$$$Pan-American · Ravenna
Edouardo Jordan's plates — refined Caribbean + Southern roots.
Sushi Kashiba
$$$$Sushi · Pike Place
Sit at Chef Shiro's omakase counter — Seattle's sushi pinnacle.
Biscuit Bitch
$Brunch · Pike Place
Hangover-curing biscuits and gravy with attitude.
Canlis
$$$$Pacific Northwest tasting · Queen Anne
75-year-old midcentury icon with Lake Union views.
Paseo
$Cuban sandwiches · Fremont
The Caribbean roast pork sandwich worth the line.
Live & on stage
Bumbershoot
Seattle Center · Aug 30 – Sep 1 · Festival
Capitol Hill Block Party
Capitol Hill · Jul 18–20 · Indie
Seattle International Film Festival
Citywide · May 15 – Jun 1 · Film
Winterfest at Seattle Center
Seattle Center · Nov 28 – Dec 31 · Holiday / Free
Frequently asked
- Locals' favourites right now: Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Discovery Park. The full list is curated weekly and balances outdoor, food, culture and live music picks.