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Capitol Hill is a neighborhood in Seattle, directly east of the downtown retail core. It is unofficially bounded to the east by 23rd Ave E, to the west by Interstate 5, to the south by E Union St, and to the north by E Interlaken Blvd. Included here are the neighboring districts of Madison Valley, Madrona and Leschi which extend north, south, and east towards Lake Washington.

The Central District is located southeast of the downtown area of Seattle bordered by the International District, First Hill, and Capitol Hill. It's the traditional center of Seattle's African-American population, though recently it has attracted young first-time homeowners from throughout the city because of the undervalued property, creating a boom in new home construction, and new business. Nonetheless, it is still the center of Black culture in Seattle and has the highest concentration of black residents in the Pacific Northwest with an African-American population of 51%. It also has a significant Ethiopian population, whose restaurants and shops lend the area an interesting character.

Also included here are the chain of small, residential neighborhoods to the east, running along the shore of Lake Washington. North to south: Montlake, Madison Valley and Madison Park, Madrona, and Leschi. Continuing south past Interstate 90 (partially hidden in a tunnel) leads into South Seattle's Beacon Hill and Mt. Baker neighborhoods.

[edit] Understand

Capitol Hill is the most densely populated neighborhood in the city and is the center of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Famous residents include Dan Savage, a popular American gay alternative sex advice columnist, who well represents Capitol Hill's population of hipsters and homosexuals. The neighborhood is not exclusively gay by any means, and there are almost no establishments that aren't integrated with homosexual and heterosexual customers.

Capitol Hill has also has been the center of Seattle's alternative community for decades. During the 1990's, Capitol Hill was one of the birthplaces of the country's grunge movement. Kurt Cobain and other famous grunge musicians frequented Capitol Hill establishments. Capitol Hill is still the center of Seattle's independent music community.

Popular retail districts within Capitol Hill include Broadway, the Pike/Pine corridor, and 15th Ave E. There are a variety of restaurants, bars, music venues, clubs, boutiques, and other shops here. Condominium and apartment buildings surround these areas. There are many grand old homes in "mansionland" to the north, near Volunteer Park. Capitol Hill residents are generally some of the most politically progressive in the country. Many of the 1999 WTO protests spilled from downtown into Capitol Hill.

[edit] Get in

From downtown, it's a pleasant walk up the hill on a nice day (the Broadway area is roughly a mile from the retail core). By bus, Metro Transit serves the area with numerous routes [1], most of which run frequently. There is currently a light rail station under construction on Broadway, but it is not scheduled to open until 2016.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Museums

• Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St. (in Volunteer Park), ☎ 206.654.3100, [2]. Wed–Sun 10 AM–5 PM, Thu 10 AM–9 PM, closed Mon and Tue. An offshoot of downtown's Seattle Art Museum, SAAM displays a portion of the permanent collection balanced with rotating, consistently well-curated special exhibitions. The focus is usually on Chinese or Japanese art, where the collection reflects long-established ties across the Pacific, but does include works from as far as India. The Art Deco building (SAM's original home) is an attraction in its own right. $5 (some special exhibitions may be higher, usually $7); free the first Thursday of every month.  edit
• Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Av., ☎ +1 206 622-9250 (info@fryemuseum.org, fax: +1 206 223-1707), [3]. Tu–Sa: 10AM-5PM, Su: 12PM-5PM, Th: 10AM-8PM, closed on Mondays. A small private collection on First Hill, always has parking and worth a visit. Free admission.  edit
• Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), 2700 24th Ave. E, 206-324-1126, [4]. Open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, first Thursday of every month until 8 PM. The museum focuses on the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region, from pre-European settlement through the rise of today's major local companies such as Boeing and Microsoft. Admission: $7 adults, $5 children and seniors.
• Museum of Mysteries is a small quirky museum on Broadway.

[edit] Parks

• Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave. (near Broadway and E Pine St), [5]. A newly renovated park near Broadway and E Pine St that is very popular on sunny days. It includes a signature fountain and pond, a basketball court, tennis and softball fields, and a playground. Great for peoplewatching, and you can often see groups of people doing activities varying from hackeysack to drum circles to freeze tag to twirling around with colorful scarves.  edit
• Volunteer Park (at Prospect St.), 1247 15th Ave. E, [6]. Designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, this is the largest park in Capitol Hill and is the site of a botanical conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum (above). Bruce Lee and his son Brandon are buried in the adjacent Lakeview Cemetery.  edit

• Water Tower, at Prospect St. park entrance. 10 AM - sunset. The 1906 tower at the highest point of Capitol Hill has an observation deck at the top, with views from the Cascades to the Olympics interspersed with a series of panels explaining the history of Seattle's Olmstead-designed park system. The views are somewhat obstructed by metal grates, but the clever photographer can work around them. No elevator - the only way up is the staircase wound around the water tank, seven stories high. Free.  edit

• Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr. E (from 40th Ave. and E. Madison on the south to Lake Washington and SR-520 on the north), [7]. Open daily, dawn to dusk.. The Arboretum is a 230-acre park additionally serving as a botanical garden and horticultural research center, with thousands of trees and plants from temperate climates represented. An extensive network of walking trails covers the park. The Visitor's Center, near the northeast corner of the park, is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily, and has limited parking available. Guided tours are offered on the first and third Sundays of every month, and free trail maps highlighting the major parts of the collection are available at any time.  edit

• Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E (southwest area of the Arboretum), ☎ 206-684-4725, [8]. Hours vary seasonally: generally 10 AM until sunset, Tuesday through Sunday. Extended hours from May to September, closed December to February; check the link above for more detailed information.. A small, formal Japanese garden within the grounds of the Arboretum, recently renovated. $5 adults, $3 children and seniors..  edit

[edit] Other

• A Jimi Hendrix statue rocks out on the sidewalk at the NE corner of E Pine Street and Broadway, though there's no particular historical connection between the location and the man. It is located in front of Everyday Music (a music store), but the statue predated the store.
• Seattle University, 901 12th Ave, ☎ +1-206-296-6000, [9]. A private Jesuit university.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Hothouse Spa & Sauna is a small urban women-only spa with an industrial/basement vibe. Great for a relaxing soak in the tub. Expect to be nude and quiet, and bring your own towels.
• Club Z - on the other end of the spectrum, Club Z is a gay male bathhouse with no tubs and a lot of glory holes! Don't walk in if you expect to do any dancing or, um, bathing.
• Seattle International Film Festival [10] The largest and one of the best film festivals in the country takes place from the end of May to early June every year. Most venues are located on Capitol Hill and downtown.
• Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Seattle WA 98122, ☎ (206) 829-7863, [11]. Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is a Seattle-based non-profit organization dedicated to becoming the nation's leading center for film artists. Our cinemas showcase the best in American and international cinema, 360 days a year, as well as quarterly world premiere live performances.  edit

The northern portion of the Arboretum includes several small islands, and on one of Seattle's characteristically lovely summer days, exploration by water is enjoyable. Watercraft rentals are available from two locations in the University District just across the Ship Canal.

• University of Washington - Waterfront Activities Center, behind Husky Stadium at Montlake Blvd. and NE Pacific St., 206-543-9433, [12]. Hours vary, call for details. Rents canoes and rowboats, with all the necessary accessories. The ramp is also a good location to launch canoes and kayaks of your own. $7.50/hour, with substantial discounts for UW students, staff, and alumni.

• Agua Verde Cafe, 1303 NE Boat Street, 206-545-8570, [13]. Rents 1- and 2-person kayaks. $15/hour single and $18/hour double, with discounts for longer times.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Twice Sold Tales, 725 E. Denny Way (at Harvard Ave.), open daily 9 AM - 10 PM. Capitol Hill's used bookstore before the arrival of Half Price Books. A good selection of literature, philosophy and more contemporary reads. Home of numerous cats who appear to have free reign.
• Take 2, 430 15th Ave E, ☎ (206) 324-2569. Excellent consignment store for women's clothing & accessories, with a small men's section. Great condition & quality brand-name items at very good prices.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

Lots of good Ethiopian food in the Central District. Panafrican on Pike's Place Market is also pretty good. Try Mesob on 14th and Jefferson.

• Broadway Grill, 314 Broadway E. 9:00 AM - 1:30 AM. The Broadway Grill is a casual restaurant and bar that serves its full menu at all times. Prices are very reasonable. The Sunday brunch buffet is great. Try the Absolut Mandarin Kamakazi.  edit

• Byzantion, 601 Broadway E, ☎ +1 206 325-7580. 5PM-11PM. Greek food is hard to find on the Hill, but this excellent little place serves up Spanakopita, gyros, lamb, seafood dishes, fresh vegetables, baklava and more. Good wine selection and the staff is quirky, but attentive. $10-$20.  edit

• Cactus, 4220 E Madison St (multiple locations), +1 206 324-4140‎ [14]. A local favorite. A creative mix of Mexican, Southwestern and Spanish cuisine complemented by great cocktails. Always full, outdoor seating in the summer.

• Cafe Flora, 2901 E Madison, [15], closed Mondays. In the Madison Valley neighborhood. Upscale, all-vegetarian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Menus change weekly.

• Cafe Lago, 2305 24th Ave E (at E Lynn St in Montlake neighborhood), ☎ +! 206 329-8005, [16]. Established Italian restaurant popular for vegetarian lasagna, apple-wood fired pizza, and fresh hand-made pasta (they have an employee dedicated solely to making pasta).  edit

• Cafe Septieme, Broadway and E John. Dark, but has lovely desserts and usually tasty lunches and dinners. A recent change of ownership hasn't quite settled down yet, so service is still inconsistent. Dine with the hipsters.  edit

• Coastal Kitchen, 429 15th Ave E. A casual restaurant that serves excellent food at a reasonable price. It has specials that change monthly, as they explore the cuisine of a new country each month. Very popular for brunch on weekends, with long waits at peak times, but excellent food.  edit

• Crush, 2319 E Madison St (Madison Valley), ☎ +1 206 302-7874, [17]. Su-Th 5PM-10:30PM, Fr-Sa 5PM-midnight. Rated among the best 10 new restaurants in the U.S. after it opened. Under Chef Jason Wilson's stewardship it continues to be one of the more well respected haute cuisine houses in the country. Has received countless awards, the food is good, an adventurous twist on traditional American cuisine. Reservations are strongly recommended. $20-$30.  edit

• Dick's Drive-In, (On Broadway). Where the cool hang out (according to Sir Mix-a-Lot's song "Posse on Broadway"). Gloppy Dick's Deluxe cheeseburgers, hot fries, and tasty hand-dipped milkshakes. Drive up or walk up, this place will be hopping on a Friday or Saturday night, even if it's cold and rainy outside. Get in line by 1:45AM because they slam the order windows shut promptly at 2AM. Dick's cashiers have an amazing ability to instantly add up your bill in their head. There are other branches throughout the city (Lake City, Wallingford, Lower Queen Anne), but because the Capitol Hill one is easiest to walk up to, it's also the best for watching weirdos.  edit

• Ezell's Famous Chicken, 23rd Ave at Jefferson, ☎ +1 206 324-4141. This Central District mainstay gained wide renown when Oprah Winfrey declared it her favorite, but it really needs no celebrity endorsements; it's hands-down the best stuff around. This flagship location sits directly across from Garfield High School. There's no seating, but they recently started accepting credit cards. Spicy and original. The spicy is not too spicy but you can get a side of hot sauce for 11 cents extra. Daily specials vary based on forecasted surplus of unsold chicken. You can sometimes get thighs for $1/each.  edit

• Hot Mama's Pizza, 700 E Pine St. Classic New York style pizza by the slice. You cannot go wrong here and the pesto is particularly popular.  edit

• Julia's On Broadway, Broadway at Thomas St. Julia’s serves Northwest cuisine along with good ol' American food, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Average quality, expensive meals and cocktails are prepared in a charming old building that used to house a seriously divey bar (Eileens's) until they gutted it and put in a tasteful interior in 2001. On sunny days offers ring-side seating to the throngs of passers-by. The location is excellent, but the service can be less than stellar.  edit

• Pho Cyclo, 406 Broadway E. Serves the most popular pho of the 5 pho restaurants along Broadway. The prices are higher than Than Brothers, but the quality and flavors are superior. Well worth the extra dollar or two per meal!  edit

• Pizzeria Pagliacci, (On Broadway, across from the market). Serves unique Seattle style pizza, reminiscent of thin crust, by-the-slice New York pizza, but with an imaginative collection of toppings that change with the seasons. Walk in and ask for two slices of primo and you won't be disappointed. The Pagliaccio salad is a good starter. There are branches in the University District and Queen Anne, plus delivery throughout the City.  edit

• Than Brothers Pho, 516 Broadway E. Complimentary cream puffs and frighteningly large portions make this an always busy spot. There is plenty of seating though and a nice clean environment, be sure to try the French style coffee. Other locations on Aurora Ave N and the University District.  edit

• Travelers, 501 E Pine St (2 blocks E of Bauhaus Coffee Shop and 3 blocks W of Broadway), ☎ +1 206 329-6260, [18]. M-Th 10AM-7PM, F-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su noon-8PM. Chef has lived in India and speaks fluent Hindi, offering distinct home cooked food. Monthly themes, unique home style "thali," a platter much more indicative of the food eaten by native Indians (served Sa-Su 1PM-7PM $12 "full thali"). Wide selection of bulk herbs, essential and perfume oils, grocery products, and many other imported items. Give it a try on a weekday when it's quieter, and be sure to try the famous masala chai, brewed with the best quality spices and tea, and served hot and fresh with your choice of milk. $3.50-$12.  edit

[edit] Thai food

There are an outrageous number of Thai restaurants in Capitol Hill. Occasionally one goes out of business and like a head of the Hydra, is immediately replaced by another one or more.

• Ayutthaya, 727 E Pike St (at Boylston St). Inexpensive Thai and the quality is very good.  edit

• Jamjuree, on 15th Ave E. Quieter and more upscale than Siam, with excellent specials -- try the Lime Light Chicken if you have a chance. On request they can make truly vegetarian Thai food (i.e., without fish sauce).  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Coffee

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters, 2 locations: 616 E Pine & 1115 12th Ave. [19] 206-329-0115. Portland transplant serves up delicious high quality drinks at two tastefully decorated, minimalist shops on the hill. One of the best cups of coffee you'll ever taste. Hosts free cuppings for the public every day at 3 PM, head downstairs and learn about your beans!

• SoHo Coffee Company, 1918 E Yesler Way at 20th Avenue [20] 206 322 0807. A neighborhood shop across from Pratt Park, serves Stumptown coffee and pastries from Alki Bakery. Free wi-fi. Great for meetings.

• Bauhaus Books & Coffee, 301 E. Pine St. Cozy and fun, at the base of Capitol Hill. A great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Space Needle. Wonderful baristas, fun latte art, decent coffee.

• Insomniax Coffee, on 15th Ave. E. at Denny Way - Nestled inside the Group Health complex, this coffee house caters to medical professionals and a diverse group of locals who enjoy freshly blended fruit smoothies (try the Big Apple!) and great conversations with the baristas.

• Top Pot Doughnuts, 609 Summit Ave. E. [21] - nestled into the neighborhood and a favorite weekend hang out for locals. Incredible doughnuts (try the feather boa doughnut!) in a very Seattle-y atmosphere. Drip coffee isn't so hot, but the freshly-brewed options are all good.

• Caffé Vita, 1005 E. Pike St. [22], +1 206 709-4440. Coffee roaster with a warehouse feel, where patrons can see clearly how the coffee beans are roasted. Average coffee.

• Victrola, 411 15th Avenue E., [23]. Neighborhood place in a hip neighborhood.

• Espresso Vivace Roasteria, 532 Broadway, [24]. Founded by an engineer who's been developing progressively more sophisticated roasters for twenty years. Their beans, plus Mighty-O doughnuts, are also available at the sidewalk Vivace at 321 Broadway, between Harrison and Thomas.

• B&O Espresso, 204 Belmont Ave. E., 206-322-5028. Great desserts and more recently, great lunches and dinners.

• Pettirosso, 1101 E. Pike St. Just off of Pike St on 11th Ave on Capitol Hill. Cozy, intimate place full of regulars and good for a quiet conversation.

• Online Coffee Co., 1720 E. Olive Way (206.328.3731) and 1404 E. Pine St. (206.323.7798). Internet Cafe in the heart of Capitol Hill. Comfortable decor and a half hour of internet with coffee. Also serve beer (including pop-top bottles of Grolsch) and wine. Small outdoor patio good for people watching in the summer (and other seasons if not cold averse).

[edit] Bars and Taverns

• The Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St. A rather elegant and reliably stupid touristy DJ club (and occasionally a live music venue, though less so than in past years). Just across the I-5 freeway from downtown. Cover varies.

• Bill's off Broadway,, 725 E Pine St. A strange mix of Capitol Hill old-timers (people who lived here before it was trendy), Punks, and Seattle Central Comm. College Students. The food is Italian inspired bar food (lots of cheese!) and the drinks are stiff. Great place to start a night out (don't stay to late as Bill's closes at 12am).Service can be amazingly slow, so if you're starving you might want to go somewhere else.

• The Cha Cha Lounge,, 1013 E. Pike St. A weird cross of dive-y bar and trendy spot, the ambiance was successfully transplanted to this location after their former building was razed for yet more condo construction. Your bartender may have had an album in the charts circa 1992.

• The DeLuxe Bar and Grill, intersection of Broadway, Roy, and 10th. Dark, but appealing for a beer, stiff drink or bar food (hearty burgers, thick fries, etc.).More restaurant than bar.

• Garage, 1134 Broadway Ave, ☎ 206-322-2296, [25]. 3 PM - 2 AM. A trendy billiards hall and bowling alley, built in a spacious former garage - no problem handling large groups. Multiple bars with food service, and an outdoor patio (weather permitting).  edit

• Liberty, 517 15th Ave E, ☎ (206) 323-9898, [26]. Free WiFi, large couches, decent sushi, good drinks and attractive servers conspire to make this one of the better Capitol Hill bars.  edit

• Smith, 332 15th Ave E, ☎ (206) 709-1900, [27]. Another bar owned by Linda Derschang of Linda's fame, Smith is the most hipster-infested bar on 15th. They have a reasonably diverse, though greasy, menu. Although Smith regularly becomes packed in the evening, large communal tables in the center of the establishment mean you can usually find a place to sit.  edit

• Stumbling Monk, 1635 E Olive Way. At the corner of E Olive Way and Belmont Ave E, its dark appearance from the outside make it easy to miss, but worth stepping inside. As the name suggests, you’ll find an excellent selection of Belgian beer strong enough to make your walk home a challenge. The Stumbling Monk’s unpretentious atmosphere makes it a down-to-earth oasis on trendy Capitol Hill.

• Summit Public House, 601 Summit Ave. E. A few blocks west of Broadway, the Summit Public house offers many beers on tap and is home to one of the best BLT's in the city.

• Linda's Tavern, 707 E Pine St. The outdoor patio makes this the perfect place to enjoy a few drinks under the stars.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• 11th Avenue Inn (Seattle Bed and Breakfast), 121 11th Avenue East, ☎ 800-720-7161, [28]. 1906 8-room bed and breakfast inn on a tree-lined side street two blocks east of Broadway, just north of Cal Anderson Park. Free on-site parking, queen beds, private bathrooms, WiFi. AAA 3-diamond. $79-$179.  edit
• The Corner House B&B, 102 18th Avenue East, ☎ +1 206-323-6039 (TheCornerHouseBandB@gmail.com), [29]. A small classic B&B on Capitol Hill. Two rooms with queen beds, private baths, generous healthy breakfasts, friendly resident hosts, and a lowest-rates guarantee. Discounts by week and month. Two-night minimum. Cat alert! Make sure no one in your party is allergic or phobic. $85/night for 2 people, $70/1 person.  edit
• Seward Suites, 215 13th Avenue East, ☎ +1 206-595-8655, [30]. checkin: 4pm; checkout: 1pm. Recently converted 1907 apartment building, midway between Broadway and 15th Ave. commercial districts. Original woodwork, modern kitchen and bath. Discounts by weekly or monthly. $99-110.  edit
• Capitol Hill Guest House, 1808 E. Denny Way (Interstate 5 to Madison Street. Head east on Madison to 18th Ave. Head north on 18th for three blocks to E.Denny Way. Right onto E Denny Way. House is second home on left.), ☎ (206)412-REST, [31]. checkin: 3pm; checkout: 11am. An Urban Inn located just 10 blocks from Downtown Seattle. Providing a quiet oasis for tourists, business travelers, students and those in between housing for over 15 years. We cater to the savvy traveler, by providing comfortable and clean Bed & Breakfast style accommodations with friendly hospitality and a modest rate. $85-$145.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Though crime in the neighborhood has declined in recent years, the Central District has one of the highest crime rates in Seattle. However, the neighborhood is fairly safe at daytime. Walking in the District at night is not advised.

[edit] Contact

Wireless Internet is available at nearly every coffee shop, though some disable it during peak hours on weekends to keep the crowds moving.

All branches of the Seattle Public Library have open wireless, using the SSID spl-public. Public computers with Internet access and basic office software are available for up to an hour at a time, but require either a SPL library card or a temporary pass available from the circulation desk. All services are free.

• Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E (cross street: E. Republican St., one block west of Broadway).
• Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E (cross street: E. McGraw St.), 206-684-4720, [32]. M-T 1 PM-8 PM, W-Th 10 AM-8 PM, F-Sa 10 AM-6 PM, closed Sunday.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

This article contains content that was once found at Seattle/Central District. View that page's revision history for the list of authors.