West Seattle sits on its own peninsula across Elliott Bay from downtown, and it has the independent streak to match. It’s really a string of neighborhoods: Alki’s long beach facing the skyline, Admiral up the hill, the Alaska Junction’s shopping blocks along California Avenue SW, Morgan Junction to the south and Delridge to the east.
Families, beach walkers and people who like knowing their bookseller by name all end up here. The best way to arrive is by water: a short ride on the King County Water Taxi from Pier 50, then an afternoon that moves between Alki, the Junction and a pint somewhere close to home.
Updated November 2026
- Best for: Beach walks with a skyline view, Sunday farmers market mornings, record and book browsing, and easy family days out.
- Getting there: The King County Water Taxi runs from Pier 50 downtown to Seacrest Park in about 10 to 15 minutes, where Metro Route 773 connects to the Junction and Route 775 to Admiral and Alki. By bus, the RapidRide C Line runs from downtown to the Alaska Junction, the RapidRide H Line follows Delridge Way SW, and Route 56 serves Admiral and Alki.
- Don’t miss: The water taxi crossing, then a walk along Alki Beach to the small Statue of Liberty replica.
Where to eat and drink
Husky Deli
Family owned since 1932 and now run by the third generation, this Junction deli makes its ice cream in-house. Get a made-to-order sandwich, then a scoop for the walk down California Avenue.
Bakery Nouveau
A few doors down, this French bakery is known for double-baked almond croissants and breakfast sandwiches built on croissants.
Marination Ma Kai
Steps from the water taxi dock at Seacrest Park, Marination serves Hawaiian-Korean food like kimchi fried rice and fish sandwiches with downtown laid out across the bay.
Il Nido
Handmade pasta in the century-old Alki Homestead, a log cabin landmark, makes Il Nido the dress-up dinner on this side of the bridge. Dining room tables book through Resy 30 days out, and the bar is kept for walk-ins.
Buddha Ruksa
Locals have been ordering the crispy garlic chicken at this Thai spot on SW Genesee Street for years. It’s closed Mondays, and reservations and takeout go through the phone.
Beveridge Place Pub
Morgan Junction’s beer pub pours from 37 rotating taps, mostly Northwest craft. There’s no kitchen, so bring dinner from a neighbor; it’s 21 and over, with quiz night on Wednesdays.
Shops worth a wander
Easy Street Records
The Junction’s record store opened in 1988 and has hosted in-store sets by Pearl Jam and Brandi Carlile. It has a cafe and bar inside, and it was named Independent Retailer of the Year at the Music Business Association’s Bizzy Awards.
Pegasus Book Exchange
For more than forty years, Pegasus has sold used books and taken trades for store credit, with new titles alongside. Save your trade-ins for another day if it’s Sunday morning: they pause from 10 to 2 while the farmers market is on.
Paper Boat Booksellers
This independent bookshop moved up from Morgan Junction to a Junction storefront twice the size. Staff notes flag the good stuff, and there’s toddler reading time on Wednesdays and family reading time on Saturdays.
West Seattle Nursery
Japanese maples, Northwest natives, houseplants and a coffee bar share the lot at this garden center on California Avenue. Come the holidays, it takes reservations for wreath making.
Things to do
Alki Beach Park
Two and a half miles of beach run along Elliott Bay, past a monument to the settlers’ 1851 landing and a small Statue of Liberty replica given in 1952. Beach fires are allowed in the park’s fire pits during the summer season.
Lincoln Park
Miles of walking trails, a mile of seawall and rocky beach on Puget Sound, and Colman Pool, an outdoor heated saltwater pool, make this the neighborhood’s big backyard.
Schmitz Preserve Park
Walk under old-growth forest a few minutes from Alki. The land was given to the city between 1908 and 1912, and apart from a paved entrance it has been left largely as it was.
Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center
The Duwamish Tribe’s longhouse and cultural center on West Marginal Way welcomes visitors Tuesday through Saturday and hosts art markets in late November and December.
Hamilton Viewpoint Park
High on California Avenue SW, this small park looks across Elliott Bay to the city, the harbor and the Cascades.
Community
West Seattle Farmers Market
Every Sunday, year-round, farmers set up at California Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street from 10 to 2. Neighborhood Farmers Markets recruits volunteers to help shoppers and vendors on market day.
West Seattle Food Bank
Volunteer shifts run Monday through Saturday, with Wednesday evenings too. New volunteers start with an online orientation, and helpers as young as 14 can join alongside an adult.
Seal Sitters
Since 2007, trained volunteers have kept people and dogs back from resting harbor seals on beaches like Alki and Lincoln Park, as part of NOAA’s stranding network. Trainings are usually held each spring, before the busy season.
Live here and know someone we should feature? Tell us.
