This pertains to "Upper Queen Anne" or "Queen Anne Hill". Locals will differentiate between this and "Lower Queen Anne" or "Uptown", which is at the south base of the hill, between W. Mercer Street and Denny Way.
Please note: Queen Anne Ave. is the dividing line between the "North" avenues and the "West" avenues. Don't be surprised if you cross 1st Ave. N and then 1st Ave. W without changing direction!
Due to its geography, Queen Anne Hill can be difficult to navigate, especially by car if you're unfamiliar. There are two simple ways to get to the center of the neighborhood. The first is via Queen Anne Ave from the south (though take note: Queen Anne Avenue traffic is south-only when south of Roy St.). The second is by 3rd Ave. West from the north side, near Seattle Pacific University.
Approaching by Dexter Ave., Gilman Ave., W. Dravus St. or any of the numerous side-streets should not be attempted unless you have time to kill.
The heart of Queen Anne is served mainly by Seattle Metro routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, and 45. Seattle Metro's list of Queen Anne routes can be found [http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/neighborhoods/queen_anne.html here].
Perhaps the most obvious spectacle in Queen Anne is the quintessential view of the Seattle Skyline from '''Kerry Park'''. The park affords an excellent view of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, West Seattle/Alki and across the Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island (depending on the weather).
A few blocks southwest of Kerry Park is '''Kinnear Park''', which stretches down to the lower Queen Anne/Mercer Avenue area and has a good view of the Olympic Mountains over the top of Magnolia Hill, if the weather is clear.
North of this area, along '''8th Ave. West.''', the hill opens up to excellent views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and enormous homes on the east.
'''Caffe Fiore''' An organic coffeeshop three blocks north of Kerry Park, offering a true experience of the Seattle coffee house culture: good local art on display that changes on the first day of every month, consistently excellent coffee, environmental consciousness to a fault (the straws are compostable), and neighborly vitality that's easy to witness but hard to describe. Handsome baristas remember the orders of regular patrons, and most everyone you see is a regular patron. The coffee is rich, aromatic, and consistently excellent. Outdoor seating for sunny summer days. The most common order: a short latte, for good reason. Open til 7pm everyday; ''W Galer Ave at 3rd Avenue W''.
'''Queen Anne Ave N at Boston St''' This single intersection, arguably the heart of Upper Queen Anne, boasts no less than 4 coffee shops, and a tea shop. There's a '''Starbucks''', '''Tully's''', '''Peet's Coffee & Tea''', '''Caffe Ladro''' and independent tea purveyor '''The Teacup'''. Our pick: go with the small local espresso bar and bakery, Caffe Ladro, which offers excellent sweet treats to accompany your coffee.
'''El Diablo Coffee Company''' Attached to an independent bookstore, this two-story perennial student favorite features interesting (if loud) murals that style the upper and lower sections into "Heaven" and "Hell". Different from the Seattle norm, they offer coffee in the Cuban style; the Cafe Cubano, a strong sugared espresso, is highly recommended and a good deal. The most important aspect of all Cuban espresso varieties is that they are sweetened while the espresso is being brewed. There is no such thing as ''unsweetened'' Cuban coffee. Also served are fresh lemonade drinks, beer in bottles, and excellent cakes. Courtyard seating allows for people-watching on nice days. ''1811 Queen Anne Ave N, mid-block between Blaine and Howe''.
'''Macrina Bakery''' A premier local bakery whose chef was a finalist for a 2007 James Beard Award. Selection changes seasonally and daily, but there's always something delicious on offer. An excellent choice for a breakfast or light lunch; cafe-style seating encourages you to sit down and stay awhile. Espresso can be inconsistent, if you're picky, grab food to go and walk elsewhere for coffee. ''615 W Mcgraw St, at 6th Ave W''
Queen Anne is a relatively upper-scale neighborhood, and generally the restaurants rise to the occasion.
'''The 5-Spot''' - A busy diner with an ever-changing theme based menu and decor to match. Sometimes it's New York City, sometimes Hawaii. The food good for a reasonable price, but be prepared to wait during busy periods, especially weekend brunch.
'''Canlis''' - If you have a few hundred dollars to spend on dinner, this is the place. The food is excellent, with views of Gasworks Park and the Cascade Mountains in the distance. Reservations are taken days if not weeks in advance.
There are no hotels on Queen Anne, though short-term rentals can be found in the neighborhood.
Mar Queen Hotel 600 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 282-7407
Holiday Inn SEATTLE 211 DEXTER AVE NORTH SEATTLE, WA 98109 UNITED STATES Hotel Front Desk: 1-206-7288123 | Hotel Fax: 1-206-7282779
Inn at Queen Anne 505 First Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109 Phone: (206) 282-7357
The Mediterranian 425 Queen Anne Avenue North _E Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 428-4700 _E Toll Free (866) 525-4700 _E Fax (206) 428-4699