I’m so excited to share my next Seattle neighborhood guide to Fremont! This neighborhood is very close to mine (Ballard), but a totally different vibe. It’s quirky, artsy, and a bit bohemian. After all, Fremont has a welcome sign that says it’s the center of the universe! Let’s dig in:
Seattle Travel Guide: What to Eat, See, & Shop in Fremont
A Brief History of Fremont
Longtime considered the home of hippies and artists, this neighborhood in North Seattle used to be called The People’s Republic of Fremont or The Artists’ Republic of Fremont. This is the center of counterculture here in Seattle, but has become gentrified more and more. Now, it’s pretty trendy and has definitely gone through a boom. These days, housing prices have skyrocketed and it’s really become a place to shop and enjoy the nightlife. Aka not many people I know can afford to call Fremont home now, either as a renter or homeowner. Also, this neighborhood features lots of public art and a large portion of the Burke-Gilman Trail.
Where is Fremont?
Fremont is located on the north bank of the Lake Washington Ship canal. It is north of Queen Anne, east of Ballard, south of Phinney Ridge, and west of Wallingford. The main streets of Fremont are Fremony Ave and Aurora Ave, plus N. 46th, 45th, 36th, and 34th streets. It is also just across a very cool drawbridge bridge.
Shopping & Boutiques
Fremont is actually one of my favorite neighbors in which to shop. There are SO many cute boutiques, vintage stores, and indie shops. So I decided to start off this neighborhood guide with my list of must-shop locations:
- Pipe & Row — my friend Kayla owns this shop and it’s at the TOP of my list for hands-down the best assortment of womens’ clothing and accessories.
- The Indoor Sun Shoppe
- Portage Bay Goods
- Fremont Vintage Mall — I could spend hours in here!
- Les Amis
- Show Pony
- Liten
- Essenza
- Bellefleur Lingerie
- Burnt Sugar
- Jive Time Records
- Juniper Flowers
- Peace Love and Happiness Club
- Book Larder — just imagine a bookstore dedicated to cookbooks. This place is HEAVEN. Plus, they hold awesome events and signings.
Restaurants
Admittedly, Sean and I need to venture over to Fremont more for dinner because there are some AMAZING restaurants there. Putting together this guide made me remember that. No matter what type of cuisine you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it in this funky neighborhood. Here some of my favorite places to eat:
- El Camino
- Eve
- Uneeda Burger
- Rock Creek Seafood & Spirits
- Manolin
- Fremont Bowl
- Kamonegi
- Russell’s
- SWeL
- Lucky’s Pho
- Frēlard Pizza Company
- Agrodolce
- Paseo
Bars & Breweries
There are tonsss of breweries and bars that I love in Fremont. Here’s a short list:
- The Barrel Thief
- Bar Charlie
- Schilling Cider House
- Vif Wine/Coffee
- The Backdoor
- Brouwer’s Cafe — if you’re in the mood for beer, this is the place to be.
- Fremont Brewing Company
- Triangle Spirits — I feel like everyone has their birthday here.
- Nectar Lounge
Dessert
Basically the most important part of the meal, right? Fremont has it’s share of yummy sweets shops and dessert stops. Here are a few:
- Theo Chocolate Factory
- Simply Desserts
- Bluebird Ice Cream
- Fainting Goat Gelato
- Pie
- Flying Apron
- Sea Wolf Bakers
Coffee & Tea Shops
This wouldn’t be a Seattle travel guide without mentioning coffee! There are probably way more cafes that I’ve listed here, but these are my favorites that I frequent every time I’m over there:
- Milstead Coffee
- Theo Chocolate Factory — they offer daily tours, too.
- ETG Coffee & Bakery
- Fremont Coffee Company
- Vif Wine/Coffee
- Caffe Vita
Sightseeing Suggestions
If you feel up for checking out some touristy destinations while visiting Fremont, here’s a list of must see places:
- The Fremont Bridge
- Statue of Lenin
- The Troll
- Center of the Universe sign
- Fremont Rocket
- Gas Works Park — one of the absolute BEST views of Seattle & the Space Needle.
- Burke-Gilman Trail
- Lake Union
- Fremont Peak Park
Everything else
I’m always wow-ed by how much there is to do in this neighborhood, so this is a list of activities that are not to be missed when visiting:
- Fremont Sunday Market
- Summer Solstice Parade & Pageant (including nude cyclists)
- Oktoberfest
So this is my list of personal faves for the Seattle neighborhood of Fremont. I’m hoping to share even more of the different ‘hoods I love soon, including Greenwood, Green Lake, and Pioneer Square. And if you’re local and feel like I missed something, let me know and I’ll update the travel guide!
