University District
University District
3.5
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Neighborhood: University District
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1,179 within 3 miles
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695 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
83 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
35
Average
24
Poor
9
Terrible
2
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,708 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
The only thing really going for this Seattle neighborhood is its proximity to the University of Washington. If you are visiting the U-Dub, then you may want to walk around this area. University Way is the heart of the district and is what many consider to be the entire district. It features cheap eateries (lots of Asian), coffee shops, clothing stores geared toward youthful buyers and the wonderful University Bookstore. It takes up an entire block, has free parking for customers at its rear and offers many general-interest books. The Varsity Theatre is also located here and often shows fascinating documentaries that are not mainstream. I occasionally pass homeless people on University Way -- day and night -- and have never had a problem with them. To me, this street has a "seen better days" look.
University Village -- a large, upscale shopping mall -- on the other side of campus, can be considered part of the district and has an entirely different atmosphere. It is a shoppers' paradise with myriad boutiques, well-known shops, cafes and good restaurants. Visitors staying in downtown Seattle may want to come here for good, convenient shopping. This mall is essentially outdoors with umbrellas placed strategically in holders along the sidewalks for customers to borrow in case of rain.
The UW is well worth visiting. The forested grounds beckon for walks and the Burke Museum (natural history and anthropology) and the Henry Art Gallery (fine art) may appeal.
Parking is hard to find around University Way, but bus transportation to and from downtown is excellent. Bicyclists may want to visit, using the Burke-Gilman Trail, which passes by the UW.
University Village -- a large, upscale shopping mall -- on the other side of campus, can be considered part of the district and has an entirely different atmosphere. It is a shoppers' paradise with myriad boutiques, well-known shops, cafes and good restaurants. Visitors staying in downtown Seattle may want to come here for good, convenient shopping. This mall is essentially outdoors with umbrellas placed strategically in holders along the sidewalks for customers to borrow in case of rain.
The UW is well worth visiting. The forested grounds beckon for walks and the Burke Museum (natural history and anthropology) and the Henry Art Gallery (fine art) may appeal.
Parking is hard to find around University Way, but bus transportation to and from downtown is excellent. Bicyclists may want to visit, using the Burke-Gilman Trail, which passes by the UW.
Written August 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greatcats
Seattle, WA443 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
The UW is a gorgeous campus and not to be missed. Visit the Fry and Henry museums. The year round farmer’s market on Saturday is excellent.
Lots of great ethnic food to be found.
Be careful on the Ave.
Lots of great ethnic food to be found.
Be careful on the Ave.
Written January 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miriahm D
Boulder, CO1,075 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
Here's what I LOVE about the district. It is such a breathing changing place and yet...always kind of the same. People ceomplain about the homeless asking for "spare change", while in the 60s people were more upset about the kids who would quietly inquireas you passed by "acid, grass, speed". And run down? Are we forgetting the Coffee Coral, or the Hasty Tasty? And Barnes and Noble closing, many real sighs of sadness were uttered when Miss Cutts Puss and Boots book store was closed,while there was blessed relief when Magus Books was opened. .Dangerous? Drunken fraternity boys instigated more than one brawl in the old Pizza Haven, but I walked home at 2 am from there for 2 years with never a problem. And while many shops are gone, the Wooly Mammoth,with beautiful imported shoes instead of made by the owner sandels is still there, right across from Andy Shiga's Imports. So at times the district is better and at other times is worse, right now it's pretty good, and will probably get better when the light rail stop on Roosevelt and 42 is soon completed.
Written August 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mrs. K
Los Angeles, CA7 contributions
Aug 2020
A really fun place to hang out during the day and weekends. Great energy. Excellent Farmers Market on Sundays and really killer restaurants and clothing stores. Has a Haight Ashbury vibe. People from red states are going to whine about it because that is what they do about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Yes, sadly, the US government doesnt have a solution for the drug addicted and mentally ill people who live on the streets, nor do they care, and the homeless end up flocking to coastal regions and major cities.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MKChalli
Lincoln, Nebraska40 contributions
Feb 2020
Really not worth visiting. Very rough and dirty. Mostly Chinese restaurants. I did find a hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant. It's a very small restaurant and was very busy with long wait lines. I assumed it had to be good due to the lines, but it was meh. BTW: they only accept cash. There's an ATM around the corner they send everyone without case to. So be prepared if you want to eat here.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael H
Ireland39 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
A few restaurants, some clothes shops, nothing particularly stand-out. Nightlife wasn't particularly great either, visited in August so school was out, and there seemed to be quite a few homeless people sleeping in the doorways. They didn't appear to be overly aggressive but could be quite uncomfortable if walking on your own.
Written June 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeattleYo_Mama
Seattle122 contributions
Sep 2012 • Couples
This is, as the name indicates, the neighborhood surrounding the University of Washington. UW is a huge place, a virtual city unto itself. (I got my BA there. Some classes are too far apart to be scheduled consecutively!).
But if you are a tourist just looking for fun places to go in Seattle, this is a good one, especially for people too young to be considered 'boomers' (you'll have lots of company close to your own age!).
If you are from the Big City, (any of them), you will probably instinctively know some of the rules. If there is very large group of rough-looking, large young people moving toward you, it's time to turn a corner or cross the street. Passing a Starbucks? You need coffee, more than you know.
There are great things to see (I personally favor the UW Bookstore, NOT just for students, and also, there are serious (but pricey) art supplies in its basement.). There are little stores, lots of places to eat (try Shalimar if you enjoy Indian/Pakistani food.). Even if you are not going to attend the school, you may want to walk through the stunning Suzzallo Library. (When I was a student there, I used to mist up a bit as I climbed the curving staircase and looked down...it is such a beautiful place, and all I could think was that I got to have this experience! I was SO LUCKY!). Another find: Magus Used Books. (I realize my review is a little book-heavy; this is how I lead my life, so it's what I know best). There are coffee shops that feature poetry slams, and you can sometimes get on the list if you write. Watch for posters in the windows.
At dusk, or right after dinner, if you are not physically imposing or in a large group, it's a good idea to head back to your hotel, bus stop, or rental car. There is more rape and murder in this area than in the low-income spots around town. Part of this may be due to the large number of homeless youths; there is also gang activity. My favorite spot to avoid at night is (at UW) Odegaard Parking Garage. It is underground and has lots of shadows and nooks and crannies, and it's huge. It is the convenient, obvious one on the west side of the campus. if no one has set a murder mystery there, someone should consider it, because the setting is PERFECT. As a student, after a series of rapes was mentioned in the school paper, I asked a campus cop to please see me to my car after I attended a night class. Better to feel silly, than to be so very, very sorry. (He obliged very politely).
Parking is very difficult in the area, and transit is crazy-easy. If you are on vacation and have a generous budget, call Yellow Cab Company. You can even call them ahead and arrange for a certain date and time. They are head and shoulders above others in reliability, cleanliness, safety, and courtesy. I have lived in Seattle 22 years, and on the rare occasion I've needed a cab, they are the ones I call. They've never failed me yet (and some of the others are like riding in an ashtray!).
Hoo boy. Below this review, I am asked "What sort of visit was this?" There is no way to say, I live here. Since I moved here to marry a really great guy 22 years ago, I will say it is a "couples" visit. We are not the first of couples to move here without necessarily planning to stay long, only to sink very deep roots.
Have fun!
But if you are a tourist just looking for fun places to go in Seattle, this is a good one, especially for people too young to be considered 'boomers' (you'll have lots of company close to your own age!).
If you are from the Big City, (any of them), you will probably instinctively know some of the rules. If there is very large group of rough-looking, large young people moving toward you, it's time to turn a corner or cross the street. Passing a Starbucks? You need coffee, more than you know.
There are great things to see (I personally favor the UW Bookstore, NOT just for students, and also, there are serious (but pricey) art supplies in its basement.). There are little stores, lots of places to eat (try Shalimar if you enjoy Indian/Pakistani food.). Even if you are not going to attend the school, you may want to walk through the stunning Suzzallo Library. (When I was a student there, I used to mist up a bit as I climbed the curving staircase and looked down...it is such a beautiful place, and all I could think was that I got to have this experience! I was SO LUCKY!). Another find: Magus Used Books. (I realize my review is a little book-heavy; this is how I lead my life, so it's what I know best). There are coffee shops that feature poetry slams, and you can sometimes get on the list if you write. Watch for posters in the windows.
At dusk, or right after dinner, if you are not physically imposing or in a large group, it's a good idea to head back to your hotel, bus stop, or rental car. There is more rape and murder in this area than in the low-income spots around town. Part of this may be due to the large number of homeless youths; there is also gang activity. My favorite spot to avoid at night is (at UW) Odegaard Parking Garage. It is underground and has lots of shadows and nooks and crannies, and it's huge. It is the convenient, obvious one on the west side of the campus. if no one has set a murder mystery there, someone should consider it, because the setting is PERFECT. As a student, after a series of rapes was mentioned in the school paper, I asked a campus cop to please see me to my car after I attended a night class. Better to feel silly, than to be so very, very sorry. (He obliged very politely).
Parking is very difficult in the area, and transit is crazy-easy. If you are on vacation and have a generous budget, call Yellow Cab Company. You can even call them ahead and arrange for a certain date and time. They are head and shoulders above others in reliability, cleanliness, safety, and courtesy. I have lived in Seattle 22 years, and on the rare occasion I've needed a cab, they are the ones I call. They've never failed me yet (and some of the others are like riding in an ashtray!).
Hoo boy. Below this review, I am asked "What sort of visit was this?" There is no way to say, I live here. Since I moved here to marry a really great guy 22 years ago, I will say it is a "couples" visit. We are not the first of couples to move here without necessarily planning to stay long, only to sink very deep roots.
Have fun!
Written September 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francophile4330
Seattle, Washington, USA71 contributions
Jun 2012
District teems with les miserables. Old "Tubs" located at 50th and Roosevelt is a significant blight on the district. The "Ave" has seen many days, the latest of which are filled with sketchy characters and many filthy storefronts. Travel at your own risk.
Written June 19, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IdahoJanice123
Idaho21 contributions
Nice little, funky shops. Good vibe. You can find some great Indian and Pakistani food here. The University of Washington bookstore in this area has a great selection and is fun to explore. I always visit the U. District whenever I am in Seattle. Easy to take a bus here and it it a nice place to spend an afternoon.
Written July 13, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane S
Terre Haute3 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
I stayed with some friends at an AIRBND in this neighborhood last week. The streets are dirty and homeless are everywhere begging for money. However, we did find some good inexpensive eats and the public transit accessibility is superb in this area, it was easy to go downtown and to the airport. A lot of the restaurants, and I mean A LOT need to be shut down by the board of health. My suggestion is stay downtown or out in Issaquah or Redman... my two cents.
Written June 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciao, è comodo spostarsi da questa zona verso il centro? Consigliate di dormire da queste parti per un soggiorno di 5/6 notti a Seattle?
Written July 25, 2016
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