Seattle is home to at least 31 neighborhoods, all with their own vibe and bringing something unique to Emerald City. But of all the best neighborhoods in Seattle? The neighborhood that lies north of Lake Union – Fremont – ranks as one of my top favorite neighborhoods in the city. Away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, Fremont brings funk and class to Seattle. With a killer food scene, breweries, parks, shopping, and even trolls; if you’re visiting Seattle don’t miss checking out Fremont.
This hipster, bohemian, funky neighborhood was once its own until it was annexed to Seattle in 1891. It’s rather small – only 0.89 square miles and gets its name from Fremont, Nebraska. It truly is one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle to visit!
Situated north of the canal near Ballard and Wallingford, you can spend hours exploring Fremont, Seattle. Start your day at Gas Works Park, visit the Fremont Troll, grab a coffee, and shop your way throughout the area. Oh and don’t miss the Fremont Bridge – one of the most frequently opened drawbridges in the USA! When you’ve worked up an appetite stop for food at one of the many delicious Fremont restaurants.
Before reading further, check out some more Seattle neighborhood guides:
A Guide to the Ballard Neighborhood in Seattle
A Guide to Seattle’s Most Underrated Neighborhood – Beacon Hill
A Guide to Fremont, Seattle – What You Need to Know
HOW TO GET TO/GET AROUND FREMONT
The only downside to visiting Fremont is that the link light rail (the train that services Seattle) does not make a stop in the neighborhood. Instead, you will have to drive, bike, or take the bus. Weather permitting I recommend hopping on an electric JUMP bike, scattered around the streets of Seattle, and biking to Fremont. If the weather doesn’t permit both Uber and Lyft operate in Seattle. Or if you have a car there is street parking around the area, although sometimes hard to come across. (New to Lyft? Use code KYLEE45415 for $5 in ride credit. Or if you’re new to Uber use code vi9bs for $2 off your first three rides).
Thanks to its small size, my favorite way to explore Fremont is on foot or on an electric bike. Of all of the Seattle neighborhoods, I’ve found Fremont to be one of the most walkable. Clean, wide sidewalks, and fewer crowds than the tourist downtown area, you can thoroughly enjoy moseying around the area. Plus Fremont is bike-lane friendly so you usually don’t run into too many problems with bikers on the sidewalks.
Things to See and Do in Fremont, Seattle
VISIT THE FREMONT TROLL
This troll is one of the most popular attractions in Fremont so while you’re area stop by and say hello! (Talk about strange Seattle, Washington attractions). The Fremont Troll was sculpted in 1990 as a means to rehabilitate this area under the bridge. The idea of having a troll under a bridge comes from folklore in Scandinavia and is a free attraction.
HAVE A PICNIC AT GAS WORKS PARK
Although Gas Works is part of the Wallingford neighborhood, it’s so close to Fremont that many refer to the park as being in Fremont. Because this is one of the most beautiful parks in Seattle, don’t miss your chance to visit if you’re in the Fremont neighborhood. I prefer to bring a picnic set up while watching the sailboats and kayaks glide by. And watch as the seaplanes land and take off. Plus it’s one of the best places to view the stunning and unique Seattle skyline.
VISIT THE FREMONT SUNDAY STREET MARKET
If you’re in Fremont on a Sunday don’t miss the weekly European-style street market. The market features antique shops, bakery stands, food trucks, art, clothes, and more! The market is open every Sunday from 10 am-4 pm. (Pst, don’t miss the Phorale food truck!)
SHOP AT THE BOUTIQUES
Spend the day popping in and out of the many artisanal boutiques Fremont has to offer. My personal favorite is Pipe and Row located on 35th Street.
Where to Eat and Drink in Fremont
One of the best things about Fremont is the top-notch restaurants, bars, and breweries scattered throughout the neighborhood. Below are some of the best that I’ve found.
EL CAMINO
El Camino is a laid-back Mexican restaurant in the heart of Fremont. The space is decorated ornately with nods to Mexican heritage. It’s the perfect place to go for margaritas with girlfriends!
FREMONT BREWING
Fremont Brewing is my favorite brewery in Seattle. It’s huge and has a great outdoor patio for summer days. There are a plethora of games to choose from to play at the brewery, and you can even bring your own food in.
JOULE
Joule is an incredible Asian-fusion restaurant run by a husband-wife duo. They’ve won four James Beard Awards for the Best Chefs in the Northwest. The food is unique, unlike any other Asian food I’ve had in the past.
PABLO Y PABLO
Pablo y Pablo is a taco kitchen and margarita bar in Seattle. It’s laid-back and has incredible menu items to choose from. If you’re picking between Pablo y Pablo and El Camino, I have to say that I’m partial to the food at Pablo y Pablo.
STAMPEDE COCKTAIL CLUB
Stampede Cocktail Club is an innovative, swanky cocktail lounge in Fremont. It might be one of my favorite neighborhood finds to date, boasting a rotating menu of unique cocktails each month.
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Seattle, don’t pass this neighborhood up. Although it may take some work to get to it’s worth it once you’re there. After all, it’s one of the “cool” neighborhoods in Seattle filled with things to do, attractions to see, restaurants to eat at, and drinks to be had.
Planning to spend an entire weekend in Seattle? Don’t miss How to Have a Perfect Weekend Trip to Seattle
Do you prefer visuals over words? Head over to my Instagram page/highlight reel for a visual look at Seattle! You can find highlights under “Seattle Eats”, “Seattle Drinks”, and “Seattle, WA”. Or search the hashtag #ppinwashington
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Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
Makes me want to revisit Fremont!! Well done!