Things to Do in Ballard, Seattle Known for its historic Nordic heritage, with the Ballard Locks allowing boats to pass between Puget Sound and Lake Union while also providing a chance to see salmon migrating.
Plan Ballard Plan your Ballard trip Free · and No sign-up By TripSapien · Updated October 13, 2026
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Ballard Locks ★ 4.7 · 10.3k★
Waterway with opportunities for viewing salmon during the summer & park with unusual shrubs & trees.
Every day 7 AM – 9 PM
Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop ★ 4.9 · 268
A curiosity shop offering a variety of antiques, natural specimens including bugs, bones, and taxidermy, and geological items such as fossils and polished stones.
Mon–Fri 12 PM – 7 PM
Sat 11 AM – 7 PM
Sun 11 AM – 7 PM
Lucca Great Finds ★ 4.7 · 137
Whimsical shop offers an array of gifts such as handmade paper, vintage home goods & unique curios.
Mon–Fri 11 AM – 6 PM
Sat 11 AM – 6 PM
Sun 10 AM – 5 PM
Julefest ★ 4.6 · 2.4k
Neighborhood museum covering Scandinavian immigration, culture, art & history.
Mon Closed
Tue–Wed 10 AM – 5 PM
Thu 10 AM – 8 PM
Fri 10 AM – 5 PM
Sat 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun 10 AM – 5 PM
Ballard Farmers Market ★ 4.8 · 1.9k
Year-round greenmarket with 100-plus vendors for organic, handmade & locally grown foods.
Mon–Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Sun 9 AM – 2 PM
Sonic Boom Records ★ 4.7 · 658
Music specialist for new & used vinyl, CDs & DVDs plus turntables, books & live performances.
Every day 11 AM – 7 PM Where to eat & drink in Ballard
Hattie’s Hat ★ 4.4 · 1.6k· $20–30
This longtime local cafe offers 3 meals a day plus drinks & live events in funky down-home digs.
Mon–Tue 10 AM – 12 AM
Wed–Fri 10 AM – 2 AM
Sat 9 AM – 2 AM
Sun 9 AM – 12 AM
Tractor Tavern ★ 4.6 · 1.5k· $
From roots rock to reggae to folk to country, performances vary at this down-home music club & bar.
The Walrus and The Carpenter ★ 4.5 · 2.3k· $50–100
Oysters & other seafood plus American plates & specialty cocktails in a small, simple space.
Mon–Thu 4 PM – 9 PM
Fri 4 PM – 10 PM
Sat 4 PM – 10 PM
Sun 4 PM – 9 PM
Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom ★ 4.8 · 680· $10–20
Down-to-earth venue for house-brewed beer & cider, plus rotating food trucks, a patio & fire pits.
Mon Closed
Tue–Thu 3 PM – 10 PM
Fri 12 PM – 10 PM
Sat 12 PM – 10 PM
Sun 12 PM – 9 PM
Ballard Coffee Co. ★ 4.6 · 1.6k· $10–20
Cozy coffee shop with an open kitchen baking many varieties of sweet & savory biscuits.
Every day 7 AM – 3 PM
Un Bien ★ 4.8 · 2.3k· $10–20
Colorful shack offering Caribbean sandwiches made with roast pork & served on Macrina bread.
Mon–Tue Closed
Wed–Fri 11 AM – 9 PM
Sat 11 AM – 9 PM
Sun 11 AM – 8 PM
Indian Bistro ★ 4.7 · 1.8k· $$
Reasonably priced and delicious. Friendly owner and a definite go-to for any Indian food lover.
Mon–Fri 11 AM – 1:30 AM
Sat 11 AM – 1:30 AM
Sun 11 AM – 12 AM
Mean Sandwich ★ 4.7 · 1.3k· $20–30
Straightforward, compact operation for sizable, flavorful sandwiches, plus beer & wine on tap.
Every day 11 AM – 6 PM
El Moose ★ 4.6 · 1.8k· $20–30
Modern Mexican eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a space that's especially lively on weekends.
Mon 9 AM – 9 PM
Tue–Thu 9 AM – 3 PM, 5 PM – 9 PM
Fri 9 AM – 9 PM
Sat 9 AM – 9 PM
Sun 9 AM – 3 PM
Old County Bar ★ 4.7 · 165· $10–30
Sports bar with full bar, several beers on draft, one pool table and darts. Several televisions usually showing sports.
Mon–Fri 12 PM – 2 AM
Sat 10 AM – 2 AM
Sun 9 AM – 2 AM More about Ballard The Sunday Ballard Farmers Market is a must for fresh local produce and artisanal goods.
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1 Ballard Locks 2 Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop 3 Hattie’s Hat 4 Lucca Great Finds 5 Julefest 6 Tractor Tavern 7 The Walrus and The Carpenter 8 Ballard Farmers Market 9 Sonic Boom Records 10 Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom Ready to plan Ballard? Turn these Ballard picks into a day-by-day Seattle plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.
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Ballard LocksLandmark
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