Bellevue, Washington, combines urban elegance and natural beauty in the Pacific Northwest. It is known for its vibrant downtown, Lake Washington views, and open spaces. As you explore Bellevue, you’ll notice sleek towers against beautiful parks, forming a distinctive tapestry that defines the city. If you are looking to invest in real estate, Bellevue real estate agent April Jeong-Callies can offer valuable insights about the local market. We’ll cover Bellevue’s greatest attractions, from the calm Bellevue Botanical Garden to the city’s best eateries, in this guide. Discover Bellevue’s hidden beauties that make it a top destination for residents and visitors.
Things to do in Bellevue
Below are fun things to do in Bellevue:
Bellevue Downtown Park
Enjoy a gorgeous urban park with lawn sports, walking trails, and community events at Bellevue Downtown Park. This park is Bellevue’s beautifully maintained green space. Visitors and residents play lawn games, walk their dogs, exercise, or attend community events like the city’s summer free outdoor movie series.
Bellevue Botanical Garden
Free admission to the Bellevue Botanical Garden allows nature lovers to see the gardens’ bright and varied vegetation. You can enter and explore from dawn to sunset. Before leaving, you can stop at the Copper Kettle Coffee shop for a cappuccino and a baked treat or visit the Trillium Store for a garden-themed gift.
Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm
This beautiful Bellevue attraction lets you pick berries and buy local products. Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm is great for families, especially during blueberry season. Rent a bucket and pick away! There are hundreds of blueberry plants with different varieties so that you won’t run out. You can still obtain fresh food outside of blueberry season at a produce stand. After picking your food, stroll around the pond or watch the birds.
Bellevue Art Museum
This museum showcases local artists and conducts a huge summer art fair. It hosts one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest summer art fairs to stay true to its roots. The museum includes largely local artists and rotates exhibits so that each visit will show a different piece. One of Bellevue’s best day trips is the Bellevue Arts Museum, which has a rotating exhibit, a museum store with local crafts, and delicious food.
Best restaurants in Bellevue
Bellevue has the finest culinary scene. You can try out these restaurants to confirm:
Seastar Raw Bar & Restaurant
Seastar is the kind of posh seafood restaurant that would fit that rom-com token classy dinner date scene. The restaurant is also good for business dinners, especially those with corporate cards. Crab bisque is a must, followed by king salmon or mahi mahi.
SUSHI J
Sushi J has a few great maki rolls and chirashi bowls, but their seared salmon nigiri is a must. This is the only nigiri platter with ten pieces, and for good reason: the rice is nicely seasoned, the spicy mayo isn’t overpowering, and the high-quality fish melts like butter. This is the best Bellevue fast lunch.
East MonsoonMonsoon
The smaller Old Main version of MonsoonMonsoon has the same cuisine as Capitol Hill, including clay pot catfish, crunchy drunken chicken, and worked lamb for date-night Vietnamese. Like Capitol Hill, they provide dim sum brunch on Sundays with shrimp dumplings, pork buns, and mimosas.
Señor Taco
Bellevue Mexican restaurant Señor Taco is known for its delicious baja fish tacos, with a full filet of crispy-puffy cod, tangy chipotle crema, and crunchy red cabbage. Al pastor and hot barbacoa are also favorites. For lunch, order some great tacos or a French fry-stuffed California burrito and a nice drink.
