West Bellevue: Seattle’s Best Neighborhoods 2013
Location, location, location.
By Kavita Varma-White April 3, 2013
Given that tried-and-true Seattleites find it difficult to “cross the bridge” for anything, living on the Eastside really challenges certain attitudes. But those of us in West Bellevue know—and don’t care what others think—that the main ingredient that makes Eastside living so palatable is so very cliché: location, location, location.
The top five reasons I love West Bellevue and especially my micro ’hood, Enatai: 1. A no-commute lifestyle: With jobs in downtown Bellevue, traffic isn’t bad, which means attendance at our kids’ activities is good. 2. Beauty, community: Enatai—like Clyde Hill, Medina and Beaux Arts—is leafy and picturesque, with top-notch public schools and lakefront parks nearby. 3. “Friendly neighborhood” perk: Go outside and you’ll likely know someone to wave to. 4. Close to good dining: No trekking to Seattle for good eats. Bellevue’s got ’em, whether it’s Monsoon East—love the happy hour!; Cantinetta—love the intimacy!: or Black Bottle Postern—love the ambiance! 5. Close to good shopping: Bellevue Square, enough said.
Don’t miss: The view from Chism Beach Park—Seattle never looked so beautiful; renting a canoe at Enatai Beach Park—Lake Washington is your oyster; a perfect, heart-topped latte from the barista at Top Pot Doughnuts; happy hour at 520 Bar & Grill (wine by the glass, $5.20), especially in good weather when you can sit on the patio.
Go-to for out-of-town guests: A hike at Twin Falls, a 30-minute drive east.
Famous for: High-density of pro athletes, including former Seattle Mariners Edgar Martinez and John Olerud, and former NFL player Damon Huard; plus Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Melrose Place actor Rob Estes.
Kavita Varma-White is an NBCNews.com writer and has been an Enatai resident since 2008
Follow Us
Better Together
This Seattle project presents an out-of-the-box model, where investors are also residents, and the design focuses on longevity and tenant retention—not profit.
Growing up in rural Detroit, Chad Dale spent many after-school and weekend hours playing with neighborhood kids in an open lot near his house. It’s an experience he always hoped his children would have someday, but by the time he became a father in Seattle, land was at a premium: either already developed or prohibitively…
A Different Kind of Mattress Store
Photos courtesy of Bedrooms and More. If you’re looking for the best mattress shopping experience in Seattle, the right choice often comes down to materials, transparency, and expert guidance – not just price or brand names. Bedrooms & More specializes in natural and organic two-sided mattresses and offers a no-pressure showroom environment where customers can…
Joint Effort
Rooted in the Northwest craft tradition, Mory Homes offers thoughtful furniture and storage solutions with an architectural point of view.
After more than a decade as the executive director of local lighting company Graypants, one of the cofounders, Jonathan Junker, decided to return to his architectural roots. In 2019, he was raising a family on Bainbridge Island when he opened his namesake studio. At first, Junker enjoyed the holistic approach to residential design; a few…
Your Land, Your Legacy: A New Way to Build at Suncadia
For those who believe that where you live should reflect how you live and how you’ll be remembered Suncadia invites a deeper kind of ownership. It’s an opportunity to create a home that is entirely your own, on some of the most desirable homesites in the Cascades, while benefiting from the ease, support, and long-term…