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Bellevue - city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States

For other places with the same name, see Bellevue (disambiguation).

Bellevue is a city in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, and often considered a satellite or edge city of Seattle. Bellevue has a population of 150,000.

Bellevue is perhaps the most ritzy district of the Seattle metro area, mainly due to the presence of Microsoft at nearby Redmond and other tech companies occupying the downtown office towers. It also results in neighborhoods mostly comprising families or retirees with large houses and excellent vistas of the water for the lucky few; which reflects on many of the family-friendly attractions especially parks. It may actually be more pleasant and safer to walk here than in Seattle proper. On the flip side however, the experience is somewhat blander than the latter due to a lower variety of sightseeing options, although the shopping experience is said to be better here. The Bellevue cityscape.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. To get to Bellevue, take eastbound State Route 518 and continue straight towards Interstate 405.

By train

Amtrak provides service to Seattle's King Street Station. To get to Bellevue, take Sound Transit Express bus route 550 (see #By bus), which stops just around the corner from the station, on 4th Avenue South.

By car

  • 22px State Route (SR) 520 (dead link: January 2023) connects Bellevue to Seattle, via the Evergreen Point floating bridge on Lake Washington. The bridge is tolled, hence less busier than Interstate 90. SR-520 serves as the northern border between Bellevue and Kirkland between the shores of Lake Washington and Interstate 405.
  • The more modern and capacious 22px Interstate 90 (I-90) provides another route from Seattle across Lake Washington, via Mercer Island. For Bellevue, exit to Bellevue Way SE or Interstate 405.
  • 22px Interstate 405 (I-405) is the outer loop of Interstate 5 that runs from Lynnwood to Tukwila (and the airport), through Bellevue. Keep in mind that rush hour traffic can be very daunting: expect a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from both ends of the freeway to Bellevue.

By bus

Almost every King County Metro and Sound Transit bus that runs through Bellevue stops at the Bellevue Transit Center 📍 located on 6th Street between 108th Ave NE & 110th Ave NE in Downtown Bellevue. Bike lockers are available for rental during regular business hours.

King County Metro

  • From Kenmore and Kirkland, take route 234 and 235, respectively.
  • Route 271 passes through Bellevue on its way between University District in Seattle and Issaquah.
  • RapidRide Line B terminates at Bellevue from Redmond and Kirkland

Sound Transit

  • From Snohomish County, route 532 operates during rush hour from Everett Station and Route 535 Monday to Saturday from Lynnwood.
  • Route 550 runs frequently between Downtown Seattle and Downtown Bellevue.
  • During the rush hour, Routes 555 and 556 goes to Bellevue from Northgate and the U District (University of Washington) in Seattle
  • Route 560 runs every half hour between SeaTac Airport and Downtown Bellevue through Renton. Express Bus fare is $2.75 per trip within King County and $3.75 to go into Snohomish or Pierce Counties.

Intercity bus services

  • Wheatland Express, (bus stop) Novilhos Brazilian Steak House at Factoria Mall, 12405 SE 38th Street, Bellevue, +1 509 334-2200. Every Friday, the Weekend Express takes you from Pullman (where Washington State University is at), Ellensburg (Central Washington University) and Moscow (University of Idaho) to Seattle, and the other way around every Sunday. A special service is also deployed during the holiday season. Journeys take more than 6 hours. Next local stop is at Westfield Southcenter Mall (by Nordstroms) in Tukwila. $99.00 one way (weekend express), $210.00 one way (vacation service)
  • Flixbus (operated by Wenatchee Valley Shuttle), (bus stop) Eastgate Plaza Shell/Jackson Store @ 3670 150th Ave SE (SW of Eastgate Plaza at 150th Ave SE & SE 36th, off of I-90 at Exit 11B), +1 509 293-5773. Operates several daily departures to Wenatchee and Peshastin in Eastern Washington from Bellevue. $45 one-way, $85 roundtrip 2018-01-02
  • Greyhound, Amtrak and most other ground transport services to Vancouver BC; Portland, Bellingham, Spokane and other parts of the state are available in Downtown Seattle and at the airport.

Get around

Bellevue has reliable transportation access to Seattle and the Puget Sound area. For intra-city service, the King County Metro is the only thing available.

  • King County Metro offers local bus service. Some useful routes are:
    • Route 221 runs from Bellevue Transit Center to Redmond
    • Route 226 from Bellevue Transit Center to Eastgate Park & Ride, via Crossroads Mall and Lake Hills Park
    • Route 240 travels south from Bellevue Transit Center and passes Factoria before continuing to Renton.
    • Route 271 continues from Bellevue TC to Bellevue College, via Kelsey Creek Park & Wilburton Hill Park to Bellevue College before continuing to Issaquah.
    • RapidRide Line B operates frequently to Redmond, with numerous stops along NE 8th St and turns left at Crossroads Mall.

For trips outside of the core city, you'll probably want a car.

See

Nestled between two lakes, Bellevue is blessed with high terrain that offers beautiful natural vistas at its parks and a chance to unwind into natural habitats.

Do

Buy

If you want to find something luxurious that Seattle doesn't offer, chances are Bellevue might have it (i.e. the only Neiman Marcus in the metro area)

  • Bellevue Square, 575 Bellevue Square, 47.6156°, -122.204°, +1 425 454-8096. M-Sa 9:30AM-9:30PM, Su 11AM-7PM. The flagship mall of the city, with department stores and clothing lines galore. Food options are mainly concentrated in the "Lodge" building on Bellevue Way, and Lincoln Square which is connected to it by a skybridge. 2018-11-14
  • Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 NE 8th St, 47.61875°, -122.12974°, +1 425 644-1111. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 7AM-6PM. A 'cheaper' and livelier mall than Bellevue Square, with more options of food, live music and some eccentric shops with several arranged weekly meetups. Best option if visiting as a family. 2018-01-09
  • The Shops at the Bravern, 11111 NE 8th St, 47.61695°, -122.19246°, +1 425 456-8795. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su nooh-6PM. European-inspired shopping destination with upscale retailers (the likes of Hermes & Louis Vuitton) & restaurants. 2018-01-09

Eat

Bellevue contains a whole lot more Chinese & Japanese restaurants than Seattle. You may also have better luck finding Indian dishes here, where its tech workers would typically flock for lunch.

Due to the nature of the district however, prices tend to be a tad more expensive than Seattle. Budget: up to $12, mid-range: $12-$21, splurge: more than $21 (meal for one + soft drink).

Budget

  • MOD Pizza, 317 Bellevue Way NE and 14309 NE 20th St, 47.61339°, -122.2018°, +1 425 455-0141 or +1 425 214-9903. Su-Th 10:30AM-10PM, F Sa 10:30AM-11PM. A pizza joint where you can pick your own ingredients and quickly baked in wooden ovens. Various lemonade flavors for the drink. Pizza: medium $9, large $11, salads $5 2018-01-10
  • Cafe Bollywood, 102B Bellevue Way NE, 47.61141°, -122.20096°, +1 425 641-9997. Su 1-9PM; lunch: Tu-F 11AM-3PM, Sa noon-3PM; dinner: Tu-Th 4:30PM-midnight, F Sa 4:30PM-2AM. Cheap yet delicious Indian food, with the combos and biryani being the best seller. Combos $10-$12, individual dishes $5-$12 (in 8 or 16oz) 2018-01-10
  • Pho Ever, 12015 NE 8th St, 47.61696°, -122.17914°, +1 425 455-0439. Daily 11AM-9PM. If you are peckish for a Vietnamese fix, this is where you can get it cheaply. Pho $8-$12, other dishes $9-$14 2018-01-10
  • Sukhothai, 15045 Bel-Red Rd, 47.62723°, -122.13803°, +1 425 401-0823. Tu-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su noon-9PM. Perhaps the most vegetarian-friendly restaurant of the bunch, with its lunch buffets and on-the-menu items at best containing fish for meats. $9-14 2018-01-10
  • Foodshion, 707 148th Ave NE, 47.61629°, -122.14349°, +1 425 505-2270. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-10:30PM, Su noon-9:30PM. Cavernous restaurant offering Chinese delicacies and some Japanese, plus karaoke bar. Lunch specials $9-12, other entrees $11-15 2018-01-11
  • Broiler Bay, 10636 Main St, 47.61052°, -122.19766°. 11AM-8PM. Casual restaurant with burgers, fries, and shakes 2020-02-27

Mid-range

  • Din Tai Fung, 700 Bellevue Way NE, 47.61704°, -122.20057°, +1 425 698-1095. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-10PM. Home of the world renowned xiao long bao (soup in dumpling) complemented with dim sum and Taiwanese fares. $8-22 2018-01-10
  • Facing East, 1075 Bellevue Way NE (from I-405, take exit 13b west onto NE 8th; turn right on Bellevue Way: the restaurant is in a strip-mall immediately on the left), 47.61973°, -122.20228°, +1 425 688-2986. Tu-Th 11:30AM-3PM, 5-9PM; F-Su 11:30AM-3PM, 5-10PM. A cheaper variety of Taiwanese food, specializing in street or night market dishes, bubble tea and sweet desserts. $7-15
  • Gilbert's on Main (Gilbert's Main Street Bagel), 10024 Main St, 47.61042°, -122.20491°, +1 425 455-5650. M-F 7AM-3PM, Sa Su 8AM-3PM. Serves excellent breakfasts & deli sandwiches, wide assortment of bagel choices, and great coffee. Omelettes & specials $19, pancakes $9-20, micro omelettes & pancakes $9
  • Top Gun, 12450 SE 38th St, 47.57796°, -122.17237°, +1 425 641-3386. M-F 11AM-midnight, Sa Su 10AM-midnight. Chinese restaurant meant for communal enjoyment; delicious dim sum, noodles, and a la carte Cantonese dishes. $9-17

Splurge

  • Daniel's Broiler, 10500 NE 8th - 21st floor, 47.6177°, -122.20003°, +1 425 462-4662. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM; dinner: Su- Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM. Located on the 21st floor of the Bank of America Building, with spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains and Lake Washington available from every table. Serves traditional steak & seafood dishes, exclusively uses USDA Prime Beef. Steaks $21-40
  • Ishoni, 10630 NE 8th St, 47.61764°, -122.19763°, +1 425 455-0898. M-Sa 5:30PM-10:30PM. High quality beef (or the premium wagyu) or pork flame-grilled by yourself, which leaves a melting taste. A5 wagyu rib eye at $90 being the most favorite. Due to the small restaurant, reservations are highly recommended at least two days before & limited to 60 minutes per seating. Meats $5-10, wagyu beef $12. A meal would typically cost $20 per person due to its relatively small portion. 2018-01-10
  • Maggianos, 10455 NE 8th St, 47.61732°, -122.20063°, +1 425 519-6476. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM. Array of Italian fare and expensive steaks, accompanied with hospitable service. Lunch $11-22, dinner $16-35
  • Wild Ginger, 508 Bellevue Way NE, 47.61513°, -122.2011°, +1 425 495-8889. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9PM. Fragrant exotic dishes primarily from Southeast Asia and seafood. Mains: lunch $12-22, dinner $15-28 2018-01-10
  • Fogo de Chão, 440 Bellevue Way NE, 47.61453°, -122.20119°, +1 425 450-4004. Lunch M-F 11AM-2PM; dinner M-Th 4:30-10PM; F 4:30-10:30PM; Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM; Su 11:30AM-9PM. For those with a humongous appetite. All you can eat meat (including prime ribs & fillet mignon!) carved tableside, plus Market Table (fruits & salads, cured meats & cheeses, antipasti) and feiojada bar (rice with black beans stew & beef or pork) AYCE meat lunch $35 (weekday) $37 (weekend), dinner $52; market table & feiojada only: $15 (weekday lunch), $26 (other times) 2018-01-11

Drink

Sleep

Budget: below $100, mid-range: $100-$150, splurge: above $150 (standard double room).

As Bellevue mainly houses business & industrial meetings, a few hotel rooms may be sold out on some weekdays; the cheapest prices are actually easier to be found on weekends, with prices half of those of weekdays!

Due to the generally cheaper price than Seattle, travelers can make Bellevue as an alternative place to stay, and head down to Seattle using public transportation or a car.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Go next

  • Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest
  • Visit the Microsoft campus at Redmond.
  • Mercer Island for breathtaking vistas of Lake Washington and opulent houses.
  • In the Eastside, Kirkland hosts beautiful parks and a couple cheaper options, while Issaquah is a stone's throw away from multiple hiking trails.

Bellevue

bellevuewa.gov
Postal code:98004–98008Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/Los_AngelesPopulation:151,854Coordinates:47.61, -122.19

King County

2nd-order administrative division

Washington

Primary administrative division

United States

usa.gov
Population:327.2 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (USD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50