About My Best Seattle
My Best Seattle, an independent guide to the coffee shops, clinics, contractors and stores Seattleites rely on: why it exists and how our editors work.
Hills, bridges and neighborhoods
Seattle is a city of distinct villages separated by water and steep hills. Ballard still carries traces of its Nordic fishing heritage; Fremont keeps its troll under the Aurora Bridge; Capitol Hill is the heart of the city's nightlife; Georgetown mixes breweries with old industrial buildings; Columbia City and the Rainier Valley bring together communities from all over the world; West Seattle feels like a small town across the bridge.
People here tend to be loyal to their own corner of town. With traffic on I-5 and the bridges, a great dentist on the far side of the lake is not much use.
Why My Best Seattle exists
Finding a good business in Seattle often comes down to asking neighbors, and not everyone has neighbors to ask yet. Newcomers arrive for jobs in tech, health care and the maritime trades and spend their first year guessing. My Best Seattle shortens that year. Our rankings span sixteen categories, covering everything from coffee and seafood to home repair, health, pets, legal help and real estate, with each list devoted to a single trade.
Putting each list together
Research starts with the whole city, from Lake City to Rainier Beach and from Magnolia to Madison Park. We give weight to businesses whose good name has held up over years, confirm locations, phone numbers and opening times, and publish only the clear standouts. Every list is looked at again on a steady schedule, and corrections from readers are checked as soon as they arrive.
Readers we have in mind
Transplants still working out which neighborhood is which. Families looking for a pediatrician near Green Lake. Renters in the U District who need a dependable bike shop. Longtime locals who want a second opinion before calling a plumber. And visitors who would rather eat at a teriyaki counter locals swear by than wait in line at the obvious places.
For listed businesses
If your business is featured, claim it on the For Businesses page and keep your details fresh, from opening times to photos. Accurate information is the simplest way to win over a reader who is about to choose.