Downtown Redmond - Redmond, WA

The area of Redmond was first occupied by Native Americans in the years leading up to the mid-1800s. With the expansion westward, Luke McRedmond purchased the land for settlement in the 1870s and began plans for a small town. The town initially thrived on a successful salmon fishing industry sourced from the Sammamish River, eventually adding logging exports to its sources of income.

Though Redmond lacks some of the historical museums that Seattle features, some people enjoy taking an educational visit to the Microsoft headquarters and meandering through the interactive visitors center. Acting as the cultural highlight of the year, the Redmond Derby Days festival draws in thousands of locals and visitors for a week of bicycle races, parades, food vendors and live entertainment stages. In addition, kids can enjoy the family carnival located at Redmond Elementary in the parking lot.

Downtown Redmond contains the city's most popular spots for eating out. While residents have plenty of options when it comes to styles of cuisine, many of the restaurants here feature American pub favorites. In conjunction with the general cost of living in the area, most establishments range on the costly side, though some affordable eats can be found as well.

The Stone House serves as a long-time crowd favorite for its intimate ambiance and high quality dishes. Tucked away on a side street off of Redmond Way, this restaurant looks exactly like you would imagine it would: a simple and small stone house. Due to its small interior, reservations are strongly encouraged, especially for larger groups. The Stone House acts as a very popular date spot due to its romantic ambiance. Regulars love the flat iron steak, and many highly recommend finishing it off with a signature banana split sundae.

For something a little more unconventional, try out La Isla Cuisine. This Puerto Rican restaurant brings the food and flavors of South America to the table with specialty dishes such as pernil or pulled pork shoulder. During lunch time, the Tripleta sandwich, served up with a side of sweet potato fries, wins over customers every time. Happy hour runs every day from 3 to 6 p.m., so try to stop by for a late lunch and enjoy a bargain price on tropical cocktails.

If you’re looking to catch some live music after dinner, head over to SoulFood Coffee House for a laid back show. This coffee shop features live music most nights of the week, with an emphasis on singer songwriters and acoustic musicians. The mellow vibe here suits guests of all ages looking for live entertainment. Crowds tend to swell on the first Saturday of each month for the community open mic night, so go early for this display of local talent.

Downtown Redmond's choice of pubs provides locals and visitors with a wide range of nightlife options. Refined beer and wine connoisseurs can usually be found at Malt & Vine, a drinks only pub that prides itself on its selection of craft beers and boutique wines. Despite not serving food, Malt & Vine encourages guests to bring in take out or even order a pizza to eat inside its doors. If you don’t know what to order, just ask one of the very knowledgeable bartenders for an expert recommendation.

With a reputation as the best bar on the eastside, Palmers East attracts a slightly more rambunctious crowd to its tables. People love coming here for the fun atmosphere, cheap drinks and dance floor accompanied by a live DJ. Come early on a Friday night to grab a booth for karaoke night. Tuesdays also prove to be a crowd favorite, with half off any order of a burger and fries.

The layout of Downtown Redmond proves optimal for commuting by foot. Locals enjoy being able to walk to most amenities in the area, including grocery stores, restaurants and shops. With the addition of bike lanes, residents also enjoy being able to travel by bike as well. However, many residents need to travel greater distances for everyday work, so traveling by car remains the primary method of transportation. Public parking can usually be found for free, but it may require extensive hunting in more crowded parts. Drivers have convenient access to Highway 520 by the ramp off of Redmond Way. A trip to the city takes anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes by this route, depending on traffic conditions.

That being said, some residents find owning a car to be unnecessary considering the well connected bus routes running through the area. Most of the stops lie on Redmond Way, with lines running north and south on 164th Avenue. Taxis can usually be hailed on the weekends, but many residents choose to call ahead. If you need a ride, try using the popular alternative service Zipcar for ride sharing.

Despite being the urban center of the area, Downtown Redmond remains well balanced with its natural environment and the open landscape of Marymoor Park right in its backyard. Amenities of this giant park include fishing access, a canoe launch point, picnic shelters with restrooms and multiple sports fields. Walkers and joggers can enjoy exercising on the vast network of paved and unpaved trails running throughout the park.

Located just to the south of the center of Downtown Redmond, Marymoor Park also includes an off-leash area for dogs to run and play. In addition to the traditional amenities offered, the park also features a climbing wall and a full size Velodrome-style bicycle track. In the summer months, Marymoor Park draws a sizable crowd to its 5,000-person concert venue for the summer concert series. Most shows cost about $8 for entry, with parking for the night costing $5 per car.

The convenience and easy living of Downtown Redmond comes at a hefty price. The cost of living in this well-established neighborhood sits almost 30 percent higher than the state average. While nearly every area ranks a bit more expensive, the greatest difference in expenses for residents here includes the housing costs. Most one-bedroom residences rent out for an average rate of $1,300 per month. Food and entertainment in Downtown Redmond rank slightly more expensive than the surrounding areas, but remain comparable to the commercial areas of Downtown Seattle. A trip to Downtown Seattle will cost you $6 for a round trip on public transportation. If you’re going out for drinks, expect to pay anywhere from $4 to $7 for a draft beer, depending on the pub. Gas prices in the neighborhood rank around 13 percent higher than the national average.

Residents of Downtown Redmond are never far from retail shops, with the center of commerce lying in Redmond Town Center at the center of the city. This outdoor shopping plaza includes big box retailers such as Macy’s with some smaller shops parsed out in between. In general, the area contains mainly well-recognized, commercial brands with multiple locations across the country.

Utopia acts as one of the standout boutiques in the area. As a locally owned jewelry and accessories shop, Utopia offers wearable accessories and fine jewelry for every occasion. Due to the artisan nature of many of the goods, items at this boutique prove fairly expensive. If you can afford these prices, Utopia serves as a great place to shop for a unique birthday gift or an anniversary present for that special someone.

Another notable specialty shop in the area is Samila Boutique. This store specializes in prom dresses and fine evening gowns for women and girls, with brands ranging from high-end designers to the more affordable knock-off options. The knowledgeable staff at Samila Boutique makes dress shopping easy, providing well-informed recommendations for all types of events.

Many locals choose to shop at the nearby Trader Joe’s of QFC for all their weekly grocery needs. However, there are also some specialty grocery stores around carrying ethnic foods and unique ingredients. The British Pantry acts as one of the most popular alternative grocers, with an interesting selection of distinctly British flavors and ingredients. This grocery store also serves as a deli restaurant, so be sure to come hungry and order the fish and chips for an authentic British meal.

Those looking to shop local enjoy buying their produce from the Redmond Saturday Market, occurring every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting in May. Located at the corner of Leary Way and 76th Street, this farmers' market includes the usual selection of local fruits and vegetables with the additional bonus of fresh jams, baked goods and displays of art from local artists.