Leschi Park
A big hillside lawn with old trees, a playground, tennis courts, and a little lakeside lawn across the street. It was home to Seattle's first zoo until 1903.
Neighborhood guide · Just north of Mount Baker
Leschi, Seattle
A lakeside park, two marinas, and hillside streets that tumble down to the water.
In the summer, Leschi feels like a bustling little lakeside town. This is the guide I'd hand a friend: the parks, where to eat, what the homes are like, and what they're selling for.
1880sWhen ferries to the Eastside began here
18.5 acresLeschi Park, on the lake
2 marinasRight on the waterfront
98122 · 98144ZIP codes
What it's like
A lakeside town in the city.
Leschi starts up the hill near MLK Jr Way and drops through green ravines to Lake Washington. At the bottom, Lakeside Avenue has the marinas, a market, a couple of restaurants, and a lawn right on the water, all within a few minutes' walk.
It was Seattle's original lake getaway: a cable car ran here from Pioneer Square, and ferries left for the Eastside. Today, light rail at Judkins Park, just to the southwest, gets you downtown or across the lake.
Amy's note
“I love the park, and in the summer it feels like a bustling lakeside town. Everyone loves Leschi Market. Just be careful in their parking lot!”
Where it is
E Cherry St to the north, Lake Washington to the east, S Irving St (just above I-90) to the south, and MLK Jr Way S to the west.
Parks & the lake
Lawns, docks, and ravines.
The places you'll end up most.
The marinas
Two marinas line the waterfront. Even if you don't own a boat, the docks make the best evening walk.
Paths & ravines
Paved paths wind through Leschi Park, and Frink Park's wooded trails climb the ravine just to the south.
Down to the water
Streets drop steeply toward the lake, with water and mountain views between the trees.
Food & coffee
Dinner with a view.
Everything is right on the waterfront, so you can walk from coffee to the market to dinner.
Amy's pick · Coffee
Starbucks
The only coffee spot on the waterfront, and I'm here a lot because it's usually on my way.
Amy's pick · Dinner & happy hour
Daniel's Broiler
Dinner or happy hour with great views over the marina and the lake.
Amy's pick · Wine & grab-and-go
Leschi Market
An awesome wine selection and good food to go. Everyone loves it; just be careful in the parking lot.
History you can still see
Ferries, cable cars, and a lake getaway.
A plaque on the waterfront marks where steam ferries began carrying passengers to Mercer Island and the Eastside in the 1880s. They ran until the first floating bridge opened in 1940. A cable car from Pioneer Square ended at Leschi Park from 1888 to 1940, and the neighborhood is named for Nisqually Chief Leschi.
Getting around
- Judkins Park Station (2 Line) opened in March 2026, just southwest of Leschi, with trains downtown and across the lake to the Eastside.
- Lake Washington Boulevard runs along the water, south to Mount Baker and Seward Park and north to Madrona.
- I-90 is right at the south edge of the neighborhood.
Housing styles
Hillsides and lake views.
Steep streets mean lots of homes have water views, and the styles run from storybook cottages to brand-new modern.
Storybook & Tudor
Steep gables and half-timber details on the older blocks.
Craftsman-style
Gables, porches, and front gardens.
View homes
Tall homes stacked into the hillside to catch the lake.
New & modern
Glass, decks, and big windows facing the water.
Market snapshot
What homes are selling for
September 2026 · All home types · Source: NWMLS
$1.59MAverage sale price
5Homes sold in the month
14 daysAverage time on market
110.9%Of list price, on average
How I read it: homes here sold in about two weeks and, on average, for well over list price. With only five sales in the month, one home with a lot of competition can pull that number way up, so I look at three- and six-month trends with clients.
The newsletter
Home, Considered.
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“It was clear from the beginning that any decision we made would be completely OK with her, even choosing not to buy/sell at all. Absolutely stress free.”
Ready when you are
Let's walk it together.
Thinking about Leschi? Meet me on the waterfront for coffee and we'll walk the park and the hillside streets. Bring every question. You'll leave knowing whether it fits and what it would take.
Let's talkOr call or text 206-403-0217
Questions I hear
Leschi FAQ
Where exactly is Leschi?
On Lake Washington in Central Seattle: E Cherry St to the north (Madrona beyond), MLK Jr Way S to the west, and S Irving St, just above I-90, to the south (Mount Baker beyond).
How do people get downtown?
Light rail from Judkins Park Station, just southwest of the neighborhood, or a quick drive on I-90.
What do homes cost here?
It varies a lot by style, size, and view. The snapshot above gives the big picture; I'm happy to pull current numbers for the kind of home you want.
How do I look up school assignments?
Seattle Public Schools assigns schools by address. Use the district's school locator for any home you're considering.