Victor Steinbrueck Park

This can be a great park, it can also be a bad one. On the top of the positives are the views, Whatever else you think of the park you have to give it that. it has an unobstructed view across the Sound (check out the ferries)
There are always lots of people here, all kinds of people (lots of homeless, some tourists, often a police officer or two. That CAN be a good thing, good people watching. All kinds of people. I have seen people get very stressed by this though. Sometimes I’ve been by here when people aren’t respecting the people around them that is bad (openly using drugs and playing music to loud is the worst I have seen.)
I like the totem poles to and that there are lots of places to sit and take it all in.
Its a small park so if it gets to be to much for you, your escape is close by. Speaking of close by… the Pikes Place Market is right by it.

This park has several positives and negatives. What I really enjoy about Victor Steinbrueck Park is the people watching and the waterfront view. There’s a full range of demographics here for people watching purposes and everyone’s just chillin’. Some people are chillin’ a little too much and they have their crack pipes out in the open. ugh! Police walk through, but it appears their primary function is to keep the peace and they don’t actually do anything about the open drug/​alcohol use.
Not exactly a destination, but if you’re already at Pike Place…

This little park is right by the Pike Place Market and has great views of the water and a bit of the city. It’s small and full of interesting people, so pretty good for people-​watching, although there was an altercation brewing which led us to leave. The spot itself is nice, and there are some small grassy areas to enjoy the sunshine on a nice day like today, but I wouldn’t make a point of coming back here, and I definitely wouldn’t bring kids here to play and wander. Cool to stop here for a breather when you’re over the market crowds.

This is a really weird place and often you can find many homeless people and also people smoking weed right out in the open. It’s definitely not an example of a great park in Seattle. No need to stop here.

This is not a place to see sea or sit and relax like other waterfronts in states. It’s too noisy to stay long and only view you can see is the boats, ships, and the harbor. Yet, it may seem interesting if you are Mario lover because there are two pillars, one is exactly looking like totem and another one has Mario crown.

Is this where the bums hang out? We saw so many bums here mixed with tourist, even an «international rapper»…
Views are nice when it’s a clear day, located at the end of the market. It’s a small park, nothing special except the view of the water, the islands and the snow capped mountains.
Other than that, look at the mountains, water and islands then leave because if you sit long enough you’ll definitely be bothered by anyone who’s looking for something.

Two words: People-​watching.
Level: Intermediate.
I am one of those seattleites who enjoy the sport of people-​watching and if you come to this park, there is quite a variety of people around. You will see and definitely hear all that is happening since the park is on the smaller side. As a side note, it’s not the type of people-​watching from behind a glass window at a restaurant or a coffee shop where you are in some way «protected» from people approaching you, etc because depending on the time and day, anything can happen. People asking for money, people blasting their music too loud or shouting profanities (and then police or other enforcement telling them to move along), people selling refreshments, tourists asking you to take pictures of them jumping, or even a quiet PETA protest.
Overall, the view is amazing and the totem poles are a nice touch as well. I usually buy a panini from Michou and possibly an apple juice/​cider from one of the stands (if I forgot to bring water) in the market and bask in the sun/​overcast. A definitely recommend for tourists and people who are a people-​person.

Cool park. Pretty much a patch of grass on the waterfront, but after finding out way through the crowds of pikes place it’s a nice change.
A good place for a midday nap, people watching, and boat spotting.
There’s a totem pole and you can see the Ferris wheel.

I was lucky to be in Seattle on a lovely day so after hanging out at the market i went to go hang at this park. Scenic views, popular with the folks but just a heads up on safety; so while i was there my sis and I were approached twice by strangers. one was trying to get money and the other had some mental issues. we very calmly got up and walked away. then we were fine. i am not trying to deter anyone from coming to this location but just please be aware of your surroundings. also if its a nice day, come out and enjoy it!

Good place to lumber about while sipping our iced coffee and taking a break from all the walking around we’d been doing.
While there on a Tuesday in the late afternoon, it was filled with hundreds of people, just hanging out. All benches, chairs, planter edges, and all other manner of seats more than simply settling one’s self on the ground (many sat or lay on the lawn) were taken up by people from all walks of life, be they tourist, homeless, business suited, loud drunkard, artist, joggers, or anyone else just taking in the view.
Being on the edge of the Pike Place Market, it gets loads of foot traffic, as you can imagine.
The park is perched right above a fast-​moving highway and the railing is lined with people having their pictures taken. You get views of the sound, the ferris wheel, the tall buildings, the totem poles within the park, and, yes, lots and lots of speeding cars.

Everything located here. local flavor and tourist talented well mixed, with a dollop of police presence to ward off the potheads and pickpockets.
Loved. Couldn’t think of a better way to experience the jaunt we took from SEA-​TAC than to chill here after a great lunch in Post Alley. Wonderful, lazy warm sun, admiring Puget Sound and the Bainbridge ferry, interspersed with people watching galore!
PS Tully’s about 100 yards away: ba code:1005

Awesome park to chill, take a nap, people watch, enjoy the view, etc…
My bff and I stumbled across this park accidentally while we were exploring Pike Place Market, which is literally less than a 2 minute walk from this park. When we went, it was a beautiful day so there were a lot of people lazing in the grass, sitting around the benches, walking their dogs, and enjoying the fresh air and pretty view.
Our second visit was during our second day in Seattle. We were suffering from food coma and just wanted to take a breather from exploring. We easily grabbed a spot on the bench and my friend took a nap while I just sat and people watched.
Advice, if you are checking out all the food around Pike Place Market, you should bring it here and eat since a lot of places around the area don’t really have seating areas.

I don’t think this park gets credit for how CHILL of a place it is. I know it isn’t Kerry Park or anything (it’s because we didn’t have time to find it, but I really wanted to go there! Lol), but it has to be the second best thing!
This park is located right next to the Pike Place market, so there is a great view of the Waterfront and Seattle’s Great Wheel (ferris wheel). My boyfriend and I just wanted to sit and take a breather. The breather ended up becoming an hour long, but all we did was sit on the bench, look at the view in front of us, talked, even made new friends, and just breathed in and out, and LIVED.
This was a great place to just sit down and sip on a cup of coffee DURING THE DAY that is. I heard it isn’t as «great» come sunset, but what parks are?! So if you are in the Pike Place area, walk toward Victoria St and hang out in the daylight, getting that Vitamin D or getting wet in the rain! Up to you! =)

The park would be more enjoyable if it weren’t for the numerous shady vagrants perched all over the place. It sits at the west entrance to Pike Street so its a place where a lot of people stop at to take pictures. There’s a great view of the skyline and Sound, and is surrounded by numerous businesses & restaurants.

This place reminds me of San Francisco. Great for curiosity and odd people watching. The homeless are vocal and watching tourists snap photos are always humorous. It is nice to see the waterfront docks where the ferries come in and out and to see around the sound.

The way I see it, Victor Steinbrueck Park is the park at Pike Place. It is a 0.8 acre square to the south of Pike Place Market.
The last couple of days when my family and I visited both Pike Place Market and the Very First Starbucks, we would spend a few minutes at Victor Steinbrueck Park. It is an enjoyable park to unwind for a bit while enjoying the Seattle scenery. This scenery is the equivalent of a Seattle postcard. When I looked north, I took in the view of modern skyscrapers towering over historic Pikes Place Market. When I looked to the northeast I saw State Route 99 reaching to Safeco Field in the horizon with the ferris wheel, aquarium, and waterfront landmarks to the right of it. When I looked straight I saw Pungent Sound with Bainbridge Island in the background and the ferry between. When I looked to the east, I saw the Very First Starbuck’s. And when I looked up, I saw two totem poles.
When I looked immediately around me I saw all types people. There were teens hanging out. The homeless using the park as their living room. Families spending time together. And tourists taking in the scenery. With its location adjacent to Pike Place Market and near the Waterfront, it is one crowded park.
Taking into consideration that the Very First Starbuck’s features zero seats, this is the place to drink Starbuck’s. When I brought a cup of coffee from the Very First Starbucks, I would cross Pike Place and drink it in Victor Steinbrueck Park.
Regardless that Victor Steinbrueck Park is no bigger than a Barnes & Noble for example, I recommend spending a few minutes there for its postcard views of Seattle. The views of the Waterfront, Very First Starbucks, and skyscrapers towering over Pikes Place Market with close proximity to Pikes Place Market get my Unilocal stamp of 4 star approval.
The 2013 Unilocal 200 Challenge Review #121.

I’ve been going to this park since before I moved to Seattle. I used to drive up from Portland, wander through the market, and click my touristy ass taking pictures. Till today, I have a way of ending up at this little park.
Over the years, I’ve grabbed a piroshky, gyro, sandwich or whatever I have handy, and made my way to the park. During peak times, finding a bench seat is challenging. There is a grassy area and more often than not, I end up sitting there. Just watch out for the typical hazards you find with grass.
The views are varied. You can face the Market or the water. I used to like to look down at Highway 99 but that just got too depressing. Look straight ahead at the snow capped mountain range, the ferry floating by, or the awesome totem pole that sits in the park.
People watching is amusing as you get a mixed bag of tourists and locals. Some of the locals are eclectic to say the least. On this particular day, my friend spotted what appeared to be a topless woman. Don’t worry she wasn’t naked or anything. She had electrical tape arranged on her nipples as pasties — classy, functional, and completely awesome. I’m used to seeing buskers there as well. However, on this day, there were a group of people arranged to watch an individual up on a pedestal of some sort. They all took turns and clapped and appreciated each other. I’m not sure what was being said but they looked like they were having a good time. There’s also some panhandling and what appear to be unsavory types in the area. I’m used to all of that so it doesn’t bother me.
I keep returning here so it can’t be all bad — it’s a-​okay in my book.

I call this «The Park of Lost Potential». Because, potentially, it has it all: gorgeous views of the Sound, and abutting Pike Place Market. But sadly, all is lost. I know this place is on the PD’s radar, but man, any given day, it is seedy and sometimes downright scary. Druggies abound with overt transactions taking place in broad daylight. Aggressive homeless solicitors. Psychotic and delusional people acting out in their own worlds. Men unconscious on the park benches, booze in bags nearby. Sad, sad, sad.
I wish the City of Seattle would get their act together and clean this park up, as it draws so many tourists to the Market, it’s a pitiful impression to give people of our fair town. If NYC can clean up Time Square as successfully as it did years back (and some of you might remember how incredibly seedy it used to be), then I refuse to believe that we can’t clean up this potentially awesome park.

Maybe for locals this park is whatever or nothing special, but as a tourist, this was a great spot for scenery and pictures. It was hard finding this spot when we were below it on the pier and Alaskan way, not knowing that we had to take an elevator up to get to Western Ave. *laughs TOURIST* yea yea I know haha. We were so lost, but when we finally found it (very close to pike place), it was sunset! So maybe it was good that we got last after all :)
Picture at sunset!

While this park offers a gorgeous view of Puget Sound, it also offers the view to watch the heavy traffic on the viaduct noisly crawl by. There are also chances to watch drug deals of all sorts occur without any attempt at being sublte and people passed out on the benches or the few grassy gnolls. Due to the proximty of the Pike Place Market and the other really nice stores and restuarants, this park feels like an ugly patch of land that time forgot. I hope this little park will one day be saved.
Until then, just keep walking! Nothing to see here!

Good spot to get some greenery in in downtown Seattle. It’s a nice rest spot from Pike Place and adds to the romantic stroll thing.
Taking away from the romance and magic a bit is the random and often sketchy crowd, but it’s downtown– what do you expect right? Also, you think it’d be nice to go to the railing/​edge and look at the water but it’s really just road (Aurora I believe right? That or Western) below and its really really loud.
As a local, there’s more peaceful parks without cars buzzing below that I prefer.

Victor Steinbrueck Park is a mixed bag – very likely literally, as I’m pretty sure you can score a bag of pot of dubious origin. In its current state, I waffle between two and three stars, but I can’t bring myself to award only two stars to a park with as magnificent setting and view.
The view is stellar. There’s no disagreement about this. You can take in the bay, cargo ships, ferries making their crossings, the port, Bainbridge, West Seattle, the Olympics (provided it’s clear enough), and a whole lotta sky, which, even if not sunny, can still be a rewarding sight.
However, the latent sketchiness really draws down the enjoyment factor. If you are here for any length of time, something _​will_​happen that probably unsettles you at least slightly. Today, it was the man murmuring to himself who came near, walked in a ~20′ diameter circle in front of me (while murmuring), then walked off. Recently a lunch companion and I were approached by a man carrying an open bottle of wine who had no reservations about approaching, interrupting our lunch and conversation, SITTING DOWN at the the table, and talking rapidly and intensely to, well, I’d say «us,» but he was clearly focused on my much-​more-​attractive-​than-​me companion. When he reached for her arm, it was quickly decided that it was time to go – hardly leaving under one’s own natural volition. That’s the kind of experience that makes you wonder why you even bother trying to deal with this park.
Then there are the days where the weather is nice and you encounter some genuinely nice folks, like Al, who grinned broadly as I passed with my dog, and asked about her, and talked about his own dogs, shook my hand and «God blessed» me prior to us parting ways. Pretty much the polar opposite of leaving hastily because of discomfort.
Like I said, a mixed bag.

Stunning views alone make this a must see while in Seattle. I would never suggest that you visit here expecting calm quiet time as that is never the case. This place is always busy and if you watch closely, you can see some interesting things going down.
Grab a bite to eat and bring it here to enjoy. Being right next to Pike Place Market there are many great choices.
Some of the reviews mention the many homeless who hang out there but other than hitting you for some change, they really tend to leave you alone.
The city is also stepping up more to keep it cleaner than what they had been so that is a plus.

This tiny park is attached like an appendage adjacent to Pike Place Market. There is a plot of grass, some tables and some seats available for sitting.
The pros: on a clear day, truly breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the mountains over on the Olympic peninsula.
Its right next to the Market so after getting your slab of smoked salmon, piroshki and cup of mac and cheese, you can wander over to sit and enjoy the views. There are usually some interesting street buskers doing some type of routine like juggling or magic tricks to wow and amaze.
The cons: Its right next to Pike Market so on most days it is literally teaming with tourists. I guess that is to be expected, you are at the market afterall. This makes finding a place to sit dicey sometmes. The Alaskan way viaduct (route 99) runs adjacent to the park so your pristine views of the sound is accompanied by the roar of traffic. Aside from the tourists, it is usually a congregation place for Seattle’s transients that you can usually find passed out on the plot of grass.
We all need a nice plot of grass to snooze on right?
My advice would be to check this place out earlier in the day when the crowds are smaller and you have a higher likely hood to actually enjoy the view.