Excellent schools. Beautiful parks. Great sense of community. These are just a few highlights of Mercer Island – an island as well as a city in King County, Washington, home to over 24,000 residents.
Located at the center of Lake Washington, Mercer Island is connected by bridge to Seattle and Bellevue and is recognized as a top 50 suburb in the United States. It offers over 475 acres of parks and open space, including three public beaches, and more than 50 miles of hiking trails.
Mercer Island is highly sought after by families looking to raise their children on the island for its safety and excellent schools; young professionals who enjoy the easy commute and quiet remove; and retirees who seek out the many opportunities for community gathering and involvement.
In fact, Mercer Island’s “great sense of community” is a local buzz phrase – most easily experienced at the Mercer Island Farmers Market, the place to be every Sunday throughout the summer.
Learn more about Mercer Island’s schools, neighborhoods, shopping, and more below.
Downtown
Mercer Island’s Downtown (or Town Center) is the dynamic and evolving commercial hub of the island. It is also a gathering spot of islanders, whether to enjoy a shared meal at a local restaurant, to meet for a group fitness class, or to shop together at the local home decor or book store.
Neighborhoods
Mercer Island has a varied collection of neighborhoods. All feature beautiful homes, yet each neighborhood has its own unique features and points of interest. Mercer Island’s Downtown is home to most of the island’s condo and apartment dwellings; First Hill and East Seattle neighborhoods boast the island’s oldest homes and are neighborhoods steeped in history; Parkwood and The Lakes are planned neighborhoods close to parks and schools. Check out our 20-page guide to learn about the different areas and individual neighborhoods of Mercer Island.
Schools
Mercer Island prides itself on its award-winning public school district, consistently receiving national recognition and ranking highly in comparison to other state and national districts. We also have several private schools on Mercer Island – the French-American School of Puget Sound, Northwest Yeshiva High School, and St. Monica’s Parish School – as well as 15 preschool programs.
Playgrounds
Did you know Mercer Island has more than 10 playgrounds? And that’s not even counting playgrounds at our local schools. It’s no wonder that Mercer Island has been recognized for seven consecutive years as a “Playful City USA” by children’s non-profit KaBOOM!
Restaurants
From a romantic date night dinner to a green smoothie on the go, Mercer Island’s restaurant scene offers something for everyone. Favorites include Mioposto, The Islander, the Roanoke Inn, Pagliacci Pizza, Sushi Joa, Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop, Yuzen Japanese Restaurant, Old 76, Sano Cafe, Anise Thai Cuisine, and more.
Shopping
Though a visit to Mercer Island would not be complete without a stop to the community’s beloved bookstore, Island Books, the island has other great shopping as well. Don’t miss gifts and home decor at Terra Bella and the Boutique Lounge, beautiful women’s clothing at Hip Zephyr, antique and vintage items from Clarke & Clarke Art + Artifacts Gallery, and more!
Community Groups
Mercer Island has a myriad of community organizations and clubs, great for networking and making friends. The biggest organizations include the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, the Mercer Island Women’s Club, Stroum Jewish Community Center, the Mercer Island Preschool Association, and the school district PTA groups.
Fitness
Looking for a place to get fit on Mercer Island? You don’t have to look far. We have an enviable selection of both boutique fitness studios and fully featured, state-of-the-art health clubs. There’s a class and a club for everyone at every fitness level.
Swim & Tennis Clubs
Among Mercer Island’s best features are our swim and tennis clubs, providing social fun in the sun and great opportunities for both kids and adults to participate in competitive and recreational swim and tennis programs.
