Winslow, Bainbridge Island
Winslow is downtown — the original town name, about ten blocks of Winslow Way above Eagle Harbor. In 1991 the City of Winslow annexed the rest of the island and became the City of Bainbridge Island. People still say Winslow for the part you can walk from the boat.
This is the walk-on town: free BIMA, independent shops, a real lunch, the bookstore, Waterfront Park. It is not a manufactured pier. Island-wide plan: visitor guide. The 41-mile shoreline walk is a different page: Walk-About.
At a glance
From the ferry
About ten minutes on foot, uphill, along Olympic Drive. Restrooms in the terminal as you land.
The hilltop
BIMA at 550 Winslow Way E — Hwy 305 and Winslow Way. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily.
The street
Shops, galleries, Eagle Harbor Book Co. at 157 Winslow Way E. About ten blocks, not a mall.
The harbor
Waterfront Park is off to the side: playground, restrooms, ferry-watching. Picnic yes.
Car
You do not need one for Winslow. You need one (or a ride) for Bloedel, the memorial, Fay, Lynwood.
Directions
Neighborhood map: Winslow listing. This page is the walk-on plan.
You come off the boat into a terminal, not a pier of T-shirt shops.
Restrooms. Then the hill. Then a real town. That surprise is the point.
Off the boat
Seattle–Winslow is about 35 minutes. Outdoor deck. Then Olympic Drive climbs. Rolling luggage is a slog. A stroller is fine. The Colman Dock elevator in Seattle dies constantly — have a stair plan before you even get here.
At the top of the hill you hit Hwy 305 and Winslow Way. BIMA is the big building. The street runs west from there. Waterfront Park is not through town — it sits off to the harbor side, which is why people who only shop miss the playground.
If you drove on for some other stop, do not park in the WSF/U-Park lot for a Winslow lunch. That lot is for people leaving a car and walking onto Seattle. Downtown lots fill on summer Saturdays and Farmers Market mornings. Walk-on is the correct Winslow move. Getting around.
Winslow Way
Independent shops, galleries, a bakery, a hardware store that is actually a hardware store. Named for shipbuilder Winslow Hall. This was its own city from 1947 until the 1991 annexation.
- Eagle Harbor Book Co. is the island’s living room with a cash register. 157 Winslow Way E.
- BIMA first if you like quiet galleries — 45–90 minutes, indoor seats, rain backup.
- Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in season: Farmers Market at Town Square / City Hall, uphill from the street, not at the dock. Go early.
- First Friday 6–8 p.m. when your date lines up. Last boat is still the constraint.
Lunch, coffee, ice cream
- Café Hitchcock — all-day, the reliable sit-down.
- Proper Fish — on the harbor.
- Ba Sa — west end of Winslow Way.
- Island Cool — ice cream on Madrone Lane (the old Mora shop). Families will ask. This is the answer.
- More kitchens: restaurants and cafes.
Monday and Tuesday a lot of kitchens go dark. Check before you promise a sit-down. Summer Saturdays: reserve. Directory, not a “best of” clone.
Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park is where families actually spend the afternoon: harbor, playground, restrooms, watching the boat come in. Picnic yes. This is not a hidden gem. It is the obvious good use of an hour after lunch.
Public toilets: terminal, Winslow Green, the park. Do not assume every shop restroom is public. Full map: restrooms.
Monday, rain, last boat
Rain: still come. BIMA, the bookstore, cafes, the History Museum in the 1908 schoolhouse, shopping. Jacket every month. The boat deck is windy in July.
The last sailing changes. Be in the terminal before you think you need to be — especially after dinner. Do not stack a 7 p.m. Seattle reservation on the same night. Schedule and cameras.
Winslow is enough for a first visit. Bloedel, the Exclusion Memorial, Pia the troll, and Fay are extras with rides attached. First-visit stack: must-do.
The Explore Bainbridge app
Opens on the dock with walking directions so you do not wander the hill twice. Live ferry. Free. explorebainbridge.com.
FAQ
How far is Winslow from the ferry?
About ten minutes on foot, uphill, along Olympic Drive to Winslow Way. You come off the boat into a terminal, not a pier of T-shirt shops. Restrooms as you land. Rolling luggage is a slog. A stroller is fine.
Do I need a car in Winslow?
No. Downtown is the walk-on town. BIMA, shops, lunch, the bookstore, and Waterfront Park are on foot. You need a ride for Bloedel, the Exclusion Memorial, Fay, Grand Forest, and Lynwood Center.
Where do I eat in Winslow?
Café Hitchcock is the all-day answer. Proper Fish sits on the harbor. Ba Sa is at the west end of Winslow Way. Island Cool is ice cream on Madrone Lane. Many kitchens go dark Monday and Tuesday. Reserve on summer Saturdays.
Where are the public restrooms?
Ferry terminal, Winslow Green, and Waterfront Park. Do not assume every shop toilet is public.
Is Winslow the same as Bainbridge Island?
Winslow is downtown — the original town name — about ten blocks of Winslow Way above Eagle Harbor. In 1991 the City of Winslow annexed the rest of the island and became the City of Bainbridge Island. People still say Winslow for the walkable core.