Seattle

Seattle's amazing musical legacy is well-known, but there's more to the arts and nightlife scenes than live music. In fact, these days, there are far more swanky bars and inventive pubs than music venues in the city.

To put it bluntly, Seattle's a dynamite place to drink. You can sip overly ambitious and ridiculously named specialty cocktails in trendy lounges, get a lesson from an enthusiastic sommelier in a wine bar or restaurant, or swill cheap beer on the patio of a dive bar. Though some places have very specific demographics, most Seattle bars are egalitarian, drawing loyal regulars of all ages.

The music scene is still kicking—there's something going on every night of the week in nearly every genre of music. The city's dynamic theater scene is a highly regarded proving ground for Broadway, and the Seattle International Film Festival draws the finest in world cinema. The ethereal Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is a first-class venue for opera and ballet, and Benaroya Hall, with its outstanding acoustics, is an elegant premier symphony hall. Families enjoy the Children's Theatre, the Northwest Puppet Center, and the many summertime folk art and music festivals.

In addition to its bars, Downtown and Belltown in particular have notable restaurants with separate bar areas. Most restaurants have impressive bar menus, and food is often served until 11 pm, midnight, or even 1 am in some spots.

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  • 1. La Dive

    In an area full of bars with themes, styles, and hooks, La Dive stand outs as simply an excellent and fun bar for absorbing the neighborhood vibes. A long, L-shaped bar opens the room for conversation, while the booths allow for small gatherings. The sidewalk tables in front are prime people-watching spots and give the feel of a popular Parisian bistro. The drinks menu focuses on natural wine, with a few classic cocktails, plus their signature alcoholic slushies. As the evening goes on, more customers turn to the Cham-bong to slurp their sparkling wine. Thankfully, a strong food menu, with late-night options, keeps things from getting too wild. Look for upscale bar snacks with a slight Eastern European tinge, as in the dumplings section.

    721 E. Pike St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
  • 2. Rumba

    A spot of Caribbean sunshine in the Northwest, Rumba stocks hundreds of rums which they offer in a half-dozen styles of daiquiri, various punches, and other assorted cocktails. Staffed by many of the best bartenders in town, this is a place for serious spirit aficionados to dig deep, but even rum rookies will feel welcome in the bright, friendly space with its turquoise bar stools and banquettes. Cocktail nerds should reserve ahead for the immersive bar-within-a-bar, Inside Passage, where Kiki, a tentacled sea monster, greets them for drinks served in unique vessels, including a camera lens and a rice cooker.

    1112 Pike St., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
    206-583–7177
  • 3. Stoup

    Stoup is a great starting point for exploring Ballard's excellent craft-beer scene. A good-size tap room and patio area are family-friendly, and a rotating roster of food trucks feeds beer enthusiasts as they sip staples like the Citra IPA and Mosaic Pale Ale, as well as new and experimental brews.

    1108 NW 52nd St., Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
    206-457-5524
  • 4. The Crocodile

    The heart and soul of Seattle's music scene since 1991 has hosted the likes of the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, and Mudhoney, along with countless other bands. There's a reason Rolling Stone once called The Crocodile one of the best small clubs in America. Even now, in new, much larger digs (the main room has a 750-person capacity) not far from the original, The Croc retains its old-school Seattle vibe.

    2505 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
    206-441–7416
  • 5. Zig Zag Café

    A mixed crowd of mostly locals hunts out this unique spot at Pike Place Market's Street Hill Climb (walk past the Gum Wall to find a nearly hidden stairwell leading down to the piers). In addition to pouring a perfect martini, Zig Zag features a revolving cast of memorable cocktails and a Mediterranean-inspired food menu with plenty of tasty bites. A small patio is the place to be on a summery happy-hour evening. Zig Zag is friendly—retro without being obnoxiously ironic—and very Seattle, with the occasional live music show to boot.

    1501 Western Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
    206-625–1146
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  • 6. Alibi Room

    Well-dressed locals head to this hard-to-find wood-paneled bar to sip double martinis while taking in peekaboo views of Elliott Bay or studying the scripts, handbills, and movie posters that line the walls. The lower level is more crowded and casual. Stop by for a drink or a meal (the pizza is great), and stay to listen and dance to live music. Happy hour—daily from 11:30 am to 6 pm—is quiet and a good respite from the Market.

    85 Pike St., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
    206-623–3180
  • 7. Artusi

    Sit at the white tile bar—or on the patio on a sunny day—of this Italian cocktail bar and order delicious antipasti and desserts to go with expertly prepared drinks. Beer selection is limited, but Artusi has great wine options. Make it to the 5–7 pm happy hour.

    1535 14th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
    206-251–7673
  • 8. Bale Breaker and Yonder Cider Taproom

    The fruits of Yakima's hops and apple crops come to the westside at this sprawling joint facility. One of the state's best breweries brings its vertically integrated beers to the space shared with a creative-minded cidery. Together, they offer 32 drinks on tap, a rotating selection of food trucks, and plenty of seating of various sorts at the kid- and dog-friendly, indoor and gravel-lined outdoor space.

    826 NW 49th St., Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
    773-998-1464

    Nightlife Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 9. Bar Miriam

    On the quiet side of the hill, this cute European-style café-bar feels like it's been around forever despite opening in 2022. The craft cocktails feel like classics but include a number of creative originals, and the menu offers plenty of low- and no-alcohol options. The terrific food menu reads like a high-end restaurant menu, but the upscale, gastropub-style snacks come out bistro casual.

    307 W. McGraw St., Seattle, Washington, 98119, USA
    206-708–1213
  • 10. Barnacle

    Part of the Sea Creatures mini-empire led by chef Renee Erickson, Barnacle is a narrow bar adjacent to the popular restaurant The Walrus and the Carpenter. It invariably collects people waiting for tables, but with a beautiful copper-topped bar, tiled walls, and plates of oysters, cured meats, and fish to go with the aperitivos, it’s a great place to drink and snack even if you aren’t planning to dine next door.

    4743 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
    206-706–3379

    Nightlife Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 11. Bathtub Gin & Co.

    The speakeasy trend has produced some lovely, intimate bars, including this one, which is reached via a wooden door in an alley next to the Humphrey Apartments (it's actually in the basement of the building). The tiny, shabby-chic bar is a laid-back spot to settle into a couch for a few drinks. Note that despite being a pain in the neck to find, the bar still attracts the hard-partying Belltown crowd on weekends, so go midweek for maximum serenity.

    2205 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, USA
    206-728–6069
  • 12. Big Time Brewery

    With its neat brick walls, polished wood floors, and vintage memorabilia, Big Time Brewery is one of the best places in the U-District for a quiet beer away from the frenetic college scene. Opened in 1988, it was one of the first local brewpubs of the craft beer movement. The brewery offers more than a dozen beers on tap, including cask ales. Skip the mediocre pub grub.

    4133 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
    206-545–4509
  • 13. Black Bottle

    This sleek and sexy gastro-tavern makes the northern reaches of Belltown look good. The interior is simple but stylish, with black chairs and tables and shiny wood floors. It gets crowded on nights and weekends with a laid-back but often dressed-up clientele. A small selection of beers on tap and a solid wine list (with Washington, Oregon, California, and beyond well represented) will help you wash down the sustainably sourced and creatively presented snacks and shareable dishes, including house-smoked wild boar ribs, pork belly with kimchi, and oysters on the half shell. Vegan and nut-, dairy-, and gluten-free options are plentiful.

    2600 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
    206-441–1500
  • 14. Brouwer's

    It may look like a trendy Gothic castle, but in fact this is heaven for Belgian-beer lovers. Set in a former warehouse with two floors and lots of seating (as well as an outdoor patio), Brouwer's has 64 drafts in total—though not all dedicated to Belgium's legendary suds. Also on tap: German and American/Northwest beers, as well as English, Czech, and Polish selections. Brouwer's serves food too, with several Belgian dishes among the options.

    400 N. 35th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
    206-267–2437
  • 15. Century Ballroom

    This is an elegant place for dinner and dancing, with a polished, 2,000-square-foot dance floor. Salsa and swing events often include lessons in the cover charge. There's swing dancing on Tuesday and Wednesday, a bachata social on Thursday, and salsa on Monday and Saturday.

    915 E. Pine St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
    206-324–7263
  • 16. Chop Suey

    Capitol Hill

    One of the city's defining music venues of the early 21st century continues to put on terrific shows, book acts that will make headlines in the future, and support local artists. The eclectic mix of performers defies categorization, and nights without shows offer dance parties and DJs. The venue underwent a much-needed remodel in 2015 that improved the space and removed some of the questionable "Asian" decor, though the name, to the chagrin of many, remains.

    1325 E. Madison St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
  • 17. Chuck's Hop Shop

    Greenwood

    Were it not for the awning, picnic tables, and rotating food trucks routinely parked outside, this place might look like just another corner convenience store—which it used to be before owner Chuck transformed it into one of North Seattle’s favorite spots for sampling craft beer. With 50 taps, Chuck’s features an especially good selection of IPAs and ciders on draft, many of local origin. Families love this extremely kid-friendly spot—there’s an ice-cream counter, ample seating inside and out, and stacks of board games. Chuck’s also offers a huge selection of bottled beers from all over the world, including gluten- and alcohol-free options.

    656 N.W. 85th St., Seattle, Washington, 98117, USA
    206-297–6212
  • 18. Collins Pub

    The best beer bar in Pioneer Square features 22 rotating taps of Northwest (including Boundary Bay, Chuckanut, and Anacortes) and California beers and a long list of bottles from the region. Its upscale pub menu features local and seasonal ingredients.

    526 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
    206-623–1016
  • 19. Conor Byrne Pub

    You might actually hear an Irish accent or two at this laid-back pub, along with live folk, roots, alt-country, bluegrass, and traditional Irish music. There's live music almost every night and great beer (including the obligatory Guinness on tap).

    1540 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
    206-784–3640
  • 20. Cuff Complex

    The Cuff Complex is one of the city's oldest LGTBQ+ bars and also one of the broadest, with four bars, billiards, darts, and all sorts of events. It strives to be a manly leather bar but attracts all shapes, sizes, and styles. The loud, crowded dance floor is tucked away downstairs; the main-floor bar, with its patio, is the place to be on warm nights.

    1533 13th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
    206-323–1525

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