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Renowned local chef Renee Erickson opened an enchanting nautical-themed speakeasy inside the Amazon spheres. The immersive decor adds to the swanky feel. Aside from the luxurious setting, guests are drawn by the fancy and creative cocktails using ingredients such as fig-infused grappa. The short but sexy food menu includes a high-end version of the cream cheese-garnished Seattle dog and a caviar service.
620 Lenora St., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
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Seattleites dress up to see nationally known jazz artists at Dimitriou's. The cabaret-style theater, where intimate tables for two surround the stage, runs shows nightly. Those with reservations for cocktails or dinner, served during the first set, receive priority seating.
2033 6th Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
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A true neighborhood spot, this small jazz club and restaurant is devoted to music education during the day and performances from local and touring acts in the evenings.
1707 NW Market St., Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
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On a quiet street removed from bustling Ballard, Essex boasts craft cocktails, a handful of which are served on tap. The rotating cocktails often include house-made ingredients or are barrel aged, and all have something of a cocktail-nerd bent. A solid wine list and local beer selections are also available, as is a selection of wood-fired dishes that come out of the pizza oven at next-door sibling shop Delancey.
1421 NW 70th St., Seattle, Washington, 98117, USA
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues.
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In the land of IPA enthusiasts, Fair Isle bravely brews an assortment of innovative saisons and farmhouse ales, often incorporating local ingredients such as rhubarb and elderberry. Fair Isle lends its kitchen to a wide variety of pop-ups serving everything from Turkish lamb roasts to Taiwanese soups. While the taproom is adults-only, the food is sold from a tent in front, allowing all-ages access (and plenty of nearby breweries will let you bring in food). On Fridays at 5 pm, one of the co-owners guides tours through the brewery that include a tasting of young ales.
936 NW 49th St., Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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The original idea was a clever one for a perennially drizzly city: indoor mini golf for grownups and a great local draft beer list. Flatstick Pub's fun-focused concept was such a hole-in-one that it's since expanded to six locations total around the region, including this underground Pioneer Square spot. Set in an industrial-cool space with brick walls, exposed ducts, and colorful artwork, Flatstick features a mini golf course that spells out "Seattle" and a 12-foot tall Space Needle that lights up if you sink it on your first try. You can also try your hand at Stick Putt (think skee-ball meets putting) and Duffleboard, a Flatstick-invented tabletop golf game.
The quirky murals at all Flatstick locations were painted by local artist Ryan Henry Ward. If you spend any time driving around Seattle, you're sure to see his art and prominent simple signature on a building or wall; he's the city's most prolific muralist, with works sometimes featuring Pacific Northwest subjects, including Sasquatch. Not everyone appreciates his widespread whimsy, but nobody can deny his art is a memorable part of the cityscape.
240 Second Ave. S, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
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Perched on the 16th floor of The Charter Hotel, Fog Room is the latest arrival to Seattle's small rooftop bar scene and it's a classy modern one, from the decor to the cocktails. A chic indoor lounge with expansive windows opens to an outdoor terrace with seating and a fire pit; the city and water views aren't the best of the bunch, but you don't need to reserve outdoor seating.
1610 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
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This bright, high-ceilinged space in a historic building in Pioneer Square still features the safe doors of the former Japanese Commercial Bank that once occupied the building. Post-work crowds and pre-game sports fans mix at the U-shape marble bar and a few small tables during a daily 4–7 pm happy hour. There’s a rotating list of classic cocktails, newly developed libations featuring house-made infusions, and a beer and wine list. Small plates like pork terrine, wings, and sardines come out of an open kitchen.
240 2nd Ave. S, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
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From the owner of Linda's Tavern in Capitol Hill, King's Hardware has the same ironic rustic decor, great patio space, and cachet with hipsters. It also has great burgers. It gets packed on weekends—if you want the same scene with fewer crowds, go two doors down to Hattie's Hat, which was the reigning spot until King's showed up.
5225 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
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This small, sweet bar gives grandpa's basement vibes, if grandpa came from Eastern Europe and alternated his glass of house-infused vodka with the occasional craft cocktail. A few booths surround the live-edge, U-shaped bar, and floral wallpaper completes the feel. The small food menu features Slavic classics, including a variety of dumplings, pickles, and borscht.
2317 N. 45th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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This queer-centric nightclub that combines modern fixtures and an industrial space is known for electronic music and theatrical performances that draw fun crowds. Tickets to shows by local and out-of-town DJs, musicians, and multidisciplinary artists are often available in advance. Upstairs, the Timbre Room hosts smaller, more intimate shows, and a third space, Cherry, has more electronic music as well as drag shows.
1809 Minor Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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This small comedy venue attracts well-known national comedians on weekends and keeps a good flow of local talent and up-and-comers on weeknights. Headliners usually play two shows per night, which makes last-minute tickets easy to find. Box office prices are generally reasonable, though the ticket price doesn't include the two-item minimum order for each person. Unfortunately, the food is not anything worth recommending, so grab a few drinks and plan to eat before or after the show.
5220 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.
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Capitol Hill
Calm, classic, and inviting, this bar is like if one of the city's top radio personalities invited you into his living room to browse his record collection. Opened by KEXP Morning Show host John Richards, the bar sits in a room with walls covered in shelves of vinyl. The bar has cushy blue seats, while the rest of the room opens to big soft booths and a couch-seating area. The drinks include both alcoholic and non, each labeled with the ABV, and all of the food (typical bar apps, burgers, and sandwiches) is vegan. They serve brunch on weekends, and late-night tacos on Fridays and Saturdays.
722 E. Pike St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
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Welcome to one of the Hill's iconic dives—and not just because it was allegedly the last place Kurt Cobain was seen alive. The interior has a vaguely Western theme, but the patrons are pure Capitol Hill indie-rockers and hipsters. The bartenders are friendly, the burgers are good (brunch is even better), and the always-packed patio is one of the liveliest places to grab a happy-hour drink.
707 E. Pine St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
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A Belltown favorite for great happy-hour deals, this hip, dimly lit space has a come-hither glow thanks to red and white backlighting. An all-day happy hour on Sunday and Monday (or Tuesday to Saturday from 4--6:30 pm and 9--11) means you get half off the yummy food menu (local clams, Angus beef burgers, bacon-wrapped prawns, spicy calamari), plus $22 bottles of wine.
2226 1st Ave., Seattle, Washington, USA
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The two rooms of Lo-Fi host small shows by up-and-coming local hip-hop groups, national DJs, and anything else that benefits from a crowd of committed fans. A regular venue for the Emerald City Soul Club, a fun monthly dance party of classic funk and soul, and a variety of music acts and DJ nights, Lo-Fi Performance Gallery is a laid-back space that's a stark contrast to velvet-rope clubs. Its divey, warehouse-chic feel makes it a favorite among Seattleites.
429 Eastlake Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98109, USA
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Regulars shoot pool, hang out with groups of friends, and chat up the friendly bartenders at this laid-back, anti-scenester joint. In an area where gay bar often becomes synonymous with dance club, this sports bar and pub offers an inclusive, relaxed hang-out spot.
1315 E. Madison St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
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One of Seattle's few rooftop bars, the colorful, partially covered patio overlooks the entire South Lake Union neighborhood. Guests gaze at the Space Needle as they sip glasses of Prosecco or look out at the lake over pink-hued cocktails while swinging in the hanging chairs. In winter, the 14th-floor spot stays open with blankets and the fire pits roaring as guests dig into the Middle Eastern–influenced small plates.
400 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98109, USA
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Lived-in booths and a welcoming atmosphere keep this place packed with everyone from couples on a first date to groups of old friends. As an anchor to the East Olive bar strip, it makes for excellent people-watching, either from the inside looking out or from the co-opted piece of sidewalk called a "parklet" that serves as the patio. The specialty is the cocktails on tap, particularly the Moscow Mule, owing in part to co-owner Rachel Marshall's other businesses, a ginger beer company.
1506 E. Olive Way, Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
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It's all about the amazing view at this rooftop bar that crowns the art deco Graduate Hotel. Windows that stretch to the ceiling surround the exploration-themed inside, while the patio space extends the view from the 16th floor outside. In a neighborhood with few tall buildings, this spot feels truly on top of the world. The drinks and food menus are concise and locally themed, but the bartenders can mix a good classic cocktail upon request.
4507 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Nightlife Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
