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Capitol Hill has a lot of music venues and interesting watering holes—it's one of the city's best areas for nightlife. The Pike–Pine Corridor was always base camp for hipsters drinking Pabst out of the can, but the changing face of the neighborhood has brought some edgy, upscale gastropubs and appearance-conscious lounges. The Hill is also the center of the city's gay and lesbian community, with the majority of gay bars and dance clubs along Pike, Pine, and Broadway. A short stretch of 15th Avenue around East Republican Street is another mini–nightlife district, which is a bit more subdued.
As with Downtown, most of the neighborhood's restaurants double as nightspots. Quinn's (on Pike Street) and Smith (on 15th Avenue), for example, both get kudos for tasty food but are also notable as drinking spots (in Quinn's case for its excellent beer list).
A soothing blond-wood interior, squeezed-to-order mixers, and friendly, fastidious bartenders combine to give Liberty its unique aura: it’s a cocktail lounge with the wholesome vibe of a juice bar. It serves sushi—which proves to be exceptionally good (cocktail) bar food—and coffee drinks, it's dog-friendly, and it opens most days at noon.
Visiting this calm, comfortable bar is like sitting in the living room of a great DJ, browsing his record collection. That's almost what you're doing: Life on Mars was opened by John Richards, host of The Morning Show on KEXP, Seattle's revered indie rock radio station. It has cushy blue barstools, comfortable booths, couches, and walls covered in shelves of vinyl. The drinks include both alcoholic and non, and all of the food (typical bar apps, burgers, and sandwiches) is vegan. They serve brunch on weekends.
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 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.
This stately building, once a mortuary, has been transformed into an atmospheric bar. It retains the soaring ceiling and dark woodwork, and booths are made from huge Douglas fir timbers found in the basement, but the overall vibe is more beer hall than haunted house. There are 30 craft beers on tap, and a wood-fired oven produces solid pizza.
The revolver here isn't a gun, it's a turntable—there's always an LP spinning from the bar's 2,500+ vintage vinyl collection. Wood beams, pendant lamps, and psychedelic art give the small place a chill '60s vibe, but the craft cocktails are more of-the-moment. For an experience you're guaranteed never to forget, come here on a tattoo night.
At Vermillion, every night feels like an art opening. The front room is a gallery space displaying works by local artists—pieces that are invariably dynamic and thought-provoking, ideal for contemplation with a glass of wine in hand. There's seating in the back barroom, which frequently hosts live music, comedy, and DJ nights.
This rare lesbian bar, opened 1984, is a well-worn, well-loved Seattle institution. The crowd at weeknight karaoke is fun and good-natured, cheering for pretty much anyone. Weekends can be raucous, so grab a window table early and settle in for perpetual ladies' night.
