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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.
The fruits of Yakima's hops and apple crops come to Seattle 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 and a rotating selection of food trucks.
Though it offers the trappings of a typical Seattle brewery, in that it's dog-friendly and all ages, this partially covered outdoor beer garden doesn't make its own brews. Instead, the 30 taps at Ounces offer a variety of beers and ciders made by folks all over Washington State, making it an awesome opportunity to try drinks from different regional breweries. Smash burgers, sandwiches, and fries are available from Burbs Burgers on-site, or you're welcome to bring your own food or have it delivered.
This cavernous old factory building feels like it was always meant to be a beer hall. Long communal tables and dozens of beers on tap bring out a friendly spirit that runs especially high before and after games at Climate Pledge Arena or when the Seahawks are on TV. Hearty food includes smash burgers, hot dogs, wings, and pretzels. Kids are welcome until 10 pm.
One of the pioneers of the current generation of Ballard breweries, Reuben's Brews' warehouse-like taproom and outdoor patios often burst at the seams with enthusiastic IPA drinkers. The barebones space has 28 taps; close to half the offerings are usually IPAs, like the World Beer Cup Gold Medal-winning Hazelicious IPA and the popular Crikey, but the rest run the gamut from wild farmhouse pale to the aptly named Robust Porter. They also have a taproom downtown on 1st Ave., a few blocks from the waterfront.
Stoup is a great starting point for exploring Ballard's excellent craft-beer scene. The 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.
