5 Best Bars in Seattle, Washington
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.
Firn
Joining Seattle's small list of rooftop bars, Firn (pronounced fee-rn) has made a splash since its opening in the spring of 2025 on the rooftop of Populus Hotel. Taking after its name, which roughly translates to "last season's snow that is on its way to becoming glacial ice" in Swiss German, Firn's cocktail menu is inspired by seasonal flavors and revolves around a few categories of ice. This includes cold, ice-shaken cocktails and libations poured over shaved ice—essentially an adult snow cone. The forest-meets-ocean-inspired decor, relaxed atmosphere, sun-soaked roof, and draping greenery have made it a popular spot among locals and visitors alike—reservations are highly recommended.
La Dive
If you think all wine bars are pretentious, you haven’t been to La Dive. While snobs would be impressed by the selection of natural wines, they’d probably blanch at some of the other drink options: rosé slushies, Rainier tall boys, jello shots, and chambongs (think beer bongs, but with champagne). It’s a lively neighborhood favorite where everyone seems to be in a good mood—and if they’re not, they can order a “long day home pour,” where the bartender fills their glass to the brim.
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Métier Brewing Co. Cherry Street
Inspired by the concept of a London pub, co-founder Rodney Hines opened Métier with the idea of creating a community space for the Central District. The creative lineup of beers deviates from the standard hop-heavy menu at many of Seattle’s microbreweries. From the food sourced from That Brown Girl Cooks (a local catering company celebrating Black food traditions), to the art on the walls commissioned from local BIPOC artists, the brewery is true to its roots.
Zig Zag Café
A mixed crowd of mostly locals hunts out this unusual 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). It's the place to go if you want to try The Last Word, a Prohibition-era cocktail that was revived right by Zig Zag bartender, the late Murray Stenson. 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.
