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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.
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.
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.
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.
This Admiral cocktail bar in a cozy old home leans into that living room feeling with wingback chairs, mid-century couches, and antique lighting. It's a little like drinking in your own house, if you lived in a fancy old mansion with bartenders who turn out intriguing craft cocktails. Not far from Alki, it makes a great post-beach stop if you need to wait out rush hour before heading back Downtown.
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.
Stoup is one of the stars of Seattle's craft-brewing scene, and its cavernous, 16,000-square-foot facility on Capitol Hill is Washington's largest tap room. Like many of the city's breweries, it acts as a multifunctional third place for locals: the space allows families and friends to hang out, groups to hold parties, and kids (and dogs) to play, all at the same time. The beer is delicious and varied—from German-style pilsner to Sir Dank a Lot IPA—and the atmosphere couldn't be more friendly.
