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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.
Beloved by locals, this divey English pub attracts grizzled old Brits watching soccer, hipsters looking for cheap beer and whiskey, a frat crowd that clogs up the front patio area on weekends, and know-it-alls hoping to crush the competition at the popular Thursday trivia night. Major soccer events like the World Cup bring in huge crowds.
This gay sports bar is an inclusive, relaxed spot to shoot pool, watch a game, and just hang out. The motto here is, "no DJs, no cover, no problems."
German beer fans will raise a stein to this popular neighborhood bar that features 10 imported German drafts in a variety of styles, including pilsner, weissbier, dunkel, and more. They also offer cocktails and wine as well as a menu of tasty German fare, from pretzels to locally made brats. Dark and cozy, Prost! is a laid-back spot most weeknights but gets packed on weekends and around Oktoberfest.
Capitol Hill's original gastropub has friendly bartenders, a large selection of beers on tap (PNW craft brews, plus Guinness), an extensive whiskey list, and a full menu of hearty comfort food—you can snack on a pretzel or fill up on a wild boar sloppy joe.
