Seattle Nightlife • A Complete Guide

Welcome to Seattle’s premier nightlife guide.

On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Seattle. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.

Enjoy!

A small introduction to Seattle, Washington

Located on the west coast of the United States, Seattle is a seaport city of Washington. In the late 19th century the city was known as “Queen City”. The city has some of its other nicknames like Emerald City, Gateway to Alaska, and Rain City. It caters to approximately 750,000 residents, making it the largest city of the Washington state. It has been the most fastest-growing major city in the United States in 2013. Being the fourth-largest port in North America in terms of container handling makes it a significant gateway for trade with Asia.

The city was discovered by Native Americans 4000 years ago before the first permanent European settlers. A traveler named Arthur A. Denny and his group, subsequently known as the Denny Party, arrived from Illinois via Portland, Oregon, on November 13, 1851. This arrangement was then moved to the eastern shore of Elliott Bay and named “Seattle” in 1852, in honor of Chief Si’ahl of the local Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. Nowadays, Seattle possesses a significant population of Native, Scandinavian, African, and Asian Americans.

The city started with logging as its primary business but, then it shifted towards a center of shipbuilding in the late 19th century. Growth came after World War II when the local company Boeing started manufacturing aircraft and the city became the hub of technology. With the arrival of companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Alaska Airlines, etc. the city experienced rapid growth in technology.

Exploring the music, Seattle has a significant musical history. Nearly two dozen jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street, from the current Chinatown/International District to the Central District in the earlier 19th century. Seattle is also the birthplace of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, as well as the origin of many famous and renowned bands.

The Nightlife of Seattle
The Nightlife of Seattle

The city is also a great source of attraction for tourists. Its ample amount of fairs and festivals held throughout the year attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, with the 24-day Seattle International Film Festival being the most famous one.

The city has also got some of the swankiest and exotic bar, restaurants and nightclubs to entertain you at the nighttime too. These places are a great source of entertainment and would make your tour memorable, which will be our main focus throughout this article.

The Nightlife in Seattle

The Nightlife of Seattle
The Nightlife of Seattle

The nightlife scene of the Seattle extends far beyond beer and bands. As a cultural center in the northwest corner of the country, Seattle is often a renowned location for top musical acts on Broadway shows, national tours, modern dance troupes, hot comics, even avant-garde theatre groups. The city boasts homegrown talent in all of those areas, too, not to mention the arts scene to support them.

Famous and renewed hit Key Arena, the Seattle Center Opera House, and the Paramount and Fifth Avenue theaters, to name a few. More private music venues such as the Showbox and Neumos host a continuously changing slate of national performers that span all genres. Numerous bars and clubs also showcase live local talent, notably the renowned Crocodile and the Sunset, Comet, and Tractor taverns.

A vast array of watering holes–from bars and brewpubs to chic lounges and clubs can be found in ultra-funky Capitol Hill, historic and hip Pioneer Square and the University District. A local theater group, produces edgy local and regional theater, while film collective Northwest Film Forum spotlights interesting and out-there art films and documentaries. Alternative rock bars still hold their place, but beat-driven dance clubs are alive and well, as are venues geared toward blues and jazz, most distinctively Jazz Alley, which hosts prominent players from around the globe.

With so many options available, we’ve come up with a list of activities or places which could be enjoyed during the nighttime in Seattle:

Space Needle

Space Needle
Space Needle

For those who love to see the mesmerizing beauty of the city from the top and the setting sun, Space needle is just the right place for them! It offers a whopping 360-degree view of the whole city, you can take a thorough look at the entire city and also see the Snow-Capped Mountain on the east and the Olympic Mountain range in the west and admire their immense beauty. With access to a powerful telescope, you can take a zoomed in look at the most amazing view that Seattle offers with an extraordinary beauty at night! This experience will literally take your sightseeing experience to new highest.

Jet City Improv Show

Jet City Improv Show
Jet City Improv Show

If you are into comedy, then you should just check out this place. Located at University way, Jet City Improv is the best place for a good and healthy laugh. Known for Seattle’s some of the best comedy acts and skits, it offers a 90-minute show which includes activities like improvised games, skits, and music, that audience of all age groups would love to enjoy! If you are a die-hard fan of comedy skits and shows then you will love the shows put up. This place is best to enjoy on Friday’s and Saturdays at 10:30 in the night. Overall it’s a pretty amazing place to really laugh out loud with your family and friends, this place is worth it!

Garage Billiards

Garage Billiards
Garage Billiards

If you are looking for something exciting and refreshing then this pace is a must to go! Located at 1130 Broadway, Garage Billiards is a perfect place to polish your bowling skills. If you are in the mood for some bowling, this place is something that will make your night truly amazing! It’s a sleek and renowned bowling alley in Seattle which is crowded the most during weekends and gives you great vibes of game night. You should definitely give it a try to bring a pleasant change in the nightlife activities. So grab your shoes and roll up your sleeves for some amazing strikes. You can play and also enjoy a round of billiards with its great ambiance and happy hours served.

Dinner Cruisers

Dinner Cruisers
Dinner Cruisers

What can be more beautiful than a relaxing and romantic dinner in the middle of the ocean? Well, you can give your loved one a perfect surprise for a dinner cruise! On Argosy Dinner Cruise, you can enjoy some of the most incredible city views and also cruise around the Lake Union and Lake Washington. Not only this, but you can also enjoy the finest wines and cocktails served to you! This is a perfect way to make your night special and you will also relish your delicious meal.

Roam in the Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market

To experience the busy city vibe apart from the usual nightlife activities you should definitely give the Public Market center a try. It is regarded as one of Seattle’s best and also weirdest tourist place, market tours at the Pike Place Market has three nighttime tours to know about Seattle’s history. One market tour called the Ghost Market Tour is a 75-minute tour that begins at 9 every Friday, which narrates Seattle’s first mortuary! Apart from this, there are other two tours as well that offer different stories and narrations about lust, Seattle’s past, murders, corruption and much more. Be sure to visit this place if you are curious regarding the city. This place is perfect for those who love to explore unusual and unseen things.

Seattle Great Wheel

Seattle Great Wheel
Seattle Great Wheel

Ferris wheel located in the cities are the best option to admire the scenic view of the whole city, this is why the Seattle Great Wheel is the main attraction of tourists. If you love to enjoy the cold breeze and a mesmerizing view of the cityscape and the setting sun well, then this Ferris wheel is something you are going to love and remember forever, as you will look at the beautiful sightseeing of Seattle while rotates 360 degrees and goes up to 53 meters (175 feet) above the ground! This place is best enjoyed during the evenings, the city looks even beautiful with all the lights on! Be sure to visit this place with your family and friends to make your night great.

Indoor Skydiving

Indoor Skydiving
Indoor Skydiving

Indoor Skydiving is the most thrilling and adrenaline releaser for sports enthusiasts. If you are afraid of heights but also want to experience what it feels like falling free from the sky, then his is your ultimate chance to experience the thrill of flying like a bird, without actually needing to jump out of an airplane. This indoor skydiving experience located in iFLY, Seattle uses a vertical wind tunnel to generate a strong cushion enough to lift you off the ground and keep you floating in the air. No experience whatsoever is necessary however, you are given a short training session from a flight instructor prior to being airborne, and you can then be ready to enjoy the power of flight.

Neptune Theatre

Neptune Theatre
Neptune Theatre

Theatres are, no doubt, a great source of understanding the culture of the city and entertainment at the same time. This is why you should definitely spend an evening watching a show at the historic Neptune Theatre, which is in operations since 90years. Located in the University District, Seattle, the theatre started in the 1920s with just one screen. A renovation in 2011 opened the venue to hosting more performing arts opportunities, including film screenings, arts education, as well as various music and dance performances. Be sure to check it out when you visit Seattle in order to have a sophisticated entertainment and a sheer understanding of the culture of Seattle.

Best Bars in Seattle

Getting further into the details of the nightlife fun and specifically the premium night-time adult entertainment, Seattle offers some of the swankiest Bars, which can really impress you with their brewery and mixology skills. When it comes to wines, beers, and even cocktails, Seattle bars rates themselves on stocking options that are locally produced, plentiful and an integral part of local culture. In Seattle, even the poshest and international bars keep at least a couple of regional beers on tap, and the city was far ahead of the curve on the craft cocktail craze, too. These days, even some of the booze mixed with those fresh ingredients comes from nearby sources as well, thanks to a handful of artisan distilleries throughout the city and state that produce their own vodkas. People here love sparkling craft beer, fancy cocktailing, margaritas, and freshly brewed wines. The city has many options to opt for, from age-old dives and secret speakeasies to classy rooftops and bars which can be enjoyed till dawn.
To make your life easier we have compiled a list of the strongest joints in the city, ranging from dives and icehouses to cocktail lounges and breweries, so you could enjoy the wholesome experience of drinking without needing to actually go through all options. Enjoy them with caution, because it’s hard to leave after just one drink at any of these spots, because of the great taste offered by them:

Quinn’s Pub

Quinn’s Pub

Located at Capitol Hill, Quinn’s Pub offers dark wood accents, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a comfortable bar distinguish the interior of this striking two-level bar. Alongside the bar Zoe, the pub delivers interesting beers and scrumptious gourmet cooking in a casual atmosphere. For example, meat lovers can enjoy a supple Wagyu beef burger with cheddar, bacon, and fries or an order of tasty fish and chips. While it offers a full-bar selection of cocktails, spirits, beer, and wine, Quinn’s specializes in the posh imported brew, along with a fine selection of whiskeys and bourbons. Among the coterie of 14 beers on tap, you will always find several Trappist ales, those brewed in European monasteries by devoted Trappist monks who survive on their brew while fasting. All in all, a great option for hanging out with friends or your other half.

Garage

Garage, Seattle
Garage, Seattle

Located at 1130 Broadway, Garage was literally a garage once. It offers 20 bowling lanes, 25 pool tables, 6 bars & a pub grub menu in a retro-themed building built in 1928. The giant space is home to a bar, a restaurant, a pool hall, and a bowling alley, all of which are crowded by a youngish crowd and fledgling musicians. It’s way far from your average pool-hall dive, and prices reflect that too but they’re worth it. The atmosphere and vibe are excellent there, and the globally influenced food menu is also available daily beginning at 3 p.m. when the place opens, so afternoon imbibers don’t have to rely on bar snacks while waiting for a full meal. It also offers an early happy hour, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, means excellent prices on draft beer, well drinks, pool, and bowling. All in all a great place to satisfy your craving for food and to find good drinks.

Conor Byrne’s Pub

Conor Byrne's Pub
Conor Byrne’s Pub

Located at 4150 Ballard Avenue, Conor Bryne’s Pub is a Casual Irish bar that offers live music, from blues to folk, plus a giant beer & whiskey selection. It is truly an authentic Irish pub in the popular Ballard neighborhood and one of the city’s oldest running watering holes, it offers customers a cozy setting in which to enjoy a pint of stout to be enjoyed with a bit of music, be it traditional Irish, jazz, folk or bluegrass. While mesmerizing and elegant chandeliers softly light the beautiful mahogany bar creating a moody and romantic environment, the pub’s exposed brick walls are adorned with various pieces of local artwork and several pieces of Irish-related memorabilia. The bar also offers a Happy hour every day from 4 to 7 p.m., and the venue is always open during Seahawks games, too. Check out free events from open mics to musical showcases.

Alibi Room

Alibi Room
Alibi Room

Located in Pike Place Market, Alibi Room is a Hip market hideaway & bar that has a menu of mostly thin-crust pizzas with classic & creative toppings. It’s becoming a popular restaurant by day, the Alibi Room really comes alive at night. Owned by a group of filmmakers, the club works to support independent films and their creators, by fostering an artistic dialogue among customers and making scripts available for public perusal. If that’s a bit heavy for you, just come and dance to the mixed rhythms of rotating DJs or enjoy one of their specialty vodka drinks. You’ll also find live music from time to time, along with a great wine list and tasty appetizers. All in all, a great option to hang out with your friends.

Zig Zag Café

Zig Zag Café

Located at 1501 Western Avenue, Zig Zag Café offers Craft cocktails & gourmet snacks in a hip space tucked away by a staircase near Pike Place Market. If attractive ambiance is your thing, be sure to hop into this Parisian-style cafe where customers feel they’ve been teleported away to another era. Attentive and fast service, awesome drinks, a beautiful and sophisticated indoor vibe and an appealing outdoor patio that draw visitors to this intimate cocktail bar tucked away below Pike Place Market. It serves a late-night menu of salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, house pie, and seafood until 1 am. This venue proves a popular place to hang out with a crowd of all ages who enjoy good food, drinks, and fun. Located near Pike Place Market on the Pike Street Hill Climb, find the venue just down the stairs from Kasala Furniture on Western Avenue and just up the stairs across the street from the Seattle Aquarium.

Best Bar Restaurants in Seattle

Seattle sits on top in terms of foodie culture, so possibilities here are endless when it comes to finding your favorite flavor. This proves to be a great thing for residents and visitors alike, especially those who are particularly fond of seafood because Seattle is a hub of seafood. In order to direct travelers toward sure-bet eateries, we narrowed down the options to those places with the best vibes and reputation.

While some bars showcase the region’s local specialty of seafood, meats, cheeses, produce, wines and more, others bring exotic ethnic cuisines to this corner of the States. Whether you want to go on a food adventure or just like to stick within your comfort zone, you will find options that will surely suit your taste. Master Chefs here introduce us to the exotic flavors ranging from sushi and curries to barbecue and jambalaya, and restaurants offer ambiances that run the gamut from casual and chill to fancy and fine. Wherever you land or whatever the occasion, just be sure to bring your appetite!

The best option is to pick up a bar in Seattle that also offers great drinks, wines, and cocktails so that you never have to leave you bench while the booze need teases you. We’ve come up with a list of Seattle’s best Bar restaurants which serve great food and booze:

Shiro’s Sushi

Shiro’s Sushi

Located at 2401 2nd Avenue, Shiro’s Sushi gathers a significant amount of crowd on a daily basis. This unadorned space is one of Seattle’s premier sushi spots, often filled with loyal local customers, including sports stars, business executives and the rest of the city’s ravenous raw-fish fans. White tablecloths drape the tables, but the prime spot can be found at the sushi bar, where the blade-wielding chefs slice fresh fish with the utmost skill. Sitting here, you never know what kind of extra treats might come your way. The understated restaurant also features an extensive and well-chosen sake list. Shiro’s sets the bar for fresh fish and friendly hospitality, even in a town overflowing with top-notch sushi venues.

Monsoon

Monsoon
Monsoon

Located at Bellevue, Monsoon offers expertly prepared Vietnamese cuisine consistently drawing a hungry crowd to this family-run restaurant. The menu changes with the season, ranging from fresh, rotating oysters to crispy vegetarian rolls and barbecued Carlton Farms pork spare ribs. Vegetarians relish the lemongrass tofu, while omnivores delight in the rich flavors unleashed in banana leaf-wrapped halibut, lemongrass clay pot chicken and crispy, Washington-grown drunken chicken (a true show-stopper). Efficient service and reasonable prices add to the appeal, as does a weekend dim sum brunch. If you enjoy the welcoming outposts of the new flavorsome bar restaurants be sure to hit them up.

Rockcreek

Rockcreek
Rockcreek

Located at Fremont, this In Upper Fremont, RockCreek offers Seafood & Spirits that make it a popular restaurant and bar that welcomes diners to its wide, airy, inviting space every day of the week. Here Chef Donnelly perfectly prepares unexpected fish with delicious taste alongside the classics. Donnelly does a great job of shifting from fish between warmer and colder seasons. Some of its great dishes include the Hawaiian Tombo Tuna Tartare, the Barbecued Spanish Octopus, the Fresh Campanelle Pasta and Braised Oregon Rabbit. Loyal guests return regularly for the promised friendly vibe, the savory stew dishes, the creative cocktails, the killer brunches, plus the cozy-chic decor inside this urban-industrial, two-story ‘fishing lodge.’

Canlis

Canlis
Canlis

Seattle’s food guide is not complete without mentioning the Canlis, for generations a stalwart standby for special occasions and memorable dining experiences. The traditional, white-tablecloth dining room lets visitors take in relaxing views of beautiful and busy Lake Union below. Such mesmerizing surrounding adds value to the overall services, which includes offerings of stuffed chicken, lamb shank with pureed mint and garlic, plus delectable cuts of beef and fresh seafood. For diners who are bit choosy, a great option is the fixed price menu. Each of the five courses gets paired with the appropriate glass of wine from the spectacular Canlis cellar. In fact, Canlis is one of only 85 restaurants worldwide to have received the “Grand Award” for its wine collection. So be sure to hit it up whenever you visit Settle to have the ultimate experience of the food-booze combo.

Best Nightclubs in Seattle

Other than the culinary choices and eateries and all the cozy and swanky bars in the city, at times you may want to simply enjoy dancing on some great beats and enjoy a drink. Or, you just want to hang out with some friends at a nice place or want to make some new friends. Well, Seattle’s nightclubs are a perfect spot for all such kind of hopes. From finding your date to hanging out with your friends you can enjoy in every sense. With so many options available, it can sometimes become difficult to choose or identify a great option for swanky kind of nightclub. Therefore, we’ve come up with the following list of some great nightclubs in Seattle to entertain you:

Century Ballroom

Century Ballroom
Century Ballroom

Located in an old historic building at Capitol Hill, Century Ballroom’s vintage vibe perfectly suits its mission: that states to keep alive the ballroom culture in the nightlife scenes of Seattle. If the venue’s popularity is any indicator, the mission is succeeding. With a 2000 square-foot dance floor, the elaborately renovated ballroom space is the place in the city to revive the grand days of formal evenings out on the town. Dance nights, often with live music, set the perfect tone with dining, drinks and dancing under the same roof. Meals and a full bar are available right across the hallway at the Tin Table. Whether you enjoy salsa, swing, tango, tap or burlesque. All in all, a great and romantic option for you to enjoy a night with your other half.

Re-Bar

Re-Bar
Re-Bar

Fairly dim and moody, this venue presents entertainment in a variety of ways. Most frequently, the popular venue serves as a vibrant dance club, spinning hip-hop and disco from its repertoire of musical genres. On the other hand, at times, Re-bar hosts theater performances; notable productions try to expand cultural ground, and some put a contemporary spin on classic works. From time to time, you’ll also find live bands playing. The crowd encompasses a diverse mix, who are all certain to provide a fresh atmosphere and a cool combination of guaranteed fun.

Little Red Hen

Little Red Hen
Little Red Hen

Located at North Metro, Little Red Hen is a very different kind of dance club. People who like to move their bodies hope into this happening Green Lake venue that’s known for its live country music scene. Seattle’s not just about grunge anymore, and Little Red Hen is a perfect example of why. Here, you can dance, you can sing, and you can listen to live tunes every day of the week. There are free line and country dance lessons, and for nights when a band isn’t booked, you can always show off your chops by stepping on stage for karaoke.

Lofi

Lofi
Lofi

Located at Eastlake, Lofi is a funky treasure of a venue which is a favorite hot spot for those who simply love to dance. This place hots hosts everything from DJ nights to rap, indie rock and improv acts, showcasing both national and international talents. It also features two rooms and two bars, both with separate sound systems. There is also a small room adjacent to the front bar which boasts cozy seating and a few vintage arcade games. This venue also hosts highly popular soul nights that draw loyal fans, among other themed evenings that range from 90s dance parties to hip-hop musicals.

Conclusion

To sum up things, we went through a brief introduction of the city of Seattle along with a brief introduction of its culture. We also went through different activities and place to enjoy the nightlife of Seattle like Space Needle, Cruise ship dinners, theatres, and hilarious comedy shows. Such activities provide a great source of entertainment for tourists and locals as well. Moreover, these activities also help a newcomer understand the true culture and norms of the city.

We then went through a comprehensive list of bars available in Seattle. No doubt, Seattle has some of the swankiest and great bars to cater to your boozing needs. These exotic and swanky bars included Quinn’s Pub, Conner Bryne’s Pub, and Garage.

To fulfill your food craving we also looked at a list of bar-restaurants which provide delicious and exotic food along with a touch of booze. This delightful and amazing combination of food and booze really pushes the limits of Nightlife entertainment and adds a great value tour.

And finally, we explored a detailed list of nightclubs that provide premium nigh-time entertainment. Century Ballroom, Re-Bar, and Red Little Hen included some of the clubs that provided the ultra-rich experience of dance and music.

Make sure to give try the above recommendation which will really add value to your tour, so that you won’t regret choosing bad options.

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Keep exploring!