Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Seattle right now.
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.
Though it offers all the trappings of a typical Seattle brewery, in that it's dog-friendly, all ages, and has a rotating selection of food trucks parked in front, 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.
Pack your spellbook and leave your cynicism at home: this wizard-themed pub goes all in on magic and imagination. Grab a seat under a sea monster skeleton, order up an elixir or butterbee mead, and dig into tadpole in a hole, storm buffalo bourguignon, and a spitting fizzle nest for dessert. Reservations are recommended, especially for families, but the bar is reserved for walk-ins only.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
