I often get questions from people about what they should see/where they should go etc... when they are in Seattle. I've written this up a bunch of times so as an effort to save some typing, I'm just slammin' this up here.
I don't know how often I'll update it, but probably not too often. Feel free to recommend places to me that I haven't listed. This is not meant to be a comprehensive or definitive list of anything. There are way too many of those on the web already. This is just places I like in Seattle. If you disagree with me, then make your own list. If you want the addresses, look them up.
This page was last updated 11/14/97.
some bars I like (by area)
The Elysian - (around 12th and Pike) - some of my friends think this is a yuppie bar, and it sort of is in the capitol hill kind of way. I like it because the beer is good (it's a brew pub) and it's quiet enough to talk and I usually bump into someone I know there.
The Broadway Grill - (on Broadway) - This is more a restraunt than bar, but the food is pretty good. It's a good place to go for dinner before you go out, but there can be a wait sometimes.
Charlies - (On Broadway near John) - Good, cheap food and drinks. There is a bar in back of the restraunt, but it isn't amazing. It's ok and the people there are friendly without a lot of attitude, a bonus in Capitol Hill.
The Deluxe - (On Broadway near the Harvard Exit Theatre) - Small pub/bar. The food is pretty good and it's quiet enough to actually talk to the people you are with.
Eileen's Sports Bar - (On Broadway near Seafirst Bank) - People are always freaked out when I bring them here because they think it's really a sports bar. I guess the owners want it to be, there is usually sports on the TV, but it is generally ignored. Aside from the Elysian, this is my prefered hang out bar in Cap Hill. It's dive-y, but in a good way.
Uncle Rocky's - (Pike near I5) - This place is most definitely a dive, but I love it. It's one of the most authentic and unpretenious bars in town and you can hear some excellent music there from time to time.
The Comet - (Pike near 11th) - This place has been around for ever and is still good. No hard alcohol, but a pool table and mostly interesting people. I'd be here more if I wasn't at the Elysian.
Dad Watson's (on the end of the biz district on Freemont Ave) - part of the McMinamen's chain (or however you spell it). Brew pub. Decent food, pretty good beer, big enough that you can always find a table.
The Red Door - (On Freemont Ave near the bridge) - nice place to stop in at for lunch and a brew. I've never been there at night, so I don't know what happens
The Triangle Tavern - (right near all the other stuff) - A lot of people I know really like this place, but I've never been there for longer than a minute, so I can't vouch for it.
The Red Hook brewery pub - This place is ok, it's a good place on a rainy afternoon.
I don't get to Freemont that much, so this isn't very complete.
The Crocodile Cafe - (2nd ave at something or other) - Since Mo's closed (a very sad event), this has become the best club in town to see a band for me. I like other places like the showbox, but for the nice club atmosphere, the Croc is better (because it's smaller). They sometimes are willing to put on more out-there kind of shows, but mostly it's rock every night. You can hang there without seeing the band, but I don't know why you would.
The Showbox - (1st Ave near Pike Place Market) - I don't know if this place is even open on nights when there aren't shows. I don't think so. Great atmosphere, it's a very old place and it just drips with the old ballroom kind of feel that the Coctail Nation crowd dig. This place has been putting on a bunch of good shows lately, so I've been there a lot.
Flying Fish - (1st Ave) - A lot of people I know really dig this place, but I don't
Queen City Grill - (1st Ave) - My favorite restraunt in town. Also has a bar, but I wouldn't recommend it on weekend eves without a reservation.
The Lava Lounge - (2nd Ave near the Crocodile) - I wish I had more time to hang out in bars, because I would hang out here more often. Tiki-Kitsch, but not obnoxious about it.
The OK Hotel - (Alaska Way) - This place has been progressively worse over the last 3 years and I don't know why. I still like it and will hang there if I'm in the neighborhood, but it isn't as much a destination for me anymore. They used to have great, strange music in the lounge and other stuff in the ballroom. The lounge was free and the ballroom cost dough. Because they were booking lame bands in the ballroom they weren't making any money. Now they are charging entry at the front door and booking lamer stuff in the front room. I hope they get their act together because it's a classic space.
The Owl & Thistle - (Western Ave) - This is an out of the way place that occaisonally has live music (of the quieter kind). Weekday evenings it's full of downtowners grabbing one for the road before going home. On weekends, it's mobbed, but I don't know why. Most of the people that work there are really cool, except for the Pony-tailed bartender. If you were around during the day or on a weeknight, that place is worth a stop.
There are about 80 zillion other bars/clubs in the Pioneer Square area, but on weekends and game days (the kingdome is very close by), it's full of suburbanites looking for fun. I'd recommend avoiding the whole area on those days.
Wall Of Sound (2nd Ave in Belltown) - This was my favorite record store in Seattle, for a long time. Tons of great obscure and strange music. The owner Mark is pretty supportive of the local improv/experimental scene and a nice guy once you know him (although I've heard that he can be kind of cold to customers). Two of the guys that work there are the band, Climax Golden Twins, if that doesn't recommend a store, I don't know what does. WoS is expanding in the next month or two, I can't wait.
Ohm (Olive St in Capitol Hill near Denny) - It's open funky hours (1-7 Wed->Saturday, closed other days), but it also has an excellent selection of really obscure experimental music. It's pricier than Wall of Sound, but is more focused on rare and strange stuff. Highly recommended.
Orpheum (North end of Broadway in Capitol Hill) - This is actually the store I go to the most because I walk by it at least a couple times a week. While more mainstream than Wall of Sound or Ohm, they get some pretty good stuff in. As a bonus, I've found some amazingly good stuff in their used bins. Worth a stop.