World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Seattle  - Nightlife
Nightlife

Seattle is a city of youth and by night numerous fashionable districts, from the Pioneer Square and Belltown districts downtown to University District, Capitol Hill and Ballard, are dominated by clubs, bars, coffeehouses, cinemas and eccentric eateries. Due to the strictly enforced minimum drinking age of 21 years, a number of new 'all ages' live music venues have also cropped up in the city centre, which do not serve alcohol to minors but offer a wide range of the latest in local music. Most Seattle bars are open 1100-0200. Casinos are contentious but legal as long as they are outside the Seattle city limits. The drinking age of 21 years is strictly enforced and it is essential to bring photo identification. Dress codes are rare and costs of drinks vary from about US$2.50 to US$6 depending on venue, and the average local live music cover charge is about US$10. Entertainment listings can be found in free tabloids such as The Weekly and The Stranger.

Bars: The Alibi Room, 85 Pike Street, is a trendy cocktail bar tucked away in an alley under the Pike Place Market with a lovely view of Puget Sound. The Blue Moon Tavern, 712 Northeast 45th Street, has been an old university district hangout since the 1950s and has delightfully retained its original atmosphere. Conor Byrne's, 5140 Ballard Street North West, is an Irish pub that sometimes has live music, and Doc Maynard's, 610 First Avenue, in Pioneer Square, is a restored bar from the turn of the century, while FX McRory's, 419 Occidental Avenue South, also in Pioneer Square, is where Seattleites rush after a big baseball game at Safeco Field. The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, in the Pike Place Market, has a great view over Puget Sound. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Avenue in Belltown, however, is probably Seattle's most unusual hangout, a combination of launderette, café, bar and rock club. For more serious dark and smokey dives, try Comet Tavern, 922 East Pike Street, the oldest bar on Capitol Hill, or the ChaCha Lounge, 504 East Pine Street.

Casinos: The Emerald Queen, 2102 Alexander Avenue, Tacoma (tel: (888) 831 7655), is Seattle's most upbeat casino, located on an authentic New Orleans paddleboat with card dealers in period costume. Parker's, 17001 Aurora Avenue North (tel: (206) 542 9491), offers blackjack and Chinese Poker. There is no formal dress code, the minimum gaming age is 21 years and photo identification is required for all.

Clubs: Aristocrat's Club Bar & Grill, 220 Fourth Avenue South and Main Street, near Pioneer Square, is considered one of the city's best hip-hop clubs, while the Baltic Room, 1207 East Pine Street, is a stylish jazz and cigars nightclub. The 1970s rule at Polly Esther's Culture Club, 332 Fifth Avenue North, but there is also an 80s retro night.

Live music: The Crocodile Club, 2200 Second Avenue and Blanchard Street, was the original home of Seattle's grunge music scene, from Pearl Jam to Mudhoney and the Posies, and is still a cutting-edge live music venue. Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Avenue, downtown, is one of the city's more sophisticated jazz clubs, featuring internationally known acts, while Tula's in Belltown, 2214 Second Avenue, is a low-key local jazz bar with an older clientele.



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
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