This cozy boîte, located at a Metro stop between the blinking lights of Cha-Cha Lounge and Bimbo’s, is easy to miss. But the Bus Stop‘s playful decor is eye-catching: a graffiti mural, vibrant drip paintings, and tables the color of gumdrops. Gary Zinter and Mark Mitchell, an actor and musician, respectively, opened the intimate space in 2004 as a cabaret and performers’ watering hole, which it remains, hosting frequent readings and performances. Most nights you can expect a roster of DJs, like Monday’s “Who’s the Bitch?” which runs the gamut from global pop to hip-hop. Weekday happy hour is the main attraction (4–8 p.m.; all night on Tuesdays), where young professionals share the long wooden banquette with Pike/Pine’s art-school Raggedy Anns and Andys. With friendly bartenders and a neon jukebox boasting Sonic Youth and Kylie Minogue, it’s a comfortable place to find yourself, too. 508 E. Pine St., 206-322-9123, www.busstopseattle.com.