Nightlife >>

• Best Eastside Dive (1 Comment)
  The Mustard Seed
  The Mustard Seed looks incredibly out of place among the multimillion-dollar condos and quaint confectioneries dotting Bellevue's Main Street. But its regulars would raise hell if the city were ever to propose tearing it down to make room for another organic-chocolate shop. That's because the... More >>
• Best Neighborhood Bar
  Tug Inn
  The Tug Inn has a reputation as one of the most ominous, if not the most ominous, bars in West Seattle. This has much to do with its being the only bar—save for the Skylark—on Delridge Way, long considered the most ominous stretch of road in West Seattle. Tell the average West Seattleite that... More >>
• Best Watering Hole before a Mariner, Seahawk, or Sounder Game
  Sluggers
  Back when it was called Sneakers, Sluggers was purely a baseball bar (even though, ironically, the name Sluggers is more specific to baseball than Sneakers). There were—and still are, to some extent—framed, autographed photos of Mariners past and present on just about every available inch of... More >>
• Best Downtown Rendezvous
  Entre Nous
  With its dark washed interior, Entre Nous barely elicits a second glance on its completely overlooked block around the corner from Bergman Luggage. But walk by at night, and it virtually whispers psst, bonsoir mon cheri, voulez-vous les bons temps? Much of the food may count as date-prohibitive,... More >>
• Best Pool Room
  The Corner Pocket
  Temple Billiards in Pioneer Square is a nice place to play pool, but let's make one thing clear: In order to be a great pool hall, one must climb or descend a flight of stairs to get to it. Preferably descend, as serious pool should be played in a windowless basement, hidden from the world of... More >>
• Best Place for Dinner and a Dance Lesson
  The Tin Table
  Just across the hall from The Tin Table, owned by Hallie Kuperman, is the Century Ballroom, which she also owns. That makes an excellent way to trick your reluctant boyfriend into a night of dancing. Just act surprised when you walk out and see the ballroom, and push him onto the dance floor... More >>
• Best Hotel Bar to Meet a Silver Fox
  Marriott Seattle Waterfront's 2100 Bar
  Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson become fast friends after meeting in a hotel bar in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation. Granted, Murray isn't all that in the looks department, but there is something to be said about an older, well-established man who will buy a woman a drink, carry on a... More >>
• Best Reason to Stand in a Long Line at Midnight
  The Cinerama Experience
  Ever since superfans started lining up outside theaters across the nation to see the Lord of the Rings movies as soon as humanly possible, Cinerama has become the see-and-be-seen theater for everyone who can recite the Star Wars screenplays from memory and has read the entire Alan Moore library.... More >>
• Best Late Night Illegal-Drinking Hang-Out Spot for High-Schoolers
  Leschi Park
  Beautiful and completely hidden from busy Lake Washington Boulevard, Leschi Park is and has been for some time the preferred rendezvous spot for the underage partier. Especially in the summer, sitting outside with bathrooms conveniently nearby (so no squatting necessary) and the lake close... More >>
• Best Chinese Lounge Interior
  The Seven Seas
  Chinese restaurant lounges generally adhere to the same tacky-minimalist aesthetic, which is something to be appreciated. Many a newfangled American bar has gone under by virtue of too much attention (and money) spent gussying up a room's interior, when it'd be better spent figuring out how to... More >>
• Best Gay Bar to Pick Up a Straight Dude
  R Place
  Single straight guys have finally realized that R Place is where it's at. Why? Because the three-story dance club is filled with single straight ladies starved for attention, having been ditched by gay friends who are busy getting their game on. R Place attracts straight men of the highest... More >>
• Best Barstool(s) From Which to Seek Inspiration
  Matt's in the Market
  It's difficult to come up with a quintessential Seattle perch, but the new configuration of Matt's in the Market comes closest to the ideal. During the day, the murmur of Pike Place Market action drifts up and into the giant half-moon windows, which frame the neon Market sign, the sparkling bay,... More >>
• Best Communal Drinking Patio
  The Fiddler's Inn
  "Seattle nice" isn't really nice, it's polite—which is a lot different than nice. To wit, how many bar patios can be found in the city with adjoining picnic tables that force imbibing strangers to actually interact with one another? One, by our count—and it can be found in sleepy Wedgwood,... More >>
• Best Downtown Happy Hour to Bring Your Dog
  Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
  Few happy hours in the downtown core welcome non-service animals, so dog owners are usually forced to abandon their pets in pursuit of a social life. Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery doesn't make you choose. The popular chain restaurant's happy hour features $3 beer and half-price appetizers... More >>
• Best Venue Chameleon (4 Comments)
  King Cat Theater
  What happens when the state's lone Bollywood theater owner takes over a historic downtown site that had been shut down for years? He transforms it into a vibrant lounge that, like his favorite films, is bursting with lively entertainment and people. The King Cat Theater has become one of the... More >>
• Best Place for a Private Karaoke Party
  Venus Karaoke
  Private karaoke rooms should always be dark and dirty—stained cushions and rickety tables make screaming off-key into a microphone seem perfectly natural. Which is why Venus Karaoke in the International District is the perfect setting for your next songfest. Sure, their equipment crashes every... More >>
• Best Place to Get Fought Over in Heels
  Century Ballroom
  Ladies, are you looking to be swept off your feet by a suave Latino man? Look no further than Century Ballroom. The venue's Thursday and Saturday salsa nights typically draw more men than women, so it's not uncommon to have guys fighting to be your dance partner. Those who want to jump right... More >>
• Best Place to Transport Yourself Back to 1973
  The Pink Floyd Laser Light Show
  Maybe it's the phantasmagoric appeal of staring into a dark abyss scattered with hallucinogenic blasts of light. Maybe it's the commodious vibe of gathering with fellow fans. Or maybe it's the ease with which the darkened venue enables you to engage in less-legal modes of transport. Either way,... More >>
• Best Neighborhood to Roam at 2 a.m.
  International District
  Why is it that a major metropolis like Seattle goes to bed so damn early? Most of its restaurants—and, sadly, even bars—close when the party should just be getting started. The exception to that rule, of course, is the International District. The nocturnal neighborhood bustles with action in the... More >>
• Best Spot for Snogging Over Grilled Cheese
  Bleu Bistro
  It's easy to pass Bleu Bistro without a second glance, given the array of more attractive restaurants and boutiques that make up Broadway's strip. But beyond its uninviting exterior lies a peculiarly charming gem that serves up rich pasta dishes, stiff drinks, and romance. The dark space is lit... More >>