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Ok, so Seattle isn't quite San Francisco, but it still has a hip, upbeat gay scene that is centered in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Capitol Hill has a unique blend of the hippie factor of San Franicsco's Haight-Ashbury with the vibrant LGBT of SF's Castro District. Capitol Hill's laid-back vibe makes it a popular destination for anybody seeking a fun night out on the town. But enough about the neighborhood, let’s get down to the bars. The Cuff Complex may be Seattle's most popular gay bar, and with three different bar areas, a huge patio and packed dance floor, it's easy to see why. The Wild Rose is Seattle's only exclusively lesbian bar and is well known for having the best bang for you buck drinks in town. Those in West Seattle should make a stop by Guppy's. This bar isn't exclusively gay and caters to lesbians, straights and everything in between.
Changes Tavern
2103 N 45th St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.545.8363
Changes Tavern is a neighborhood style gay bar in Seattle that strives to make everybody feel welcomed and right at home. Karaoke rules the roost at Changes Tavern on Wednesdays and Sundays where wannabes rock the house with 15 different interpretations of "I Will Survive" while a gaggle of regulars down beers and shots with equal zeal. Changes Tavern is a solid player in the Seattle gay bar scene if only for its longevity of operation and the solid fact that anybody—seriously, straights included—are treated like regulars when they step through the doors. |
Guppy's West Seattle
4752 California Ave. SW, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.932.6996
Guppy's has probably the oddest mix of drinkers out of any gay bar in Seattle because it doesn't just cater to a strictly gay male clientele. On any given night at Guppy's you're likely to find gay males rubbing elbows with lesbians and a good mix of straights thrown in all enjoying the amenable atmosphere and stiff cocktails. Also, this Seattle bar sports nightly specials and some decidedly, er, gay-centric contests, but since Guppy's houses such a diverse mix of gays and straights, young and old, it never feels like you just accidentally wandered into Zed and Maynard's cozy basement love den. |
Madison Pub
1315 E. Madison St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.325.6537
The Seattle neighborhood gay bar for guys over the cruise fanatic boy bars, the Madison Pub has a homey laid back feel perfect for a few pints, a game of pool or darts, and watching a game. This Seattle gay bar is probably the most popular spot for guys just wanting to kick it with like minded drinkers because of the welcoming atmosphere to newcomers, along with Madison Pub's strong partnership and commitment to the gay community...and their commitment to drinking. |
Manray Video Bar
514 E. Pine St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.568.0750
Manray Video Bar in Seattle is the scenester hangout for the hip gay club set who're into physical and electronic eye candy. The huge booze draw at Manray are their pricey, but oversized martinis that are poured with a decidedly heavy hand and the weekly special nights along with numerous CD and DVD release parties keep the crowds packing into this Seattle gay club's Karova Milk Bar-esque interior. |
Neighbours
1509 Broadway, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.324.5358
Neighbours, whether you're gay or straight, is a Seattle dance club mainstay that always gets packed with revelers on the weekends for the choice DJs spinning high-energy dance tracks. There's rarely an attitude at Neighbours, everyone from the staff to the patrons are just out to have a good time to which goal this Seattle dance club consistently contributes—seriously, it's been around forever, serves dangerous cocktails and while many other Seattle gay bars and dance clubs have come and gone, Neighbours is still surviving and is still the place to be with the attitude of sexual orientation be damned. |
R Place
619 E Pine St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.322.8828
Three floors of drunken fun is what you'll find at R Place where the welcoming atmosphere attracts a diverse mix of Seattle gays and lesbians with the occasional gaggle of straights moseying on in. The first floor at R Place—gotta love the toy store/ text message grammar—is like a neighborhood pub and gets quite packed during game days, while the nights at this Seattle club are marked by off with your shirt dancing up on the second and third floors. The weekends at R Place are so freakin' busy that it seems like everyone's place. |
The Cuff Complex
1533 13th Ave., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.323.1525
Probably the most popular gay bar in Seattle, The Cuff Complex sports three separate bar areas, a huge outdoor patio and a dance floor that's packed wall to wall with guys doing their thing. Also, The Cuff has definite cross-generational appeal evidenced by men of all ages and backgrounds crowding into this Seattle gay bar. If you're in need of a late night snack, The Cuff isn't going to be there for you, but if an excellent lunch during the week or brunch on the weekends is right up your alley then you can count on The Cuff—and if good conversation, cruising, dancing and booze are right up your alley, you can count on The Cuff every night. |
The Seattle Eagle
314 E Pike St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.621.7591
The raucous party that is The Seattle Eagle never seems to let up with leather clad Capitol Hill denizens downing cheap beer and cheaper booze to the backdrop of DJs spinning hard rock, grunge, alt-rock and pop. The crowds at The Seattle Eagle are more laid back boozer types than the coifed and spritzed masses you're likely to find at other Seattle gay bars and the atmosphere there is far grittier than The Seattle Eagle's polished brethren. |
The Wild Rose
1021 E Pike St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.324.9210
The sole lesbian bar in Seattle, The Wild Rose doesn't just clean up by being the only game in town, as it where. The cocktails are seriously poured fast and furious at this Capitol Hill den for women that love women, but really anyone of any gender or sexual orientation with a chill attitude is welcomed at The Wild Rose as long as they check it at the door. This Seattle lesbian bar is decidedly mellow and not a pick up joint, but just a place to relax and down some heady cocktails. |
—Seattle bar and club reviews by Ryan Osterbeck |
