16. Temple Billiards
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 682-3242
Address: 126 S. Jackson St. (Central)
Description: Temple has a decidedly old-fashioned billiards hall feel, with pizzas and sandwiches in addition to a full bar. Revolving DJs and a basement karaoke lounge provide diversions when a break from playing pool is needed.
17. Brouwer’S Café
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 267-2437
Address: 400 N. 35th St. (North)
Description: The big draw here is the amazing selection of 300-plus beers from around the world, including more than 60 on draft and more than 60 scotches. The food is classic, hearty pub food; try the Hunters Plate, juicy house-made sausage partnered with sauerkraut and a beer-mustard reduction. Salads, light seafood plates, and even falafels are served as well. Brouwer’s also has blending classes and cask fests, as well as special brewmaster dinners with food and beer pairings.
18. Elysian Brewing Company
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 860-1920
Address: 1221 E. Pike St. (Central)
Description: Elysian likes to claim that its brewpub began in the 17th century, when the owner’s ancestors began smuggling hops and brewing equipment onto ships headed for the New World. Of course, Elysian assumes you are in on the joke, because that’s just the kind of place it is. Since its start in 1996, Elysian has brewed more than 60 different beers and always serves six standard brews and a variety of changing seasonals. The full-service restaurant features a wide variety of typical pub grub, and often a beer festival or live music is going on. The original location is in Capitol Hill, with additional brewpubs across from Qwest Field and in Greenlake.
19. Hilltop Ale House
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 285-3877
Address: 2129 Queen Anne Ave. North (Central)
Description: The driving mission of Hilltop was to offer adults an upscale place to get a high-quality selection of imported and local microbrew beers in a traditional English pub environment, while also offering a gourmet menu. Hilltop has great food, far surpassing that of most bars. Try the asparagus ravioli with Dungeness crab, New Orleans–style gumbo, or the Bangkok Chicken Salad. More traditional pub fare is also available, such as pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and a variety of soups and sandwiches, and specials change out every Wed. Two other locations worth checking out are the 74th Street Ale House at 7401 Greenwood Ave. North, and the Columbia City Ale House at 4914 Rainier Ave. South.
20. Jolly Roger Taproom
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 782-6181
Address: 1514 NW Leary Way (North)
Description: The taproom at Maritime Pacific Brewing Company, Jolly Roger is an intimate pub with a nautical theme. The selection of handcrafted ales and lagers served on 14 taps are all fresh brewed right next door at Maritime, along with a selection of wines and nonalcoholic beverages. The menu runs the gamut from classic pub food to innovative dishes, most of which include one of the Maritime brews as an ingredient.
21. Mcmenamins Six Arms
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 223-1698
Address: 300 E. Pike St. (Central)
Description: The Six Arms pub is named, improbably, after a six-armed Hindu goddess. Even the beer label has the image of the idol on it, and the odd juxtaposition fits right in with the funky Capitol Hill neighborhood where this pub is located. Filled with a long wooden bar, booths, an upstairs section with cafe tables, and a huge collection of chandeliers, Six Arms is among the large empire of brewpubs by the brothers McMenamin. Handcrafted ales, a menu of classic pub fare, and daily specials are always on offer. Check out the McMenamins’ other Seattle pubs, the British-style Dad Watsons in Fremont and the Queen Anne location near the Space Needle. Minors are allowed until 8 p.m.; after that, it’s 21 and over only.
22. Quinn’S Gastropub
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 325-7711
Address: 1001 E. Pike St. (Central)
Description: Quinn’s definitely meets the expectation that is implied by its name. This neighborhood spot is the perfect combination of pub bar and gastronomical experience. The 14 beers on tap are heavy on the Trappist-style ales, but the wine list is equally splendid, and there is even a sommelier on staff to make recommendations. The food is rich European fare such as pork pâté, fried frog legs, wild boar sloppy joes, and fish-and-chips. The environment is less that of a traditional pub and more a bistro cafe, with large plate-glass windows facing the Capitol Hill street outside.
23. Can Can
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 652-0832
Address: 94 Pike St. (Central)
Description: Seattle is one of those American cities in which the art of burlesque has been revived in a fairly big way. Tucked into a little Pike Place Market spot, the Can Can feels like a combination of burlesque, French Moulin Rouge, and 1920s speakeasy. In addition to the great burlesque and traditional cancan acts, the performances also generally feature comedy, acrobatic feats, and vaudeville. You can also include a three-course dinner with the show, but the food receives moderate, mixed reviews. They also feature Seattle’s only absinthe bar, serving real absinthe (not the mixed or flavored liquor).
24. Pink Door
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 443-3241
Address: 1919 Post Alley (Central)
Description: Part cabaret and part restaurant, the place has the look of an old-fashioned bordello and lets its guests escape the ordinary. Every night except Mon, the Pink Door provides entertainment including burlesque, but also adding opera, magic, and even tarot. From a trapeze artist swinging from the 20-foot ceilings to a tap-dancing saxophone player, you’re never sure which way to look in this cabaret. But naughty, feathered burlesque is the star of the show, with some of Seattle’s best performers. Located in an alley in Pike Place Market, there is no sign, but look for—you guessed it—a pink metal door.
25. Sinner Saint Burlesque At Club Noc Noc
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 223-1333
Address: 1516 2nd Ave. (Central)
Description: Combining bawdy burlesque with truly talented song and dance numbers, this fun show also weaves in a streak of blue humor. The burlesque show is held every Thurs night at Club Noc Noc, as well as other area nightclubs and theaters (check the Web site for other show dates).
26. Amc Pacific Place 11
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 652-8908
Address: 600 Pine St. South (Central)
Description: Right in the center of downtown Seattle, in the Pacific Place mall, is this 11-screen, state-of-the-art cinema featuring first-run movies. Each auditorium features cup holders at every seat, as well as special “love seats” with enough snuggling room for two. AMC has also partnered with other Pacific Place merchants to offer discounts when you present your same-day AMC movie ticket. Garage parking is available at the Pacific Place garage, from 6th or 7th Avenues, for $6 all evening after 5 p.m.
27. Big Picture
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 256-0566
Address: 2505 1st Ave. (Central)
Description: This cinema was opened to try to combine a better moviegoing experience with more interesting meeting spaces. The result is a venue that offers corporate rentals, private parties, and private movie screenings, but they also have regularly scheduled public film showings. You can enjoy cocktails in the Big Picture lounge before your movie and then settle into the ultra-comfortable TempurPedic theater seats. You can even order your cocktails to be delivered right to your seat—it doesn’t get much better than that. Only ages 21 and over are admitted.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 1411 21st Ave. (Central)
29. Cinerama
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (888) 262-4386
Address: 2100 4th Ave. (Central)
Description: Back when Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen was a kid in Seattle, he watched many films at the Cinerama, which opened in 1963. It was his memories of movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey shown on the unique three-panel Cinerama screen that motivated him to save the cinema in the 1990s, when it was nearly closed down. His rescue and multimillion-dollar renovation made him the owner of the last remaining Super Cinerama theater in the world. Technology was enhanced, but the original carpet, wallpaper, and gorgeous blue and green Italian mosaic tile work remain. Now you, too, can come and enjoy this one-of-a-kind movie experience. Cinerama shows first-run films as well as old favorites and cult classics, and is a don’t-miss experience for cinema aficionados.
30. Egyptian
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 781-5755
Address: 805 E. Pine St. (Central)
Description: This classic cinema was built in 1915 as a Masonic temple; in the 1970s, the Masons used the auditorium as a wrestling arena to bring in extra money. By the 1980s they had vacated, and the facility became the home of the Seattle International Film Festival. The Egyptian continues to host the SIFF, as well as regular daily screenings of first-run, indie, foreign, documentary, and classic films. The Capitol Hill location means parking can be a challenge, particularly on weekend nights. Try the Community College Garage at Harvard and Pine; otherwise, you may end up walking a bit if you drive here.