61. Triple Door
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 838-4333
Address: 216 Union St. (Central)
Description: While many favorite live music joints in Seattle are endearing dives, with surly waitstaff and dirty bathrooms that make for a fun story to tell later, Triple Door isn’t one of those. This is class and luxury all the way, located in the historic 1926 Mann building; nevertheless, it is a legendary performance venue with an impressive calendar. Triple Door combines its roster of world-class entertainment in a gorgeous setting, featuring the food and wine of acclaimed restaurant Wild Ginger, next door. A fun feature is the Musicquarium lounge, surrounded by a huge 1,900-gallon freshwater tank full of exotic fish.
62. Marcus’ Martini Heaven
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 624-3323
Address: 88 Yesler Way (Central)
Description: This Pioneer Square martini lounge boasts having served more than 100,000 martinis since 1997. The sophisticated, sexy bar offers a wide range of premium martinis, from the classic to unique concoctions like the PB&J (with Frangelico and Chambord), Key lime pie (with Stoli Vanilla, triple sec, and a graham cracker rim), and the Seattle-themed Purple Haze (with Hendrix Vodka, of course). Marcus’ also offers a limited selection of seasonal wines, a decent beer list, and a small bites menu.
63. Tini Bigs
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 284-0931
Address: 100 Denny Way (Central)
Description: Named after the oversize martinis that are the specialty here, Tini Bigs has the feel of a combination of a bar and a diner. The Queen Anne location is great, and the bar stools and neon pink lighting give it a retro feel. It’s very dark inside, with black walls and dim lighting, which can be either romantic or disorienting. More than 25 specialty martinis as well as a large selection of single-malt scotches, and every other type of liquor and cocktail, offer plenty of choices. Try the Dirty Girl Scout martini (with crushed graham cracker rim) or the Fire Eater (pepper-infused vodka garnished with a jalapeño). There is also a nice food menu featuring varied items from sandwiches to satay.
64. All Nations Soccer Bar & Restaurant
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 365-5165
Address: 930 N. 130th St. (North)
Description: If you love soccer, this is the place for you. In fact, it doesn’t even call itself a “sports bar”—it is, unapologetically, a soccer bar, where soccer is the culture. All Nations celebrates the beloved sport by offering music, food, and drink that accompany soccer around the world, such as choripan (a bread and chorizo dish found at games in Argentina), a “meter of beer” from Rio de Janeiro, and plenty of team chants and songs from across the globe. And, of course, soccer matches are played at all times on the huge television screens.
65. Ballard Loft
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 420-2737
Address: 5105 Ballard Ave. NW (North)
Description: Situated in an old industrial building, this neighborhood eatery and bar is casual and embodies the soul of Ballard. A dozen microbrews on tap, house-created cocktails, and specialty sausages accompany the full menu and sport environment. The 13 flat-screen televisions play a variety of games, and there are also dartboards, video games, and pool and shuffleboard tables.
66. Sport Restaurant & Bar
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 404-7768
Address: 140 4th Ave. North, Suite 130 (Central)
Description: Located in a prime spot across the street from the Space Needle, Sport is situated in a rather nondescript building but offers an atmosphere of camaraderie, whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time in. Lots of television screens, a full menu, specialty drinks, and a decent wine list, along with great beer, all make this a casual, fun hangout. The real spot of interest, however, is in the huge memorabilia collection that spans 100 years of Seattle sports champions. From Gil Dobie, the University of Washington’s first football coach in 1907, to the magic of the Seattle Storm’s 2004 championship season, you will find an incredible array of items that cover four separate showcases.
67. Local Vine
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 441-6000
Address: 2520 2nd Ave. (Central)
Description: This Belltown spot is a comfortable place to enjoy wine, food, and conversation. More than 100 wines by the glass are available, along with a nice small plates selection and Wi-Fi. The owners have aimed to make it as much a comfortable place to hang out as that of a local coffee shop, and you will usually find neighborhood residents doing just that. The fireplaces are just the extra draw necessary to entice long visits on rainy Seattle days. The Local Vine also offers many wine tasting events, as well as wine and food discovery classes.
68. Portalis Wine Bar
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 783-2007
Address: 5205 Ballard Ave. NW (North)
Description: Portalis is a great little combination of a retail wine shop and wine bar where you can sit and enjoy a glass or flight, along with a menu of small plates to nosh on. Selections from around the globe and in every price range are available, with free wine consultations. For those who are not big wine aficionados, an amazing selection of 30 artisan beers is also available.
69. Purple Café And Wine Bar
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 829-2280
Address: 1225 4th Ave. (Central)
Description: The most striking aspect of this stylish wine bar is the huge, towering column of a wine rack that stretches up to the two-story ceiling, with a curved staircase winding along it for server access. It’s quite dramatic, and although Purple is less intimate than many wine bars, the sheer selection makes up for it. The seasonal Northwest cuisine almost stands up to the stellar wine varieties.
70. Smash Wine Bar & Bistro
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 547-3232
Address: 1401 N. 45th St. (North)
Description: This small neighborhood spot in the Green Lake area features a nice selection of flights and wines by the glass, and there is always a Sommelier’s Selection of Washington picks. For non–wine drinkers, a nice selection of martinis and excellent beers is also available. The plates are outstanding, from crispy gingered calamari to duck and shiitake spring rolls. Various tastings and other events occur frequently.
71. Swirl Wine Bar
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (206) 327-9221
Address: 3217 W. McGraw St. (Central)
Description: Although there’s generally not a lot in Magnolia outside the peaceful family neighborhoods and beloved Discovery Park, Swirl provides a cozy wine bar in the quiet area. It’s a casual but elegant space with friendly service. A good selection of wines by the glass and fairly extensive bottle selection are on offer, along with a nice assortment of cheese and meat plates, as well as Theo chocolates.