Seattle's 11 Best Drinking Neighborhoods, Ranked

Sure , we have thebest - named trolley car line ever , and two whole new light rail stations … but Seattle ’s public transportation still kind of sucks . This means that in gain to underage inconveniences like incredibly bad traffic congestion – or the high public parking fee in the state – occupier of The Town have a literal job : unless you want to shell out half your paycheck for an Uber back menage , when you go out drinking you pretty much have topick one neighborhood . And stay there . Luckily , we ’re here to help reduce the impact of this fearful public insurance policy failure … by order the 11 best drink locality in Seattle .

11. The University District

As long as you stay aside from position that specialize in slinging tinny beers to college students ( count at you Earl ’s on the Ave ) , and stick to august drinking establishments like the College Inn Pub or the Blue Moon , you ’ll be in good deal . Speaking of Blue Moon , it ’s not only one of theoldest bars in Seattle , and one ofthe good dive bars in country , it was a ducky of Beat poet like Allen Ginsberg , Dylan Thomas , and Roethke .

10. The International District

No matter how much light we disgorge on say , thebest places to deplete in the ID , Seattle ’s interlingual rendition Chinatown can be a confusing and an intimidate position to go drinking . Well , until you ’re carry up at Fort St. George late night downing Youshoku - style eats ( Japanese choose on westerly dishes like spaghetti topped with roe ) , along with bum & steady cocktails like the gin rummy / fruit Momotaro , aka the mythical Japanese Italian sandwich Peach Boy . Trust us , go here and you ’ll wonder why you even went drinking anywhere else .

9. Queen Anne

The top of Queen Anne is essentially an upscale island drift above the metropolis , and inhabited by surprisingly heavy drinking young professionals who , when they ’re not lurch the ' hoods safeway ( once named the best place in Seattle to meet singles ) are mail up in boozers that have seemingly been there forever . Mostly ‘cause they do a pretty darn good job of it .

8. West Seattle

West Seattle ’s really three dissimilar neighborhoods : there ’s Alki , which is lined with mostly divey beach hang that more than make up for their deficiency of mundaneness with sprawling patios – or roof decks . Then there ’s the Admiral District and the Junction on either goal of California Ave , where you ’ll find favorable saloon of all case ranging from some of Seattle ’s salutary beer bars ( Beveridge Place , Prost ! ) , to a Mexican restaurant ( Mission ) that ’ll fain make you one of the right margarita in the metropolis .

7. Phinney Ridge/Greenwood

We ’re kind of cheating by compound these two ' hoods , but what ’s a trip across 85th between friends ? Especially when , together , they ’ve got everything from award - winning breweries ( Naked City ) , to honest-to-god - school diving like Sully ’s Snowgoose Saloon , classic beer bars ( 74th Street , Über Tavern ) , and a short ton of other interesting spots like The Yard , with its sprawling , uh , yard out front . And let ’s not blank out the schooling - themed Teachers Lounge .

6. Lower Queen Anne

No , we ’re not calling this neighbourhood " Uptown " no matter how heavy city officials taste and make us , and quite frankly they must have been doing a lot of booze at Peso ’s – which sell more strong drink than any other bar in the state – if they ever thought we would . Seriously .

5. Fremont

Bar - wise , allow ’s break it down : Quoin is tie to one of Seattle ’s safe restaurants , and serves said restaurant ’s hard to get ramen every Clarence Shepard Day Jr. during felicitous hr ; Brouwer ’s is one ofthe city ’s effective beer bars , and Fremont Brewing is probablyThe Town ’s top brewage maker . But honestly , we prefer the ' hood ’s quirkier spots like Add - a - formal amusement , which is ostensibly a cellar fulfil with old colonnade games that happens to sell beer , or Woodsky ’s , which is a ( inexplicably ) skiing - themed sports prevention complete with four - person shot skis .

4. Pioneer Square

Fifteen years ago Pioneer Square would have topped this list . No doubt . And it is still a majuscule place to go drink on game days ( do n’t miss Quality Athletics or Fuel ) , or after employment ( Intermezzo Carmine or E. Smith Mercantile are a kickshaw ) , but sadly it is not closely the previous - night destination it used to be . That does n’t mean it does n’t have some seriously good bars ( the subterranean Pharmacy might be one of the most underrated spot in the city ) though , or that you ca n’t still head to the J&M and company like it ’s 1999 ' til close .

3. Belltown

As long as you vamoose the more touristy First Ave in favor of the three or four block strip along Second – where you may find everything from boisterous bars ( Rabbit Hole ) and refined drinking establishments ( Clever Bottle ) , to serious cocktail slingers ( Bathtub Gin , The Upstairs ) and seriously popular spots ( Wakefield Bar , Bell + Whete ) – you ’ll have yourself a great nighttime . Especially if you stop it atSeattle ’s best nose dive , The 5 Point . Breakfast happy hour anyone ?

2. Capitol Hill

The problem with Capitol Hill ? There are too many nifty bars , spread over too gravid an expanse . badly , it should be split into around six neighborhoods : Melrose , where The Still and Sun Liquor are n’t to be missed ; Summit ( Single Shot and the other Sun Liquor ) ; Olive Way , which pack Montana , Knee High Stocking Co. , and more into just a few mental block ; Broadway , whichwe’ve been over already , 15th Ave ( Liberty ! ) , and yes , Pike / Pine , because it ’s not like you could go along on Canon , one of America ’s in effect whiskey bars in America , or Tavern Law , or … you get the musical theme .

1. Ballard

Just walk up the tree diagram - trace Ballard Ave and you ’ll rule a cocktail bar helmed by Seattle ’s hottest chef ( Barnacle ) , a two - account fun bar ( The Loft ) , the oldest Irish taphouse in the city ( Conor Byrne ) , one of the city ’s near cocktails bars masquerading as a Scots pub ( Macleod ’s ) , a slew of refined drinking establishments ( Percy ’s , The Sexton ) , address bars ( Bastille ) , and previous - school honkytonk ( Tractor Tavern , Hattie ’s Hat ) , PLUS a bunch more spots we do n’t have the outer space to name . And that ’s just one street . And that , friends , is why this former sportfishing small town is number one on our list .