Heading up to Seattle but don’t know where to go for the best queer bar-hopping experience? Never fear! We spent a night in Capitol Hill, the Emerald City’s most fabulous neighborhood, and cultivated the perfect pub crawl for you. Your friends will think you’re an event-planning genius!
The Cuff Complex
First up on our list is a Seattle institution for the LGBTQ+ community. Established in 1993, The Cuff is one of the oldest spots in the city for queer kiddos to dance, laugh, sing, and gallivant. This Seattle treasure is more than just a club; it stands as a space for LGBTQ+ folks to come frolic together with no sense of judgment or malice.
The Cuff boasts four bars, a gorgeous patio, a full kitchen, darts, and pool tables for the gaming crowd, and a large dance floor begging you to leave your inhibitions behind. With the eclectic array of activities they offer, from country line dancing to karaoke, you could easily spend your entire night here!
Madison Pub
Next up on our list and a mere 3-minute walk from The Cuff is the favorite Gay Sports bar of Capitol Hill. Madison Pub is the perfect place to scratch that All-American itch to watch the game and drink pitchers of beer while the queer trivia team next to you celebrates their victory. Whether you are looking for an afternoon of pool and pinball with your buds or determined to win the darts tournament, you will always find friendly faces and supportive staff at Madison Pub.
Diesel
Diesel is the premier gay biker/bear bar in Seattle, but this isn’t just any ol’ biker bar. Here the conversation flows as freely as the no-frills beer on tap and the light fixtures and decorations are tasteful and welcoming.
Diesel is a bright and cheery place with a kitchen menu that is sure to help fuel your entire evening and soak up all those delicious cocktails. Like any reasonable establishment, they have $2 Taco Tuesdays and a Happy Hour that’ll make your heart skip. As you stroll around the corner from Madison Pub to Diesel (a short 2-minute walk), the joy and community of Capitol Hill permeate the night air.
Pony
As a self-described “very queer bar” it’s hard to imagine how any queerdo wouldn’t have fun at the illustrious Pony Bar. If you’ve just left Diesel, then you are only a 2-minute walk away from one hell of a Gay Dive! During this stroll, you will find yourself delightfully enveloped in a neighborhood abundant with culture and diversity whose spirit blooms and comes to life at night.
What was once a 1930’s vintage gas station, is now an LGBTQ+ institution paying homage to the great dives of the ’70s. Boasting a gorgeous year-round patio and frequent “theme nights,” Pony is about to become one of your go-to gay spots in Cap Hill.
Unicorn
Prepare yourself for this one y’all. If Pony is the ‘classic gay bar’ experience, then a mere 4 minute walk away is one of Seattle’s most unique LGBTQ+ spaces. It’s a carnival bar! This place offers so many exciting and unique experiences, that it’ll be tricky to pack it all into one evening. We’re talking Drag Queen Bingo, a Mimosa Cabaret, trivia nights, and weekly variety shows.
If that fanfare wasn’t enough, the moment you step foot into Unicorn, you feel transported into a magical land of pastels and pinball. Every inch of this space embraces the Big Top spirit. With a full kitchen specializing in carnival fare, while using locally sourced and fresh ingredients, this is the place to go for a night you will never want to forget.
WILDROSE
No trip to Seattle’s gayest neighborhood would be complete without visiting the renowned WILDROSE. This is the only lesbian bar in the entire city. In fact, it’s one of the oldest lesbian joints on the West Coast.
Established in 1984, the tavern is a haven for all members of the LGBTQ+ community who are looking for a night of self-expression and acceptance. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, with a hint of spicy mischief in the air. Not only is their Taco Tuesday deal to die for, but they also offer karaoke every Wednesday night! Being a minuscule 1-minute walk away from The Unicorn, this is the obvious next stop for the expert gay bar hopper.
Neighbours
Neighbours Nightclub and Lounge
18+ dance club and martini lounge 1509 Broadway · Seattle, WA 98122(206) 324-5358
Website
After all the delicious food and booze you’ve had so far on this Capitol Hill adventure, what better way to cap off the night but with a wild dance party? 3 minutes away from The Wild Rose sits Neighbors; a gay beacon of music and frivolity that will surely be the ideal end to the perfect Gay Day.
Neighbours Nightclub prides itself on being the longest-standing LGBTQ+ dance club in the city. It thrives on a cultivated environment of fun, acceptance, and positive self-expression. The venue features two full dance floors, four bars, a gorgeous patio, and a lounge area. Splash on some glitter and get out those go-go boots honey, we’re going dancing!
Late-night snacks
You’ve done it! You took this pub crawl by storm and now it’s nearly time for bed. Before we can do that though, we must get one more snack. If you’re looking for late-night food in Cap Hill (and you’ve already eaten the menu at Unicorn) then you’ve got to check out Pelicana Chicken for tasty wings, Momiji for sushi & sake, or even IHOP if nothing else will fill that pancake void.
