Dining and Drinking

Seattle is a city growing up. Neighborhoods like the University District, Ballard, Fremont and Capitol Hill attract younger crowds of students and artists with diverse tastes and small budgets. Downtown Seattle and Belltown have become hot spots for new entrepreneurs, high-tech employees and anyone else with extra spending money.

Belltown

One of the fastest-growing and trendiest downtown neighborhoods, Belltown is a popular hangout for yuppies. Hip restaurants here include Flying Fish and Shiro's.

Capitol Hill

This neighborhood is known for the numerous shops and theaters along Broadway Avenue and for the variety of alternative lifestyles it welcomes. Tasty bites include Pagliacci Pizza and the popular Siam on Broadway, which serves excellent Thai food. If you're in the mood for a casual night out or a hangover breakfast, head to Linda's Tavern. Relax at a booth with friends, shoot a game of pool with the regulars or get some fresh air on the patio out back. For a swanky, sultry night, rock the casbah at The Capitol Club. The Mediterranean menu and romantic vibe make it a great date spot. Capitol Hill, known for its close-knit gay community, also has some of the best dance clubs in Seattle. For an all-out, get-down-and-boogie experience go to Neighbours, a primarily gay bar, for dancing into the night. Or try The Baltic Room for top-notch live shows and a stylish crowd. Nearby sits the Comet Tavern where an entertaining mix of people go for beer and pool.

Fremont/Ballard

Continuing westward, the nightlife seeker enters the quaint districts of Fremont and Ballard. In Fremont, drink a beer at the Dubliner, an authentic Irish pub. If you're in the mood for a mellow evening, sip coffee in the Still Life Coffeehouse, a Seattle classic. West of Fremont in Ballard, Irish pubs and seafood abound. Enjoy Irish brews at Conor Byrne's Pub or Bad Albert's Tap & Grill. For more elegant dining make your way to Shilsole Bay, where good restaurants like Ray's Boathouse line the shores of Puget Sound, offering great views and delicious seafood.

Midtown and Waterfront

Don't miss downtown dining, but do bring your credit cards because prices are higher here than elsewhere in the city. The Brooklyn offers a happy hour oyster and beer selection. Fine dining establishments on the piers of Elliott Bay include Anthony's Pier 66 & Bell Street Diner, Elliott's Oyster House and The Seattle Crab Company. For a little less pretense and expense, try Red Robin. Other noteworthy downtown restaurants include Wild Ginger and Dragonfish Asian Café. Pacific Place, an upscale shopping mall, features famous chain restaurants like the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company.

Pioneer Square

Most of the nightlife in downtown Seattle clusters around the famous Pioneer Square. On weekends, this four-block radius fills up with college students, beer enthusiasts, local band fans, jazz devotees, sports fans and others. By paying a single joint cover charge during the weekend, one can enter any of nine affiliated Pioneer Square bars and clubs including the Central Saloon, one of Seattle's oldest taverns. The Last Supper Club is also a popular spot in the downtown nightlife, offering a trendy New York-style club experience. Showbox, northeast of Pioneer Square, is a large nightclub featuring highly regarded DJs on weekends and nationally-known bands on other nights.

University District

This is a favorite area for diners and drinkers on smaller budgets. Check out "The Ave" (University Way) for vegetarian restaurants like Flowers, which serves a lovely vegetarian buffet during the day and great mixed drinks at night. The Ave has cuisines for all tastes: Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese among others. Barhopping on the Ave is popular as well. Join student crowds for beer at the Big Time Brewery then shoot some pool at the College Inn Pub. About six blocks west lies the popular Rainbow Bar & Grill, which features local and national jazz, rock and blues acts.

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