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Text and photos to nightclubs and nightlife with a local's insight to the best bars, clubs and pubs.

PubClubbing and Nightlife in Seattle

There's a bit of Vegas glitz in Seattle's nighclubbing dance scene.

• Seattle's Best Bars and Clubs
• Bars and Pubs Guide

For years, the hottest place in Seattle's club scene was Thursday nights at Belltown Billiards in Belltown. An upscale pool hall, it brought in a DJ, made room for a dance floor and watched the young and single crowd roll in like a cue ball on a scratch shot. Those not there by 10 faced a long wait at the door. Now, that day has switched to Wednesdays.

On Thursdays, people now go around the corner. Club Medusa, (1st and Bell) is where Vegas meets Seattle. It has laser lights, fog machines, dancers in cages and patrons on large, open dance floor with boundless energy. People take breaks – and drinks – at the bar off to the side, where the pulsating techno gives way to conversation. Thursday is Ladies Night (no cover for skirts) but it's also happening on weekends.

Nightclubs in Seattle rarely rely on this type of showmanship, yet it's a nice change of pace. Generally speaking, the clubs are more about the crowd, the music and the dancing. Attitudes from doormen and patrons are as rare as sunshine in February. Also, unlike many cities, the number of clubs is quite manageable. There's only about a dozen, and many are concentrated in a single area. We also provide bars in the alternative, funky section, as well as others scattered about town:

• Pioneer Square
• Lower Queen Anne/Looking for Lust
• Capitol Hill and Gay Bars
• Live Music

Pioneer Square [MAP]

People line up to get into the spacious Bohemian Cafe.

The Back Door draws a different crowd every night so make sure it's not gay/lesbian night or straight people may feel out of place. This can be a lot of fun on the right nights. It's decorated with random garage sale finds and has great music. The door is practically hidden on Yessler.

Bohemian has the reggae/hip-hop set covered with more security than Sea-Tac. Not really the "bling, bling" set you expect, just a chill spot to dance with the honeys and listen to the Snoop to Nelly...with just a cool vibe, no matter what the color, style, or whatever. It's PubClub.com's Best Dance Club.

Just around the corner is The Last Supper Club. It has two floors of rave, techno, and some funk/soul/hip-hop. It's fun because the "trendy eye candy" is out on the prowl. It's the most likely place in Seattle to walk out with an Anna Kournikova look-alike.

Catwalk is also packed and has a well-deserved pickup reputation. In fact, we've named it our Best Pick-up Club.

Old Timer's Cafe is notorious for having 60's-80's cover bands. It's fun when you're hammered and need to release some energy.

Lower Queen Anne/Looking for Lust

Polly Esther's is popular, especially as last call approaches.

Watertown (used to be Romper Room) is like being in a scene from "The Sopranos" – Large black leather booths and red lights for decor. There's also a huge dance floor. Saturday is college night.

Polly Esther's (5th and Harrison, Queen Anne) is a bit tacky, a mix of locals and tourists and is heavy on bachlorette parties. One stage plays '70s music and another '80s. Look over the disco ball from the upstairs balcony. It has a reputation among locals as being a fairly easy pickup joint, serving for many as kind of a "last chance saloon."

Capitol Hill and Gay Bars

Primarily, the gay and lesbian bars are concentrated in Capitol Hill around Broadway and Pike. There are a few straight and mixed bars sprinkled here as well.

For straight people, Linda's is a neighborhood rustic dive in the Old West style. It has pool, a buffalo head behind the wall, wagon wheel light fixtures, etc. Check it out for Happy Hour (5-7). Charlie's has strong drinks and a great Happy Hour. The Comet is another straight bar; it's a long-standing Seattle tradition with bands.The Bad Juju Club has a mixed, mostly rock crowd. A DJ plays all rock music, with Saturday nights being 80's, 90's metal. The Vogue is next door, so the goth crowd drifts in & out. There are a few gay/lesbians that mix in with the crowd.

The Broadway Bar & Grill has a mixed crowd and Happy Hour twice a day. Not so at The Cuff Complex, where it's all gay. The Complex is heavy on leather, has a laser show, four bars, a patio and restaurant.The Wildrose is a lesbian club known for its drag shows.

Live Music [MAP]

The Crocodile Café (2nd Second Avenue and Blanchard Street in Belltown) is where up-and-coming Seattle bands take the stage. It is the original home of Seattle's grunge music scene, from Pearl Jam to Mudhoney and the Posies.

Seattle Clubs Locations

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