Seattle after dark: 11 best places for a great night out

Whether your ship sails the next day, or you just disembarked after a relaxing cruise to Alaska, if you’re looking for an exciting nightlife scene in Seattle, there are plenty of choices!

From enjoying live music to dancing the night away, or relaxing in a snug bar with your favorite person, there are options to suit every taste.

For a fun night out before or after your Seattle cruise, this Washington metropolis is the perfect place. Here are 11 of the best Seattle bars and venues.

Seattle’s nightlife caters to every nocturnal desire, offering an array of options, from cabaret to comedy, ensuring unforgettable evenings for holidaymakers enjoying a cruise from Seattle. Here are some of the best Seattle bars for a great entertainment-packed evening.

Can Can Culinary Cabaret (Pike Place Market)

Seattle’s world-class dinner theatre with some of the best dance, cabaret and burlesque shows in the heart of downtown, transporting you to another world while you watch the performances.

Teatro ZinZanni Seattle (Downtown)

Enter a realm where reality and dreams converge for an experience unlike any other — an original form of entertainment combining a unique fusion of cirque, comedy, cabaret, spectacle and live music while serving a multi-course feast.

Triple Door (Downtown)

Stellar acoustics with full bar and dinner show with jazz music and alt-country plus live music on Thursdays with no cover from 5-7pm. Triple Door is known for its luxurious atmosphere and comfortable seating, so sit back and set the tunes of Seattle wash over you.

Seattle’s live music scene pulsates with a dynamic energy, steeped in a rich history that birthed such iconic genres as grunge. From the legendary stages of The Crocodile and The Showbox to intimate venues like Neumos and the Tractor Tavern, the city’s musical landscape offers something for every taste. Emerging indie bands, established acts, and experimental artists find their home here. Find yours too – these are some of the best Seattle bars for fans of live music.

Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley (Downtown)

This bucket list venue is a landmark Seattle jazz club that has helped to define Seattle’s music scene for four decades, specializing in both legendary artists and newcomers alike.

The Royal Room (Columbia City)

An old-school Seattle jazz club with vibrant live music, jazz standards, funk, soul, R&B and experimental avant-jazz, The Royal Room serves up live music seven nights a week.

Showbox & Showbox SODO

Two mid-sized venues that have historically brought unexpected large acts and upcoming newcomers alike to the stage across every musical genre.

Sunset Tavern (Ballard)

Best Seattle dive bar where you can catch indie bands, rock, alt-country, punk and indie. The former Chinese restaurant is a now tavern boasting kitsch and unique charm.

Tractor Tavern (Ballard)

Tractor Tavern is home to some of the hippest local and national folk, bluegrass, and alt-country bands, catering to the indie-twang aesthetic where you can just walk up to the window and get tickets for the show.

Speakeasies are code for secret bars you can go to, proving to friends that you’re cool. These cozy, dark spaces offer cocktails created by talented mixologists and meals to satisfy the most discerning palates. These are some of the best Seattle bars for speakeasy lovers.

Needle & Thread (Capitol Hill)

Cocktails made to order and bites from a happy hour menu to dinner offer seasonal comfort food to match every taste. A Seattle classic not to be missed!

Deep Dive (Denny Triangle)

Located underneath the rainforest attraction also known as the Amazon Spheres, Deep Dive offers a serious cocktail menu and unique bar snacks. It’s a popular place, so reservations are encouraged.

Foreign National (Capitol Hill)

Don’t misinterpret the nondescript door because there’s a lot going on inside with a room buzzing with conversations, delicious tropical drinks and late-night bites that never want to end.

Experience Seattle’s vibrant culture after dark at its unique, fun, quirky and trendy venues with amazing entertainment, craft cocktails, favorite brews, and late-night eateries.

– READ MORE: 6 best restaurants in Seattle to try on your next cruise –