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Nightlife:

A

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Nightlife Grades:

Quick Stats

Useful Resources for Nightlife

  • www.gotime.com
  • www.nwsource.com/music/guides/udistrict_pubs.html
  • www.pubclub.com/pacificnw/seattlepc.htm
  • www.seattle.com/nightlife
  • The Seattle Times
  • The Stranger
  • The UW Daily

Student Favorites

  • The Baltic Room
  • The Chapel Bar
  • College Inn Pub
  • Earl's on the Ave
  • Finn MacCool's
  • Fourno's Greek Restaurant & Bar
  • Irish Emigrant
  • Peso's Kitchen & Lounge
  • Red Door

Primary Areas with Nightlife

  • The Ave
  • Ballard
  • Belltown
  • Capitol Hill
  • Pioneer Square
  • Queen Anne

Other Places to Check Out

  • 74th Street Alehouse
  • Attic Alehouse and Eatery
  • Axis
  • Back Door
  • Bad Juju Club
  • Bohemia
  • Broadway Bar & Grill
  • Burk’s Café
  • The Ballroom
  • Café Allegro
  • Catwalk
  • Charlie’s
  • Crocodile Café
  • Cuff Complex
  • The Comet
  • Dad Waatson’s
  • Dubliner
  • Duchess Tavern
  • El Camino
  • F.X. McRory’s
  • Fado Irish Pub
  • Galway Arms
  • Hale’s Ales Brewery & Pub
  • J&M Café & Card Club
  • Jillian’s Billiard Club
  • Kell’s Pub
  • Last Supper Café
  • Linda’s
  • The Lakeside
  • Marcus’ Martini Heaven
  • Monkey Pub
  • Murphy’s Pub
  • Ohana Gril
  • Owl and Thistle
  • Pyramid Alehouse
  • R Place
  • Rainbow Bar and Grill
  • Red Hook Brewery
  • Rock Bottom Brewery
  • Tempero de Brasil
  • The Triangle
  • Tini Biggs
  • The Vogue
  • Watertown
  • Wild Rose

Favorite Drinking Games

  • Beer pong
  • Card games (A$$hole, Kings, F the Dealer)
  • Power Hour
  • Quarters

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Earl’s on the Ave is probably the best bet because they’re known for very stiff drinks at reasonable prices. However, every bar has daily specials so make sure to look at those before ordering.

College Prowler Take

Seattle has a fabulous nightlife, and there’s practically always a new place to try. Seattle has a wide variety of everything, from pubs to clubs. College Inn and Finn McCool’s are popular student hangouts because of the fairly lax but rowdy atmosphere. On campus, there are always plenty of frat parties to be found on Thursday nights. Because UW is largely a commuter school, the majority of Greek partying takes place on Thursday, when students are still around finishing up the week. Thursday can be fun because often four or five frats throw parties, and because they’re all in competition with one another, it’s easy to find a good party with lots of people and plenty of dancing. Of course, the biggest hook of frat parties is the free alcohol, usually shots or cheap beer.

Outside of campus, students find ripe material for the night of their 21st birthdays. The typical 21 run consists of starting at the College Inn and moving up the Avenue, which has multiple good spots to try. Another nice thing about the local nightlife is the range of prices. There are plenty of upscale bars that’ll wreak havoc on your wallet, but there are also plenty of places where it’s easy to have a good time without wasting too much of the precious and all-too-limited college expenditures. Just get a pitcher of beer and share it with a bunch of friends. In all, Seattle nightlife is rich with options.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

UWBF says:

University of Washington 2016

Communication and Journalism

UW parties are primarily in the...

UW parties are primarily in the Greek System. Basically, if you're a girl, you have it made. Girls may attend frat parties, yet do not have to be a member of the Greek System. Guys in the dorms or apartments can only go to frat parties if they are on the list or know someone there, etc. If you want to attend frat parties a lot as a guy, you have to pretty much join a frat. There aren't too many bars or clubs near UW; that's more of a downtown thing. House parties happen as well, but you have to know people.

Nightlife: April 03, 2009
Report

UWTS says:

University of Washington 2013

Communication and Journalism

There are no parties on campus....

There are no parties on campus. College Inn (great on a cold night for a game of pool and a pitcher of beer), Earl's (cheap and stiff drinks), Finn's (karaoke), Fournos (great music, and their lemonade is amazing) are all great spots on the Ave.

Nightlife: February 21, 2009
Report

Anonymous says:

For night fun, simply go meet your...

For night fun, simply go meet your Greek friends and party with them, or go to one of the many clubs in downtown Seattle. Since I’m not 21, I haven’t been to any really good bars or clubs. The Lakeside on Lakeside Road is a pretty good bar/club; they have good drinks and it’s a pretty big building, overall. My freshman year, I partied at the frats every opportunity that I got. ATO’s is a good frat. It has hot boys, good drinks, and good music. Delta Tau Delta also has a foam party every year that is absolutely insane with three hot-tubs, hundreds, if not thousands, of people partying like crazy, and plenty of booze to go around. That party is a must-go for anyone.

Nightlife
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Anonymous says:

Who can resist a frat party? I...

Who can resist a frat party? I mean, you have to go at least once, right? It’s not bad for dancing with friends at least, but don’t get attached to frat guys—they are always trouble.

Nightlife
Report

Anonymous says:

There are a lot of parties on...

There are a lot of parties on campus and lots of clubs nearby—Pioneer Square is nice because it has a lot of clubs close to each other.

Nightlife
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Facts

Organization Parties

House parties are always rockin the U-District. If you’re a fairly social person and get to know people, it’s easy to get word of mouth about parties. Often, a sports team will host a party, and they can get pretty wild—the crew team is infamous for their rowdy parties. Baseball, rugby, and swim teams also often have parties at a team member’s house. Freshman year, it’s really helpful to make friends with sophomores and upperclassmen who live in houses or know more people who live in houses. Also, as cramped as the dorms are, some people pull off some pretty sweet dorm parties. Get to know the RA (Resident Advisor) on your floor, so that if things get rowdy, you can talk to them and reason with them.

Club Listings

Trinity has two levels, three separate rooms and a large VIP section. With unique décor and lighting, Trinity offers lots of different types of music and plenty of space to get your groove on.

Trinity Nightclub

111 Yesler Way

Belltown

(206) 447-4140

www.trinitynightclub.com

This club offers a dance floor, various DJ offerings, and three fully-equipped bars. There’s also VIP seating and a lounge that overlooks the dance floor (complete with leather couches).

Venom

2218 Western Ave.

Belltown

(206) 448-8887

www.venomseattle.com

Belltown Billiards is an upscale pool hall in the heart of Belltown. They serve Italian cuisine and have live music Sunday and Thursday nights. The real nights to be there, however, are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, when they bring in a DJ, make room for a dance floor, and attract a huge young and single crowd. It’s particularly fun on Wednesday nights, because there’s less going on at other clubs and bars, and so people crowd in at Belltown Billiards. It’s also good for private parties and hosts groups from 20 to 400.

Belltown Billiards

90 Blanchard St.

Belltown

(206) 448-6779

belltownseattle.com

Heaven is known for their diverse music selection and entertainment acts. Magicians and belly dancers perform on certain nights, and there is dancing and lounging space.

Heaven Nightclub

172 S. Washington St.

Pioneer Square

(206) 622-1863

www.heavenseattle.com

Bar Listings

The city’s best comedy club. It’s got a great atmosphere, and it’s hard to find an act that falls flat. They bring in seasoned veterans, as well as local amateur nights, but it’s always funny. It’s a great place to go when you feel like something a little different. Drinks are pricey, but strong. All ages for the early show (8 p.m.), 21-and-over for the late show (10 p.m.)

Giggles Comedy Club

5220 Roosevelt Way NE

University District

(206) 526-5653

www.gigglescomedyclub.com

A huge favorite with UW kids. It’s a casual atmosphere that gets fairly loud and rowdy if you go on the right night. There are a nice set of pool tables upstairs, and after all’s said and done, it’s Seattle’s most authentic Irish pub. You get the real deal with song, food, dance, and drink. (It’s 21-and-over after 10 p.m.)

Irish Emigrant

5260 University Way NE

University District

(206) 525-2955

Flowers has kind of an artsy, meditative feel to it, like a lot of kids from the drama department might hang out there. It’s a good place to chill, and the atmosphere is definitely more low-key—it’s not the rowdy drunkenness that is Earl’s. There’s good food, and it’s definitely more of a sit-down place, with comfy seats very conducive to intimate conversations. A nice place to bring a date or a small group of friends.

Flowers Bar and Restaurant

4247 University Way NE

University District

(206) 633-1903

A favorite on Thursday nights, Fournos is a Greek restaurant that turns into a club at night. They have great drink specials and pretty quality dance music. Their specialty: $4 Fournos Lemonade.

Fourno's Greek Restaurant & Bar

4733 University Way

(206) 729-5195

A great place for large groups, Red Door has a lot of tables and is a great place to relax with friends. In the summer time, the outdoor patio/bar is open and there’s lots of drink and food choices. They offer daily food specials in addition to a Happy Hour on weekdays.

Red Door

3401 Evanston Ave.

Fremont

(206) 547-7521

www.reddoorseattle.com

Known as Belltown’s Best Happy Hour, Twist offers food and drink specials from 4-11p.m. Sunday to Thursday and Friday and Saturday from 4-7p.m. A little bit classier than the bars in Fremont or the Ave, Twist is a small lounge with great views and a sophisticated style.

Twist at the Pomeroy

2313 1st Ave.

Belltown

(206) 448-9478

www.twistbelltown.com

Peso's Kitchen & Lounge

605 Queen Anne Ave. N

(206) 283-9353

pesoskitchen.com

Probably the closest thing to an official Husky sports bar, UW fans definitely frequent this joint. It’s a nice bar with comfy seats and plenty of big screens for the viewing. At game time, the place gets as packed as the stadium—and often, just as rowdy. They serve microbrews and a wide variety of American brew. This place has a lot of energy, and it’s no coincidence they call it Seattle’s best damn sports bar.

The Ram Restaurant & Big Horn Brewery

2650 NE University Village St.

(206) 525-3565

www.theram.com

Finn MacCool's

4217 University Way NE

(206) 675-0885

www.finnmaccools.com

If you’re looking for a fun place to drink and dance, try The Baltic Room in Capitol Hill. Every night has a different theme and music genre, so check the website before you go. There’s some seating available but this is generally a place you go to drink heavily and show off your dance moves. It’s also available to rent for private parties.

The Baltic Room

1207 Pine St.

Capitol Hill

(206) 625-4444

www.thebalticroom.net

Located at the south end of the Ave, the antique bar, vintage beer signs, and wooden floors create an atmosphere where you’re just as likely to run into your buddies as a prof or TA. At all times, they have 10 of their own house brews on tap, with a selection that varies depending on the season.

Big Time Brewery & Alehouse

4133 University Way NE

University District

(206) 545-4509

This sports bar attracts flocks of students and sports fans. During big televised Husky football and basketball games, it gets pretty crowded, and it’s usually significantly male-dominated. Right off the Ave., the space is bright and open and the walls are scattered with TVs tuned to ESPN. On Friday and Saturday nights, the place looks quite a bit different—more like a night club. Middle-aged guys are just as likely as college kids to frequent this spot. Beer is the typical drink of choice, and a menu of standard bar food and appetizers keeps customers coming back.

All American Sports Bar & Grill

4333 University Way NE

University District

(206) 545-7801

Located in Fremont, Ballroom offers a wide variety of fun activities. They have six pool tables, a fire pit and an outdoor bar. Guests can also take advantage of the dance floor on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in addition to their flat screen tv’s and food options.

Ballrooom

456 36th St.

Fremont

(206) 634-2575

www.ballroomfremont.com

This sports bar is largely game-oriented. It offers games from shuffleboard to pool to video games and darts, and even hosts some trivia games for groups of friends. It’s got big tables, tons of space, and just enough personality to make things interesting. Dante’s definitely makes a good hang out spot for a group of tight-knit friends. Happy hour: Monday–Friday 4–6 p.m. (21-and-over after 8 p.m.)

Dante’s Steak & Grog

5300 Roosevelt Way NE

University District

(206) 525-1300

www.dantesseattle.net

This place is a dive, but there are advantages. They make the drinks so strong that there’s a sign at the bar telling you to order them weak if that’s how you want them. For many college students with the one goal of getting wasted for cheap, there’s no better place to be. It’s a good place to meet people and a great place to unwind.

Earl’s on the Ave

4333 University Ave.

University District

(206) 525-4493

www.earlsuw.com

The Chapel Bar

1600 Melrose Ave.

(206) 447-4180

www.chapelseattle.com

UW students have come here for years. It’s surprisingly big, and it breaks down into three rooms. The main room has pool tables and darts, the back room has tables with chessboards, and a smaller back room is opened up for overflow. That room is open more often than not. The entire pub is below ground. Stick with brew here—the mixed drinks are drinkable, but you can’t go wrong with a beer.

College Inn Pub

4006 University Way NE

University District

(206) 634-2307

www.collegeinnseattle.com

What to Do if You're Not 21

If you aren’t 21, you’re limited to house/frat parties but these can be fun especially if they have themes. Can’t find a good party? Have your own! Do not try your luck at bars if you’re not 21. Fake id’s are frequently confiscated and never returned.

House parties

An 18-and-over club where local DJs spin for a well-dressed (dress code enforced at the door) crowd of high-school students and young adults. The club serves no alcohol, but they do sell expensive non-alcoholic drinks. The dance floor fits about 200 people, you can play pool alternately, and every now and then, DV8 hosts local bands. It’s not always a solely young crowd, but it may seem a little tiresome for college kids. It’s worth a try, though, and if you bring enough friends, you can make your own fun on the dance floor. Open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

DV8

131 Taylor Ave. N.

Belltown

(206) 448-0888

Did You Know?

There’s a great website that allows you to search for bars, nightclubs, or restaurants in Seattle by neighborhood, cuisine, and hours. It’ll also tell you exactly how many venues are having happy hours at the time you’re logged on. Check out www.gotime.com for more information. 
 

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