Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
For many people, this is the pinnacle of Seattle nightlife. Others say it's
been completely ruined by an influx of hipsters who then departed, leav-
ing frat boys in their wake. Whichever view you hold, Belltown is defin-
itely not the sketchy grungeville it once was, but it still has the advantage
of numerous bars lined up in tidy rows that lend themselves to all-night
bar-hopping.
SHORTY'S
DIVE BAR
(
www.shortydog.com
;
2222 2nd Ave; noon-2am; 13)
Shorty's is all about beer, pinball
and music, which is punk and metal mostly. A remnant of Belltown's grungier days that
refuses to become an anachronism, it keeps the lights low (to cover the grime?) and the
music loud. Pinball machines are built into every table and very basic snacks (hot dogs,
nachos) soak up the beer.
FIVE POINT CAFÉ
DIVE BAR, DINER
( 206-448-9993; 415 Cedar St; 24hr; 3)
Not 'retro,' just old and endearingly grim,
the Five Point Café in Tilikum Sq has been around since 1929, and so have many of its
patrons. Half diner, half bar and too worn-in to be mistaken for hip, it's where seasoned
barflies and young punks go to get wasted, any time of day.
Check out the men's bathroom: 'allegedly' the urinal offers a periscope view of the
Space Needle.
RENDEZVOUS
BAR
( 206-441-5823;
www.rendezvousseattle.com
; 2320 2nd Ave; 13)
This classy place has a
curved bar up the front and a small theater in the back room. Emblematic of the chic
makeover of Belltown, the
Jewel Box Theater
was once a slightly grubby venue for
