Seattle Gay Bars

A relaxed gay sports bar in Capitol Hill with pool, darts, video games, and TVs playing local games. Great for low-key drinks, trivia nights, and catching up with regulars.

The Wildrose is Seattle's only lesbian bar, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood at 1021 E Pike Street. In 2024, the bar celebrated its 40th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running lesbian bars in the United States. The Wildrose opened on New Year's Eve 1984, founded by a collective of five women led by Bryher Herak, who wanted to create a safe, welcoming space specifically for women.

The bar has evolved over the years to meet changing tastes. When Manning and Brothers took over in the early 2000s, one of their first actions was to remove what they considered cliché lesbian music from the jukebox, including Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls, noting that "'Come to My Window' played endlessly."

Located in the bustling Capitol Hill area, you'll find plenty of other gay nightlife nearby.

Walking into Unicorn feels like stepping into a technicolor circus fever dream. The décor is a maximalist fantasy – think carousel animals mounted on walls, vintage circus posters, candy-colored striped walls, and enough taxidermy to make you do a double-take. Every inch of the space celebrates the weird and wonderful, making it an Instagram paradise before Instagram was even a thing.

The main floor (Unicorn) offers a lively bar scene with pinball machines and carnival-inspired comfort food. Their famous "Unicorn Balls" (deep-fried mac and cheese balls) and "Narwhal Balls" (jalapeño hush puppies) are must-tries, while their over-the-top cocktails come in colors you didn't know existed in nature.

Venture downstairs to the Narwhal Bar for an even more intimate space featuring additional games, a small dance floor, and a slightly darker, moodier vibe that still maintains the whimsical theme.

Located just a short walk from other popular Capitol Hill gay spots like Neighbours and R Place, Unicorn makes an ideal starting point for exploring Seattle's gay nightlife scene.

Queer Bar (stylized as Queer/Bar) is a bar catering to the queer community located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. It was established in 2017, replacing Purr Cocktail Lounge (another gay bar which had relocated).

The venue regularly hosts drag shows, including performances every Friday and Saturday at 9:30 PM. They feature various entertainment options and community events.

The bar is organized around a long catwalk and has become the de facto drag bar in Capitol Hill. Weekdays tend to be more relaxed with a local crowd, while weekends transform into full-scale parties.

CC Attle's (or sometimes simply CC's) is a gay bar located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The bar provides a laid-back atmosphere with regular entertainment such as open mic nights and an outdoor patio area. The bar is particularly popular with bears and older guys in Seattle's gay scene.

Union Seattle, or simply Union, is a gay bar and cocktail lounge located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The LGBTQ-owned establishment was opened in 2018 by Nathan Benedict, Mark Engelmann, and Steve Nyman.

Union features cocktails and food in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with a garden patio, bar, and fireplace lounge. Union's menu includes pizzas, burgers, salads, and sandwiches, along with beer, spirits, and wine.

The Seattle Eagle is a much-loved institution. Seattle Eagle, or simply The Eagle, is a gay bar located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. It's an LGBT-owned establishment that caters to the leather subculture and is the city's oldest leather bar.

The Eagle has a long history in Seattle. The original owners took over a mid-century lounge called Le Chateau in 1980, later renaming it J&L Saloon with a stylized eagle on the sign and the motto "DARE TO BE DIFFERENT."

The Seattle Eagle hosts regular events, including underwear night, seasonal events, and makeup parties (held every third Friday at 9 PM).  Historically, the venue has hosted theme nights such as "Underbear", "Vibrator", and "Western", as you'd expect from an Eagle venue.

A no-frills bear bar with strong drinks, pool tables, and low lighting. Diesel is popular with Seattle’s burly boys and their fans: bears, in other words.

The Raygun Lounge is a gaming bar in the heart of Seattle. They define themselves as "a full service tabletop game lounge" featuring large, spacious well-lit tables. The venue offers arcade games and pinball, along with food and drink options such as naan sandwiches, samosas, beer, coffee, and wine.

This compact LGBTQ+ nightspot is Seattle's oldest gay / dive bar, blessing the city with its great atmosphere and laid-back vibes since 1948. Cheap drinks, rotating performers, and a very come-as-you-are vibe.

An LGBTQ+ & friends pub in Seattle operating since 1989. Daily food menu and happy hour specials, games, DJs, and karaoke on Sundays. Changes boasts "the best happy hour in Seattle" running from 12-7 every day with $3 single and $5 double well drinks.