Madison Pub

Head south from Seattle to find White Center's first LGBTQ+ bar, The Lumber Yard, which serves a growing community of diverse queer folk. Visitors usually head straight for the main floor bar, where craft cocktails, draft beers, and premium wines are served throughout the day by friendly bartenders. When you've enjoyed your favourite drinks, be sure to head downstairs for good food and a quieter atmosphere that lends itself to conversation. There's even an outdoor patio if you prefer some fresh air.

Pony has a slightly vintage dive bar feel as the club is housed in a 1930s gas station, but the space has been transformed to suit the modern LGBTQ+ community in all its glory. Whoever chooses the music has a perfectly diverse taste, from hip hop to pop, that keeps the dance floor going into the early hours. Unique features such as a retractable roof and a fire pit put Pony firmly on the map all year round.

This multiplex complex serves as a "community living room", dedicated to a diverse but masculine crowd. There's something for everyone to enjoy, from billiards and darts on the main floor, an outdoor patio space, and "the dog run" where people just gather for a chat. The Cuff is the home of many of Seattle's fetish groups as well as the bear and biker community, but everyone is welcome and accepted.

Unicorn and its sibling bar Narwhal stand loud and proud in the heart of Capitol Hill. Each bar is extravagantly carnival themed, with quirky and colourful decor, pinball arcade, photo booth, and even carnival themed food. All this food and drink, including magical themed cocktails, is created and served with a bit of humour to match the truly unique space. Events are hosted here regularly, serving as an escape from life's stresses.

Diesel is Seattle's premier bar for bears and their admirers, and it's completely gay owned and operated so the friendly staff know how to make your night enjoyable. The bar is proud to be "by bears, for bears", conveniently located in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood where you can find your crowd. It has a heavy masculine influence but a laidback vibe that makes everyone feel at home, from stereotypical bears and bikers to those who just want to meet them.

This favourite Capitol Hill dive bar is relatively small but full of personality. For decades it has stuck with classic decor, traditional drinks, and a no-nonsense vibe. This is a bar that's become a local institution by hosting many a tipsy karaoke night over the years, and it remains as popular today as it was back then. You know you'll always be welcomed in and there will always be new friends to meet at the bar with strong cocktails.