Overview
Capitol Hill is Seattle's most densely populated neighborhood and the heart of the city's counterculture. Lying directly east of the downtown retail core, Capitol Hill is unofficially bounded to the east by 23rd Ave, to the west by Interstate 5, to the south by E Union St, and to the north by E Interlaken Blvd. Included here is the neighboring district of First Hill, immediately to the south adjacent to Downtown.
The Central District is located southeast of the downtown area of Seattle and is bordered by the International District, First Hill, and Capitol Hill. It's the traditional center of Seattle's African-American population, and it has attracted young first-time homeowners from throughout the city because of the undervalued property, creating a boom in new home construction and new business. Nonetheless, it is still the center of Black culture in Seattle and has the highest concentration of black residents in the Pacific Northwest, with African-Americans making up 51% of the population. It also has a significant Ethiopian population, whose restaurants and shops reflect their culture.
Also included here are the chain of small, residential neighborhoods to the east, running along the shore of Lake Washington. From north to south, they are: Montlake, Madison Park, Madison Valley, Madrona, and Leschi. Continuing south past Interstate 90 (partially hidden in a tunnel) leads into South Seattle's Beacon Hill and Mt. Baker neighborhoods.
14 sights · 9 things to do · 23 places to eat · 33 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Capitol Hill-Central District
Northwest Nikkei Museum
Small exhibits relating to the history of nikkei (Japanese immigrants) in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Asian Art Museum
An offshoot of downtown's Seattle Art Museum, SAAM displays a portion of the permanent collection balanced with rotating, consistently well-curated special exhibitions. The focus is usually on Chinese or Japanese art, re…
Frye Art Museum
A small private collection of modern art with rotating contemporary exhibitions. Parking is always available and the place is worth a visit.
Cal Anderson Park
A very popular park on sunny days. It includes a signature fountain and pond, a basketball court, tennis and softball fields, and a playground. Great for peoplewatching, and you can often see groups of people doing activ…
Lakeview Cemetery
Incorporated in 1872, Lakeview Cemetery is set on a hillside with views of Lake Union, the Cascades, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. The site holds the final resting places of Seattle's first families, many wi…
Volunteer Park
Designed by John Charles Olmsted and Fredrick Law Olmsted Jr, this is the largest park in Capitol Hill and is the site of a botanical conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum (above).
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Seattle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 8 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 13 mi away (major hub). Directions
From Downtown, it's a pleasant walk up the hill (emphasis on the "up"). Broadway is roughly a mile from the downtown retail core.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $128–$200 a night (typical $181), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $13 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$160, mid-range ~$240, comfortable ~$330.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Seattle Asian Art Museum, Water Tower, Volunteer Park
- Lunch Carrello
- Afternoon Lakeview Cemetery, Streissguth Gardens
- Dinner Jamjuree
- Evening DeLuxe Bar and Grill
Day 2
- Morning Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle Japanese Garden
- Lunch Cactus
- Afternoon Madison Park, Capitol Hill Block Party
- Dinner Cafe Flora
- Evening Macrina Cafe & Bakery
Day 3
- Morning Northwest Nikkei Museum
- Lunch Moonlight Cafe
- Afternoon Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
- Dinner Ba Bar
- Evening Broadcaster Coffee Roasters
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
In such dense residential areas, it's not surprising that the food scene is outstanding. Bad restaurants simply don't last long, and better ones take their place. There's lots of good Ethiopian food in the Central District. Capitol Hill holds an outrageous number of Thai restaurants; occasionally one goes out of business and like a head of the Hydra, is immediately replaced by another one or more.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Capitol Hill is the most densely populated neighborhood in the city. Historically, the hill was where you would find the homes of the merchants who made their wealth from Seattle's early growth, living in grand houses that overlooked the working-class homes of the valleys below. In the 1960s, much of the neighborhood was up-zoned for apartments built to house the influx of visitors expected for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, and many of these mid-century modern apartment buildings survive to this day.
Through the 1970s, 80s, and 90s the hill became more bohemian and the center of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, sprucing up the old mansions and creating a vibrant arts and music scene. Capitol Hill has also been the center of Seattle's counterculture community for decades, serving as one of the birthplaces of the country's grunge movement in the 1980s and 90s, with Kurt Cobain and other famous grunge musicians frequenting Capitol Hill establishments. Today, Capitol Hill is still the center of Seattle's independent music community.
The Central District, known as CD, has seen many demographic shifts over the decades, and there are still areas with heavy Jewish and Japanese-American populations. By the 1970s, as many as 80% of CD residents were African-American, and it was known as a rough neighborhood marked by poverty and crime. Rising housing prices elsewhere have led to gentrification and pushed African-American residents further south into other neighborhoods, but CD is still around 20% black, and its ties to black history remain strong.
Given its proximity to the downtown offices of many major tech companies, Capitol Hill has become a playground for tech industry people with numerous restaurants, bars and music venues. Famous residents include Ben Haggerty (better known as the pop music artist Macklemore), Jerrick Hoffer (better known as comedy drag queen Jinkx Monsoon), Benjamin Putnam (better known as drag queen BenDeLaCreme) and Dan Savage, an American gay and alternative sex advice columnist who well-represents Capitol Hill's population of hipsters and homosexuals.
Popular retail districts within Capitol Hill include Broadway, the Pike/Pine corridor, and 15th Avenue E. There are a variety of restaurants, bars, music venues, clubs, boutiques, and other shops here, while the surrounding blocks are filled with condominium and apartment buildings and cafes. There are many grand old homes in "mansionland" to the north, near Volunteer Park. Capitol Hill residents are generally some of the most politically progressive in the country, exemplified by the fact that many of the 1999 WTO protests spilled from Downtown into Capitol Hill, which has had an impact on the mindset of the community.
Get in
From Downtown, it's a pleasant walk up the hill (emphasis on the "up"). Broadway is roughly a mile from the downtown retail core.
By public transit
Link light rail, operated by Sound Transit, stops at
Adult fares are a flat $3.00, regardless of distance; children 18 and under ride for free. A train runs every 8-15 minutes from 5:00 to midnight. All trains come from Lynnwood City Center to the north via Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, Northgate and University of Washington, and from Downtown to the south after splitting at International District/Chinatown:
- The 1 Line from Downtown Federal Way to the south, via Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Tukwila and South Seattle.
- The 2 Line from Downtown Redmond to the east, via Bellevue and Mercer Island.
King County Metro serves the area with numerous bus routes, most of which run frequently. Buses going to Capitol Hill board along Pike St from 3rd Ave while buses going to Central District board on 3rd Ave (SB) from Pine St. Check schedules and website for bus stop locations. Good options from Downtown to Capitol Hill include: * Route 3 (Pike St, Pine St, Bellevue Ave and Summit Ave E in the Summit neighborhood of Capitol Hill (effective Sept 14, 2024). In the opposite direction it continues towards Madronna & Cherry Hill through downtown on 3rd Ave (SB) & James St from Pine St.) * Route 10 (Pine St/15th Ave E to 15th Ave & Galer, and the most convenient option to Volunteer Park and the Asian Art Museum) * Route 11 (Pine St/E John to 15th Ave & E Thomas to 28th Ave E. It then goes on E Madison from 28th Ave E to 43rd Ave & Madison in Madison Park) * Route 12 (turning north on 19th Avenue to 19th Ave & Galer in Capitol Hill). * Route 49 (Pine St/Broadway), all of which can be boarded along Pike Street in Downtown. It goes mainly along Pike/Pine and Broadway between Downtown and University District through Capitol Hill. * Rapid Ride G Line (Madison Street between Downtown (2nd & Madison), and 28th Ave, connecting Madison Valley, Capitol Hill, the Central District and First Hill. Route 11 continues on Madison Ave from 28th Ave to 43rd Ave in Madison Park). In downtown the G Line bus board along Spring St from 1st Ave. First Hill is served from Downtown by: * Route 2 (continuing along Union Street out to Madrona. Goes north towards Queen Anne Hill on 3rd Ave from Seneca in downtown) * Route 3 (goes out 34th & Union in Madrona through Seattle University, Cherry Hill and Judkins Park. Continues up towards Summit neighborhood through downtown on 3rd Ave (NB) & Pike.) * Route 14 (S Jackson and 31st Ave S to Mt Baker. Going into downtown it goes north on 3rd Ave towards Queen Anne as the #1 bus. Bus becomes #14 coming from Queen Anne to Mount Baker in downtown) There are additional routes connecting Capitol Hill, the Central District and to other parts of the city without going through downtown such as: * Route 8 (Lower Queen Anne/Seattle Center to Mt Baker Transit Center via Capitol Hill and Central District). It pass through Capitol Hill/Central District on E Denney, John, Thomas & Madison St to 23rd. Goes south on MLK Jr S and 23rd towards Mount Baker Transit Center. * Route 9 (Broadway/Boren/Rainier Ave to Rainier Beach in South Seattle). Its first/last stop in Capitol Hill is on E Aloha St and 10th Ave E. * Route 43 (Broadway/John St/24th Ave E/Montlake) Bus route connects Yesler & Broadway in Central District to NE 43rd Ave & Brooklyn Av in the U District. It detours into downtown during weekday rush hours. Check schedules. * Route 48 (passes through on 24th, 23rd Ave E, and Rainier Ave E between U District and Mt Baker Transit Center in South Seattle * Route 60 (Capitol Hill to Westwood Center in West Seattle via First Hill, Beacon Hill , Georgetown, and White Center). First and last stop on 10th Ave between Harrison & Mercer
The First Hill Street Car line runs along Broadway through Capitol Hill and First Hill, connecting the two neighborhoods to Pioneer Square and the International District. Its northern terminus (first/last stop) in Capitol Hill is on Broadway and Denney.
By car
See
Museums
See Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM)
An offshoot of downtown's Seattle Art Museum, SAAM displays a portion of the permanent collection balanced with rotating, consistently well-curated special exhibitions. The focus is usually on Chinese or Japanese art, reflecting long-established ties across the Pacific, but does include works from as far as India and the Middle East. The Art Deco building (the Seattle Art Museum's original home) is an attraction in its own right.
Parks
See Cal Anderson Park
A very popular park on sunny days. It includes a signature fountain and pond, a basketball court, tennis and softball fields, and a playground. Great for peoplewatching, and you can often see groups of people doing activities varying from hackeysack to drum circles to freeze tag to bike polo to twirling around with colorful scarves.
See Lakeview Cemetery
Incorporated in 1872, Lakeview Cemetery is set on a hillside with views of Lake Union, the Cascades, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. The site holds the final resting places of Seattle's first families, many with diverse backgrounds. Many come to pay tribute at the graves of Bruce Lee and his son Brandon.
See Water Tower
The 1906 tower at the highest point of Capitol Hill has an observation deck at the top, with views from the Cascades to the Olympics interspersed with a series of panels explaining the history of Seattle's Olmsted-designed park system. The views are somewhat obstructed by metal grates, but the clever photographer can work around them. No elevator - the only way up is the staircase wound around the water tank, seven stories high.
See Washington Park Arboretum
The Arboretum is a 230-acre park additionally serving as a botanical garden and horticultural research center, with thousands of trees and plants from temperate climates represented. An extensive network of walking trails covers the park. The visitor's center, near the northeast corner of the park, is open from 10AM to 4PM daily, and has limited parking available. Guided tours are offered on the first and third Sundays of every month, and free trail maps highlighting the major parts of the collection are available at any time.
See Madison Park
Activities include swimming, bathhouse, restaurants, tennis court (with lights), and great views of the floating bridge and the Cascades. Lifeguards patrol the area during the summer, which creates a safer playground for kids, but it's still a beautiful park to hang out for teens and adults.
See I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Skills Park (I-5 Colonnade)
Built underneath a section of 12 elevated lanes of Interstate Highway 5, the I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Skills Park consists of several mountain bike skills trails, including novice, intermediate, and advanced sections, a dirt jumping section, pump track, and trials area. Skills classes, organized by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, are occasionally held at the park.
Other
- The Jimi Hendrix statue rocks out on the sidewalk at the NE corner of E Pine Street and Broadway, Seattle being the birthplace of Hendrix.
See Chapel of St. Ignatius
A hidden gem, this small campus chapel was described by architect Stephen Holl as "seven bottles of light in a stone box". It is probably the most notable religious building built in Seattle in the last fifty years.
Do
The northern portion of the Arboretum includes several small islands, and on one of Seattle's characteristically lovely summer days, exploration by water is enjoyable. Watercraft rentals are available from two locations in the University District just across the Ship Canal.
Do Hothouse Spa & Sauna
A small urban women-only spa with an industrial/basement vibe. Great for a relaxing soak in the tub. Expect to be nude and quiet, and bring your own towels.
Do Club Z
On the other end of the spectrum, Club Z is a gay male bathhouse with no tubs and a lot of glory holes! Don't walk in if you expect to do any dancing or, um, bathing.
Film
Do Central Cinema
A unique, smaller movie theater that shows older films as well as plenty of late night movie screenings of hilariously bad films. All seats have table in front of them so you can have excellent food and beer during the show. A couple times a month there are $1.99 movie nights for popular older or cult films.
Events
Buy
Window shopping is a great way to explore Capitol Hill's numerous shops; the best areas for a shopping stroll are the north end of Broadway (from Olive/John St up to Roy St) and the densely-packed Pike/Pine St corridor. Clothing stores abound, whether you're looking for boutiques, consignment, or thrift stores (several of which appeared in the music video for the hit Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song "Thrift Store", if you've only got $20 in your pocket). Other shops fill the gaps with vinyl records, arts and crafts supplies, accessories for your dog or cat, and other niche products.
Shop Elliott Bay Book Company
In 2010, Seattle's largest independent bookstore moved up onto the Hill from its old home in Pioneer Square. The wide, wooden-shelved spaces are a pleasure to browse. There's a small cafe tucked in the back of the lower level, which is good but rather expensive.
Shop Twice Sold Tales
Capitol Hill's last remaining used bookstore. A good selection of literature, philosophy and more contemporary reads. Home of numerous cats, who appear to have free rein.
Shop VAIN
Vain is a community space, boutique and hair salon. The upper two floors are 20 working art studios. They have an active arts calendar and host other cultural events and fundraisers. Known for supporting "alternative visions of beauty," you can expect to find an 8-year-old getting their first mohawk alongside a 68-year-old having a conservative bob trimmed up.
Marijuana
Eat
In such dense residential areas, it's not surprising that the food scene is outstanding. Bad restaurants simply don't last long, and better ones take their place. There's lots of good Ethiopian food in the Central District. Capitol Hill holds an outrageous number of Thai restaurants; occasionally one goes out of business and like a head of the Hydra, is immediately replaced by another one or more.
Budget
Eat Big Mario's New York Pizza
True New York-style thin crust pizza. Huge, foldable slices or whole pies. Full bar with lots of local beers. Pizza window open late night.
Eat Bakery Nouveau
Everything you'd want from a French-style bakery: pastries, breads, elegant desserts, macarons, chocolate confections by the piece, sandwiches, quiches, and pizzas, plus coffee of course. Very popular; the line often stretches to the door and beyond, but it moves quickly enough. The limited seating is usually pretty full; in a pinch there's a park across the street with a bench of two.
Eat Dick's Drive-In
Where the cool hang out (according to Sir Mix-a-Lot's song "Posse on Broadway"). Dick's is a local fast food staple; perhaps the most iconically "Seattle" restaurant around. The menu is simple: unsophisticated yet satisfying burgers in just a couple of variations (try the Deluxe, it's not that large), hot greasy fries, and tasty hand-dipped milkshakes. Drive up or walk up; this place will be hopping on a Friday or Saturday night, even if it's cold and rainy outside. Be sure to get in line by 1:45AM because they slam the order windows shut promptly at 2AM. Dick's cashiers have an amazing ability to instantly add up your bill in their head. There are other branches throughout the city (Lake City, Wallingford, Lower Queen Anne), but because the Capitol Hill one is easiest to walk up to, it's also the best for people watching.
Eat Ezell's Famous Chicken
This Central District mainstay gained wide renown when Oprah Winfrey declared it her favorite, but it really needs no celebrity endorsements; it's hands-down the best stuff around. This flagship location sits directly across from Garfield High School. There's no seating, but they accept credit cards. Spicy and original; the spicy chicken isn't too spicy, but you can get a side of hot sauce for 11 cents extra. Daily specials vary based on forecasted surplus of unsold chicken.
Eat Hot Mama's Pizza
Classic New York-style pizza by the slice. You can't go wrong here and the pesto is particularly popular.
Eat Italian Family Pizza
Very good East Coast style pizza with large servings and cheap beer served all day in a restaurant operated by East Coast transplants. Relocated from downtown Seattle to a larger restaurant in First Hill.
Eat Jamjuree
A Thai place that's fairly quiet and upscale, with excellent specials - try the Lime Light Chicken if you have a chance. On request they can make truly vegetarian Thai food (i.e., without fish sauce).
Eat Moonlight Cafe
Serves excellent vegan mock-meat versions of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes such as noodle bowls and sesame beef. In fact, they boast a full vegan menu with as many dishes as their separate carnivorous menu offers.
Eat Ooink
One of several excellent ramen shops in Capitol Hill. Depending on what style of ramen you prefer, you may like others such as Ramen Danbo, Betsutenjin, or Menya Musashi.
Mid-range
Eat Americana
Eclectic menu of American fusion fare and some delicious simple cocktails. Extremely popular on weekends with their large brunch menu and Bloody Marys.
Eat Ayutthaya
Inexpensive, quality Thai food. It specializes in Thai classics such as coconut chicken & drunken noodles, with happy hour.
Eat Ba Bar
A myriad of cocktails plus Vietnamese street fare, which also includes a bakery. Known for its rotisserie meat, pho, banh cuon (rice noodle roll), and macaroons. Open late night with comfort food options. No reservations needed.
Eat Cactus
A local favorite. A creative mix of Mexican, Southwestern and Spanish cuisine complemented by great cocktails. Always full, with outdoor seating in the summer.
Eat Cafe Flora
Upscale, all-vegetarian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Menus change weekly.
Eat Cafe Lago
Established Italian restaurant popular for vegetarian lasagna, apple-wood fired pizza, and fresh hand-made pasta (they have an employee dedicated solely to making pasta). An excellent environment for families, they even have paper tablecloths for kids to draw on.
Eat Julia's On Broadway (Le Faux Playhouse)
Julia's serves Northwest cuisine along with good ol' American food, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Average quality, expensive meals and cocktails are prepared in a charming old building that used to house a seriously divey gay bar until they gutted it and put in a tasteful interior. The location is excellent, but the service can be less than stellar. That's because the real attraction is not the food but the drag shows. Long-time residents decry the "loss" of a gay bar, but Julia's drag shows remain popular with tourists, bachelorette parties, and the like, particularly the weekend brunch shows.
Eat Monsoon
Contemporary Vietnamese dishes (mainly southern Vietnamese) mixed with Pacific Northwest innovation. Dim sum brunches on the weekends.
Eat Pizzeria Pagliacci
Serves unique Seattle-style pizza, reminiscent of thin-crust, by-the-slice New York pizza, but with an imaginative collection of toppings that change with the seasons. Walk in and ask for two slices of "primo" and you won't be disappointed. The Pagliaccio salad is a good starter. There are branches in the University District and Queen Anne, plus delivery throughout the city.
Eat Annapurna Cafe
Perhaps the crown of Seattle's Indian food scene, Annapurna also serves excellent Nepali and Tibetan food. A charming atmosphere, quality food, and a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options make it a great location for dinner.
Eat Cafe Soleil
A casual and laid-back Ethiopian restaurant, serving both traditional Ethiopian food and adaptations using Northwest ingredients. Housed in a beautiful building with excellent natural light, with outdoor seating as well. Well-stocked with Ethiopian beers.
Splurge
Eat Carrello
Artisanal Italian food in small portions so you can construct a meal however you like. Carts roll past tables offering cheaper antipasti to supplement your meal or wash down your cocktail.
Eat Rione XIII
Simple but well-constructed Roman Italian foods from local chef Ethan Stowell.
Eat Taneda
Small Japanese bar serving prix fixe sushi in the style of kaiseki, a traditional multi-course meal consisting of several small dishes. Reservations required, and with only 17 seats and two dinners per night, they are booked up to 2 months in advance.
Drink
Coffee
If Seattle takes its coffee seriously, then Capitol Hill takes it very seriously. This is a good neighborhood to spend some quality time in one of Seattle's numerous coffee shops.
Drink Ada's Technical Books & Café
A delightful combination of bookstore and café. The bookstore is long on technical books, or technical takes on every other genre. For example, they have a children's book, Goodnight Lab, an homage to Goodnight Moon featuring science labs. The café has the usual range of teas, coffees, and pastries. There are tables scattered throughout, which people use for eating, working or reading.
Drink Bauhaus Capitol Hill
Toned-down version of cafe and bookstore that it used to be in another location.
Drink Caffé Vita
Coffee roaster with a warehouse feel, where patrons can clearly see how the coffee beans are roasted.
Drink Espresso Vivace Roasteria
Founded by an engineer who's been developing progressively more sophisticated roasters for twenty years. Their beans, plus Mighty-O doughnuts, are also available at the sidewalk Vivace at 321 Broadway E, between Harrison and Thomas.
Drink Macrina Cafe & Bakery (Aloha Cafe)
A premier local bakery whose chef was a finalist for a 2007 James Beard Award. Selection changes seasonally and daily, but there's always something delicious on offer. An excellent choice for a breakfast or light lunch; cafe-style seating encourages you to sit down and stay a while. Espresso can be inconsistent, if you're picky, grab food to go and walk elsewhere for coffee.
Drink Realfine Coffee
Social coffee-drinking environment.
Drink Broadcaster Coffee Roasters
A neighborhood shop across from Pratt Park, serves Stumptown coffee and pastries from Alki Bakery. Free wi-fi. Great for meetings.
Drink Top Pot Doughnuts
Nestled into the neighborhood and a favorite weekend hang-out for locals. Incredible doughnuts (try the feather boa doughnut!) in a very Seattle-y atmosphere. Drip coffee isn't so hot, but the freshly-brewed options are all good.
Drink Tougo Coffee
Somewhat out of sight in a mostly residential part of the Hill. The staff will cheerfully discuss coffee roasting and preparation at length, and the quality of the coffee suggests they know what they're talking about.
Drink Victrola
Neighborhood place in a hip neighborhood. This place is more spacious than most. Their roastery also has a (smaller) space at 310 E. Pike St., closer to Downtown.
Bars and taverns
Bars of all styles dot the map in Capitol Hill, whether you want drinks, dancing, or even a quiet speakeasy (if you can find one). Friday and Saturday nights are busy around the Pike/Pine corridor where Capitol Hill and First Hill blend together.
Drink Cha Cha Lounge
A weird cross of dive bar and trendy spot, the ambiance of their old location was successfully transplanted to this location after their former building was razed for yet more condo construction. Your bartender may have had an album in the charts circa 1992.
Drink Pine Box
Located in a former funeral home (rumored to have handled Bruce Lee's body) that has now been converted to offices and a beer bar. Enjoy one of the best beer selections in the neighborhood.
Drink DeLuxe Bar and Grill
Dark, but appealing for a beer, stiff drink or bar food (hearty burgers, thick fries, etc.) More restaurant than bar.
Drink Garage
A trendy billiards hall and bowling alley, built in a spacious former garage that has no problem handling large groups. Multiple bars with food service, and an outdoor patio (weather permitting).
Drink Herb & Bitter Public House
An excellent spot for their gourmet and slightly modernist food, but even better for their ever-changing cocktails, expertly designed using seasonal flavors and uncommon ingredients. A patio in the back with a sliding glass roof means you can enjoy the sky view (boxed in by surrounding buildings) rain or shine.
Drink Liberty
Free wifi, large couches, decent sushi, good drinks and attractive servers conspire to make this one of the better Capitol Hill bars.
Drink Linda's Tavern
The outdoor patio makes this the perfect place to enjoy a few drinks under the stars.
Drink Poco Wine + Spirits
A self-billed bistropub, home to a hefty list of wines by the glass (including on tap), full bar, and beers on tap. Quiet and friendly on weeknights.
Drink Smith
Another bar owned by Linda Derschang of Linda's fame. Although Smith regularly becomes packed in the evening, large communal tables in the center of the establishment mean you can usually find a place to sit.
Drink Stumbling Monk
Its dark appearance from the outside makes it easy to miss, but worth stepping inside. As the name suggests, you’ll find an excellent selection of Belgian beer strong enough to make your walk home a challenge. The Stumbling Monk’s unpretentious atmosphere makes it a down-to-earth oasis on trendy Capitol Hill.
Drink Summit Public House
Offers many beers on tap and is home to one of the best BLTs in the city.
Drink Rhein Hause
Beer Garden with indoor bocce courts and Bavarian bratwurst and pretzels
Drink Capitol Hill Comedy/Bar
Good comedy venue and bar with plenty of seating indoors and a small outdoor patio. The club/bar has a good sound system, serves alcohol and food, and you need to be at least 21 to enter.
LGBTQ+
Although locals may be quick to tell you that Capitol Hill's gay bar scene "isn't what it used to be" due to social changes and gentrification, it's still very much the gayborhood of Seattle.
Drink CC's Seattle
Dark laid-back bar for all types of men, serving strong drinks. Very community oriented; recurring events fill the bar with a big crowd, such as weekly video game nights on Wednesdays, meetups for leather, furry, or nudist groups, and monthly dances with dress codes such as fetish gear or underwear.
Drink Crescent Lounge
Small dive bar with nightly karaoke.
Drink The Cuff Complex
Gay bar and dance club, often attracts a leather crowd.
Drink Madison Pub
Unpretentious and crowded gay sports bar. Pool tables and darts.
Drink Neighbors
Gay dance club. The place to take your straight friends.
Drink The Pony
Small dive bar in an old building with a year-round patio and fire pit. Wide variety of music, and a schedule full of go-go dancers, karaoke, and tea dancing.
Drink Queer/Bar
Inclusive bar with a variety of quality performances, and excellent pub food.
Drink The Seattle Eagle
Classic gay leather bar. Underwear parties on Saturdays.
Drink Wildrose
One of the oldest lesbian bars on the West Coast. Very cheap tacos and Tecates on Tuesdays, and cheap well drinks on Thursdays.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Homewood Suites Seattle Convention Center Pike Street
The all-suites hotel brand of the Hilton group. Each suite has a full size kitchen where you can cook, or roam the restaurants at the nearby Capitol Hill for more delectable options. Complimentary breakfast and wine social hour Monday-Thursday evenings.
Splurge
Stay safe
Seattle has a relatively low violent crime rate compared to other major U.S. cities, and nearly all neighborhoods are fairly safe at daytime. However, its property crime rate remains high.
Walking in the Central District late at night is not advised. The Pike/Pine nightlife corridor can also become rowdy on weekend evenings.
Capitol Hill was the site of a large protest in summer 2020 that became well-known nationally for vandalism and hostility towards police. The site of the protest was limited to a few blocks, and has impacted area has long since been cleaned up.
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