Seattle's Best Bars

25 Destinations for Great Drinks and Good Times. Plus: Lily Gladstone's Seattle roots, the rise of the classic motel, ferry tales, and our annual list of the city's top medical providers.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

Obsession

Musician Tomo Nakayama Shares His Favorite Seattle Spots

The Tractor Tavern, Asian markets in White Center, and day trips to Bow-Edison.

09/10/2024 By Eric Nusbaum

Profile

Lily Gladstone’s Next Act

The Oscar-nominated star is making movies that reflect her Native heritage—and the Seattle film scene that nurtured her.

09/03/2024 By Chase Hutchinson

R Roots

Rainier: A Beer Odyssey Is a Film about Seattle’s Soul

It’s not just beer commercials. It's the city that made them.

05/14/2024 By Eric Olson

Eat & Drink

Tip Jar

Don't Be That Bar Patron

Some bar-going etiquette for our current moment: how much to tip, what qualifies as a dive, and why dogs are complicated.

08/21/2024 By Seattle Met Staff

Another Round

What Makes a Good Bartender? An Expert Weighs In.

It’s not about memorizing drinks.

08/19/2024 By Andrew Bohrer

Coming Right Up

Bartenders Share Their Least Favorite Drink Orders

At least all that shaking doubles as a workout, right?

08/14/2024 By Meg van Huygen

Bar Guide

A Neighborhood Bar for Every Neighborhood

Our favorite dives, die-hards, and cozy hangs, by neighborhood.

08/07/2024 By Meg van Huygen With Seattle Met Staff

Drinking Guide

The 25 Best Bars in Seattle

Served straight up: our favorite places to kick back, splash out, and order just one more round.

08/06/2024 By Meg van Huygen and Allecia Vermillion With Allison Williams and Eric Nusbaum

Behind Bars

How NA Cocktails Went from Afterthought to Main Event

At Seattle bars of a certain caliber, at least.

08/05/2024 By Allecia Vermillion

Frozen Assets

Good Luck Bread Elevates Frozen Pizza

How Corrie Strandjord and Eric Anderson lucked into the pizza biz.

07/10/2024 By Meg van Huygen

Field Notes

At Sophon, Cambodian Culture Meets Craft Cocktails

Karuna Long’s Khmer restaurant celebrates his heritage. And his bartending background.

06/11/2024 By Allecia Vermillion

Field Notes

The Magic of Taurus Ox’s Lao Burger, Now Available in Pizza

The owners’ divey new spot, Ananas Pizzeria, also makes a case for pineapple.

04/10/2024 By Allecia Vermillion Photography by Amber Fouts

Dining Guide

The Best Breakfasts in Seattle

Why save waffles for the weekend?

04/08/2024 By Seattle Met Staff

Health & Wellness

Well Well Well

Mushrooms May Not Be Magic, but They Could Be Therapeutic

Addiction treatment is very limited. Can a UW study open up new possibilities?

05/30/2024 By Haley Shapley

News & City Life

Asked/Answered

What’s the Deal with Tolo Dances?

And why are we the only region with this particular school dance tradition?

09/16/2024 By Bess Lovejoy

The Big House

Secrets of the Washington Governor’s Mansion

The old, the new, and the skeleton in the attic.

09/12/2024 By Allison Williams

Recounted

How Washington’s 2004 Election Made History

The story behind the epically close, record-breaking race for governor.

09/10/2024 By Eric Nusbaum

Top Dogs

The Wildest Moments in the History of Washington’s Governors

Some strange things have happened in Olympia.

09/09/2024 By Allison Williams

Explainer

The Past and Future of Washington’s Ferries

From the mosquito fleet of yore to the hybrid ships to come.

08/12/2024 By Ryan Packer

Injury Time

Sounders Doc Michael Morris Says Goodbye

The orthopedic surgeon built the Sounders’ medical program—then got to watch his son star on the team.

07/11/2024 By Conor Kelley

Mission Driven

The SoDo Shop That Demystifies Auto Repair for Everyone

How queer-owned Repair Revolution centers community empowerment.

06/24/2024 By Lindsay Lee Wallace

Exit Velocity

The World’s Most Cutting-Edge Baseball Laboratory Is Hiding in a Kent Warehouse

Why are big league superstars making an annual offseason pilgrimage to the Seattle suburbs?

05/03/2024 By Eric Nusbaum

Style & Shopping

Merch Table

Seattleites Share Their Favorite Local Swag

How we wear our hearts on our sleeves.

08/16/2024 By Zoe Sayler

Travel & Outdoors

Faraway Lands

The Painted Wilderness You’ve Never Heard Of

Washington's Teanaway hiking trails fly under the radar—until they put on a colorful show.

09/23/2024 By Allison Williams

Destination Dossier

What You Need to Know about a Trip to Bellingham

Seattle’s northern cousin makes a name for itself as a quirky outdoor haven.

08/26/2024 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Road Warriors

The Case for the Classic Motel

Could a cheap, drive-up hotel be the antidote to overpriced chains and overbearing Airbnbs?

08/13/2024 By Allison Williams

Well Done

Bend’s Many Meats Turn Central Oregon into Steak Central

It’s enough to cure our anemia.

07/17/2024 By Allison Williams

On display

Washington Museums Worthy of a Road Trip

Take a drive and learn something already.

04/12/2024 By Allison Williams