Ultimate Singles Guide

807 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 (map)

Sometimes there’s nothing more cathartic as dancing to 90s jams like Ine Kamoze’s "Hotstepper." Contour also has live music seven days a week and dancing until six in the morning. Often booking big-time DJs from around the world, this Pioneer Square club is always packed to the gills with a lively crowd.

1010 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)

There's a little bit of Cuba in the middle of hipster Capitol Hill at this Latin-flavored club, complete with tall booths and tangy mojitos. From "Sad Bastard" alt-country Mondays to the Top 40s dance parties on weekend nights, Havana is just as eclectic as its neighborhood.

115 Blanchard Street, Seattle, WA 98121 (map)

A little bit of glittery LA in the heart of Belltown, See Sound is always jam-packed with scantily clad 20s-ish singles, ready to bop to the (mostly house) beat. Step into Spur next door for a pork belly slider to soak up all those drinks some cute guy's gonna send you.

722 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)

Booking big names like The Roots' ?uestlove, Pine's War Room is big on bass, with a young trendy crowd. Known for its great music and local musician sightings, War Room also boasts a patio and separate-from-the-dancing bar, if you're not in the mood to drop it like it's hot.

922 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)

Meet the next Eddie Vedder at Capitol Hill's loud divey bar, which hosts the best of up-and-coming bands. The tattooed grungy crowd is always boisterous and friendly, and during happy hour, cans of Rainier are only $1.

5140 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 (map)

This divey Ballard bar is often packed with tattooed boys with sideburns--more on the grudge side of hipster. Trivia night attracts a more mainstream crowd, but every night the crowd is friendly and the beer is cheap. For the musically inclined, blues jam nights are the first and third Wednesday of every month.

2200 Second Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 (map)

The Croc has been remodeled and revitalized to boast a bigger bar and stage. The always-hip younger rockin' crowd packs in to watch local bands like Throw Me the Statue and internationally renowned acts like Jens Lekman. Grab a late-night pizza at the neighboring Via Tribunali for only five bucks.

513 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103 (map)

Fremont's High Dive isn't as rough around the edges as the other rockin' choices; it's a grown-up rocker's idea of the perfect date spot, boasting both smaller national acts and local bands with cult followings. The specialty cocktail list sets it apart from its dirtier siblings.

5213 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 (map)

Catch the next Ryan Adams or Avett Brothers play at this Ballard bastion of great music that specializes in alt-country and bluegrass. The concert floor is cozy and casual, the perfect breeding ground for a love match over twangy tunes.

1940 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (map)

Located right on the edge of the business district, Barolo attracts thirty-something professionals to its bustling bar. With high ceilings and ample bar seating, Barolo doesn't skimp on the ambience and has an impressive menu of Italian specialties, too.

915 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)

It is possible to go out dancing and not have to hear a bass thump. An old-school dance hall, Century is the best spot for salsa classes in the city, with a crowd of young professional regulars and walk-ins. Try out the beginning class on Thursdays--it's free!

1400 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (map)

Ethan Stowell's fancy-schmancy restaurant in the heart of downtown turns into a posh bar at night, as thirty-somethings pack the left side of the vaulted-ceiling space. The bar menu is delightfully inexpensive, offering bites like $8.95 steak tartare.

93 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101 (map)

This sexy dining grotto remains a top choice for excellent Italian fare, while the bar draws a relaxed after-work crowd. One of the best-kept secrets in the city, Il Bistro's drinks are strong and cheap, and the Pike Place setting is prime real estate for a romantic encounter.

611 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)

Half restaurant, half bar, 611 is a cozy little nook of crepes and delicious drinks. No need to skip dinner for the bar scene; this place has an inexpensive menu of sweet and savory crepes to tide you over while you chat up the creative singles crowd.

1117 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 (map)

Hip French bistro by day, cozy dimly lit bar by night, 12th Avenue's Cafe Presse is the perfect place to meet that contemplative writer or artist over a Manhattan. The long-locked and tie-dye-wearing bartender Grant Burton even has his own band, Hallways.

425 NW Market St., Seattle, WA 98107 (map)

This little secret garden of a bar attracts a well-heeled artsy crowd. Bartender Jay Kuehner mixes up inventive drinks from fresh ingredients, and the food is superb, influenced by sister restaurant Le Gourmand next door.

332 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98103 (map)

Merging a rockabilly crowd with a tatted-up hipster artsy bunch, Smith has enough taxidermy for grandpa's Wisconsin cabin. With Fleet Foxes frequently playing on the antique jukebox, and $2 PBR tallboys, Smith is the perfect spot to pick up that Robin Pecknold lookalike.

1501 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (map)

Classy cocktails and a cool crowd frequent this hidden gem of a bar, nestled right below Pike Place Market. Zig Zag's bartender, Murray Thwaite, was recently chronicled in the New York Times for his expert mixing.