Seattle/Capitol Hill-Central District

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 has 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.
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.

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 bus, King County Metro serves the area with numerous routes, most of which run frequently. Good options from Downtown include Routes 10 (Pine St/15th Ave E, and the most convenient option to Volunteer Park and the Asian Art Museum), 11 (Pine St/E Madison St), 43 (John St/24th Ave E), and 49 (Pine St/Broadway), all of which can be boarded along Pike Street in Downtown. First Hill is served by the 2 (continuing along Union Street out to Madrona) and the 12 (turning north on 19th Avenue into Capitol Hill).
The Link light rail stops at Capitol Hill Station on Broadway on its way between Downtown and the University of Washington. Entrances are at either end of Cal Anderson Park, at John Street or Pine Street. The First Hill Streetcar line runs along Broadway through Capitol Hill and First Hill, connecting the two neighborhoods to Pioneer Square and the International District.

Museums

• Northwest Nikkei Museum

  phone: +1 206 568-7114
  address: 1414 S Weller St
  Small exhibits relating to the history of nikkei (Japanese immigrants) in the Pacific Northwest.

• Seattle Asian Art Museum

  phone: +1 206 654-3100
  address: 1400 E. Prospect St
  Closed for renovation until 2019. 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, where the collection reflects long-established ties across the Pacific, but does include works from as far as India. The Art Deco building (the Seattle Art Museum's original home) is an attraction in its own right.

• Frye Art Museum

  phone: +1 206 622-9250
  address: 704 Terry Ave
  A small private collection on First Hill. Parking is always available and the place is worth a visit.

Parks

• Cal Anderson Park

  address: 1635 11th Ave
  A newly renovated park near Broadway and E Pine St that is very popular 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.

• Lakeview Cemetery

  phone: +1 206 322-1582
  address: 1554 15th Ave E
  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.

• Volunteer Park

  address: 1247 15th Ave E
  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).

• Water Tower

  address: at Prospect St. park entrance
  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.

Washington Park Arboretum

address: 2300 Arboretum Dr. E

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.

• Seattle Japanese Garden

  phone: +1 206 684-4725
  address: 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E
  A small, formal Japanese garden within the grounds of the Arboretum, recently renovated.

Streissguth Gardens

address: on E Blaine St. between 10th Ave E and Broadway E

A small, family-maintained garden located on the northwest side of Seattle´s Capitol Hill, on a steep hillside. Noisy but offering great views over Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

Madison Park

phone: +1 206 323-5677

address: 4000 E Madison St

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.

I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Skills Park

address: Lakeview Blvd E and Harvard Ave E

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 rocks out on the sidewalk at the NE corner of E Pine Street and Broadway, Seattle being the birthplace of Hendrix.

• Seattle University

  phone: +1-206-296-6000
  address: 901 12th Ave
  A private Jesuit university. Scenic campus makes a good walking detour.

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.

• Hothouse Spa & Sauna

  phone: +1 206 568-3240
  address: 1019 E Pike St
  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.

• Club Z

  phone: +1 206 622-9958
  address: 1117 Pike St
  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.

• Capitol Hill Block PartyTakes place in the heart of Capitol Hill for one weekend in the summer, attracting both local and national musicians.

Film

• Seattle International Film FestivalThe largest and one of the best film festivals in the country takes place in Seattle from the end of May to early June every year. Most venues are located on Capitol Hill and in Downtown.

• Northwest Film Forum

  phone: +1 206 829-7863
  address: 1515 12th Ave
  A Seattle-based non-profit organization for film artists, showcasing American and international cinema as well as quarterly world premiere live performances.

• Central Cinema

  phone: +1 206 686-MOVI (listings), +1 206 328-3230 (office)
  address: 1411 21st Ave
  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.

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.

• Elliott Bay Book Company

  phone: +1 206 624-6600
  address: 1521 10th Ave
  Seattle's largest independent bookstore, recently 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.

• Twice Sold Tales

  address: 725 E. Denny Way
  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.

• Take 2

  phone: +1 206 324-2569
  address: 430 15th Ave E
  Excellent consignment store for women's clothing and accessories, with a small men's section. Great condition and quality brand-name items at very good prices.

On Sundays, check out the

Capitol Hill Broadway Farmers' MarketThis year-round farmers' market has local produce and meats, and tasty ready-to-eat foods. In the colder months, try a cup of seafood stew or some tamales.

Marijuana

• Ponder

  phone: +1 206 420-2180
  address: 2413 E Union St

• The Reef

  phone: +1 206 466-6286
  address: 1525 E Olive Way

• Ruckus Recreational Cannabis

  phone: +1 206 257-3429
  address: 1465 E Republican St

• Uncle Ike's Capitol Hill

  phone: +1 800-438-3784
  address: 501 15th Ave E
  Large dispensery with bright clean displays. Wide selection of products and accessories for all different forms of consumption, including lots of edibles and beverages.

• Uncle Ike's CD

  phone: +1 800-438-3784
  address: 2310 E Union St
  Large dispensery with bright clean displays. Wide selection of products and accessories for all different forms of consumption, including lots of edibles and beverages.

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

• Big Mario's New York Pizza

  phone: +1 206 922-3875
  address: 1009 E Pike St
  Seattle's only 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.

• Bakery Nouveau

  phone: +1 206 858-6957
  address: 137 15th Ave E
  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.

• Coastal Kitchen

  phone: +1 206 322-1145
  address: 429 15th Ave E
  A casual restaurant that serves excellent food at a reasonable price. It has specials that change monthly, as they serve the cuisine of a new coastal region every three months. Very popular for brunch on weekends, with long waits at peak times.

• Crumble & Flake

  phone: +1 206 329-1804
  address: 1500 E Olive Way
  A small patisserie whose crispy croissants were named the best in Seattle. Also try their kouign-amann (kween-ah-mahn, a layered dough like a croissant, but with lots of extra butter and caramelized sugar; popular in Seattle's bakeries) or assorted flavors of macarons, but you can't go wrong with any of their other dozen or so sweet or savory pastries. Go for breakfast, as they start selling out by afternoon. Add a cup of their coffee to start your morning right. No seating, but there's a sort of patio on the sidewalk for the bar next door, if you want to stand and eat.

• Dick's Drive-In

  address: 115 Broadway E
  Where the cool hang out (according to Sir Mix-a-Lot's song "Posse on Broadway"). 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.

• Ezell's Famous Chicken

  phone: +1 206 324-4141
  address: 501 23rd Ave
  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 recently started accepting 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; you can sometimes get thighs for $1/each.

• Hot Mama's Pizza

  phone: +1 206 322-6444
  address: 700 E Pine St
  Classic New York-style pizza by the slice. You can't go wrong here and the pesto is particularly popular.

• Jamjuree

  phone: +1 206 323-4255
  address: 509 15th Ave E
  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).

• Moonlight Cafe

  phone: +1 206 322-3378
  address: 1919 S Jackson St
  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.

• Pho Cyclo

  phone: +1 206 329-9256
  address: 406 Broadway E
  Serves the most popular pho of the several pho restaurants along Broadway.

• Kurt's Farm Shop

  address: 1424 11th Avenue, Ste C2
  Very good ice cream and cheese shop made from cows from the owner's farm on Vashon Island. Lots of interesting ice cream flavors, the flora cheese ice cream is excellent. The entrance to the mixed use building where the ice cream shop is located is right by Cafe Pettiroso.

• Italian Family Pizza

  phone: +1 206 538-0040
  address: 1028 Madison Street
  Very good East Coast style pizza with large servings and 1.50$ beer served all day in a restaurant operated by East Coast transplants. Relocated from downtown Seattle to a larger restaurant in First Hill.

Mid-range

• Americana

  phone: +1 206 328-4604
  address: 219 Broadway E
  Eclectic menu of American fusion fare and some delicious simple cocktails. Extremely popular on weekends with their large brunch menu and Bloody Marys.

• Ayutthaya

  phone: +1 206 324-8833
  address: 727 E Pike St
  Inexpensive, quality Thai food. Standing since 198, it specializes in Thai classics such as coconut chicken & drunken noodles, with happy hour.

• Ba Bar

  phone: +1 206 328-2030
  address: 550 12th Avenue
  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. Opens late night with comfort food options. No reservations needed.

• Byzantion

  phone: +1 206 325-7580
  address: 601 Broadway E
  Greek food is hard to find on the Hill, but this excellent little place serves up Spanakopita, gyros, lamb, seafood dishes, fresh vegetables, baklava and more. Good wine selection and the staff is quirky, but attentive.

• Cactus

  phone: +1 206 324-4140
  address: 4220 E Madison St (multiple locations)
  A local favorite. A creative mix of Mexican, Southwestern and Spanish cuisine complemented by great cocktails. Always full, with outdoor seating in the summer.

• Cafe Flora

  phone: +1 206 325-9100
  address: 2901 E Madison St
  Upscale, all-vegetarian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Menus change weekly.

• Cafe Lago

  phone: +1 206 329-8005
  address: 2305 24th Ave E
  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).

• Julia's On Broadway

  phone: +1 206 860-1818 (restaurant), +1 206 334-0513 (show and dinner theater reservations)
  address: 300 Broadway E
  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.

• Monsoon

  phone: +1 206 325-2111
  address: 615 19th Ave E
  Contemporary Vietnamese dishes (mainly southern Vietnamese) mixed with Pacific Northwest innovation. Dim sum brunches on the weekends.

• Pizzeria Pagliacci

  address: 2400 10th Ave E
  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.

Splurge

• Crush

  phone: +1 206 302-7874
  address: 2319 E Madison St
  Rated among the best 10 new restaurants in the U.S. after it opened. Under Chef Jason Wilson's stewardship it continues to be one of the more well respected haute cuisine houses in the country. Has received countless awards and the food is good, with an adventurous twist on traditional American cuisine. Reservations are strongly recommended.

• Rione XIII

  phone: +1 206 838-2878
  address: 401 15th Ave E
  Simple but well-constructed Roman Italian foods from local chef Ethan Stowell.

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.

• Ada's Technical Books & Café

  phone: +1-206-322-1058
  address: 425 15th Ave E
  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.

• Bauhaus Books & Coffee

  address: 301 E Pine St
  Cozy and fun coffee shop at the base of Capitol Hill. A great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Space Needle. Wonderful baristas, fun latte art, decent coffee.

• Caffé Vita

  phone: +1 206 709-4440
  address: 1005 E Pike St
  Coffee roaster with a warehouse feel, where patrons can clearly see how the coffee beans are roasted.

• Espresso Vivace Roasteria

  phone: +1 206 860-2722
  address: 532 Broadway E
  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.

• Insomniax Coffee

  address: 102 15th Ave E
  Nestled inside the Group Health complex, this coffee house caters to medical professionals and a diverse group of locals who enjoy freshly blended fruit smoothies (try the Big Apple!) and great conversations with the baristas.

• Pettirosso

  address: 1101 E Pike St
  Cozy, intimate place full of regulars and good for a quiet conversation.

• Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room

  phone: +1 206 624-0173
  address: 1124 E Pike St
  A giant split-level store with a lot to draw your attention. Watch and ask questions as they roast specialty beans that get sent to Starbucks locations around the globe. Enjoy a tasting with your pick of coffees and brewing methods. Scoop your own bag of the Roastery-exclusive coffees. Is your problem too much caffeine? Then relax instead with a cocktail from the bar. Fill your stomach with artisinal pizzas, pastries, and sandwiches, and your shopping bag with Starbucks clothing and merchandise. Enjoy the artistic wood and copper decor, which is marred somewhat by the constant crowds getting in the way and taking up all of the seats.

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters

  address: two locations
  A Portland transplant that serves up delicious high quality drinks at two tastefully decorated, minimalist shops on the Hill. One of the best cups of coffee you'll ever taste. Hosts free cuppings for the public every day at 3PM, head downstairs and learn about your beans!

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters on Pine

  phone: +1 206 329-0115
  address: 616 E Pine St

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters on 12th

  phone: +1 206 323-1544
  address: 1115 12th Ave

SoHo Coffee Company

phone: +1 206 322-0807

address: 1918 E Yesler Way

A neighborhood shop across from Pratt Park, serves Stumptown coffee and pastries from Alki Bakery. Free wi-fi. Great for meetings.

Top Pot Doughnuts

phone: +1 206 323-7841

address: 609 Summit Ave. E

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.

Tougo Coffee

phone: +1 206 860-3518

address: 1410 18th Ave

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.

Victrola

address: 411 15th Avenue E

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.

• The Baltic Room

  address: 1207 Pine St
  A rather elegant and reliably stupid touristy DJ club (and occasionally a live music venue, though less so than in past years). Just across the I-5 freeway from downtown.

• Bill's off Broadway

  address: 725 E Pine St
  A strange mix of Capitol Hill old-timers (people who lived here before it was trendy), punks, and Seattle Central Community College students. The food is Italian-inspired bar food (lots of cheese!) and the drinks are stiff. Great place to start a night out (don't stay too late as Bill's closes at 12AM). Service can be amazingly slow, so if you're starving you might want to go somewhere else.

• Cha Cha Lounge

  address: 1013 E Pike St
  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.

• Pine Box

  phone: +1 206 588-0375
  address: 1600 Melrose Ave
  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.

• DeLuxe Bar and Grill

  address: 625 Broadway E
  Dark, but appealing for a beer, stiff drink or bar food (hearty burgers, thick fries, etc.). More restaurant than bar.

• Garage

  phone: +1 206 322-2296
  address: 1134 Broadway Ave
  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).

• Herb & Bitter Public House

  phone: +1 206 708-6468
  address: 516 Broadway E
  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.

• Liberty

  phone: +1 206 323-9898
  address: 517 15th Ave E
  Free wifi, large couches, decent sushi, good drinks and attractive servers conspire to make this one of the better Capitol Hill bars.

• Linda's Tavern

  address: 707 E Pine St
  The outdoor patio makes this the perfect place to enjoy a few drinks under the stars.

• Poco Wine + Spirits

  address: 1408 E Pine St
  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.

• Smith

  phone: +1 206 709-1900
  address: 332 15th Ave E
  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.

• Stumbling Monk

  address: 1635 E Olive Way
  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.

• Summit Public House

  address: 601 Summit Ave. E
  Offers many beers on tap and is home to one of the best BLTs in the city.

• Rhein Hause

  address: 912 12th Ave
  Beer Garden with indoor bocce courts and Bavarian bratwurst and pretzels

LGBT

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.

• C.C. Attle's

  phone: +1 206 726-0565
  address: 1701 E Olive Way
  Laid-back bear bar with strong drinks and good bar food. Pool tables and electronic darts.

• Crescent Lounge

  phone: +1 206 720-8188
  address: 1413 E Olive Way
  Small dive bar with nightly karaoke.

• The Cuff Complex

  phone: +1 206 323-1525
  address: 1533 13th Ave
  Gay bar and dance club, often attracts a leather crowd.

• Diesel

  phone: +1 206 322-1080
  address: 1413 14th Ave
  Bear and cub bar.

• Madison Pub

  phone: +1 206 325-6537
  address: 1315 E Madison St
  Unpretentious and crowded gay sports bar. Pool tables and darts.

• Neighbors

  phone: +1 206 324-5358
  address: 1509 Broadway
  Gay dance club. The place to take your straight friends.

• The Pony

  phone: +1 206 324-2854
  address: 1221 E Madison St
  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.

• Queer/Bar

  phone: +1 206 687-7491
  address: 1518 11th Ave
  Inclusive bar with a variety of quality performances, and excellent pub food.

• R Place

  phone: +1 206 322-8828
  address: 619 E Pine St
  Three floors: gay bar, lounge, and a sweltering dance floor.

• The Seattle Eagle

  phone: +1 206 621-7591
  address: 314 Pike St
  Classic gay leather bar. Underwear parties on Saturdays.

• Wildrose

  phone: +1 206 322-8828
  address: 1021 E Pike St
  One of the oldest lesbian bars on the West Coast. Very cheap tacos and Tecates on Tuesdays, and cheap well drinks on Thursdays.

Budget

• 11th Avenue Inn

  phone: +1 206 720-7161
  address: 121 11th Avenue East
  An eight-room bed and breakfast built in 1906 on a tree-lined side street two blocks east of Broadway, just north of Cal Anderson Park. Free on-site parking, queen beds, private bathrooms, wifi. AAA 3-diamond.

• Gaslight Inn

  phone: +1 206 325-3654
  address: 1727 15th Ave
  Bed and breakfast.

Mid-range

• Homewood Suites Seattle Convention Center Pike Street

  phone: +1 206-682-8282
  address: 1011 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.

• Silver Cloud Inn

  phone: +1 206 325-1400
  address: 1100 Broadway
  A local chain brand. Inexpensive option in between downtown and Capitol Hill. Rooms are generously spacious. Complete facilities such as complimentary Wi-Fi, a restaurant, gym and swimming pool, which considering the typical price, is a giveaway.

Splurge

• The Sorrento Hotel

  address: 900 Madison St
  This historic hotel has crowned the First Hill since 1908. It is a posh, Italinate, 7-story hotel with fine dining in the AAA - 4 diamond Hunt Club - For a classy night out before the "hopera".

Though crime in the neighborhood has declined in recent years, the Central District has one of the highest crime rates in Seattle. However, the neighborhood is fairly safe at daytime. Walking in the District at night is not advised.

Wireless Internet is available at nearly every coffee shop, though some disable it during peak hours on weekends to keep the crowds moving.

• Seattle Public LibraryAll branches of the Seattle Public Library have open wireless, using the SSID spl-public. Public computers with Internet access and basic office software are available for up to 90 minutes at a time, but require either a SPL library card or a temporary pass available from the circulation desk.

• Capitol Hill Branch

  phone: +1 206 684-4715
  address: 425 Harvard Ave E

• Montlake Branch

  phone: +1 206 684-4720
  address: 2401 24th Ave E

By mail

• US Postal Service

  phone: +1 206 324-5474
  address: 212 Broadway E

• US Postal Service

  address: 1150 23rd Ave