Planning a party in Seattle

May 14, 2006 10:59 PM

My wife is planning a 'stagette' type party for her soon-to-be-married friend, and needs some info about Seattle.

Seven girls are traveling from Vancouver to Seattle to stay over on a Saturday night. They want to stay in a hotel in an area where the nightlife is good so they can dress up all foxy-like, eat somewhere nice and then go drinking and dancing at a bar or club, or both. There are no cost constraints - they just wanna have fun. Seattle residents, can you recommend places seven cute girls can eat, get down and/or funky, and stagger back to at dawn?

posted by BorgLove to food & drink (5 comments total)

It just depends on how much money you wanna spend!
I'd suggest the Ace Hotel. It's in Belltown, which is where the young, rich and beautiful hang out and it's close to a pretty decent restaurant and bar called Cyclops. There are some really good restaurants nearby (Flying Fish, Saito Sushi, The Alibi Room, The Pink Door, The Bada Lounge, Belltown Billiards) and plenty of bars/clubs. You can easily get to Capitol Hill by cab and hit The Baltic Room, The Capitol Club, Barca, The Chapel, The Cha Cha, etc.

Go here, too.

I don't know your friends, so I can't say with any certainty what they'd like...but hit up The Stranger website to get idea of what's going on in town.

I am an ardent Lesser Seattleite, but I've always had a good time in Vancouver. So if you need more info or have specific questions, feel free to email me personally.
posted by black8 at 1:08 AM on May 15, 2006

Tangential, but in the UK nights such as these are insanely popular, and known as "Hen Nights".
posted by Marquis at 1:30 AM on May 15, 2006

I'd recommend staying at the Silver Cloud Inn on Broadway + Madison. It's rooms are reasonable, and they have fairly-priced suites that are perfect for nights like this. Also, they have a high tolerance for tomfoolery. I recently found myself there at 3:AM in the officially closed pool/hot-tub room with a half dozen girls in various states of undress. There was champagne and other fun, and the desk guy was un-officially okay with it.

It's situated in Seattle's party-centric Capitol Hill neighborhood. There are more bars of every type (dives to classy clubs) within walking distance than anywhere else in the city (save snobby and overpriced Belltown).

Were I them, I'd start off next door at the Garage, a high-end bowling and billiards place (really!). Then I'd head north to Pike street. Start at the Rosebud before 8 for $2 cocktail hour (stiff, stiff drinks), and a great appetizer menu. Then head across the street to my personal fave, the Maharajah. Free Indian appetizers with drinks till 8 with any drinks (stiffer yet).

Then, depending on which night they're here, next door to the War Room, a fantastic club with more street-cred than Rollins at a Death Cab for Cutie listening party. Their Rags2Riches night is particularly splendid, and the roof-top bar is a perfect way to experience a Seattle night.

Next up, head down Harvard to Pine street and the core of the Seattle music scene's watering holes. You'll find Linda's, the infamous Cha Cha, Kinkora's, and other fine bars full of scruffy-yet-cuddly 20-somethings wearing the stuff the rest of the world will be buying next year.

Next up would be a trip down Broadway, where you can find the lovely divey Jade Pagoda. I recommend the Tempura Dogs. If you're looking at something a little more upscale, there's the Brodway Grill, Charlies, or any number of other swank places. Careful not to get your eye poked out via careless Mohawkery.

In addition to all this action, the weekends are home to many of the underground rockshows that have made Seattle a mecca for indie rock well after the glow of Grunge has faded away. Venues like the Comet dot the strip. Listen for the guitar and follow the smell of booze until you find your place.

Have them keep their eyes peeled for a tall, white, four-eyed early thirties geeky punk type. That's me. I get scared.

Good luck, I hope they have raucous fun.
posted by mattoly at 12:25 PM on May 15, 2006 [2 favorites has favorites]

Heh. Thanks for the great info, mattoly. I'll be sure to pass your description along, although if you get spotted I recommend you stay as far away as possible. Things are gonna get messy.
posted by BorgLove at 1:07 PM on May 15, 2006

mattoly:
Thanks for the post too, I just moved to capitol hill and I've been trying to find things to do post work (and once i get unpacked).

I don't know what your feel is for the elysian (12th/13th and pine) brewpub that has some of best local beer i've found so far, but for the next day I also suggest trying to get breakfast at Crave, if they are able to keep the food down. It is off of Pine down 12th I believe.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:03 PM on May 16, 2006