Pike Place Market at Night

The flower stalls, the buskers, the flying fish. Pike Place Market by day is vibrant and alive. It's also the second most visited place in Seattle next to the Space Needle, so how do you visit Pike Place Market and escape the crowds? Well, one way is to go after 6:00 PM. The day-stalls will be all packed up and empty, so you won't be able to sample produce or buy fresh baked goods, but you can still have an amazing time, because The Market has a seriously legit night scene. You haven't fully experienced Pike Place without seeing it after the lights go down. 

The Pink Door 

The actual Pink Door (which is really more salmon in color, right?)

The Pike Door is not only one of our all-time favorite restaurants, it also has amazing nighttime entertainment that comes in all shapes and sizes throughout the week. Every night this sweet Italian restaurant in Post Alley hosts talented acts to entertain and awe their guests. Our favorite are the aerialists on Sunday and Monday nights - they literally swing over your head as you enjoy your pasta - it's insane and awesome. They are also well known for their Saturday night burlesque and cabaret shows - which is the only night the acts come at an additional cost. Tuesday - Friday nights are for live music and make for a crazy romantic vibe. Check out their entertainment page to plan your next fun night out (reservations encourages)!

Unexpected Productions

Unexpected Productions is the oldest improv theater in Seattle and is located in the historic Market Theater in Post Alley. These guys are responsible for making people laugh in Seattle for 20+ years, and they also inadvertently started The Gum Wall - Seattle's most colorful and disgusting tourist attraction. We did an entire post on these guys because we love them so much (read more here). We love that no two shows here are alike, it makes the show you see feel that much more special and the artists are all so talented they will have your cheeks hurting by the end from laughing so hard. Check out their calendar to plan your night out. 

Can Can

Nobody does Cabaret better than the performers at Can Can. This incredible intimate theater is tucked under The Market and allows you to feel transported while you watch the show. They create very high-quality, high-class (subjective...haha) shows that switch every few months or so. You can expect singing, dancing, acrobats, and all sorts of amazing feats of athleticism. You always know you are in for a new, creative treat when they roll out a new show and we would encourage everyone to add this place into their regular line up for the year, right up there with the big hitter plays at the Paramount and concerts at Key Arena. Check out their show schedule to get inspired and add some zing to your routine!

Insider tip: if you are celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday, you can pay extra to have your person pulled up on stage and humiliated (in the best kind of way, of course). 

Bars, Bars, and more Bars

The curated wine selection at JarrBar

Beyond shows there are a ton of great bars to check out at Pike Place Market to have a fun night out. Kells is an Irish Pub with some crazy events throughout the year - St. Patricks Day is obviously the blow-out. Jarr Bar has a cool, relaxed vibe and cocktails that will make you want to kiss the bartender. Raditator Whiskey is a great spot to warm up with some whiskey flights. We love going to White Horse Trading Company, a very dark and cozy British pub where you can get Pimm's Cup. And The Tasting Room is phenomenal if you want to sample some of Washington's finest wines. There are about a million more, depending on what time you arrive and what you like to drink! Feel free to email us for recommendations! 

Date Night in the International District

With all the amazing neighborhoods and cool activities to do in Seattle, you think it would be easy to come up with new adventures for date night. But, you know, sometimes you're stuck in a rut. You've been to all the usual spots and need something different. We're here to help! Whether you are meeting up with friends, on a first date, or just need a night on the town with your honey, the diverse and interesting International District is a great place to go. Here are our recs for putting together a night out in the ID.

Activity: Imperial Foot Massage

A massage on a date? Why not! This place is a prize spot in Seattle and needs to be put on your radar immediately. For $27 you can get an hour long, full body massage. Now, this isn't like your typical massage. You will not be served cucumber water and given a luxurious bathroom to change into a fuzzy robe. You will be ushered into a large room filled with other patrons getting massages. You'll stay fully clothed and sit in big pedicure-style chairs that leans back while the masseuse works you over from head to toe spending extra time on your feet. Please note: this is not for the faint of heart. You might wake up fairly sore the next day as they don't hold back. There might have been a few times we wanted to tear up. But for $27, we say who cares! Breathe through it. It's good for you. We also recommend making a reservation as this place is catching on and getting popular.

Other great date activities: Wing Luke Museum, International District Food Tours (daytime only), Pinball Museum, Karaoke 

Dinner: Dong Thap

Beef and Meatball Pho/Pork Bun Cha with spring rolls

Sure, there maybe are nicer places you could take a date, but we love this Vietnamese restaurant for their homemade noodles! You would be surprised at how much those chewy, thick, delicious noodles elevate the soup. You have never tasted a bowl of Pho like this before! We also recommend ordering the Bun Cha, which is a bowl of rice noodles topped with peppery grilled pork, lettuce, spring rolls and covered in a lovely fish sauce. It tastes crazy authentic and fresh. They also have a "Superbowl Challenge" where you can attempt to eat a bowl of pho containing four pounds of noodles, four pounds of meat, and four liters of broth. We don't recommend doing this on your date unless, of course, it's a first date that isn't going well and then you can eat the entire bowl, making yourself sick, and go home.

Other great dinner spots in the I.D.: Tamarind Tree, Green Leaf, Tai Tung

Drinks: Fort St. George

The best part about drinking in the ID is that the cocktails are stiff AF. This Western/Japanese style pub is a bit hidden, you'll find it in the top of an office building. Look for the neon sign in the window. It's the perfect after-dinner drink spot as it is a bit of a dive but in a good, non-scary way. They have a short cocktail list plus your usual liquors and beers. They also have four sakes (hot or cold) to choose from. We like to get a large house sake and a Sapporo! If you are still hungry and need a snack, we recommend the flaming dried squid, which literally comes flaming to your table --uh COOL ,right?! 

Other great drink spots in the I.D.: the bar at Ocean Star (formally Sun-ya), Dynasty Room at Four Seas

Dessert: Dole Whip at Go Poke

Have you guys heard about this Dole Whip business? Apparently this dessert is at Disney theme parks and has a huge cult following....as in people wait in line forever to get this pineapple flavored soft serve treat. Well, lucky for you, you don't have to go to Disney, you can get it at Go Poke (add an extra $7 if you want the souvenir glass). You can also get a Dole Whip float, which is served with pineapple juice. Go Poke closes at 8pm, so plan your date accordingly.

Other great dessert spots in the I.D.: shaved ice at Bambu, bubble tea at Gossip, Taiyaki from Uwajimaya

Alright, go and have a great date night! Expect more neighborhood date night posts to come in the future.