GAY TRAVEL GUIDE – SEATTLE

Each month PINQ will be bringing you a gay travel guide to a fabulous new destination.

Our first adventure took us exploring to Seattle – and with Seattle Pride right around the corner, here’s your chance to get a jump start on planning the perfect weekend getaway.

STAY

While many gay travelers will opt for the convenient, yet sterile, Silver Cloud Hotel in Capitol Hill, we searched for hotels with style, character and that were conveniently located close to Seattle’s best shopping and sight-seeing. This does mean that staggering home from the bar is not an option, but the $8 cab ride is well worth it.

For the ultimate in luxury, check out the brand new Four Seasons Hotel (from $275 US/night). Opened late 2008, it’s in the heart of Seattle’s cultural core, right next to the Seattle Art Museum and Pike Place Market. With views and bathtubs to die for, and amenities like 24-hour concierge service, state-of-the-art fitness center, rooftop infinity-edge pool and hot tub, and the ART Restaurant & Lounge, its only downside may be that you neglect the rest of Seattle.

For the dapper gents out there, book yourself into the historic Arctic Club Hotel (from $175 US/night). Formerly a gentleman’s club for adventurers flush with success from the Klondike gold rush, stepping into the Arctic Club is like taking a step back into a grander more refined era. Think dark woods, leather chairs, library lamps … it’s the kind of place you’d feel right at home with a brandy and a cigar (if they’d only let you smoke the cigar). The amenities don’t compete with the Four Seasons, but if you’re looking for a mid-range hotel as handsome as you are, this is the place for you.

If style-conscious yet budget-conscious is your thing, then check out the Hotel Max (from $125 US/night). Fully renovated in 2005, this design-forward boutique hotel showcases 39 local artists and photographers in its over 350 pieces of original art. Located just steps from Seattle’s best shopping, it’s hip, quirky, cool and very nicely priced. For those heading to Seattle for a romantic getaway, be sure to check out their “Gaycation” package, which includes martinis, a box of naughty toys … and late check out, of course.

SHOP

One would be remiss to not stop at Seattle’s Premium Outlets on the drive down. Even amongst the hit and miss-ness of outlet shopping, with brands like Burberry, Coach, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Tumi and more, there’s usually a stylish bargain or two to be found.

Seattle’s downtown shopping district has a little something for everyone: the Holt Renfrew crowd will certainly appreciate Barneys (1420 5th Ave.) and Nordstrom (500 Pine St.), the edgier types will appreciate a full Diesel store (1503 5th Ave.) and an Urban Outfitters (1507 5th Ave.) that gets way better stuff than the one in Vancouver, and the Abercrombie & Fitch (1531 4th Ave.) crew will appreciate that they are no longer relegated to American Eagle and can shop at the real deal. A stroll through funky Belltown is worth it just to stop at Ian (1919 2nd Ave.) And fashionistas will want to venture out to Ballard (a quaint neighborhood about a 10-minute drive Northwest of downtown) to the fashion-forward boutique Blackbird (5410 22nd Ave. NW), which features hard-to-find brands like Nom de Guerre, Band of Outsiders, A.P.C, Robert Geller, Julian Red, Surface to Air, Steven Alan, Raf Simons, Rag & Bone, and more.

EAT

When it comes to Seattle’s restaurant scene, one name is synonymous with Northwest Cuisine – Tom Douglas. It’s tough to go wrong at any of his six restaurants, but if you work up an appetite shopping downtown, grab a quick bite at the latest addition to his empire, Serious Pie (316 Virginia St.), which serves up delicious rustic thin crust pizzas topped with housemade charcuterie and arstian cheeses. Our favorite was topped with local Penn Clove clams, house-cured pancetta and fresh lemon thyme ($15 US).

Conveniently, Seattle’s gaybourhood boasts some of the city’s most popular restaurants. For those looking for a little adventure, check out Quinn’s (1001 E. Pike St.), a popular Capitol Hill gastropub. With dishes like Wild Boar Sloppy Joes ($10 US), Buffalo Frog Legs ($13 US) and Bone Marrow Two Ways ($10 US), the menu is as bold and unapologetic as the atmosphere. For those looking for a quieter option, perhaps with less bone marrow, try the award-winning Lark (926 12th Ave.), which features small plates that showcase local artisans, farmers, and foragers. Be sure to try the Yellowstone River paddlefish caviar with rosti potatoes and clabber cream ($20 US) and the carpaccio of Yellowtail with preserved lemons and green olives ($15 US).

DRINK

Capitol Hill has no shortage of great gay and gay-friendly spots to grab a pre- or post-dinner drink.

If there was one spot we wished we could have packaged up and taken home with us, it was Poco Wine Room (1408 E. Pine St.), an adorable gay-owned neighbourhood wine bar. With a comfortable yet modern design, a well-priced and approachable wine list, and friendly staff, it’s the perfect spot to relax and sample some Washington wines.

We also stopped in for a drink (ok, drinks) at the trendy Kurrent (606 E. Pine St.). Kurrent features an extensive martini and cocktail list (including over 65 vodkas) along with a 50-ft. ice bar to keep everything chilled. The crowd varies – on Fridays there are a lot of drunk frat boys and on Saturdays there are a lot of drunk gay boys. Either way you’re a winner.

PLAY

Purr (1518 11th Ave.) is where Seattle’s young S&M (Stand & Model) crowd goes to see and be seen. It’s more lounge than club, and although some use Purr as a jumping-off point for a night of dancing, others choose to make a night of it.

Capitol Hill has three major dance clubs within walking distance of each other. Our favorite was Neighbours (1509 Broadway), which features multiple levels, fierce drag performances and a cute young crowd dancing the night away until 4 am (think Odyssey meets Celebrities).

R-Place (619 E. Pine) is a multi-level danceclub with a diverse clientele (think Numbers) where the stiff drinks almost make up for the lack of ventilation upstairs (but not quite). We didn’t stay long.

Although the rugged Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.) is geared towards the leather crowd, its poplarity has spread across the whole community (think Pumpjack meets Odyssey meets Celebrities meets Numbers). Although the leather demographic is well represented, the Cuff will appeal to bears and twinkies alike. As my good friend so eleoquently put it, “you don’t need assless chaps to have a good time.”