Seattle is a city of youth and numerous fashionable districts (from the Pioneer Square and Belltown neighbourhoods downtown to University District, Capitol Hill and Ballard), which are dominated by clubs, bars, coffee houses, cinemas and eccentric eateries. Due to the strictly enforced minimum drinking age of 21 years, a number of 'all ages' live music venues in the city centre do not serve alcohol to minors but offer a wide range of the latest in local music. The restriction is strictly enforced and it is essential to bring photo identification.

Most Seattle bars are open 1100 til 0200. Entertainment listings can be found in free tabloids such as Seattle Weekly (website: www.seattleweekly.com) and The Stranger (website: www.thestranger.com/seattle/home). There is also NWsource Seattle (website: www.nwsource.com), SeattleInsider (website: www.seattleinsider.com) and City Search (http://seattle.citysearch.com).

Bars: Several chic lounges have opened in the city recently. Vessel, in the old Skinner Building, 1312 Fifth Avenue, melds the old with the fashionable, while Marazul, 2200 Westlake Avenue (in the Pan Pacific Hotel), is a fusion of Asia and the Caribbean. Purple Cafe and Wine Bar has opened a new location in the heart of downtown Seattle at 1225 Fourth Avenue. The comfortable Boka, 1010 First Avenue next to the Hotel 1000, is where you are likely to find more locals than tourists.

The Alibi Room, 85 Pike Street, is a trendy cocktail bar tucked away in Post Alley, under the Pike Place Market, with a lovely view of Puget Sound. The BluWater Bistro, 1001 Fairview Avenue North, has a remarkable array of colourful cocktails, while Cascadia, 2328 First Avenue, Belltown, is perhaps the classiest bar in town, famed for its Gershwin-geared pianist, carved glass window/waterfall and Pacific Northwest wine list.

The Cha Cha Lounge, 506 East Pine Street, Capitol Hill, offers dimly retro décor with Chinese red walls and an artsy clientele. Conor Byrne's, 5140 Ballard Street North West, is a hip and authentic Irish pub that has live Celtic music on weekends. Doc Maynard's, 610 First Avenue, Pioneer Square, is a rowdy, rock-and-roll bar, restored from the turn of the century. Linda's Tavern, 707 East Pine Street, is famed for the latest music trends. Manray, 514 East Pine Street Capitol Hill, is a 1970s retro chic space pod done up in stark white décor, while The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, in the Pike Place Market, serves legendary violet martinis and has a great view over Puget Sound.

For more serious dark and smoky dives, try Comet Tavern, 922 East Pike Street, the oldest bar on Capitol Hill, or Tini Bigs, 100 Denny Way, famed for its over-sized martinis and cigar haze. Its massive dance floor and a variety of DJs have made Trinity, 111 Yesler Way, one of hottest bars in the city.

Clubs: The Baltic Room, 1207 East Pine Street (website: www.thebalticroom.net), is a stylish alternative rock, hip hop and jazz nightclub. Dance to anything from hip hop to Top 40 tunes at The War Room's rooftop deck, 722 East Pike Street (website: www.thewarroomseattle.com). A gay and straight crowd packs into the Last Supper Club, 124 South Washington Street, Pioneer Square (website: www.lastsupperclub.com).

Live Music: The Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Avenue and Blanchard Street (website: www.thecrocodile.com), was the original home of Seattle's grunge music scene (from Pearl Jam to Mudhoney and the Posies) and is still a cutting-edge, live music venue. However, it is rapidly being overtaken by Showbox, 1426 First Avenue, Belltown (website: www.showboxonline.com), due to its massive 1,100 capacity, domed ceilings and red velvet curtains. Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Avenue, Downtown (website: www.jazzalley.com), is a sophisticated jazz club that consistently features internationally known acts, while Tula's, 2214 Second Avenue, Belltown (website: www.tulas.com), is a low-key local jazz bar with an older clientele.