PIONEER SQUARE. Shrinking violets, beware: With two dueling piano players, a raucous atmosphere, and audience participation near 100%, 88 Keys is a great place to let loose. Musicians keep things boisterous with witty banter, good-natured ribbing, and familiar tunes that all seem to be crowd favorites. Get your courage up with tube or jello shots or a good old-fashioned mixed bucket of beers. A mainstay of younger crowds, the bar also pulls in business travelers on the quest for a good time.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. A favorite gathering spot for UW students and other Huskies fans, this University District sports bar is a great place to catch a game on the tube. On non-games nights, the lively crowd can show off their karaoke skills, and take advantage of great beer specials. To soak up some of the alcohol, a full menu of standard bar food and appetizers is available, and includes both Seattle and Philly cheese steak sandwiches.

WEST SEATTLE. Decorated with wrought iron fixtures and painted tangerine and aubergine hues, this sleek neighborhood pub perfectly mirrors the upstart attitude of its West Seattle environs. In the evenings, area professionals stop in to enjoy a microbrew or glass of wine at the refreshingly subdued bar. The menu offers a unique take on the concept of pub grub, winning patrons with dishes like Spanish-style fried calamari with lemon-garlic aioli, chicken jambalaya with andouille sausage, and enchiladas. Innovative egg dishes (served at weekend brunches) have become somewhat of a local legend.

WEST SEATTLE. A favorite nighttime haunt of the West Seattle crowd, this friendly brewpub offers a casual setting for mingling with friends or enjoying a bite of pub grub with the family. The spacious seating area is marked by its rustic red brick walls and high ceiling, which combine to give the place the look and feel of a European-style beer hall. Year-round house quaffs include Alembic Pale Ale, Elliott Bay IPA, Luna Weizen, and No Doubt Stout, and a variety of seasonal brews are also available. A loft area upstairs offers a few pool tables.

PIONEER SQUARE. Billing itself as a steak, chop, and oyster house, McRory's is also popular with sports fans, given its vicinity to Safeco Field and the football stadium. The establishment consists of both a bar and restaurant, both of which serve a variety of beers (including microbrews) and some pretty good steaks. Dark woods surround patrons at the bar, which boasts four TVs to ensure that you never miss a game. The restaurant menu is available in the bar, and you can also get fresh oysters, both steamed and raw. A full bar guarantees that you have any beverage you desire, and you can partake inside or on the outside deck. Plus, the bar typically closes an hour later than the restaurant serves food. Great for groups.