Seattle's Vegan-Friendly & LGBTQ-Owned Bars & Eateries
[Updated June 2024]
Seattle is globally known as an LGBTQ-friendly city; our rainbow sidewalks probably give that one away. And once upon a time, before the tech boom and rent hikes, gay bars were more abundant than Starbucks in Capitol Hill.
Over the last couple years, however, many of Seattle’s long-standing gay and queer bars and establishments have closed down. With property values reaching national highs and a global pandemic added to the mix, small businesses, especially minority- and LGBTQ-owned, have been priced out of the city, or are still trying to hold on.
What can we do about it? Well, support the ones that remain, of course!
Choosing to support Seattle’s LGBTQ-owned establishments that are also vegan-friendly is a great choice when deciding where to go for a drink or a meal.
Vegan-Friendly And LGBTQ-Owned Businesses
To make it easier, I’ve listed some of Seattle’s favorite vegan-friendly and LGBTQ-owned businesses below. Leave me a comment with your favorite spot in town, and where you’re visiting next!
THE VELVET ELK
Mount Baker
The Velvet Elk (formerly The Saloon) is a lush, romantic, and cozy cocktail bar. In fact, it’s a whole entire vibe. In 2019, the name change came from the owner wanting to add a more feminine energy and style to the predominantly masculine decor of traditional saloons.
You’ll dig the mood lighting and vintage velvet artwork, but fall totally in love with their intriguing cocktail creations that change seasonally.
The food menu is limited for now, with housemade vegan corn dogs as a delightful treat, but outside food is also welcome. Mioposto is right next door with wood fired pizza with vegan cheese. Or, you can hit up more vegan-friendly favorites in Beacon Hill just minutes away. Our only request is that you don’t tell everyone you know about this place… but its sure hard not to.
DOUGH JOY DONUTS
Ballard, Capitol Hill, West Seattle
Dough Joy bakes colorful, flavorful and imaginative yeast-raised donuts for a sweet treat experience you won’t soon forget. Vegan owners and Sean and Christopher saw a demand in Seattle’s vegan food scene for something playful and bright in an often gloomy city, and spent the entirety of the pandemic learning to make yeast donut-making from scratch, with no previous baking experience behind them.
In May 2021, Dough Joy opened their flagship donut food truck in Ballard (now closed), and just months later established their first brick and mortar in Capitol Hill with a solid crew of baking and decorating phenoms. Their staff is majority LBGTQ, making Dough Joy a top choice when choosing to spend intentionally during Pride month (or any month!). Fast forward to today, and they’ve got a total of three donut shops, including West Seattle and Ballard!
The shops have over 15 donut flavors to choose from, including gluten-free donuts baked in a separate facility. Have fun choosing a donut, or better yet, just get a box and share with friends.
Distant Worlds CoffeeHouse
Roosevelt
Distant Worlds is an epic, “boho-meets-geek” coffee shop and community gathering space serves many vegan eats and drinks with a side of fantasy, sci-fi, and DIY. Favorite drinks include their house made vegan white chocolate syrup, and their “Fandom in a Cup” specialty coffee drink menu. They also carry a wide assortment of custom tea blends from local- and queer-owned Friday Afternoon Tea.
For more sustanance, enjoy a breakfast sandwich with toppings like JustEgg, house made vegan bacon, and vegan apple fennel sausage. They’ve also got a few vegan pastries to choose from, and don’t miss their vegan cinnamon rolls on the weekends!
Stop in for a coffee date with a pal, grab a board game off the shelves, or check out their meetup and events calendar on their website.
THE WILDROSE BAR
Capitol Hill
The Wildrose Bar is a LGBTQ-owned and women-owned bar that is welcoming to all. Established in 1984, it’s one of the few long-standing lesbian bars remaining on Capitol Hill, and the country - and is the only dedicated lesbian bar in Seattle.
During Pride month, Wildrose Pride is a premiere ticketed event, complete with live music, dance performances, and all-around celebration. But year round, The Wildrose is a great place to enjoy a cocktail with friends and enjoy local DJs, all while supporting this historical and inclusive business.
CAFE FLORA, FLORET, FLORA BAKEHOUSE
Madison Valley, Sea-Tac Airport. + Beacon Hill
Vegetarian restauranteur Nat Stratton-Clarke is the owner of the Flora Restaurant Group: Cafe Flora, The Flora Bakehouse, and Floret. He has fostered a haven for vegetarians and vegans alike for almost 30 years with local, organic, and sustainable goods with an eye on being eco-conscious and producing food that is simply delicious.
As a transgender business owner, he strives to cultivate a safe, respectful, and diverse environment for guests and his 100+ employees as well as contributing to organizations such as Camp Ten Trees and GLSEN to help support their ongoing missions.
Enjoy Cafe Flora for a cozy brunch or lunch in Madison Valley, or visit The Flora Bakehouse in Beacon Hill for a vegan pastry, breakfast burrito, and coffee. And when it’s time to take flight for vacation or a business trip, get to Sea-Tac Airport early to visit their sister cafe, Floret, for a delicious pre-flight meal (or cinnamon roll!) in Concourse A near Gate A1.
MORE LGBTQ-OWNED RESTAURANTS & BARS
Here are a few more LGBTQ-owned bars, restaurants, and cafes in Seattle - many with great vegan food options!
Frelard Tamales (Greenlake): Frelard offers both sweet and savory vegan tamale options, plus their rice and beans are vegan, too! They also sell frozen if you want to stock up at home. Featured in my Guide to Vegan Mexican Food in Seattle.
Seeking Kombucha (South Lake Union): This kombucha business started out at Seattle’s farmers markets. It’s fully vegan and features 12 taps of Kombucha, Jun, Turmeric Soda, Tepache & other fermented drinks. Visit their brand new taproom for gut healthy drinks, growler fills, fermented cocktails & mocktails, “but also stay for the classes, stay for the community, stay for the new friends.”
Poquito’s (Capitol Hill): Mexican-inspired fare with many vegan-friendly menu options, plus a full bar.
Cupcake Royale (multiple locations): Vegan dark chocolate cupcake & espresso.
Biang Biang Noodles (Capitol Hill): If you’re into long, thick, hand-pulled noodles, you will love this Chinese hot spot on the Hill. Few vegan options but they truly satisfy, like the Mapo Tofu Dry Mix Noodles, Veggie Spring Rolls, and Green Onion Pancakes.
Diesel Bar (Capitol Hill): Gay bar for the subgroup “Bears, Bikers, Buddies, Bubbas, Blue Collars & Bad Asses.” Welcoming to all.
Julia’s on Broadway (Capitol Hill): Diner with drag show performances, and veganizable dishes like a breakfast Tofu scramble, Garden Burger, hummus plate, and tofu stir fry for dinner.
Little Tin Goods & Apothecary Cabinet (Ballard): A garden-styled speakeasy sharing Hawaiian culture, food, and music. Vegan dumplings and amazing cocktails.
Queer Bar (Capitol Hill): Welcoming bar with weekly events like Queeraoke on Tuesdays, plus DJs and drag shows throughout the week. Food menu includes veganizable sandwiches with veggie chicken or burger patties, veggie tacos on Tuesdays, and great cocktails.
Little Chengdu (Mount Baker) Chine restaurant featuring Szechuan street food. Plenty of veggie-focused dishes that are already vegan or can be made vegan. Featured in my Guide to Chinese Food in Seattle.
Percy’s & Co. (Ballard): Percy’s is a craft cocktail bar that calls home to a space that predates prohibition. In 1898, The Ballard Bar, owned by Percy Sankey, was forced to switch gears and turned into a men’s clothing store (while still operating as a speakeasy, of course). Today, it’s a renovated space named after the original owner.
The Tin Table (Capitol Hill): This cocktail bar and restaurant is a hidden gem off the beaten path, located on the second floor of the Oddfellow’s building, and just across the hall from Century Ballroom. Veganizable food options include Truffled Smashed Potatoes, White Bean & Roasted Garlic Spread, and a Grilled Portabello Sandwich. Plus tons of house-crafted cocktails, mocktails, and local beer and wine.
Two Doors Down (Madison Valley): Family-friendly burger joint with Impossible and Beyond patties, plus gluten-free buns and dedicated fryers. They also carry over a dozen Northwest craft beers and ciders, plus craft root beer and other non-alcoholic beverages.
Queen Anne Beerhall (Queen Anne): 7,00 square-foot beer hall with 25 beers on draft from local breweries plus more from around the world. hall. Trivia Night on Tuesdays, DJs on Fridays with a cover, and free Sunday Open Mic night. Veganizable bites include a Beyond Burger, Beyond Brat, salt and vinegar fries. Dog-friendly and all ages until 10pm.
The Station Coffeeshop (Beacon Hill, Columbia City): The Station is more than a coffee house -it’s an adored community hub made up of local creatives and activists and serves as a mutual aid space that is welcoming to all. They play host to the annual Station Block Party that gathers local artists and performers for a weekend of celebration and togetherness. They offer plenty of vegan-friendly espresso and drinks, plus some small vegan bites. Featured in our Vegan Guide to Beacon Hill.
Stoup Brewing (Ballard, Kenmore, Capitol Hill): A Seattle favorite local craft brewery with a large indoor-outdoor beer garden. Daily rotating food trucks that often serve vegan options, or bring your own food! Dog and kid-friendly. They also have a new location in Kenmore.
Fulcrum Cafe (Belltown): Fulcrum is a local roastery with a chic cafe in Belltown. IT’s ownership includes a fifth-generation Costa Rican coffee farmer, and their beans are served in some of Seattle’s favorite coffee shops, including The Station Coffeeshop and Hood Famous Bakery & Cafe.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best LGBTQ-owned and vegan-friendly restaurants, bars and cafes in Seattle.
If I left any off the list, please let me know in the comments! If this guide was helpful, please feel free to share on your socials, and tag me if you visit them!
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