Welcome to Belltown
Where it’s at! Belltown is a happening and active neighborhood, home to much of Seattle’s film, music, and nightlife. With so much to explore, Hotel Crocodile serves as the perfect home base for Seattle’s OG neighborhood. Find our staff’s favorite neighborhood eats, drinks, and things to do below.
Where to Eat
Tat’s Deli in Here-After
The Crocodile has partnered with Tat’s Deli to bring you sandwiches, salads, and bar snacks. Order at one of our venue bars or online to pick up around the corner in Here-After.
Bang Bang Cafe
Specializing in New Mexican cuisine with authentic hatch chiles, full espresso bar featuring lighthouse roasters, a scratch bakery, beer and wine, wine base cocktails, and an array of nonalcoholic beverages, including homemade sodas and nonalcoholic beer!
The Pink Door
We didn’t know whether to put the Pink Door under eats, drinks, or things to do. Owner Jackie Roberts offers an Italian-American menu with a magical dinner show featuring trapeze, cabaret, music and tarot. The Pink Door is a fun reason to get gussied up and it’s located just down the way in the Pike Place Market! We strongly recommend making a reservation.
Cyclops
A Belltown staple since 1990, Cyclops offers simple but tasty fare. Our closest neighbor hosts an amazing velvet painting collection, offers weekend “blunch” and is open until midnight on weekends. To get to Cyclops just head right out of the Hotel Crocodile and you’ll see it across Wall Street.
Macrina Bakery
You’ll likely run into a Crocodile staff member or two if you stop into this staff favorite, Macrina Bakery. Get your coffee fix and one of the most delicious pastries you’ll find in the city at the original Macrina Bakery location located half a block south and across the street from Hotel Crocodile.
Tilikum Place Cafe
Named after the Tilikum Place Park where the statue of Chief Sealth stands, Tilikum Cafe offers a European inspired menu for both lunch and dinner. Stop in to Tilikum Cafe on your way north to the Space Needle and Seattle City Center.
Where to Drink
Here-After
A Belltown neighborhood bar, Here-After is on the lowest level of The Crocodile. Enter from within the building by heading down the stairs, make a quick right, and another quick right down another set of stairs. Take a moment to catch your breath. It’s directly in front of you, just to the right of Madame Lou’s.
Jupiter Bar
Pinball, murals, drinks, food, and a lot of Belltown history, Jupiter Bar is a must. Besides having one of the most well stocked pinball arcades in Seattle, Jupiter is also a safe harbor amid Belltown relics of closed bars and restaurants. Watch out for the vintage mopeds often parked just inside the door and don’t forget to grab a mirror selfie in front of the cat mural.
Screwdriver Bar / Belltown Yacht Club
A self described “Rock & Roll Utopia,” Screwdriver Bar / Belltown Yacht Club offers stiff yet well-crafted cocktails, local beers, and a 125-cap music venue that hosts mostly local acts. See their stellar collection of rock portraits and artifacts. A cool spot run by fine folks.
Bathtub Gin
Do you like gin? Well, we have got a treat for you! Our neighbor, Bathtub Gin, boasts over 50 brands from around the world in their prohibition style cocktail bar. This Belltown cocktail bar is a little hard to find but it's in the alley between 1st & 2nd 50 ft. North of Blanchard St. Just look for the wooden door. And don’t worry, they serve more than gin.
Black Bottle
A stone's throw from Hotel Crocodile, Black Bottle is a gastropub serving up “order for the table” style unfussy, rustic dishes and phenomenal cocktails. Head out of Hotel Crocodile to the right, head north and you’ll find Black Bottle about a half a block up across 1st street.
Things To Do & See
The Crocodile
For 30 years, The Crocodile has been the soundtrack of Belltown, don’t miss your chance to catch a show in our main showroom just below Hotel Crocodile. You can find the full schedule here.
Madame Lou’s
If you’re interested in discovering local up and coming talent, we recommend catching a show at Madame Lou’s. Named after the infamous Seattle iconoclast, our below-ground venue honors the legacy of Seattle’s gritty entrepreneurial spirit presenting groundbreaking upstart talent. You can find the full schedule here and it’s located on the lowest floor of the building, right next to Here-After.
Belltown Corridor
A hidden gem, Belltown Corridor is a mural project in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. Located in the alley behind 2126 2nd Ave., Belltown Corridor was created by Seattle muralist Joey Nix to showcase local Seattle mural talent as well as international artists like Marlon Pruz, Priscilla Yu, and more. To get there from Hotel Crocodile take a right from the hotel and head east, take a left on Bell St. then a right just past 2nd Ave. in the alley. If you get lost, the Belltown corridor is behind Jupiter Bar. Don’t be afraid to ask the door person for directions or stop in for a pre-mural tour drink.
Space Needle
A tourist trap for sure, but on a clear day it can be totally worth it to take the trip to the rotating restaurant and glass bottom observation deck. Our hotel is near the Space Needle, at just an 11 minute walk. Head northwest out of Hotel Crocodile towards the 605 ft. spire in the sky or take these walking directions.
Pike Place Market
Just south of Belltown, this place has everything. Fish throwing, honey, belt buckles, flowers, fresh donuts, a magic shop, and the World’s Largest Shoe. Have breakfast or lunch at The Athenian, where they filmed a scene from Sleepless in Seattle, with views of Puget Sound and the ferries docking.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Located underneath the Space Needle at Seattle Center, MoPOP is a music and pop culture lover's dream. You’ll find much more than photos and paintings at MoPOP, honestly, you have to see it to believe it.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle, showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. Here you’ll find amazing avant-garde glass sculptures making you wonder how he even did it.
Climate Pledge Arena / Kraken Community Iceplex
Seattle got a hockey team! Find the home of the new Seattle Kraken Hockey team at Climate Pledge Arena, which is part of Seattle City Center where you will also find The Space Needle, MoPOP, and Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Olympic Sculpture Park
Hotel Crocodile is just minutes from the fabulous Olympic Sculpture Park, created and operated by the Seattle Art Museum. This public park with modern and contemporary sculptures, consists of a 9-acre outdoor sculpture museum, an indoor pavilion, and a beach on Puget Sound.
More Things To Do & See
Museum of Museums (MoM)
Housed in a renovated mid-century medical building, MoM hosts exhibition spaces, rotating installations, murals and sculpture, a theater, weekly art classes, pop-ups, and conceptual gift shop. Nearly every inch of the property is art-activated. They are good friends and their mission is to increase the artist population of Seattle and inspire our local arts ecosystem through exhibition, education, and conversation about the role of the artist, philanthropist and collector. Check it out - you won’t be disappointed!
Self-guided Walking Tours
A little nerdy but in a good way, HistoryLink offers free easy-to-use self-guided Seattle neighborhood walking tours with audio and translation. The Belltown tour includes stops at former locations of shuttered iconic music venues, recording studios, movie theaters, and even our venue’s original building.
Underground Tour
We feel this is one of the most fun tours around, with “ dirt, scandal, & really old plumbing” as their tagline, we know you’ll love their presentation of Seattle history. They’ll even talk about our beloved Madame Lou, namesake of our 300 capacity venue within the complex. Hit the pavement, bus it, or light rail down to Pioneer Square and enjoy!
Bruce Lee’s Grave / Volunteer Park
Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood is home to this legend's final resting place. Located in picturesque Volunteer Park, you can honor Bruce Lee’s life with a visit and then take in the view through the iconic Black Hole Sun sculpture. Walk up the circular stairs in the brick water tower for 360 degree views of the city. We suggest grabbing an rideshare for this one, which should run about $15 - $20 each way.
Jimi Hendrix Statue
Dare we say Capitol Hill wouldn't feel the same without this sculpture of Jimi? The Electric Lady Studio Guitaris a life-size bronze sculpture of Jimi Hendrix by Daryl Smith, located on the main drag, Broadway Avenue, Jimi lives to jam another day! Visit this popular photo spot and feel the vibes. The Link Light Rail from Westlake Center to Capitol Hill Station is a fantastic way to reach this area of the hill.
Quincy Jones Auditorium
Quincy’s middle name is “Delight” and a visit to the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center is nothing short of that! Located in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood, the center offers a wide array of performances. A little off the beaten path, this one, so driving or a ride share will get you there in style.
Emerald City Guitars
Vintage guitar lovers, contact ECG to schedule an appointment! This emporium has everything from Fender to that rare Japanese guitar you’ve been dreaming of. Located in the oldest part of Seattle, Pioneer Square, which is just a few miles down the street from us, you can bus, Light Rail or drive to reach this treasure trove.
KEXP Gathering Space
The KEXP Gathering Space at Seattle Center is so worth checking out, especially if you’re already making a visit to that area. Part record store, part performance space, part radio station: you will feel at home here in music wonderland and maybe even catch a KEXP in-studio performance while you’re at it.
