Definitions
What our venue data fields mean.
Districts
Districts are broad geographic regions that group multiple neighborhoods together. Our district boundaries are based on commonly recognized regional divisions in the Seattle metropolitan area, informed by Wikipedia's documentation of Seattle neighborhoods and surrounding municipal boundaries.
Districts help users narrow down their search to a general area of the city before selecting a specific neighborhood. For example, "Capitol Hill & Central" includes Capitol Hill, First Hill, the Central District, and Madison Valley.
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods represent specific areas within districts. Our neighborhood names follow the designations used by the City of Seattle and King County, supplemented by commonly recognized names from Wikipedia and local convention.
For venues outside Seattle city limits, we use city names (e.g., "Bellevue", "Kirkland", "Woodinville") rather than attempting to subdivide those municipalities into neighborhoods.
Neighborhood boundaries are not always precise, and some venues near borders may reasonably fit into multiple neighborhoods. We assign each venue to a single neighborhood based on its address and local custom.
Category
Category describes what a venue is — its primary identity. Each venue gets exactly one category. The question is: what would a person walking in the front door call this place?
The Core Distinction
The most common category decision comes down to daily identity:
- Event Space
- A multi-use space whose primary purpose is hosting customer events. Without events, it has no regular business. Banquet halls, ballrooms, dedicated rental spaces. This is the default when a venue exists to be rented.
- Bar
- An establishment that sells alcoholic beverages and is open to the public on regular hours, including non-entertainment days. Would someone walk in on a Tuesday just to have a drink? If yes, it's a bar — even if it also hosts major private events.
- Music Venue
- A venue where most people come through the door to see live music. People buy tickets to attend shows. The venue may have a bar, but the bar exists to serve the audience, not the other way around.
- Restaurant
- A restaurant with private dining or event capabilities. Food is the primary business; event hosting is secondary.
Other Categories
- Theater
- A performing arts venue with fixed seating oriented toward a stage. Traditional proscenium or thrust configuration.
- Brewery / Winery / Distillery
- Production facility with a tasting room or event space. Brews, ferments, or distills on-site.
- Hotel
- Lodging with event facilities — ballrooms, conference rooms, banquet halls. Lodging is the primary business.
- Museum
- Cultural institution or historic site that offers event rental, typically with restrictions on catering and setup.
- Community Center
- Public or nonprofit facility available for community use and private rental.
- Gallery
- Art gallery or exhibition space that hosts receptions and events. Art is the primary purpose.
- Outdoor
- Parks, gardens, farms, and other primarily open-air venues.
- Convention Center
- Large-scale facility purpose-built for conventions, trade shows, and conferences.
- Boat
- Vessels available for charter events on the water.
Capacity
Capacity indicates the maximum number of people the venue can accommodate. We track multiple capacity figures where available:
- Standing
- Maximum occupancy for a reception-style event with no seating. Typically the largest capacity figure.
- Seated
- Maximum for a seated dinner with tables and chairs. Usually 40-60% of standing capacity.
- Theater
- Maximum for rows of chairs facing a stage or screen (no tables). Usually 60-80% of standing capacity.
- Ceremony
- Maximum guests for a wedding ceremony layout with a center aisle and chairs on both sides.
In the venue list, we display standing capacity by default (the largest number). If a venue only provides seated capacity, we show that instead with "seated" noted.
Capacity figures are typically provided by the venue and may vary based on layout, fire code requirements, and event type. Always confirm with the venue when booking.
Stage
Indicates whether the venue has a fixed, built-in stage or routinely uses a temporary stage that is more or less permanently installed. This includes:
- Built-in raised stages (permanent construction)
- Semi-permanent staging that remains in place between events
- Temporary staging that the venue routinely assembles for performances
- Dedicated performance areas with stage-like infrastructure (lighting rigs, monitor positions) even if not raised
We do not mark a venue as having a stage simply because portable staging could be brought in. Many venues can accommodate renter-provided staging — that's a question to ask the venue directly.
Stage types include:
- Proscenium
- — framed opening, traditional theater arch. Audience views from the front.
- Thrust
- — extends into the audience on three sides.
- Raised
- — elevated platform, open on all sides.
- Modular
- — configurable sections that can be rearranged.
Accessible
Indicates whether the venue meets accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This typically means:
- Step-free or ramped entry to the main event space
- Accessible restrooms on the same level as the event space
- Doorways and aisles wide enough for wheelchair access
- Accessible parking or drop-off area nearby
We mark a venue as "Accessible" when the venue itself indicates ADA compliance or when the primary event space is wheelchair accessible. Specific details (elevator, ramp, hearing loop, etc.) are noted in accessibility notes when available.
"Not specified" means we haven't confirmed accessibility status. It does not mean the venue is inaccessible — many venues simply don't advertise this information.
If you have specific accessibility requirements (service animals, ASL interpretation, sensory accommodations), contact the venue directly to discuss your needs.
Alcohol Policy
Describes how alcohol service works at the venue:
- Full Bar
- The venue has a liquor license and operates its own bar service with spirits, beer, and wine. Typically required for events. No outside alcohol allowed.
- Beer & Wine
- Licensed for beer and wine only; no hard liquor.
- BYOB
- Bring your own beverages. Usually requires a banquet permit from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. The venue may charge a corkage fee. Often the most cost-effective option.
- In-House Only
- Alcohol is available only through the venue's own service; outside alcohol not permitted. May be limited to beer/wine or a set menu.
- Licensed Caterer
- The venue requires you to use a licensed caterer who holds their own liquor license.
- Dry
- No alcohol permitted on premises.
Rental Tier
A rough indication of rental cost level. These are broad categories, not precise price ranges, because rental rates vary significantly based on day of week, season, event duration, and included services.
- Budget ($)
- — lower-cost options, often community centers, public facilities, or basic spaces.
- Mid ($$)
- — moderate pricing, typical of most bars, restaurants, and standard event spaces.
- Premium ($$$)
- — higher-end venues with upscale finishes, extensive services, or prime locations.
- Luxury ($$$$)
- — top-tier venues, historic properties, or exclusive spaces.
Important: Price tier is admittedly subjective. When a venue doesn't publish pricing on their website, we derive estimates from publicly available information — reviews, blog posts, event planning articles, or other third-party sources. This information may be outdated or unreliable.
Always contact venues directly for current pricing. Many venues provide custom quotes based on your specific event details, and rates change.
Facilities
- Green Room
- A backstage room for performers, speakers, or a wedding party to prepare and wait before going on.
- Loading Dock
- A drive-up area (often with a raised platform) for unloading equipment, catering, and decor. Critical for large-scale productions and events requiring significant setup.
- Catering Policy
- External — bring any licensed caterer. Preferred list — choose from venue-approved caterers. In-house — venue provides all food service.
Audio / Visual
- Sound System
- In-house PA speakers, mixing board, and typically microphones. Quality ranges from basic vocal PA to concert-grade distributed systems.
- Lighting Rig
- Installed theatrical or event lighting beyond standard room lights — typically includes dimming, color washes, spots, and sometimes moving heads.
- AV System
- Projector, screen, or LED wall for presentations and video. May include HDMI inputs, wireless display, or dedicated tech support.
Phone Numbers
We only publish phone numbers that are derived from publicly available sources — generally the venue's own website. We do not use proprietary data sources, purchased contact lists, or information obtained through non-public channels.
If a venue's phone number is not listed, it's because:
- The venue doesn't publish a phone number on their website
- The venue prefers contact via email or web form
- We haven't yet verified the number from a public source
Venue owners can claim their listing to add or update contact information.
Verified Owner
The venue owner or manager has claimed this listing and confirmed its accuracy. Verified listings are updated directly by the venue and display a green "Verified Owner" badge. To claim a listing, contact us at owners@seatown.org with your venue name and proof of ownership.
Multi-Space
A venue with multiple distinct bookable rooms or areas. Each space has its own capacity, amenities, and pricing. Spaces can often be combined for larger events. Multi-space venues show individual space cards on their detail page.
Have a suggestion for improving these definitions? Contact us.