The Cuff Complex

I've been coming to Cuff occasionally for the past 15 years since moving to seattle ( three or four times a year until covid came) and recently went back several times over the last 3 months after a 4-year hiatus. The price of drinks is the same as any other place you'll find in Capitol hill. The pours are good. The aesthetic is Pleasant. There's billiards and darts for free, and all around the spaces as good as it always was. The covers are definitely higher than they used to be and I have found their worth paying if there's a specific event you're hyped for, otherwise it's best to get there early and never leave until you're absolutely done. And here's why- A group of us came around 8-ish before an event that technically started at 10:00 (they started charging the cover for at 9:00 p.m.) We specifically asked if we left to smoke and came back if we were going to be charged to cover - we were told the answer was TBD. Two of us went outside to smoke at separate times after the event began. My friend, the cis-White dude, was told it was fine for him to go in and out without paying the cover as he had been there since 8:00. When I attempted to go smoke however, the same person told me I (a lady-shaped enby) had to pay the $30 cover if I left even though I had also been there since 8:00 & drinking the whole time. So in that respect Cuff has not changed - it's still very much a male centric space full of the quiet misogyny that gay and even queer bars have perpetuated since the 90s. I'll probably be back for specific events, but I'm not inclined to return anytime soon just to hang, which is a shame because I had a really good time just playing darts and pool with a friend there. I was looking forward to making it a regular spot. Now not so much.

Honestly everything was great i.e. the music , the environment, the cover charge. The only thing that discouraged me from coming back was the fact that I held off so long from going to the dance floor because I came alone but eventually I decid3d to go onto the dance floor. When I finally made it to said dance floor I smelled hon3stly a bunch of un-douched Nalgas (if you know spanish). So I left the dance floor because I didnt want to smell caca. But anyways everything else was great including the music it was just overwhelmed with dudes that have not or tried to half way ....clean that area (deep clean) properly .

This is the best spot in Seattle for queer nightlife. Good deals on drinks and usually pulls the best crowd on weekends. Go check out karaoke/trivia during the week too they have a lot going on here besides being the best dance club on weekends. Don’t bring bachelorette parties here though.

Very little domestic beer choices only coors light on tap and tasted nothing like colors light. Also online a leather gay bar but today only women where working. Very uncomfortable bartender sat with feet up on cooler the whole time.

7 PM 10/5 Sunday evening definitely not busy. As a customer who walks in the bar, I don’t expect immediate service, but I would Certainly expect when I walk up to the bar to be acknowledged by a bartender. "Hey I’ll be right with you…" Bartender on shift is too busy in his own conversation with two individuals talking about the Northern light Is too busy to turn around and acknowledging me at the bar behind him. After I walked out of the bar, I will give the bartender props for following me out and asking me what my problem was and accusing me of being so angry. As I told him, I am not angry, but I’m not gonna be ignored when I walk into a bar to spend money! As I told him, I’m sure the owners of the bar don’t expect you to engage in conversation And ignore customers that are trying to spend money in this establishment. If the owners or management want to reach out to me, I can give you the exact times. I can send you a picture of myself so you can follow up with your video footage and see what happened….

FUN AND FRIENDLY BAR AND DANCE CLUB . PATIO BAR AND OUTDOOR SEATING . FULL COCKTAIL BAR . NICE BARTENDERS . GREAT DANCE FLOOR AND DJS . THEME NIGHTS

Last night, SEAPAH hosted their monthly Pup Social at the Cuff. To be fair, I generally don’t attend the social there regularly as I don’t vibe with the atmosphere as well as I do other venues in the area. The event was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There is absolutely ZERO reason for them to try and charge us $30 just to step outside and vape or smoke when we have already been patrons at the venue for 2+ hours, buying their RIDICULOUSLY overpriced drinks. Doubt I’ll be in ANY rush to come back there and if that means missing the social every other month, so be it.