OPEN BARS (6)
The Moore Theatre
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Oldest operating theater in Seattle. Grand, seated venue with balcony, ornate architecture, large proscenium stage. 1,800 capacity—graduation stage for Seattle bands.
The Central Saloon
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Seattle's oldest surviving saloon, established 1892. Located in Pioneer Square, Victorian-era rebuilding post-Great Fire of 1889. Long, narrow "shotgun" style room with high ceilings, exposed brick walls. Brick reflects high frequencies, wooden floors/bar absorb low end—created "live" room that demanded volume.
The Crocodile
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Opened in 1991 in the Belltown neighborhood, the Crocodile Cafe (now The Crocodile) was the "living room" of the Seattle grunge explosion. Co-owned for a time by Peter Buck of R.E.M., it hosted Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Mudhoney in an intimate setting before they filled arenas. The venue was famous for its lack of pretension and close-knit community vibe.
Whisky a Go Go
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
The cornerstone of the Los Angeles rock scene and the first live music venue inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Founded by Elmer Valentine, Mario Maglieri, and Phil Tanzini on January 16, 1964, the club was modeled after the Parisian discotheque of the same name. Upon opening with Johnny Rivers as headliner, the club introduced a female DJ who played records from a suspended glass cage and began dancing—birthing the "go-go dancer" phenomenon that became a staple of 60s nightlife globally.
Nevermind Bar (Raval)
🇪🇸Barcelona, Spain
Grunge-skate dive with indoor ramp, cheap beers and loud garage-punk soundtracks.
El Corazon (The Off Ramp)
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Definitive "grunge" club in aesthetics and atmosphere. Located beneath I-5 overpass—dark, dingy, notoriously hard to park. Architecture was functional bunker. Constant rumble from interstate combined with sonic assault inside created hermetically sealed noise environment.
CLOSED BARS (14)
Scrap Bar
🇺🇸New York, United States
Heavy-metal dive built from welded junk in Greenwich Village.
Raji's
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
In the basement of the Hastings Hotel, Raji's was the quintessential dive venue that bridged post-punk and the alternative explosion. Known for low ceilings, intense heat, and sweat dripping from the walls.
Nevermind Bar (Gòtic)
🇪🇸Barcelona, Spain
Original grunge-skate dive that revered Seattle rock.
The Vogue
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Grunge fashion HQ and tiny stage that hosted Alice in Chains, Tad and Mudhoney.
Gorilla Gardens
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Twin-room punk/metal bar where early Soundgarden, Nirvana and Black Flag shared sticky floors.
Coconut Teaszer
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
Hollywood nightclub at Sunset and Crescent Heights, crucial for the queer punk scene through "Does Your Mama Know?" nights and the grunge transition of the early 90s.
Jabberjaw
🇺🇸Los Angeles, United States
An all-ages coffeehouse with no liquor license, emphasizing music and community over alcohol sales. Epicenter of the "Coffeehouse Scum" scene and crucial for the Riot Grrrl movement in LA.
Fugazi Music Club
🇵🇱Warsaw, Poland
Brief but mythic squat-style bar that booked early Polish grunge and hardcore; named after the US band.
J.C. Dobbs
🇺🇸Philadelphia, United States
South Street bar that booked Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Green Day pre-fame.
Off Ramp Café
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Club where Pearl Jam debuted (as Mookie Blaylock) and Soundgarden filmed videos.
The Vogue
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Originally a gay disco before transforming into premier venue for experimental, industrial, art-punk side of Seattle. Dark, industrial "club-like" atmosphere with black walls, low stage. Located in Belltown—then scruffy, low-rent district of artists and SRO hotels.
The OK Hotel
🇺🇸Seattle, United States
Located beneath Alaskan Way Viaduct in Pioneer Square. Gritty, working-class establishment turned vital music venue. Raw, open space crucial for all-ages crowd and punk scene.
Bristol Bierkeller
🇬🇧Bristol, United Kingdom
Cavernous Bavarian-style rock bar; 1990s home to student alt nights and early shows by Nirvana & Arctic Monkeys.
Duchess of York
🇬🇧Leeds, United Kingdom