Here's a closer look at Seattle's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Seattle-area venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Mutual Arts Collective
A new gallery and multiuse space in the heart of Pike Place Market celebrated its opening exhibition in March. Mutual Arts Collective was founded by Seattle musician Mike McCready (the lead guitarist of Pearl Jam); his wife, Ashley O’Connor McCready; and longtime collaborator Chris Adams. The gallery's mission is to showcase and sell work by artists impacted by structural inequities and systemic barriers. The space is available for private events and is set up with a flexible layout and a sleek, spare interior highlighting local artwork. Located on the top floor of the historic Corner Market Building, the gallery's striking windows provide panoramic views of Seattle’s skyline. The 900-square-foot event space can accommodate up to 30 guests for intimate sit-down dinners and up to 65 standing guests for cocktail parties.
Photo: Carlton Canary
Museum of Illusions Seattle
Visitors of the Museum of Illusions can snag a self-portrait that looks like magic, a picture of themselves suspended upside down, or scaling walls like Spider-Man. This interactive experience boasts locations around the world and recently opened permanently in June in downtown Seattle. Other exhibits within the museum include infinity mirrored rooms and a vortex tunnel. The Museum of Illusions is available for corporate events and team-building sessions. The capacity is between 200 and 250 people, depending on the occasion. The immersive exhibits can be explored by groups via a prebooked guided tour or a self-guided experience. The museum offers a full range of services for technical arrangements, including projectors, lighting, microphones, and additional equipment.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Illusions
The Redd Dog Bellevue
At The Redd Dog in Bellevue, guests can pour themselves a drink via a self-serve tap wall with 42 tap handles offering everything from craft beer and cider to kombucha, wine, and nonalcoholic options. This new outpost of The Redd Dog opened in the spring, with its signature pay-per-ounce system. The patios are dog-friendly, naturally (there's a doggy menu too), and equipped with perks like outdoor fireplaces. The pub serves crowd-pleasing snacks like onion ring towers, cones of tater tots, and buffalo chicken-topped pizza. There are three spaces available for smaller parties of up to 50 guests: The Fireplace Lounge can accommodate up to 50 guests with two outdoor fireplaces, while the Paw-Some Patio offers space for up to 40 guests with picnic table-style seating and stools around a bar top, and half of the pub's interior can be reserved for up to 40 guests. The entire patio can accommodate up to 90 guests, and the inside of the pub with its big-screen TVs and TouchTunes music system can accommodate up to 98 guests. For full buyouts, The Redd Dogg can accommodate up to 188 guests.
Photo: Courtesy of The Redd Dog Bellevue
RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
Chef Eric Donnelly opened his second outpost of RockCreek Seafood & Spirits in April in Kirkland, moving into the historic Webb Building. This circa-1930 brick building offers views of Lake Washington and plenty of space for diners, clocking in at 5,000 square feet over two stories. The 130-seat restaurant will serve both local seafood and delicacies from waters around the world. The original Seattle location in Fremont is known for Chilean sea bass and grilled octopus. RockCreek Seafood & Spirits in Kirkland offers a cozy, fireplace-lit lounge that can be used as a private dining room. The lower-level space includes a dedicated service kitchen, a dedicated bar, and adjacent restrooms. The private dining room can accommodate 25 people for seated events or 33 people with added bar seating. For standing events, the space can accommodate 40 people. A patio outside seats 60.
Photo: Courtesy of RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
Lotus on The Beach
Asian fusion restaurant Lotus on The Beach opened in April, serving everything from pho tacos to pad thai, Vietnamese crepes, lychee Cosmos, and bubble tea. Other menu items include honey walnut shrimp, Vietnamese steak and eggs, basil chili salmon, and panang curry. The restaurant is located near Alki Beach, and the cocktails embrace a beachy theme with a whole section of tiki drinks on the drinks menu. The interior includes a dramatic bar topped with marble and accented with graphic tile. Lotus on The Beach seats 64 (expandable to 70, depending on the situation) inside and 21 outside on a patio decorated with island-inspired umbrellas.
Photo: Courtesy of Lotus on The Beach
