WILDROSE

About WILDROSE

The Wildrose opened its doors on New Year's Eve 1984, founded by a collective of five women who wanted to create something Seattle didn't have: a lesbian bar that was visible, welcoming, and proud enough to put big street-facing windows on the front. Those windows, at the corner of 11th and East Pike, were a statement of intention at a time when most LGBTQ+ spaces were accessed through back doors and word of mouth. More than forty years later, Wildrose is now recognized as the oldest lesbian bar in the United States — and still the only one in Seattle. Co-owners Martha Manning and Shelley Brothers ran the bar together for over two decades, building it into something far beyond a drinking establishment. Couples have met here, married here, grieved here, and celebrated here for generations. The programming reflects that breadth: DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, drag bingo, trivia, karaoke, Speed Dating, and an outdoor Pride celebration that draws visitors from around the world. The vibe skews welcoming to everyone — queer women at the center, but the door open to all who come respectfully — and the drinks are strong and honestly priced. In a landscape where lesbian bars are disappearing across the country, the Wildrose being still very much here, and still very much itself, is genuinely something worth celebrating.