Well, I used to go to the Cuff. The Cuff was known as one of the best Leather/Kink/Fetish bars in town. Going up from Portland to see friends was usually an excuse to spend a night downtown and hang out here. Not anymore. A couple years ago we were up for Pride and decided to go there on a Saturday night. Once we finally found parking and we turned the corner, there was a line down and around the corner of all the boys with their girlfriends. From what I've heard from prominent people in the community, this place could loosely be considered a gay bar and on top of that, not the leather bar it used to be. It was a fun place and I'm sad to see that it's morphed into what it is but I guess that's what management is looking to do and that is make profits. I won't blame them for that but you need to balance that with making your dedicated customers happy. The turning point was a story that happened not too long ago, and this made me really pause and think. As a result, I will never attend the Cuff again. Here's is that story from someone who visited the Cuff. Portions have been edited out to clean it up and comply with Yelp's ToS. ------------------ "4/8/2012 - i found out that if you are white and you take a black slave to THE CUFF in gym shorts, wrist n ankle restraints, slave chain and his mouth taped shut, you will be called a Racist. i was told (by a white guy) that after what happened in florida it was inappropriate for a white master to have a black 21yo kid looking like that. i assured him that the slave wasnt carrying any skittles, isnt even wearing a shirt - let alone a hoody, and i met him over a year ago. then the bartender informed me that it had "upset" and "offended" 2 Black patrons (old tired queens) and that i had to talk to the managers before allowed back in the bar. the problem was that neither of the managers was even there. i looked around for Jesse and reverand Al - but they hadnt shown up yet, as there were no tv news cameras. when i told the bartender i felt this was all about the fact that i am WHITE, he said "i dont want to talk about that". would any of them have said something about a black master and a white slave? Hell No ! but this is, was (used to be) a leather/kink SnM bar. i thought the name "The Cuff" implies that. not anymore. it has deteriorated to - just another gay bar. change the name, take down the f__ing sign, all the leather "decorations" on the walls and grab a glow stick." read more

I went to the Cuff on the Sunday of the Capital Hill Block Party and while there I was an approached and threatened by a man who just minutes before was whispering in the ear of a cuff employee who has harassed me while at the Cuff. The Person (AE) who was whispering in the ear of the Cuff Employee is a person who hacked into my router and my Netflix account and just weeks before while I was at another bar was talking to an African-American Crack Head who made threats on my life. The Crack Head he(AE) was talking to told me that "guns and knives were coming my way" . This Person (AE) who is about over 6' tall and I'm only 5'2" was towering over me and pointing his finger in my face and threating me. I went off on him something I don't do in public but the fact that someone I don't know that he(AE) was talking to weeks before made threats on my life and knowing that this person (AE) has been lying on me along with other black men he was sitting with was just too much and I needed to stand up for myself. The Cuff Employee he (AE) had been whispering to (Rick) then said something to the bartender and I believe he called security and security began to watch me. I felt once again I was being targeted by that Cuff employee and slandered. Ricks friendship with (AE) is a conflict of interest and he should not have said anything to the bartender because his friend (AE) approach me and made threats to me I was only standing up for myself. I believe AE, others and T.B. Davis who resembles me and people mistake for all the time are part of a clique are trying to set me up and because now I have put it all together my life is now in danger. I have never did anything to anyone and I have never sold drugs to anyone and I know that is what this group has been saying about me and they are all lying on me. BTW AE with that gut of yours and being a girl your age(Over 60 ) you might want to stay away from white, tight fabrics it's not flattering on you. read more

The Cuff Complex is just that, complex and very very racist against black folks. The club serves nasty, hairy, fat and mostly racist white men and boys calling themselves bears and cubs. I've been going to this place for over 20 years hoping to see more than 3 or 4 men of color, excluding Asian and Latin men. It is not a safe place and quite often you'll find that there are thieves roaming the complex as well as nasty, mentally ill men acting out and spreading ???. They openly express their disdain for black men and women and have no people of color in their staff except for an occasional Latin person, their DJ's seem to subscribe to the same attitude as the owner of this club, all maybe except for the one female DJ and the DJ who does T-Dance on Sundays, which is the only day I dance there now. The same ole stuff going on there. The bartender down near the dance floor however is wonderful and basically the only person in the whole complex that I trust and am loyal to. He treats black folks very well despite the owner or managers of the place, and is not as racist as the lot of unfortunate group of employees. When the dancefloor is packed, be sure to look out for your personal belongings AND if it's packed you can rest assured that these folks are not good dancers but basically drunk white folks jumping up and down because they have not been taught how to party. I have always lived near the club and it's very convenient for me to go there (I love to dance), but am giving up on this place since they are following their President Trump's lead in not being open to black folks. Too bad this place will always be a dump and draw in just that kind of patron aside from their regular drinkers and sports fan who never make it to the dance floor. They need a new direction AND a new attitude. Currently they are the worse. read more

Last night a very intoxicated man approached my friends and I and instantly after, staff begins to associate us with him by no means other than all of us were Latino and speaking Spanish. They begin to kick us all out with this man and refused to let us get our coats back. This was a VERY clear instance of the staff racially profiling my friends and I to associate us with this man who was causing trouble. There's already a strong racial favoritism towards white gay men who consistently get a free pass in this establishment and staff should be properly trained to treat people of color with that same amount of treatment. read more

Sadly, there are not alot of fun gay bars that play unpredictable music in Seattle- the Cuff is probably the worst of the bunch, especially on Sunday, unless you wanna travel back to 1972 & pay $5 cover to listen to the most common, old, uninspiring AM radio music - & they are not open to requests, which won't help anyway cuz if it does'nt fit into their little bubble of sad oldies- they won't play them. Don't even get me started on how weak the doubles are...Although this place is great if you're aging bear- that wants to re-live his glory days & dance to the oldies! GRRRRR- YUK! read more

Driving Beat = 1 star. Big ass dance floor = 1 star. Generous pour = 1 star. Friendliest crowd in Seattle = 1 star. So. Why is this a one star review? Because charging me more money to get in because I have a vagina reinforces the same gender bias that feeds the homophobic political agenda that pretends that women deserve less pay and gay couples shouldn't be allowed to share a home and a medical insurance policy. Good job fighting the man, Leather Daddy. read more

Biased atmosphere. Too dark and needs to be cleaned and repainted. The bathrooms are disgusting and smelly. This place needs a major overhaul. It lacks professional descent and a bit more friendlier staff, including new management. Drinks and cover charge is expensive. I have had more than several coats stolen from this place. Thieves frequent the place. Just tear the place down and build another condo. read more

I was at the cuff for Dj vinnies Tea dance I go often but here is a click that there now : old man asian black man I used to have a lot of fun: friend of mine they have banned for getting drunk: several other have left because of this group they should ban the druggies that go out , several times per night will not be back for a long long time rob read more

I'm a TG. Apparently that means you pay 3x cover charge. Bullshit cuff. Since when is trans not a part of the gay community? Instead of charging varied cover how about you charge a single cover for everyone and stop trying to exclude people. I've never encountered this kind of crap at any other gay bar in any other city. Were a community. Start supporting it cuff. read more

This place is smelly and hot as in temp! Fruit fly in my shot for added protein I saw! They act like the Russian Army of Seattle No pictures in here for a famous person might be in the photo and hit the news! Gross Gross. It should be sold and Condos should go like it was believed at one time. read more

simply: THE BEST! It's a complex of levels, hallways, alley ways, bathrooms. Great music. Outdoor area. Great drinks. And HOT MEN! Although sometimes it smells, but kind of in a good sexy way! Always a good scene. read more

The staff is rude (especially the black lady bouncer). drinks are expensive. bathrooms are dirty. regular customers are sexual predators. Union is a way better gay bar, at least it has some class to it. read more

Stop being fun years ago. Way too many straight women sight seeing with their girl friends. Way too many twinks. Boring and unfriendly like most of Seattle now. Straight owners are clueless. read more

Great bar! The staff are friendly and take good care of the customers. The crowd is fun and welcoming. There is rarely ever any trouble at the Cuff- it's the best bar in Seattle! read more

They are the worst bar on the hill! AVOID AT ALL COSTS! They cut myself and my partner off when we walked in the door stone cold sober. And we're incredibly rude ass holes. read more

The Cuff Street Party forces you to go broke trying to hydrate yourself with water! It should be free! Health officials should regulate them to hand out free water! read more

No frills and I think that is what makes it so great! Great men! Great dancing! Great fun! And hot hookups! Hahaha!

A guy came up to me and said I didn't look like I belonged there and should go. Turned out to be a staff member.

Groovy Bar! Loads of *Daddies* hanging about and FREE PARKING! How can you go wrong? Plus the music was fun!