Blog post originally appeared on the website www.artistswhotravel.com 

​Have you traveled to the Middle East and are now missing the food and entertainment? Curious about bellydancing? Love hummus or baklava? Seattle has a surprising number of restaurants where you can see a bellydancer and get a great meal.

Here are 6 restaurants where you can find a bellydancer in Seattle:

1. Harissa
This Lebanese restaurant run by owner and chef Walid Al-Abtan offers a wide array of appetizers, kababs, stews, salads, and pastas alongside a full bar. There is bellydancing with live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Most shows have multiple dancers with the last one being the star of the show and feature Egyptian band MB Orchestra. There is a $10 cover charge on Saturdays and dancing tends to start and end late in the evening with the first dancer going on around 10pm and the last around 11:30pm. Harissa has a definite Middle Eastern nightclub vibe.

2. Petra Mediterranean Bistro
Owner and chef Khal Beleh, born and raised in Jordan, has created an authentic menu of food from Jordan, Lebanon, Greece, Turkey, and North Africa. Bellydancers perform to pre-recorded music on Saturday evenings starting at 7:30pm with no cover charge.

3. Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant
Featuring North African food like tangines, couscous, and kababs with a healthy dose of Moroccan hospitality. Dancing Wed-Sunday to pre-recorded music if enough reservations are made so be sure to call ahead. No cover charge.

4. Taki’s Mad Greek
A family owned and operated restaurant featuring authentic Greek food and live bouzouki music by Taki himself! The band starts playing at 7:30pm and the dancer does a full show with the band around 8pm. Join in for some Greek line dancing after your meal. No cover charge but reservations are highly recommended as the space is small.

5. Georgia’s Greek Restaurant
Georgia’s son, Lakis Kazakos, is keeping his mother’s legacy alive in this family owned Greek restaurant. Lakis and his wife Greta will make you feel right at home with their hospitality and home cooking. There is generally live Greek music on Saturdays. Dancers may perform with the Greek band or with pre-recorded music. No cover charge.

6. Enat Ethiopian Restaurant
Enat Ethiopian Restaurant features a monthly show with bellydancers called Leyl Al Arab every third Saturday of the month at 6:15pm. Enat serves traditional Ethiopian fare and has a full bar. The cover charge is $5.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to bring some dollar bills to tip the dancers and musicians!