April 1, 2026

Darts ‘eatertainment' venue opens in SLU

Photos by Erik Sven [enlarge]

The whimsical styling at Flight Club Seattle takes inspiration from an English pub and the fairground.

Beer was flowing and darts were flying in South Lake Union last week as Flight Club opened at 300 Westlake Ave.

Flight Club is a self-described social darts venue from State of Play Hospitality and is part of a growing number of “eatertainment” businesses that offer full food and drink menus alongside a social activity.

State of Play Hospitality is based in England, the historic home of modern darts. The first Flight Club opened in London in 2015. The concept expanded to the U.S. in 2018.

With the Seattle opening, the business now has 11 U.S. locations in addition to Flight Clubs in the U.K., Ireland and Australia.

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The fairground aesthetic is a nod to the history of the sport.

The SLU location is the first Flight Club on the West Coast. It spans 7,100 square feet and takes over space that was once home to the Flying Fish restaurant. Amazon leases office space above.

MG2 was the architect of record for Flight Club Seattle, which has bold, whimsical styling that at once evokes an English pub and the fairground. There's wooden wainscoting, tufted leather couches, hot air balloons hanging from the ceiling, and even a decorative carousel pony.

Wilcox Construction was the general contractor.

The fairground aesthetic is a nod to the history of the sport. (We can call it a sport, right?)

Historians have traced the origins of darts to medieval England (sometime in the 1300s) when military archers moved their practice inside and began throwing shortened arrows or spearheads at upturned wine barrels to stave off boredom. The game we know today, including the distinctive segmented dart board, most likely originated at the English fair — a highlight of the medieval social calendar — where revelers would throw small metal-tipped arrows to win prizes.

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Patrons play social darts at the grand opening of Flight Club Seattle. Photo by Hannah Corbin

The Seattle venue is MG2's second Flight Club in the U.S. with additional locations coming later this year.

“Hospitality today is about creating memorable experiences, and this project was an opportunity to collaborate in the design of a space that truly brings people together,” Nick Caputo, MG2 principal shared in a press release. “Working closely with the State of Play team, we focused on crafting an environment that balances atmosphere, functionality, and a strong sense of place.”

So how do social darts work?

Patrons rent an oche with a technologically enhanced regulation dart board, seating and table space where they play a multiplayer take on the classic darts game. Players sling their arrows (and yes … they are real steel-tipped darts) at the board while high-speed cameras capture the shot. Scores are instantly displayed on a screen above the playing area. The screen also plays replays and the turn order.

Flight Club is open Monday through Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from noon to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The venue is 21+ after 6 p.m.