Pub entertainment in Seattle
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74th Street Ale House
A sibling to the Hilltop Ale House in Queen Anne, this is the kind of place that, if you lived nearby, you’d find yourself in several times a week. It’s immediately comfortable, to the point that you feel like an instant regular – plus there are dozens of outstanding beers on tap, and the food is miles above usual pub standards. The goat cheese salad ($9) is rightly famous.
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Blue Moon Tavern
This legendary home of literary drunks, both famous and infamous, is almost exactly a mile from campus, thanks to an early zoning law. Going in sober can be a harsh awakening. Everyone in the place has a limp and an unlikely story to tell. Hang onto your beer with both hands and be prepared for impromptu recitations of poetry, jaw-harp performances, formless rants and/or halfhearted groping – relax, you’ll have made new friends by night’s end. If things get too weird, try hiding behind one of the books that line the worn-in wooden booths.
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Brouwer’s
Shaped like a giant industrial oubliette, this dark cathedral of beer has rough-hewn rock walls and a black metal grate on the ceiling, plus two curved metal balconies, a bunch of cozy, black-leather couches, snug booths and an epic bar behind which are tantalizing glimpses into a massive, expertly stocked beer fridge. A replica Mannequin Pis statue at the door and the Belgian crest everywhere clue you in to the place’s specialty: yes, you can have framboise. With 47 beers on tap, you can probably have anything you want.
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Central Saloon
It may be two years younger than the official Oldest Bar in Seattle, the nearby Merchant, but the Central isn’t exactly new and shiny. More of a locals’ hangout than an object of historical interest, this long, narrow joint makes grody bathrooms and blah food seem charming, by virtue of cheap suds, friendly barkeeps and a comfortable, unfussy vibe. Live music most nights means that anyone who disapproves of metal should get in and out fairly early.
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E
Two Bells Tavern
Flee the white belt/skinny jeans crowd and seek refuge in the Two Bells, a neighborhood pub with the friendliest barkeeps in town and a familiar crew of regulars whose intense discussions of the previous night’s adventures are portable enough to be taken out back to the patio for a smoke. The house special is a meaty burger stacked thigh-high ($9). Show up Sundays at 1pm for help with the Times crossword.
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Prost!
You can order German beer in liters at this tavern, whose name means ‘Cheers!’ There are free pretzels on the bar and bratwurst on the menu ($3 to $6). It’s a small, usually crowded place with black-and-white photos, deep-red walls, darts in the back, and a sticker behind the bar that says ‘My bartender can kick your psychiatrist’s ass.’
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J&M Café
A lot of places claim to be the oldest bar in Seattle, but this is the most charming of the bunch. It’s right in Pioneer Square but avoids the screeching party throngs that roam these streets on weekend evenings. Food is reasonably priced, and there’s a patio out front that’s great for people-watching.
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Old Town Ale House
This cavernous, warmly lit, red-brick pub specializes in beers from Washington and Belgium. It’s also known for its giant sandwich ‘wedges’ (try the rustic eggplant) and stacks of delicious fries. Ask about daily drink specials (like $3 pints of IPA on Mondays – a fine idea).
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Canterbury Ale & Eats
If you can get past the suit of armor guarding the door, you’ll find that everything else about this Old English–style pub in a pretty, black-and-white building makes for a cozy hangout, from the snugs and the tapestried booths to the fireplace and friendly service.
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Hilltop Ale House
Hilltop is a comfy neighborhood hang-out on Queen Anne Hill, sister to the 74th Street Ale House. It has a friendly vibe and a large selection of microbrews served in proper 20oz pints, and the menu is well above your standard pub fare.
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Murphy’s Pub
This charming, many-windowed Irish pub could almost have been airlifted directly from Ireland to Wallingford. There’s live Irish music on weekends; the rest of the time the place is filled with dart players and devotees of the perfect pint.
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Virginia Inn Tavern
Near Pike Place Market is one of Seattle’s most likable bars. Lots of draft beers, a nice brick interior and friendly staff make this a good rendezvous point for forays elsewhere.
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Conor Byrne
A friendly pub notable primarily for its gorgeous, original mahogany bar, it has live music most nights, leaning mostly toward old-timey and blues, plus trivia and comedy events.
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White Horse Trading Company
This small, intimate pub is full of books and known for its Pimms cup. The beer list is deliberately small, and the couches and easy chairs dangerously soft.
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Stumbling Monk
Across the street from B&O Espresso, this little pub serves strictly Belgian and locally made Belgian-style beers strong enough to justify its name.
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TS McHugh’s
Your friendly neighborhood Irish pub, McHugh’s has 21 beers on tap (mostly Northwest micros) and is famous for its Irish coffee.
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