Al&#x27;s Tavern

Saying goodbye to the Blue Star feels like saying goodbye to an old friend…read more I've been coming here for decades - with colleagues, friends, and out-of-town guests (including one who saw the Blue Star on The Food Channel). Cozy, warm & welcoming - with wooden booths and back bar - old world charm that can't be matched by today's cool contemporary restaurants. Vintage photos on the walls, and an old-fashioned community bulletin board in the back. It had a private room in the back - I reserved it a few times for larger gatherings. Yes, spaces like this are disappearing. On my last visit to the Blue Star - today- I met a kind man (Tracey Outlaw) who shared more Blue Star history with me. Thank you to Wendy Morales for many years of community service while running this wonderful institution. It will be missed~

I've been meaning to try this spot for a while so when I heard they were closing soon, I had to…read morebump it to the top of my list. I really liked the food - my scramble was AMAZING. I got the Top Gun but subbed Morningstar sausage for the bacon. The side of potatoes plus (also ordered no bacon) was really good too. They have lots of vegan and vegetarian options or mods too! My partner just thought his breakfast burrito was ok and could have used more seasoning or perhaps less potatoes, but overall he did like it. My mimosa was just kinda ok and honestly I probably would have liked the OJ on its own better. The service was mixed. Our server was great - the kitchen put bacon in my first side of potatoes and she apologized and fixed it right away. The front hostess however ignored us and 4 other people who were waiting for tables for almost 10 minutes when we walked in and answered the phone and walked off several times, only for us to find out we could just go seat ourselves immediately at the bar. All the other staff seemed great, though perhaps overwhelmed and harried (understaffing?). The ambiance at the bar was chill - we got to watch the game on the tv and there wasn't too much activity aside from servers grabbing drinks nearby from the very friendly bartender. Overall, I'm sad this spot is closing soon because I would definitely go back.

Let's Eat!

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Murphy's Pub

3.9(313 reviews)

Was taken there by friends Very live atmosphere , nice…read moredrinks Really liked the vibe Recommend it for days when they have planned shows

The new owners have destroyed this magnificent bar. On multiple occasions, myself and friends have…read moreexperienced rude behavior, especially to the female customers. The staff used to be the main reason a lot of us came to Murphy's. Hard working, congenial people who loved being there. Most of the good staff have either quit or have been fired. These owners appear to be new to the bar ownership game. They will need to rethink how they operate or they'll be bankrupt in a year. So sad.

Free beer won at trivia.

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Refreshments

Changes In Wallingford

3.8(65 reviews)

My husband stopped in for a quick drink. Changes is a small dive bar serving powerful drinks, food,…read moreand laid back vibes. The space itself is small, however it does have a pool table in the back area. This is also Seattle's longest continuously running gay bar and is located outside of Capitol Hill. The interior is cozy and relaxed. They have sports channel on the screens. They even have aquariums adding to the chill vibes. They do serve food and the menu is posted on the wall right by the entrance. The listed price seems reasonable, however I didn't order any food to try. The bartender was friendly and quickly made my drink order. I've heard there is karaoke which I'll need to revisit to see how it is. Overall, very chill neighborhood bar and wouldn't hesitate to come back.

Floyd has put my community at risk for decades. I was overserved here and r*ped in 2021. Liza…read moreordered me a "Changes double." Lyft did have to pay me. I was fired from Octopus.

They got a pool table

Food menu

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Breathalyzer

The Octopus Bar

4.2(359 reviews)

It's a big nautical themed bar with many dimly lit areas and other big open areas. Emphasis on big…read more This place is huge and one of my favorite places to go when I have a bigger-ish group because there's so many pockets of space. Their food options are via their in-house spot called the Salty Shack, order via QR code. Food comes out fast. HH drinks are great, and service is good even when busy. Street parking might seem intimidating but donchu worry, just circle and you'll find something!

Celebrated NYE here with a group of friends and now I'm hoping to go back for a more casual night…read moreout. Drinks: (4/5) Grabbed a strawberries and cream slush because I was craving something sweet. Definitely hit the spot and was nice to have in hand for the countdown. They have tons of reviews raving about their food which I'm bummed about not being able to try. I'll come back for you thoughhh. Service: (5/5) Great people all around and a really cool space. Love the theme and the photo booth up front.

Back of bar.

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Leny's Place

4.0(132 reviews)

0.5 mi•Wallingford

It's a classic college/dive bar! Prices are really great!…read moreSelection of beers and ciders on tap is great! Service is very fast, even when there is a line. Bartenders were friendly. All the drinks were ordered were quick and tasty. For those that cannot drink beer, they do have Twisted Tea on tap which is somewhat carbonated which is fun, unique and refreshing. Went on a weeknight, and saw that they had Blanton's. May be the cheapest price for a pour of it in town. Since it was only a few bucks more than a standard bourbon and coke, asked for a Blanton's and coke, which got some laughter, good played heckling and jokes from the bartenders. (obviously I corrected myself and did not get it with coke). Pool tables look nice and in good condition. Lines for a table were pretty long, but there was a group for a birthday party there squatting on one of the tables all night. The cook in the back seemed a bit gruff and muttered something at my wife when he was trying to book it back to the kitchen in a crowded bar. Seemed unnecessary, but still, overall the staff was great. Would go back!

i love the food but the group of white guys dropping the n word every sentence makes it hard to…read moreenjoy this bar. bartenders were clearly in earshot and ignored/ didnt do anything about it. good food though

Behind the Bar counter

Behind the bar

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Pacific Inn Pub

3.8(461 reviews)

1.0 mi•Fremont

We went to Pacific Inn and Pub on a weekday around midday, partly because it was once visited by…read moreAnthony Bourdain. The bartender was very kind, and we ordered at the bar before heading out to the patio. The outdoor seating was really nice and comfortable, especially with the heaters keeping everything warm. We ordered the fried shrimp, fried fish, tater tots, fries, and a salad. Overall, everything was delicious--the fried items were especially well done, crispy and full of flavor. The only thing we didn't really enjoy as much were the fries, but everything else made up for it. Overall, it was a really enjoyable meal in a great casual spot.

Pacific Inn is a great dive bar in Fremont. I've been here numerous times, and particularly love…read moretheir outdoor patio, which is throughly heated and covered during winter, and open-air during the summer. Their beer selection is pretty standard for a Seattle bar, and you order at the bar which makes it pretty easy to get a drink. They bring the food out to your table. Food is decent, the fish and chips are very good and overall decent bang for your buck.

0.5 mi•University District

The locals. Almost all men in this bar.

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Blue Moon Tavern

3.8(107 reviews)

20 MAY 2026 -- I performed poetry from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name -- Letters from Me to…read moreHer at the historic and legendary Blue Moon Tavern in Seattle. Originally opened in 1934, the Blue Moon carries the kind of atmosphere you cannot recreate -- walls covered in decades of music, art, stickers, photographs, and stories. A dimly lit room packed with musicians, writers, artists, and people who genuinely appreciate creativity in its raw form. Throughout the night, the stage moved between live music, poetry, and performances from local artists while the crowd filled the tavern from the bar to the stage floor. Places like this remind me why independent art still matters. As an author traveling all over the United States -- and as someone who lived in the Seattle area for 2 1/2 years -- standing on that stage reading poetry from Purple Rose in a venue with this much history behind it was really something special. What I loved most was how welcoming the environment was. This is a very LGBTQ-friendly, art-friendly space where people genuinely support one another. If you are brand new to open mics or nervous about sharing your work for the first time, this is the kind of place where you will absolutely be shown kindness and encouragement. There were so many talented musicians, poets, and performers there, and you could really feel the appreciation for creativity throughout the room. The setup of the tavern itself is awesome. The stage and seating area wrap around the bar in almost a U-shape, so you can really choose your own vibe for the night. If you want to stay close to the performances and music, there is a dance floor and table area near the stage. If you want something more relaxed, you can hang back near the bar, have a drink, and still enjoy the atmosphere without being directly in the middle of everything. They also have a full bar, arcade games, board games, books to read, and even a small library on the shelves throughout the tavern. Somewhere inside, you may even find a signed copy of Purple Rose that I left hidden and dedicated to the historic Blue Moon itself. Beautiful evening with wonderful people. If you are ever in the area and have a skill you would love to share, go share your art. Find your copy of Purple Rose at JamesVThePoet.com

I just had what is literally the worst bar experience I have ever had in my life at the Blue Moon…read moreTavern. I, my wife, and her friend stopped by for New Year's Drinks around 6, and about 6:30 or so, made the mistake of asking Tim Duvall, the clearly drunken before 7:00 PM owner of the establishment, whether outside food can be brought into the bar. This led to his regaling us with an extended and utterly unsolicited history of the bar. He then invited himself to sit with us, halfway into the seat before slurring a "Can I sit down?" to insert himself into our booth. We then moved to another unsolicited conversation, this time about politics. Now, to be clear - I have no doubt that I and a sober Tim Duvall probably agree on most of our politics. This did not stop him from berating me as I agreed with his point, loudly escalating and yelling as I tried to agree with him (again... to be clear, I DIDN'T disagree his political view) until he stood and began yelling that I was kicked out. As I stood to talk on him, he became VERY comfortable with putting his hands on me, grabbing my sweatshirt to move me. I was NOT about to challenge that as a Black man new to Seattle that doesn't know how the police would handle things. I need to be very specific about how quickly this man felt comfortable touching me, grabbing my sweater to "drag" me. This is the step that is WAY over the line. I would genuinely like to recommend this place, as I'm looking for bars that offer sugar cane soda. Drunken ownership- in the early evening in New Year's - that feels comfortable being handsy with Black folk is far too much. AVOID at all costs.

0.8 mi•University District

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The Monkey Pub

4.0(69 reviews)

CLOWN SHOW!! Walked in and I thought the place was closed down for health reasons! Only people in…read morethere were two tweakers. Bartender nowhere to be found. Eventually came out of the bathroom with white stains on his pants and white powder on his nose. Said his name was Anthony. Kicked us out and went straight back to the bathroom. Told me they "don't serve colored people"

Don't overserve people. Emilia and Anthony are great. We won't be back until we've heard updates on…read morelast night. We're still being harassed and we had to have the cops drive us home. It was awful.

Monkeys at the bar

Recognize anyone?

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Me

The Roanoke

3.9(99 reviews)

1.4 mi•Capitol Hill

One of my favorite local bars near Eastlake. The outside of the building is covered in greenery and…read morethe inside is filled with twinkly lights - very whimsical! The staff get to know their locals quickly and always have the best service. The drinks are strong and relatively cheap for the area. Our favorite time to go is on their Taco Wednesdays...each taco is only $1.50 and a very solid comparison to your at-home taco nights.

Great space. Great people. Good food. They have gluten free Ghostfish beer in cans and GF food…read moreitems, too

I'm not gay but

Inside near the entrance

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Seamonster Lounge

4.1(150 reviews)

With live music every night of the week (on Mondays it is a jam where you can sign up and help MAKE…read morethe music!), I can always count on dropping in to The Seamonster Lounge to have the music I like: Jazz, Funk, Soul, Jam Bands, Reggae, Afropop, Latin even a Zeppelin cover band once in a while. Most nights there are 2 bands, one starting at 7 and one at 10PM No cover Sunday-Thursday (tip the band and the bartender!) Regular highlights for me are Hammand Organ Master Joe Doria and Friends on Tuesdays and Funky2Death on Fridays. Other artists/groups have monthly slots--check their schedule online. Battlestar Kalakala, How Now Brown Cow, Dub Lounge International, Hurricane Dreamz, Ron Weinstein Organ Trio and much much more!

We've been to several events here as it's walking distance from friend's house; otherwise it's…read morestreet parking. Cozy venue; music a bit loud so we bring ear buds or sit/stand as far away from the stage. Staff are cool and friendly.