The lock & keel is the kind of townie bar that is almost extinct in what was once a working class neighborhood full of fisherman and waterfront folks. I am a city-livin-gal so although I'm a longtime Ballard resident, I can appreciate the glow-up Ballard Ave has seen, even if its lost its small-town-within-a-city-charm. Anyway, back to the Lock & Keel. This is a local hangout and it's a little rough around the edges but in a friendly kind of way. We were looking for a spot to watch the Mariners game recently and the whole bar was 100% into it. Elsewhere, other games were playing and no one really cared. But, here? All about the M's. Fun vibe and not too many other places in the city you will find yourself sitting next to a tugboat operator on a random Sunday evening. read more

The bartender asked me for I.D. after I'd already been carded at the door. He asked me to recite my address. I did this twice, and I was thrown out. It was extremely bizarre. I'm 26. I'd also like to add that the bartender in question was balding. read more

i guess this place isn't absolutely terrible or anything, i mean it's just a basic dive with pool tables. that's cool and all, no problems with the drinks or anything. it was pretty empty because my friends and i went on a weeknight, whatever. the reason why i'm rating it so lowly is because while i was there, friend cut his hand and was bleeding pretty significantly. he grabbed some napkins and then went to the bar to ask for a bandaid. the bartender immediately started cursing him out and yelling "you're cut off!" because he assumed my friend was drunk and that's why he was bleeding. my other friend walked up to try to diffuse the situation, but the bartender kept yelling and wasn't listening so we walked out. he didn't 86 us - i'm sure he realised after a few exchanges that nobody was drunk - we just left... and then decided that we weren't going back. go to the conor byrne pub (right next door) instead. read more

I've always had good vibes here. Particularly great bar in the winter as it's always warm. Not sure how they do it, as it's high ceilings old brick building like everything on Ballard Ave but they have the heat dialed in! Solid beers on tap, good liquor selection. I love coming here for a few pints with friends. Occasionally will get slammed at night but in general there's always room yet never feels empty. Plus, a big canoe/kayak looking thing hanging from the ceiling. Don't forget to look up) read more

Lock & Keel Tavern - the entrance to lock & keel tavern - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Super friendly bartenders and atmosphere!! Pool is only a dollar per game, usually people don't mind splitting a table. Their Irish coffee drink is so good. read more

Lock & Keel Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My daughter and I tried Lock & Keel Tavern the other night ago and it was fun. We had a quick drink to start the night here and noticed they have a cool outside back patio seating area as well. There's a couple of pinball machines and pool tables as well. As we left we noticed they have the frozen liquor drinks like you see in Vegas a lot. I would've had one if I noticed it earlier but didn't do too bad with a draft Manny's Pale Ale. My daughter had the hard cider on tap from a Yakima cidery. Looking up from our seats was a very large shell (boat for crew) mounted on the ceiling. There were other unique things there as well. Nice vibe here and an old timey bar atmosphere. read more

Lock & Keel Tavern - View from the far side of the bar. - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great vibes in the Lock and Keel! If you enjoy beer, pool, and nautical décor this place is for you. I have never tried the food, but the beer is good and they usually have a few local options (Fremont Brewing, Georgetown, etc.). The two pool tables get busy but most folks respect the line of quarters if you throw some down, and people are often happy to split the table and play with strangers. The service is GREAT. If you are over playing pool bartenders/servers will come over and ask if you need anything every few minutes, which makes waiting in a big line a thing of the past, at this bar at least. Solid place to head to on any night of the week, busy on weekends of course, but a good spot nonetheless. read more

Went to Lock & Keel for the USA v England match in the World Cup. As far as we could tell there was one dude working (owner maybe?), waiting on probably 25 people. Not only was he friendly the entire time, even as people continued to get drunker (not always easy), he was actually prompt and attentive. Far more than anyone has a right to expect in the circumstances. Also - those $9 pizzas are pretty tasty with a beer We'll be back! read more

The following is the experience I had earlier tonight, a little over an hour ago: A few friends and I agreed to meet up the street at Lock & Keel for a simple beer. I was sober, having had only one beer, over an hour prior to this incident. As I approached the door, I could see the bar was relatively dead inside, with only a few patrons in the back. At the very moment I took my first single step inside the doorway, the bartender, from about 20 feet away, yelled "sorry guys, I can't serve you." I assumed that it was because it was slow, and about 12:30am, and maybe they were closing early... however, he had already poured one of my other friends a drink, who was sitting at the bar. He then followed his statement with a real shocker: "Sorry, but you're showing multiple signs of intoxication." I laughed. So did my buddy. Surely he was jesting... we had simply strolled in, totally coherent, to meet friends (who were already being served). Nope. He wasn't joking. He said liquor control had been all over him recently, and reiterated that he couldn't serve me or my friend due to "multiple signs of intoxication." I was stunned. Never have I been cut off before... and we were stone sober! Not even like... "I've had a couple beers" sober. I mean, I was dead boring, dull as a funeral sober. I own an alcohol producing business myself, and am well versed in service and the appropriate signs and methods regarding intoxication. This guy was clueless... didn't assess us individually, didn't wait for us to approach, and didn't offer any explanation (of what "signs" he claims saw). He hadn't even SEEN us yet! Perhaps he was just generalizing us with some larger group of others who had been served already, such as the group outside smoking? We attempted to clarify that there might be a misunderstanding... we had simply just walked in and were new patrons, who hadn't been served and weren't already intoxicated. Nope, didn't matter... he just repeated his blanket statement that new, inexperienced, frightened employees do that are completely out of their depth. There was no point in arguing... I wouldn't pressure someone to give me alcohol. It's tacky. And unprofessional. So that was that. This is an extremely weird case of a bartender having zero judgment, and absolutely no instinct for the job. There was no context for his decision, and absolutely no tact on part of his job of discerning individuals and their sobriety. Needless to say, I was pretty offended... but as a person who's licensed myself, I wasn't about to push the issue. We just told him "fine... we're in the area frequently and we were planning to make this our spot to grab a drink, but now we'll never return." He made a terrible, completely uninformed call, and cost his bar 6 patrons permanently (we meet down the street twice a week). The bar is obviously a dive, and was struggling on a slow night... and this is the kind of thing that will kill their business. And it should. No wonder the LCB is all over this guy, issuing fines... he clearly can't do the job. To assess a person's sobriety properly as a bartender, you should engage them first... gauge their cognition, get a sense if they might need help if over-served, etc... At the very least, you should observe them behaving in some way that shows signs. In this case however, simply taking one perfectly normal step into the building was somehow enough to blow the whistle? It seemed like he simply didn't want to work any more. But instead of saying he was closed, he singled us out in a way that was discriminatory and completely false. He rejected two very, very sober and normally behaving customers, based on nothing but a whim. This bar will never get our business again, which we will now take to the neighboring (brand new!) bar down the street, which is far nicer and more professionally run, with better food, alcohol selection and entertainment. Sorry Lock & Keel... you should train your staff better. Your bartender is killing your business, and he has no place in alcohol service. read more

First time coming in yesterday was a fun experience, I came over right after my job nearby had 2 drinks for close to 10 bucks so definitely not mad about the prices! It was my first time and I'm new to the area so I was jjst checking it out and liked the vibe that everyone kinda knows each other or are friends in some way so I didn't even mind that like since no one knew me I kinda felt a little like I didn't get special treatment or anything and I like that feeling of community that like isn't so fake like you really get to know the people and not everyone is just saying what u want to hear to make a buck like u can decide whether you want to engage with people when u go there if u want to meet people I'm sure u could but it was a nice sanctuary for me for like an hour after my first day at the Hogwarts place in the area.... "The splintered "\/\/@/\/.£];" ---------------- "WAND" -------- read more

Friendly bartender and chill vibes on a Tuesday afternoon! Surprisingly good Cubano sandwich too. read more

Lock & Keel Tavern - Festive af - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Close your tabs. They Lost my debit card gave it to someone else..: poor attitudes about it. Was angry that I was angry about it... please find it: ... May not be a big deal to you but to me it's everything. read more

First time there and what a nice walk through a historical world. Great bartender. Freindly and informative. I will be back George

Close to the Ballard clubs, excellent long time dive.

Really loved this local bar in the middle of the restaurant scene. Loved it so much, we went two nights in a row - smoked wings night and the ribs night. The employee that smokes the wings needs a promotion! They were insanely good! Prices were low, which was nice considering all the places around them. The service was always great, and their bartenders really take the time to make you feel welcome. read more

Lock & Keel Tavern - Beers and smoked wings! - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My favorite bar in Ballard! Great priced drinks. TRY THE FROZEN IRISH COFFEE! I will be back!

Love this place. A Ballard tradition. Always great service & they've got the best frozen drinks in town. Try the frozen Irish coffee or marg- you won't be disappointed. read more

I went to this place around 10pm to eat a hot dog . This place has surprisingly pool and some old school Gaming . The food is moderately priced and tasted good . The waiter was really awesome and he offered us pop corn on the house . I would definitely go visit this place again .only downside is that people across the street smoke and since the doors are wide open , it might be little inconvenient if you are a non smoker and seated close to the doors . read more

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This is a great bar, affordable drinks, great indoor and outdoor seating and awesome alcohol slushy options! The bartenders are all great and the ambiance is very chill and relaxed if you're looking for a good place to have a beer and watch some sports! 10/10 recommend! read more

There seem to be some bad reviews of this place noting food and policy, and silly things like "No pretty people", "The bartender didn't kiss my ass", and "Oh, no, RAP MUSIC!". I suppose if these are things you look for in a bar then this is not going to be a good fit. If you are looking for a neighborhood bar in a neighborhood where the landscape of Ballard is rapidly becoming the "see and be seen" area of Seattle, then you will find it here. Perhaps with a crowd that knows each other, meaning the bartender might help the regulars first. Perhaps with a selection that is two ingredient drinks and a solid but standard tap list, rather than being fancy. Perhaps in an eclectic mix of music at the whim of the people who work here and who want a little variety in what they listen to (New Wave one night and a tribute to Wu Tang the next? Yes please!). Perhaps in the well worn decor that harkens back to many of the bars that are disappearing in this neighborhood. I know this is not for everyone, and frankly I am glad. It keeps this place exactly how I like it. read more

Blah. Couldn't find a table. No cute boys (ummmm... or girls) anywhere. Drinks are weak. (Weaker than a woman's arms, according to Dwight Schrute.) My new thing is, I think you can tell how good a bar is by the music it plays. And the music here was horrendous. Sure, they're classics, but who wants to hear throbbing "Bohemian Rhapsody" when you're trying to have a conversation? They need hipper music, stat. And the parking situation was horrible... oh wait, there WAS no parking situation. So I had to walk about 27 blocks to the car in freezing cold weather. It's a cute area, but no thank you. I won't be returning. read more

This is my uncles bar, my dad works there. I am a minor so I can't go in but everything I hear about it is great! They have lovely staff and good drinks. If you're looking for a night on the town Lock and Keel is the place to go! read more

I love how low key and comfortable this bar/tavern is. I like the laid back vibe. There are two pool tables here and it can be busy in the weekend evenings. They also have live music sometimes which makes it even more fun! read more

I love this place. I like it because people often are having such a good time in this place they will yell "Freedom." I also like the staff and the atmosphere. People constantly seem as though they are having fun and it is much like Old Ballard. I very much will continue to go back to this establishment. read more

Loved Lock & Keel for years...but sadly, this place has become one of the most below average bars in Ballard. Many reasons why - especially the bottle substitution. Order a Tito's and any mixer...and you will have the worst vodka drink ever! read more

We came mid-afternoon on the weekend, and sat outside under the tent. The tent is set up in the street, like the other businesses, just on the other side of the sidewalk from door of the bar. They adhere to all COVID requirements and the covered tables were appropriately spaced. The drinks we ordered tasted just right, vodka sodas with lime. They were definitely reasonably priced. While they request that you don't come inside unless it's necessary, like to use the bathroom per se, the bartender didn't disappoint; routinely checking on all the outdoor patrons. Service was fairly prompt, considering this. We would definitely return for a good drink in a safe, clean environment. read more

Edit: Was definitely this bar! I'll be straight forward with this review, if you go here make sure to watch the bartender pour your drink, and don't let it out of your sight. Confident that the tall, brunette, glasses wearing, 30's or so, looking male bartender spikes drink. I would avoid this bar. read more

This bar is a staple in our weekly visits on Ballard Ave. The owner is friendly and always remembers us and our drink preferences. I cant wait till covid is done so we can enjoy playing a game of pool and the arcade games. Plus the outside area on the street is well done to reflect a maritime type theme which is really cool and welcoming. read more

Let me start by saying I am the most polite and service-forward person there could be. Now, I have to say, I've never been kicked out of a bar before... Things started very well with tasty beer then spiraled into a bartender taking her shift duty out on us. She changed the channel (on 8 people, two parties) without asking, then kicked us out for being rude when asking if we could get it back on. Just a football bowl game vs. regular season hockey game. Despite it probably being warranted in my formative years, this is completely ridiculous. Reading reviews now I see this is a trend where bartenders here have also discriminated against the disabled. There are too many surly bartenders in Seattle to waste my time on the discriminatory bartenders here. I've never been asked to leave a bar in my life and am offended it happened here. Too bad as its probably one singular person at this bar. I'll happily take my money elsewhere. read more

Fab divey bar in Ballard. It's a stone's throw from the Tractor Tavern and the perfect place to hang with a bunch of friends on a hot summer night. The service is good, the drinks are strong, there's a pool table, and everything is just a little dirty. I'm game to go again soon. Ballard doesn't have enough of these types of places. read more

Every time I walk past Lock & Keel it is crowded and loud as all hell, (which I am sometimes down with if I am in the mood) but that is b/c I am walking past there during prime time bar hours. Stopped in for a drink and a place to chill Friday evening around 7pm and it was exactly what I needed; a gin and tonic with a heavy pour and a place to sit. But it gets even better than that! The place we found to sit was outside...on their back patio!?!! I had no idea they had such a cute, cozy patio with folding chairs, benches, foliage and Old Ballard charm. Our server was fast and attentive; she kept those drinks coming at a rapid fire and made sure we were never dry. We weren't planning to eat, but I smelled the most wonderful smell. My favorite smell on the entire earth. Smoked meat! Oh, who knew that the Lock & Keel had potential heaven-like qualities?!! Their smokehouse is located right off the patio and will make your mouth water. Had the pulled pork, pulled chicken, potato salad, and mashed potatoes. It was all perfect and hit the spot. Go to Lock & Keel during non-peak hours and you will not be disappointed. Go there late at night if you want to be stepped on and spilled on. read more

I knew I forgot a stop along the pub crawl route. Pretty much all that's worth mentioning is Scott getting hit on, and I mean *really* hit on, by his first cousin while here. She also had a nice chat with me at the door about how adorable her nose is. Says a lot about the bar that that's all that's fit to print, eh? read more

Came here after we went to King's Hardware yesterday and they were sold out of wings. *Sob Sob* The waitress there suggested I come to Lock and Keel instead because they were having a Monday deal for wings as well. First things first, if you are not into smoked flavors, you may find that the food here is not for you. Most of the menu consists of some sort of smoked meat. Heck the whole place smells like a smoker (not the cigarette, but the wood chipped ones). I've never had smoked wings before, and if you've read my other reviews the one thing that I require my wings to be are CRISPAYY. Naturally, I'd prefer wings elsewhere. However, if you are not into CRISPAYY wings then the ones here are tender and pretty good with their BBQ sauce. The Vodoo Chili was delicious. It had brisket and a nice spicy kick to it. It was probably my favorite thing I tried. The Nacho Average Nachos were pretty good too. The different colored tortilla chips were festive. The atmosphere and service here is great. It's got this semi-rock, semi-sports bar feel to it while maintaining a very welcoming environment. I also found the service and other customers to be very polite. Like pleasantly polite and not awkwardly polite. I definitely think this is a place I would visit again and recommend people to check out. The daily specials (couldn't get a good photo of menu): Monday Smokehouse Wings 50 cents each Tuesday Smoked St. Louis Ribs 1 dollar each Wednesday 1/2 price Classic BBQ Sandwiches Thursday 3 Mini Tacos for $4, Corona and Pacifico bottles $3 read more

Well worn, comfortable establishment for the drinking for the alcohol. Couple of dudes behind the bar, couple of TV's up high, couple of pool tables. No surprises here. Whether that's good or bad is up to you. read more

It's been awhile since my last trip to the Lock & Keel, seemed pretty much the same as I remembered it, though, and I'm not quite sure or not, but I think they added the back patio area since my last visit. Nice improvement, especially with global warming rearing it's ugly head lately. Overall, it's a simple bar for simple people, such as I. No frills or fancy ambiance, just good salt of the Earth people coming together to partake in the ceremony of drinking. I give this place extra stars for having two pool tables and being able to accommodate our party of 20+ people quite nicely. Another star for having Ween on the jukebox, though White Pepper wouldn't have been my first choice, it's Ween nonetheless. Bananas and Blow, my friends, Bananas and Blow. read more

One of my favorite Ballard bars. I got here like once a week. Their daily specials are great. All about the dollar rib Tuesdays! Sometime they'll run out of the popular dishes. Get it early if you want it bad. Once it gets busy here, service can be slow. I don't mind waiting for the great food though. Two pool tables, a jukebox, and boats hanging from the ceiling. What's not to love? If you want live music, go next door, but eat here first ;) read more

I like this place... but I also went to in on a Wednesday night... revaluation might be needed at a later date! It should be noted that our server was very open to giving hugs when asked and that she didn't seem to think it was creepy- she basically joined in the merriment that was our adventure. We wandered here after tipsy stop offs at the bell for "photos" and other walking adventures. We are lucky that what we stumbled upon was pretty cool and conveniently located. We found that Lock & Keel had a patio, pool tables, a high bar, and tons of seating for groups or small intimate* parties.... variation never hurts. They have regional micro-brews (Boundary Bay, Diamond Knot, Maritime, etc) and good ol' PBR... which was our drink of choice for the night. $2.75 baby! The late night menu was tempting with it's BBQ sandwich, mac and cheese, and CHILI MAC (I heart chili mac)- but in the disorder of being us we never got around to food* read more

Went here for a party on Saturday night. I was disappointed that we ended up here because we were originally going to King's and I really like King's. Instead we ended up at Lock & Keel, which I didn't find to be that great of a place at all. The layout was okay, if not a bit awkward. There are plenty of bar stools, but there aren't really that many regular tables for a group to sit at considering the large amount of space that the pool tables occupy. It was MAYBE a bit warm inside, but they were blasting this sort of cooling, yet grossly lukewarm and humid air from the vents. As it hit my face, it gave me sort of an overall clammy feeling that I wasn't really pleased about. The bartender was nice enough. My boyfriend bought a beer for himself and a soda for me and he didn't charge for the soda. However, our waitress at the table was not friendly at ALL. My friend kept trying to flag her down so she could order some macaroni and cheese before the kitchen closed, but she continued to ignore our table completely for a VERY long period of time. By the time my friend was able to give her order, the waitress seemed exasperated and had to very visibly check the clock to ensure my friend was within the time limit - which she WAS, thank you very much. Before the food came out, the waitress brought by a metal caddy of items like napkins, mustard, ketchup, etc. She seriously banged it down on the table with such force that it startled us. She also charged my boyfriend $2 bucks for a soda, even after he had bought a few more drinks. I'm sure sodas did cost $2, but if the bartender's going to give them out for free, we're certainly going to gripe if the waitress charges us for them. Overall I just wasn't a fan of this place. The only reason I went here in the first place was for a going-away party and the location was not chosen by me...so I highly doubt I will be back. read more

The staff here is wonderful. I sadly forgot his name but the bartender here with red hairs is probably one of my favorites in all of Seattle. Super friendly. Also, the tall guy with dark hairs is wonderful as well. Both are always smiling and happy and appear to enjoy what they do, which is refreshing. The drinks are stiff and I always leave feeling taken care of and like I enjoyed myself. This bar is pretty relaxed..a few pool tables and a juke box...the menu has mostly appetizers..good bbq and quesadillas..no fryer. Another bonus is that it is one of the less scenester bars on ballard ave, the corner table in the front with the booth is nice, and I don't think I've seen any douchebags inside. What more can you ask for? read more

This place isn't glamorous, but who needs glam when they are craving a cheap draft and some of the best pub food around. I was shocked to see the prices on their food menu. Not only is it cheap but there is alot to choose from: salads, sandwiches, BBQ, veggies, onion rings, etc... The BBQ smells amazing and you can get a huge plate of it with 3 sides for $8. Next time I come I am saving my money for the food... but the drinks, staff, and ambiance are great. Don't forget to look up! (sorry for the dark pics) read more

Lock & Keel Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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