The Sunset

The lime slices were good sized and my vodka soda came with 2! Come for the limes, stay for the…read morevibes. Joel is awesome!

Quite possibly the RADDEST bar in all of Seattle. Three different themed rooms (space room was our…read morefavorite), cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, chill front patio. We were visiting from Portland and loved this place so much we popped in both nights we were in town. 100% will be back!

Espolón tequila and $1 PBR

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Christmas at Bar House

Add-a-Ball

4.1(215 reviews)

1.8 mi•Fremont

I went here many times, albeit a few years ago, so my review may be a bit outdated. However, I will…read moresay that my friends and I have had some of the best nights of our lives here. They have a great variety of old arcade games with some more modern games mixed in. Overall, the vibes are absolutely amazing, and the beverages were reasonably priced. One small gripe I have is that I consistently found the bartenders up front to be almost comically cold and standoffish, even though my friends and I were familiar (local) faces, always friendly and respectful, and tipped generously. Once again, this was a few years ago, so I don't know if the snobbish employees in question still work there. Overall, this arcade bar is a truly fantastic place to spend the evening if you enjoy retro arcade games.

Fun and funky vibe. Drinks are available downstairs at the entry, or upstairs in the lounge. Don't…read moreexpect food - beer and chips are fine for a short visit. Comedy was great, well hosted, good lighting for the event, and decent chairs. Payment is cash or Venmo. Check out the fun!

Pinball machines

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Upstairs

Pine Tavern

4.6(21 reviews)

0.4 mi•Ballard

We were nearby at another shop and stumbled upon the Pine Tavern. Apparently, it's been around for…read morea very long time, but has moved a few times (it's first location was earlier last century on Pine downtown). Often dive bars are dark and dingy, but this place was warm and cozy. Staff were pleasant and helpful and knew their line up of beverages well. There was ample seating inside and out. It advertised as having pinball, but there was really only one operational machine (the other was broken). So, yeah, they have pinball, but barely. There's also a nice shuffle puck table, which we used a lot. It was so much fun! Although we'd eaten elsewhere, I really wanted to try their Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Muffin. At $2 each a true bargain. It was accompanied by butter and honey, and was absolutely delish. The dry cider I was drinking complemented it well. Nice place to hang. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the neighborhood.

I live two blocks away and really want this place to be successful (especially with old stove next…read moredoor) but the service is just straight up horrible when a certain bartender is there. Multiple times he's been RUDE, but tonight he refused service 20mins before close, stood outside (drink in hand and smoking a cigarette) and said I should go to Percy's instead. As a restaurant owner myself, I wouldn't want my employees redirecting business somewhere else and it makes me upset for whoever employs him. Is someone just subsidizing this for fun bc the workers seem to think so

1.2 mi•Loyal Heights, Ballard

Espolon x pickle back

Photo from outside.

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Bodhi

Thunderbird Tavern

4.7(32 reviews)

First timer and will be back! Good lime. Come for the lime stay for the back patio vibes!read more

This place had all the markings of a typical dive bar. There were plenty of TVs to watch sports and…read morea couple of pool tables. The interior was dimly lit with more tables and seating in the back. It was a neighborhood bar with a lot of locals and frequent barflys. Their website said that their happy hour is from 4-7pm but when we arrived at 6pm the bartender said it was actually 4-6pm. She told us though that "it's not happy hour but our stuff is cheap anyway" which was a funny exchange and gave us a chuckle. She was right though because wells were $5 and the Moscow mule was $8 (although it was just okay). We played pool, watched some TV, and just hung out. It was a cool vibe.

Blurry vod sod with lime

SLAWDOG - german bratwurst, w/Salvadoran slaw & Tim's cascade style chips

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Pickled egg

Pacific Inn Pub

3.8(463 reviews)

2.4 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.

The locals. Almost all men in this bar.

One of two fish tacos. Sub fries

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LTD Bar & Grill

3.8(177 reviews)

1.8 mi•Fremont

Randomly stumbled in here one night looking for a fun night out. Didn't realize karaoke was on…read moreThursdays! Bathrooms were clean, bartenders friendly and a nice jug of water for customers to help themself. The small side patio has fire pits with comfy couches surrounding them. I would come back!

Love this bar and its staff! Great spot to catch sports games, sing karaoke, and listen to live…read moremusic. Special shout out to Jack, Aubrey, Yaneth, Dev, and Sonny

Bar area.

LTD Wings

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LTD bar and Grill hosting their parking lot for Fremont Fridays

Last Call Bar

4.7(15 reviews)

1.3 mi•Fremont

Do you need a drink? .... wait.... stupid question... We ALL…read moredo. Do you want a drink at a dope ass bar? Do you like foose? Do you like pool? Do you like pingpong? Do you need a bar to sponsor you with your air hurdy-gurdy anonymous? Do you occasionally miss that long dead boomer uncle who chain-smoked cigars? What? I said OCCASIONALLY... not ALWAYS. ... ANYWAYS!... Do you like kickass bathroom #WallFodder featuring women with no fucks to give? This is the place.

I don't know what to gush over more...!?! Andrea and Brian and their staff or the to-die-for smash…read moreburgers and "best shoe string fries I've ever had" from Burbs burgers. This is a must hit spot...but only if you're cool

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Triangle Spirits

4.4(162 reviews)

2.0 mi•Fremont

The best happy hour in Fremont! This is my husband's and my go-to spot for fried chicken and…read moresports. Their daily 3-5 happy hour makes it particularly fun to watch college football on Saturdays or NFL on Sundays. They have a dark and cozy interior with a lovely shaded patio on hot days. We typically order the same thing each happy hour - I love the fried chicken sliders (Nashville hot) and my husband gets the fried chicken basket. We always pair that with a vieux carre. Total tab is under $35 not including tax and tip. A complete steal in Seattle these days! Service is usually quick and thoughtfully-spaced with enough time to make a dent in the drinks before the food arrives. It's the perfect spot to meet up with friends, host parents, and watch sports of any kind (the mariners game is always on).

I visited Triangle Spirits for a Friday lunch after hearing about how great their fried chicken is…read more It wasn't very busy at all - it's probably more of a place for the evening and late night crowd given their well stocked inventory of alcohol and spirits. I believe food is made to order, so it took a good 20 minutes before my order arrived. Fried Chicken Sandwich, Nashville Style ($19) - This sandwich is pretty simple in terms of ingredients - a buttery and toasted, fluffy bun, a couple of pieces of iceberg lettuce, the requisite pieces of fried chicken, creamy mayo, and some sweet and tangy pickle rounds on the bottom, to cut through the chicken fat and fryer oil. The pickles, while necessary for the sandwich, are far sweeter than I prefer, and given in a larger quantity than most fried chicken sandwiches. The lettuce isn't applied very well; even coming to the table, large pieces had already flung out of the sandwich. The star of the show is obviously the fried chicken. A lot of people think Nashville-style just means dumping a bunch of cayenne chili powder onto a regular piece of fried chicken and calling it a day. This technique adds spice, sure, but doesn't enhance the chicken with waves of layered flavor. Triangle Spirits does it mostly right, albeit with some outside-Nashville adjustments. The chicken is clearly brined well, giving a great flavor base, then dredged in a lightly crispy breading that properly adheres. The breading isn't red in color, but has a complex spice with mild heat and a touch of sweetness. It's not too spicy at all; it would probably be characterized as a step below mild at a traditional Nashville hot chicken establishment. The chicken is pounded thin and is still relatively moist. While Triangle Spirits doesn't add cayenne to the brine, nor pour hot cayenne oil over the chicken, the overall flavor profile is excellent given the care put into the seasoning. The flavors are balanced. The sandwich comes with fries, which are normal commercial thin fries. They are fried until crisp with the interior starting to dry out, but still remaining mostly fluffy. They toss with a lot of salt so it's on the saltier side. (4/5) I actually revisited a couple of weeks later to try out their bone-in chicken, which is by far my preferred way of eating Nashville-style hot chicken. Dark Meat, 3PC, Nashville Hot ($21) - This is more like 2.5 pieces of chicken, with a thigh, drum, and wing flat. The chicken is remarkably similar in taste and fry level as the sandwich, juicy inside, lightly crisp on the outside. Again, with a very mild heat, balanced with the excellently brined chicken, some smokiness from the chilis, and a bit of sugar sweetness. Just a great layered flavor profile. This time, they actually do douse the chicken a little in cayenne oil - but again, it's a very mild one. Unfortunately there's no piece of white bread underneath to soak up all the oil. I wonder if they fry in peanut oil because I taste some nuttiness in the breading as well. This comes with one side, of which I went with the collard greens. They are cooked well, with some vinegar to cut through all the bitterness, but still leaving some texture. They come in a cup that's filled to the top with essentially a ham (maybe bacon?), onion, and garlic broth. There's not much acidity at all, and it's pretty nice to drink just as a soup. I'm not sure this is a great side to go with the fried chicken though - when it came to the table, since the cup was so full of soup, some spilled out and soaked into the chicken. (5/5) Service is generally on the slower and lackadaisical side. Even for lunch, when there was barely any traffic, on both visits it took me almost an hour and half from entering the establishment to leaving. It's definitely not a place for a quick lunch. Most people eating here probably get a beer or liquor, but I drink water only. The water cup they give is tiny, and with the inattentive service, it doesn't get refilled often. I wish they left a small jug of water at each table. At any rate, the fried chicken Triangle Spirits serves is actually very good. I wonder why it doesn't appear on any best of Seattle fried chicken lists - because it's definitely better than some of the entries on the typical list I see. Bathrooms - Two larger ones, one for men, one for women. Food: [4.5/5] Service: [-] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 4/5

Interior

Fried Chicken Sandwich

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Fried Chicken Sandwich

The Barrel Thief

4.0(243 reviews)

2.0 mi•Fremont

I came here for dinner after a walk in the neighborhood with my dog--perfect place!…read more They have outdoor dining along the edge of the building and under an awning on the street. Both are dog friendly and our waiter even brought my dog a water bowl! Our servers were attentive and friendly. Food and drink were prepared and served quickly. Thank you Luke and Jeff for the wonderful service! I would recommend the brisket sandwich with a fries upgrade. The brisket is tender and juicy and pairs well with the slaw. The ciabatta bun is the best vehicle for all the deliciousness of the sandwich. But the stand out for me was the fries! Perfectly seasoned and fried to perfection, dipped in the aioli...YUM! To drink, I had the non-alcoholic spicy blueberry mocktail. It's spicy from the Fevertree ginger beer and slightly sweet from the blueberry. The fresh mint was a fragrant and delightful garnish. It comes in the coolest copper mug! If you're in the Ballard/Fremont area looking for outside seating, cocktails/mocktails, and tasty food, make sure to check out The Barrel Thief!

I really liked this place -- it had such a welcoming vibe, and the unique décor was amazing. From…read morethe moment we walked in, Luke the bartender immediately greeted us with a warm and sincere demeanor. We initially thought it was a fine dining restaurant and were a little disappointed to see a limited menu. However, it's actually a fantastic spot for drinks and light bites. We decided to stay since we had never been there before, and Luke was so gracious we almost felt bad leaving! We ordered the meat and cheese platter along with a couple of drinks, and everything was Grade A. I'm giving it an A+ though, because of Luke's outstanding service.

Gnocchi

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The George & Dragon Pub

3.6(311 reviews)

1.7 mi•Fremont

At George & Dragon, the carpets have stories, the walls wear their age,…read moreThe pints pour cold and the match takes the stage, The grub hits the spot, the crowd knows the score, It's rough 'round the edges, but that's part of the lore, But some mischievous sprite keeps killing the screen, For here lives the strangest pub ghost I've seen.

Great trivia night!…read more Food is pretty okay - wouldn't recommend coming here purely to eat, but not bad for a trivia night meal! Great atmosphere, gets super busy Thursday nights! Nice outdoor undercover seating for overflow

Bangers and Mash sub Portobello Mushroom

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Luigi Mangione being displayed a christian saint

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11 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Don G.

11 years ago

this is only my thirdd visit to the Sunset Tavern. the first visit was back in the 80's when my three brothers and i stopped in late on a friday night after a day of fishing on beautiful Puget Sound for a cold one. it was smokey, it was loud and it was crowded. we found a corner table ordered the drinks and watched as the band set up to play.They looked rowdy dressed all in black and we figured we had better drink up and head out before the Hip Hop strted. The band which was called Wildside turned out to be a heck of a band mixing it up with rock and country with a sort of "outlaw" blend that seemed to drive the patrons crazy and filled the dance floor every song. we stayed till closing time. We saw the same band a few months laterand had an even better experience. we danced the night away. The last time we were there was a year ago and what a culture shock. The place was much larger and more modern and had a crowd that seemed more intent on texting and talking on the phone than enjoying the music. The music has definitely changed, maybe the question is where is the Wildside Band now and all of that great entertainment that we used to eenjoy. Iknow that things change and we get a little older but i still long for the old times when the place was really rocking. The food and drinks drinks are above average and the management is friendly. read more

K R.

11 years ago

Photo booth ate $10 ($5 each time, got screwed twice) When I told the bartenders I was told "not my problem." Oh but it is. When you do business with an outside vendor and it rips off your customer, it's your customer service job to help your customer out by maybe saying something simple like "I apologize for our crappy machine" and maybe comp one drink which is less money than I lost, and then address the issue of the money eating photo booth with the company you do business with. It's not your customers job. As I stood waiting for some acknowledgment I was told "we're done now." Wow. So incredibly rude staff who doesn't understand basic customer service and also, everyone in that bar is hipster as f*ck. Be prepared for bad smells. read more

Margo F.

113

17 years ago

I need to stop letting my honky-tonk lovin friends convince me to come see their bands play at these dive joints. The interior is charming. the cover reasonable. Ugh, but PUH-LEASE! The glass my drink was served in still had red lip stick left over from whatever betty boop had ordered one of their weak drinks. The only thing a dive bar has going for it is a friendly staff and drink that get you drunk fast enough that you don't notice how disgusting the room you are in is, or the people in it. This place failed to meet both of those requirements. read more

Lupe F.

11 years ago

I love the Sunset!!!! It's my favorite local spot to play and see live music! The remodel has done WONDERS for the space. And, I love going to Betty's, (the new front room), to just kick it with the homies without the pressure of seeing a show. Also, love the new decor. It's like my Grandpa's basement up in there. Love love love! read more

James P.

2 years ago

seriously want to love this place so bad but. lelt my wallet and tiny tim thought would solve the problem by takimg me outside but he was just so tiny. im in sorry tiny tim you seemed like a good dude....you were just so tiny read more

Don N.

10 years ago

Went and saw a show there and it was pretty cool. It was a little cramped but the beer was cold, bartenders were friendly and you gotta love ballard anyway! cheers! read more

Samantha B.

13 years ago

The sunset is a great place to see all kinds of bands. It's a very intimate venue with good sound and a great crowd.

Franny T.

4 years ago

This place sucks! I would never go here ever ever!!!!!!! Ew!!! It's so gross!!! And the people are mean!!

Amanda W.

19 years ago

Fun atmosphere. Good drinks. Great live shows. Good place to walk into if you are in the area. read more

Laural B.

Elite 9

326

20 years ago

I rather like it, but I agree they sometimes book slightly-too-popular acts for the space.

J K.

131

1751

4080

16 years ago

I've had some of my favorite moments here.

The Sunset - divebars - Updated August 2026

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We attended a concert here and absolutely loved the venue. We arrived early and had drinks at the…read morebar next door (which is connected). We played some board games that they had on hand and got a nice buzz on. The venue was spacious but intimate, perfect for a cover band. The sound quality was outstanding and the space was clean. The bathrooms were nearby and there were enough to use without having to stand in line, which was nice. The drinks were expensive and therefore it loses a star. I hate being fleeced on drinks after paying a high amount to get into a concert. The bartenders were nice as were the security personnel. Parking is kind of a pain as you have to pay to park in a parking garage or drive around trying to find on street parking, which is nearly impossible. Loved the vibe on the street after the concert. Lots of food vendors, music, and fun people hanging about. We would definitely come back to this venue.

went during some charlie xcx brat themed night and wow that was not a good set lol. like they'd…read moreedged you with a good song like fergalicious and then completely cut off the song and play something random. I could tell I wasn't the only one who disliked it bc I watched several people leave and the venue was never full, always only half at best. 1/10, 11pm. whoever this dj was im sorry this wasn't it. wish we were at barboza lmao. including video so you can see what the music was like THE WHOLE NIGHT

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Amazing local music venue! Love the intimate vibes, and the sound was great, too. They also have an…read moreupstairs VIP option, which is nice when there is a crowded show!

Al's Tavern

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Friendly people (patrons, staff, and the regulars.)…read more Relaxed atmosphere. Pinball. A great neighborhood bar!

The perfect local bar to hang out with friends or just grab a drink before heading out. Percy is…read morethe sweetest bartender and even helped me decorate for a birthday surprise! We love going there for their classic drinks and to play some pool. Sweetest people working the bar and is always a grand time:)

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I really love coming to this venue for their listening lounge. You can check out the list of…read morerecords spinning each night and make a reservation. Sometimes they sell out! The ambiance is soo nice. I love the decor and the vibe. It has a kind of 60s Japanese style to it. The drinks are really good, just be prepared to spend a little. The bartender can also make you a specific cocktail. I had a paper plane here one time and it was great! There's no food so make sure to grab dinner before or afterward at one of the great restaurants in Ballard nearby.

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This place is pretty bad ass! I can't say that I was terribly impressed with the liquor selection…read morebut for a small (and new?) bar - they're really doing a great job. Aside from the awesome food - which I'll get to in a second - and the live music, I was most impressed by the bartender. He was super charismatic, super friendly and very funny. When I popped in with a group of 6 or so friends, he swiftly tended to us, made sure to introduce himself and took everyone's drink order. When it came time to get food I actually decided to opt out. It was nearly midnight and I had already eaten dinner hours earlier. But my friend next to me got a basket of fries and that's when it got hard to ignore the menu... The fries were AWESOME! In fact, they were so tempting that not only did I sneak a few, I actually asked to see the whole menu. Comprised mostly of about a dozen varieties of slider, I was super happy to see the variety. Suddenly my stomach growled and though I didn't want two sliders, I knew I could share with a friend. The only issue then was deciding which to get. I recall a buffalo chicken slider but only got as far as the fried bologna. HELL. YES!!! I ordered one and my buddy ordered another. (They come two to a plate.) My little slider was DELICIOUS! In fact, it was so good that I could totally envision making a trip all the way back to this bar just to have them again. So yeah... I'm a fan. The food is great, the bartender was totally rad, the live music playing in the theater was piped into the bar and the selection of beer and booze was just enough to satisfy. What a great little addition to the hood!

4 is the average between 3 stars and 5 stars: Why 4?…read more 3 stars: Meh. It is a cool, cute and subtly(?) intimate space for a hole in the wall. I had no drinks and drinks are not my forte, so I have nothing to contribute to with drinks (although I did get a water, more on that later). An interestingly mixed group of folks here (including the supposedly "local favorite", more on her later). =P Late Wed night, a bum can be met outside the front asking for crap... I didn't think this downtown-phenomenom could reach this far and late into Columbia City. o_O Now for the 5 stars: ENTIRELY for my fond memory of rockin' the mic with Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight----and ALL fuc*ing 7 minutes of it! ----BAM! In addition to doing my thing up there, this "local favorite" chick asked me if she could join in---of course! Before I finish, let me fill you in on the intro deets. On occasion, one of the folks in our mini Yelp group asked me if I'd picked a song, yet. --No. --Nope. --Not, yet. --I'm kind of tied between between two... come almost-midnight, I'd finally settled on the one that's been bugging me all night, Rapper's Delight - Sugarhill Gang. Drop my card off and wait several songs until I'm called.... wait for it... ....dar-en ....dar-en ....dar-en ....dar-en ....dar-en--- (omg, ---WHAAAT?!). DUDE, both groups started *GASP* ---CHAN-TING & clapping(?)--- my name, when right then Kira *bowchikawowow!* took my hand and guided me up front. Rewinding back, the local favorite black lady joins me. I notice the screen.... someone says "wow, 7 minutes?!" I glance at the screen----hot diggity dam! Within 1 second, I thought of: why did I pick this song, 7 minutes seems long, I totally dig this song and the beat, I've heard it before but not the whole 7 min... and thankfully glad I asked for a glass of water prior to singing, because boy I tell ya, did I have a mouth drought in the minutes coming up to this (and slightly during, but I pressed on because, the more I sang/rapped it, the more I had tunnel vision on the lyrics screen and rippin' it in my own little world). I definitely heard the times the crowd join in during the good parts---most encouraging, hehe. All said and done.... wow (and phew!). Afterwards, the local lady came up to me and said something like, "Mmm Mm...that was ^fine^!..." I think I did come with my confidence, after all. 7 minutes... of rapping!? I think I just experienced a miracle... amazing. I think I want more karaoke (and drinking not even required! =P).

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