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Seattle might not have the most consistent sports teams, but don’t say that the fans aren’t loyal. Seattle sports bars are true to the Sonics, Seahawks, Mariners and Huskies no matter what. Since alcohol can’t be sold on UW’s campus, watching the Huskies in a sports bar makes a lot of sense. Plus, not all the seats are covered at Husky Stadium, drinking indoors is much more appealing that staying sober in the rain. There really isn’t a better place to watch Seattle away games than in a local sports bar. Drink specials, tasty food and, of course, the camaraderie of fans really can’t be beat—even if the team happens to. Let’s now weigh out the pros and cons of watching a game live versus at a Seattle sports bar. Bars have free entry; game tickets can cost a lot. Bars have pitchers of tasty microbrews for about $8; stadiums charge about $8 for a pint of Miller High Life. Hotdogs at sports bars cost, if anything, less than $3. Sure, at the game you see the action live, but sports bars have instant replays. It seems like the choice is easy.
All American Sports Bar & Grill
4333 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.545.7801
The All American Sports Bar and Grill in Seattle caters to discerning fans and hordes of University of Washington students that pack into its sleek confines to catch a game or start the boozing for a night out. Often on the weekends the party doesn't get much further than the bars and booths at the All American Sports Bar and Grill which also features a decent, if pretty standard, bar menu, but, heck, it's all reasonably priced from the drinks on down. |
Dante's Steak & Grog
5300 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.525.1300
With over 10 TVs and more bar distractions than should be allowed, Dante's Steak and Grog is a Seattle sports bar that decidedly caters to the U Dub crowd. Seriously, if your favorite team isn't exactly doing you proud on the televisions you can drown your sorrows in one of Dante's many beers on tap while you focus your attention on a game of pool, darts, foosball, air hockey or pinball making this below market priced Seattle college bar more fun to drink at then when you snuck beers in your parents basement game room. |
El Gaucho Cigar Lounge
2505 First Ave., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.728.1337
The old school style of the El Gaucho Cigar Lounge in Seattle looks like the private den in some exclusive male-centric country club. With the trifecta of steaks, premium liquor and cigars, this swanky Seattle bar and restaurant is a great place for the biz pro set to entertain clients or if you and your buddies are feeling a bit like living the perceived good life. Sports are always on the TV at El Gaucho Cigar Lounge and the veteran staff knows how to expertly take care of their patrons. |
Goldies On 45th
2121 N. 45th St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.632.3453
Goldies on 45th is a classic Seattle sports bar catering to neighborhood fans and droves of U-Dub students in for a game of pool, to throw some darts or just a cocktail during the game. Also, Goldies serves up inexpensive grub firmly rooted in the greasy bar food culinary sphere, which suits the attitude and atmosphere perfectly. You can be a complete newbie in Seattle and pop into Goldies and by the end of your round, the bartenders will know your name and remember you the next time you hit this laid back, but often loud and rowdy Seattle sports bar. |
Jillian's Billiard Club
731 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.223.0300
With more sports bar game entertainment than that snotty rich kid down the block had in his basement, Jillian's Billiard Club is the premier Seattle bar for gaming diversions that you actually get better at when drinking. Jillian's has some of the best-maintained billiard tables in the Emerald City plus they house one of the only snooker tables in Seattle. Rounding out the game room additions that wholly embarrassed you in yesteryear are the usual video game queues, ping pong (which can easily be converted to beer pong) and Jillian's Billiard Club also has air hockey—and their rumored to have a resident expert who's like a graduate student at U-Dub that's doing his thesis on the physics of air hockey and, although nerdy, will whoop your drunken butt handedly. This Seattle bar for the game and sports geek in all of us also has a great pub style food menu featuring one of the top five burger and fry combos you can get in this city. |
Magnolia Village Pub
3221 W. McGraw St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.285.9756
One of the best Seattle sports bars for the discerning fan who loves great food and more TVs than your local electronics store, the Magnolia Village Pub can probably lay claim to the title of most crowded Seattle sports bar as well. But, you can also add to the top of that the fact that the Magnolia Village Pub is also genuinely family friendly, so you can give your offspring a head start on the competition by introducing them to the concept of catching the game while drinking (responsibly of course) booze and wolfing down a bucket of hot wings. As if you needed more, the service is always friendly and efficient even when Magnolia's is packed and, if you get there early enough, you can snag booth seating that comes complete with its own TV. |
Roanoke Park Place Tavern
2409 10th Ave. E, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.324.5882
Seattle neighborhood bars just don't come any better than the Roanoke Park Place Tavern which is filled with memorabilia that you'd more likely find in your grandparents game room than in a bar. The selection of brews features something for everyone's tastes and the simple food is of the stick to your ribs variety that always seems to satisfy on rainy Seattle afternoons. A slew of regulars crowd around the bar and engage in amicable banter with the bartender or not so amicable banter with the TV and nights bring in a younger crowd that take to drinking with friends over fashion. |
Rocksport Bar & Grill
4209 SW Alaska St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.935.5838
If you can't catch every nuance of the game at Rocksport Bar and Grill in Seattle then you're probably really drunk or just not trying because this West Seattle sports bar has a huge projection TV and about 14 others strategically placed around the bar so missing a play really isn't an option. The food at Rocksport runs the usual sports bar gamut and they also sport 16 taps that change on a monthly basis. Saturday nights at Rocksport see local cover bands taking the stage with some originals thrown into the mix. |
Sluggers
567 Occidental Ave. S, Seattle Washington; Tel. 206.654.8070
Avid fans heading to a Seattle ballgame crowd into Sluggers for a little pre-game warm up of tap beers and sports bar fare. The crowds seem to be always streaming in and out of this busy Seattle sports bar even when there's not a home game because Slugger's has hugely portioned, better than decent food and more Seattle sports memorabilia adorning its walls than a sports geek convention. Also, while kids are allowed in during the day, after 9pm it's 21 and over for a little sport accentuated rowdy partying. |
Sport Restaurant and Bar
140 4th Ave. N, Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.404.7767
An above average Seattle sports bar with above average prices, Sport Restaurant and Bar is a kicked back place to either watch a game on their many TVs or a good place to catch a drink before a home game. Like we said, the prices are a bit above your average Seattle sports bar, but in this like anything, you get what you pay for and the friendly staff and patrons, the premium booze and the well portioned extensive food menu always hit the mark. Also, unlike a lot of sports bars, Sport Restaurant and Bar has a little more mature crowd, so loudness and rowdiness are sort of kept to a low roar. |
The Fremont Dock
1102 N 34th St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.633.4300
The come as you are, no-frills attitude of The Fremont Dock has earned it a much loved status from area locals that crowd into this Seattle bar for some hearty breakfasts, lunches and dinners served with some of the stiffest cocktails around. The Fremont Dock starts inviting locals into their vintage decored confines at the glorious hour of 7am for some down home grub and an eye opening shot or beer. Also, on the weekends and many nights, this Seattle bar plays host to a slew of college students seeking budget priced food and drink so they can stretch their dollar, while during the day sports rule The Fremont Dock's big screen. |
The Ram Restaurant & Big Horn Brewery
2650 NE University Village St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.525.3565
This extremely popular Seattle restaurant, sports bar and brewery serves as the official bar of all things Husky and the packed in raucous crowds never miss a play on the many TVs. The Ram Restaurant and Big Horn Brewery also crafts some decent microbrews to accompany their down home pub grub that's heavy on varying burgers and fries. Happy hours consistently rock at The Ram (from 3pm-6pm and again from 10pm-close), as does nearly every other minute of the day, with drink specials and nightly specials on food. During football season The Ram Restaurant and Big Horn Brewery is just as packed with local Seattle fans and collegians—and probably just as loud—as the U-Dub stadium. |
Village Pub
3221 W McGraw St., Seattle, Washington; Tel. 206.285.9756
The Village Pub takes care of local regulars and sports fans alike—in fact this Seattle bar is a haven for WSU Cougar fans—featuring good food and drink at reasonable prices that keep 'em packed in and returning for more. The staff at the Village Pub is top notch and friendly as is the general atmosphere surrounding the place making boozing here a consistently good time out. |
—Seattle bar and club reviews by Ryan Osterbeck |
