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A baseball player in the dugout is getting confetti poured on him by celebrating teammates.
Julio Rodriguez celebrates during a game against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

13 Classic Seattle Sports Bars

Where to eat and drink while cheering on the Seahawks, Mariners, or Kraken

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Julio Rodriguez celebrates during a game against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park
| Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

The purpose of sports in Seattle is to trap fans into a cycle of anger, recrimination, rationalization, and hope. Though the Storm and the Sounders have had long runs of championship-level success, Seattle is not regarded as a town of winners, and the histories of the Mariners and Seahawks, the two most popular local teams, are littered with failures and embarrassments. The award-winning SB Nation documentary The History of the Seattle Mariners is about how weird and bad the baseball team has been.

This is all for the best. Cheering for winners is gauche, and victories are cheapened by repetition. The most precious moment in sports isn’t when a team wins its 12th championship, but when it breaks through. And when those moments happen you want to be surrounded by the smells of beer and fried food, screaming at the top of your lungs, and hugging total strangers. Here are some terrific places in Seattle to do that.

Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com. As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically.

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Watershed Pub & Kitchen

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This Northgate brewpub has a full bar, more than 20 beers on tap — many of them from local brewers — and bar food like grilled cheese sandwiches with Beecher’s cheddar and gouda and “pie folds,” crispy sandwiches made with pizza dough folded in half. There’s also pizza, pasta, and mac and cheese. There’s plenty of screens, including a large TV on the covered and heated patio.

Rough & Tumble Pub

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A block away from the busy part of the Ballard Avenue strip is Seattle’s only bar centered around women’s sports. Rough & Tumble shows all the local teams — including Ballard FC, the neighborhood semi-pro men’s soccer team — but it’s the Storm, OL Reign, and USWNT games that draw the crowds here. The food menu has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options (including great fresh potato chips and onion dip), and the names of food and drink items reflects the bar’s theme. Want a tallboy of Rainier? How about a tallgirl instead?

LTD Bar and Grill

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Fremont’s family and pup-friendly sports bar advertises itself as both a Seahawks and Green Bay Packers venue — which sounds like a recipe for trouble. NFC rivalries aside, there are 15 TVs, boozy slushies, an outdoor patio, and lots of bar game distractions on hand, make it a winner on game days.

Atlas Sports & Spirits

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This used to be called Atlas Kitchen and Lounge but recently changed ownership, location, and name, leading us to wonder, a la the Ship of Theseus, if this is still the same bar. At 60 seats this Climate Pledge–adjacent spot is cozier than some of the massive halls on this list, but it has a huge menu centered around drinking food. The wings are solid, but don’t miss out on the messy plates of meat and starch, including a loco moco plate and a rare-in-Seattle Garbage Plate.

Queen Anne Beerhall

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This expansive, communal German beer hall in Queen Anne underwent an ownership change in 2020, which has reinvigorated the venue, while keeping the robust list of European and local beers. The well-crafted food menu includes fried baby artichokes, oyster shooters, and smash burgers, and the venue sometimes hosts sports-centric events, like Seahawks Sunday brunches or party bus excursions to T-Mobile Park.

The Goose Pub & Eatery

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Step into this unprepossessing door in a Bellevue strip mall and you’ll be transported into another world, or maybe just the 1980s (which would explain the framed Kenny Easley jersey on the wall). This old-school sports dive has the kind of lived-in charm it takes bars decades to acquire, and plenty of pub games that can entertain you if the Seahawks contest turns into a blowout.

Buckley's in Belltown

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A tried-and-true sports hangout where food is a major feature: the Buffalo wings, meatloaf sliders, and hand-formed burgers are among the top choices. During the biggest games, best to get there as early as possible to scout seats. The other Buckley’s location in Queen Anne is a good backup.

A view inside Buckley’s in Belltown, where sports banners hang from the ceiling.
Buckley’s attracts sports fans from all over the city.
Buckley’s/Official

Madison Pub

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This sports-focused gay bar in Capitol Hill has a relaxed vibe, cool pinball machines, video games, and well-positioned TVs, which are always tuned to the local games (with sound). There’s no frills, and no cover, ever.

An interior look at Madison Pub, with a pool table in the middle, TVs, and glowing neon signs.
Madison Pub has pinball machines, pool, and lots of drink specials.
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Xtadium

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This nightclub near Lumen Field hosts regular dance parties, like a Latin music night on Thursdays, but also puts on events for most big games. There’s a full bar, and snacks like wings and sliders as well as quesadillas, burritos, and burgers. A DJ normally plays music during halftime, and you can reserve tables for various VIP experiences on game days.

Sluggers

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Fans have been piling into this cheerfully cramped, memorabilia-filled bar on their way to Mariners games for 25 years, and it’s a destination for anyone who wants to experience a bit of old Seattle. Post-pandemic lockdown era, however, Sluggers is open only on days when games or other events are happening in the area, so don’t expect to come here to watch away games.

Rookies Sports Bar and Grill

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Columbia City’s reliable jock spot serves solid bar bites (such as the Irish nachos, topped with beer cheese and shredded corned beef) and stiff drinks in a family-friendly setting, with reclaimed floors and a shuffleboard bar top. If things get too crowded, don’t forget about next-door neighbor, the Backyard, which has an outdoor patio and more food options.

A view of beer taps and an array of liquor bottles at a bar, with a row of TVs above showing football games.
The bar at Rookies has good TV angles.
Rookies

Jules Maes Saloon

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After closing in the summer of 2020, the Seattle bar icon recently made a triumphant return under new ownership. The menu’s pub fare now includes tater tots poutine, flatbreads, spicy chicken waffle sandwiches, and some breakfast items, along with cocktails and beer. And there’s a big screen in the back with surround sound that will have Seahawks games tuned in.

The Westy

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The Westy has 18 TVs, a robust beer selection, and strong pub grub such as fried chicken and waffles, poutine, and cheesesteaks. Diners should scour the menu for delightful surprises, including Butterfinger bites (mini doughnuts with caramel sauce and Butterfinger pieces baked in), and a solid cocktail assortment. The bar also serves excellent, juicy, burgers, and massive wings with a selection of hot sauces and dry rubs. A similarly equipped second location is in Roosevelt.

Watershed Pub & Kitchen

This Northgate brewpub has a full bar, more than 20 beers on tap — many of them from local brewers — and bar food like grilled cheese sandwiches with Beecher’s cheddar and gouda and “pie folds,” crispy sandwiches made with pizza dough folded in half. There’s also pizza, pasta, and mac and cheese. There’s plenty of screens, including a large TV on the covered and heated patio.

Rough & Tumble Pub

A block away from the busy part of the Ballard Avenue strip is Seattle’s only bar centered around women’s sports. Rough & Tumble shows all the local teams — including Ballard FC, the neighborhood semi-pro men’s soccer team — but it’s the Storm, OL Reign, and USWNT games that draw the crowds here. The food menu has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options (including great fresh potato chips and onion dip), and the names of food and drink items reflects the bar’s theme. Want a tallboy of Rainier? How about a tallgirl instead?

LTD Bar and Grill

Fremont’s family and pup-friendly sports bar advertises itself as both a Seahawks and Green Bay Packers venue — which sounds like a recipe for trouble. NFC rivalries aside, there are 15 TVs, boozy slushies, an outdoor patio, and lots of bar game distractions on hand, make it a winner on game days.

Atlas Sports & Spirits

This used to be called Atlas Kitchen and Lounge but recently changed ownership, location, and name, leading us to wonder, a la the Ship of Theseus, if this is still the same bar. At 60 seats this Climate Pledge–adjacent spot is cozier than some of the massive halls on this list, but it has a huge menu centered around drinking food. The wings are solid, but don’t miss out on the messy plates of meat and starch, including a loco moco plate and a rare-in-Seattle Garbage Plate.

Queen Anne Beerhall

This expansive, communal German beer hall in Queen Anne underwent an ownership change in 2020, which has reinvigorated the venue, while keeping the robust list of European and local beers. The well-crafted food menu includes fried baby artichokes, oyster shooters, and smash burgers, and the venue sometimes hosts sports-centric events, like Seahawks Sunday brunches or party bus excursions to T-Mobile Park.

The Goose Pub & Eatery

Step into this unprepossessing door in a Bellevue strip mall and you’ll be transported into another world, or maybe just the 1980s (which would explain the framed Kenny Easley jersey on the wall). This old-school sports dive has the kind of lived-in charm it takes bars decades to acquire, and plenty of pub games that can entertain you if the Seahawks contest turns into a blowout.

Buckley's in Belltown

A tried-and-true sports hangout where food is a major feature: the Buffalo wings, meatloaf sliders, and hand-formed burgers are among the top choices. During the biggest games, best to get there as early as possible to scout seats. The other Buckley’s location in Queen Anne is a good backup.

A view inside Buckley’s in Belltown, where sports banners hang from the ceiling.
Buckley’s attracts sports fans from all over the city.
Buckley’s/Official

Madison Pub

This sports-focused gay bar in Capitol Hill has a relaxed vibe, cool pinball machines, video games, and well-positioned TVs, which are always tuned to the local games (with sound). There’s no frills, and no cover, ever.

An interior look at Madison Pub, with a pool table in the middle, TVs, and glowing neon signs.
Madison Pub has pinball machines, pool, and lots of drink specials.
Google Maps

Xtadium

This nightclub near Lumen Field hosts regular dance parties, like a Latin music night on Thursdays, but also puts on events for most big games. There’s a full bar, and snacks like wings and sliders as well as quesadillas, burritos, and burgers. A DJ normally plays music during halftime, and you can reserve tables for various VIP experiences on game days.

Sluggers

Fans have been piling into this cheerfully cramped, memorabilia-filled bar on their way to Mariners games for 25 years, and it’s a destination for anyone who wants to experience a bit of old Seattle. Post-pandemic lockdown era, however, Sluggers is open only on days when games or other events are happening in the area, so don’t expect to come here to watch away games.

Rookies Sports Bar and Grill

Columbia City’s reliable jock spot serves solid bar bites (such as the Irish nachos, topped with beer cheese and shredded corned beef) and stiff drinks in a family-friendly setting, with reclaimed floors and a shuffleboard bar top. If things get too crowded, don’t forget about next-door neighbor, the Backyard, which has an outdoor patio and more food options.

A view of beer taps and an array of liquor bottles at a bar, with a row of TVs above showing football games.
The bar at Rookies has good TV angles.
Rookies

Jules Maes Saloon

After closing in the summer of 2020, the Seattle bar icon recently made a triumphant return under new ownership. The menu’s pub fare now includes tater tots poutine, flatbreads, spicy chicken waffle sandwiches, and some breakfast items, along with cocktails and beer. And there’s a big screen in the back with surround sound that will have Seahawks games tuned in.

The Westy

The Westy has 18 TVs, a robust beer selection, and strong pub grub such as fried chicken and waffles, poutine, and cheesesteaks. Diners should scour the menu for delightful surprises, including Butterfinger bites (mini doughnuts with caramel sauce and Butterfinger pieces baked in), and a solid cocktail assortment. The bar also serves excellent, juicy, burgers, and massive wings with a selection of hot sauces and dry rubs. A similarly equipped second location is in Roosevelt.

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