#738 - The Celtic Swell, Seattle - 11/29/2008

2722 Alki Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 932-7935
Est. 2004 - Closed March 2016
celticswell.com

#737 - Bamboo, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/29/2008

Bamboo closed November 22, 2014

2806 Alki Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 937-3023
Est. 2002 - Closed Nov 22, 2014

#736 - Gainsbourg, Seattle (Greenwood) - 11/28/2008

Try the: Jane Birkin

The first non-coy, unapologetically hipster venue in Greenwood. In certain aspects it is ridiculous, of course, like the perfectly-spaced, brick-revealing holes in the plaster. But the place was packed and there were no little horns in the front of the hair, zero untucked long sleeve striped shirts, and only one backwards baseball cap. And what the hell, I like hipsters.

8550 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 783-4004 - map
Est. 2008 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: gainsbourglounge.com - myspace
Reviews: seattle times - yelp - phinneywood - seattle weekly - seattleweekly

#735 - Beveridge Place, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/28/2008

I'm a sucker for lots of wood and old books in a bar.

6413 California Ave SW, Seattle, Washington 98136 - (206) 932-9906
Est. October 27, 2003 - Building constructed 1991
Previous bars at this locaton: Full Moon Saloon

#734 - Yen Wor Village, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/28/2008

The standard Chinese restaurant dive, with a small bar, karaoke, cheap decor, overpowering smell of cleaner, and a brilliant range of patrons, from the giggling girls to the absolutely smashed old men.

#733 - Admiral Pub, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/28/2008

A clone with absolutely zero character or physical attractions. You'd have to really love the patrons there to skip so many less boring bars in the area.

#732 - Mission, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/28/2008

Update: The owners of Mission announced that it would close Feb 17, 2024 due to "rising operational costs, changes in the economy, and an evolving hospitality landscape." 

Another lovely West Seattle bar.

Historical notes:  The building currently housing Mission on California Ave was constucted in 1924,   although it probably did not contain the upper floor at the time. The Seattle Daily Times notes a noise complaint at a bar owned by George Willey in this location in November 1933. It starts appearing in city guides under James Robinson or his "Jim's Tavern" in 1934, continuing into the 70s.  In 1980 it is the "Rainy City Tavern," in 1990 the "Caddyshack Tavern,"and by the early 2000s "Lizzard Lounge."

Seattle Daily Times, Nov 1, 1933

2325 California Avenue Southwest, Seattle - (206) 937-8220
Est. 2005 - Closed Feb 17, 2024 - Building constructed 1924
Previous bars in this location: Jim's Tavern, Rainy City Tavern, Caddyshack Tavern, Lizzard Lounge

#731 - Cozy Inn Tavern, Kenmore, Wa - 11/17/2008

In addition to being genuinely cozy and a genuine tavern (no liquor), the Cozy Inn Tavern has a deck and a history -- it's been around since the early 30s.  It's a comfortable neighborhood place with lots of wood and microwave pork rinds.

#730 - Martin's Off Madison, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 11/11/2008

Update:  In mid 2010, the 5-year-old Martin's was re-named "Greg's Profanity Hill," and then closed shortly thereafter.
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This is why I love this project. I would have never stumbled upon this place if not for K-Bar.

#729 - C.C.Attles, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 11/11/2008

This location of the popular bear bar opened in 1992 and closed in 2010, re-opening at 1701 E Olive June 11, 2011.

1501 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 323-4017

#728 - Osteria la Spiga, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 11/11/2008

#727 - Bill's Off Broadway, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 11/11/2008

Closed 12/3/2013 while new building constructed, re-opened Aug 10, 2015

725 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 420-7493
Est. 1981 - Building constructed: 2015
Previous bars in this location: Mother's Tavern

#726 - Kurrent, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 11/11/2008

Kurrent closed in November 2010

#725 - Spring Hill, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/9/2008

 Update: 2/27/2012:  Since the night of this visit, Spring Hill upgraded their cocktail game to a fantastic degree, and then on Feb 8, 2012 changed their emphasis to Hawaiian and their name to Ma'Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky.
 
This relatively new place (6 mos. old) looks like a fine restaurant. But this list is about bars, and the bar here is an afterthought.

#724 - Poggie Tavern, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/9/2008

I suddenly felt like I was in a tavern in the mountains in Idaho. A classic dive, with guys with big beards and gals with big hair. The large bartender, in levis suspenders and plaid shirt said of a just-departed patron, "He's a character. But ain't we all?"

Indeed.

Historical notes: There has been a bar in the location of West Seattle's Poggie Tavern since at
least 1934, and it has been "The Poggie Inn" or Tavern since at least 1936. However, it appears that the previous structure was replaced with the current one in 1970.

4717 California Avenue Southwest Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 937-2165
Est. 1936 OE - Building constructed 1970
Other bars in this location: None

#723 - The Corner Pocket, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/9/2008

Update: The Corner Pocket closed Dec 2, 2016, when the owner Michael Eugene Main was arrested for routinely selling cocaine in the bar.

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In 1979 brothers Dave and Jerry Norberg converted an old bomb shelter into an upscale wine and beer tavern called "The Alasks Pipeline." This lasted into the 90s, when it briefly became the "California Underground," before the "Corner Pocket," which remains today.

The current version is nothing special to look at, but I like the downstairs location and I liked the people hanging out there. I might give this my Great Dive rating if the Poggie Tavern weren't right down the street.

4302 Southwest Alaska Street #204, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 933-0320
Previous bars in this location: The California Underground, Alaska Pipeline

#722 - Shadow Land, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/9/2008

I almost gave this my Highly Recommended rating, based on the magnificent sign, the bartender Jay, and the one cocktail I had -- a bartender's muddled choice which is informally, if not that appetizingly, called the "Plumber's Crack." But the place was pretty dead when I went there on a Sunday evening, and I couldn't get any sense for what the vibe and crowd are like when it's busy. I must revisit soon on a Friday or Saturday evening.

4458 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 420-3817
Est. Nov 28, 2007 - Building constructed: 1948
Previous bars at this location: None known
shadowlandwest.com

#721 - Elliot Bay Brewery, Seattle (West Seattle) - 11/9/2008

Try the Dry Hopped IPA, which immediately hopped onto my favorite beers list (along with Manny's Pale and Diamond Knot Industrial).

It finally occurred to me, as it must have to many others, that West Seattle is Seattle's Portland. They've very nicely mixed in the new with the old, like a small town with an inexplicable amount of variation. And the 4400-4700 stretch of California Ave. is the best and most varied set of drinking establishments in the city, from the ultra-swanky Ama Ama, to the hip and funky West 5, from the young people's dive at the Corner Pocket, to the classic older folks' dive at Poggie Tavern. And Elliot Bay Brewery is one of a number of nice places in between

4720 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA - (206) 932-8695           
Est. July 11, 1997 - Building constructed: 1932
Previous bars in this location: California & Alaska Street Brewing Co.
Web site: elliotbaybrewing.com

#720 - Naked City, Seattle (Greenwood) - 10/30/2008

Another great addition to the Greenwood area for beer lovers, with a broad range of rotating taps.

BTW, this makes 100 new bars in 2008.