#656 - The Local Vine, Seattle (Belltown) - 5/30/2008

web site

Update: This location closed in 2010

2520 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98121-1427 - (206) 441-6000

#655 - Zoe, Seattle (Belltown) - 5/30/2008

This location closed July 23rd, 2011

2137 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 256-2060
web site

#654 - Six Seven, Seattle (Edgewater Hotel) - 5/30/2008

2411 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 98121-1313 - (206) 728-7000
Previous bars at this location: Spat's Nightclub

#653 - The Blarney Stone, Seattle (Belltown) - 5/29/2008

Another surprise - a big neighborhood bar with a typical cross-section of blue collar patrons (complete with entertaining drunks), smack between dives like Kelley's and the upscale Belltown scene.

1909 3rd Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 448-8439
Est. 2006
Previous bars in this location: None known

#652 - Zeitoon, Seattle (Belltown) - 5/29/2008

Small, unimaginative beer selection, no interesting cocktails, a better wine selection and really good food; Andrea the bartender told me that Jean Enerson is a kleptomaniac whose illness and lawyer brother keeps her out of trouble, and that she (Andrea) could get away with murder because she has migraines. I didn't challenge her story because she's cute and also because she can get away with murder.

2510 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 838-6011
Est. 2007 - Closed 2011
Previous bars in this location:  None known
zeitooncafe.com

#651 - The Ould Triangle, Seattle - 5/24/2008

I've actually been here several times before, but never managed to doc for K-Bar. A pleasant enough place, from the same folks who run Molly Maguires.  Darts nights, poker nights, trivia nights.

Historical notes:  There's been a bar here since shortly after prohibition -- city guides list a bar owned by Ivan McKinnon in 1934 and through the 30s, presumably the owner of "Mack's Tavern" which begins to be listed in the early 40s.  It remained Mack's into the 60s, was the Score Card Tavern in the 70s, and the Globe Ale House by 1980.  It appears to have changed from the Globe to the Ould Triangle in 2001.

9736 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103-3054 - (206) 706-7798
Est. 2001? - Building constructed: 1932
Previous bars at this location: Globe Ale House, O-Zone, Score Card Tavern, Mack's Tavern
seattleirishpubs.com - facebook

#650 - Tigertail, Seattle - 5/24/2008

Update:  Tigertail was closed by the Washington State Dept. of Revenue in Sep. 2009.

The swanky, Asian decor would seem to make this a fine addition to the swell little bar area on 65th around the Tin Hat, Molly Maguires, etc. I have no clue why it was dead on the Saturday night I went.

704 NW 65th St, Seattle, WA 98117 - (206) 781-8245
Est. Nov 2007 - Closed Sep 2009 - Building constructed: 1938
Previous bars at this location: None known (subsequently The Blue Glass)
tigertailbar.com - phinneywood (closure) - seattletimes - thestranger

#649 - The Dray, Seattle - 5/24/2008

A tiny, pleasant source of beer, a few choices of wine, and expresso

708 Northwest 65th Street Seattle, WA 98117 - (206) 453-4527
Est. April 11, 2008 - Building constructed: 1938
thedray.com - facebook

#648 - Chez Shea, Seattle - 2/16/2008

94 Pike St, Ste 34, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 467-9990
Est. 1984
chezshea.com - seattletimes 

#647 - Calamity Janes, Seattle - 5/24/2008

5701 Airport Way South Seattle, WA 98108 - (206) 763-3040
Est. April, 2007 - Building constructed: 1909
CalamityJanes.biz

#646 - The Hideout, Seattle (Capitol Hill) - 5/18/2008

"Art is social ..."

Try: The Lark.

A most excellent Seattle bar discovery, The Hideout immediately leaps into my Top 5 of Seattle area bars. As always, the vibe is the most important aspect, but this bar manages to be swanky and romantic without emulating either the cookie cutter upscale wine bar theme or the faux blue collar hipster theme. It's a bonus that the bar features adventurous and excellent cocktails, comfortable company, a regular publication of the doodles and poems of customers, and the ever-present chance that he customer next to you may be a part of a performance artwork, or that you might catch a glimpse of the strange monkey creature spotted only in brief, mysterious moments in the upper regions of the room.

1005 Boren Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-1325 - (206) 903-8480
Est. 2005 - Building constructed: 1930
hideoutseattle.com - seattle weekly - yelp - the stranger

#645 - Chac Lounge, Seattle - 5/18/2008

1621 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 322-3569
Est. 2007 - Closed 2008 - Building constructed: 1917
Capitol Hill Arts Center Lounge

#644 - Sixth Ave. Bar & Grill, Seattle - 5/14/2008

2000 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 403-5067
web site

#643 - 1st Hill Bar & Grill, Seattle - 5/14/2008

Update: The 1st Hill Bar and Grill closed April 27, 2013
901 Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98104 - (206) 623-6333
Est. 1979 as Grecian Corner
Previous bars at this location: Grecian Corner Restaurant

#642 - Quarter Lounge, Seattle - 5/14/2008

A pleasant surprise near downtown Seattle (sorely lacking in good bars) -- the best bar that side of the 5-point.

909 Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 - 206-332-0772
Est. 2003 - Building constructed: 1908
Previous bars at this location: Adobo Taco Lounge, Terry Tavern
quarterlounge.com - facebook - seattle weekly 

#641 - Vitos, Seattle - 5/14/2008

Vito's opened in 1953, closed in January 2009, and is set to re-open in late Summer 2010 under Hideout owner Greg Lungren. 927 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 - (206) 682-2695

#640 - 700 Club, Seattle - 12/23/1999 (out of order)

700 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98121 - 206-343-7518
(Inside Jersy's All American Sports Bar)
Est. June 1998 - Closed: 2000
Previous bars at this location: None known
Subsequent bars: Skybox Lounge

#639 - Ravenna Alehouse, Seattle - 5/11/2008

Historical notes:  There has been a bar in this building (built 1930) since at least 1939, when it was owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Bisson.  By the early 40s it was the "Friendly Tavern," which it remained into the 70s.  It was renamed the Ravenna Tavern (now Ale House) at some point in the 70s.
2258 Northeast 65th Street, Seattle, WA 98115-7073 - (206) 729-9083
facebook 

#638 - Mira! / Faina, Seattle - 5/9/2008

Closed in 2009 and replaced by Vela Pizza.

Was Mira!, now apparently Faina - name has gone back and forth.  Entertaining chat with Gus the bartender.  In the basement of the Labor Temple building.

2800 1st Avenue (Bsmt), Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 448-8833
Building constructed: 1942
seattletimes

#637 - Sonya's, Seattle (downtown) - 5/9/2008

A nice variation for Belltown. Look down (literally) on the Pink Door.  Next door to what was Seattle's first mortuary.  Features a tiny patio, front bar, and darkened back bar where burlesque shows and events often take place.

1919 1st Ave Seattle, WA 98101-1010 - (206) 441-7996
Previous bars at this location: None known
thestranger

#636 - Jimmy's on First (Seattle) - 5/6/2008

1046 1st Ave S Seattle, WA 98134-1206 - (206) 204-9700
Previous bars at this location: None known
jimmysonfirst.com

#635 - The Ballard Loft (Seattle) - 5/2/2008

I don't know what went wrong here. The bartenders are cool, the space is nice, the drinks are good. But the patrons are awful -- backwards baseball cap wearing frat boys and other assorted airheads. I still love Ballard, but this place is not a good omen.

5105 Ballard Ave. NW Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 420-2737
Est. Jan 11, 2008 - Building constructed: 1900 or earlier
Previous bars at this location: None known
ballardloft.com - facebook - yelp

#634 - Portalis, Seattle (Ballard) - (out of order)

5205 Ballard Avenue Northwest Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 783-2007
Est. 2003 - Building constucted: 1915
Previous bars at this location: None known
portaliswines.com - blog - thestranger - nytimes - westtoast - hungrygrrl - beyondthebottle