#1370 #S828 - Blue C Sushi, Seattle - 2/12/2011

Update: This Blue C location closed in August 2017.

The bar at the Fremont Blue C isn't open most of the time, and it's upstairs and out of reach of the kaiten belt cycling the food.  But we had a nice couple nightcaps and pleasant conversation on this night with the manager Drew from Boston.

3411 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 633-3411
Est. 2003 - Closed Aug 2017
bluecsushi.com - seattletimes - thestranger - yelp

#1369 #S827 - White Rabbit, Seattle - 2/12/2011

Update: The White Rabbit closed Dec 31, 2013

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I've only been there in the afternoon with few people around, so I'll want to go when the music is going to get a feel for the crowd and vibe.  But the folks working there are nice and the decor has a bit more personality than when it was ToST.

They specialize in coffee drinks, but I went for the Mad Hatter Manhattan (Honey Reserve bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters).

513 N. 36th St. Seattle, WA 98103 - 588-0155             
Est. Feb 10, 2011 - Closed Dec 31, 2013 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: ToST
fremontwhiterabbit.com - facebook
seattlemusicinsider -  seattleweekly fc - seattleweekly - fremontuniverse - yelp

#1368 - Raven's Nest, Redmond, WA - 2/11/2011

Black Raven Brewing Company taproom

14679 NE 95th St, Redmond, WA 98052 - (425) 881-3020
blackravenbrewing.com - yelp  

#1367 #S826 - Acquabar, Seattle - 2/9/2011

Update: Aquabar closed in 2015.

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This was the soft opening of the new bar of the space of the old Kelly's, which Mike Seeley described it as easily the most intimidating bar in Seattle -- and the neighbors were not a bit sad to see it go.  Acquabar has expanded the space into the location of the neighboring dog care business, and added an Asian lunch buffet.

None of the neighbors who had to deal with the rough crowd have shed tears over the loss of Kelly's, but the new place doesn't seem to have any personality whatsoever.  Here's hoping it evolves into something that has as much personality as Kelly's, if not the same dysfunctional personality type.

Historical Notes:  The current building was constructed in 1925 and for many years this space was the home of the Liberty Tavern.  The Liberty was there by 1945 and lasted at least in the 60s.  Kelly's was established in 1979 and closed down in October 2010, on the night owner Mary Costello Abbey passed away.


305 Bell St, Seattle, WA 98121-1719 - (206) 728-6583
Est. Feb 9, 2011 - Building constructed: 1925
Previous bars at this location: Liberty Tavern, Kelly's
acquabar.com - yelp

#1366 - John Howie Steak, Seattle - 2/8/2011

Yes, it's a pricey steakhouse in the Bravern, but it's also got quite affordable lunch choices and a pretty decent selection of cocktails at the bar.  I had a Peruvian Saint (classic Pisco Sour ingredients with St. Germaine elderflower twist, egg white, and bitters).

11111 NE 8th Street, Suite 125, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 440-0880
johnhowiesteak.com - seattleweekly - seattletimes - yelp

#1365 #S825 - Mamma Melina Ristorante, Seattle - 2/6/2011

Mamma Melina Ristorante is named for the matriarch of the Varchetta brothers, who have established a number of Italian restaurants in Seattle, currently including Barolo, List, and the now relocated Mamma Melina. The latter was located just below the Seven Gables theater for 20 years (although it didn't have an actual bar at that location, and hence was not on this list). It's now relocated in a new building near U Village, with modernist decor and a canal of ice in the bar to keep drinks cool. It doesn't have the same charm as the Roosevelt Way location, but the food is still good and bar serviceable.

5101 25th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105 - (206) 632-2271
Est. 1989, 2010 at current location
mammamelina.com (sound) - seattletimes - komonews - yelp 

#1364 #S824 - Feierabend, Seattle - 2/5/2011

Update: Feierabend closed Dec 23, 2020

Feierabend ("quitting time") is yet another in Chris Navarra's German beer kingdom within Seattle (Prost! in Greenwood and West Seattle, Der Bierstube on Roosevelt).  I like this one. Despite being in a newer development, it's got some personality, lots of brick, a location off the main drags and I like bars with separate rooms.

422 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 422 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 340-2528
Est. Feb 26, 2006 - Closed Dec 23, 2020 - Building constructed: 2005
feierabendseattle.com - secretsnob - beeradvocate - thestranger - yelp

#1363 #S823 - Moby's Restaurant, Seattle - 2/5/2011

Moby's appears to have once been a fern bar, and is now barely a ghost of a bar. There are three tap handles on the ten beer taps, exactly 15 different bottles of liquor, and the shelves behind the bar are now crammed with knickknacks - manekis and model ships, chrome dolphins and silk butterflies, Betty Boop and Native American figurines.

It's not the sort of place anyone would ever seek out for a drink or a good time -- it closes by 7:30 every evening. The restaurant appears to be run by some nice, older Chinese ladies, who serve the kind of food you might find in a retirement home cafeteria. My chicken skewers came with no sauce of any kind, and with exactly ten french fries, and the salad was your basic iceberg and bottled Italian dressing. It is curiously pallid for a place next to a live theater (ACT), but probably a pretty good fit for many of the older crowds that frequent various convention center events.


725 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101-2361 - (206) 447-0507
mobysseattle.com - yelp

#1362 #S822 - Thai One On, Seattle - 2/4/2011

This is a slightly better than average Thai food restaurant with the vestiges of a swanky bar for beginning drinkers.  The physical bar and bad liquor are still there -- the flavored vodkas, variations on creme de menthe, the red bull and the watery beers.  Even some old karaoke equipment.  But the bar is now basically just a brightly colored ghost, which occasionally houses overflow from what was clearly always a more pleasant restaurant side.

12343 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125-5401 - (206) 362-6999
Est. Feb 2005 - Building constructed: 1945
thaioneonusa.com - seattletimes - thestranger - yelp

#1361 #S821 - Verve Wine Bar, Seattle - 2/3/2011

Update: Verve closed Sep. 24, 2011

Nice little Columbia City wine bar with very good food.  I had a glass of the 2009 Tierra Del Sol (tempranillo and mendoza) and the 2009 Las Perdices (malbec and tempranillo), both quite nice; and I would not have gone after eating dinner had I previously seen the great looking plates coming out of the kitchen.

3820 S Ferdinand St, Suite 102 #102, Seattle, WA 98118 - (206) 760-0977
Est.2007
vervewinebar.com - facebook - seattlepi - yelp

#1360 - Barrio, Bellevue, WA - 2/1/2011

Like its Seattle counterpart, this has better than average Mexican food and better than average cocktails.  Get there early in the afternoon to watch the wall-scaling employee hand lighting all the candles.

Try the: jalapeno margarita.

10650 NE 4th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 502-5021
barriorestaurant.com - foodfascination - yelp

#1359 #S820 - Arabica, Seattle - 1/31/2011

Update: Arabica closed on Feb 15, 2015.

A different sort of lounge, both more quirky and more comfortable than most, as much a social art project as a place for wine or coffee, which reflects the personality of its artist owner, Jojo Corväiá.

Historical notes:  As far as I can tell, this is the first business that could classify as a bar at this location.  It hosted a Supercuts for the most recent 25 years.

1550 E Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 347-6093
Est. Sep. 2010 - Closed Feb 15, 2015 - Building constructed: 1924
arabicalounge.com - facebook - seattleweekly - capitolhillseattle - thestranger - patmybutter - yelp

#1358 #S819 - Chaat Lounge, Seattle - 1/31/2011

(Chutney's Grille)
605 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 726-1000
facebook -

#1356 #S818 - Sur, Seattle - 1/29/2011

2901 1st Ave S, Seattle, Washington - (206) 682-1292
seattleclubsur.com - yelp

#1357 - Munch Bar, Bellevue, WA - 1/31/2011

Update: The Munchbar closed permanently after a man was shot and killed in the bar on a crowded Christmas eve night. (The shooter was Ja’mari Alexander Jones, one of the men who beat to death cherished Seattle institution Ed "Tuba" McMichael.)

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"Skateboarder fusion" might be the best description of the menu at Munchbar.  Their burritos have carnitas marinated in CocaCola and their Ahi tuna tartare comes with Rice Krispy sticks.  The cocktail menu is a mix of summer patio standards and candy-like house cocktails.  Add the graffiti-like decor and it's like the X-Games competitors were allowed to create their own restaurant.

That doesn't mean there are not some reasonable options for people over 20.  The beer selection is aggressive and interesting, and you can find some decent food between the ones designed to convince you that the chef must have been stoned.  But if you don't call all everyone "Dude," it's unlikely to be a good choice for you.

505 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 454-6862
munchgroup.com - facebook - yelp
Est. 1/28/2011