#927 - Alki Tavern, Seattle - 10/26/2009

Update: The Alki Tavern closed after St. Patrick's Day, 2013

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This is just about the perfect dive bar. Outside, ramshackle patio furniture, hand-painted stylized seagull sign, and the Pacific Ocean lapping up from around the Olympic peninsula across the street. Inside, a woody, flag-draped interior and any number of local characters. On this night the latter included the artist who was having a difficult day due to patrons passing gas in the Starbucks where she does her work, and the hyper-affected English gentlemen manners of a young fellow with a cane (asked by the bartender how his dog was: "Well," eyelids fluttering half closed, "He is well.") And of course the bikers.

An excellent dive to have so close to the middle of the city.
 

1321 Harbor Ave SW., Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 932-9970
Established 1976 - Closed March 18, 2013 - Building constructed: 1915
Previous bars in this location:  Unknown name owned by Thomas & Jensen in the 1930s
thealkitavern.com - myspace - seattle weekly - yelp - seattle.com - the stranger

#926 - Laredo's, Seattle - 10/11/2009

Try the: Tia Cuca's    

555 Aloha St., Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 218-1040
laredosgrill.com - seattle times - http://www.yelp.com/biz/laredos-grill-seattle - seattle weekly - queen anne view

#925 - Mac's Smokehouse, Seattle - 10/10/2009

1760 1st Ave S., Seattle, WA 98134 - (206) 628-0880
yelp - urban spoon

#924 - Casuelita's, Seattle - 10/5/2009

Reviews on various sites have claimed that the quality varies widely here, but the night I went the food was all very good and the drinks fairly good too. I'll definitely be coming back.

81 Vine St., Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 770-0155
<seattle weekly - seattle pi - seattle times - yelp

#923 - Kushibar, Seattle - 10/6/2009

Update: Kushibar closed in October 2017

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2319 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98127 - (206) 448-2488
Est. 2008 - Closed Oct 2017 - Building constructed 1928
Previous bars in this location: None known
http://www.kushibar.com - seattle dining - the stranger - seattle times - seattle pi

#922 - La Vita É Bella, Seattle - 10/6/2009

2411 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 441-5322
lavitaebella - yelp - zagat - bellinghameats - the stranger

#921 - 9 Million In Unmarked Bills, Seattle - 10/5/2009

The new place in the old Triangle location in Fremont has an inconsistently applied 30's gangster theme and a menu of interesting cocktails. The ones I tried didn't have quite the balance that Seattle's finest bartenders produce -- and I didn't try the John Dillinger (Bulliet Bourbon and a cigarette) -- but it's a step up, as is the very good food (I had the Caprese salad and the lamb sliders).

Historical notes:  This was the "Triangle Tavern by 1935 until 1986 (the listed address is slightly different in earlier years, but it is the same location).  It was the "Classic Tavern" in the latter 80s and 90s, and re-named the "Triangle Lounge" from 1998 through 2009.)  Building constructed in 1926.

3507 Fremont Place, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 632-0880
Est. 2009 - Building constructed: 1926 - Previously: Triangle Tavern, Classic Tavern, Triangle Lounge
9m-unmarked.com - seattle magazine - yelp - seattle times - the stranger