Visiting the numerous restaurants in Seattle is one of the best ways to find out more about this unique and wonderful city. The city’s food and drink scene can paint a picture of the Pacific Northwest and once you enter the local dives in the city, you lose yourself to the quirkiness and passion. Without these local dives, Seattle just would not be Seattle in the true sense.
If you are looking for the best local dives in the city where you can drink to your heart’s content, and enjoy some delicious and mouth-watering fare, these are the places to add to your list.
Sitka and Spruce
Sitka and Spruce can win you over with its unique location. It is located inside an urban farmhouse on Melrose Avenue. It is a place where food preparation is viewed as an art, but you are not bound by the rules of fine dining. The purest ingredients are used to create good food, which some may view as minimalist. But, isn’t that what is trendy nowadays? Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, Sitka and Spruce offers a wide variety of New American cuisine at relatively modest prices. You can't miss out!
The Waterwheel Lounge
Very few restaurants can boast of serving your fare better than you expect but The Waterwheel Lounge does just that. Located on 15th Avenue NW, it's pretty easy to miss this restaurant, which is set away from the street. Once you enter, you are greeted with bingo, karaoke, live music and trivia, depending on the time and day of the week. Most regulars play bingo here and get rewarded with free drinks and crazy prizes, such as hamburger shaped salt and pepper shakers! Truly a "dive bar" in the most unassuming sense, it may not look like much from the outside, but it's a local favorite for sure.
Nitelite Lounge
What attracts a huge crowd to the Nitelite Lounge is its jukebox that boasts a great selection of songs and genres of music. The turquoise walls coupled with the faux-gold striping on the bar can be hypnotic just like the extremely cheap drinks that the Lounge serves every single night of the week. This is the place to munch nachos and beers after watching comedy shows and concerts at the adjoining Moore Theatre. You will find Nitelite Lounge on 2nd Avenue; the raucous crowds inside make it hard to miss.
The Sloop Tavern
The original home of "The Slooper," or 33.8 ounces of the "coldest beer in town," this is the place to drink supersized beers for an astoundingly low price. The regulars here are friendly and hospitable and make you feel right at home. The casual ambience of the dive keeps you in a happy and jovial mood throughout your drinking spree! The Sloop is located on Market Street and you definitely should visit this dive. It is one of the few remaining Ballard fisherman bars in the city.
The Baranof
Located on Greenwood Avenue, The Baranof is a perfect blend of diner and bar. The front portion is the diner, while the rear with its nooks and crannies is the place for drinking strong beverages and making friends with strangers. Do not let the hanging fishnets on the walls deter you from enjoying the unique ambience of this dive in Seattle. The locals love it for the stiff drinks, delicious breakfast foods, and great karaoke nights. Don't forget to check this one off your list!
Skillet Diner
If being served your lemonade in a mason jar brightens your day, you will love Skillet Diner, with two locations in both Ballard and Capitol Hill. Be sure to dig into burgers with bacon jam, fried chicken with honey crusts and griddle cakes with lemon butter. The fast service and the cocktails that flow like water make this a happening place to wine and dine!
Seattle Made E-Z
On your trip to Seattle, WA, don't miss out on these great local dives. These are the places where you will discover the true spirit of this cosmopolitan city with all its panache and glory. If the locals love it, you will too!
Making a trip out to Seattle, soon? We are conveniently located in the Sea-Tac Airport for all your rental car needs. You won't find another car rental company with more affordable, convenient, and up-to-date vehicles! We would love to make planning your trip to Seattle a little less stressful by providing you with a reliable vehicle so that you can spend less time worrying about travel and more time enjoying the city!
Image Credits:
Sitka and Spruce by chispita
Waterwheel Lounge by Eric Swanger
Nitelite Lounge by Dean Jeffrey
Sloop Tavern by Three Sheets Northwest
Baranof by Gabe Johnson
Skillet Diner by Eater
Seattle Summers by Bala Sivakumar
