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West Seattle, just a bridge’s distance away from the largest city in Washington, has a vibrant and close knit community complete with loads of pubs, bars, and taverns to fulfill your happy hour cocktail needs. Whether you’re looking for a glammed-up night out, a hipster hangout with like-minded cool cats, or a casual, unassuming good time, we’ve got you covered in our list of the top 10 bars in West Seattle.

Beer

Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub

Pub, Gastropub, Pub Grub, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Tamarind margarita
© Bex Walton/Flickr
If you find yourself craving a refreshing, cold glass of beer, be sure to come to this West Seattle staple with a vast variety of brews, IPAs, and ciders. Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub has a casual, fun atmosphere with great food and great drinks. Their Luna Weizen brew is very popular, and they have a lot of tasty pub food, such as their spinach artichoke dip. If you have a sweet tooth or just want a bite of something delicious, order their Stout Wort ice cream, which is provided by Husky Deli right across the street.

The Matador

Bar, Mexican, Contemporary, Cocktails

VProst!
© rioncm/Flickr
For a sizzling, spicy night out in West Seattle, come to this Mexican-themed bar with creative drinks and tasty food options. The Matador, which has a warm, lively interior complete with indoor fireplaces, is a great spot to relax and enjoy South of the border drinks and grub. Some of their best include the refreshing cucumber jalapeño margarita, fruity white peach sangria, spicy tamarind margarita, and the sweet strawberry mojito. For bites, go with their fish tacos, nachos, or habanero prawns.

Prost!

Pub, American, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Prost! West Seattle
Courtesy of The Bridge
Upon stepping foot in this pub, you’ll feel as if you’ve left the city of West Seattle and entered into German territory. Prost! is a traditional pub serving up the best draft beers, or biers,as well as classic German cuisine. The atmosphere and design of the place is very reminiscent of Deutschland as well, with the brick exterior, wooden door and benches, and large German flag outside. In addition to sampling from their large selection of brews, be sure to try their bratwurst and warm, doughy pretzels.

The Bridge

Bar, American, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Corona and lime
© Sam Ilic/Flickr
This sports bar is an essential spot in West Seattle, especially to experience the sense of pride and community that comes with a major sports town as is the case in the home of the Seahawks. The Bridge has a great communal vibe, and with comfortable seating and a great patio, this is a fantastic location to watch games with friends and fellow fans. Take advantage of their delicious hand-crafted happy hour drinks, fried cheese curds, stuffed dates, bison burgers, and bacon bloody Marys available during weekend brunch.

El Chupacabra

This Mexican-themed hipster hangout located right on the water at Alki Beach is a great place for strong, tasty margaritas and delicious grub. El Chupacabra is an edgy establishment with plenty of drink and food items as well as vegan and vegetarian options. Their margaritas are especially popular and come in a variety of flavors such as pomegranate, and customers also rave about their Long Island iced teas. For your hungry tummy, go with their wet burritos or enchiladas and you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Phoenicia

Bar, Wine Bar, Tapas, Fast Food, Vegetarian, Vegan, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern

Impress your date with a visit to this Mediterranean-style wine bar located right across the water at Alki Beach. Phoenicia has a large selection of wines to choose from, and an equally satisfying list of food items, mainly tapas and small plates, to accompany your vino. The black and red colors of the interior make for an intimate and romantic setting, and the chic blackboard menu adds the perfect touch. In addition to sampling the best reds and whites on hand, try their pizzas and the 39-spice beef dish.

Skylark Café & Club

Cafe, Nightclub, Cocktails, Wine, Beer, Fast Food

Flight
© Paul David Gibson/Flickr
Entertainment, drinks, and good food unite to bring you one of West Seattle’s coolest venues that always promises you a genuinely good time. Skylark Café & Club is the best place to catch drinks and a live act in the city, showcasing a variety of local bands covering multiple genres ranging from indie to rock to jazz and blues. They even have open mic nights, and the atmosphere is eclectic with artwork and vinyls lining the walls. In addition to good music, Skylark can offer you pitchers of mimosas, great bloody Marys, tater tots, and deep fried pickled green beans.

Beveridge Place Pub

Bar, American, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Pool
© William Clifford/Flickr
Can you think of a better combination for a fun night out than board games and booze? Neither can we, which is why the genius of Beveridge Place Pub really makes it a unique spot to visit. This pub has a very comfortable and casual feel to it, and its BYOF (bring your own food) philosophy is great for coordinating pot lucks or delivering from local restaurants; Beveridge actually provides you with a ‘menu book’ filled with the menus from nearby establishments to order from. In regards to booze, Beveridge has a great bar that serves up tasty cocktails, like old fashioneds, as well as an impressive beer list of over 150 different bottles.

Corner Pocket

Bar, American, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

Bar
© Nic Taylor/Flickr
This small and intimate dive bar is a great place to go for a low key night out enjoying some billiards, drinks, and food. The Corner Pocket always has a good atmosphere with an unpretentious vibe, and its pool tables, dart boards, and jukebox music make for a great accompaniment to strong, affordable cocktails and grub. The bar occasionally features live bands as well. Be sure to stop by sometime when in West Seattle for a fun, casual night out.

Poggie Tavern

Bar, American, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

If you’re into old-school dive bars that stick true to a familiar and loyal neighborhood customer base, visit this tavern to see how the locals like to drink. The Poggie Tavern is a traditional dive bar with a very classic atmosphere, complete with typical staples such as great and affordable cocktails, loads of beer, pool tables, and a jukebox. This tavern actually also has pull-tabs, which are a sort of gambling card, for an extra touch of old school cool.

About the author

Pauline is currently a junior at UCLA studying English. She has a strong passion for culture, music, geography, learning, and the beach. When she's not writing or studying, she's probably in a vinyl store finding records from the 90s, attending a concert, or watching the sunset in Malibu. She loves exploring new and foreign neighborhoods, and thinks sometimes you have to get lost in order to get found.

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