The 10 Best Bars In South Lake Union, Seattle

Ten on 9th is South Lake Union’s premier cocktail lounge and restaurant, featuring a seasonally rotating selection of 10 custom craft cocktails, 10 vintage inspired cocktails, 10 in-house infused fine liquors and over 200 varieties of spirits. There’s also a full food menu of updated American comfort food classics. Owner Chef J. Charles enlisted mixologists Lisa Marie Woodward and Ralaina Smith of Venik Lounge to expand upon Venik’s already stellar cocktail program, creating and producing an outstanding cocktail menu for the restaurant. The classy and comfortable bar, has an eclectic collection of art adorning the walls.

In a gorgeous warehouse space with exposed brick walls re:public (regarding the public) is home to one of the largest bars in Seattle, serving up an excellent selection of wine as well as fantastic standard and specialty cocktails and a great collection of beers. The restaurant has gained a reputation for its strong well made drinks, which many locals love to enjoy with a charcuterie or cheese plate.

Although Cask & Trotter is best known for their delicious BBQ slow cooked meats, they also have a full bar that carries only the freshest of ingredients and serves local and regional beers, wines, and bourbons. They have also recently started offering whiskeys and vodkas to enhance their selection. There are also several TVs at the bar, perfect for watching your favorite games while enjoying you beers, bourbons, and whiskeys. The Moscow Mule is a particular favorite among the cocktails at the bar, and they also offer a late night Happy Hour.

Feierabend is a blend of German and Northwest cuisine. Some of the menu items are traditional German fare, while others have been adapted for Seattle palates. The pub uses both local purveyors and imported items to produce amazing quality food that it can be proud of, and all eighteen of its tap biers are imported straight from Germany. ‘Feierabend’ means ‘quitting time’ in German, and the restaurant is the perfect place to relax and enjoy great food and drinks. They even offer punch cards for locals who love to come in regularly and try everything on the full list of traditional German beers.

Brave Horse Tavern has a great beer selection and makes good cocktails and the food can be easily shared with friends thanks to the large communal tables. Fun menu items include the tots and Jell-O shots, the fried cheese curds, and the dessert pretzel chips with a marshmallow-Nutella concoction. Patrons also love playing on the shuffle board table and throwing darts. Folks who live in the area know Brave Horse as one of the best places for brunch as well, and especially popular is the Bloody Scotsman, a version of the Bloody Mary with scotch. © Andrew Van Pernis/Flickr

The Wurst Place has 23 craft, local, and European beers on draft, and sours and more in bottles. Gourmet traditional and game sausages, ranging from German brats to Nurnberger style to smoked elk with cheddar and jalapeños to veggie brats, make for the perfect meals. With gluten free bread, sausage, frites, dips, beer, and cider available, The Wurst Place has something for everyone to fall in love with. © Grzegorz Rogala/Flickr

Formerly Paddy Coyne’s flagship location, O’Máille’s Irish Pub has a new owner and a new menu, but has kept the same crew and continues to attract great regulars, taking pride in being South Lake Union’s original public house. The standard pub favorites of the old days are still on the menu, but they now also have some amazing healthier options, and you can tell that the new kitchen manager really cares about the quality of the food being served. Patrons love the classic Irish pub vibe, with Guinness and sports being the main focus of the place. They have a great happy hour and plenty of seating, including outdoor seating, booths, and bar seating. Service is fast and friendly, and visitors are treated to nice views of the water as the ferry and boats pass by as they enjoy delicious Irish whiskeys. They also have Trivia Night on Tuesdays, and specials on beers and snacks during Seahawks games.

Victory Lounge markets itself as a ‘professional party bar,’ with cocktails, draft beer, wines, and professional service. Locals love Benny’s gourmet dogs and one dollar tacos with five different kinds to choose from by Matty on Tuesdays. A fun dive bar with a great atmosphere, friendly staff, a chill crowd, and strong drinks, it’s no wonder that many people in the area love coming to Victory Lounge for a laid back spot to just hang out and enjoy themselves. Besides Taco Tuesdays, the bar has lots of great daily deals like two hot dogs and a pitcher of PBR for around $17.

The Night Owl Lounge has great Happy Hour specials and the stylish bar has a local feel. The music features mostly guitarists playing rock standards, blues and jazz. They offer food from the 13 Coins kitchen, the pricing is fair, and it’s a great spot for small groups. Daily drink specials include deals on Bloody Marys and Mimosas on Sundays, martinis on Mondays, Scotch on Tuesdays, wine on Wednesdays, and Lemon Drop or Pomegranate Martinis on Ladies Night Thursdays. © Philip Robertson/Flickr

Sport Restaurant and Bar is the perfect spot for watching your favorite games. With a great assortment of pub food, reasonable prices, a Happy Hour, excellent service, and, of course, tons of TVs airing multiple games, all sports lovers will be happy here. The restaurant is nicely designed, with a lounge, bar area, restaurant seating, and an outdoor patio, as well as an endless array of sports memorabilia covering the walls, including autographed baseballs right at the entrance. Visitors can either sit at the bar, where there are four large TVs with several games playing, or at a booth with its own TV.