Stayed at an Airbnb nearby and been scoping an oyster place nearby and decided to take my wife and her parents to share a bottle of wine and have some oysters and apps. The hosts were great and flexible by means that we got here right before close and all that was left was wine and oysters from the adjacent restaurant but they let us relocate next door where they had more options in terms of food. So we ordered 2 dozen oysters (there was no advertised price), bottle of wine (62 bucks) clams, cheese, and another side dish, and a few beers. Food taste was great but very small portions for the money. I believe the steamed clams was like 30 something but barely a pound so we ordered another one. Thought the total bill for the 4 of us was going to be around $200 but was shocked to see a $510 dollar bill for some small apps and wine/beer. Turns out they up charged the oysters imho so was 120 for 2 dozen and automatically added 22% gratuity without ever disclosing any of this. We were still hungry and had to uber eat afterwards. We could have gone to Ruth Chris steak house for the price of 4. Our rental car also was smashed into off the street and window was missing as well as our son's back backpack. Very disappointing day . I seldom take the time to write up a review but this deserves disclosure to forewarn others that it is expensive read more

Went here for a girls' night and loved it! The oysters were absolutely delicious, easily one of my favorite spots. The bread paired perfectly with our oysters and wine. The environment was cozy, and the service was friendly and took the time to explain the oysters and drinks, which we really appreciated. Highly recommend for oyster lovers! read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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An amaro bar?! An amaro bar!!! If you're a bitter Betty like I am - this is a must do. Dakin knows what he's doing with these flavors, and that's a tall ask as all of them have the ability to punch you in the mouth. Pop in, sit down, take the bartenders recommendation (or mine - order The Right Stuff) and leave happy. 10/10 will return read more

Barnacle - Personalized fernet flight - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

An Amaro bar that is connected to the walrus and carpenter. I first saw this bar as my bf and I were waiting for the walrus and the carpenter. We had time to kill before our table was ready so why not have a drink? They offer complimentary kettle chips. They do offer amaro flights. My bf was curious about their amaros since there were so many and the bartender was nice to recommend a few to try that fit the flavor profile he was describing. A lovely time spent to wait for our table. read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I went on a Saturday afternoon just after opening and grabbed a seat at the bar while waiting for my friends. The bartenders were friendly, gave me the lowdown on the menu, and took my drink order (Fresca de March). The space has a low-key yet upscale vibe with tiled walls and warm lighting. We ordered two dozen oysters with the caviar add-on, the sardines, and the whipped ricotta with grilled sourdough. I also got an Aperol Spritz. Everything was delicious and the service was attentive without being overbearing. One of the bartenders, Sharon, even had me try a couple of her shiitake mushroom amaro creations, such a fun touch! I'd definitely come back esp for their happy hour. read more

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My friend and I went to Barnacle while we were waiting for our table at The Walrus and the Carpenter. It's a cute aperitivo bar with a cool, minimalist vibe and a nice selection of drinks. The server was kind and quick, making sure we got our drinks fast so we could relax before dinner. I opted for a gin martini instead of trying something new, and it was well-made and crisp. We didn't stay too long since our table was ready shortly after, but I'd definitely pop back in for another drink next time I'm in the area. read more

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A lovely offshoot of Walrus and the Carpenter serving up cocktails and tapas -- while we were waiting for a table next door, we were directed to this bar to snag a drink. They transfer your tab over between the restaurants, so it was a super easy process. We could just pick up our drinks and head over when our table was ready. I was OBSESSED with the aesthetic, everything from the logo design to the bar seating to the big shelving with bottles in the back. The servers are very sweet and efficient, and were able to make recommendations. They do cocktails and apps, and we just got a drink to sip on while we were waiting. I'd honestly come back, regardless of if we're going to Walrus or not! The drinks are super unique and are listed from least to most bitter -- I got the Piazza Fiera and also tried The Old Amaro Cape. Both were seriously delicious -- I love the smoky mezcal in the Amaro Cape and the refreshing citrus from the Piazza. read more

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Had cocktails while we waited for a table at walrus & carpenter! Spritz Della casa was absolutely lovely. Highly recommended. The bar seating has beautiful back bar view! read more

Barnacle - Signage - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We went to Barnacle for a drink while we waited for our table at The Walrus & The Carpenter on a Saturday night. We were served chips with our cocktails! I ordered the Preflight Checklist, which was a mezcal-apertivo drink. This was a great way to start everything that we enjoyed after. I love that Barnacle and The Walrus & The Carpenter are connected-we were able to take our time and enjoy ourselves, and wait for our table in comfort. I would definitely come back to Barnacle for more cocktails! They had something for everyone, and their bar features some local PNW spirits as well as the classics. It would be easy to spend any amount of time in their bar-it was comfortable, stylish and the bartenders are friendly. read more

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Cute little bar right next door to Walrus and Carpenter owned by the same people. We had a few drinks at Barnacle as we waited for our table next door. The waitress made us some delicious espresso martinis. The staff was super friendly and recommended a few things to do while we were on this side of town. They offered some delicious chips that we couldn't stop eating. The ambiance is this dark cute library feel read more

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This place is so amazing! Friendly staff, fabulous menu, tasty drinks. Great place to come to learn about amaro. Small menu of bites make for perfect pairings. Highly recommend the ricotta toast- thick slice, cream cheese, peppery olive oil, and fresh thyme = perfection. It's small and fills up fast, so get there early if you want a seat. read more

Came to Walrus and the Carpenter for oysters, it was too packed, so we ducked into the corner for some drinks and those dang oysters. They did not disappoint! We ended up getting two half-dozens of oysters, absolutely delicious. Super refreshing, shucked well, didn't have any complaints there. Drinks were also nice. Would've maybe given a five star, but the octopus carpaccio was not my favorite. It was drenched in olive oil, and it did not taste great. Way too greasy and not enough acids (despite there being a bit of lemon) cut through and have anything but oil residue. Not the ideal way the poor octopus should've ended up. Overall though, good experience, loved the oysters, would come back again! read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great food and drinks! However, we looked on the website which told us there was an all day happy hour from 4-9 Sunday-Thursday. When we got the bill, were first charged $1 more for each of our drinks than what was on the menu, but also noticed no happy hour deal on the oysters. When we told the server, they took the extra cost off the drinks (apparently the menu had the wrong prices listed) but said there was nothing that could be done about the happy hour as they must not have updated the website to reflect the changed happy hour hours. If your website says you have a happy hour deal, you should honor that and acknowledge the mistake. Especially when you automatically add a 22% service charge. read more

Seems to be a great place to have a drink while you wait for your table at Walrus and the Carpenter in the same building- if you can manage to get a spot. Barnacle had been on my list for a while, in an effort to explore more of Seattle's speciality cocktail bars. Overall a great experience, but I'll have to come back to explore a bit deeper and really decide what I think. We initially grabbed a spot standing at the back counter (facing away from the bar) and before we could order, managed to snag a spot at the bar instead. We were not heading to anywhere specific for dinner after so we were not on a time crunch, but we managed to get in and out in a timely manner regardless. The bar staff were friendly and helpful, but we didn't feel enough of a connection, perhaps being that it was a busy Friday night. We were able to get some nice guidance and recommendations - but will need to revisit with more time to let the bartenders provide more of a journey. The tapas style snacks are great, and I wouldn't skip on the fresh bread.. Cheers! read more

Barnacle - a glass of alcohol and a plate of food - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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If you're into cozy, no nonsense, I'll have what she's having, stirred not shaken locations then make a point to visit BARNACLE small tapa-like dishes that are elevated. Spanish sardines in olive oil with bits of green olives, salt and pepper. Smokey and rich and so delicious! Sopped the oil up with our bread like heathens haha! That good! We also ordered the prosciutto and watched as they cut our slices right off the bone. The drinks we ordered were amazing although I can't remember the names, nevertheless we fully enjoyed our pre dinner stop here. read more

Barnacle - Spanish sardines and prosciutto - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Barnacle is a great spot to kill time while waiting for a table at The Walrus and the Carpenter. Run by the same company as Walrus, they are smart to implement a bar next to their famous restaurant to accommodate people waiting for a table. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis and people cycle through pretty frequently. When your table at Walrus is ready, the hostess comes to you and gets you. When we sat down, we saw a huge bone-in jamon serrano looking right at us. It's cool how they hand-shave it right in front of you. That was a definite draw in my eyes so I had to order that with a glass of wine. Needless to say, it was fantastic. It wasn't too salty, has a ton of flavor and has minimal fat in the thinly sliced pieces. There are a number of craft cocktails on the menu for all of the alcoholics out there. A good selection if you ask me. Yes, there will be a wait when you decide to dine at Walrus and the Carpenter. The good news is that you can chill at the Barnacle Bar while you wait for you table so you're not just there twiddling your thumbs. read more

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Average cocktail and app place. I do love that people can come here and wait for walrus and carpenter but we were just stopping by on our cocktail crawl. I wasn't sure what I wanted since they only had three cocktails and none of them had ingredients I was familiar with. Luckily the bartender was nice to explain they were basically their takes on an aperol spritz, a martini, and an old fashioned. I got the Sunstone which was their take on an old fashioned and it was pretty good. It had cynar which is an artichoke based syrup which the bartender let me try a bit and that was what pushed me to order it. I like it because it didn't have a strong bourbon forward taste but instead I love the tequila base. We also got a round of island creek oysters which brought back Boston memories which is nice. I do wish they had more cocktail options and more tapas options. Just the bread, sardines, and olives felt a bit lacking. I see other folks had other options so I wonder if maybe they were ordering from walrus as well which we didn't know it was an option. Might come back again if we want to try out walrus again but otherwise might just skip since it's farther away from the other bars on Ballard row. read more

I visited on a Friday around 5:45pm and was shocked it wasn't more crowded! The bar sits about 15 people and is tucked in a building behind Marine Hardware and next to sister restaurant The Walrus and the Carpenter. I was immediately greeted when I sat at the bar and the bartender was very helpful explaining the different beverages and recommended the house spritz. I also ordered the shaved Serrano ham, octopus terrine and Spanish sardines. Everything was delicious but the ham and sardines were my fave. The ham is carved freshly in front of you and the salsa verde that compliments the sardines is perfect! I can't wait to return to try other items on the menu read more

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Always love to stop by! Small, good cocktails and spirits list. Just a great setup overall and worth the effort! Staff is courteous and food options are great! They also offer some really nice spirits flights! read more

Hidden gem, literally, tucked between Staple & Fancy and Walrus & Carpenter. A culinary aesthetic, Barnacle is proof of quality over quantity. Cozy, narrow bar with a sole back booth, now serving prix-fixe dinners. Friendly, witty bartenders know their aperitifs like Ballard knows plaid. Barnacle is a Negroni dream come true - an unabashed love affair with amaro. - Mussels on toast, cilantro pistou - personal favorite. Fresh, luscious mussels. An unexpected preparation and absolutely delicious. - Anchovy, calabrian chili butter - intensely savory, chili packs heat, butter to add balance - Duck liver mousse - indulgence nicely done - Octopus terrine, olive oil, lemon - stunning presentation, food as art. Incredibly thin terrine. Will be back for 1001 Negroni nights....flights. read more

Barnacle - Octopus terrine - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Barnacles is right next to Walrus & Carpenter... * PRE - Looong wait for our W&C dinner so we stopped next door into her sister bar * CMP - They have Lay's potato chips for each table, lol * DRK - Gabriel = quite dry with no frills * DRK - Fiano = dry and just what companion wanted * DRK - Grillo = smooth and recommended by bartender, as they do not have sweet whites * DRK - Dirty martinis & cocktails! Our new foodie companions went all-out for her birthday... * GET - Octopus terrine = 2 thinly sliced, beautiful presentation of octopus swimming in olive oil, quite tasty * GET - Bread (from Sea Wolf & Columbia City Bakery) = just b/c I was hungry and needed some carbs; plain, sliced, served with good olive oil * HAA - Huge Serrano ham leg is sitting out at the bar for all to view * YES - Quiet, modern-decor bar with friendly bartenders * YES - Fun times were definitely had with our new "drinking" buddies who had appreciation for sharing great foodie stories * YES - Offers small bites only, no full menu. Only stocks 1 of each liquor type so do inquire. * FYI - Only 1 large table at end, we happened to get it * FYI - Bar seating available * FYI - No reservations needed * FYI - Accepts credit cards read more

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We stumbled upon this place while trying to get a spot at the Walrus and the Carpenter. It's a cute little bar, with nothing else to the room except the counter - There's space to walk behind but not much else. There's beautiful painted tile behind the bar - Has a very Mediterranean feel to it. The bartenders were super nice and had a few recommendations. I opted for something with a coffee liqueur that the bartender recommended. I honestly wouldn't have gotten it otherwise; but it was absolutely delicious. Hubs got the old fashioned and really enjoyed it. We got an app of green olives to enjoy on top of the complimentary Utz potato chips. Good little snack before heading off to get more food! read more

My drink had fruit flies in the bottom, it was not consumed and it was not removed from the bill. Poorly handled all around.

Barnacle is a tiny little bar attached to Walrus & Carpenter. You can have a drink and small tapas while you wait for your table next door. Good selection of wines and cocktails. Pricey? yes!! Very quite place. read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We went for dinner at walrus and carpenter and this place came as a surprise while waiting for the seating. They have custom made drinks by the bartenders . The drinks collection is super detailed. We are happy with the drinks we ordered . Bartender Craig is really detailed and helped us understand the drink ingredients. read more

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I wish I would have read the reviews of this place before attempting to get a drink here while waiting for a table at a nearby spot. We could have saved ourselves the wasted time we spent sitting here. As soon as my group walked in and sat down we asked the bartender what time they were closing to make sure it wasn't too late (as we are restaurant people ourselves). We were told in a non super friendly way that they were closing things down but can make some things. She then handed us menus and walked away to help other guests. With our background of restaurant work, we are first and foremost taught customer service, which does not include making guests feel unwelcome. About 10 minutes later we had not been helped, either had a group next to us, so we left and found a great spot down the street where we received great service! read more

We weren't able to get a table at The Walrus and the Carpenter next door, but luckily were able to walk into Barnacle and get the only booth for four people. They have a very limited menu and we were only expecting to be able to order oysters, but they let us order scallops and steak tartare as well! This was a cute spot and the food was amazing. read more

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okay, this was a pre funkenstein before heading to dinner somewhere else. it was packed but timing was on our side, as a table opened up just as we were getting there. we talked about getting some nibbles, but you know, the fishies and stuff didn't do it for us. we were talked into trying them but i ended up passing. just not my jam. cocktails were fun, but i need some grub to sit down for a bit. read more

Barnacle is the precursor to Walrus and the Carpenter. I say that only because this is the place you'll likely wait at before you're called to your table - and trust me, you will wait because everyone wants to get into Walrus. This little bar room holds its own though, as it is just as elegant as its sister-bar next door. It really has a charming feel that totally sets the stage for what you will get set to experience in a short while. Because it is the smaller bar, this is well suited for grabbing some aperativos along with some small bites. You can start an oyster platter or have a meat and cheese board. Either option would be appropriate here, but if you want neither, they'll supply you with some simple salted chips to snack on. That might end up being a little more gentle on your pocket anyway. We just had some wine and nibbled on those chips while we waited excitedly for our name to be called. Truthfully, that made for a good enough experience. read more

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LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!! Cute little bar next to The Walrus and the Carpenter where you can get good drinks and order from a small menu of delicious food. The octopus we ordered was particularly amazing. read more

Next door to Walrus and Carpenter. Great place to wait for the restaurant to open and have a great drink or two. Small bar with limited bar seating but quaint and friendly staff and good ambiance. Drinks are solid and you can place your name in wait list for W & C and they will let u know when your name is called and you can move the drinks over. read more

Barnacle - Drinks - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Checked out Barnacle for drinks while waiting for a table at The Walrus and the Carpenter. The restaurant/bar is a cute intimate spot. It's dimly lit, great ambiance, and friendly bartenders. Definitely a good place to come for dates. They serve small plates/tapas. After perusing the menu we were very tempted to order but resisted since we were saving our appetite. The drinks were good. The bartenders definitely know their stuff here. Plenty of craft beers from around the world. Worth checking out if you're in Seattle. read more

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party of two, saturday night we came here while we waited for our table at the Walrus & Carpenter. the two establishments are by the same owner, so this is a normal thing to do. we had a some cocktails - very fancy and delicious. great service. half dozen oysters - very good selection. fresh bread & olive oil italian sardines - my first go at these and i was pleasantly surprised. served in the actual sardine can (nice touch) limited seating b/c it's basically one long bar and one tiny table waaaay in the back. overall, great quality for the very limited menu they offer. very easy and comfortable way to pass the time until your table is ready or if you just want to chill here and have some light PNW snacks. good find! read more

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Another great addition to the Renee Erickson collection! I love that this one is a more tapas style, cocktail themed place. When I'm wandering around the Ballard area, sometimes I just want to go to go into a place to get a drink and a snack and not have to commit to eating dinner. I went here with a friend and we got jabon (sliced right in front of us, as you can see in the picture!) and a few different types of cocktails. All equally amazing! Highly recommend if you're looking to cocktail bar hop! read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really a beautiful bar, located right next to the Whale and the Carpenter. No windows, but with all of the white walls, its actually really bright and inviting. Recently went here on an early Sunday evening, because we saw on the menu outside the bar, that they had happy hour on Sundays from 4-7pm. We sat at the bar and the bartender greeted us and handed us menus. We asked about what the happy hour was and he replied that there was no happy hour. When we inquired about the menu on the door and he just said "Yup," and walked away. I felt that his demeanor was very curt and with myself working in the food industry, I understand that happy hours change, but a short explanation would have been suffice. The food menu is all small plates that the bartenders prepare themselves, so don't go in super hungry. We ordered the cured ham plate, which came with some pickled cherries. The ham was delicious! Barnacle has an extensive cocktail menu, with most drinks being $10 and over. They don't have any beers on draft, but they had three different Italian beers in the bottle. Overall the atmosphere is really upscale, but I felt that the staff was a little rude and the food and cocktails were a little pricey. read more

Barnacle - Cocktails - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My husband and I had an hour to spare before our Staple & Fancy reservation, so we decided to spend it at Barnacle. It's a super cute space, and we were able to find spots at the bar easily. The turnover is fast at the bar, since it's mostly people having a drink while waiting for a table at Walrus & Carpenter. The staff was very friendly and helpful - assisting with the different cocktail options, humoring us to take a picture, serving drinks and food with a smile. Their small plates seem designed more for accompanying drinks rather than to eat a bunch as a meal. We ordered the anchovies with chili and butter served with saltines, and although my husband enjoyed it, I found the fish to be quite strong. We did order the Columbia City Bakery bread, and it tasted better with the bread than the saltines. The drinks are very creative and bitters-based. It was very cool to watch them make the drinks. Good wine and craft beer selection, as well. Overall, a great spot to wait for a table but not necessarily a venue for which I'd go out of my way to eat or drink. read more

Barnacle - Anchovy with chili oil and butter - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

my friend loves amaro so he made us all go here. i'm not into heavy liquor but this place introduced me new flavors i've never experience before. bitter and sweet is exactly what this place is! read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Creative cocktails, amazing service, beautiful patio--Tiffany and Amanda--the dream team--great times in dreamy Orcas! We will be back! read more

Barnacle - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I love this place for small plates. Anchovies & saltines, octopus terrine,serrano jamon. Great cocktails and wines, the best aperitivo bar in Seattle! read more

Barnacle - Serrano jamon and prosecco - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A rare 4.5 stars. We stopped in for a glass of wine on a Thursday about 9pm. (closed at 10pm). It is a bit difficult to find; the building has a different establishment in front. To find Barnacle, one needs to walk down a long hallway under the small sign toward the back of the building. Tips are automatically included in the bill, so no need to calculate. AMBIANCE: 4.5. Very pleasant to sit at the long bar as the stools are not crowded. Great as a couple. There is a also one table at the far end. Upon entering it appeared full, but we found several open seats after walking towards the back wall. Good indie-type music when we were there, at medium volume. Three of us were able to converse comfortably as we sat along the bar. Small chalkboard menus with the glass wines are set on the bar, and there is a separate fuller paper menu. SERVICE: 4.5. Excellent advice on the wines. Professional, prompt, friendly service. DRINKS/FOOD: 4.5. Excellent wine advice - I enjoyed my dark red (La Valentina Spelt) and my partner liked her slightly lighter red (Cabanon Augurio). The serrano jamon was very good. Next time we'll try a few more of the tapas. read more