Rob, the owner is an awesome person. Great place. Good food Great drinks. Used to have some pretty killer shows down there back in the days

My first review got deleted! Fantastic job guys! This is what their instagram account manager messaged my friend after we posted about their bouncer being weird to us (a group of all women). Not the first time this has happened, as my post about their behavior got a lot of traction and responses from other women who have dealt with similar treatment from this establishment. Not to mention they blocked me and several other people. read more

Jakes On Fourth - Gay Bars Near Me - Olympia, Washington

We decided to go to Jake's and see if reopened ambiance and music was good rather than drive to Seattle. There was no cover charge. Crowd straight and mix customers on Saturday night. Drink was good but good lord, what with dead beat 80 and R$R music? I was there only 1 hour and half danced to one music and rest was not danceable to. Music was so dead beat, most people just stand and swayed other than drunk wanted a dirty dance couple, which was fun to watch. I really wanted this place to succeed but unless if you don't improve on music they are playing and more information on this place besides face book, sorry I will not go back due to lack of enthusiasm of dance music. read more

Always a great experience and the food overall is on point, make sure to come hungry when eating at this establishment as the portions of food are big. read more

The short story is that if you are looking for a bar experience, this might be a place to go. If you're looking for a dance club like I was hoping for, you'll probably leave disappointed. I was very excited when I heard Jake's was reopening. I was looking forward to a chance to dancing my ass off in an accepting environment without having to drive to one of the great clubs in Seattle. Sadly, the 80s pop and whatever slow beat depressed music they were playing seems to just attract a crowd looking to pound beer and mill around. I never felt unsafe but it's not a fun and uplifting experience either. Again, bar, not a club. If that's your thing, okay. I wish them well but I don't think I'll be back. read more

Wanted to give a shout out to Dryte (pronounced like Dreet) Also our server for our VIP Treatment Princess Jasmine was AMAZING! She took care of us so well! (Please make sure to tip your server). We had a group of 9 people and reserved VIP Treatment for my BFF's Birthday on 9/6/25. Since prices change and services anywhere I would suggest emailing Dryte to find out the cost and what is included. bartenderdryte@gmail.com My advice is if you decide to reserve this do so with advanced notice. We had song requests that weren't played but I believe it was because we reserved the night before. I completely understand. We had a few songs that weren't available too. We were all very happy with our experience and the vibe/ atmosphere was Wonderful! Everyone in the club was having a great time! I would give a 5 star review but there is always room for improvement. Thank you read more

I have followed the opening and posted updates on Nextdoor. I just posted how impressed I am with food, drink, customer service and welcoming atmosphere. However I mentioned to one bartender that I was disappointed in a drink served a few days earlier and Immediately knew I was on the bad customer list. This was merely a mention, an observation. I hope this bartender takes this as helpful and not an attack on the business. I certainly recommend JAKES for so many reasons. Customer service, food, venue, organization all excellent. Highly recommend! read more

My friends and I went to grab a drink after they got off of their shift at another restaurant. They only had one drink at another bar and was completely fine. The woman who was bartending said she slurred her words when ordering, but I heard her say two shots of tequila CLEARLY. I had purchased a high noon and Jell-O shot for the boys, but I didn't drink it and put it on the counter and we left. When I did the bartender was a b about it and then pointed us out to another bartender. UnACCEPTABLE. read more

A DISCRIMINATORY bar...Was required to "walk a runway" for entrance by the doorman... was denied, presumably because I didn't fit the mold... ha! Can't believe I was subjected to this BS or that I even complied. A bar best described as a shit hole I'd rather step on legos for the rest of my life than go back to this dump. read more

Description: -Bartenders are really nice -Has pool tables -You probably won't catch much judgment for being however you are -Dirty and broken down -Not a gay bar, but also not not a gay bar -Smells bad -Riffraff likes to hang out front. All day and all night. Like all the time. People on drugs, selling drugs, or being homeless by choice. -Bad selection of booze -Draws a crowd of alcoholics and people who like to get drunk and talk loudly about their drama read more

I realize that part of the problem with Jake's is that we were here in the afternoon which explains quite a bit as to the lack of energy going on in here. The place seemed to be more like the Star Wars Cantina where oddballs go to gamble and drown away their sorrows. There is plenty of seating here but the dance floor seems kind of small. The bartender was alright but again, just kind of whatever. Jake's only accepts cash and will not take credit or debit cards. There is an ATM inside that you can use which is helpful but what good, upstanding bar doesn't take cards? Or is good and upstanding being called into question here? Definitely a "whatever" experience. Another affirming reason why the only bars that I go to are Seattle bars. read more

Hmmmm. I cant believe I am actually reviewing a gay bar. But here goes. It was my friends birthday and she wanted to go dancing. She wanted to go somewhere close so someone in the group suggested Jakes. Not knowing much about it other than it is a gay bar, I was game. I am always open to new places and am not homophobic so whatever. The place is a serious dive. We got there and there were just a few people on the dance floor doing some odd robot dancing. Also, loved the guys in the speedos and fur boots. Hey, who isnt into wearing speedos in February??? ugh. As the night went on more people arrived and it was just chill until some lady was actually fingering herself on the dance floor, not kidding. This was for God and everyone to see and it went on for at least one full song. After that was done she began grinding on her boyfriend until it looked like he was "finished". I know that the staff there arent babysitters but DAMN, really? I want to dance not watch a porn show. How could staff not see what everyone else was seeing? We arent prudes by any means but this was just crazy. We bounced a few minutes later. Guess it doesnt matter what kind of bar you are in people will be stupid. read more

Gays. Dancing. Hot dogs. My three favorite things all rolled into one establishment. Yes you get all the stars. Tip: always put cream cheese on your hot dogs read more

Jakes On Fourth - Gay Bars Near Me - Olympia, Washington

My friend and I were out for halloween and inside the bar. The bartenders were amazing and the drinks were awesome. However the women working in the sidewalk cafe was EXTREMELY rude. She was so rude that honestly I'm debating on ever going back ‍ read more

This place sucks. The bartender tried to tell me I didn't pay for a round of drinks my sister ordered at 11pm...we went to different bars and came back around 1am and he tried to charge me for "the last round of drinks"....didn't even make sense considering my sister was in the bathroom when we ordered another round. He had never seen me before. He charged my sister $36 for the first round and charged me $31 INCLUDING the last round that we supposedly didn't pay for....he's a liar. It was the short, rat-looking bartender on the right hand side of the bar. He also called me a bitch for telling my friend I wasn't going to tip him this time around. He doesn't deserve it. He's a piece of shit and I absolutely will not be recommending this bar to anyone in the future. What a joke. Giving gay bars a bad name honestly...‍ read more

It has been 4 years since this experience, but I felt it critical to tell Jake's and everyone else that they ruined my one and only 21st birthday. I went to the bar and ordered 10 jello shots for me and my friends. I had ONE of them and the bartenders REFUSED to serve me another drink all night even though I was STONE COLD SOBER (as anyone would be after one jello shot) and it was my 21st BIRTHDAY Honestly, y'all are FUCKING ASSHOLES, I'll never have that day back and thanks to you it ended in tears and anger. read more

Ok, I'm not dropping 1 star because of the place and what it is.....or maybe I am??? Ahhh shit, I dont know....What I do know is I had a guy hit on me and that I was cut off because, "I dont fit in here" so says the bar keep. Yes, I have cut enough trees in my years in the woods to build Jake's out of logs (1st strike in the Oly area), 2nd, my niece is a rockstar. Auntie Mary and Uncle Josh love our niece to death. And she HAD to come here to see her guy friend. So the fun begins.....i guess.... We walked down a narrow hallway, it was very compact with people all over the place. Some guy walked by and ran his hand across my stomach when he turned around, he said, "Ohhh I'm soryy... (looks at me).....Oh wait, no i'm not!!" Fucking seriously!?!?!?! I know I'm not on the right turf, but damnit, come on!! I did the best to make the best of our time there, but every time I was bumped into I wasn't really the most at peace. The lovely Mary W. told me, "Let's get you a beer, maybe that'll help!" "Yeah, Sounds good, lets get a brew!!" When we got to the bar with no wait, the lady working the bar looked at me and said that we should probably go. That we really dont "fit in there". Well no shit Shirlock!! That's preaching to the choir if I've ever heard it....I wasn't TRYING to fit in...sheeeesh! Did I just review a gay bar? shit.... WARNING!! Approach with caution around the holiday seasons. Santa clause may have a package you didn't see coming. And I suggest not arm wrestling anyone with blush on, because I may be able to bench 200lbs, but I seen a few "ladies" that could bench press a cadillac. read more

I used to love Jake's. Gay sweeties, weirdos, lovely people all around. Crazy loud club music, but with such an accepting vibe. Came here this weekend and it was filled with bros and ho's. Redneck straight dudes hogging the pool table and getting agro over "reserving" their booth while their girls danced, bachelorette party, just generally rude people. I lost my patience a bit. NORMS!!! NORMS EVERYWHERE! Joked with my girls several times.... "I wanna see their gay badges!!!!" I get that this is the seemingly only venue to dance in Olympia at night. But get your own bar! And. If you leave your shit on a table to go dance when there's a Disneyland comparable line wrapped around the block outside, you better BELIEVE I am moving your shit and sitting in that booth. BAH!!!! Let it be known, this is no insult to Jake's as a business, but more to the recent clientele. If you're looking for a REAL gay bar, check out the Urban Onion. If you're looking for a club full of norms, Katy Pery, and disco lights, check out Jake's. read more

I love this place. I've been trying to find a place like this for years. If somewhere is to play dance music, it should be somewhere that actually plays a variety. When I hear the same 4 on the floor dance rhythm for more than 15 minutes, it makes me panic. This place is divey, laid back, awesome, assorted, eclectic, it just makes me feel good. This may sound stupid, but this place made me so happy to find that I've been teary happy. I live in Tacoma, and have generally tried to go between Tacoma and Seattle to find gay or gay friendly hangouts and have always been disappointed since 2003. In the 90s it was different. Dance music is a gay nightlife staple, and being such, it's wonderful to find a place that actually promotes diversity in every way. I love it. A huge assortment of people come here, and that's awesome. I've found my favorite night hangout! read more

Damn. One of Jakes' top-rated comments is decidedly homophobic (though quirky enough to make me laugh.. then cry at how stupid it was). ** For all that is HOLY, if you want to go somewhere clearly marked "Gay Bar" and mock the queers, here's some advice for you: DON'T DO THIS. We don't get many places that are ours! That being said, I adore Jake's. I adore Jake's on a Thurs. night, I enjoy it during the afternoon, I like it on the weekends, I like it with a spoon (sorry.. that was beginning to sound a bit Dr Seuss). The bartenders are wonderful, the drinks are poured beautifully, the happy hour is the best in town (wells 4$ for generous doubles), the hot dog stand is great, and the patrons are usually like a big pack of old friends. Unless you go on a weekend night. In that case, the patrons are a big group of sweaty bros wondering why gay men are looking at them. Get with the damn program. I prefer Saturdays before cover. The group of folks there is pretty chill and if not queer, very down to just chat to whoever without being an ass. I prefer that to the packed dance nights. If I want to dance, I go on Thursdays. 5 stars for Jake's. thanks for being my first gay bar experience and for looking out for your patrons! Also: tip your damn bartenders! They are lovely people! read more

Jake's... you make me feel like dancin'! Pretty cool place. Good dancin' music and a friendly vibe here. Lots of regulars who genuinely like each other. Gay, lesbian, whatever... everyone feels welcome here. It's a little divey, sure. But we all need a little divey now and then. Just keep a lookout for the renegade busboy who will swipe your drink before you've finished it. Gah! Bring friends (and/or make new ones) and whoop it up. read more

The best, most unpretentious and fun club to go dancing! Jakes offers a large dance floor, a platform seating area above the dance floor, a ledge for voyeurs to watch everyone dance while they just stand there, tables all around the dance floor for sitting and drinking, a pool table, and a great full bar with two bar tenders on duty during busy hours at the front entrance (there is another smaller bar in back by the restroom area as well) They also have a hot dog/tots/burgers/other stuff food stand which gets totally swamped after last call!! (It's good stuff) They tend to start off the night with 80's music and as the dance floor gets more and more packed, they start playing the current top 40 along with some old school faves that get everyone going crazy. They also have a neat outdoor smoking area with heat lamps above. Tips: 1) They don't charge cover if you get there before 9:45. Get there early, get your stamp, and if it's too dead for your taste, go grab a drink or two somewhere else and then come back with your stamp, cover free! After 9:45, they usually charge $4-$5. 2) Most people seem to just tuck their belongings into a booth or along a ledge while they dance, but I have seen many people get things stolen this way, including myself. They offer a coat/item check that only costs $1/item. Use it! You'll be grateful you did later. read more

We tripped down to Olympia for some fun on a friend's birthday, 4th ave appears to be the place where it all happens. Cover was decent at 4$ I believe, they have a couple of pool tables, and booths etc. Dancing starts early here we got here around 9:15, and the dance floor was starting to fill up. This place gets packed, so if you want a table come here early. Good mix of top 40/dance music. read more

I'm a straight girl and I like to dance. My good friend, Miss A know this and this is where we ended up. The only gay bar in Olympia? Wow. Good times, but there is a bit of a sketchy vibe. Miss A mentioned something about watching my things, because they had a tendency to disappear. The music is pretty damn good. And there is nothing like dancing with really cute boys and not having to trip about trying to hook up. I had one of the jello shots. I believe the flavor was yellow. read more

Fun atmosphere...never feel judged. It's pretty dingy but that's normal in Olympia. Dress up or down...anything goes here. Don't forget to grab a hotdog before you leave! They are amazing!! read more

Yes, its a gaybar. I myself am a hetro-sexual male and I love Jakes. The drinks are cheap, the bartenders are pretty speedy and they appreciate the tips unlike a few other places around town. The music is pretty good on most nights with the only exception to this being the fact that most of the music is oriented towards the gay crowd. But again its a gay bar. The dancing is off the hook. Usually Friday and Saturday nights its packed and poor ventilation makes the place a little musty like most dance clubs. But the atmosphere is great. They do have an outdoor area for those that wish to smoke, however it is a pretty small space. But when its cold outside they are nice enough to keep it heated. The hotdog stand infront which is open on Friday and I believe Saturday nights can either be a godsend or your worst nightmare depending on your stomache. For $3 you can put a footlong in your mouth that will be juicy, tender and tasteful. There is an ATM located on-site and the bartenders only take cash so pull out as much as you can. To avoid the $2 ATM fee I recommend getting cash from a no fee ATM beforehand. Sunday night it is usually very slow, but they do offer their pool table open for free for those of you that like to play pool and listen to Melissa Etheridge. read more

i have some friends from oly that like to frequent here....so when in oly, I do as the olypians do....DANCE MY BUM OFF!! This is a nice place to dance the night away...sometimes see drag shows...have some drinks. Prices are pretty standard and the staff is friendly....most importantly, they have a hot dog stand attached to them...'nuff said. read more

NICKY T. DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO PARTY PROPERLY. You need that sweat to get that sizzle. Jake's is where I pan-fry my dopeass. read more

I'm not sure that this place qualifies as a gay bar. It was certainly over crowded with straight people--which is fine because people should feel comfortable in a bar regardless of its affiliation. On the other hand, the music was terrible and like a bad rerun of junior high dances that were hosted in my high school gym. The song selection was dated and generic, the lighting/effects were seriously high school dance level, the bathrooms were disgusting and in disrepair. I've honestly not run into a gay bar like this even when I knew it was going to be a dive bar. Top that off with the lines--more than one--to get drinks and I did not last very long in Jakes. I Cupid Shuffled right out to my car and drove myself home because bed got that much more appealing. read more

I had a fabulous time at this club! There was nothing too out of the ordinary with Jake's compared to other gay and lesbian bars I have visited in other states, except that people were so frickin friendly. I am not sure if it's the Northwestern culture but I fell in love with the friendly people in Olympia, WA. My friends would be shocked to hear this coming from me, because I'm used to being content with the company of rude and abrasive people. In fact, I may be one of the rude and abrasive people but somehow I wanted to be a kinder and friendlier person after visiting Jake's. Since Jake's is one of the only lgbt clubs in Olympia, WA, it drew in women and men and everyone got along! read more

I've bee to Jake's many, many times over the years and have never witnessed the hyperbole about being spread about it being unsafe. Notice most of the recent 1 star reviews are from people who aren't even from around here and have never been to the bar. An event happened outside that got people angry at the owner claiming he didn't do enough to protect people along with some being angry a "no heterophobic" statement was included next in the text that they are hate free/homophobic, trans-phobic, racists... etc aren't welcome. So the typical fake reviews (think boys angry at Captain Marvel) started to fly. As with ANY bar there are inebriated people and I'm sure some people get out of line from time to time but I've never witnessed it and the majority of people in there would step in. I do agree that there are a lot of straight folk there hoping to find someone to hookup with and that is a negative for some of our "open" minded folk in Olympia. They have a place for food with a window to the sidewalk so you can get tasty bits even when the bar isn't open. First place I ever had a cream cheese hot-dog which while simple was surprisingly good and I just ate there again yesterday. Very friendly service from employee! read more

Jakes is not a gay bar. It's an everybody show up and take selfies on the dancefloor bar. I like Jakes. The music is solid, the dance floor is less sticky than one might anticipate and the balcony area in front of the dance floor is a great place to hang out or bust out some mad moves. If you're in Oly, it's the only place to be for fun. Seriously, it's the ONLY place. read more

I love Jakes! I love to dance! I'm happily married to a man who hates to dance...we've been together for over 20 years..no change in sight! I go to Jakes because it isn't a meat market. The music and very open and friendly atmosphere make me feel very comfortable to dance by myself. They play fun music and have delish drinks like the "Just Peachy". It is nice to be able to just walk in and start dancing. Luuuuuuvit!!!!!! I go every Saturday night and will continue to do so til I break a hip! WooooooooHoooooooo!!!!!!! read more

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Great place for inexpensive burger and sweet potato fries. Strangely if you want onions you have to got outside the hotdog relish stand. Beers are $2.50 which is not bad in 2012. I'm not gay but it is a gay bar if you can handle that so most are very friendly and no one has ever bothered me. Great bartender and short order cook. Convenient location clean fun place to hang. Who ever picks the music for the sound system has awesome taste. I am a frequent customer. read more

Busy. Fun. Had a great dance floor and DJs. Went on the night of a pub crawl around Olympia and this was the place to be. read more

Why this place is described as a gay bar is beyond me. Arrived here at 7pm after a nice meal down the road. First time ever here, we were curious to check it out. Was greeted by welcoming staff (props to them for their brave struggle). I was immediately baffled by the repetitive array of signs pricing the food options... everywhere! I was looking to see if there were drink specials or nightly activities being promoted, but alas the keno-board splash of signs is completely focused on the hot dog cart business. Looking around the bar, I can only describe the clientele (as kindly as I can) as "street people" -- people who live on the streets or catching a bus to the halfway house after tanking up at happy hour. Yup, the whole crowd was pretty much un-showered and rough. We got a drink, but bailed before finishing after a couple minutes in this place. By all means stay if you want to hang with Frank from "Shameless"... the only thing gay in this place is the lonely rainbow flag across the empty dance floor. If they want to establish an environment for LGBTQ folks, they need to enforce a standard at the door. Gay bars are usually on the rougher side of town, but I've never seen a place like this. read more

Jake's might be known as a gay bar, but it is really a diversity establishment. They promote openness and acceptance of all people, which these days is hard to find. If you want a place to have fun, drink, dance, and love life then I recommend Jake's. I've ended many of my Friday and Saturday nights in Olympia at Jake's, because it doesn't get any better downtown. It's only a $5 cover, drink prices are reasonable, and where else are you going to get a hot dog (with cream cheese) at 2am? Love this place and I hope the good times never end! read more

Horrible environment. Supposed to be a gay club but is full of straight people? Music sounds like someone plugged in their iPod and is playing a playlist. Drinks are okay, but the people that go here are terrible. One guy was walking around yelling out homophobic slurs.. In a GAY club. Not returning any time soon. read more

Incredibly rude staff. I went outside fairly early on in the night and wasn't allowed back in and they wouldn't give me any explanation what's so ever. Would not allow me to let the people I was with know that they wouldn't allow me to go back in, had to stand outside and wait. I can't figure out why I was treated this way. I don't know how people can treat others this way and still have jobs. People who see this review might assume to get kicked out I would have had to have been trashed or belligerent, that simply wasn't the case. The staff ruined their customers perfectly good night. read more

I had a great time at Jakes! Troy and Travis were the most memorable bartenders I ran into during my 3 day stay in Olympia! They were super nice, served my drink just how I like, and had awesome tips for me about exploring the city. Great service and a clean restroom. I will be back my next trip to Olympia! read more