Friendly bartenders, pinball machines, Rainier Beer, and the new bar has lots of room, kudos to the owners' trying to save a Ballard classic. I didn't try the food, was not sure if there was any available, was never given a menu. The boat bar and the porn are gone; which is sad but, just maybe they could re-implement some porn into the restrooms? I don't remember how it was at the Copper Gate. It definitely doesn't feel like the Copper Gate, so if you're a hardcore fan don't get your hopes up. That nostalgic feeling of a dark old Ballard bar is now gone. It looks like they kept some of the old lighting which is awesome; however, they have added new LED type lighting up on the ceiling (possibly tube lighting?) that is truly terrible, it's way too bright, it kills the mood, and it honestly reminds me of walking into a retail store with florescent lights everywhere that give you a headache within the hour. The Copper Gate was too dark and now Olaf's is too bright, there has to be a middle ground here somewhere right? Also, the chairs at the tables could be comfier. And the TV was on the entire time playing Sports Center; killed the atmosphere a bit; hopefully it will be used less and strictly for Seattle team game days. I need to know if there are plans for a happy hour and live music in the works. read more

WHY I GO TO OLAF'S: It is the closest bar to home. WHY I DRINK BEER AT OLAF'S: The rotating beer menu is superb. Last time I went, there were 4 or 5 IPAs. WHY I DON'T EAT AT OLAF'S: The steep prices do not justify the small portions of uninteresting food. WHY I KEEP GOING BACK: It is comfortable. The staff are friendly. They aren't always attentive, but the place can become busy in minutes. When they interact, they are engaged and upbeat. Plus I can walk there. WHY I DON'T GO MORE FREQUENTLY: They are too expensive. I understand they need to pick up where a business failed, but two pints of beer cost me $14. Yes, it is delicious and micro-brewed. But I would rather go to one of the breweries, buy two pints and fill my growler for the same price. read more

I take my friends here and the food, service, and beer is great. The atmosphere is a bit eclectic but it's a great place to grab food and hang out. read more

I love this place. It's great to see a new drinking establishment that is a true "bar" bar, and not a gastropub with fancy cocktails and pretentious food. Don't get me wrong, those places have their time and place, but it seems few new places are opening that are all about grabbing a beer and shot and hanging out (not to mention, open until 2am). This place has a ton of character, with a u-shaped bar that encourages socializing, multiple back rooms and just a really fun vibe. Definitely recommended! read more

It's awesome to see another awesome bar open up in Ballard, especially one with pinball! The beers they have on tap are rather tasty too! Not to mention the (cheap!) vegetarian corn dogs. In conclusion, pinball + beer + yum = I'm coming back! P.S. For the curious, these are the pinball machines they have: Doctor Who Elvira and the Party Monsters Terminator 3 WWF Royal Rumble (possibly the most annoying sounding game I've ever played. haha) read more

I loved The Copper Gate and I also loved the Viking so I figured this would be a good match. Even though I was sort of shocked that they pulled out the big ship bar (it was so cool!) the new set up does open up the space better I must admit. Some naughty bits of burlesque can still be found in the new pin ball room. And who doesn't love pin ball??? Awesome. I love the Narboo murals throughout the bar and bathrooms that really cheer the place up. The Copper Gate was pretty dark. The pussy room entrance still looks like well, the pussy room! This makes me happy. I spent good nights listening to cozy music back there. They have cleared out all the old junk that had been jamming up that room (like the old shower head above the grand piano, remember that? That was weird and now its gone!) Although the pussy room now boasts a gigantic tv (for sports, I guess? Yuck), I have hopes that eventually they'll get live music back there again. So overall they have done good things with the space. Its not divey, but its not pretentious like a lot of the new bars in the hood. All the serving staff we encountered were very friendly folks. The menu has a ton of sandwiches, but none really peaked my interest. Maybe next time. We really just stopped in to check out the joint and have a couple of brews. Ok...so the pints are NOT $7; however they were $6 and no happy hour in sight. Not the smartest choice in my opinion, but they have good taps and maybe happy hour will come later? I dunno, but $6 pints is really dumb when I can go buy a whole 6 pack for under $10. Conclusion? I'll probably try this joint again in a few months to see how they're working out. read more

When The Viking in Ballard closed down a while back, I felt a huge void was left behind that could never be filled. Man, was I wrong! The spirit, the fun and the customers of the Viking are still alive and well at Olaf's. This bar rules. The decor is rad, the back-room is bitchin' and the rotating tap list super-duper. I love this place! read more

Olaf's - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been here a few times and I've yet to have anything but a great experience. Good things: -Vagina doorway, Yes that's right and it's awesome -Pinball machines, who doesn't love pinball?! -Great beer selection (including Olympia in can and draft!!) -Tasty snacks -Amazingly nice and friendly bartenders. I'm not the extrovert type or very talkative but I had great conversatiosn with the tenders both times I sat at the bar. They really leave the pretentious attitude for the cap hill bars and help to make the experience a little more enjoyable. Bad: None really...I don't think they allow dogs, but then again that's not really their fault. read more

This place has excellent service and awesome fish and chips. They had Olympia beer on tap and football on the television screens. It was a nice cozy bar with good food. And fast polite service. Fully recommended. read more

Great bar! Good variety off local beers, TVs for games, awesome selection of pinball, and decent burgers. The atmosphere is amazing. Great artwork in the bathrooms. Don't trip and fall into the nude Betty Page display case as you ascend the stairs and pass through the vagina staircase. read more

Olaf's - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cute little neighborhood bar in Ballard that's frequented by a friend of ours, which is how we came here one Friday night. Parking was easy and it was a bit crowded, but we eventually got a seat. I liked that the vibe was friendly and laid back. You could tell it was frequented by a lot of locals. Would I come here again? Yes, as long as parking was as easy as it was the other day! read more

Ever say to yourself "I just wish a girl could grab a beer and a delicious burger, walk through a vagina-shaped door and wail on a pinball machine for awhile in this town"? Lemme tell you... Olaf's is quickly becoming my favorite bar in town. There's exceptionally great food (amazing burgers and also Super Impressive Nachos, which are not usually three words I use in a row), good drink selection, and the staff is superb. Between the staff, the clientele, and the physical place itself, Olaf's just has really freakin good juju. read more

Love the bartender- (wish I knew her name) first bar since covid and it felt very safe... safer then Safeway... she also treated us to some lemon drops. Definitely coming back. Thanks!! read more

Olaf's is the friendliest bar in Seattle - great and attentive staff, great food, great drinks, and great pinball. If you want a fun night out to watch the game, have a casual night out, or just relax with a nice beer, give it a try. Special shout out to the excellent tots and server Laura who will take the best care of every visitor. read more

Nice selection of beers - more interesting than typically found in a neighborhood tavern. A lot of locals and a gritty atmosphere. You know, a neighborhood tavern. read more

Love this neighborhood bar! Nice, friendly staff, awesome atmosphere and yummy food. The best egg sandwich ever. Not sure how they make the cheese sauce that is on the egg sandwich, but they should sell some pretzels or good bread I could dip in that sauce as an app too, so good! They also have a backroom that is fun if you're meeting a lot of people or celebrating. Great pinball machines too. read more

Good drinks for a good price. The food is subpar. Even though it's typical bar food, it could definitely be better. The owner was there when I went, and he was really nice. read more

I've been meaning to check out Olaf's for a couple of years since moving to Ballard and finally made it last night. What a great little spot! I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to get there. It seems to me it's hard to find a casual place that has a serious draft list and serious cocktails and Olaf's has both. Small but solid food menu. There's a breakfast sandwich available all the time so that's amazing. I ordered a beer I ended up not liking - it was me, not the beer - and our server kindly poured me something else which was super nice of her. Just a really solid neighborhood spot with good food and drink and no pretensions. read more

Olaf's Burger and tots was fabulous. The meat was high quality, they use Tall Grass Bakery buns, and the tots were fried to perfection. They also have a great selection of beers. We'll be back! read more

This place is the best. Close to my house, food is delicious, happy hour is awesome, staff is friendly but also leaves me alone while I sip and browse the web. I'm moving away soon and I'll be so sad. read more

Olaf's is a wonderful neighborhood bar. Tom, Laura and Drew are super friendly and are great people to chat with. There's a welcoming crowd of regulars, there's pinball in the back room if people like that, and the food is awesome. They also open early for most of the Seahawks games, which is nice. read more

Really cozy neighborhood bar, tucked away from the busy entertainment corridor of Ballard. Staff is super attentive, even the chef came out to ask how I liked my burger. Have some good happy hour specials, interesting cocktail list and 9 rotating taps with 4 or 5 full time taps. I got the Olaf Burger, had a really good sriracha mayo and served on a Macrina bun that was incredibly soft with a buttery flaky crust. If I lived up here I would definitely make this a regular watering hole, totally my kind of hang out. read more

If you find yourself in this poor excuse for a neighborhood pub, turn around and keep walking. Stopped in for a drink, went to the restroom and when I got back to the bar, all my change was scooped up by the bartender. When I asked for it back, he got in my face and went off about me accusing him of stealing!! I wasn't but he was such an ass about it he made me think twice about that! Ha! What a jerk. The place has no character or atmospher and with service like that, why bother?! Too many cool places in Ballard to have to waste your time in this sh_t hole. read more

Great neighborhood hangout with very cool people working here. Relaxed and welcoming. Awesome pinball in back room too.

Good wine and awesome little bar food! I would recommend for an evening out during the week!

Excellent food, excellent drinks. They have a rotating draft list which is well curated. Nice selection of pinball machines if that's your kind of thing! I have always received excellent service here, great staff. I've always seen them handle any incidents with poise a r grace. Highly recommend. read more

Went to Olaf's tonight after kickball. Wanted to say previous experience was a little iffy. But tonight Laura / Blue was amazing! Thank you! Looking forward to our next visit. read more

This is my first Yelp review to include the word Vagina. The best bar on 24th in Ballard. Great neighborhood spot, especially after we lost the classic Viking and the confounding Copper Gate (same spot as the Gate). It has good Seattle bar food and they have this double burger mashed around American Cheese heart attack in a bun thing that made my colon squeal a bit but it was awesome with a 2 IPA buzz going. They have a pretty solid tap list and a TV over the bar to watch whatever sporting conquest you desire. The Vagina room is still there. Mostly anatomically correct and you can pass through the vagina that you can literally drive a golf cart through to the pinball room or the back sports lounge area. So when Sounders games are packed out at the Dray (a favorite), the Market Arms (meh) and the George and Dragon (meh+), this place has room! And they serve tots. read more

Great neighbourhood bar with good selection of beers, wines & other drinks. Didn't get chance to try food but looked good.

A vagina door? Dayenu, as we say. But the bartenders are cool, beer selection is appropriately local, and the food is surprisingly good (short list for best burger in Ballard, IMO) read more

Love it. Love everything about it. Tots, beers, giant walk-through vagina. Everything a bar needs. This place is comfortable and lively, has fantastic service and the food is pretty damn good too. Hard to go wrong. read more

Sunday all day happy hour! This is a cool little place. Usually not too crowded and has a good vibe. I like the staff too. Fast friendly service. Top notch chicken sandwich and tots. Plus, vagina door. read more

Great spot for a drink! When we went the bartender guided us to some interesting and wonderful drinks I normally wouldn't have been brave enough to order. The food and drinks are fancier (and better) than I expected. Yes, you can get tater tots and a basic beer, but you can also get clams (delicious) and a fancy cocktail. read more

We couldn't have lucked out with a better neighborhood bar! Aside from the friendly staff and great beer selection, the food is absolutely spectacular. Nothing like you'd expect from such an unassuming spot. Thier hamburger is hands down the best in Seattle - giant an juicy, perfectly seasoned, on a brioche bun with Sriracha mayo, arugula, onion and tomato. After you have that try the firecracker chicken sandwich, I have seen with my own eyes the cook marinating the breasts in a buttermilk Sriracha mix. Then it's battered a fried, served with jalapeños and a bunch of other yummy toppings. Heaven. This place is a must if you're in Ballard. Worth the trip if you're not. read more

Solid place great selection of IPAs and micros. Good food also, esp the Turkey Club. A bit pricey and sometimes the staff (esp the two female bartenders) can be aloof and disinterested but a great neighborhood place. I'm a regular read more

We love the Olaf Burger! The meat is from the best butcher in town, Better Meats, and only $11 for a burger big enough to share... Or whatever, just eat the whole thing. It's gooooood! read more

Get the Firecracker Chicken Sandwich! Quite possibly the best chicken sandwich in Seattle! Came in on a Saturday evening and this place was packed and busy! The bartender, I think Andrew, hustled and got everyone taken care of quickly. read more

I took friends here this past week for a beer. I was not aware that this bar seems to cater to metalheads (or so I was told), not the same bar I remember from a year ago. Bartender was frantic, frenetic, and clearly high out of his mind. Mostly though he was rude and when we decided to order a shot of Aquavit, he served us a French version which unbeknownst to us was actually wine.On the bright side, he did serve it in a shot glass. Halfway through our order, a song came up which he clearly liked and he raced over to the music controls to crank it up to 11, oblivious to anyone else in the bar. The whole thing was amusing for my out of town guest though I had to assure them this was probably not typical. We had a good laugh but I knew in my mind I would NEVER return to Olaf's. C- for cleanliness. read more

Ultimate vegetarian comfort food. Get the "Breakfast Mess" without bacon. It's the yummiest vegetarian sandwich I can remember eating: soft, sweet, locally made brioche; perfectly poached eggs; Sriracha mayo; American "cheese"; peppery arugula; and tomato. Served with perfectly crispy and salty tater tots, and locally made habanero hot sauce on the side. You will need napkins, because of the beautiful saucy egg yolk, unless you're a finger-licker. Serious yum. Also, the drinks are good and they are showing the Women's World Cup game on a big screen in the back room. I couldn't be happier. read more

I'm not a yelper but had such an awesome experience that I had to post. Came in here for the first time last night and I absolutely love this place! Awesome food, great whiskey selection and Katie was killing it - it was slammed and the guy working with her seemed overwhelmed but she never skipped a beat. I'll definitely come back whenever she's working! read more