My boyfriend, his dad, and I were walking around the waterfront in downtown Seattle and decided to stop into Owl 'N Thistle Irish Pub for a beer. We each grabbed a Harp Lager, and it was the perfect place to take a quick break. The service was fast, and the atmosphere was really nice. It had that classic Irish pub feel, and it was fairly dim inside, which fit the vibe well. We stopped in during the early afternoon, so it wasn't too busy. We didn't stay long.. just enjoyed our drinks and then continued exploring the waterfront. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, and I'd definitely stop in again if I was in the area and looking for a quick drink. read more

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My first time at the Owl & Thistle and definitely my last. It was a bad experience because of a lady bartender with a seriously bad attitude. First off she barked at me for trying to order standing at a certain part of the bar despite there being no apparent reason why I couldn't order from there. She later served 2 guys standing at the exact same spot. Then the real fun began. She couldn't get beers to pour properly because there was supposedly something wrong with the keg. So she made us wait about 15 minutes without offering any explanation, while she served other people. Then when we finally got our drinks she said gratuity was included. So despite her bullshit attitude and terrible customer service I was required to tip her. Maybe we just caught this place on a bad day but I'll surely never go back. We went to a bunch of other Seattle bars and everywhere else the people were great, read more

Second pub we visited for St. Paddy's last night, there was a $10 entrance fee which I didn't mind since they had a live performance. The venue inside was very quaint and felt like how an Irish Pub should be. The live artists they had were great and very talented. Had the whole room filled with excitement, dancing, and laughter, all that I was looking for in this holiday. Entertainment aside though, the bartending section wasn't the best. Similar experience to what some Yelpers have mentioned, the service wasn't too friendly. I understand it was a busy and stressful night for the two men working, and ordering was a little disorganised. Tried ordering Irish Coffees, but the bartender said "no coffees" and they moved on to the next customer. I'm sorry, I know you had to tend to the next people, but you didn't even give us a chance to tell you what we alternatively wanted instead. That was rude. And then they ignored my group for ten minutes until we were finally able to grab their attention again. We ended up ordering a Guinness for everyone, and paid the tab right away. The bartenders then took the tab back, and took care of the other customers. We saw them pour our Guinness, but then left it sitting back there for quite a bit. We were just straight staring at it, wondering if we were going to be handed it? It wasn't until we spoke up that they gave our drinks to us. It was served in plastic cups which isn't a big issue, but I liked the glass cups better from the previous bar we went to. After that we brought our drinks over to whichever table was open in the side room. Not the cleanest pub as the only table we were able to get was filled with many empty cups and cans piled in the middle of the table. Again, I understand it was a busy night, but there could have been at least one staff member going around the place making sure things get cleaned up. It was also quite warm in the main room, but luckily the side room had a window opened for cool air. To be completely honest though, if it wasn't for the live music and environment - Owl'n Thistle would've earned my first ever one star review. Maybe on a normal night I would want to give this place another chance due to the holiday circumstances, but other reviews on a normal day seems to describe a similar disappointing experience. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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After a long day we choose this place to hangout at. A quick walk from where we were staying. Walked in and expected to find high tables and chairs but actually found the place to be really cozy with booths and just and overall intimate setting. Menus were brought out to us and we ordered drinks and appetizers. I did the hummus to pair with my choice of IPA. The hummus was too salty for me. The veggies we're all fresh. Pita was good. The choice of beers was great enjoyed all the ones I tasted. The service was efficient and attentive till she clocked out. It was really neat to see the live band and we absolutely enjoyed that. The whole space has a lot of different things going on and I met a ton of friendly people there. Enjoyed it and would be back. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Hummus Plate - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food was good and came out fast. I've worked in service industry for years in California and Las Vegas and this place is 3 stars at best. Waitress was a 1 star. She act as if she hated serving us or being at work in general. They were out of our first two choices for food so settle for third option. If you hate your job then QUIT. The place has the perfect Irish pub vibe but don't expect to be treated well. There's too many places in Seattle to eat, drink and enjoy yourself. This was our first time in Seattle and I'll never come here again. read more

Have been here on more than one occasion for work lunch. Charming dark wood interior. Friendly staff. Good food. Nothing whatsoever to deter anyone from visiting. A fun tucked away experience in downtown Seattle. Recommend. read more

The menu was very basic. I opted for the beef stew, and it was the opposite of hearty. It was all broth and hardly any meat or veggies. The bartender who had ignored me when I came in was gracious enough to talk to the cook who dug out a little more meat into a cup but it still wasn't much. They were kind enough to only charge me for a cup instead of a bowl, which is a consolation I guess but I'd probably have preferred to order something else if only there was anything else worthwhile on the menu. Sure, fish and chips I suppose, but I had just eaten that at their competitor a few blocks away so I wasn't in the mood to have FnC again. read more

Proper old pub atmosphere that is bigger than it seems. Eclectic table area, bar area with music stage (actual bar seats few), billiards area. Prices are high for beer but relatively low for mixed drinks, which is unusual. Gotta admit I'm disturbed by Cassie K's review (Feb 27, 2025). read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Fish tacos - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Unassuming spot in an alleyway. Cool vibes upon entering. There are tables upon entering to sit at and eat. A few steps is the bar area with a small stage. We opted for a bar table. Ordered a round of Guinness and the bartender was kind enough to say she will bring it to the table as the tap was running low and all foam. That was kind instead of getting the last remnants out, especially with Guinness. Nice bar, nice vibes. read more

Got some things to drink and eat from this Irish pub in Downtown that happens to be hidden. It took us awhile to find it. Owl N Thistle is one of the city's classic bars according to many others. Has a pretty chill feel when there's no events. They can get crazy for the live music. Basically it's a classic Irish pub mostly for drinking and fun. It's hard to find so sometimes it's not as crowded because not as many people know about it. There's the bar area along with a good amount of tables. Bigger place than it looks. It's about $6 for whiskey. About the cheapest drinks they have. The food menu is pretty limited especially for vegetarians. It's about $5 to get Fries. It's about $15 to get the Hummus Plate. The rest of the food menu is meaty things. One thing is the Irish stew made with Guinness. There's also chicken and fish tacos. Has a pretty fun atmosphere. It's located in Post Alley between Columbia and Marion. This is fun for getting drunk, eating, and for the live music events or whatever. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Whiskey And Fries - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We spontaneously stopped by this place for some bites and a drink. It's in a historic building, adding to the old school Irish pub vibes. I had a refreshing cold Harp and the husband had a Guinness. We also ordered the Irish soda bread, half of the hummus plate and fish and chips. Portions were large, and we did end up with some extra food but it was very good so no complaints there! The Guinness ended up with a fly landing in it so my husband didn't finish it. We mentioned that to the server when she brought our check. She initially added it to the check but then came back with a new check without the Guinness. We appreciated that since he hadn't finished more than half of the drink. We found parking ahead of time and parked in a garage across the street. Overall, would stop by again! read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Fish and chips, hummus plate (half) - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The service was great, the beer was cold, the food was just okay, and the fixtures were well worn. It's a decent place for a beer and a meal when you need something quick, even if the food isn't exceptional. 20 year old me would have loved this vibe, the 40 year old me wants soemthing nicer. read more

Stopped in here for a drink trying to get away from the stadium crowd, pretty good service and pricing for drinks so thumbs up on that. There is a bouncer and live music so it's a bit more than the average low-key bar. Lots of people coming and going and only one bartender for some reason. There are also pool tables and perhaps more inside but found it to be pretty hot and crowded, so we opted to sit outside. There is a fair about of outdoor seating which was nice, but a few people were smoking cigs which kind of made the stay a little less enjoyable. Kept the stay a bit shorter because of it, but on any other given day or perhaps after another game while being in the area I could see hanging out here again for beers, live music and perhaps some of their advertised Authentic fish and chips. read more

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This place is definitely our go-to when visiting Seattle and wanting somewhere "the locals go". It's not pretty but it's 100% authentic! The staff is amazing and they do a great job at keeping the drinks coming. We went after dinner so we didn't have the food but next time we will for sure. Adding pics of the current menu because the only ones listed previously are years old. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Menu - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Can't speak on the food, but the drinks are reasonably priced and the ambiance is chill and cozy. Old-timely style pub, open late which is super nice and offers a small covered outdoor seating area. We happened to stumble in on a Sunday night, and were pleasantly surprised by the live music guest - he was incredible!!! Patrick Rifflin @patriffmusic read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was a disappointing experience overall. I visited early afternoon on a Saturday and was part of a group of 4. There were a few others in the pub, and I liked the atmosphere right away, but the service and food fell short. My fish taco was really good but it was tiny, the size of a street taco. At $7.95, I felt this was overpriced. Service was meh. Once the food arrived, we hardly saw the waiter. It took a while to clear plates and then a while after that, we finally had to ask for our checks. The bills arrived with a 20% service fee added which I don't recall being noted on the menu, and when I paid cash I was shorted on change. It's not so much the amount as it was small, but that it was presumptuous, effectively increasing the tip to a non-discretionary 25%. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Receipt showing mandatory tip of 20%. - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cute little pub. We were there during the day, but you can tell it would be a great time at night. They have a big area for outdoor seating, probably for the soccer game that was coming up, and a good selection of beer, along with pool tables, darts, and a solid jukebox. The food was terrible though. We were hoping for a nice Irish style meal and were woefully disappointed. The soda was essentially just regular bread, the stew was watered down and flavorless, the meat was tough, the fish and chips were ok, but the fish didn't really have a flavor either. Good service, but disappointing food. read more

First time here. We came, we ate, we won't be back. Service was like talking to people who genuinely didn't want you to be there. Burger was worth maybe $10 but they charge $20. We also got a plastic tab on one of our burgers, so that's comforting. Burger was alright but unseasoned, or severely under seasoned. Spent over $100 for dinner served on paper plates, because instead of planning on doing dishes, they planned on not having clean dishes. Very meh, very blah. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Holy sound bleed, Batman. Protip. Disable the jukebox if you have a live band playing. Simply unplug it then once the band leaves you plug it back in. Just that easy! read more

Didn't come for food, but the vibes here are great! Came here before a game for a drink, and the wine pours were massive! (See photo) It's nestled in an alley in an unassuming location, but has plenty of inside space and a "patio" on the street with covering. Bar options are average, but the food looked good! Bigger portions, which the cost reflected, but I would still try! Will definitely return for live music, which they seem to have often. Great spot for before a game, and there is better, cheaper parking around this area. read more

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We walked in and the bartender told us we could sit wherever and they'd be over shortly. She took our order right away and the food came out within 15 minutes. I had a basic cheeseburger which was pretty good. My boyfriend had the fish and chips and also enjoyed them. We really enjoyed the atmosphere. It's relaxed and they played a lot of alternative rock. read more

Great bar tenders, probably the best in Seattle. Always someone interesting at the bar to talk to. Good friendly dive bar vibe.

I went here on June 12, 2025 and it was amazing! I got the chicken and chips (fries) and a side salad. It was absolutely delicious, and came out with a good speed too. Their curry sauce is sweet with a punch, and has a smooth, and almost sandy texture. Not my thing, but if you enjoy the taste of a sweet add to your salty, this will be your thing. The seating was not fit for a walk in big party, so if you are coming with one try to call in before. I sat with a party of 8 and we all had to sit at 3 different tables. The restaurant itself tho felt like you were in Ireland! With home like decor and Irish representation, you know you are in an Irish pub the moment you walk in! Everyone is kind, and very polite, and this place would be a perfect spot to visit in Seattle if your looking for something good near the pier that won't take to long! read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Pretty typical American Irish pub. The service was not good; slow and we got several incorrect items. I also didn't appreciate that they calculated the tax on the amount that was inclusive of the mandatory tip (since we had more than 6 people). Maybe that was another reason the service was so bad, but not necessary. The clam chowder was decent but the soda bread was just bread and nothing else was great that we tried. The other thing that wasn't great was the open window that just let in all the various smoke from the patio seating. It's fine for a grungy pub but I probably wouldn't go back. read more

Great homemade soup and awesome bread! Servers super accommodating. Prices very reasonable. A great hole in the wall to spend a quiet afternoon or wild evening with good friends. read more

Stop by, grab a half n half and set a spell to sing along to some awesome 80's tunes in a a nice dark library room to soothe your soul. Great service and beers/drinks. Keep it on the DL. Slainte! read more

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How did I not review this gem back on October 5th of 2019? It was a Saturday following a tragic, last-minute loss loss by my Rams to the Seahawks the prior Thursday night. We didn't eat there, but we sat down and enjoyed the chill neighborhood bar vibe over a few drinks, after walking a number of miles around town. The bartender was attentive and never let our drinks go dry. That alone deserves five stars but the relaxed, friendly atmosphere is what we really enjoyed. She's from a small town in Wisconsin, so she knows neighborhood bars, and I spent 21yrs as a sailor, so I've been to a bar or two i n my day. ;-) Don't know how it is now, but in 2019, it was perfect. We'll be back. read more

You don't see many pubs like this anymore. It looks tiny from the outside, but it's quite large on the inside. There are 3 different areas. One is larger with tables and seating. The next is beyond the wall, which is where the bar and music stage is located. Around the corner is the gaming room and kitchen. Staff are friendly and the band was grooving.... Had the fish n' chips & tacos, both delicious. Will definitely pop by again before/after a game, as it is walking distance from both Lumen and T-Mobil Park. read more

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Friend of ours showed us this great place by the ferry terminal. Ambience and history of the building was amazing. We enjoyed a few delicious drinks before the Mariners game and found ourselves back down again after the game. Delightful atmosphere with great food and service. read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Classic dive bar - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Service was great, landed around 4pm and they were busy. As a Seattleite, it was cool to find a popular local pub and feel welcome + they had outdoor seating. UNTIL i noticed the bouncer was wearing a pub-branded jersey with #88 on it. Clearly sending a message that not everyone is welcome. (88 stands for HH = Heil Hitler) read more

Owl'n Thistle Irish Pub - Nazi propaganda - Irish Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wanted to go to an Irish pub while we were in Seattle and this one had live music on a Thursday night. It was a Jazz trio. It was nice. Seemed like it drew in a tame older crowd, despite to two young girls who were obnoxiously dancing poorly, off beat and knocking into furniture. The menu was simple. The food was fine. I thought the stew was delightfully peppery. I ordered two long islands. The table service was fantastic! The server made contact with us probably 8 times in the 2.5 hours we're were there. read more

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The one big plus about the Owl 'n Thistle is that it's really close to the Seattle Ferry Terminal. If you're coming in off a ferry and want to stop for a quick beer, some pub grub, or even a round of pool, you don't have very far to walk! Just cross the Marion Street Bridge, and catch the stairs for Post Street (just to your right after passing Top Pot Donuts). I met a small group of friends at the Owl 'n Thistle on a Friday evening. One was coming in from Bainbridge Island, which was one of the reasons we chose the place. We each had on-tap beers (they have a fairly standard selection of local favorites, of various styles). We also all had the fish n' chips, which were fine. The fries weren't the best, but the fish was good. Service was quite good. I was the first of the group there and grabbed a central table. When it was getting close to the time that my friend's ferry was to arrive, I wanted to run up and meet her. The bartender said she'd hold the table for me. How nice! (At that precise moment, two other friends arrived, so the point was moot. Still the bartender's gesture was well-taken.) When the band started setting up (apparently they have live music almost every night), we moved into the room housing the pool table, and played pool for the next couple of hours (over more beers, of course). By then, the crowds really started coming in--the place is open late, and the standard clientele apparently arrives late--and we were ready to call it quits (and hand the pool table off to others who were patiently waiting). Will I be back? Certainly! It's convenient (especially to the ferry), has a nice ambience, great pool (free, no less!), a good beer selection (and mixed drinks too!), and decent pub grub. read more

On Mondays, the music is amazing! Danny Godinez and his gang of different musicians every time I believe, I sure to please your ears. Check it out! read more

I remember this place being a lot better than what it is now. Back when I was in college the Owl'n Thistle wa some of my absolute favorite places in Seattle. It's a cool Irish pub tucked away in a side alley just off the waterfront in Seattle. We recently went back for a trip and had to stop at one of our favorite old places to go. And it... Wasn't what I remember. We went on a Friday night, and first of all, it wasn't very busy. Which would normally be nice, except I think is more of a sign of how it's slipped. Second, the table service was... Slow, to say the least. There was a group of servers just standing around and we had to wait for any kind of service (maybe they were all on break). The food was... Meh. Which is disappointing, because I used to love eating here. Overall, it was a nice nostalgia hit, but it wasn't anywhere close to what I remember. read more

i had a grand ol time. great vibes, pool table, darts what else can you ask for. kimberly, the waitress, was very informative and told a lot about the bar and surrounding area. food was great and came out quickly. live music was the best i've ever heard at any bar ever. highly recommended read more

We arrived in Seattle after an eight hour drive and wanted a beer before we got on the ferry. We had our dogs with us and they needed to get out of the car. We brought them in Owl and Thistle and the bartender, Kimberly, was amazing with them. She brought them each a bowl of water along with a Guinness for us. Her kindness was refreshing. The bar is beautiful and they have an extensive list of beers on tap! read more

Dark dungy and hot place to drink. It was the only bar in walking distance that wasn't too uppity or closed on 4th of July. We just needed to kill time before going to dinner at the Met. We got 2 vodka sodas, pretty good pricing. Stiff drinks. Place was way to hot, needed air, but a good place to hang out. read more

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Came in for dinner on a Sunday night. Not crowded at all. We ordered beers and BLT's w/salads and they were delicious. Even got a side order of Irish soda bread that was also very good. Service was good but not as attentive to ask if we wanted another beer or anything else to eat... The pub is typical Irish pub with beer posters and signs. It was clean and they also have live music during Friday & Saturday evenings. read more

The service was top notch h allowing me to take over the TV to watch the hockey playoff games while no one else seemed to care about hockey. Always checked in on me to ensure I didn't need anything. Great food and drinks. read more

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I had a good time at this place, definitely worth stopping in grabbing a beer and hanging out for a bit. Service is attentive and quick, and the food's nice and rich, flavorful and well priced. read more