This is it, the emperor of Seattle dive bars. Inimitable. Sui generis. My favorite place to hang out in downtown Seattle when bad decisions and fun are on my agenda. Time without number I've found myself here, be that first dates, my birthday, or New Year's Eve, and it always feels like home. If home were a clown/carnival themed acid trip of a pinball arcade bar, that is. And what's not to love about that? The bar tenders here are cool and friendly people who pour drinks with a heavy hand, and understand the mission: get the patrons who want to be drunk, drunk. The first few times I visited, I felt a leeriness about ordering food. But once I got over myself, I kinda fell in love with the menu, and I've probably eaten everything on it (including the clam chowder). Their hot dogs are wonders to behold, utter symphonies for the senses, and I refuse to visit Shorty's without getting one. Best dog in Seattle? Why yes. I think so. To paraphrase one reviewer: "Take your date here. If she doesn't like it, she's lame and you shouldn't waste your time with her anyways." Shorty's is the bomb. read more

The male bartender was extremely rude. As soon as we walked in, he aggressively asked for our IDs. Then, while my cousins and I were looking through the food menu, he barely gave us a chance to read it before saying, "I'll take whoever is ready to make my life easier." That's not something paying customers want to hear. I ended up ordering a drink for myself while the guys were looking at the menu because they were doing a food hop, and us girls were doing a bar hop. During that time, the bartender came back to our table at least four times within about five minutes. Instead of being attentive, it felt pushy and aggressive, especially since they were still deciding what they wanted. I've been here a few times before, but after this experience, this will definitely be my last visit. read more

Shorty's - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We come to Shorty's regularly, but after what happened on our most recent visit, I no longer feel comfortable recommending this place. The doorman was a tall Black man who appeared to be drinking while working, something I have personally seen him do before. While my boyfriend and I were waiting in line for drinks, he approached us smelling strongly of beer and asked for our IDs again, despite already checking them and recognizing us as regular customers. What happened next was completely unacceptable. He began grabbing and rubbing my boyfriend without consent. had to tell him to stop before he finally let go. The entire interaction was extremely uncomfortable, unwanted, and intimidating. Someone working security at a bar should be making customers feel safe, not putting their hands on them without permission, especially while drinking on the job. We have been regular customers here, which makes this even more disappointing. After this experience, I do not feel safe coming back and would caution others to be aware. read more

Love this bar. We have been here countless times and it's great vibes every time. Lots of regulars. Smoking area in front of the bar. They have games, an ATM to get quarters to play the games, free condoms box above the quarter ATM. And my favorite part a Photo Booth! A great bar to me has a Photo Booth, street fighter, and private booths. This has it all. Love how we can have fun playing games, taking pics, choosing a song, and having great conversations in the comfy booths. Service is helpful. One night one of the games ate our quarters up and never worked so we let the bartender know and a few minutes later he gave us our quarters back. Staff is efficient and keeps the bar clean picking up any left behind glasses quickly. The bar is quirky and fun. Private and comfy booths, and lots of clowns everywhere. Sad clowns, happy clowns, creepy clowns, and more clowns than you can count! The bathrooms are unisex with plenty of stickers to look at. Always hand soap and toilet paper available even when busy. Hard working staff! Some areas of the bar like near the bathrooms have flashy lights and makes it feel like you're at the circus. The vibe is laid back and care free. Have yet to try the food so no words on that quite yet! Always a great time at Shorty's. Literally one of my favorite bars! Highly recommend! read more

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Stopped into Shorty's across the street from Bangrak after lunch and WOW... this place was a blast. It's quirky as hell and I mean that as a compliment. They've got tons of pinball machines, but the thing I absolutely LOVED were the booths with the pinball machines built right into the tables. I've never seen that before and immediately thought it was such a cool idea. Definitely the kind of spot you stop into for a drink and then end up hanging out way longer than you planned. Overall just a really fun little bar with a lot of character. I'd absolutely come back. read more

Shorty's - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Pinball is my favourite arcade game (after Skee ball) so I was super excited when I passed by this vibrant dive bar while driving through Seattle on a Tuesday night. The place was fairly empty and the bartender Mickey was super friendly. He made me the most delicious cosmopolitan that struck just the right balance of fruity and tangy! He even offered to add more juice to it if I wanted which I thought was extra sweet! I love the local community atmosphere of dive bars! All the other patrons were super friendly and I didn't feel unwelcome even though I was by myself. Speaking of coming here solo, as a woman I appreciated that all the machines had tables right next to them so I could keep my drink in my line of sight while playing instead of behind me which made me feel safer. They had so many cool pinball machines here I could honestly spend hours at this bar. They even had my favourite one, the Addams family pinball machine!! And I was really impressed by how smooth some of their vintage pinball machines are. I also really appreciated that whenever I had problems, like when the Creature of the Black Lagoon pinball machine ate my quarters and moaned, one of their employees, Deuce was super patient and helpful in solving my problems. I had such a fun time at this bar and I'm hoping to come back soon!! read more

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Our bartender (a sweet lil blonde woman) was amazing and I really wish I could remember her name cause she was the only positive part of our visit! But the manager she referred us to when the machine glitched after we added our $5 was terrible! He ignored my husband for over 25 minutes then I decided to step in just hoping maybe he'd have more sympathy in helping a lady but nope not at all! Lol Another bartender came up and when I expressed my concerns she acted like it was NBD and actually told me to chill cause he's been busy lolllll (I'm assuming they get this complaint often lol) they suck and the games are very glitchy. Food we did not try but looked shi**y. Good luck lol read more

Very much the local vibe, and sort of a not the new comers local vibe. Fun to pop into, hang a little with the regulars, see the wild interior and just chill. It's a good change from what appears to be Seattle becoming a bit like any other big tech city, hopefully they hold onto these quirky spots. read more

The bars in Seattle have such crazy personalities and Shorty's is so exception. One of my friends took me on a tour of her college stomping grounds and Shorty's was first on the list. This pinball bar does it all. The tables are old pinball machines refurbished into seating areas. There's a little less than a dozen active pinball + pac man machines scattered throughout the bar. You're a true celebrity if you land on the high score list, but I lost the ball in just a few seconds. I haven't played pinball in years, but I love the idea of mixing childhood games with drinking. Shorty's also has food onsite, but it's very bar-esque. Think hot dogs and ballpark style nachos. read more

By far, the Best Bar in Belltown. Great pinball, fantastic drinks, fun bartenders, and some of the best dogs in town. Been coming here for years and love this place. If you play pinball, the machines are well maintained and ready to play. Machines take quarters and bills and there is a change machine in between the front bar and the back bar. If you haven's had a dog here I would suggest the Number 3 dog with tomato, Mama Lil's peppers, and cream cheese. read more

Shorty's - Menu as of 11/7/25. - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Had a great time at this spot. From the moment I walked in, the vibe felt welcoming and easygoing -- the kind of place where you can settle in without feeling rushed. The team behind the bar kept things smooth and helpful, answering questions without any hassle and making sure everyone was taken care of. The atmosphere is relaxed but still lively enough to feel fun. It's a nice balance: good music, comfortable seating, and plenty of space to hang out while enjoying a drink. Everything came out well-made and consistent, which made the whole experience even better. It's the type of bar that works whether you're stopping in for a quick drink or hanging out for a bit. I left with a really positive impression and would absolutely come back again. This place definitely earned the 5 stars. read more

Chill cheesy place for a quick bite and some drinks, and throw in a few pinball games. I loved how affordable this place is, even though they're in the heart of Belltown. We got nachos, two hot dogs, and two beers for about $40, which was pretty cheap tbh. The staff isn't all that "friendly" like others mentioned here, but it's just not that type of place. You order, and that's it. They're not really trying to be "friendly" other than with some of the regulars or with their friends who stop by. It's usually busy, and the booth seating clears out quickly; most are here for pinball. We ordered: (not the most quality ingredients, but loved the quirky take on a classic hot dog) -Chicago Style hot dog - Interesting take on a classic hot dog, it hit the spot! -Chili Nachos - Just what you expect from Chili Nachos -Dumpster Dog - This was such an interesting, unique hot dog concept. It was like they threw everything on it, and the chips were funny. At first, I thought they messed up the order, but no, that's a dumpster dog, haha -Guinness Can - What you expect from a Guinness -Irish Death - Had all the vibes of a Guinness but better imo, definitely looking for this next time and anywhere I go, so good! read more

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Mostly just thrilled I got to play skeeball! And that they even had a vegetarian chili dog too. The drink selection was meh and there was one bartender serving drinks and making all the food. Please just staff your bar! The poor person was running ragged! They were really kind despite their situation though. It's a dive bar for Coney Island food and decor and to play pinball or skeeball, which was more or less our goal. read more

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This place is unbelievable! There are old pinball machines retro fitted into tables. Super cool! Parking is a little bit of a challenge. If you're in Seattle and in a hotel, grab an Uber. There's also a good selection of pinball machines for amateur players and serious pinballers! The bartenders are ridiculous! Rude would be an understatement. If you want to get basic service and be ignored, this is the place for you. After feeling a little bit uncomfortable, I said, and I quote. "I work as a bartender in a touristy spot and I hate people like me too!" I don't give a f$@! about anything was the response. Weird? Shaved head thirty- something uneducated bartenders who scored a touchdown in high-school and cant stop talking about it for twenty years. Sorry. Don't waste your money here. read more

Oh man, this place was probably one of our favorite finds during our week-long Seattle trip. The vibe is dive-bar-meets-pinball-machines-meets- creepy-clown-artwork-meets-gritty-punk-aesthetic. Friendly and attentive bartenders, healthy pours, and for us - a perfect atmosphere to hang out, socialize, and take it all in. I didn't try any of the hot dogs, and that is one of my biggest regrets, because they looked spectacular. Bonus points for being close to our hotel, too. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! read more

Months after my trip to Seattle, I'm still thinking about this place. Great dive bar food, great drinks, and a fantastic selection of pinball machines. *And* all the tables are made from old (nonfunctional, don't worry gang) pinball cabs. One of the veteran bartenders made me "The Deuce" and it was exactly what I wanted. Sweet and creeping. Line at the bar can get a little hectic, but that's part of the experience, innit? read more

Im giving this stars for the fun/whimsical decor. I also love that they have a hot dog grill (although we only came in for drinks) We were greeted warmly by the bartender and sat on one of the booths. The booths used an old pinball machine as tables which was super cool. So on the other side of the bar they had a bunch of pinball machines and arcade games. I was annoyed that 2 of the arcade games I went to ate my quarters but the pinball machines were fun. Overall cool vibes and nice place to just chill and drin read more

Shorty's - Pinball Machines - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was the first spot my friend and I went to when we go to Seattle, after we settled in, we just wanted a couple drinks and simple food. The bartenders were nice. Love that the menu was just hotdogs and nachos, nothing more and nothing less. There was so much to look at around the bar, it was awesome. The bartenders were kinda enough to let us know about some other bars to check out. read more

Shorty's - A Good boy - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The atmosphere was great. A real dive bar with good food and great service. The regulars were a crack up!

Avoid this place if you see a tall, long haired blonde lady with glasses. She was working last night (Thursday). I wish I got her name but she was condescending and rude AF. We had dinner across the street and needed to kill some time before our rezzy. Right upon entering, from the way she aggressively asked for our IDs, to the way she was annoyed when asked a single question about what liquor the bar had (why work the bar if you hate life?!?), to the way we could hear her lecturing her coworker.....she was mean. I dunno if she continued to be unpleasant because I left to wait outside. The place was pretty empty so would hate to be dealing with her on a busy night. Granted, maybe it was a bad day for her or something happened and she was projecting but SHEESH!! read more

Take yourself to Shorty's, get a hot dog of any kind (don't love their relish, love their pickles, LOVE their dijon) and a beer or shot, it is truly one of life's best simple pleasures. Good prices, super cool ambiance, nice staff, good pours. It's a Belltown institution for a reason! read more

On 9/20 at 1:15 PM, my friend and I were approached by a waitress who abruptly rushed to the door to tell us that minors weren't allowed inside. We were already aware of this, as it's clearly posted and understood--it's a bar, and the minors were not coming in. Despite explaining that someone would be staying outside with them, she continued to speak to us in an unnecessarily abrasive and insistent manner. Due to her tone and attitude, we chose to leave. read more

The moment you step inside, it's clear this place was designed by someone who took clown college way too seriously--but in the best way possible. Pinball machines line the walls, blinking like a fever dream, and the whole place smells like nostalgia, cheap beer, and questionably legal carnival prizes. The bartender slides a Rainier across the counter with the efficiency of someone who's been here since the grunge era. The real magic? The hot dogs. A perfect balance of guilty pleasure and genuine culinary achievement. Outside, Belltown morphs into condo hell, but inside, it's an unapologetic time warp where skee-ball scores still matter, and no one judges you for ordering a second round of tater tots. Seattle changes. This place doesn't. Thank god. ALL the bartenders were also super nice. read more

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We stopped in this little hole in the wall bar to have a couple drinks and enjoyed every minute of the atmosphere!! This bar brought back so many memories old school pin ball machines/video games and a Photo Booth. Even though we were not there long we had a great time!! Fun little claw machine with lot of adult goodies lol so fun!! read more

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I love this place! The first time I came in was out of curiosity, and as a clown enthusiast I was sooo excited to see everything! The man checking IDs at inside the door is always friendly, and the bartenders are all fairly friendly as well. I admit I wish they'd check in more often on people at the bar, some not stick to one side only. I love their frito pies, hotdogs, and mixed drinks. The slushies are premixed, convenient but not recommended. Not strong enough to make up for the fact they taste just alright. Lots of seating inside, the tables are old pinball machines. So much to look at everywhere! Pinball is really fun, there's a few other games as well and an affordable Photo Booth. Don't accidentally overpay if you're trying the bowling game, the sign regarding it is kinda small read more

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Mean people and service. drinks are awful. do not go. there is literally a clown gang outside. the jute box does not work and steals your money. read more

One of the Best place in town! Highly recommended! Definitely wanna go back! The service, the food, the ambiance, the best chef. Top ranking worth comes back all the time. read more

A Seattle classic! Creepy clown devor, great dive bar, tasty food - hot dogs, cheese sauce nachos, etc. My main draw here are all of the pinball machines - so many options. read more

Saw the pictures and thought this place would be fun to come and have a beer. Turns out this place is a fun place to have a beer. Luckily for me I had come during their 25th anniversary, and Pabst were only one $1.25 each. What a crazy deal. The environment is super fun, plenty of pinball tables, and the bartender is very engaging. He made us feel very welcome. My girlfriend happened to order a margarita but instead of your typical tequila, she switched it for Mezcal and let me tell you it was great. So great they should add it to the menu lol If you're looking for a cool spot to spend some hours and have a great view look no further read more

Shorty's - Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

DO NOT GO HERE. extremely insafe environment and bartenders are out to make money on severely drunk people. I watched a local get overserved, bullied and then physically assaulted while being thrown out. terrible situation and they handled it in such a way that felt performative on the bartender's part. Also a random person put hands on this person and was acting on the staff's behaf on this person that was literally no threat to anyone just drunk. My buddies and i were shocked and left right away. Please do not waste your time or money being in this place. Crazy shit happens apparently all the time. read more

In the 7.5 years since I left my last review, things have changed at Shorty's. First of all, they moved. Just a block away, but to a slightly more spacious and less weirdly laid out venue. Second of all, pinball prices dropped. They run about 75 cents a game, with some machines offering quantity discounts (e.g., 5 games for the price of 4). Third, the food and drink are much better, with a variety of dogs being the staple, any of which can be had with veggie dogs. My girlfriend preferred the Chicago Style; I'm partial to the Spicy Pepper. Small selection of draft beers, but an ample supply of mixed drinks, many much cheaper than surrounding venues. I've been to Shorty's more times this year than I have in the past decade. Sure it's a dive bar still, but it's a comfier hang than before, with better food and cheaper pinball. read more

Shorty's was a fun dive bar with quirky decor that we stumbled across. They have games like ski ball, arcade games, and pinball. We came here looking for a place to have a drink that was relaxed and fun unsteady of swanky and overpriced. The bartenders have a heavy pour and the hot dogs are delicious. The dogs are made on a roller and they have all the toppings you could ask for! read more

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The Trophy Room is a perfect secluded venue for hosting groups, with a fun bowling game in the corner! Drinks were very affordable and strong, and the Shorty's dog and nachos were both fresh and flavorful. Morgan was the most attentive and awesome bartender! read more

Very divey looking bar. Prices are very good for a good pour. Service was nice for a Wednesday night. It was pretty quiet but I heard it gets busy during the weekend. Spot is very nice. read more

Shorty's - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am feelin' this place in Belltown. The drinks are strong and tasty along with the food that's great for the bar. The Chicago dog is good as well as the Frito Pie that I love. There is pinball too. A great place to stop in to for a bite and a drink. Vaccination cards are required for entry. Mask up and be safe! read more

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Doesn't get better then shorty's bar ! Great pub style /deli foods and great drinks . Excellent and friendly service along with a great atmosphere and fun games ! Don't miss out on a great time at this spot. Black light clowns and photos all Over to join in on the fun with you Morgan and the the other bartender his names begins with a c we're doing a wonderful job keeping a busy bar happy ! Will return next time in town read more

Shorty's - Pinball table - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A fun little dive hangout with arcade games and hot dogs. It's like a carnival. The Dumpster dog was delicious and they have a good selection of beers. read more

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Cool spot for some beer and games, does get packed though. They have booths, bar seating lots of pinball, one skee ball game and a few other arcade games. Food is nothing to write home about but not bad, good enough for that late night craving read more

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So fun! Obviously a local favorite! They sell a variety of hot dogs and other quick foods like nachos and chili. Vegetarian items and non-vegetarian. It's great! I'm pretty bummed out we left this place so early. We had dinner reservations but I told my companion I would of been cool with one of shortys dogs! The bar is decent size and the bathrooms appear scary but they are clean. Again Tons of locals with their dogs. Everyone is so nice and the bartender was solid as well. Not only are the table tops pinball machines but they have a whole other room of filled with pinball machines and probably other stuff. But I just bee-lined it to the bar top for a seat. And didn't really scope the game room out. Put this on the list of places to visit. Well worth it! read more

Shorty's - Table tops - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So let's start with the good: The decor was nice and the pinball machines were pretty sweet. The meh: The beer selection was very very sub par. The poor: The clientelle and riff raff hanging out in and around the bar killed the experience. Don't get me wrong, wierdos are fun to drink with, even more than normal peeps, but this was an abnoxious and creep coven. Maybe an off night? read more

Shorty's - Cool tables - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington