OK, so the place is kind of a dump. I think that's actually a compliment. I think this place is unique because of it's character and the characters it caters to. Shorty's possesses a grit unlike any of the other bars in the area. The atmosphere is reminiscent of E. 4th St. in Reno Nevada. This bar has a really neat atmosphere, but you are almost afraid to sit down thinking that you might stick to something. The pinball machine's are pretty stellar and the back bar does have some sweet bar chairs. The bouncer/doorman was friendly and checked everybody's ID. The best part of the entire place is the clowns that adorn the walls and every little nook and cranny. Some very unique clown artwork can be seen with a luster all it's own. I don't think anybody was actually smoking, but the lighting provides that deep, dark, dirty feel. Somewhere between that of a strip club and swingers bar. They have pinball leagues and the bathrooms remind me of high school, sometimes leaving little to the imagination. read more

See all

Our first experience at Shorty's was pregaming there before a concert down the street at The Crocodile. We had so much fun and we were treated so well by staff that we went right back for a few beers after the concert. Highly recommend this place! read more

I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS PLACE NEGATIVE 5 STARS. TOTALLY ANTI CHRISTMAS! I work in belltown and have. Even wanting to go to this bar forever so tonight for my 50th birthday we tried to c Go here...only to be told we cant go inside because we were wearing Christmas sweaters... When I called to speak with the manager and she hung up on me. So obviously they do need paying customers. I will never go here again. If your looking for a fun place to go try the gynacogloist you'll have a better time. read more

Great beer! Great vibes! Great music! Nothing but Future....they should have Future Fridays! Definitely coming back

All of the stars go to the pinball machines! Unfortunately Shorty's is a bit of a rundown mess which one could argue adds to its charm in a way, but there is a difference between "old charm" and "things are so dirty and dilapidated I don't even want to touch the table" :) So that's the negative. The positive though is that they have a wicked cool room in the back with a whole bunch of pinball machines that take cash and coins. We had a blast playing on a few of the machines! read more

Shorty's - Pinball in the back room. This place is so much fun! $1 for 1 or 2 games (multiple balls) depending on the machine - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was with my girlfriend recently just trying to enjoy your night and wanting to check out the new location. Not even spending one minute in the doorway before we were approached by this insane security guard. He began yelling immediately at myself and my partner! There were witnesses everywhere and we even have video! I don't not recommend this place to anyone! We live in the area and will NOT be retuning! read more

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

See all

One of the only downtown places still standing as of early 2022. Cheap draft beers (draft Miller High Life) is $4. They sell hot dogs for $6 too. Two stories. Not blown away though. read more

Dive bar and Pinball! Few things get me this excited in life. Stopped in with a co-worker for some pinball and suds. We also happened to be there on a Thursday and the back bar was open. JT took amazing care of us. Tall pours and Olympia beer, while sitting in high back chairs. It sounds like Shorty's will be moving in the near future, due to a sell of the property. Glad it will be just down the street from the current location. Would be so sad to see an institution like this go the way of the dodo! read more

See all

*********************UPDATE********************** To emphasize the point of not using the restroom here, I was standing in the hallway by the back room minding my own business and I could hear everything going on in the restroom. Out of disgust I snapped this photo of one of our esteemed yelper colleagues going pee... guess who it is and I'll buy you a beer http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/JTAkz5zl4d_XkkkKjvlQxw?select=x0VVXMeSVKO6GfbIk5lkkg ***************************************************** What can I write about Shorty's that hasn't been written before. We all know that they got cheap pitchers, $3 hot dogs, pinball and video games so let's get down to business. Here's some secrets about Shorty's that you might not know: If you put down enough beers, the clowns on the wall will start talking to you. The other night I had "Cleo the Master Psychic Clown" who told me that I was a drunken failure. That dumb clown.. I already knew that!!! Psychic that dumbass!!! Do not ever go near the restrooms. They are short swinging doors and when you walk by you can see everything! It's really troubling when you walk by the women's restroom and see business being taken care of and feel obligated to toss a dollar bill on the floor because you got to see more skin than I did at the O'Farrell Theater! You can eat as many hot dogs as you want. You can drink all the beers you want. But downing pitchers of beer and hot dogs is like crossing streams! DON"T DO IT!!!! Some benches in the Main Room are broken. In fact I almost fell on my ass as the bench next to the bar fell apart as I sat on it! This is the dive bar you have to visit once in your lifetime. It does get completely filled on Friday and Saturday night but come on a slow day and you won't regret it! Beers, hot dogs, video games and clowns? What else could you ask for? Douchey guys and hot girls? Oh they got those too!! read more

Shorty's - Don't use the restroom.. you can see everything right over the small door - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

The pinball is great, the bartenders are nice (and the fancier drinks in the trophy room with Jawn are great!) the general crowd is nice (even if they're not as interactive as the other hipstery, dimly lit places like the Cha-Cha, or next door at the Lava Lounge.) The food is carny fare, exactly what you'd expect, cheap, and may possibly give you a stomachache, but if you're drinking and looking for hot nacho cheese and onions, what are you really expecting? The Valkenvania-ish organ music piped into the bathrooms, blacklight scary clowns, and Keane-eyed children in black velvet round out the decor. Ultimately, if you love pinball, grew up with REAL arcades, and love kitsch, this is a pretty safe haunt. read more

This place is still my refuge. The #3, a pitcher of Guiness and being part of the early crowd so I can snag a nice pinball table for my crew. It just makes life so good. They have added an extra section in the back with a bar and some beautiful 1960's style chairs. The bathrooms have moved and have this voyeuristic open feel to them, kinky! And there is plenty of fun pinball. So glad they still keep Medieval Madness in good repair. And the ATM in the bar is always working. I'm still always looking for Chucky though. read more

"Danggg~ it's hard!!" Yeah, that's what I said when I tried to play Star Trek. Those pinball machines are not as easy as they look, and they don't get any easier after throwing back a few libations. Yes, I tested this conjecture thoroughly. The naked dog is $3 and provides sustenance while enjoying the spirits they serve at Shorty's. To be honest, I didn't think a bar like this would serve decent drinks and prepared myself to fall back on the beers on tap. I was wrong. They have an amazing bartender who makes the best Manhattan I've had in a long time. I also got to try his special Whiskey Press (I think it's my new favorite drink, as long as I can find someone who makes it like him) and witness his maelstrom of a process for making a Bloody Mary. Now... if we can just do something about all these clowns~ read more

See all

Shorty's seems the last stronghold for Joe Six-Pack to finally go out for a drink. Cheap tall boy cans, and hot dogs that "seemed right at the time", make this one of my favorite spots. The posh crowd might find it "dingy", but dive bar crowds love it. The only thing that's kind of lame are the speakers in the jukebox. Not worth it because your tune will be lost in the din and cacophony of clinking glasses and hoots and hollers of folks having a damn good time. Great spot. read more

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

Hyped by a local friend as a spot where Anthony Bourdain used to come and get drunk on beer and play pinball, we had to stop by. It was earlier in the day, so when they didn't carry any of a handful of our preferred brews, we didn't stick around too long. The space itself is pretty cool, with the front area set up like a typical bar with the party in back- a black-light-lit space full of retro pin ball games you haven't played since elementary school. Definitely more of a late night place, and I liked the divey-is-cool-again atmosphere. Staff was also very friendly, would come again. read more

Awesome dive bar. Kind of reeks like B.O. but pinball machines everywhere and CHEAP drinks. They also have hot dogs, fries, nachos etc for you to nosh on should you get the munchies. The hot dog was pretty tasty, despite that neon green looking relish. It was kind of suspect but I went along with it. Nothing a bit of good ole Jameson can't fix.. P.S. If you're scared of clowns (like yours truly) then don't look up. read more

Shorty's - Suspect relish but it was goooooooood - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I agree with a lot of the reviews on here. There are people who mean mug you when you come in, like the girl in the glasses sitting to the right of me with her guy or whoever in between us. Or people who think they own the place. Also, me and my friends where the only Asians there, maybe that was why. Idk, atmosphere wasn't nice and I felt awkward. We came only for a drink and ordered some DELICIOUS nachos. That is where all the stars are going to, the nachos. The place was super busy on a Saturday night, I only hung out in the front room. It's not a place where I would chill or kick back and relax. We were just exploring the area and just wanted some drinks and this place had good reviews so we wanted to check it out. Would not come here again, unless I am walking in the area and are seriously craving some nachos, but then again I realized Dog Japon is open late too and is nearby so probably not! Also, $10 min. if you wanna use your card FYI. read more

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

If you've ever dreamed of breathing in 20-something angst whilst being an extra in the latest Pearl Jam video (if it were still 1992), this is the mothership. Wonder where stereotypes originate? This is the primordial soup. I felt like a grandma here, but had a damn good time playing endless games of Indiana Jones pinball and getting smoked on baby Pacman. Unless you love beer and shots, you're pretty s.o.l. in the beverage dept, but it's one of the most unique bars I've been to and I'd totally come back! read more

See all

Went to Short's to grab a snack and a quick beer! We love coming here when we're craving a hot dog of any sort (they have so many types!). A super cute arcade themed bar with lots of seating and games. A bit overpriced for the hot dogs but worth it when you're really hitting that craving. read more

It's a great place to grab a couple of beers with friends and challenge them to a couple of friendly games with a little wager i.e. loser buying drinks lol. Bar area to the left when you walk in with a couple of booths for a more intimate date night and pinball machines to the right. read more

Shorty's - Good IPA's on tap - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's a ok ok bar! Very busy but not very fun as such. They have. Pinball games but looks like they are pretty old so few of them will just take your money but won't work.but yeah if u just wanna grab some drinks and looking for a cheap place in Seattle u can hit this bar read more

Warning: Alcohol does not make you better at pinball, but it does provide a good excuse for sucking at it. I've been here twice, with about two and a half years between visits, and i had a good time both trips. Had a couple of good, strong, reasonably priced cosmos, and blew a little cash on pinball games. Lots of different kinds of seating to accommodate whateva your needs are. The back room can make you feel very gangsta; those chairs are pretty spiffy. This made a great stop for our UYBC. read more

Well, alrighty now--it's a bar with a lot of pinball and arcade machines. Does this sound fun? Because that's what it is. If yes, come on in. If no, no subtleties can be revealed about the place that will convince you that you might enjoy it. It's games and it's beers. It's old-school games, at that. I might-should say I've only ever been carried in here by enthusiasms originating from elsewhere in the group--but it's not that I don't enjoy it. I dig the joint, being as I like video games and I like beer. And it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay less of a teenage vibe than Gameworks. Obviously. But for me personally, a beer and a video game tends to be a bit more of a home occasion, whether socially or solo. Still, if hitting the arcade and getting a pitcher of beer sounds like fun, Shorty's is your spot. read more

I can only comment on the arcade aspect of this establishment. I didn't get any food or drinks here. Shorty's arcade has a fine selection of pinball machines. Most of them I have seen at other arcades in the metro area but a few were new. For instance there was a great Wizard of Oz pinball game. Each arcade you play has various charges to play one game. The older machines are a quarter and the more recent and elaborate they get it pushes towards a dollar to play a game. A bill changer is in the first room. Make sure your bills are neat and not wrinkled because it is picky in that regard. They have a few video games as well also that have various costs to play. While Shorty's wasn't the best arcade place I've hit in the metro area it was still fun with it's games and quirky atmosphere. read more

Cheap drinks, poor service. I ordered a hot dog and heard the guy say.. " fuck, I hate people" They have an arcade. read more

Really bad experience. The moment I got to the front door, some big lummox confronted my friend and I asking what we were looking for. Felt like an interrogation. The fact that he was hanging outside with a bunch of sketchy people was cringe. Inside I asked if they had an all-beef hotdog. The bartender cocked her head like a confused dog. They had no grilled onions - odd for a place specializing in hotdogs. They only had a couple choices of offbeat soda brands and no bottled water. The hotdog was as skinny as a ballpoint pen. read more

I love this place! Totally dive-y in many ways, but with a carefully calculated carnival theme in the place. Honestly, for me the review comes down to having a cheap pitcher of beer, and at least 20 pinball machines to choose from - most of the 25 or 50 cents to play. Awesome place to kill time, and let loose on a budget. read more

I recently had some drinks with one one of my friends here while in Seattle for a business trip. It 's a crazy cool blend of a bar and pinball arcade. They have an pretty awesome circus theme going on inside, and I hear they have really good hot dogs here too. The tables at the booths are the faces of old pinball machines, I thought it was really creative. Anyways, the drink prices were pretty good, and it was a fun time. I can recommend it. read more

Great Great Great Place. Really fun! Stop in here on the recent trip to Seattle. I love drinking and I enjoy playing pinball (even if I do suck at it.) Why wouldn't I love a place that has both of them in great supply. Kick-Ass pinball selection and really good beer selection. read more

I love this bar. I loved coming here while working promotions, but I love it even more as a customer. The staff is all really nice, especially Sammy the door guy with long hair. The patio is really nice, especially when the weather is out but it can be busy and interesting even in the rain. There is a ton of seating inside, from the back bar area with high-back swiveling chairs to the front booths. There are a few varieties of games in the front, and the back has so much pinball. The games are fun and there are many different styles from different times-- surf champ old school pinball to the most recent movie themed games. When we had a problem with our machine the bartender helped us out quickly and was really nice. I still haven't ordered any food here, but hopefully that will change soon. read more

This place speaks to me on a spiritual level. We were in search of a bar, any bar, to get our drunk on before hitting a concert. We happened upon Shorty's and boy am I glad that we did... This bar is divey in every sense of the word. If you're the kind of person who thinks of that in a negative light, then this review isn't for you. If not, read on. Considering how much I love this place, I'm at risk of this getting too lengthy, so I'll just do the highlights... -Full bar, decent beer on draft -Tabletops are old pinball machines -10ish pinball machines in back room -Outdoor seating -FOOD! The best damn hotdog I've ever had. Order the Number Three, and add nacho cheese on top. Just trust me on this. My new goal in life is to get my ass back to Seattle just so I can patronize this place again. read more

Shorty's - Alcohol and pinball. What more do you need? - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cool bar but not friendly to Canadian folk. Rude about exchange. Customer heckling. Didn't feel welcome. Came back from nostalgia of 6 years ago Won't come back from from recent hospitality. Better cool bars around. read more

I was quickly sold when one of us mentioned pinball and I thought, "ok, hm, I might try some rounds..." We whip out the ID's, stroll through the front bar area, pass the mid-check-point, and into the pinball section. Oh. Cool. Lots. Of. Pinball. Machines. Ah, psh. We turn around and grabbed a bar table. It was just EX, YL, and me, DD, hanging out over some okay bar nachos and dogs in buns. Neat overall game/fun theme... Is it my kinda place? Nope. =P read more

We walked in, walked straight to the backroom where the pinball machines are, took off our jackets and then I went back to the bar to order a club soda w/ lime and a PBR. Service was quick, efficient and friendly. After playing for a short time, we left and went nearby for some dinner. Then we returned to Shorty's for more pinball. Ordered one diet soda and asked for a couple of $5 bills in my change. Once again, quick, efficient and friendly. And this was a different bartender. There are a few booths in the front and the tables are old modified pinball machine play tables. The lights work and seeing them being used in this manner was pretty cool. All of the pinball machines that I looked at had acceptors for $1 and $5 bills. Games were generally 75-cents each, 4 for $2 or 11 for $5. Everything that I played appeared to be in good working condition which is pretty darned impressive for "dive bar". The clientele were a mixed group but everyone seemed to be relaxed and having a good time. We were just there to play some pinball so we spent almost no time in the bar though. read more

This place is pretty chill... but be prepared to be greeted by a strong whiff of BO when you walk in. GOODNESS! A few video game machines along the wall before you reach the bar.. and there are booth seats as well. The tables are PINBALL tables! How clever! In a separate room there's nothing but pinball machines.. SCORE! We played the Family Guy one, it's pretty cool! There's a Stewie Pinball within the Family Guy pinball.. SWEET! $5 for 11 games. WHY THE FUCK NOT? Oh, and this place is generous with their liquor - STIFF DRINKS! We were here twice in 4 days. :) read more

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

I do enjoy being able to move around in a bar, but it seems every time I end up at Shorty's I find myself in the middle of a claustrophobic, overcrowded mess. Sure, they have pinball and a fun theme. But good luck experiencing any of that on a weekend. It gets really warm in the bar with the amount of people they allow in and the air gets nice and sticky. Pleasant, huh? You'll probably end up just having a cheap beer or two after crowd surfing and pushing your way to the bar and leave feeling violated and dirty. Come here on a weekday to avoid such experiences. Bring cash. read more

very cool place, horrible service. female bartender was INCREDIBLY rude for absolutely no reason. I'd love to come back but not if i had to deal with that person again. she will ignore you and roll her eyes at you. very uncomfortable it's like she's mad that you walked in! read more

I've been in Seattle for about a year now, and this is one of my favorite bars thus far for its unique barcade layout and atmosphere. I'm a huge fan of Galaga, and some places have a very laggy response, but their machine is top notch in responsiveness. There is another bar area in the back with a few additional tables which is a bit quieter than the main area. read more

Dive bar meets circus and goes retro arcade. This place is CRAZY AWESOME! Just beware, if you don't like crowds this place may not be for you. A common place for the college crew, it's packed on weekends (unless it's late on a cold Sunday). And bring your quarters because the games here will have you occupied for hours! And if you manage to drag yourself past the vintage arcade games and pinball machines a visit to the bar in the back is a MUST. Seriously, the bar is lined with captains chairs! Oh and if you despise pinball machines you'll hate the booths. THE TABLES are PINBALL themed to the EXTREME! ^_^ Downside... their menu. Unless you like a wide selection of hotdogs. And while they're not the best hotdogs in town, you won't really care. This place ROCKS! read more

I was making my way to E.M.P., stopped for lunch and was reading the Seattle Weekly and saw their ad: Beer. Hot Dogs. Pinball. The trifecta of all things good and wholesome in this world. Not much more to say that hasn't been said already other than the fact that you should go. read more

My absolute favorite bar in Seattle. Hands down. I go out of my way to support this place. Pinball arcade. Very unique concept. Fun clown/carnival theme. But this isn't why I drink at this place. This is one of the only bars I'll still go to in Seattle. Not entirely overrun by tech bro douchebags. The punk scene loves this place. Great staff. They don't take shit. Good prices on strong drinks.I like the Chicago dog. Outdoor seating. Can't go wrong. I've gone here a hundred times and never got bad service. read more