Came for the Super Bowl. Left with a new favorite spot. As expected, the city of Seattle was slammed Sunday. Finding a table was near impossible if you didn't wanna pay to reserve. We stumbled across the Central and found a 6 top table with a golden aura surrounding it. We planted our selves there for the rest of the day and couldn't have been luckier. Then, to find out about all the cool history that place carries. Staff was incredible. Brian was the goat and took care of us. Pub food did the trick taking care of us for the 6 hours we were there lol. Couldn't recommend this place any more read more

I love it here! Service is direct. Local Brew choice. Absolutely remarkable. I never thought I would enjoy an Oatmeal Stout from Fremont Brewing. This place has it right. Don't skip! Ever! Seriously! Drink drink! read more

The Central Saloon - Oatmeal Stout = 100% Quality - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been to Seattle several times. I saw the Space Needle and the Mariners. I visited the Chihuly Gardens and Glass, as well as their Natural History Museum. So the day before my return flight to EWR, I went to the Central Saloon for a drink. The Central Saloon is the oldest saloon in Seattle dating to 1892. I'm from the East coast so that is not all that old. Never the less, in Seattle it is old. Aside from dating back to 1892 and it shows in some respects, The Central Saloon is where the music genre called "GRUNGE" began. Bands of 80's and 90's began playing their music in Seattle and The Central Station. Bands like Nirvana "Smells like teen Spirit", Sound Garden "Black Hole Sun" and Alice in Chains "No Excuses" lit up Seattle and the music world. The Central Station explodes with posters and photos of that time period with lots of colorful lighting and a antique bar that serves beer on tap. I love those old bars. Drinks are lower priced here than other saloons in Seattle. There is a small stage which can accommodate todays aspiring bands. I confess, I stayed longer than I should have. let's say I had more than one drink and if I lived in Seattle, this would not have been my last visit. read more

See all

So fun! No frills dive-y bar. Love that it has a bit of history. Live band was fun and bartender was super nice! read more

See all

I tagged along with my partner who was coming to support a friend's band one night. I don't normally just go to dives, but I ended up having a great time here. Firstly, it's a short walk from many bus stops. Service was friendly and quick, and bathrooms were clean. I was hungry when I got here, but they had a decent sized pub menu so I got a half pound of wings and fried cheese curds. The wings were tiny but cute and just enough for me, plus they were served with a vinegary buffalo sauce that paired well with wings and a few veggie sticks. It was also my first time getting fried cheese curds, not knowing what they were. But it turns out they're basically not stick-shaped mozzarella sticks. Paired with marinara sauce they totally satisfied. The pub menu was also transparent about air frying instead of deep frying to retain the flavor without with excess fat. I could taste the difference but tbh I totally support their decision! Also since I wasn't drinking I asked if they had NA options. At first the bartender offered an NA beer but when I pointed to and asked for just a can of pineapple juice used for mixer she didn't hesitate to pour it into a cup and serve it to me. Credit cards do get charged a 3% service fee but that's pretty okay, and actually felt balanced out by the earplugs they offered for free to patrons watching live music. Those definitely saved my eardrums. All in all, for someone who didn't initially intend to roll in on a Saturday night, I really enjoyed the venue and event. Wouldn't mind coming back if there was another chance! read more

Swung in for a drink and the blonde bar tender was the sweetest and most attentive bartender. Highly recommend visiting this place.

The epitome of a dive bar. Probably the cheapest drinks you'll find in the city, but limited seating and loud (even without live music). Not bad for a single drink, but I wouldn't want to stay here longer than that. read more

The Central Saloon - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came up from Portland, and the only place I wanted to check out was here. We had a few Cadillac Margaritas and they were perfect. So get to be somewhere where so much music history was made. If you're in Seattle, check it out read more

Great atmosphere here. Drinks are great. I was here on a quiet Monday evening, so it was great to sit and have a couple drinks in a civilized atmosphere. The bartender that evening was great, as well. read more

Carly was the best bartender I've ever had! She's as beautiful outside as she is on the inside. Awesome service! I will be back for Carly.

Fine service but be warned--they charge a 3% fee for all credit card purchases. I think this is incredibly poor form and as a frequent user of credit cards, I refuse to go to restaurants that charge a fee instead of just increasing their menu prices. To be clear, restaurants do this because they don't want to increase their menu prices when their cost of business increases. These junk fees are added by shady restauranters who don't have their customer's--or their employee's--best interests in mind. 1 star. read more

Great drink, nice atmosphere! Miss "T" killed it making a girl feel welcomed! Security carded me and I am 42! So pretty happy to get carded! read more

The Central Saloon - Great music venue! Seasonal dates! Fri-Sat right now... - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Thursday night, very few customers. Got assaulted by a homeless woman when I was leaving and walking past her. I tried to exit, and ignore her and quickly walk past but she body slammed into me. She stands right at the entrance begging for money with a cup, so customers have to walk in and out within inches of her. I went back about 10 min later and asked the door guy why she's allowed to stand at the entrance and he said "she's been in the area for years and it's the city's problem, we cant do anything about her. If I'm not safe as a customer, I will take my wallet elsewhere, and I regret going there. read more

It's a clean, well ran establishment that's great for grabbing drinks that are priced below average for the area! Friendly service and a lot of room to spread out to enjoy good conversation with friends who are in town on vacation. read more

Nice old bar in Seattle. If you want prompt Rainier and a shot of marginal whiskey it's a great place.

The new owners claim that this is the 'Birthplace of Grunge.' Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Central was never referred to as a 'saloon.' The current owners looked next door at the J&M 'saloon' and decided to call themselves a saloon. During the grunge era, no one went to the J&M Saloon bc it was a hotbed of frat boys and a guaranteed bad time. You can be assured that this place is not good because of the fact they make false claims of being the 'birthplace of grunge' to get people in the door. Even during the grunge era, the owners of The Central refused to book grunge musicians. We were relegated and promoted by spaces that no longer exist in Seattle because of these gentrifyers. Sure. Go there and sup on their mediocre fare. But do not accept for one second that these ppl had anything to do with the music scene in Seattle in the 80's. The current owners weren't even born by then. read more

Phenomenal atmosphere and such a sick staff. Thomas was super rad to talk to and such a genuinely cool person. Keith was the bouncer and it's super rare to find a bouncer that's down to have a real conversation. Visiting town and i'm literally coming back here just to see these dudes. can't even explain how positive the experience was here. such a sick spot. read more

Sure, it's a tourist place--but it still is the dive bar that it was. I bet there are still some great bands that play there. read more

A Deeply Hurtful Experience Due to Racist Behavior. I've never felt more humiliated or disrespected than during my recent visit to Central Saloon in Seattle. My girlfriend and her friend were at the bar when four guys approached them and sat down at their table. I arrived about half an hour later and sat down next to my girlfriend, but things quickly took a disturbing turn. Two of the men were outwardly rude, refusing to acknowledge me, and later, one of them aggressively pulled my chair back and told me to leave the table. We tried to brush it off, but it only escalated. The same guy continued to harass me, cussing at me and making racist comments while his buddy joined in. When I calmly tried to address the situation, the aggression continued, with one of them pressing his body against me in a threatening manner. My girlfriend returned to diffuse the situation, but instead of getting help from the staff, the bouncer approached me as if I was causing a problem. I explained what had been happening, but his response was dismissive, saying that he hadn't seen anything, so there was nothing he could do. As we left, I approached the doorman and told him that it's his job to ensure that intoxicated patrons aren't harassing others--especially in a racist manner. Rather than addressing my concerns, both the bouncer and another staff member became hostile towards me, telling me to leave if I didn't like it and never come back. It was beyond disappointing to see staff allow and seemingly condone this racist behavior. I've never been more humiliated in public, and what was meant to be a fun evening turned into one of the most hurtful experiences I've ever had. I cannot, in good conscience, return to or recommend Central Saloon to anyone. To the owners: I urge you to address this toxic environment and hold your staff accountable for allowing and supporting such racist behavior. read more

Recently upgraded while system. Really nice. However, if you close at 8:00 then close at 8:00. Not 7:55. If you close at 7:55 then state that on websites and maps. Sucks driving there only to be turned away. read more

The Central is not only an iconic spot in Seattle, it's also my favorite local bar. I always feel welcome here, the staff are all fantastic and wonderful. It's a great place to check out new and upcoming bands or just catch up with friends. It will definitely remain my go to spot for as long as it's open. read more

This place is amazing!! I have been a regular for almost a decade, the staff feel like family, and music events can be amazing or really bad, don't forget to check out which seattle bands got their start here!! Lol!! Come enjoy one of the best dive bars of Seattle!! You will probably find me there! read more

Last night was my second time performing at this historic Seattle venue and as amazing as my first was, my second was even better. The building is an experience unto itself, but the staff gives it the heart and soul that makes it must for any Seattleite or tourist. I had the pleasure of interacting with just about every employee there and each one greeted me with a smile and enthusiasm. Special shout-out to Michael- talent buyer/manager/sound engineer extraordinair! Filling in to run sound, he did an amazing job. As a performer it means so much when the person running the sound cares as much about it as you do. He worked hard which allowed me to really lean in and give one of my best shows to date. Sitting in the audience was no different, I had seen several of these bands before at several premier venues in Seattle and they never sounded so good. In summation if you are looking to hear some great live music at a cool venue with good food and drink, Central Saloon is the place. If you're a musician looking for a place to put on amazing show at an incredible venue, I recommend reaching out to Michael and his team. Just be sure to bring your best because they certainly will! Thank you Michael, Clay and JD (I didn't catch the bartenders name but all I saw were smiles and good times so they must have done something right!) read more

The Central Saloon is the oldest bar in Seattle. Kind of big yet dingy. Very old looking. At the time I came there was not table service but creating my own tab was great. There was one bartender and a cook. Kind of thin on staff. The live music that started at 8:30 was awesome. Made the whole experience again unique to Seattle. Food was definitely good pub food. The potato tots were large and Burger cooked perfectly. read more

The Central Saloon - The bar - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We just checked into our hotel and are doing some day drinking. We popped into the Central Saloon for a couple of beers. Bartender recommended the Space Dust IPA and we were NOT disappointed. She was also telling us about the history of this place. Apparently it's been open for the better part of a Century and also Nirvana played one of their first shows here. LOVE IT! read more

This place starts to fill up around 3:00pm in Saturday and is a popular neighborhood venue for socializing and watching sports programs. Friendly bar services, just get there early to get a seat. I had the Moscow mule. It was fantastic! They also have about 15 beers on tap, so plenty of options to explore. read more

The Central Saloon - Moscow mule - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

*** I am a real sucker for live music. *** The sounds of the band lured me in from the sidewalk ... it was "Jam Session Tues". Band was mostly retro but pretty impressive. Wow, electric guitarist was actually amazing. Drinks were relatively cheap, there was a good mixed group, and there's history too. *** Established 1892 and still rockin'! *** read more

The Central Saloon - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great spot with so much history. Mike and Melanie are tremendous. Great spot to grab a beer before the game

Old school bar. Beers and more beers. Decent service. Nice old school bar with old school decor, 90s Grunge rock,with a slight bit of retro charm. This would be one of those neighborhood pubs that you go to to get the night started. Step in for a pint but dont expect too much from your adventure. Good enough for a good time but lacking something that makes me want to stay. read more

The Central Saloon - At the Bar - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Michael was extremely knowledgeable and personalized our first visit not only to Seattle but to The Central Saloon. Best visit ever. Will always recommend..... read more

I get that if you're friends with the bartender, you can stay past closing time. But the rudeness of "you TWO need to leave NOW" was a little uncalled for?? Like... read more

I have been here many times through the years and it does not seem to change. It is a great bar in Pioneer Square and a good place to watch live music. I was here for the Upstream Music Festival. They always have some great beers on tap, I had a Blue Moon. I also ordered the black and blue burger. It was tasty, slothered in grilled onions and blue cheese. The burger fell apart, but that is kind or what you would expect. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Walked in at 12:30am to an 80s depeche mode type artist on stage and a killer light show guiding me to a long bar with heavy pours and sad stories. Seattle dogs next door for $8 with a warm seat inside and humming a tune i dont recall the name to as I walked back to the hotel. I could do this again read more

Love their sweet pineapple cider and cheese curds. The outdoor tables could be lovely in summer. Pretty average dive bar overall, service could be better though. read more

The Central Saloon - Chili cheese fries - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Hot Rockin bartenders! $2 Miller high life. Great bar food. Killer heavy rock music. Best of all, Good company and Bad ass bikers gangs. Don't stare at them, they will kick your ASS. enough said??? Just added ( 3/23/08 ) FYI, be sure to get the $10 stamp, it pays for all 6 bars around the area. Best deal Evarrrrrr! So, I was partying up in Pioneer Square last night and it was effening fun!!!! I met some really semi-normal Seattle locals named Jesse and Adam. Both ex military veterans, so you know what their problems are already, I hope. Both were married and had a combination of 12 kids. Jesse had one daugther and five sons from three different women, lived in Seattle in a van, came out here from Wisconsin trying to get veterans military benefits and Adam divorced with 7 kids from Maui. Adam seem to be cra cra crazzzzy. Two missing tooth in front and is 46 years old. Both became really good friends and met here in Seattle. They share a van together and are paying child support up the ASS. So, I had to say, by talking with some-what locals, these guys obviously know "HOW TO PARTY?" They mention all the crazy places I should go. One of course is NOT THE POWER EXCHANGE, but it's similar. Very underground sex club. You must sign a release form, and anything goes. You can even take sex lessons. Yeah RIGHT! me....sex lessons, I get lessons by watching porn ( oops, sorry, thinking out loud, LOL) Anyhow, if anyone come across these two guys, please tell them to take care and tell them this. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, but after hanging out, you wanted to sell me drugs, I'm sorry but I don't do drugs, just drinks." read more

The Central Saloon - Seattle's oldest bar - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

They don't the history of the place their working at. Very disappointing but I bought a shirt anyway. It would of been I little bit more fun if they knew more about the place but I guess their job is to just pour whiskey. read more

Just another rainy Monday night in Seattle and thought the oldest bar in the city would be a cool place to check out. We were on a red ale kick so we went with the "Mens Room Red" and had 3 of those while the football game was on. Bartenders were nice and I dug the vibe along with the odes to the Seattle music scene. No live music that night but the stereo was a steady dose of all things 90's...Pearl Jam, Tool, Alice in Chains...maybe I should've come in flannel. Happy hour menu looked decent. read more

See all

Meh, nothing more than your average dive. Also, the tater tots are basically whole potatoes. Cheap, smells and randos talking about space theory. Classic. read more

The Central Saloon is the second longest active drinking hole in town. The building contributes greatly to the experience, as a lush like me can bask in its antiquity rich with history. PARKING: Metered street parking and parking lots. I strongly recommend checking the sporting event schedule; parking gets competitive and prices spike upwards during pro and college games. BUILDING:/VENUE: The bar resides in a building constructed in 1889, making it one of the oldest buildings in the Pioneer Square/Skid Road Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This place had been known in the past as the "Skagit Hotel" and "The Central Card Room". DECOR: There are lots of old signs and pictures of way back in the day. There are some very interesting things to look at, two of which are a 5-6 foot high Sailor Jerry hula girl and a shrine dedicated to famed local dead boys Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix. AMBIENCE: Given the age of the building and the decor, it's easy to forget about the outside world and slip into a jolly old time. The people here are pretty here to drink or see a show. It can get loud, but seems to bring in some friendly folk. FOOD: They have a full menu which includes appetizers, salads, burgers, entrees, et al. I haven't had any of it, so I can't vouch for it. BEER/BOOZE: It's a full bar with a not-so-impressive selection of beer on tap. If you're looking for microbrews, go check out the other 'oldest bar' in town. Otherwise, if you have time for a tour through Pioneer Square, this is definitely worth a stop. SERVICE: The staff is friendly. I haven't been here enough times to determine the consistency of service, but I have been treated right when I have been here. If you're visiting from out of town and you're in a mood to booze it up, I suggest doing a little homework and plan to make a few stops through this neighborhood, instead of picking one bar. read more

The Central Saloon - Sailor Jerry wood carving. - Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped at this dive bar with 30 some minutes to kill before an event in the area. The sign out front touted this to be the oldest bar in Seattle! A friendly lady with some cool body art was working the entire length of this dark medieval looking wooden bar. The entire Saloon was really quiet compared to what occurs in the local area on game day with its proximity to Century Link & Safeco fields. Just last week was a historic football game between the Seahawks and Forty-Niners that depleted almost everything that was cold, wet or on tap and none of it has been replenished! While we each enjoyed a glass of wine we noted a pungent smell of something old permeating the air (some history here) however, we did enjoy looking at a life size Popeye type sailor mounted up high on the wall with a stare that gazed back at you. There was also a nice collection of Fat Tuesday posters from years past lining the walls plus other interesting decor. Strange that I had a sense of Deja Vu while sitting at the bar. Then we were off to our event! Yes it serves its purpose and someday I will return. read more