Can I give the Dray a 6-Star review? Because that is what they deserve. Granted, I'm no regular but I've been in a handful of times- and every time have been totally pleased with the chill, laid back but friendly attitude, and delicious beer options on tap. However the last time I was in, the Dray and the people who staff it, totally won my heart. Came in about a month and a half ago, with an old high school friend and her family from out of town. I wanted to meet up in a place that was chill, where we could casually snack, sip a beer or two and hang for a while and catch up. We actually intended to go to another place close to the Dray (the Blue Glass, ahem) but the friends came with a young high school aged son in tow, so the first place kicked us out. Next stop was the Dray, where we were warmly greeted, and took our seat in the front corner, Just as I realized that we should order at the bar, but friends did not, and waved the bartender over. No matter, the young man who was working the bar took it all in stride, and came over with waters and totally made everyone feel welcome (what no curled lip and rolled eyes from a handsome hipster?) and right at home. He took our order at the table, not once making anyone feel stupid or simple or out of place. We ordered a handful of appetizers, as that was the only option at the time, some ice teas for the ma and son, and beer and cider for the dad and me. We stayed long, probably too long for how little we ordered, but again, the bartender and bar-back just smiled and took our plates. The out of towner friends LOVED the place, and I enjoyed spending some time with folks I hadn't seen in 15 years. The vibe, good food and amazing customer service really sweetened the whole experience. And I tell ya, I will be back, solo, with friends, anytime I can think of- Thanks Dray, for being so close to my house, for having a great environment to meet friends in, and for rockin' it with charm and kindness without a hint of swagger. You. Da. Bomb. read more

I love this neighborhood pub. Fantastic rotating beer selection, yummy food, friendly bartenders and really cozy. My favorite part is that my dog always feels at home, she loves to visit so much that we can't walk by without her trying to drag me in. I also like that I can get an espresso drink if I'm not in the mood for alcohol. This can be a great place during the day to hang out and work on your computer as well. Or to bring a friend and just catch up while being able to hear each other without yelling while great music is playing too. I'm glad they opened in my neighborhood. read more

I heard through the grapevine that one of the best beers in world was coming to Seattle (Russian Rivers, Pliny the Younger). This beer has a cult following like no other (sorry McRib). I got the tapping time and got there 30 minutes early but the bar was PACKED to the brim already. We were the first waiting at the door and humming Journeys "Dont Stop Believin'" in my head hoping to taste this magical brew. 7pm rolls around for tapping. They tap it in 15 minutes and i dont get a taste. Very sad. I guess onto next year for Pliny the Younger... Moral of the story. They get the best beers in the world. Its small bar (aka cozy). They have soccer playing. There are great food places nearby so grabbing a slice of pizza or some other food is not a problem. read more

Found this place while riding my bike on the hottest day of the summer... front windows open up to the outside for a breeze. The music is good and they offer a good beer selection, wine and coffee... all the goods. Perfect bar for happy hour or jumping on your computer exploring the interwebs. read more

The Dray - The Dray - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hops Van Boorian on Tap! Amazing beer selection with 12 taps and hundreds of bottles! good organic coffee and grilled sandwiches. The Dray has Lots of Squirrel paraphernalia? Cool wood counters and tables, and flat screens showing soccer mostly. Easy going relaxing neighborhood bar. read more

-1 star for me being a non-soccer fan in a crazy soccer bar. +4 for being rad in all other respects!!! It's smmmaaaaaaalll, if you come here on game day it can be standing room only. Otherwise a group of four can easily find seating somewhere and it's a very cozy, scene little atmosphere. Feels down to earth. They always have good and interesting beers on tap and they always provide the nicest service. They have great recommendations for beer connoisseurs and beer novices alike! read more

If you want your beer served in the right kind of glass, say "hell yeah!" If you want to see a menu with three beers you've never heard of, even though you've heard of EVERYTHING, say "hell yeah!" If you like to drink in a tiny bar that looks like an ice fishing shack, say "hell yeah!" If you want to have beers in a room packed with 12 dudes that are all hitting on the bartendress, who happens to be the only woman I've ever seen in the place, say "hell yeah!" But seriously though, somehow they make it work and it's one of my favorite places to go with my buddies, or out of town guests to show how much Seattle digs beer. read more

Cool place to have some good beer and catch a football game. It's a little snug inside which wasn't bad during the time that we went, but I could see if getting crowded rather quickly. read more

Someone described it the other day as a real-life Cheers. Truth. Our group got super drunk on huge bottles of Allagash Black one night and the bartender was patient, solicitous and even made sure we were drinking plenty of water so we wouldn't be too hungover the next day. Pure class and quality right there, people. The beer selection is basically perfect. I love the rotating taps, the offer to let you taste before you buy (unlike Brouwers, ahem) and the fact that no matter what kind of group you're with, you feel welcome (also unlike Brouwers). Dog friendly, laid back, and growlers! The only thing I would change is more comfortable stools with backs so I could work there during the day. read more

This place is quite enjoyable. The beer selection is really interesting--it helps that I love my beers, which you could probably tell by my other drink-related reviews... but I digress. They had this delicious stuff called Rejewvenator by Hebrew, a kosher beer made from figs. I approved. I approved of drinking one too many for a school night. Again. Anyway, the place seemed cool, and I really liked the open front garage-style windows on a hot evening. The Dray gets bonus points for letting the cutest little pug hang out with one of the laptop-wielding patrons. The bartender was nice and not pretentious; definitely not overly attentive to the non-regulars, though. The bar stools and tall tables weren't very comfy, but the other options looked like a good place to hang out. I'll be back. read more

A new cool spot in Ballard. Great beer, good sandwiches and neat pine interior. Go here to get some great brew and enjoy the mellow scene. Dig the music selection. read more

I would give it 5-stars if they had more food and a little more space. However, this place is great! As a soccer/football fan, it's nice to have a neighborhood bar with such a great beer selection and an appreciation for the world's game. I see some people complain about the prices, but I find them to be fair. The owners were very nice, the bar staff has always been super friendly, and the patrons were not pretentious. The latter is hard to find in a soccer bar with such a great beer selection. Every time I have gone to the Dray, I have met someone new, and shared laughs and conversation with complete strangers. The Tin Hat if I want to get pissed, the Dray if I want to catch a game, and share a pint with friends and strangers alike! read more

Beer bar (I use the term advisedly; if they had wine or liquor, I didn't see it) located in a nice section of town. Beautiful wood furnishings, and the roasted pork loin sandwich is superb. Limited menu, and if you're in the mood for a margarita or a Manhattan, you're in the wrong place, but what they do, they do very well. read more

The dryer broke down and I had 2 wet loads of laundry to finish. It was a rainy Labor Day... The bf and I headed over to Lunar Laundry which has gotta be the only laundromat left in Ballard methinks. I took advantage of the situation by suggesting to the bf that we head over to The Dray for a beer while the clothes were whirling. I think this will be my new hang out. It feels like a cozy ski chalet because of the light pine interior. There's fun knick knacks above the bar and they were playing some really sweet tunes. Very comfy, cozy. I got some sort of cherry ale (can't remember the brewery) and it was delicious! I then managed to spill most of it whist talking with my hands a little bit too much. The bartender was a sweet heart and cleaned it all up for me and brought me a new glass. He just wanted to make sure I was taken care of and he was so laid back. That's customer service people! read more

Small and intimate, lively but I always find a seat. Great place to watch the game, just a few TVs placed to be easy to see wherever you are. Love that they're dog friendly. read more

Why oh why did I avoid the Dray until now? Did I avoid it or did I underestimate it due to it's diminutive size? Either way something came over me the other day when I was driving by the 65th bar corridor and I was inexplicably drawn to stop and check it out, and hooooo mama am I glad I did! This place is a little vest-pocket beer oasis, with a small but well chosen number of unusual taps and a large bottle selection. There's food too, with toasted sandwiches made fresh on the premises by the friendly staff. And when I say this place is little I mean REALLY little, it's one of the smallest bars I've ever seen, but it's all so shiny and new and everything is so well designed you really feel comfy. I went in for one drink and couldn't tear myself away with less than 2, I didn't want to leave! I'd say if you don't like being close to other patrons the Dray might not be for you, as the tables and wood stools are a bit tight and maybe a little hard on the keister. This should not be a deterrent, and won't keep me away from this small wonder. read more

I love the Dray for nights when I don't want to get too rowdy- just want a good beer and a chance to relax. The few times I went during the summer they had a bartender who was very friendly and helpful, it would be fun to sit right at the bar and chat with him. When my roommate and I dropped by on a busy night to order a couple growlers, not only was he great at expediting our request, but all the customers were polite and let us through the line as well! How awesome is that?! I docked the Dray a star for the bartender that worked last time I was there. He was rude and dismissive, even though there were maybe 7 patrons. He poured me a beer I didn't ask for- I had actually told him I didn't care for that one- and then disappeared so I couldn't get a new one. When he returned, he looked super angry when I requested a replacement. Bring back the awesome bartender! read more

Add me to the list of Dray-lovers. This place is what a neighborhood pub should be. They did a fantastic job with a small space and have a great selection of beer. I haven't tried the sandwiches, but can't imagine that they lack the attention to detail and quality so apparent everywhere else in the place. I can't wait to check it out again on a really nice day. The store front has two mini garage doors that slide up to give the place a really nice, open feel. I could spend the whole day here, but I probably shouldn't. QUICK NOTE: The photo here does not show their gorgeous new, easy to see sign out front. read more

I stopped by The Dray for the first time on Saturday- and I think I found my new favorite spot. I'll start by saying the place is small. They can only seat 20-25 people- and there was only one bartender working on a Saturday night. It's a little off the beaten path- but perhaps that's why it's so great? The beer selection is awesome. A whole page of Belgium's and other exotics- and then a page of everything else. No liquor- important to mention. They have beers on tap that I have never seen anywhere else before. I tried 4 or 5 killer Belgiums (or Belgium styles from the US)- and none disappointed. We did not try any food. Price point is very reasonable. We found street parking right out front. Nico was the bartender and for it only being his 3rd or 4th night working there- the guy knows his stuff. Chatting with him was really cool. Get to The Dray if you have a chance- and get a good beer or 3 in you. read more

My BFF introduced me to The Dray about a week ago and I fell in love instantly! They have an amazing selection of brews both bottled and on-tap. If you're overwhelmed by the list, the owner or barkeep on shift will be happy to help you pick something out. I worked in a German bar and have been biased towards german brews since but The Dray has opened my little taste buds' worlds! I like to try new beer so I always order something different and here I'll be able to do this for a loooong time. My BFF LOVES the Big Al Abbey Wheat- it's pretty damn good. The thing about The Dray that made me really fall in love with it is the personality and love that went into creating this perfect little bar. The attention to detail put into The Dray make it feel unpretentious, not-overly complicated, and super comfortable, from the "simple" tavern-like selection of beverages to the sandwiches with subtle additions such as pickled apples, raisins or carrot-jalapeno chutney. Props to the owners! If you go to their website you can look at pictures of how this little gem was conceived and executed I would recommend anyone who likes good beer and a chill atmosphere to go to The Dray. Support your local tavern!! read more

It's a simple yet genius formula: An ever rotating list of craft beers, footy on the screens, nice and knowledgeable staff, and a warm and friendly atmosphere. These days they have pizza and toasted sandwiches if you want (or need) to snack it out. I have made some very good friends sitting on Dray barstools, I've met some great dogs, too. Naively, I used to bring a book or my laptop thinking I'd sit quietly and read, but I gave it up because I always found myself in good conversation with someone nearby. It looks like I'm moving out of Ballard soon, and this is by far the establishment I'm going to miss the most. read more

The Dray will be open soon and I can't wait. Our friends Jamie and Travis have been working for months remodeling this space. It will open in a week or so. They will be serving gourmet espresso/coffee, pastries, and pannini's in the morning and then as the day goes on, it turns into a bar with beer and wine. You're wondering why I can already give this place 5 stars when it hasn't opened yet? I'm basing it on the fact that I know that only quality products have been selected for their food & beverage and the years of experience that Jamie has in hospitality and running a bar. The Dray derives it's name fittingly from both a squirrels nest and an old-school wagon that brought kegs to bars. There's a treat in the bathroom - a fabulous mural painted by John Osgood of Bherd Studios. There are no details left untouched in this venue. You'll have to stop in and check it out for yourself soon. read more

Other than the black dogs that like to occasionally lurk around the floor of this dimly lit bar (have tripped 3+ times trying to walk in), I think The Dray is one of Seattle's finest places to grab a beer. Their selections are constantly changing, and always good. The ambiance is perfect and the help is pleasant. The food menu, while limited, is pretty excellent as well. The Hawaiian pizza is my favorite, but everything I've eaten has been pretty good. Highly recommend The Dray as the best of Stumbletown's excellent bar scene. read more

Love that they allow dogs in this place. It's very small. Expect to stand or share a table with someone if it's later in the evening. The patrons were very nice. We ordered two drinks and the sounder flat bread pizza. The pizza was delicious. I wish there were healthier food options, but for the size, I can understand the lack of kitchen space. I would definitely go back. I can only imagine how packed it gets for soccer games. read more

This place is cute as fuck. Intimate space, solid tap list. Nice lady behind the bar, and some killer tunes! (nick cave, tom waits, morphine) definitely coming back. read more

The best mocha ever. I'm pretty sure fairies sprinkle magic dust in the coffee because no mocha has ever tasted so good. read more

Fab, just fab cute little bar. Love the squirrel logo and that I can do laundry a few doors down. read more

The Dray - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Dog friendly, great beer, and awesome flatbreads. What more could you ask for?! Really cute place. Fast service, have definitely stopped in from time to time during lunch time. The Hawaiian pizza is my favorite. Definitely a great place to catch the game. read more

Great beers! (the most important item on my list...) While I am not a fan of soccer (sorry, though I did play in elementary school) I am a fan of a cozy place to have a beer after work. No worries of being bothered if you don't want to be. The food is great, but I've only had the bacon and cheez sandwich and an appitizer (creature of habit, I've had it more than once). Mostly sandwiches and the like so if you are GF you may not do so well here for food. AND the staff is friendly too... I can never say enough about great service. read more

This place is great. The interior is warm and inviting and the staff is good. I think everytime I have been in (which seems like a lot lately) the same guy is working. Hopefully he finds some help soon so he stays in good spirits. The beer line-up is great. Has a very nice wide variety of belgian ales, german beer, and local favorites. Minimal food, just a couple of sandwiches, but that's okay. Good coffee and great beer in a fun place. Doesn't have the cool-kids feel that the TinHat can have and even the Tiger Tail has. This is a everybody, everyday bar that is a step up. read more

I love this pub - so much so I almost wrote a 1 star review just to keep it to myself ;-) I love the warm, wooden interior, the simple but high quality sandwiches and the speed at which they rotate the taps keeps everything interesting...and a little dangerous. You see, if you go in for a quick beer and there are, say, two or three beers you want to taste, well, you know, they might not be there tomorrow so you feel like you should taste them now and one of them might be a barley wine and itchs a Shooday night and you have a meeting early the nexcht day but,hey, (finishes barely wine) who cares...thatsch tomorrow....hahahaha! They also show a lot of football (another star!), most of the staff know about the beers and the beer they get is pretty interesting - I've found stuff like the Gulden Draak on tap(!!!) here. read more

Love, love, love this place. They are super pet friendly and they have a good beer list and a very decent flat bread. But it was the ambiance and the cool vibe for us and our dog that made it so nice. read more

We were looking for a place in the neighborhood that was open late. I realize that this place should be judged more for their extensive beer collection than for their food. First, they do have a very good selection of beer - I'm not a beer connoisseur but they have lots of microbrews and selections that change frequently. Second, their food menu is very limited - maybe 10 sandwiches, but what's there is decent. My tuna melt was warm and tasty, though regrettably not overstuffed like tuna melts often are. My companion's salami panini was ok - hot and crispy, though I'm personally not a huge fan of salami because I feel like it often has a strange, foot-like aftertaste when it's warmed up. Both sandwiches were served with thick cut tortilla chips and salsa. Overall, a great option if you're looking for beer but only a mediocre option if you're looking for food. read more

Looks like five other yelpers have beat me to the punch on this one...however I have one bit-o-news.... "Official Opening Night Tonight!!!"...get in there and support Jamie and his cool ass bar! Love love love the beers on tap and their bottle selection isn't too shabby either. Further, having played competitive soccer for a number of years I am jazzed that they are going to keep that tv tuned to day in and day out European league matches... Stumptown coffee, decent pastries and a well thought out sandwich menu. The space is well thought out with a layout that divides the room into intimate areas. This is the perfect neighborhood watering hole where you can catch a coffee and check your email in the morning and meet friends late night for some ridiculously good brews. Bravo....and Viel Gluck!! read more

Good stop for micro brews, they have panini sandwiches but no other food. They serve good coffee/espresso and have lovely staff with great attitudes read more

The Dray - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Awesome beer selection served to you by a really friendly bartenders. It can get packed, but if you get there with a good friend you need to catch up with when it's not crowded then it's freakin' perfect. Oh, and they serve landjaeger. Hell yes. read more

Coffee = good Beer = good Sandwiches = good The Dray = great Some highlights include: football on the telly, a speaker in the bathroom so you can hear what is on the TV when you are in it, intimate setting, magazines to read, and showing of the debates. My only suggestion is that they add dessert or at least some cookies to the menu! read more

The guy standing next to me at the bar on a random Thursday early afternoon, said it best: "this place has awesome beer and is never too loud to have a conversation." That's an astute observation -- the beer WAS awesome and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the whole place. Muted. Inviting. Perfect place for an off-the-road brew on a summer afternoon. read more

They have great beer here that is always rotating. If you are a beer lover, this is a must stop in Seattle. Though it's small, it's very comfortable and the bartenders really know their stuff. The only reason I gave this a 4 star instead of 5 is the food. While it tastes pretty good, it is not very filling. read more

Thanks for being a unique beer bar that caters to real football fans. I watched a few games here at 4am last world cup, they were serving doughnuts and coffee until 6am. BEER O'CLOCK! Cheers! read more