I love this place - excellent dive! I primarily come on Tuesdays as I love their tacos. When I first started coming they were $0.69 - they are now $0.99 (still an incredible deal). I don't know why it took me so long to think of this, but I made my own totchos this last visit. After crushing 4 tacos I was still hungry and craving tots. I decided to get 2 more tacos and then cover my tots with their insides - it was amazing. Great drinks - lovely staff - fun stuff to look at all around the bar. read more

The Tin Hat - Tacos - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Been coming to the hat for twenty years and never have encountered such a rude attitude heavy bartender in all these years but Lauren T managed to ruin the experience for us. Could barely take a beer order or run a credit card correctly and we were served some seriously awful cocktails - The hat is a Seattle institution but can we actually find bartenders who can tend and keep all their negative energy to themselves ? Seriously yikes - Do better read more

A fixture in stumbletown. A dive(ish) bar. I say (ish) because it's clean with good food but certainly a colorful collection of regulars and a great aesthetic. The more time you spend here the more you love it and the more it loves you back. Highly recommended if you want a local neighborhood haunt. read more

The Tin Hat - Woman riding a dolphin into the Stumbletown. - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Rudest bartenders I've ever encountered in Seattle. Grew up here and never would go back.

One of my fav dive bars. Great seating, and on certain nights really good tacos. I particularly enjoy the decor, good vibes here. read more

The Tin Hat - a bar with a lot of posters hanging from the ceiling - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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When you hear that there's a place that has cheap tacos on Taco Tuesday, you listen up. When you hear that each taco is only $0.69 each, you ask where. The Tin Hat in Ballard is drawing in the crowd with they're daily specials and delightful drinks. If you're on a budget and looking for some delicious eats, then you've come to the right place. The staff are great, friendly, and quick, so if they ask to see your vaccination card, just do it. They have board game and VHS tapes (just cause) for your pleasure. You can't go wrong when you're in the area to go try this place out. Also get a basket of tots ($6) to share with the table... or just for yourself. Can't wait to try the other delights on the menu. read more

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This has everything I want out of a bar - great drinks, chill vibe, friendly staff and the burger + loaded tots were out of this world. The choice of decor and playlist playing was 10/10. Mostly folks on dates at the time I went but I bet the crowd changes depending on day/time. read more

It's a local dive bar with no nonsense drinks. Met a couple of friends for a chat and shared a basket of tots, which was rather big; covered with cheese and bacon, it cane with a big dollop of sour cream. Very tasty. Didn't get a chance to scope out the place but it is rather intimate with booths, small tables, bar seating as well as a very small outdoor seating area. Smoking is allowed outdoors. Great service and good prices. What else could I ask for? read more

The Tin Hat - The basket of tots was huge! - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Classic Seattle dive bar. Taco Tuesday is an institution. Not sure on official policy but I've brought my dog from time to time and no one cares. read more

Haven't been here in years but, service was always friendly, tacos on Taco Tuesday were good and they had Nirvana Bleach on the jukebox.

Kind of bright for an evening bar. Not a speakeasy bar but has the decor. Music was 90s and coming out of a radio quietly. Drinks were pretty good. If I just happen to be on that block I might go again but I can't see myself driving to go there. read more

Great little dive bar with games for people to play. Friendly, attentive staff. I had the grilled cheese with a habanero jelly and tots-- so good! read more

They have a great variety of beer and cider, everyone I go with is always able to find a drink they enjoy. I'm a sucker for their chicken sandwich, it's much better than many I've tried for almost double the cost! read more

Pretty much your average dive bar (with more exciting decor) but I went for tuesday 69 cent taco night.... Need I say more? No the tacos weren't the best you've ever had, they're less than a dollar! They were great for the price. Drinks weren't too expensive, and staff was nice for the most part! One of our waitresses was a bit grumpy towards the end there, but for the most part I had a great time. I will be returning for tacos at least! Service was very frequent and helpful and there was lots of seating. read more

Best tots in Seattle, super friendly service, and a great low-key vibe. I hope this spot stays in the neighborhood forever. Bring your spare quarters for the two pinball machines nestled in the back. read more

A perfect example of a dive bar. I went with a buddy for drinks after work on a Thursday. There are great deals during the week. I mean, who can resist $10 pitchers?! The food was good too. Tots, burgers, and fries. All taste good and there always a good drink you can pair with it. The inside is chill, dark but not too dark, and there is always something on the wall and ceilings to stare at if you need a break from conversation. Even the bathrooms has lots of cool stuff on the walls! Staff was super attentive and my bar tender was top notch. They also have 2 pinball machines too! I give my visit 5 stars. I'm excited to see how it is when its packed on a busy night on the weekends. read more

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The tin hat is a great bar so long as you understand the following - food is bar food. Get drinks in cans and bottles or liquor. They used to have free pinball on Sunday nights ... they may still have that. Not the most friendly crowd so bring your hipster crew who will sell you out for the next cool trend. But in all earnestness this is a classic Ballard / Stumbletown bar and you should go here after getting a tattoo at slave to the needle, or a good shopping trip at goodwill. Any reason will do. Just pop in and grab a drink. read more

Oh No! Tin Hat what happen? I will start this review by saying the ambience of the Tin Hat is everything you would want in a dive bar, but everything else fell flat. The beer was warm, food selection small, and food lackluster. Maybe I was just here on an off night. This was a place where I held my wedding reception part after and was perfect. I will be back to hope for a better time. read more

This is my favorite bar to walk to when my girlfriend is in my neighborhood. I can't wait to visit the bitchy barmaid so she can make me feel like I'm totally ruining her day by asking her take my order. And I love it when my order arrives but then 5 minutes later my friend is sitting there and still doesn't have her food. I can't wait to jump at the chance to politely ask the barwench if my friend's food is also on the way. To which she'll reply, "Everyone's waiting for their food honey", roll her eyes and walk away. Then when bitchtress realizes that she never told the cook about my friend's order, she'll walk back over to our table and mumble something about how the order got lost and should be out shortly. No apology of course. And when my friend doesn't immediately say thank you or look in her direction, the waitress will have a hissy fit and snarl, "Is that okay? IS THERE A PROBLEM?" Yeah, there's a problem. You're a bitch and The Tin Hat printing SHUT THE FUCK UP AND DRINK YOUR BEER at the bottom of all their reciepts isn't that funny or particularly original. You might as well flash me your star tattoo or continue to mope around in a pair of weathered Converse lamenting how awful your life seems. And I don't care how average your food is, or that you have homemade mac n cheese. Mind your manners. read more

The Tin Hat - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Every Tuesday I'd set aside a little time to cry, but lately I've noticed I haven't been crying as much anymore. That's because I've discovered the Tin Hat's taco Tuesday's. Delicious beef or bean tacos that hit the spot every time & go well with an ice cold beer. Very low price. I guess I don't have to cry anymore. read more

The Tin Hat - So good. - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So I'm from Austin and we probably have more diver bars per capita than any other city in the nation. I'm used to dark dirty bars with food trailers that serve delicious local beer and have an eclectic mix of folks all looking for a good time. Tin Hat couldn't have been more like home for me. I had an order of Chicken Wings with no sauce as I was super hungry and they were every bit as delicious as I expected them to be. The local beer selection was great and I loved everything about the dark and divey atmosphere here. This is a bar I could see my spend lots of time just hanging out alone drinking in. The music is great.. the food isn't bad and the beer is local! What more could you ask for. If i had to make any complains it would be that the interior is almost more like a sit down restaurant than an actual bar which made it a bit more complicated to roam around and talk to new people. I'd recommend this place to any fans of dive bars in general. read more

With their motto of "Shut the f*** up and drink!", I feel The Tin Hat wins the title of the best dive in Ballard. The beer and the prices are excellent, even outside of the daily specials, and the staff is superb. I cannot speak for the food, and have been told I am mad for not trying it. Apparently there is nothing about it that is good FOR you, but damn good taste-wise. The decor and the walls could keep you entertained for hours...especially the ladies restroom.... I'll just say I thoroughly enjoy it each time I visit. I like sitting in the tiny (super tiny) outdoor seating area. Although word to the wise: it's low and all, but do NOT jump over the railing. You may be removed from the premises for doing so! It's posted, and they're serious about it. I absentmindedly did this one day when a gust of wind rolled through and carried a recent shopping purchase from our table out to the street. I was warned, but was given a break because of my reasoning for doing so. Whew! read more

The Tin Hat - On the TINY patio - Dive Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

How I heard of this place: I had driven and walked by numerous times, but had never felt the urge to go inside, until my friend Ashley had a hankering for bar food! Type of cuisine: Greasy pub grub. What you expect from an old school dive. Ambiance: It's a dive at its best. Bar seating, booth seating, high tables and chairs! Crowds can be found all over, speaking loudly, drinking like fish and laughing heartily! What I ordered: Having already enjoyed a large dinner at Carmelita, I was there to keep my friend company, but I did enjoy a sample of her fried chicken and grease-dripping fries. What I loved: I loved the crispy fried chicken, golden, breaded and flavorful, dipped in ranch. Why I loved it: If you are in the mood for a greasy and salty dish, The Tin Hat can be added to your list of dives to enjoy. Cost: Average ($5-$10 for food options) read more

Do you like tacos? Do you like them more when their 39 cents? If you do, this place is for you. As much as I am a fan of fancy dinners and date nights, I equally love stuffing my face and drinking tequila in a dive bar. Tacos aside, everyday they have AMAZINGLY tasty and cheap dinner specials coming out of their kitchen. This is the last place I would think of to have a spaghetti night, but guys, It's literally the best spaghetti I've ever had. Don't be fooled by this books cover, their food is awesome. Play some pinball, have some drinks, and enjoy the funky environment at the tin hat...Oh yeah, most importantly it's dog friendly. So bring your pupperoni! read more

Really liked this little dive bar. Came here for a friend's birthday last weekend. Very friendly place with funny pictures all over the wall. The bathroom is hilarious and entertaining to look at while you're emptying the bladder. I didn't try any of the food but drank plenty. There is a cocktail menu. I got the habanero grapefruit margarita. It wasn't that good but I do appreciate that they use actual grapefruit juice, squeezed at the bar. My only complaint about this place are their wooded booth seats. Be careful, especially if you are wearing leggings. When I slid into my seat, I got stabbed by large shards of wood and had to pick a few splinters out from the bottom of my thighs. They really need to fix those seats before someone really hurts themselves. I sat on my jacket for the rest of night to avoid any further contact with the wood. Other than that, solid dive bar. read more

My first impression was that it was rather dirty. The walls were inundated with a lot of posters (? - can't remember) and the place was dimly lit. However, my experience at this dive bar was very pleasant. Our waitress was the only one working that evening and seemed to be running things pretty smoothly. She had a big smile and warmly welcomed us to our table. Being there for the first time, we asked her what good drinks to order there. She recommended the Seattle lager and a Strongbow apple cider. My apple cider WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I thought it tasted like apple juice. YUM YUM. We also ordered ten tacos that we scarfed down because we didn't eat dinner and it was already 9 p.m. It was super cheap - $0.69 per taco. My husband liked it but I thought they were less tasty than Jack in box tacos where you get 2 for a dollar. It tastes more like elementary school cafeteria tacos. Taco Tuesdays was okay but I don't think I would come back because of the tacos. I'd definitely come back for some delicious cider. Overall, I enjoyed date night here. read more

Went to the Tin Hat last night for the first time with some friends. All they had to say was "Taco Tuesday" and I'm there! After reading some reviews before I went, I was anticipating to be served by a bitchy waitress that takes forever to serve my tacos. I was armed and ready for her. Well, to my surprise, we were served by this awesome, friendly dude that was super attentive. Kudos to you, dude. He made sure the beers and tacos kept coming, and all with an upbeat attitude. Everytime we put in an order for tacos, they were out in about 5 minutes flat. I think we each ended up eating about 10 each! The decor of the bar was pretty dang awesome....lots of interesting memorabilia to look at. Overall we had a good time and at 69 cents a taco & $3 a beer, you can't go wrong! read more

That 2 for one burger special was a lucky find. I was in town visiting a friend and wanted to stop fo a meal before meeting up. Tastiest pub burgers ive had in a longgg time read more

This neighbourhood bar is wonderfully divey! I came here on a pub crawl with friends who craved something starchy and healthful. So we ordered a cheap pitcher of beer, some tater tots and mash with gravy. And kicked back in a booth to continue our conversation until it arrived. The beer appeared swiftly with the foodstuffs to follow. My tots were perfectly crispy and the mash was fluffy with tasty gravy. The jukebox was made of sheer win and the decor? Well, it has to be seen to appreciated... eclectic doesn't even begin to describe their atmosphere. Do you dig pinball and cheap tacos? Come on Tuesdays then for a game and $0.69 eats. If you have friends who are on the quieter side, you might want to bring them somewhere else. I had difficulty hearing my extroverted companions at times. The music was loud and we were seated beside a table of drunken ladies who tittered and OMGed their way through the better part of an hour. The street parking wasn't too horrendous and the wait staff was prompt with checking on our table. The eats were cheap and so was my beer. I'd definitely come back here for some pints and food again. Who's up for some HH fun? read more

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My favorite little neighborhood dive bar. The BEST thing: fresh-pressed grapefruit juice - they make the best greyhounds. read more

Obviously the first thing that I did when arriving to my Ballard airbnb was yelp what the closest drinking establishment was. The Tin Hat popped up right away and my travel partner and I decided to grab some drinks and food. It was seriously the most perfect first stop in Seattle. We walked in and it was exactly what we were expecting from a Seattle dive bar. If I ever moved to Seattle I think I would move to this neighborhood just to be close by this bar. It was so great. Do you want a trip down nostalgia lane, good beer, entertainment and amazing food? Tin Hat's got it for you. I mean, how can I not give a 5 star review when they were playing The Shining on TV AND I saw a bedazzler on display at the bar?? There is really just shit everywhere. You get so caught up in trying to see everything and take it all in that you forget it is slightly overstimulating....but awesome. After a moment of taking it all in we decided to order some apps. We ordered the tater tots and the bahn bao. Seriously, so tasty! the tatertots were loaded with bacon, sour cream, cheese, everything good in this world. You know how sometimes loaded things just have all the good stuff sitting on top?? Well, this had it all throughout. It was like a bake. Anyway, you should order it. It was good. The Bahn Bao was amazing. The meat was just the right amount of spice and the buns were so soft. It came with a peanut sauce that was a great combo to balance out the spice. Our service was great, friendly and super quick. I wish I could pick the Tin Hat up and move it to Minneapolis with me. read more

A solid dive bar! On Thursdays, come for the $10 pitchers of any beer they have on tap because you're basically losing money not to take advantage of that deal. And we're not just talking Bud Light and Coors on tap. They had beers like Fort George, Rubens and Fremont to name a few of my favorite PNW microbrewerys. If you make your way through enough of the cheap pitchers and need something to soak it up, the food is also totally decent, some might say delicious! Try the fried chicken sandwich or the falafel burger with some crispy tots. Yummy. read more

I've been coming to The Tin Hat for more than 6 years and I love it more and more each time I visit. The crowd is an eclectic, non-pretentious mix, the music isn't TOO loud (but always awesome), the beer selection is good, you got your free wi-fi, and the staff are very cool (love you Amy!). A few tips: Taco Tuesday gets busy. Arrive early (no later than 7pm) to guarantee a seat otherwise you'll probably end up standing around looking like a sad little puppy which is unpleasant for those of us that are comfortably seated. Sunday afternoons are often pleasantly quiet and you may find that you're the only person there...but don't get too comfortable because before you know it a crazy couple will sit in the booth directly in front of you and make out for five minutes then switch to fighting for five minutes and so on and so on and so on until you get up and sit at the bar (then they will leave). The tots are amazingly crunchy and delicious. They sprinkle them with a little mexi-seasoning or something but I often ask for them w/out the special seasoning because they are heavenly all on their own. Give them a try! Girls, use the bathroom. The decor is fun and it's a surprisingly clean potty for a bar that leans toward dive-y. My son is too young to drink but I hope this place is still rockin' it when he hits 21. I can't wait to bring him here. read more

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Best, cheapest greyhounds in town. Best bar in Ballard. Awesome service. The burgers are also top notch dive bar fabulous.

New to Seattle and thought to try out some of the neighborhood spots. I tried The Dray first and had a horrible experience with the bartender there. My friend born/raised in Seattle said, "that's just how Seattle people are". Screw that! Closed out and went to the Tin Hat. Second Seattle "dive-bar" experience was to walk to the Tin Hat and the bartender actually, you know, greeted me and asked me if I'd like a drink. Go figure! I guess this is considered excellent customer service for Seattle because I sure as hell didn't notice it at The Dray. So, about The Tin Hat. This is a true grungy dive bar. It's excellent. The Dray is a dive bar that looks like some hip spot you want to show cutesy instagram photos of the place. It's for those people who are playing tourist and wanting to fake how down to Earth they can be. The Tin Hat is the real deal. It really feels like you're slumming it up, punk-rock style. There's box sets of vintage toys and collector sets from the 50s-60s. The whole place has this somewhat creepy and unsettling decor that lets you know you're getting the true dive-bar vibe. Also they have a really, really cool Adam's Family pinball machine. I'm not a pinball expert, but I know enough that whoever bought the pinball machine knows something about getting good stuff. read more

It'd be a long time since I ventured into The Tin Hat. Maybe a few years... and I cannot believe how much the place has changed. Those crappy red booths that were falling apart have been replaced with wooden bench seats and tables. The awkward raised back area where the pinball used to be is now home to more seating. The biggest shocker came for me when I saw actual menus on the tables... with an image of Michael Jackson, gracing the back cover. A new selection of items on a completely revamped menu made me happy, as they've never strayed from their roots. Their happy hour prices are unchanged: 69 cent tacos on Tuesdays, spaghetti and Texas toast for $3.95 on Wednesdays... Not to mention $4.50 pitchers of PBR. I'm pretty happy with the newer Tin Hat. It's still charming but a little seedy, all at once. Good times. read more

I typically enjoy this little neighborhood bar. I just moved to this neighborhood a month ago and was excited to be living within walking distance of this block of bars. When some out of town friends from college came to town Sunday night, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to show them a little Ballard. Keep in mind we are a group of 6 females, one male. I am the youngest at 25. None of us were wearing high heels or Ed Hardy but because we don't look like the people who work at and frequent this bar, we were met with abrasive hostility. I had never been on a Sunday night, and since I wasn't sure whether we should be ordering from the servers or the bartender, I asked the server clearing our table "Should we order from you?" She replied with "If not me then I don't know who" A simple "Yea, you can order from me" would have been sufficient. "Ok then" I said, and turned to my friends to find out what people might like when the server abruptly told me to: "Fuck Off" and walked away from the table. I thought I must have misheard her and my friend told me she thought I was confused also. However, we were surprised to hear the server return to tell me to FUCK OFF again. I approached the bar in total confusion, wondering what I could have done to offend someone enough to tell me to FUCK OFF. The server asked me if I was "ready to be nice to her" and I told her that I wasn't sure what I had done to offend her. She continued to be a complete bitch to my party and as we were walking out the door, told us to "come back when we were 21" I was mortified and upset. I work as the lead server at a restaurant and know how to treat service staff, and would never be rude to another industry person. I have always had good service here in the staff but was so appalled by my experience last night, I will never go back to The Tin Hat. I know they don't need my business, but this server and the management should be ashamed by such lack of decency. I wonder what makes employees think they can be so awful to the public. Perhaps she was being encouraged by the management to be a total fucking bitch? If you don't look or talk like these people, then I would go somewhere else. They have absolutely no tolerance for differences at all. read more

The Tin Hat has magical powers and this is how I came to this conclusion; Here are a list of things I remember from high school: Tater tots Lucky lager bottle cap games People smoking pot on the side of the building Playboy magazine pictures adorning the walls of the boys bathroom Tacky posters and knick knacks pinned to the walls of my room Guns & Roses, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Janes Addiction People making out on the benches in the hallways The cool kids thinking they were too cool to talk to you Rambunctious behavior that seemed to be the norm for that age group Here is a list of things I remember from The Tin Hat: Tater tots Lucky lager bottle cap games People smoking pot on the side of the building Playboy magazine pictures adorning the walls of the girls bathroom Tacky posters and knick knacks pinned to the walls of the bar Guns & Roses, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Janes Addiction People making out on the booths in the bar The cool kids thinking they were too cool to talk to you Rambunctious behavior that seemed to be the norm for that age group I hated high school. I hated everything about it (well, except some of the music that came out of the 80s). High school ranks right up there with having dental work done without novocaine or getting poison ivy under your cast or having 5 machine guns pointed at your head. I am, sadly, 100% qualified to make these comparisons, so do not argue with me!! I really like the Tin Hat. I have no idea how this is even possible. See? Magical powers. read more

I'm a fan! Taco Tuesday is a win. 69 cent ground beef tacos aka crappy American tacos. The beef tastes pretty good though. It's obviously beef and not filler. Seasoning was decent "taco" seasoning with shredded iceberg lettuce and chopped tomatoes on top. They serve them in an appetizing way. I was impressed in spite of myself! However impressed one can be by ground beef tacos, that is. :) My pint of Georgetown Porter was $4 including tax. Can't beat that! Server was super nice. Thanks to my friend for introducing me to this dive. Fun spot. I'll be back! read more

Ok, I loved the Tin Hat. Of all the places I've ended up in my rapid eventing these past two months, it is near the top. The layout, the location, the decor, the music, the company, the menu, the happy hour prices,...I will definitely go back. The one major downer was the kitchen opened while we were there and they were already out of sour cream? read more