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    The Tin Hat

    4.1 (217 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, American
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Tin Hat Photos

    Business Info

    THE TIN HAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Live music
    Loud
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Tin Hat

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    Reviews With Photos

    a bar with a lot of posters hanging from the ceiling
    Jeff W.

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

    Woman riding a dolphin into the Stumbletown.
    darnit y.

    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.

    Beef tacos $0.69 each!
    Em G.

    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.

    The basket of tots was huge!
    Don K.

    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?

    Fried Chicken sandwich!
    Kenny T.

    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.

    Sprizee V.

    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.

    So good.
    Consumer Watchdog ..

    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.

    On the TINY patio

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    8 months ago

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

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    2 years ago

    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.

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    4 years ago

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

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Tin Hat

    Are they closed now?

    Back open as of 10/7/2021

    Is The Tin Hat doing any togo cocktails or other orders?

    No they are not

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Tin Hat

    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??

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Add-a-Ball

    Add-a-Ball

    4.1
    (215 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $

    I'm so obsessed with the retro vibes of this vintage arcade bar! I loved the variety of arcade…read moregames they had, including the fun themes for pinball! My faves were the Addams family and Jaws pinball machines. I came here Wednesday night on a date and was surprised at how moderately busy the bar was. There were enough people to create a lively atmosphere, but not enough that we had to wait to play games. At the bar, I ordered a cosmopolitan, but the bartender offered me a vodka cranberry instead. The drink was refreshing, but the ice gave it that watered down taste. Halfway through the night I lost my phone and only realised when my date and I were in the car. When we returned to the bar the bartender had it with him. I love that I didn't have to go looking for it. My date and I had a great time at this bar and will definitely have to come back for some more pinball soon!!

    I went here many times, albeit a few years ago, so my review may be a bit outdated. However, I will…read moresay that my friends and I have had some of the best nights of our lives here. They have a great variety of old arcade games with some more modern games mixed in. Overall, the vibes are absolutely amazing, and the beverages were reasonably priced. One small gripe I have is that I consistently found the bartenders up front to be almost comically cold and standoffish, even though my friends and I were familiar (local) faces, always friendly and respectful, and tipped generously. Once again, this was a few years ago, so I don't know if the snobbish employees in question still work there. Overall, this arcade bar is a truly fantastic place to spend the evening if you enjoy retro arcade games.

    Photos
    Pinball machines
    Pinball machines
    Add-a-Ball
    Upstairs

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    Upstairs
    Pine Tavern

    Pine Tavern

    4.8
    (20 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    We were nearby at another shop and stumbled upon the Pine Tavern. Apparently, it's been around for…read morea very long time, but has moved a few times (it's first location was earlier last century on Pine downtown). Often dive bars are dark and dingy, but this place was warm and cozy. Staff were pleasant and helpful and knew their line up of beverages well. There was ample seating inside and out. It advertised as having pinball, but there was really only one operational machine (the other was broken). So, yeah, they have pinball, but barely. There's also a nice shuffle puck table, which we used a lot. It was so much fun! Although we'd eaten elsewhere, I really wanted to try their Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Muffin. At $2 each a true bargain. It was accompanied by butter and honey, and was absolutely delish. The dry cider I was drinking complemented it well. Nice place to hang. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the neighborhood.

    Before hosting an event nearby, I saw Pine Tavern and immediately knew I had to stop in here before…read moreheading out of Ballard. I'm really never in Ballard so I knew it was (probably) now or never! If you know me, you know I'm a fan of a good dive bar. I wouldn't really classify this a true dive bar but it's very laid back and the atmosphere is super chill. Love the colorful string lights above the bar, too! We sat in the front part of the bar but I could see they had a separate back portion that looked really cool too. Service was super nice. I was hoping to try something off their menu and the bartender let me know they were out of nearly everything, but they did have grilled cheese, so that's what I had! Very simple, but super tasty and fit the vibe for a cold Seattle night. If I was in Ballard regularly, I could definitely see this being a normal hangout for me. Great vibes all around.

    Photos
    Espolon x pickle back
    Espolon x pickle back
    Photo from outside.
    Photo from outside.
    Bodhi

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    Bodhi
    Triangle Spirits

    Triangle Spirits

    4.4
    (162 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    The best happy hour in Fremont! This is my husband's and my go-to spot for fried chicken and…read moresports. Their daily 3-5 happy hour makes it particularly fun to watch college football on Saturdays or NFL on Sundays. They have a dark and cozy interior with a lovely shaded patio on hot days. We typically order the same thing each happy hour - I love the fried chicken sliders (Nashville hot) and my husband gets the fried chicken basket. We always pair that with a vieux carre. Total tab is under $35 not including tax and tip. A complete steal in Seattle these days! Service is usually quick and thoughtfully-spaced with enough time to make a dent in the drinks before the food arrives. It's the perfect spot to meet up with friends, host parents, and watch sports of any kind (the mariners game is always on).

    I visited Triangle Spirits for a Friday lunch after hearing about how great their fried chicken is…read more It wasn't very busy at all - it's probably more of a place for the evening and late night crowd given their well stocked inventory of alcohol and spirits. I believe food is made to order, so it took a good 20 minutes before my order arrived. Fried Chicken Sandwich, Nashville Style ($19) - This sandwich is pretty simple in terms of ingredients - a buttery and toasted, fluffy bun, a couple of pieces of iceberg lettuce, the requisite pieces of fried chicken, creamy mayo, and some sweet and tangy pickle rounds on the bottom, to cut through the chicken fat and fryer oil. The pickles, while necessary for the sandwich, are far sweeter than I prefer, and given in a larger quantity than most fried chicken sandwiches. The lettuce isn't applied very well; even coming to the table, large pieces had already flung out of the sandwich. The star of the show is obviously the fried chicken. A lot of people think Nashville-style just means dumping a bunch of cayenne chili powder onto a regular piece of fried chicken and calling it a day. This technique adds spice, sure, but doesn't enhance the chicken with waves of layered flavor. Triangle Spirits does it mostly right, albeit with some outside-Nashville adjustments. The chicken is clearly brined well, giving a great flavor base, then dredged in a lightly crispy breading that properly adheres. The breading isn't red in color, but has a complex spice with mild heat and a touch of sweetness. It's not too spicy at all; it would probably be characterized as a step below mild at a traditional Nashville hot chicken establishment. The chicken is pounded thin and is still relatively moist. While Triangle Spirits doesn't add cayenne to the brine, nor pour hot cayenne oil over the chicken, the overall flavor profile is excellent given the care put into the seasoning. The flavors are balanced. The sandwich comes with fries, which are normal commercial thin fries. They are fried until crisp with the interior starting to dry out, but still remaining mostly fluffy. They toss with a lot of salt so it's on the saltier side. (4/5) I actually revisited a couple of weeks later to try out their bone-in chicken, which is by far my preferred way of eating Nashville-style hot chicken. Dark Meat, 3PC, Nashville Hot ($21) - This is more like 2.5 pieces of chicken, with a thigh, drum, and wing flat. The chicken is remarkably similar in taste and fry level as the sandwich, juicy inside, lightly crisp on the outside. Again, with a very mild heat, balanced with the excellently brined chicken, some smokiness from the chilis, and a bit of sugar sweetness. Just a great layered flavor profile. This time, they actually do douse the chicken a little in cayenne oil - but again, it's a very mild one. Unfortunately there's no piece of white bread underneath to soak up all the oil. I wonder if they fry in peanut oil because I taste some nuttiness in the breading as well. This comes with one side, of which I went with the collard greens. They are cooked well, with some vinegar to cut through all the bitterness, but still leaving some texture. They come in a cup that's filled to the top with essentially a ham (maybe bacon?), onion, and garlic broth. There's not much acidity at all, and it's pretty nice to drink just as a soup. I'm not sure this is a great side to go with the fried chicken though - when it came to the table, since the cup was so full of soup, some spilled out and soaked into the chicken. (5/5) Service is generally on the slower and lackadaisical side. Even for lunch, when there was barely any traffic, on both visits it took me almost an hour and half from entering the establishment to leaving. It's definitely not a place for a quick lunch. Most people eating here probably get a beer or liquor, but I drink water only. The water cup they give is tiny, and with the inattentive service, it doesn't get refilled often. I wish they left a small jug of water at each table. At any rate, the fried chicken Triangle Spirits serves is actually very good. I wonder why it doesn't appear on any best of Seattle fried chicken lists - because it's definitely better than some of the entries on the typical list I see. Bathrooms - Two larger ones, one for men, one for women. Food: [4.5/5] Service: [-] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 4/5

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fried Chicken Sandwich

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    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    The Barrel Thief

    The Barrel Thief

    4.0
    (242 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    I really liked this place -- it had such a welcoming vibe, and the unique décor was amazing. From…read morethe moment we walked in, Luke the bartender immediately greeted us with a warm and sincere demeanor. We initially thought it was a fine dining restaurant and were a little disappointed to see a limited menu. However, it's actually a fantastic spot for drinks and light bites. We decided to stay since we had never been there before, and Luke was so gracious we almost felt bad leaving! We ordered the meat and cheese platter along with a couple of drinks, and everything was Grade A. I'm giving it an A+ though, because of Luke's outstanding service.

    Everything was great and the owner Jeff was there tending bar when my friend and I went in for…read morehappy hour. We were the only ones in there for a while and so had a chance to talk with Geoff, who made great recommendations for food and was very pleasant and friendly. Everything we tried was delicious. My friend initially ordered a drink that wasn't on happy hour as she had forgotten to ask about it, and at the end, Jeff had changed the price to a happy hour price since he didn't let her know about that in advance. Very class move and going the extra mile in a way that makes a huge difference and leaves along lasting impression on the customer! Happy hour food menu is small, but that seems to be for a reason, because what they do they do well!

    Photos
    Gnocchi
    Gnocchi
    The Barrel Thief
    The Barrel Thief

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    The Tin Hat - divebars - Updated August 2026

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