College Inn Pub

Historic U District Dive the College Inn Pub Reopens | Eater Seattle

"Reopened in July after more than a year dormant, the College Inn Pub in the U District aims to recapture the well-loved, smoky dive-bar vibe it had in the 1990s—when, as longtime server Jen Gonyer recalls, “heavy, heavy, heavy blankets of smoke in the top probably four feet [of the bar]” filled the room—while now feeling noticeably brighter after 35-plus years of indoor tobacco use were finally painted over. Gonyer, who worked there in the 90s and even wrote part of her UW grad school dissertation in the place, partnered with her husband Al Donohue and friend Seth Howard to take over the lease and keep visible changes minimal, focusing major renovations on unseen systems like safer electrical work, updated plumbing to code, modern kitchen equipment, a new computer system, and better bar gear; the building is over a hundred years old and the bar itself used to be a storage space. The menu remains largely the same—mainstays like nachos and grinders—with a new meatball sandwich proving popular recently; the kitchen is still limited (there’s no fryer or grill and they’ve removed the microwave), so the pub will likely stick to basics. On draft are local beers from Cloudburst, Skookum, and Ravenna along with PBR for older-school patrons, and there’s a full bar serving classic cocktails with freshly made juice. The pub has been open for about a month of indoor service with no vaccine requirement for entry (masks required starting Aug. 23), and the owners are working on an outdoor deck across from the main entrance, all with the stated goal of maintaining the history and community feel that made the place beloved." - Gabe Guarente