Central Saloon

Nice stop for a beer on a busy Thursday. Didn't stay for any live music but saw it being set up. Well located if you're in Pioneer Square looking for a relaxed experience.

Iconic place. Really cool vibe. Be sure to visit if you're in Seattle. Nirvana played their first show here if that tells you anything.

We had drinks during our bar hopping! We wanna see where Nirvana started and Sound Garden and the Melvins! So much history inside! BTW great cover band The Paper Heart! We had fun!!

This place is the IDENTICAL floor plan as the J & M, which has been closed since before covid, and happens to be legandary in my world. Honestly, the Central is super cool and full of that quenticential 90's dive bar vibe... there's nothing quite like it! It's the oldest bar in Seattle, and IT'S STILL OPEN! They still have live music, and the appetizers are smackin'! You really can't go wrong! My suggestion....... TRY THE CITRA IPA! Big ups!!

The sign says it’s the oldest bar in Seattle. 1892, I hadn’t been here in probably a decade? It brought back a bunch of old memories. They have cool artwork and pictures of Seattle musicians. And a stage for live music.

Great place with amazing history. Bartender wasn't too friendly, but maybe just a bad day. Excellent place to visit.

Caught a flight to Seattle Central Saloon in order to see a band. Incredible bar selection and the people their are nice welcoming. Bought a shirt. Thanks for the great show. Would highly recommend.

Caught FIKR at Central Saloon on Friday, and it was an insane experience! The place was absolutely packed, the energy was electric, and the band killed it with their performance. Their sound was raw, powerful, and full of passion—every song hit hard, and the crowd was completely hooked. Central Saloon’s atmosphere made it even better—legendary venue, great vibes, and the kind of night that reminds you why live music is unbeatable. If you get the chance to see FIKR, don’t miss it!

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.

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.

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.

I couldn't leave Seattle without hitting up the legendary Central Saloon, the birthplace of grunge! Walking in, the vibes were electric, and the friendly waitress welcomed me with a smile. She served up a delicious, ice-cold IPA that hit the spot perfectly. As the music played in the background, I couldn't help but soak in the history - I was sitting in the very same bar where Kurt Cobain once rocked the stage. It's not just a bar; it's a piece of music history, and I was lucky enough to savor that moment. Cheers to Central Saloon!

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.

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.

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!)

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!

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!

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

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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I hear this is one of the first bars in Seattle or something. I don't know if that's true, but it's a good little venue for live music. The lineups seem a bit odd at times (for instance, surf then swing then metal...?!), but the stage is raised so any seat or standing position is a good one. And, they even set out a big jug o' water so you can serve yourself as needed during a thirsty eve. Bottom line: Check out the "oldest" bar in Seattle if you know you might like some of the music... or just to grab a drink.

We stopped by to check out this place today. Michael took great care of us and gave us an awesome tour of the bar and even let my kids (and husband) play rockstar for a bit. Definitely stop by for a great experience.

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!

*** 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'! ***

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.

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

I love this bar, and I am for sure a regular here. Most of the staff know my name, which is awesome! Their music is killer, and I am not just talking about the weekends! More than once I have had a bit of a rough day and end up here on a weekday after work for HH and was pleasantly surprised to encounter amazing, LIVE MUSIC! Also, I love that they have a small seating area outside, which is pivotal when making my decision of where to go for a cold beer when it is nice outside. They have a great selection of booze of course, but their food is much better than you would expect to come from a bar. There isn't anything I wouldn't recommend, it's all good. My favorite thing to order is the "Like Whoa Chicken Burger". We are talking about a large breast of chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon, avocado, jalapeño and of course your lettuce, tomato, and red onion. I'm in love! It is so much food I usually eat half and save the rest for later. I almost forgot to mention once when I was not super hungry, I ordered the mushroom soup, and it was just perfect. I have also seen someone order a large, beautiful salad, so they have something for everyone. Nachos are highly recommended as well. Love you guys Central!!

I LOVED it here! Visting seattle for a second time and went here for lunch. Delicious food with a lot of cool history (Oldest saloon in seattle, and Nirvana, Pearljam and Soundgarden performed here before they got extremely popular.) And they have pictures on the walls of the performances. Also, our server (I think his name was Zach)- Excellent! Super friendly, laid back and welcoming. Keep it up!

This is definitely a bar scene! We ate here because it was close to Comedy Underground...we all ordered burgers & fries...the food was good. The sweet potato fries were ok- waffle fries. The people were nice! I would come back here again!

We came here after leaving the Mariners game and the food was SO good!!!! I didn't eat cause I wasn't hungry but my husband and our friends did and I tried a fry or two they were probably the best fries I've ever had! Soooo good. And they all loved their burgers. I hope to return someday!

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."

THE BARTENDER MAKES THE JOINT, NOT THE BAR- and this place is lacking where it counts. Sure, i get that this may be a pioneer square locals spot or whatever the fuck, but the bartender woman (glasses, curly hair) served me a whisky with a bug inside the glass. When i called it to her attention she disputed it before realizing there was a bug in it - poured me a new one and never even apologized. She charged me for both whiskeys. This place might be a fixture in pioneer square - looks cool from the outside/inside but that doesnt account for shitty service/attitude and unwashed glassware. The one star i have goes to the bouncer- he was cool. If you come here, ask the bartender for other places to go -but dont actually stay and order a drink. Bottomline - don't go here.

I love this place. I've been here twice on my two trips to Seattle and plan to go back again this year. Yet again this is one of those places I happen to walk into that was the "Oldest". 1892 this place opened the doors. That's awesome. The place is pretty large inside, but I always sit at the bar or outside. They only have space for about 3 small 2 person tables out front, but I've been lucky enough to grab one on gorgeous September nights both times. Wife loved the Veggie burger ($10) and I got a gigantic Pulled Pork Sandwich ($9). Both came with fries and plenty of them. I feel this is important to mention. I am so sick of buying Sandwich's/Burgers and not getting a thing on the side. It's becoming ridiculous with the $12-$15 Burgers and no fries on the side. Don't give me any potato chips either. I want Fries. I try to only eat Seafood in Seattle, but since I came here on my last day of vacation I'd already seafood aplenty. I switched it up to the pork on the bartenders recommendation, and I'm glad I did. Other then the food drinks are very reasonably priced. Especially for being the last bar before the Stadiums I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Pioneer Square is a cool area so make the most of the outside seating area if you can. If you've had a couple of drinks and are enticed by a guy selling "Seattle Style" hot dogs from a cart there's something you should know. This is a grilled hot dog with cream cheese and sauteed onions...I was very glad I asked before I ordered. I Will Return.

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.

Amazing service. Great drinks. Good prices. Location location location!!!!! Carly is a great bartender the people we met here were nice. Will be back!

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.

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.

If I could give negative stars I would. The bartender (with dreds) was the most unprofessional bartender I've encountered. I tried to ask a question about a new beer on tap and was met with the most condescending response. (Expletive), I know the difference between a Hefe and an Amber, I was asking about a new tap... Also, do not pay $2 for tots. My husband and I both ordered tots, and our meals came with 5 each. Literally 5 tots. We saw other orders come out with 3x as many. Seriously, what a joke.

Apricot Cider was excellent, sandwich was solid, server was super laid back and really friendly.

I have passed by The Central dozens of times and I have no clue why I never stopped in. Perhaps bc I had a bad experience at the J&M years ago and they are locate a shop apart. Anywho, my friends and I stopped in before the Weezer show last week it was such a convenient location to stop and hang out before the show without having to run into a bunch of underage kiddo's who are only a fan bc of radio hits. I loved that they had outdoor seating as well especially on a beautiful summer Friday night! ALL of the servers/bartenders are AWESOME, I mean honestly talk about good service and being on top of their A game! They had great options on their menu like Feta Balls, Cuban Sandwich, cheese fries, and tons of other stuff that you don't find at a standard bar. They were setting up a show as we were about to leave for the concert and I wish we could've stayed. I will definitely back with such great service, yummy drinks, great location, and GREAT people watching. Oh! One last thing about the outside seating something about having outdoor seating such as theirs reminds you of being out in Europe like the outdoor cafes, except obviously different scenery. LOVED THIS PLACE!

Great burger, really nice waiter and the overall experience was fantastic. A recommendation. Always worth a visit!!

We were here for a private event recently. The staff were friendly and attentive! The food that was served, kind of buffet style was really good. It had good flavor, good selection and would certainly make me want to go back! The drinks were reasonable and certainly selection abound. I have not been here on a normal night but I could see that this place would be fun to catch a show in or just have dinner and drinks!

Why 3 stars? Because of the meh beer selection. --- --- -- Awesome looking bar. Great, central location. Cool bartenders. Just one thing missing... the beer selection! Let's beef it up, y'all! I know... I have 10,000 snobby taste buds in my mouth. I just had to Google how many taste buds we have... I expected it to be about 50-100. That's pretty shocking actually. All 10,000 of mine hate goat cheese. I don't even think there are 3 that enjoy it. But I digress... If you're a tourist doing a lot of walking about Seattle, you could do worse than using Central Saloon to grab a seat for a minute, and enjoy a mass-produced beverage.

Love this place sooooo much. The staff was warm and welcoming to us and suggested other great places for us to go while visiting Seattle. Love he atmosphere and the food and drinks!

Very pleasant waitstaff and reasonably priced drinks. My favourite place near Pioneer Square.

The free frolicking unicorn was a delight. Everything else? Eh.... Had drink remade but the remake was good... Soda was out. Fried pickles were fried. I'd think the third bar stop would sit a bit better...

This is one of the must go to spots in Pioneer Square. Cheap drinks, open space, great location. Perfect for going to before and after Mariner games or on a Friday night.

This is the most fun crazy, place I have ever been. Coming back again soon. Great food, great happy hour. ERIN ROCKS MY world

Great historic place. Go there on a weekend afternoon and spend time with Tina, the bartender. Not only is she a good historian of the Pioneer district, she is open to suggesting fun activities within Seattle. And plus, I guarantee she will make you laugh. Although a typical bar menu, the food is better than it ought to be. They are known to have live music every night of the year, but the experience is best during the day. It's a truly a working class neighborhood bar.

Established in 1892 this is Seattle's oldest Saloon. This is a must-do for anyone who is in Seattle or lives here. You have to at least go here once. If You're Expecting fine dining you're in the wrong place but if you're wanting some good bar food and stiff drinks you've come to the right one.

Awesome food! Home made tots were the bomb. Killer atmosphere of Seattle music, and old Seattle decor. Wait staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Will definitely come back on next trip and hopefully play here in the future!

We came around 9am before the Sounders Championship match on a Sunday. Super jazzed to get a table and a chance to eat something! It took almost 2 hours to get drinks, food and our bill. There was only one waitress, which seemed really unfair to her as it was clearly going to be an extremely busy morning! They didn't have champagne or La Croix "today". I asked if it was possible to get 1 of the 4 breakfast choices (limited game day menu, totally understandable) without meat, and our waitress said yes, they could do the burrito without meat. 45 min later, a burrito with bacon comes out for me. I'm not entirely surprised, as a limited menu and busy morning isn't a good candidate for customization. Either way, I wait to ask her if there is any way to get it exchanged for something without meat - even just a bun with some eggs! But no, that will take "quite a while" she says. She does offer to take the bacon burrito off our bill, and says the table can eat it. So I ask for the bill, and admittedly did not do my due diligence and check it. After I leave, I notice not only did the burrito stay on our bill, but gratuity was built in and charged, which she didn't tell me. So we spent $50 total on a tip. So, pretty terrible experience for me, ok experience for the others. I hope management considers staffing up for big events, and proving an option for people who don't eat meat.

Great quick service! Came here for a drink with my Dad for Father's Day, he used to come here back in the 80s and it was his favorite bar. We had some beers and ordered the homemade tater tots - so good!!! Definitely recommend, love the dipping sauce too.

This is my favorite place to meet up with friends in the Pioneer Square neighborhood right now. I like it because everybody knows where it is or can find it easily, they have cheap food if you want to get a snack, and they have a lot of beers on tap. By far, though, the best reason to come here is the dive-bar saloon atmosphere. The bartenders are attentive but not falling over themselves to serve anybody, and when you need them they are helpful and friendly. The place is dive-bar dirty, but seemingly due to age instead of neglect. There is an indescribable air to this really old saloon which matches the old stuff on the walls and the old wood and the old creaky barstools and the old dudes sitting at one end of the bar. I like it!