College Inn Pub

This is a simple college bar with affordable drinks and bar games. It can get busy, so arrive early. A standout was the coconut porter; I did find the cocktails to be slightly overpriced and wouldn’t recommend anything too complex. Enjoy friends and beer in all it’s glorious simplicity.

A great place for locals and visitors alike. Also, check out their website for information about how some regulars saved this iconic pub from the effects of the pandemic. A true feel good story.

I play way too much pool here. Its my favorite place, and I love everyone who works here. I hope they find a new owner after May

New owners. Great, former regulars. Get down here and support a historic and wonderful part of "old Seattle" that is updated, but has all of the great traits that made me love it years ago.

Nice chillax place. The place you go when you age out of Earls on the Ave or enter grad school. Quaint and cozy. Great food, the Tofu cubano is killer no filler. Pizza is pretty decent if you don't want to walk up to Mod or Supreme. Great barkeeps. It's just an all around winner as long as you literally can walk (unfortunately it is not the most ADA tolerant due to historical status). Also the amount of extramarital affairs I've had in this place is just astounding.

A gem for conversation, rendezvous, studying and more. Quality brews at an affordable price. Service is never short of warm and inviting. A true U-District institution.

We had a meeting here and everything was great. Friendly employees, good food and great atmosphere!

Great vintage brick basement atmosphere, with cheap pool tables and darts (50¢ to play). The drinks are a little steep but that's true for every bar in this area, and the happy hour deals help make up for it.

This place is fun!!! The entrance is in the back of the building and there's a little bit of stairs. You enter into this low lighted space and there's the bar. On the left there's pool and the right has booth style seating. Service was rad the people there are really chill and nice. Food and drinks were pretty good. Every day of the week there's a different happy hour. There seemed to be a lot of grad students. I will have to come back for trivia soon!

I came here a few weeks ago for trivia night with a group of friends. Let's be clear -- this spot is a DIVE bar. Having "college" in the name makes sense because it definitely gives off that vibe: eclectic aesthetic, dimly lit, noisy, filled with young people, and primarily beer and well drinks. These aren't detractors -- we actually had a great time and my squad thrives in these "hole in the wall" spots -- just an FYI if you're looking for a quieter spot to hang out. Given it was a trivia night, I'm unsure if service is different on other days, but it was fine. You order at the bar and, if you get food (which is mostly no fuss pub fare), you get a number and they bring it to your table. We shared a big pretzel with beer cheese and, while I didn't order an alcoholic bev this time, I did recognize they had a solid selection of beer, cider, etc. The pretzel was nothing to rave about, but the beer cheese was INSANELY good. The only reason this place doesn't get a 5 star review is because it's a tight space to navigate especially when it's busy and the food, for what you're getting, is a little pricey. That said, the trivia was great, the vibe is fun, and I can see why it's packed on a weeknight. Side note: this place is super LGBTQ+ friendly (or it was on the night we went). Major bonus!

In the past couple of years, I've been to CIP a lot more. It turns out, it is a great place for the after-work crowd as I know several people who go here specifically for that. I appreciate the efforts they make for food when I know they have a restricted kitchen. They have a good amount of activities. I have been when they were going to have trivia night and the place was hopping when I left! The staff is always friendly, but they are are super friendly with regulars! I've never been disappointed with the drinks I get there. I prefer ciders and Irish whiskey. The ciders, like the beers, change regularly, which is fun.

A divey little bar tucked into the corner of UW's campus -- the entrance is through a little alleyway and down a flight of stairs. They have 2 rooms, one with a pool table in the corner! They have a nice beer selection and I came on a Wednesday afternoon to do some reading. It wasn't overly noisy in their, either! There must have been an event or HH meeting, since the line to order got pretty long and the bar seemed understaffed -- I got the Huckleberry cider and loved it, as well as snagged a bag of chips from their many offerings! They have trivia on Tuesday, according to their schedule, which I would love to check out. I would totally come back again for a chill hang or to play some pool.

Sick little spot, love the basement vibes. Great for a quick visit on game day! Will return for sure.

Overpriced food, Decent drinks, when they decide to serve you. Bartender was very judgmental of my friend's disability and deemed his speech impediment as drunken behavior and refused him service, and me by associating with him. Great gaming and lounge area, but some of the staff needs an attitude adjustment. Go here with low expectations, depending on the staff.

Loved this place! We came in on the earlier end and the place was pretty empty so we had the pool table to ourself for awhile. The drinks were good and well priced. They had 3$ Jell-O shots that were totally worth it! This place is pretty casual and has a cool retro vibe. The staff were also very kind, accommodating and funny! I really enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend their cocktails.

My friends and I came here the other night to grab a few drinks and play some darts and pool. It's one of the very few underground pubs in the U-District area and so it's a hidden jewel. The entrance can be kind of tricky to find, but it's located in a short alley way located between NE 40th and University Way (facing the District Market). There is an arrow that points to it too. College Inn Pub has a very rustic tavern feel- wood walls and furniture, classic dart boards with chalkboards, pool tables, pinball machines, and Western cowboy bathroom doors. They're prices are standard for drinks- about $10 for a cocktail, $6 for a shot. They have happy hour specials on Mondays and daily drink specials too. My friend said he really liked their nachos, so I'll have to order a plate next time. I've heard Fridays tend to get crowded, but we were basically the only people there when we went on a Wednesday night. There were a few people studying in the booths, which my friend claims is also a normal occurrence. The music is not loud unlike Finns and Earls, so I can see why people don't mind studying here. Service was good and we had a friendly bartender/host. The pool table balls got stuck a few times, but he was able to help us out. Overall: 4/5 for drinks, 5/5 for service, 5/5 for atmosphere

While the College Inn Pub has new owners, the place hasn't changed much at all since the first time I came here almost 30 years ago. And that is part of the charm as the place feels a bit anachronistic and also familiar at the same time. What also hasn't changed is a solid line up of draft beers and bar food. Most of the beers are local, and recently, I enjoyed a Seapine IPA as well as a Maritime Pacific Raccoon Red ale which is brewed specially for the College Inn Pub. The menu is limited with some apps and sandwiches, and I love the old school pizza bread which tasted like a staple from my college years. It's a bit quiet during the summer, but should be buzzing once school is back in session. The location is a bit further down from the main drag, and so it's a bit more laid back and a bit hidden but one of the best bars in the U district and has been for decades.

I've been coming to the CIP since the late '80s. After it was closed for a while during COVID, I was delighted when it re-opened under new ownership. They deep-cleaned and updated the place, but the best parts are unchanged - great selection of beers, full bar, cozy seating areas, and a terrific and friendly staff who obviously love working there. Oh, and they updated the menu too! Love this place.

I've been coming here for a couple years but recently had an awful experience with a bartender named Coleen. I'd recommend you'd avoid this place unless you like being talked down to while trying to purchase a drink.

This historic pub, closed by the pandemic and resuscitated by new owners, is wonderfully faithful to its history but with some terrific innovations and an amazing staff. One of the poor reviews posted above was submitted by a customer who sexually harassed a bartender and was subsequently 86ed by supportive management and, when he tried to return and was barred, had an undignified screaming meltdown.,.. (Sound familiar, Guy J? As a regular, I can tell you that your fit was embarrassing for everyone present.)

Basically, a surviving pre-boomer college pub. It's non-specialness is what makes it special. Good place to have a conversation with some friends, maybe chat up a girl.

A classic old dive. I checked it out before a UW basketball game and am glad I did. Good beer selection, friendly bartender, and it was half price nacho night that day. Seemed like a good mix of college kids, grad students, local workers and maybe professors. I liked sitting by the fireplace too.

Great cocktails + amazing service! In town for work and stopped by for a couple drinks with my friend. I was pleasantly surprised as we walked down the stairs and entered the super cozy and chill basement bar! Emmet was our bartender and he made our experience SO LOVELY!!! We kept ordering fancy cocktails (cause we're old), and he was so nice and friendly the whole time, even telling us he was enjoying making our super high maintenance drinks since it was a Sunday night and he had time to perfect them. I would come back to this bar for Emmet alone...we got a couple house cocktails, a gimlet, an aperol spritz and a filthy martini and he made them all perfectly. Thanks for the wonderful night!!!

Great service, free pool, good beer. Oh, A/C too, reallllly nice after a bike ride. Occasionally they play ABBA which is always a great choice. Would recommend!

Absolutely love the atmosphere, the new owners have done a fabulous job to keeping the traditions alive. I live out of town, and will support this amazing place whenever I am in the area. If you have not been there yet, give it a try. I have been several times already and will continue.

Dirty basement bar that mistreats their customers. We were there with a large group of 40+ year old business professionals. A waitress claimed our friend (black man) touched her inappropriately and the next night (after serving him the rest of the night), they refused him service. We witnessed first hand, the waitress reprimand him for touching her arm as she walked away. He immediately apologized for any misunderstanding and did so two more times throughout the night. They then sought him out at the college to further damage his reputation. You make you own inference on what the waitress' motivation was. We will never spend a dollar in their again.

Fantastic nachos and the owner is super nice. They have a great beer selection and it always feels super cozy!

We had an after party with about 40 guests at the College Inn Pub in July. We cannot say enough good things about this place! The owner, Jen, and manager, Dan, were so accommodating and easy to work with. They set aside time to talk with us one-on-one before the event to make sure we had the best experience possible. They made us feel very special on our big day and all our guests loved the place. Hopefully we have converted some of them into regulars! 10/10 would recommend this place for a great intimate and laid-back vibe in the summer.

I dig this place. I've been a couple of times. It's cozy(gas fireplace), 1 pool table, 2 dartboards, 2 pinball machines and plenty of seats. Happy hour all day Sunday

I spent 6 years in the area for college and prior to a Huskies game a few weeks ago, we had never been in here. After checking it out we understand why people like it! It's located in the basement of a building pretty deep on the Ave. Access is from the side of the building basically in the alley. As you come down the stairs, this place feels like a speakeasy from yesteryear. Dim lighting, a fire going in one area, couple different rooms to sit in and a very cool, mellow vibe throughout. Lots of seating options including some long booths, bars stools and tons of tables. Order at the bar and they bring drinks out to you, while servers take food orders at your table. Pretty standard offerings and if not for he vibe and atmosphere here, this place is a 3. The nachos were solid and were a nice adjunct to a pitcher of whatever it was that we had. Prices are reasonable and much improved from the football game prices! Great spot to chill and grab a brew on a cool Seattle evening!

Been coming here off and on for years. If you know what an original u-district dive bar is like then you'll feel right at home. Good beer, lots of wood, dark, cleanliness is suspect, lots of fun games, no bullshit bartenders, and a sweet little fireplace. Really love the atmosphere. Food is the primary downside. Their menu is small and not great. If they dialed up the food the place would be a dream. Great place to have good conversations and chill.

Character and great people. Places like this without the plastic sheen of mass-market corporatism are harder and harder to find.

Great little bar tucked away near the UW campus. Staff are friendly and attentive and lots of TVs tucked around to watch the various games.

This is what a pub should be!! It's super laid back and cozy. Good selection of brews and a great margarita. The service was great very attentive and friendly!

A great place for locals and visitors alike. Also, check out their website for information about how some regulars saved this iconic pub from the effects of the pandemic. A true feel good story.

I used to really like this place. Now, every time I come in they give me a new reason not to come back. Me and my friends have been scolded multiple times for very minor offenses like using another (empty) table's cue ball after we discovered ours was eaten by the table, and taking our water cups too far up the staircase. Tonight was the most bizarre experience however, as the bartender wanted to close two hours early on a Friday night because it was "too slow" (it wasn't crowded, but there was definitely a healthy amount of people). Instead of cutting the music and letting everyone know it was last call like any other bar, this guy decides to blast horror ambient sounds over the sound system to drive people out. I stayed just long enough to hear: -Masses of flies -Thumping wooden floorboards and buzzsaws -Drills going through what sounded like bone There was a speaker directly above our table and it creeped us out so we asked him to cut the sounds twice but he refused both times as it's "just something he does when he wants to close". We left without finishing our drinks because we didn't want to sit in a horror movie anymore. Absolutely terrible experience.

Went here for DYL on Friday night. It's pretty much impossible to get a table if you can't show up right after happy hour #1 starts at 4 PM. I showed up at 6:15-ish and there was not an open table in sight. I got the $2.50 PBR during happy hour and $4.50 Stella after. About the PBR, you know what they say: "When in Rome..." We met some cool college folks playing pool, which is free on Sundays. Peter W., the event's liver destruction coordinator, taught us how to play Cricket at the dart board. I learned quite fast that I will never play darts for money. I would lose my savings in ten minutes or less. For 20-something singles this place is great. It's a largely college-aged (and thankfully non-Greek) crowd, and you know what that means. To quote a comedian I once saw (I think it was Rob Cordry, former Daily Show correspondent), "College: where everyone is young and nubile!" Next time a DYL takes place here more Yelpers should show up and educate as to how real drinking is done.

I stopped by briefly on a Friday after work and was seriously impressed. As someone who's slightly introverted I found it quiet and spacious enough to sit down and read, or use my computer. Yet the staff and others customers were friendly enough so I feel like I could always join in if I was feeling like chatting. I'm definitely coming back just to chill out after work either alone or with friends!

Lots of tables, some booths, jukebox, pool and just a couple TV screens. The place where a lot of the Grad Students from UW come to hang out. If there's a game playing, then there will definitely be a lot of "bro" action going on, complete with yelling standing high-fives and cheap beer pitchers. Otherwise it is pretty chillax and the cool kids come to mingle with the other cool kids. Booth tables are huge and great for game nights!

I stumbled along this place looking for the nearest bar to Husky Stadium after a basketball game. This place had the shortest walk, and I'm glad we came. They have a lot of activities to play - darts, pool, arcade games. The food looked good, and the staff was super friendly. They checked on us regularly to make sure our drinks were full.

Great spot for a beer and a bite. Varied beer selection with a good blend of Seattle solids. Drinks are stiff and the service was personable and prompt. Probably my new work happy hour spot.

What a gem! My beau took me for a little walk through the university district and when he turned down what looked like an alley and then we walked down all these stairs I must admit that I was a little taken aback and skeptical. However this place really swept me off my feet. We found this table around the corner from the bar, the table with all the character carved into it. It was so fun to read the various messages while we made up stories about the person who carved them. The drinks were strong, and the crowd was loud and fun. It's not a place to study (at least on friday nights) because of how many people are partying there. There was a 21 run there with us, that was fun to watch. The staff was attentive and friendly and were also full of character. Definitely a highlight of the night.

I love this bar so much, I don't even know where to start with this review. My friends and I have been coming here regularly (1+ times a week) for the last couple of years. We've spent so much time here, sometimes I feel like it's my second home. I feel so connected to this place--we've had so many laughs, cries, good times, and serious times here. It's so nice to just go hide away in a booth for a few hours with your friends and some good food/drink. The music is always changing, depending on the bartender and mood I'm assuming, but it always hits the spot.The bartenders and other staff are amazing. We mostly see Gabe and Barrett and we love these guys. They have great personalities, great jokes, and provide especially great service. Alright, enough of this sappy stuff and on to the menu. The Pub Nachos are my absolute favorite. Hands down, these are the best nachos I have ever had. They're drenched in the works and I mean it. It's hard to come by nachos that aren't dry. I'm pretty sure every chip on this nacho plate is topped with something tasty. Also, did I mention that these nachos are only $4.50 all day Monday, and $4.50 EVERYDAY at lunch. $4.50!!!!! The Plain ol' Nachos are pretty good too if you're not into all the chili, but personally I love the chili. I've tried the Vegetarian and Spicy Turkey grinders, chili bowl with rice, and caesar salad. I've never had something here that has disappointed me. They have a great rotating beer selection which changes frequently, as well as some year-round staples. Lately I've been drinking a wine spritzer kind of drink recommended by the bartender, which has been especially refreshing. I don't know what my life would be like if I didn't discover this bar, but it would probably be pretty lame. My best friend even threw me a birthday party here this year--there's a room in the back you can reserve for a group! Since my friends and I frequent this place during the lunch hour when it's not very busy, I thought this was a hidden gem, but it gets pretty packed in the evenings (from what I've seen). Selfishly, I would have loved for this to stay a hidden gem, but it makes me happy to know that this bar is doing well--they deserve it! I hope the College Inn Pub never closes so I can continue coming here for the rest of my life.

Adorable pub. I was a little skeptical of how nice it would be, given the whole 'college inn pub' name, but it's really nice. Great place to grab a table with friends and have some good conversation. They have a pool table, and a back room that you can reserve. Very cozy vibe!

This place is the true, real Seattle and I'm happy to say I started my "21-run" here. I also came here to drown my sorrows after my manager laid me off at one of my first post-graduation jobs. I have a lot of history here, and it has become a bit of a time capsule. Which I love to death. It's rare that something stays that constant. I hope this place retains its character. Every time I come here it makes me nostalgic, and almost want to be a college student all over again... almost. It's a popular place for student groups to gather. It's still welcoming to anyone, and retains its divey wholesomeness. Graffiti covers the bathroom walls. The wine is cheap at happy hour and served in a cup, Italian-style, because screw stemware. The chili and nachos great. The Italian grinder is scrumptious. The food isn't so pricey. The bartenders/servers are friendly. I have no complaints. I would meet anyone and everyone here for a drink.

Ahhh, the perfect spot for Group Therapy after classes, lecture and exams.... Always able to accommodate the 25 or so of us that walk in, but it it usually fills up real quick and gets to be quite entertaining. Bravo to there seriously rotating tap handles, especially the Stouts and Porters, never had such an amazing experience with beers that I would have never have even thought to try... Gabe, Barrett and the rest of the bunch are a pleasure to be around and take time to chat instead of just being like many other bartenders (especially those in the U-District) I am home here. I come here once a week for my pint or two and enjoy it every time. The only downfall, not a decent food selection... I guess that is what the rest of the "Ave" is for...

Lots of excellent service? No. Super quick to grab your drink from the bar? Not so much. Lots of room to find a seat on a Friday? Good luck. However, cheap HH prices on your cocktail basics, and the $3.50 hot dog bagel with tortilla chips = Totally worth it. Definitely more of a beer joint, don't go for your shmancy fruity drinks (not dissing fruity drinks, theyre my fav). I go for a vodka tonic, kinda hard to screw that up. And everyone seems to dig the food they have, which is very reasonably priced. And I kinda like the old school college bar feel. Nothin fancy, but a nice joint if you want a drink and some food and you happen to be a broke-ass grad student.

Best dive in the u-district. Nachos are fantastic, and the staff is super friendly.

Worst bar on the Ave for students. Alot of better places, strict staff, not friendly at all. I highly recommend you head elsewhere we had a horrible experience here. Smells bad and the staff does not understand its population. The short blonde manager actually had the audacity to yell at us as we left. DO NOT come here if you've only got a few places to visit. Love, Cartman bitch (trust yelpers)

First off, I love this bar. It definitely has character and an atmosphere that most can feel comfortable in. Whether you are there with a buddy or a group, it's always good. The pub fare is decent, especially after you've put down a few, and the bartenders are great. The kind that actually get to know you and remember you after awhile...especially when you go there as often as I used to. The beer selection is good (though they did get rid of Bud Light - the owner told me it was because I stopped going there regularly), the music volume is just right (enough to enjoy, yet not drown out a conversation). Keep in mind this place probably isn't for everyone, but for me, a definite comfort bar, kinda like the Elbow Room.

Looking for a place to go before the game. Awesome service great beer. Had the turkey grinder and it came out quick. Lots of older ladies that expect a high end wine that bitch if the don't get it. But I thought it was a perfect place to grab a beer and bite within 30 minutes. Seating was hard to find but if you are easy going this is the place to go.

This is a good place for affordable fun for the college wallet. It is also a good place to pick up UW guys. The ratio is 10:1 , at least when I went it was about that. It was a Saturday night, and pretty crowded. If you added all the people in all the other bars, it wouldn't compare. They have daily drink specials, and their other drinks are probably a buck cheaper than the other places down the street. This is the place to watch guys drink girly colorful drinks because of the affordability. Too bad my college didn't have something like this.

Good grungy, dark basement college bar. Whether you are a Husky fan or a visitor, this is the great place for beers before a UW game. Very good selection of local (and non-local) beers, fair prices, and friendly staff. When I visited two weeks ago there was a local brewer with his IPA on tap holding a raffle. Guys in UW jerseys were playing pool. Everyone seemed to be having a good time despite the very long line at the bar for beers.

The beer is always solid but you can look for food somewhere else. The rest of university ave has better options given that they don't have a full kitchen.

First time in here the last night and was not disappointed. I'm sure it can get loud but last night it was it was perfect. Best vibe of any bar in the U District. Quiet enough to study in, cool enough to hang out! Love this place and will be coming back frequently. I regret the time spent at Big Time (noisy and crowded)!

Low key and chill. Love the pool tables, beer selection, and overall feel of this gem. Feels the best crowded. Tuesday is trivia night.

I'm going to agree 100% with pacie on the atmosphere and vibe. This place was packed when I arrived (a little tardy, missed actual HH) last night. I can imagine the stairs down into are a bit scary when too tipsy or heeled to high, but having learned my lesson at the elite event on the 4+in heels I was good to go. The pool tables were taken, but rotated throughout the night,....no one group was 'hogging' them, which is always good. Didn't partake. Pool is free on Sundays. The drinks were average priced (at non HH prices) and were good. Thanks to Peter, I know how to play "cricket" at darts..which was really fun. I'm always up for some sort of activity and a little competition while drinking. Good for groups, interesting layout, a jukebox that made me feel like I was in high school again. For the ladies, there was a fine display of multiple age groups of guys having a good time. =) Parking, both street and lot, was fairly ample for the area and it being a Friday night. Thanks Peter for hosting, hope to hit this place again!