Diesel

I’d been wanting to check this place out for a while and decided to come by on Taco Tuesday. I came hoping to meet people and enjoy the atmosphere, but the experience ended up being pretty uncomfortable. The bar was clearly understaffed, which I understand happens. But I still left feeling unwelcome, especially as someone with mobility needs. I was told exactly where to stand instead of being offered options, and asked to stay there until my food was ready. When I asked if there was more patio space, I got laughed at instead of a simple “no.” Later, I moved to a ledge so I could lean more comfortably, and the bartender called me out publicly. He said he couldn’t move me again because he couldn’t get the cook’s attention (which he didn't explain earlier, I really wasn't trying to cause trouble). He and a customer laughed about it :( I apologized and went back to where I was before, but it felt pretty humiliating. I tried to stick it out as long as I could. Eventually, the cook came out with someone else’s order, and I let him know I needed to cancel mine. He didn’t know what I had ordered and asked me to speak with the bartender. I said I would. It wasn’t my intention to waste anyone’s time—just hard to know how to handle things when it felt like I’d already been made into a problem. I offered my future tacos to someone nearby (they didn’t want them), so I guess those are now free for the bar. When I told the bartender I was leaving and that the tacos could go to someone else, he looked furious—white-knuckled and completely unresponsive. I’d already paid and tipped, so the bar wasn’t losing anything. I just didn’t feel comfortable staying, and honestly, I wasn’t hungry anymore. Being almost a year sober, I’ve found that showing up to places like this takes effort. I came hoping to feel part of something, but left feeling like I didn’t belong. Not sharing this to drag the bar, just hoping it’s useful context for anyone else navigating similar situations. I might avoid Taco Tuesdays at Diesel in the future, and if I come back, I’ll probably try a different night—or a different bartender. There was a handwritten sign joking that you won’t find skinny boys at Diesel, and maybe I should’ve taken the hint. I love bears, but I felt like I was an eyesore 💔

I believe the bartender was being racist and didn’t want to serve me because of my ethnicity. He said he couldn’t serve me because I was “falling asleep” even though that wasn’t true and I only had one drink. I don’t think it would have been an issue if I were the right race. Unfortunately, sometimes in Seattle, bartenders are quick to make “harsher” judgement calls when the patron is a person of color and make up reasons not to serve them. I honestly believe the bartender working tonight is racist.

One of my must go-tos any time I make it to Seattle. Great bartenders, good food, and a great mix of people despite being a "bear bar." Have a good stiff drink, watch some RDPR and "other things" (hehe), and relish in being amongst a diversity of people who will accept you for who you are. This is the bar where I've enjoyed talking to strangers and shows the "Seattle freeze" is a myth! If you want a packed place that's a lot of fun, but where you and all of your friends will feel welcome, this is it!

Diesel was a sexy, fun place to grab a drink. The bartender was friendly and we enjoyed the people watching. Great place for leather or fetish nights and stiff… drinks.

Bar tender attempted to kick us out despite the fact that we showed ID as we entered. There is someone who is taking ID as you walk in so clearly minors couldn't be in even if they wanted to. My group was 4 people all at least 25. It was just super weird. Crowd was ok. Drinks were fantastic. It just wasn't a super fun or welcoming bar. I'm gay everyone in my group was at least bi so I kinda just don't get why today they were so harsh we were kinda shoved around a lot. Maybe this just isn't a bar for younger folks but I just really don't understand why everyone we encountered was so unwelcoming. Only 3 decent songs the whole 2 hrs we were there and no one was dancing or anything. I really feel like this place could've been a great spot I loved the drinks and their prices.

Amazing gay bar where you can meet bears and daddies, which I have been ogling the entire time with friends ;) Didn't have any food there so I can't really rate. Had my first ever shot of whiskey here and I can say that my first time drinking whiskey will forever be remembered at a gay bar in Seattle. Of course straight men, proceed with caution because you'll either be discriminated or kicked out unfortunately. Otherwise, give this bar a shot! Totally worth it!

Diesel has been my always go to bar in Seattle. The drinks are hands down the best in town and it’s always packed with hot guys!

Very friendly and outgoing staff. Very comfortable and safe place to get drinks and socialize. Will return.

Diesel has been a longtime staple in the Capitol Hill community. If you want a masculine bar that gives a strong drink; come here. I loved being walking distance from here when I lived in Seattle; and always make a stop in when I'm visiting.

One of my favorite gay bars in town. The staff is always incredibly nice, and the clientele never makes me feel unwelcome since they cater to guys who aren't twinks. Love it so much!

Vest club Trans Welcomes with a date Iknow the owner Yes Good time here Mwah

I should have a spent my money elsewhere, super disappointing experience. I wouldn't recommend this venue to my friends or family members.

They cut me off after one drink. When I asked why, the bartender told me it was "because of the way that I walked." I have a temporary injury that prevents me from walking "correctly". Most people don't notice this but apparently the bartender at Diesel did. When I politely tried to explain this, he made very clear to me that I would need to leave immediately. In 44 years on this earth I have never been asked to leave a bar, or anywhere else for that matter. I was not intoxicated; I was not loud; I was not disruptive. I was kind, polite, and trying to get to know someone who I was interested in, and--as you could imagine--didn't go so well after I was kicked out of the bar. I am heartbroken and tremendously embarrassed. Please have a member of your management team contact me right away. (206) 482-9325

I have come here twice now over the past month and I have felt welcomed by the others bartenders, they greet you and make a point of knowing your name and call you by your name when asking you if you want another drink or anything from their menu which by the way is very good as they have excellent food. The other patrons were friendly as well and very accepting of a newbie in their midst.

If you're looking for a bear bar, this is definitely it and that's what they tout it as. So, no surprises here. I've had some very good times here, and I'm not a bear. I like the atmosphere, and the bartenders are pretty cool. I find the drinks to be very expensive. The place is small and frequently packed shoulder-to-shoulder. But they also have outdoor seating. This bar isn't for everyone--but it's definitely for some.

NOT a safe place for Black folks, let alone for Black femmes. Staff and management police and silence the laughter of Black folks enjoying themselves stating "when YOU laugh, we THINK you're screaming and we get SCARED." Yet whites within our close proximity was doing the same thing without repercussions. Our group left afterwards: feeling humiliated, silenced, and one of us literally holding back tears due to the racist nature of this space.

Probably the worst service of any bar I've ever been in. Two people serving on a Saturday night at an overcrowded bar is ridiculous. In the 10 minutes I waited, 3 people were served. If I could give zero stars, I really would. If you want a drink, probably best to go elsewhere.

First and foremost, this is a community bar where loyal customers have been finding powerful drinks, Taco Tuesdays, and reconnecting with friends for years. I might go as far to say that there is a sense of family here, but that doesn't mean if you're new you wouldn't be just as welcome. From regular theme nights (e.g. leather/harness) to just an average day (think flannel and jeans), there is an easygoing vibe among the patrons. Funky decor, TV screens with videos playing, and a small footprint give this spot a high energy vibe where conversations are easy to start with the person next to you. It's definitely a gay bar. Some would describe it as a "bear, leather" spot, but that's not all who come to enjoy the space. You'll see a few women and a some straight people on occasion, but this is a place where the guys go to hang within their community. The staff and owners are pretty cool guys who enjoy what they do and that translates to how they interact with their customers. A note to the newbies: The drinks are impactful. Take your time here and watch yourself. It's easy to let the heavy pours catch you unprepared. Limited outdoor seating under canopies available.

So tonight, I was by myself enjoying a beer... one of the bartenders ask me to move to a different spot because they had a bigger group, I was not very happy about it but I Understood. When I had my tab I noticed that it was $10 I asked the bartender how much was a beer... he politely told me that he was gonna ask, he came back and told me it was $5 then the bar Manager grabbed my ticket and said that he gave me another beer which he didn't ... He was very rude and as a manager he didn't know how to handle the Situation. He literally kicked me out for a mistake he made. I understand that sometimes We make mistakes that's what makes us Human beings but his attitude was Not necessary. I love this place But I did not like the way this situation was Handled.

Hot hot hotties harnesses for days. Pecs for days. All the guys were friendly and welcoming ;)

This was our last stop of the afternoon/evening and wasn't expecting much to be honest. Both indoor and outdoor dining is available. Waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. Drinks were relatively cheap @ 5.00/ea and bartender only charged us for 2 drinks instead of 4. We decided to have dinner and shared a flame grilled burger and some nachos. Burger was very tasty and nachos weren't saturated with lots of toppings nor were they soggy. Bar was very clean and masks were not required (if fully vaccinated).

Always loved this place for drinks... The food is fantastic! The burger here is my new favorite on Capitol Hill!

Going to a grungy bear bar you'd think beer would be the only thing good on the drink menu. However their martinis are superb, excellent, leaps and bounds above anywhere else. Wherever I go in Seattle I order a dirty Martini, and Diesel serves them up. They're generous with the olives, perfect in their proportions, vigorous in their shaking. The bartender was superb and shook it till there was a thin film of ice at the top, noting this was his preferred method of enjoying the drink. Fantastic experience, great drinks. Fun people.

Love you Layton. Chicken quesadilla was stuffed with amazing ingredients. My friend liked his burger and the fries were nicely seasoned.

So this is a bear bar. Remember that. They had porn playing in the back, which to me was funny, but if you are not ready for that do not some and give them a bad review. The servers were cool and they offered good suggestions for food and drinks. Overall, I and my friend had a fun time and got to voyer Seattle during my short time there. I recommend it, especially after going two nights in a row.

Stumbled into this bear bar last night for drinks with some friends after dinner. No complaints here. Drinks are strong and decently priced, staff were super nice, and everyone was friendly. Cant wait to return once this damn pandemic is over!

Definitely my favorite bar in Seattle. Visited while I was in town for a few days, and it is the place to be if you're a beefy bear or furry guy looking for a chill time. All my drinks were strong, and the price was normal for weekend bar tabs. It seemed so freaking hot while I was visiting the city, so I really appreciated the A/C in the back corner being on full blast.

This place is amazing. I've been coming here for years as my neighborhood bar and even during COVID they have stepped up their game. The service is impeccable and more importantly they treat everyone with respect, which is not the case for many gay bars on the hill (won't mention any names, Madison pub) Spend your money here, it's worth it and the drinks and food are awesome. Always a great time

Great people and great staff. Be prepared for a stiff drink. They can indeed make anything. AC is great in the summer

Parked my car here a while back and came back to my tire popped. I wouldn't review the bar after having this happen cause I figured it was a random occurrence, but I like going to Skillet across the street and came back recently and saw another car parked outside Diesel in the exact same spot with its tires popped too. I would definitely avoid parking here.

Note to bartender: if I pay for a beer that's gone bad, the least you could do if offer me another and not just say "sorry". Dude, some customer skills would not hurt.

While in Seattle, we had planned on doing some bar-hopping, but our plans ran out of gas (lol) at Diesel. We ended up having so much fun, the only hopping we did was to claim a bar stool. The crowd here was a fun mix of all ages, races, sizes and some of the friendliest and enjoyable patrons, local and visiting, I have had the fun of socializing with in a long time. Fun crowd, good prices, five 'WOOFS'

Love this place fun fun fun great place coming back again wish I we wouldn't have missed you when we went I'm sure there you are all working hard

Sat at the bar for over 15 minutes. None of the three people behind the bar even acknowledged I was there. Everyone who came in the establishment after me was greeted and served. Never felt more unwelcome in a city in my life. I definitely won't bother going there again. I can find plenty of other bars in the area that is welcoming to out-of-towners.

A great bar to sit in and get drunk and fall in love with random faces. The bartenders all eat carbs and don't use shot glasses to pour a drink. Old regulars in the early hours changing to younger otters and other odd forest creatures in the early evening.

Owner was rude. Loves and hugged the friend that brought me. Acted like I was not welcomed to his private club.

This bar has one of the best covid procedures that I have ever seen at a bar If you want a drink and want to stay safe this is the place on the hill for a drink.

Stopped by here for a quick drink before meeting up with some friends at another bar. I knew they weren't planning on drinking more after that bar, so I decided to make a quick appearance here and I'm super glad I did. Super chill spot and even though it was busy enough, they had super quick and efficient service with a main bar and another small complimentary bar. It's definitely the kind of place to go to start your night but I would definitely spend an extended amount of time here.

Let's start off by saying the drinks here are VERY generous, the ambiance is great and the bar tenders are always so nice and flirty. My friends and I always have a fantastic time here!

With a friend at diesel this evening after dinner. Been there many times since their opening. My friend didn't even order a drink but had a medical issue and the doorman told us just to leave without even asking what was wrong. Such horrific customer service and such inhumane treatment of a patron. I'm ashamed of even knowing this establishment anymore. Can't believe they can get away with this horrible treatment!

I love specialty bars and Diesel is one of the best gay bars in Seattle! I have made so many friends here and have had great conversations about everything from sexuality to lasagna. My absolute favorite bartender is Nick. Having been a bartender myself, it's a pleasure to see someone in the groove - totally natural friendliness; knowledgeable about spirits; and wow so efficient wading through the lines. I highly suggest giving this guy a raise and promotion - he's top notch talent!!

Had a fantastic time at the Diesel opening. It was very crowded and lines were long, but the bartenders went out of their way to be fun and friendly though they were obviously spread thin for the opening. Great crowd! Very stiff drinks - one sip of my AMF and I thought I was going to be knocked out! No weak drinks here! Been back for happy hour 2 or 3 times when it was much more relaxed and had time to B.S. with the bartenders who are excited to be there and love what they do! If you're feeling adventurous, Mike has a real flair for creative drinks. I'll be back soon!

I love this place! Strong drinks and friendly staff. The fact that the owners are there actually working and greeting patrons means the world. A lot of of other bars the owners aren't present or they show up to watch what's going on but don't acknowledge patrons. Best place to go!!!!

Really bad attitudes from staff here. Really the reason it's not much fun going out to Seattle anymore. I live on the east side. Not much over there so Seattle is only place. The attitudes rub off on people and the next thing you know you have everyone in the bar with an attitude. Lol . Don't want to spend my money here.

Yes, it is a Bear Bar. But it is also very much a local hangout for folks at the south end of Capitol Hill. The drinks are generous and affordable, the service and clientele are nice, and the place is clean. Just remember, Bears are called that for a reason. When the place is full a wee bloke like myself can feel a bit "compressed" with all the bodies and enthusiasm. Not a bad thing, but be aware of it, and enjoy.

We went to catch a drink in the middle of the day on a Sunday and it was pretty empty outside of a few locals, I'm sure are regulars, which was cool to see. They had good priced specials and it felt safe to be there as an LGBT atmosphere perspective.

What can I say? I had better put 5 stars or I'll get my ass whooped! :P They make the strongest drink in town! Pretty tasty grub for bar food too!

Bartender asked if I wanted to keep tab open or closed. I kept it opened. I forgot to get my card at the end of the night. Called the next days later and they can't find my card. Identified the bartender that kept my tab open and they have no clue where card went. Definitely pay for your drinks as you go! They will make your card disappear!

First let me start by saying this is the most amazing bar I have ever been to. The staff is AMAZING and incredibly friendly. They have strong drinks strong men and huge hearts! My husband and I visited from NYC and fell in love with this place. Not only will we be visiting ...we are planning to move to seattle and will make this "our hometown bar". Shout out to Mike and Zach for everything they did to make us feel at home. Much love to everyone at the bar. I encourage everyone to visit.

This is one of my favorite bars. Awesome cocktails, menu and music. This is a great place to hang out with friends. I love the bartenders.

I was visiting from out of town, and I stopped in with my friend (female) to have dinner and a cocktail for taco Tuesday. The drink was extremely generous, and everyone there seemed very chill and easy to get along with. I ordered tacos and a sampler platter, and the portions were huge. The food was good, but we couldn't eat it all because it was so much larger than we expected. No one was at all unkind to my friend, and I think that says a lot of good things about the people there. I recommend stopping by. I wish this place existed in Indianapolis!

very cheap beer + strong cheap drinks. nice and relaxed atmosphere. everyone is very welcoming. good music.

Entered a review back in March of last year about how unpleasant our experience was - inattentive bar tender (middle of the afternoon), weak drink. Got a snarky reply from who ever handles their YELP account, basically calling me a liar. I kindly suggested that if they spent as much time teaching their staff some basic customer service niceties as they do trolling unhappy customers on YELP, they could wouldn't have to troll unhappy customers on YELP. Just noticed my review had been deleted, so I thought I'd share my experience again. Go to Pony or Madison Pub, great service great drinks.

Sexy Bartenders that pour a stiff drink!! Definitely will be back when I am in town. Taco Tuesday pulls in a good turnout!! The chicken fingers is a good snack to munch on while you throw a few back!!

A Seattle staple. You'll find a mix of guys "guys" here. Jason is a great bartender and the owners are great. You feel like family just after your first visit. I highly recommend you check out this bar any night of the week. Taco Tuesday is always a sure thing. Also when RPDR is in season , they show or before any bar in town. Now with yet again another Seattle queen on the next season., you can expect it's is going to be crowded and full of a fun crowdand full of great commentary! #DieselSeattle Highlights-A must on a bucket list of Seattle Hotspot!

I love this place. Drinks are always strong and delicious Mike the owner is a great guy and all of his staff for the most are friendly and fun. On weekends it can get packed so get a seat early.we like to go earlier in the day. Fun and full of bear types that are fun to drink with.

Wasn't a busy night, was also in around 8. Friendly staff and good drinks!