Owl N' Thistle

Guy at the front door said seat ourselves. So we did, but it took at least 10 minutes for waitress to come to table. Nice atmosphere. Food was good, reasonable amount for the price. Not many options on the menu.

Owl N'thistle bar is a must-visit! The friendly, communicative bartender makes everyone feel welcome. The spacious venue, near the Underground Tour, serves a huge selection of drinks no way they will all fit in here.i try delicious fish and chips hot right from the kitchen and so much more yummy dishes. Highly recommended!

Tucked into the historic Colman Building in downtown Seattle, Owl N Thistle Irish Pub is a dive bar that effortlessly blends rich history with a lively welcoming vibe. Located at 808 Post Avenue, this Dublin style pub resides in a building from 1889, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and perched above Seattle’s underground tunnels. The space with its Prussic blue brick walls feels like a step back in time, amplified by the pub’s tenancy since the 1990s and whispers of ghostly lore. Live music is a cornerstone here with near nightly performances ranging from Irish fiddles to jazz and Latin rhythms. The small stage in the back room keeps the energy high perfect for a night out. Eclectic signs and a rustic bookshelf filled with old law books nod to the building’s past while vintage green bankers’ lamps cast a warm nostalgic glow over tables. A free pool table sparks friendly rivalries and a photo booth lets you capture the fun. The bar’s quirks add to its charm. For just 50 cents a breathalyzer machine lets patrons check their sobriety a playful yet practical touch that shows the pub’s care for its crowd. Even more unique free condoms are available tucked discreetly in the restroom promoting safety with a cheeky wink. The bathroom itself is impressively clean for a dive bar reflecting the staff’s attention to detail. The bartenders are stellar friendly quick and skilled at pouring the best Guinness I’ve ever had in an Irish pub. The pint’s creamy head and rich flavor surpass even top bars in Boston or Dublin earning raves like “5 stars cold and good heeed laddie” on Tripadvisor. The menu nails pub classics. Fish and chips with beer battered Alaskan cod shine during happy hour (3 to 7 PM) when prices are budget friendly. The Guinness beef stew paired with homemade Irish soda bread is a hearty delight for Seattle’s rainy days. The full bar offers Irish whiskeys craft beers and cocktails plus free Wi Fi outdoor seating and late night bites for versatility. Located near the Seattle Ferry Terminal and sports stadiums Owl N Thistle feels like a hidden gem down Post Alley yet it draws a lively weekend crowd. Whether you’re playing pool snapping photo booth pics or swaying to live music the cozy yet spacious layout guarantees a great time. A Yelp reviewer summed it up: “The atmosphere is cozy without being small bartenders are friendly and most importantly the patrons are chill.” From its historic roots to quirky amenities like the 50 cent breathalyzer and free condoms Owl N Thistle is a Seattle institution. If you’re after an authentic Irish pub experience with the best Guinness around and a side of local character this is your spot.

We had such a BLAST visiting Seattle and trying out Owl & Thistle. Listen, whoever says that service is slow, is failing to mention that the place is packed (and for good reason…. This is where all the locals go!) The bartenders were so welcoming and really added to the atmosphere. The live music really got us going and we made so many new friends and met so many interesting people! ❤️ Best bar in Seattle, hands down. I’m so glad that we stopped in!

This is a pub’s pub. The food is mid, but that’s not entirely shocking. What makes this place special is the atmosphere. It’s has several rooms—one very cozy, one with a stage, one with a pool table. Throughout, you get a feeling that this is an unpretentious spot to hang out and get a beer. If you too have walked off the ferry several times and gazed down upon its owl sign, you ought to stop in next time.

Went here for St Patrick's Day. Had corned beef and cabbage, which was delicious. We go here because they have the Seattle Fire Department pipes and drums play here, which is a really fun time. They have a good selection of hard alcohol and beer.

We went for a jazz night on a Tuesday and it didn’t feel like a Tuesday vibe, completely packed. We did find a place to sit and enjoy the music. The crowd was energetic and the staff was friendly.

Came in during the day on our wanderings. Not busy so can't tell what the music and nightlife would be. 5 stars for having Smithwicks and Harp on tap. 🙂 Of course there is Guinness on tap too. Seems like it would be a great place to hangout at night. Live music daily. Pool table. Our bartender Zach was funny, answered all our questions and was super friendly! Got the t-shirt! I definitely recommend to stop by and stay awhile.

How did I not review this gem back on October 5th of 2019? It was a Saturday following a tragic, last-minute loss loss by my Rams to the Seahawks the prior Thursday night. We didn't eat there, but we sat down and enjoyed the chill neighborhood bar vibe over a few drinks, after walking a number of miles around town. The bartender was attentive and never let our drinks go dry. That alone deserves five stars but the relaxed, friendly atmosphere is what we really enjoyed. She's from a small town in Wisconsin, so she knows neighborhood bars, and I spent 21yrs as a sailor, so I've been to a bar or two i n my day. ;-) Don't know how it is now, but in 2019, it was perfect. We'll be back.

Stop by, grab a half n half and set a spell to sing along to some awesome 80's tunes in a a nice dark library room to soothe your soul. Great service and beers/drinks. Keep it on the DL. Slainte!

You don't see many pubs like this anymore. It looks tiny from the outside, but it's quite large on the inside. There are 3 different areas. One is larger with tables and seating. The next is beyond the wall, which is where the bar and music stage is located. Around the corner is the gaming room and kitchen. Staff are friendly and the band was grooving.... Had the fish n' chips & tacos, both delicious. Will definitely pop by again before/after a game, as it is walking distance from both Lumen and T-Mobil Park.

!! EXCELLENT SERVICE AND GREAT FOOD & PINTS !! The " Waitrai " & Bar Staff are ALWAYS SUPERB & offer extra care to odd ducks , like myself, with Quirky subtexts to the orders. Thanks for caring for me & All patrons with such Dignity and Quality !!

Friend of ours showed us this great place by the ferry terminal. Ambience and history of the building was amazing. We enjoyed a few delicious drinks before the Mariners game and found ourselves back down again after the game. Delightful atmosphere with great food and service.

Didn't come for food, but the vibes here are great! Came here before a game for a drink, and the wine pours were massive! (See photo) It's nestled in an alley in an unassuming location, but has plenty of inside space and a "patio" on the street with covering. Bar options are average, but the food looked good! Bigger portions, which the cost reflected, but I would still try! Will definitely return for live music, which they seem to have often. Great spot for before a game, and there is better, cheaper parking around this area.

The one big plus about the Owl 'n Thistle is that it's really close to the Seattle Ferry Terminal. If you're coming in off a ferry and want to stop for a quick beer, some pub grub, or even a round of pool, you don't have very far to walk! Just cross the Marion Street Bridge, and catch the stairs for Post Street (just to your right after passing Top Pot Donuts). I met a small group of friends at the Owl 'n Thistle on a Friday evening. One was coming in from Bainbridge Island, which was one of the reasons we chose the place. We each had on-tap beers (they have a fairly standard selection of local favorites, of various styles). We also all had the fish n' chips, which were fine. The fries weren't the best, but the fish was good. Service was quite good. I was the first of the group there and grabbed a central table. When it was getting close to the time that my friend's ferry was to arrive, I wanted to run up and meet her. The bartender said she'd hold the table for me. How nice! (At that precise moment, two other friends arrived, so the point was moot. Still the bartender's gesture was well-taken.) When the band started setting up (apparently they have live music almost every night), we moved into the room housing the pool table, and played pool for the next couple of hours (over more beers, of course). By then, the crowds really started coming in--the place is open late, and the standard clientele apparently arrives late--and we were ready to call it quits (and hand the pool table off to others who were patiently waiting). Will I be back? Certainly! It's convenient (especially to the ferry), has a nice ambience, great pool (free, no less!), a good beer selection (and mixed drinks too!), and decent pub grub.

I remember this place being a lot better than what it is now. Back when I was in college the Owl'n Thistle wa some of my absolute favorite places in Seattle. It's a cool Irish pub tucked away in a side alley just off the waterfront in Seattle. We recently went back for a trip and had to stop at one of our favorite old places to go. And it... Wasn't what I remember. We went on a Friday night, and first of all, it wasn't very busy. Which would normally be nice, except I think is more of a sign of how it's slipped. Second, the table service was... Slow, to say the least. There was a group of servers just standing around and we had to wait for any kind of service (maybe they were all on break). The food was... Meh. Which is disappointing, because I used to love eating here. Overall, it was a nice nostalgia hit, but it wasn't anywhere close to what I remember.

Came in for dinner on a Sunday night. Not crowded at all. We ordered beers and BLT's w/salads and they were delicious. Even got a side order of Irish soda bread that was also very good. Service was good but not as attentive to ask if we wanted another beer or anything else to eat... The pub is typical Irish pub with beer posters and signs. It was clean and they also have live music during Friday & Saturday evenings.

Strong long island iced teas! Decently priced, soft and delicious fish and chips and fun pool and darts games to play.

Pretty cool bar in downtown Seattle that's open late night on weekdays. I popped in on a Monday evening and the bar was still very busy at 10 PM. There was no cover charge with a live band playing. The bar itself is super spacious, with a front seating area with tables and comfy chairs/couches; a back area with a small bar with a stage, a side area with a pool table, and an outdoor area too. The bar is quite small, so if you're standing to get service, it appears there's only one bartender working so you may have to wait quite a while for your order, as the bartender caters to the individuals sitting at the bar before anyone else.

We had beer and fish and chips. Both were good. No happy hour menu as some of the reviews and pics show so inaccurate reviews.

Such a cool bar situated off on a street, running into a tight door thru a short narrow hallway just to spill out in a large room that has a look of a cigar bar, and another room with the full bar and a stage, and next to that a room with booths and pool tables that is close to the kitchen. So if you are wanting the bar vibe you sit at the bar. If you want the few drinks after work and happy hour let's sit in the "lounge" room. OR if you need something to do with your hands let's be by the pool tables. The service was nice and easy. A had ample variety of bar food to choose from. It came how hot and fast! The beers were cold and never ran low. This seemed to be a favorite bar for the Seattle Locals as a bunch of them were popping in here for the late lunch hour or happy hour time. This was a cool spot for us pop into after the plane, the "train" (rail) and before catching the Ferry.

Dark dungy and hot place to drink. It was the only bar in walking distance that wasn't too uppity or closed on 4th of July. We just needed to kill time before going to dinner at the Met. We got 2 vodka sodas, pretty good pricing. Stiff drinks. Place was way to hot, needed air, but a good place to hang out.

Very cool bar/venue! I didn't realize this until the end of our meal, but there are more rooms in the back and on the side! Anyways, I feel like this is more of a "grab a drink and play pool" bar because the food was meh. It tasted okay-ish but portion size was pretty small (especially for the price). Maybe our group just struck out and chose the wrong menu items, but idk. My chicken strips were mostly breading, and the grilled cheese resembled the grilled cheeses I made myself in middle school.. drinks are great, though!

Amazing place for live music. They have live music on most of the nights. It is a European kind of vibe, extremely cozy. Its located down in an alley and it has amazing seating area in open and in close. They did not serve food on St patricks day but allowed you to get their own. Must go!

Only giving one star bc the atmosphere was cool. Other wise It was a AWFUL experience. While standing in line we were approached and told to sit anywhere that she was our server and would be right with us. She was quick getting to our table but we then waited 45 minutes for two drinks (a beer and a bottle cider) She then brought us the wrong drinks... she walked over to a table near us and swapped out for the correct drinks but instead of getting us fresh ones just brought them over and sat them down. We didn't see her again. After waiting with empty drinks for about 20 minutes my coworker went up to the bar to order, she approached him and she told him to sit she would bring another round. Another 15 or so minutes go by and I decide to just go up to the bartender. While trying to explain the situation she approaches me and tells me "your table ordered the check" I am obviously confused bc it's me and one other person so I tell her "no" and she proceeds to fight me on this. I say "I am here with one other person and neither one of us ever asked for the check" she then assures me our drinks will be out. Eventually we are served, but we ask if we can please get the check right away. We never get the check. In the meantime our entire section empties except for one other small party. We once again ask for the check she proceeds to bring us the check for the wrong table/amount. We explain to her and she goes back and even calls out "what did you have" we repeat our order. She then brings us another check for the wrong order yet again. When I once again tell her (mainly bc we are being charged $60 for a $20 order) She says "just leave I'll take care of it." We tell her no and she responds "she is obviously annoyed even though you appear to be sitting with another table and she didn't tell me any differently so please just leave" We were literally sitting at a 4 person table and are sitting in this section alone except for 4/5 other people sitting on the other side of the room in a booth.....So we begin digging for cash to leave her some kind of tip. I work up a stack of ones and she comes by touches my shoulder and says "you leaving me that one dollar is more insulting so please put it back in your wallet" (i was actually holding the proper amount for my order in ones that I was about to let her have). At this point my coworker tells me he is extremely uncomfortable and says he wants to leave immediately. So we just got up and left. The atmosphere was really cool and when I approached the bar they were super quick. So if you go just make sure you stick to the bar.

Came here to open a night of bar hoping. Pleasantly surprised with their beer selection. Car Bomb did not disappoint. Ordered Smithwicks since they didn't have any Kilkenny. Staff was nice but the place was pretty dead on a long weekend. Decor was alright. The bathrooms are a bit of a hike if you're smashed, but since this was our first stop, we handled the trek like true champs! Will return! Ps apparently we did walking past later in the night and needing the loo LOL

Great bar food, fantastic fish and chips, and good quality beer on tap. A little bit dark inside but overall really enjoyable. Bar was a little dark which made seeing a little difficult, though once your eyes adjusted, it was not a total hinderance. Final score: 4/5

My daughter and I visited during a recent trip to Seattle. Great food and our favorite Irish cider made for a great dinner

Classic Irish pub. Such a great atmosphere and absolutely the best service. After a year away, the staff still recognized our group. Shout out to the amazing Heather!

A proper pub. I'm from England and often miss sitting in a pub and playing a little pool. I'm so happy to see that this pub made it through the pandemic. A lot of the businesses in the area have closed over the last two years, it's so sad to see. I was so happy to head there and catch up with a friend. Looking forward to popping in again some time soon.

Service is impeccable. Atmosphere is fantastic. Fantastic late night spot. Music and cold beer. What else do you need?

Such a fun bar! Loved the IPA and the pool table. I hope to visit again soon to hear the live music.

Burger, BLT, Fish and Chips and the Guiness stew are ALL DELICIOUS! This place feels like home and the entire crew is amazing. They also have live shows and the ambiance is always fun! I just love it!

Terrible service! Stop serving food at random hours even though it says food until 2am, only 1 bartender working on a Saturday night and slowwwww service. Waited 40 minutes in line for a drink.

Looking for a niche Irish bar? This place was a good find! Good bar area, local brews, decent food fare, a pool table and friendly staff made this an enjoyable experience! If you're into the old style/niche type of ambiance The Owl'n Thistle is worth the walk off of Pike Market Area in Downtown Seatle.

Fantastic venue, amazing staff and a seriously great place to hang. Absolutely love this place! Late night Jam sessions and other live music events as well.

Very homey place with down-to-earth folk. It's a must visit type place!!! The service is awesome and the food is good.

Great Irish Bar, bartender was fast and courteous. The Guinness was cold & Delicious. So of course I had 4 there. Great place to have a drink & listen to music.

10/10 must try the loaf of bread, Kellis Savanah and Ry were so helpful. Definitely my favorite stop in Seattle every time I come.. Fish n chips might be best in town

Friendly bartender and wait staff. Nice ambiance. Safe location!

This place offers typical bar food. Don't expect a lot. We went hoping for Irish music but got a jazz type of music which was ok but felt there were other places to explore. The food service staff was more interested leaving than waiting on tables. As mentioned don't expect a lot. The bar it's self was nice.

Nice cozy place...maybe a bit rough around the edges but friendly staff, good live music! Everybody at the place seem really nice! The kitchen closes at 9 pm at least on Saturday! They have darts and outdoor seating. We had triple cheese sandwiches with fries. Yum! They also have a few vegetarian meals. Full bar.

**PLASTIC CAP FOUND IN FOOD THAT I BIT INTO AND CAUSED BLEEDING** Traumatized. Went to urgent care right away to get it checked. Extremely unsanitary and dirty. Went there for happy hour on Sat around 4pm. Ordered off of happy hour menu. Had the $5 fried fish and chips. Took a bite of the fried fish and had to immediately spit it out after biting on a hard object that didn't feel like food. I showed the waitresses the object that was in my food. They said sorry, but they can't do anything since they weren't the owners and the owners won't be in till Monday. They did comp my bill, but still, the food is contaminated, cooking in the same oil as the fish I found the plastic in. Disgusting. Still mentally getting over it.

The draft beer was pretty good. The atmosphere was nice, but a bit slow on the service. It took a while to get orders in and ask for the check. Not a big deal, but something they can improve. The food on the other hand could be better. They serve the food on paper plates with plastic utensils. Might be acceptable for a college dorm, but a pub in the city, you should expect better.

Worst service that I've ever had. I stood there for 10 mins waiting on my credit card. The server made eye contact multiple times, at one point I told him I was going to miss my uber to please check me out but he just kept chatinf it up with his buddies and kept taking new orders as if I simply didn't exist. I ended up leaving my card and walked out to not miss my uber. Worst experience yet, this place only cares for its locals, don't bother wasting your time here.

Great environment, good food and beer. Service was awesome considering staffing numbers.

Hahah omg this was awful I can't even describe. I came with a large group of people, maybe 13-15? Our waiter totally lost her composure and it was quite a scene. Not to mention she brought out our checks 1 by 1, it took probably 30 minutes to pay? Typically with large crowds they just print all the bills and then say "who got this" or let us figure it out but no she did it 1 by 1 and then brought back everyone's at the same time and literally threw our cards with the bills on the table Also when we asked to pay she was like "do you expect me to remember what you ordered? what did you order" and then after she got 2 peoples checks written down someone else was like can I pay and she's "does it look like I have more than 2 hands?" Lmao. Also my friend order sparkling water and got charged $3

I was surprised by how empty this place was on a Thursday night! Owl'n Thistle had such a relaxed atmosphere. They offered pool tables and other bar games. There was plenty of seating, and overall, it was a great environment for conversation. The food was very enjoyable, and the wait staff was great! The menu itself has a decent variety of things. I wasn't feeling anything too too heavy that night, so a turkey sandwich was my meal of choice. If I lived nearby, I could see myself coming here quite often!

I'm 1/2 Irish and this place is legit...If your looking for a small pub where the locals actually hang out, this is your place.

Hidden secret in Post Alley. AWESOME pub food, the fish and chips are delicious and the rueben is authentic and loaded. For a lighter option try their hummus, it's definitely one of my favorites and the plate is loaded up with peppericinis, cucumber, pita, and olives. The bartenders here are all fantastic and the place is always a good mix of regulars and newcomers. They also have live music most evenings

Stumbled onto this fine Irish pub & eatery while exploring Seattle waterfront. Guiness and their beef stew is recommended. Service is excellent. Wish I could stay here all day long, but gotta get back to Michigan.

The fish was fried so deliciously! They had an awesome wheat beer. The ambience was very pleasant, but best of all the guy who worked there was knowledgeable, efficient, sociable and made mine and my partner's meal at the end of a long day a wonderful one. Would highly recommend

Waitress was worthless. Didn't catch her name but she was rude and didn't care. I asked her for a couple waters when we first sat down, she didn't bring them, whatever. I asked for ketchup for me fries and she didn't bring them. She came back and asked how we were doing. I asked for my check and remarked about her not bringing the ketchup or waters. She apologized and said she should have brought them because she wasn't busy. I thought to myself, what was she doing if she wasn't busy? Did she intentionally just not bring me what I requested? I tipped her 5 bucks she did not deserve. Also my girlfriend ordered the burger, which was good. I ordered a can of soup that cost 14 dollars. All in all, a good place to drink and play pool, don't come here if your looking for good customer service or decent food.

Nice vibe. Not too busy. Great service. Lobster bisque was nice. Soda bread was a bit dry.

Absolutely the best little hole in the wall place for Happy Hour thus far in Seattle! From the place itself to the exceptional customer service the bartender Aiden gave us! Overall 5 stars aren't enough! We had the Happy Hour Fish and Chips for $5 and OMG they were delicious and two Happy Hour drinks which were amazing! Will definitely be back on our adventures for sure! RECOMMEND RECOMMEND RECOMMEND

we were there a few yrs ago and I loved the moist brown bread. So much that I bought a whole loaf! Any chance of getting recipe? I have looked on lne and nothing sounds or looks like yours. Plz

Irish pub that serves mediocre food. The service is ok and it has a full bar. Kind of a cool space but nothing special.

Amazing staff! My friends ordered pickle backs but they were out of pickle juice so the bar tender hand squeezed pickles for us. I have never felt more loved, the atmosphere was amazing the staff were all so kind and the food was lovely! A must visit for Seattle!