The Kraken Bar & Lounge

"When the beloved punk rock (and pirate-themed!) Kraken Bar & Lounge was forced to close its doors back in March 2023 after developers bought the building, it seemed that life had come to an end for the decade-old U District watering hole. But never underestimate the bar that sued Seattle’s NHL team. The owners snagged the run-down old location of Cafe Racer and spent a year fixing it up. Now months into its new life, the Kraken is thriving in all its punky, piratey glory. Come for the beer and hard-hitting tunes, stay for the stories and live bands." - Brianna Gunter

"The old University District location of this venerable punk and metal venue — with has nothing to do with hockey — got closed thanks to ~development~, but it has since moved over to Roosevelt (where Cafe Racer used to be, long ago) and brought its great burgers with it. Carnivores can load up their burgers with pastrami or bacon, and vegans and vegetarians (this is a punk venue, after all) can grab a Beyond burger." - Mark DeJoy, Harry Cheadle, Harry Cheadle

"The Kraken Bar and Lounge, co-owners Kat Colley, Daniel Colley, and William Knupp successfully relocated not far away to 5828 Roosevelt Way, where Cafe Racer used to be, and now the new Kraken is back, hosting shows and slinging food." - Harry Cheadle

"The Kraken Bar and Lounge, a beloved pirate-themed punk dive, served solid bar food and had a great slate of pinball games. The bar closed in early March due to redevelopment plans but has found a new location in the U District. The new space, formerly the site of Cafe Racer, needs significant renovations, including new permits and repairs from vandalism. A GoFundMe campaign and a U District Partnership grant are expected to cover the costs. More information on the reopening date will be available by the end of the month." - Harry Cheadle

"The Kraken Bar & Lounge has been a U District mainstay since 2011, when couple Katherine and Daniel Colley took over the former Galway Arms space to turn it into a live music destination for punk and metal fans." - Gabe Guarente