The Roanoke

Ah love this spot! Ivy covered, good vibe inside, nice patio in summer. Your classic Seattle dive bar. Worth adding if you’re doing a dive bar tour or just in the area. Lots of TVs, not too loud. Kitchen, but closed on random days, don’t remember the sign.

A very nice chilled out place to hang out. We came on a Friday evening at 5pm and it was very quiet with very few customers. They also have a pretty decent collection of games which make for a good time! We ordered a pint and a half of pilsners which came out to be about $14 (without tips), which seems a bit more pricey than most places. But I do appreciate the fact that you can buy half pints here. FWIW the table next to us ordered nachos which smelled absolutely amazing. I’d definitely visit a second time to try their food menu.

I guess I would call this a "high end dive bar". I mean, it looks divey, but with super high quality. Amazing bartenders and the food is excellent, some of the specials are truly incredible. With the four TVs above the bar there are lots of options for sports, but later when there are few if any live games, several of them will play 80s or 90s movies which can be super fun. and of course, I recommend a shot of Malort!

The thing I love about this place is that it's still here. It hasn't been torn down and replaced by more Seattle architectural blight. Our drinks were pretty bad. The atmosphere reminds me of Seattle in the late 80s, which is nice to still find occasionally.

Super chill bar, and a nice spot to hit in the area. Service was a bit slow, but understandable since there was a spike in people coming in at once. Enjoyed the atmosphere and cold beer.

My favorite bar in Seattle, and not just because it’s the local neighborhood dive. The bartenders are incredible, and you immediately feel welcome walking in the red door. Not to mention, their cheeseburger Sunday special is iconic!!

Cozy neighborhood bar with nice little courtyard. The only downside is that our house is across town, and not around the corner.

Cool outdoor area to enjoy their nice selection of beers. Cool music inside plus pinball too.

One of my favorite local bars near Eastlake. The outside of the building is covered in greenery and the inside is filled with twinkly lights - very whimsical! The staff get to know their locals quickly and always have the best service. The drinks are strong and relatively cheap for the area. Our favorite time to go is on their Taco Wednesdays...each taco is only $1.50 and a very solid comparison to your at-home taco nights.

Ah love this spot! Ivy covered, good vibe inside, nice patio in summer. Your classic Seattle dive bar. Worth adding if you're doing a dive bar tour or just in the area. Lots of TVs, not too loud. Kitchen, but closed on random days, don't remember the sign.

Good beer selection. Nice outdoor area. Cool location to wait out bad commuter traffic on I5.

Classic and cozy bar! Food was incredible. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Great place to watch a game or meet up with friends after work.

I've driven past The Roanoake on my way to the main Capitol Hill area numerous times. The green, grassy exterior always intrigued me, almost like a Hobbit Home. After a long day at Greenlake, my friends and I ventured over to this dive bar. There is only street parking, but there were plenty of spots when we went around 10:30pm. The interior is actually bigger than it looks from the outside as it extends inwards. There are several tables, tvs playing sport channels, and a pinball machine or two inside. It has an olden feel with, if I remember right, an old stone fire oven. The bathrooms and floors are also clean. They had several beers on tap as well as a selection of cocktail items. I got a peach sour which tasted fresh and had good peach flavor. My friends got ciders and IPAs. I later bought a round of Happy Hour Jagger shots at 11pm for about $6 a piece which was pretty good considering they were double shots. The bar friendly was pleasant and attentive and so no complaints about service. You bus your own table, but it makes sense since there are only one or two workers there. Overall, The Roanoake is a quality dive bar and I look forward to coming back soon! 5/5 for drinks, 5/5 for service, 5/5 for atmosphere

Service at the bar is always great no matter who tends to you. Great selection of rotating beers on tap. Nice old school dive vibe without being dirty. Just a classic, nostalgic joint.

Dani and Charles are the best!! Great atmosphere. Great vibes. Great drinks. Check it out. -- Alex

I'd wondered about The Roanoke for over a decade and finally happened to be in the area. Friendly bar staff, chill people, cozy vibes. I will come back!

This is a neat bar with an old, neighborhood, dive kind of feel all in a nice way. It's a good place to watch a game. They have great burgers and nachos. They have some other menu items to choose from. They don't have a fryer, but there are several options to choose from. They have a nice garden seating in back. It's a local hangout kind of place.

Charlie and Dannie are amazing bartenders. Great food and always great times. Plus they always have some movie on the TV if you're bored

I stopped by the Roanoke to drink while my companion did Pilates up the street. They were just opening up and the bartender was a touch surly. It was happy hour and I had one of their signature cocktails, which was great. The bar stools were crushed and not comfortable.

This is a neighborhood gem. Let the ivy clad walls lure you in and grab a strong drink at the bar. Don't worry if you don't drink, they have a solid food selection. Their deviled eggs are delicious. They don't serve food on Monday and Tuesday but if you follow their Instagram the owner will sometimes serve up a small batch of stew. Really feels like your buddy made you dinner. You can't tell by looking but they have a great patio. Check out taco Wednesday for some good cheap tacos but get there early because it gets packed!

I thought it was okay. Its the classic dive bar and it was in the hood, so we sauntered on over. Grabbed a big old beer and sat in the back room all by our lonesome. Not much for amenities but the beer was cold. We were grabbing dinner somewhere else so we didn't get to try any food. Its a place to get your beer on and say hello to the locals.

Solid in every way. It's divey, relaxed, down to earth, and has a great vibe. The food is great. It's affordable as well and the bartenders are really nice.

I'm reluctant to give this place 5 stars, because I want to keep you Yelpers from ruining the fantastic ambiance.

Menu didn't seem to be terrific, I didn't see chick n wings on it at all, I tried nachos instead... not to bad pretty normal, Guinness was cold.

Abso-fuckin-likely love this bar! Their margaritas are extra special, and they have a stellar neighborhood vibe. Wednesday is Taco Tuesday, get a margarita and the nachos and sit back and enjoy the patio. I can't wait for warmer weather and for covid laws to welcome more future friends into this local watering hole.

I really dislike this place more than I'd like to. Their beer is stale more than it isn't. The staff is unkind and in at least one case, hateful. The kitchen is messy and the bathroom urinals are out of order (tonight anyway). If this eyesore was closed down, I can't say the neighborhood would be missing much. Hopefully a change in management and attitude will do this place good in due time.

GO COUGS!!! In the land of husky it is awesome to support a Coug owned bar. Food is great, plenty of tv's to watch the game, and any drink you need. Get here!

Good sports bar but they commit a cardinal sin: they sneak in a $1,00 charge for using a credit card. This is tacky greedy,and unconscionable. Why nickel and dime the customer who proceeds to leave a smaller tip? Food is okay and the customers are friendly enough. Service is friendly but slow.

My wife and I found this gem while playing in Seattle for the day. Free street parking can be found. Be sure to watch the time limits. Some are 1 hour and some are 2 hours. The entrance is covered in ivy, making it hard to truly notice. What caught my eye was the rainbow flag in the window. Sold. The ivy adds charm to this 1930's building. The tables and stools are all wooden. We sat at a darling nook table while enjoying our lunch. Discover is an accepted form of payment. Drink and food orders are placed at the bar. My wife and I each swiggled a Manny's for $5 each. For our lunch we shared the BLT sandwich for $6.75. The prices are fair and the staff down-to-earth. Thank you Roanoake for the local slurps and fresh sandwich.

My husband and I live a couple blocks from here and we love this place. We have walked up and down broadway and still this is our favorite joint. Its always low key and not overcrowded. The beer is good. They dont have a crazy selection, but we like what they have. It doesnt feel grimy like some bars and it doesnt feel posh like others. It just feels low key, comfy and casual. Our favorite thing about this place is the Nachos. We consider ourselves Nacho connoisseurs and think these are top notch. They are layered with real melted cheese, tomatos, green onions and jalepenos. You have the option to add chicken or pork. It comes with olives but I always ask for without. It also comes with sour cream but we always ask for it on the side. We love these Nachos and its why we have a hard time losing weight. You also can order a half size or full size. I will say they have a bunch of sandwiches on their menu. We have gotten these on occasion and the Nachos are just better. We tend to order the cob salad and half order of nachos. Then we feel like we have some semblance of healthy. The cob salad is definitely our favorite salad, because it is a robust salad with a lot of texture. If you are a sports fan there are tvs in every part of the bar. If you like sitting outside there is an outside patio. Something to note is they dont have air conditioning, just lots of fans. So, on a hot evening choose to sit outside. I mean we Seattlites have to catch the sun when its out anyway right. Anyway, right now my husband and I are talking about moving to a new neighborhood and when we move this will sure be a place we miss having right down the street.

This place is right down the street from my house, so figured it could be a friendly neighborhood joint, with the lure of $1 taco/beer Wednesdays. $1 beers is of course a great deal, but the tacos are not good at all. They're basically just store-bought hard shells with some beef, lettuce, and tomatoes. What can ya expect for a dollar, I guess? You'd be better off going to Taco Time or Taco Bell. Street parking is super easy, and it wasn't that crowded on the Wednesday that I went. Some friends and I found a table easily. It seems like an okay spot to catch a game or grab a beer, but there's not much of an "atmosphere" to speak of. It's definitely an interesting neighborhood bar, but I would never make a special trip. It's super divey, and I'm glad I at least checked it out, but I probably wouldn't be back unless I didn't want to stray too far away from the neighborhood.

Best Happy Hour: $1 per taco/beer every Wednesday!! Not saying it is the best tacos in Seattle but 1$ - you can't find an HH better than this price! Highly recommend if you have a big party - they have an outdoor patio - and want to keep it cheap. For Tacos: beef and fried beans options It is on the louder side and people are not as friendly compared to other restaurants in town. There is free street parking around as well.

This place has been around forever and for good reason. I am usually someone who likes variety, but i'm proud to say this is one of my local haunts. The owners are super nice and amazing people. Danny is one of my favorite bartenders in town. Their taco Wednesdays are famous (pre pandemic) and an easy way to get full for super cheap. It may not have frills, but I don't always want frills. Sometime all I want is food and drink and for someone to know my name.

So apparently the staff here only helps who they want. Came in at 8:00 pm, the place was slow, and only two people were seated at the bartop. My boyfriend and I sat there for a few minutes; the bartender did not bother acknowledging us even after he was done helping the person he was with when we walked up. Instead, he picked up the remote and changed the TV channels. After he finished that, he still didn't bother to acknowledge us. Then, two girls walked up, and he immediately jumped at the opportunity to help them. We ended up just grabbing our stuff and leaving.

Fun neighborhood spot to grab a cheap drink or enjoy their patio with a cheap drink and their $1 beer Wednesdays are definitely a reason to stop by. On a weeknight street parking nearby was a little tough - agree with other posters than some areas are just 1 hr parking so that was a bit annoying. The bartenders are efficient (especially if they're just opening beer cans for you) and try to get through the line as quickly as possible, but expect to wait a bit especially if you come for happy hour. The bar was crowded when we came so we had to sit outside on the patio, as there isn't a lot of standing room instead. Ping pong table outside is a plus! Would come back if I was in need of a dive bar - can't speak to the cocktails but definitely they had a pretty big beer range of domestic and local beers. Tacos were small but $1 so who can really complain?

Those familiar call it the 'Noke. A good place to have as your favourite tavern. Great food - not your deep fried bar food - so no guilt! Plenty of drink choices - I selected the Portage Bay Ale and it was fantastic. Patio out back provides quieter conversations to take place while still being able to enjoy your brew. I found it hard to leave. So I'll be back!

Hidden gem of dive bars. Disclaimer: I did not eat any of the food. The bartender was very attentive and nice, which I find hard to come by. He filled out drinks to the brim. Good man. Came back multiple times to ask how we were doing and if we needed more. This place has a more "homey" feeling. It's not filled with young, hipsters getting drunk on a Saturday. No, this is where you come to watch Saturday night football with your neighbors. It's got a legit bar feel. They have at least 4 TVs showing the games that are on. Definitely would come here next time the hawks are playing. Good selection of beer. Nice atmosphere. Will be back!

Great neighborhood bar. I'm relatively new to the area and was very happy to find a bar with reasonable prices and a great atmosphere. The beer selection is good and the bartenders are second to none. All you really need to know is that there are $1 taco and beer Wednesdays

Friendly neighborhood dive bar. There's a little patio in back if you're there and it's not raining; if it is raining, they have a little fireplace inside.

Neighborhood bar with some ping-pong. This place had good drinks but bad food. Chili, salad, etc. If you are starving and must eat then they have sustenance. Come for a beer and play some ping-pong.

Leafy green vines tie the façade to the earth, hinting at neon-lit memory loss. In I go. Never to return? Nah. PGA highlights and a backlit bottle of Tanqueray provide the only green on this day o' the Irish. I don't include my own St. Pat's garb and, no lady, seafoam doesn't count. Wednesday only: Delicious, hard-shelled, ground beef tacos and PBRs are sold for a buck. The PBRs are served in their original soggy box by the dozen or by the can; The tacos, with a handful of tortilla chips. Bullets: -Wifi -$1 Beers/Tacos on Wednesday -Dark -Dive -a baker's dozen beers on tap -Semi-attentive, very friendly bartender, Dennis

This is an excellent old school bar........ nice selection of beers. Reasonably priced. They have a Golden Tee machine. Service was prompt. They had street parking right out front. I've heard that the cheap tacos and beers on Wednesdays are the ticket. I will be back on a Wednesday to give it a try soon.

Warm beer and expensive weak well drinks....might be tempted to come back for $1 taco/beer night but aside from that never again...

Liquor in the front, Ping Pong in the rear. IF you know what I mean.* Great neighborhood bar that has a very well-worn feel to it. *Actually, every time I pass the Roanoke, I think of my friend^ who gave his mom crabs. Yep, that's right. So, he slept with a bartender there, got crabs from her, went on a camping trip with his entire family and somehow, he and his mom switched sleeping bags. She got 'em. Real good. That was a long time ago, I'm sure they test their staff for STDs now. ^And, NO, the "friend" wasn't me! I can get a doctor's note and everything.

I like this place a lot - a comfy, casual spot to hang out with friends, watch a game, drink a few beers. It's been a while since I've gone, but they deserve some serious kudos because their bartenders are lifesavers. After day 2 of snowpocalyse 2008, I was stuck on the 48 trying to make it to the Central District to feed a house of hungry cats. And by stuck. I mean that the bus made it up to the light out front of the Roanoke and then got stuck in the snow, even with its chains on. I'd waited 45 minutes for the bus and my toes were just barely beginning to thaw. I heard the bus driver calling in for help and just knew that I was going to have to either walk, or wait another hour. But then, a couple guys came out from the Roanake with shovels and salt, and proceeded to start digging (the bus driver didn't even help!) and in under 5 minutes, we were on our way! Everyone was cheering and I hope they heard, because they saved the day! When (if?) the snow melts, I am absolutely making the trek across town to thank em. And maybe eat some mac'n'cheese too.

The Roanokie! Cheap beer, pretty excellent bar food considering. Posh grilled cheese and various actually good sandwiches and salads. It's strange how rare this is. This is a very charming neighborhoodie that isn't hung up on its own bullshit and infested with hipsters. Sure. it's near the hill, so there will be some, but it's not full of retards like other places south I could mention. Come to watch a game. Come to have some cheap pitchers. Come to eat even. It's a nice place.

Since this just happened maybe you can check your security tapes.... I have no idea what your products are like since we were not able to sample anything but the Customer experience at this facility was horrible. Definitely an opportunity for more training!

I am reserving my fifth star for a visit this spring/summer when the weather is conducive to use of the backyard. I really, REALLY like this place. I was brought here a few months ago by a longtime patron who hooked me with: "$1 PBRs and $1 tacos." Dude ... you had me at the $1 PBRs But the Tacos ... wow. Come in with low expectations (e.g. Jack in the Box) and be prepared to scatter them to the winds as THESE $1 tacos are delicious, AMERICAN-Style tacos. Crispy corn shell ... spicy beef, salsa, cheddar cheese, and lettuce. And a few round tortilla chips thrown in for cleaning up the droppings. Perfect! Now, these beauties are only offered on Wednesday nights and they sometimes run out. I HAVE had, as a consolation course, a very fine hot dog as well. But seriously. Come on a Wednesday. Buy three tacos and a couple of beers, and tip the gentleman at the bar $5 for being such a friendly guy.

Great selection of local beers (plus Strongbow on tap!) along with Guiness and other good beers. A little divey, but a diverse crew there-some sports teams, some young twenty-somethings, part old timers, part drunkies, part serious sports fans. Food is dec. Not the best sandwich I've ever had (or the selection is a bit random of food. Burger, French Dip, Roast beef), and I do wish that they had different sides besides just Tim's chips and chips/salsa (though, let's face it, it's probably best that I didn't have the option of fries). Nachos were copious and definitely tasty. Service for food was a bit slow (it was a busy night for a Mariner's game and NBA finals, and one guy was in the small kitchen). My friend was quite pleased with their veggie burger. I was intrigued by the fact that they had mac n' cheese, but it was pricey. Great place to watch a game or sit in the back and have drinks with friends. Might not be my first choice for a dive bar because the food is lacking a bit compared to the Fremont Dock or Pacific Inn, but still a good time.

There is one female employee here who will remain nameless (because I don't know her name) who is just phenomenally unfriendly, especially on Husky game nights, but the Roanoke doesn't = that lady, so I'll lay off. Pinball. Fun artwork. Ample seating. These are just some of the things that are happening at the Roanoke. Sometimes there is a bouncer outside and sometimes there isn't. Do you want a PBR? YOU CAN HAVE a PBR. 25 cent beers every time Huskies score, by the way. They are espresso sized, so invite friends with the dexterity to carry 3 tiny beers in one hand.

I got myself lost going to this place. The worst part is I already knew where it was but went with MapQuest to make sure I got there. Damn me for going against my instincts. Once I was able to make my own way to Roanoke and meet up with a friend I was pleasantly surprised by this little neighborhood bar. Its not a big bar but that's where most of its charm comes from. You have about three tvs, a good beer selection, and food. We had already eaten so didn't get any grub but I was eyeballing the food being served to the couple next to us. Looked tasty! There is a little stage and a couple of guys were setting up their instruments. Please note that I'm not sure live music is a regular fixture there. My friend and I were there for a fundraiser. Roanoke Tavern is certainly the place to relax with a nice cold one. It seemed a great place for solo folks as well.

I love this place. Friendly crowd and Staff, ping pong in the back yard and stiff drinks. Yesterday, I left my scarf at the bar and the lovely bartender ran up the street to catch up to me and return it! Thank you so much! I'm sorry I didn't get her name.

Real swell! Ok, sometimes they have some absurd deal like $1 Highlifes! I think that is on Tuesday along with taco Tuesday that features something like $1 tacos. It is not my favorite taco Tuesday in town but it is pretty good. They also have other cheap drink specials depending on the night. Every time I come here I am refreshed by the pricing. The atmosphere is cozy, and it is a good place to take in a baseball game!

This place smells, it's loud and people were not that friendly. The bartender was awesome! Came here by accident and it turned out to be fun. Yes it stinks inside and the carpet has never been cleaned but the atmosphere was fun! Bartemder was making great drinks and after a while we couldn't even notice the smell. My friend got into a "discussion" with a "regular" because we appeared to be from out of town. The bartender quickly stepped in and things went back to "normal". The bartender made this place, thanks for taking care of us. This was on a Friday night.

It's a Seattle institution. Everyone knows where it is. Everyone likes it (I think ). It's a humble little sports pub with ping pong on the back porch and pictures of 70s nude beaches in the bathroom. The patrons range from young hipsters to old local dudes.

One of the chillest bars that I have been to in Seattle thus far. It has a nice, quaint, neighborhood-bar vibe to it and it's the perfect place to enjoy a nice evening off from school or work. If I had to classify it, I'd say that it is a sports bar with just the right amount of televisions -- enough so that everyone can see from every angle but not so much that you feel like the color is constantly changing whenever you blink. In terms of food and drinks, I had a great 7 Seas amber ale (Gig Harbor) that was just put on tap today. My friend recommended it and it was delicious. To top it off, the bartender forgot to ring me up for it and actually said it was on the house when I inquired about paying for it. I gave her a $3 tip for the drink for being so awesome. The nachos were just so-so in my opinion, but the burger with bleu cheese was good. Strangely enough, the taste of the patty reminded me a lot of In-N-Out...lol...only bigger. The bleu cheese really brought together the ensemble of meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and bread, and I was satisfied with my meal. The only thing I wish they offered was french fries on the side instead of Tim's chips, tortilla chips, or salad. I love all the sides that were offered individually, but when it comes to eating a burger I always prefer to have "fries with that." Overall, sweet spot with a nice atmosphere and a great place to hang out during happy hour if you're in the area.

My favorite bar of all time, ever. Period. A true neighborhood tavern. Unpretentious, out of the way, casual, and delightful. Great beers on tap (including cider!), great specials. Staff is amazing and friendly, and now my friends. Best way to spend an evening.