The Sunset Tavern

One of old Ballard's amazing little music venues tucked into the main drag. Staff are awesome, sound is incredible, and just the right size for touring artists and local acts to play to a super fun room. The low ceilings really make this feel like a very well produced house party, intimate, fun, and rocking. Looking forward to coming back for more shows on and off stage.

Went last night for a live show. The atmosphere was something I miss as a non drinker. The staff was personable and the show room was wonderfully close. Band members wondering through the crowd during other performances and what not. A whole lotta fun!

Nice and good. We were able to wait inside before the show started, which was a big plus. It's a small room but good sound and lighting.

Food is not served here, so it can't be rated. The staff are really great though, and it's a fun gathering place!

Went for KEXP's Atticus 30th BDay last night: fun venue. Mega Cat...wow, I came for the Rage! (Bulls on Parade cover) and it was delivered.

It had been a little while since I got up to Seattle to see a show. This last one was Love Battery and Purple Strange one I wouldn't miss. The new look of the Sunset was cool and the venue clean and all that. The bands sounded great and the drinks were tasty! Great place to catch your favorite bands. I'll be back :)

Don’t kid yourself the main reason to come here is to listen to the live band(s) that are playing that night ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it’s definitely one of the bigger and better stages found in Ballard and on that street. Great venue especially when it comes to their lights.

A cozy music venue. Had a great time watching one of my friends play a set here. The staff is friendly and helpful!

The Sunset Tavern is set up with a front bar room and back venue space that's perfect for discovering regional bands you might not catch elsewhere. The venue room gets seriously crowded and compact during shows, which makes grabbing drinks mid-performance a bit of a challenge. The upside to this cozy squeeze is that it creates an incredibly intimate concert experience. Everyone's right up close to the stage, making it ideal for bringing along dates or groups of friends who want to feel connected to the performance. You can actually see the performers' expressions and feel part of something special rather than watching tiny figures on a distant stage.

The beer better at the Sunset. Women are good looking and people friendly. Pinball is for real. The wizard lives near.

Great small concert venue experience. Front bar room and back venue room. Good environment and drinks, friendly service

Been here for many concerts and always have a good time. Friendly bartenders, ample space, and great shows. A staple of Ballard!

Not a bad place for a drink, but like all places in Seattle these days, drinks are expensive. We came here for a concert. The concert was great. The area around the stage could use a bit more high tables and stools, places to set drinks down. However, they kept the room cool, and fresh (some places get pack and hot and smelly). The stage is in the back part after the bar. It's a much bigger place than I expected. We won't be back for just the bar, but will definitely attend a concert again. Great music experience.

This was a charming dive. Not many places like it anymore. There is a smallish front bar and then the concert was in the back room. Pretty cozy space with a few cute decorations. There's no bar in the back so the drink line was kind of long and went pretty slow. Prices were pretty normal for a music venue in Ballard. I got a double whiskey-diet for $18. I noticed that the back area, the concert area, had a couple of nice air conditioning units. Standing under them felt great, but it gets warmer the farther you venture from them. I really appreciate some of the types of acts and shows they bring in. If there is a band or musician you really like, I recommend coming here for an intimate experience!

Great music in Ballard. Never had a bad time here, never tried the food - drinks are fine.

seriously want to love this place so bad but. lelt my wallet and tiny tim thought would solve the problem by takimg me outside but he was just so tiny. im in sorry tiny tim you seemed like a good dude....you were just so tiny

We came from out of state to see the advertised band, Trials of Cato, our first time at The Sunset. The website and our tickets (bought online) listed 8pm concert start time. 2 other unadvertised bands opened for the main group, so Trials of Cato started at 10pm. The band was worth the wait. The late time was inconvenient. The staff was pleasant, the bar drinks were good. Be aware, the back room/music venue has no seating. Be prepared to stand for 3+ hours.

Drinks are good and strong and averagely priced for Ballard. The line situation at the bar is confusing - it mixes with the line for tickets to the show in back? - but moves quickly and bartenders are friendly and accommodating. No food available. Great place to see a band!!

Look if you are into hipster , indie rock with no soul or people trying to be cool, this is your spot. For all you new to Ballard - this isn't bougie , this isn't kitche. It is old ballard at its finest. This place was here before you were born and will be here when you sell your town house to return to Minnesota or whatever hole you crawled out of to make your self feel cool and gentrify Seattle. Keep supporting local music and keep your shoe gaze and Seattle freeze strong at the Sunset baby !!!

This place absolutely slaps, at least for sure does on Wednesday nights. I went their with my friends and they have everything I'm looking for: cheap drinks, good music, friendly staff, and it didn't take that long to get served (it was a Wednesday but whatever). Will definitely be going back here for pre drinks on a Friday or Saturday in the future. Big ups to the Sunset

Love'd this pub. Snuggled into a space right on Ballard's main drag, The Sunset is the antidote to boujee Ballard*. They have a great little performance venue in the back. Just to be transparent, I'm probably a little biased because my daughter was playing a gig there but I don't think so. I am a dive bar connoisseur. I travel a lot and seek them out. I was in town just for the show but enjoyed the place a lot. *not bagging on Ballard just saying it is gone upscale. Not a bad thing but it's always nice to have the original places mixed in.

The Sunset is wonderfully preserved, well-dimmed dive bar. Polite staff and cozy space.

The bouncer denies people that are 21 for no reason. We had tickets to a concert inside and we were turned away because he thought my friend's ID was fake which it isn't (w/no refund). When we called the bar to figure out a solution they said "sucks". Total bummer bar i don't recommend.

This place was such a disappointment. Every interaction with the staff , bouncer and bartender will put you in a horrible mood. If you want a good time I recommend not going here because chances are your night will end up being ruined:(

I won't be returning. I can't speak for the drinks here, but I came here with my significant other and another couple on a Sunday after spending an afternoon at Ballard's Sunday market, having dinner elsewhere, and heading to Sunset for some drinks. My friend was carrying an unopened bottle of wine that she had bought at the market and were laughing together as we walked up to the guy at the door, preparing our IDs (we're 20- and 30-somethings), when he caught us off guard by saying "I can't let you in." We thought he was joking because there was no reason for it. When he said it again, we realized he was serious and asked why. "You're clearly drunk. You're even carrying alcohol and it's illegal for you to bring that in here." So we turned and went to Little Tin Goods and Apothecary instead, which is a fantastic little bar. There are a few things that were so bothersome about this: 1. His tone was nasty. Even if he thought he was doing the right thing, he could have been polite. 2. We weren't drunk. In fact, none of us had even had a drink yet. 3. It's not illegal to allow alcohol inside. You just have to charge a corking fee if the bottle is opened on the premises.

Still a great spot for small rock shows in the heart of increasingly upscale, expensive, whitewashed downtown Ballard. It had been a while since I'd been here prior to last weekend; extensive remodels have brightened it up a bit and separated the front bar room from the concert area. The front bar is great--check out the gorgeous bar and tables, decorated with faux explorers' maps of fictitious lands. The back room has a small stage, quite good sound, great sight lines and plenty of room to get close to the stage if that's yer thing.

This used to be a gnarly dive with live music. Now it's just a dive with live music. The smoking ban a few years ago sure did tidy things up in this town. The Sunset is downright civilized now. This is a nice bustling strip of Ballard Avenue. Maybe the bustlin'est, actually. Virtually every storefront is a restaurant or bar that's interesting and worth a visit--and if not, it's probably popular and busy, anyway. The Sunset is the punkier option through here, supporting local bands, new bands, offbeat stuff in the realm of live music. They only hold about 100 people, though that doesn't stop them from packing in what feels like more than that from time to time. They keep cover charges low, and as a result they have a nice simple straight-ahead economic model for bringing in interesting bands that need a shot at live gigs. There are a few tables and chairs, a long banquette. There are nice folks working the door and behind the bar. Most unrecognizably of all, compared to the Sunset of 15 years ago, the sound in here is really nice. Didn't really even need earplugs to watch a pretty loud show in here. They do tend to draw in a certain segment of crowd here who aren't here to pay attention to the band. They just want to drink and chat. They probably paid the cover, though, and they're money in the club's pocket, so technically they're kind of supporting the scene. If a band you like is playing here, or if you just want to check out a live band tonight, check out the Sunset. It's doing the work.

Came to The Sunset for a concert. It was good. AMBIANCE: 3.0. US Navy - themed photos and lingo. Bar area in front, no-seating band area in separate room in rear. Clean. Slightly older crowd at concert - generally mid-20s to mid-30s. Photos in the men's head are fit for any real or wanna-be sailor. SERVICE: 4.0. Beer came fast at the bar, with some decent stuff on tap. (Had the Chuckanuts pilsner). Folks managing entry to concert area were polite and professional.

Unpleasant, pretentious, terrible music. We arrived at The Sunset hoping for a whimsical evening out in Ballard. The drinks were fine and reasonably priced, however the music left something to be desired. We attempted to make one song request and were met with hostility. Felt ostracized and hurt. Would recommend a more welcoming bar that takes itself less seriously.

Great venue for small concerts & a nice little bar. Gets pretty crowded and loud but totally recommend if you like it like that!

This was my first time going to the Sunset. If you're going to see a band there, do not opt for Will-Call tickets unless you are confident that they will sell out. The place has poor crowd management, so you will actually get in faster if you buy tickets day-of. I got to the Sunset at 7:30-ish, and the person standing by the ticket place said that the ticket office did not open up until 8:00, which to me, meant that okay, line up at 8, they'll check if you paid and will give you the stamp that will let you in the doors. I grab a drink, it's 8, and I stand in line. No one arrives at the ticketing stand until 8:15, and then calls for people without tickets, telling those on Will-Call that "I don't want to see you. Anyone else WITHOUT tickets?" and motioning people to move aside. People who do get the tickets day-of, then get to line up first at the doors. Then sometime 10-15 minutes later, he starts taking will-call as well, but doesn't announce it, so now the people who were pushed aside because he didn't want to see them, now have to move to the end of the line, even though they were waiting first. I was okay with that at first, until he stopped the line halfway through to let people into the doors (which to be fair it was getting crowded). Yeah, maybe it was the fault of people waiting for not knowing any better, but there's really no point in buying tickets in advanced if this is going to happen. You don't even save money--I got 2 tickets online and the tickets were $17, but the fees bumped the total to $43, whereas if you bought tickets day-of, they would only be $40. Maybe I'm pretty noob at the whole process thing, but I'm pretty sure the Sunset has it mixed up as well, because I wasn't the only one who was confused. A lot of people in line were commenting "What's the point of buying tickets in advanced if the lines are the same?" The whole ticket thing made me feel pretty crappy--I was really close to leaving early but then the band playing saved the day. Besides the whole ticket fiasco, the venue is decent. Drinks were cheap. Bathroom is clean. Ambiance is cute. There's air conditioning in the live music room, but it doesn't go off very often/isn't always running so expect it to get really hot if the room is packed (A band member on stage even commented on how hot it was). If you're going to see a band you like, do it. Otherwise, I wouldn't really bother.

Great little night spot with live music. Tonight we're listening to a local band called Sequoia Collective. Awesome! If this is the kind of music they feature, we'll definitely be back.

Small venue but uber cozy. Great for new artist discoveries and a quick drink! Love the local color on the walls with various photos!!! Only stopped by to hear a friend of a friend play, but would defiantly go back when in the neighborhood again!!! BUT!!!!! When I was looking for the joint, I nearly missed it as I was looking at the pic on here of their sign and it has since changed ... in hind sight I guess I should have taken a pic of the new sign and posted. Next time ... :)

Great spot! On a Wednesday night when everywhere else in Ballard was lame and/or closing early, The Sunset Tavern hooked it up. Live music, good vibes, sharks. Strongly recommend.

My friend is 48 years old and she was stopped at the entrance , with her other girlfriends because she didn't have a USA ID card. After she showed her European ID, she was asked for her passport. She was denied entry because she didn't have it with her. People that travel from other countries don't walk around with their passports at night. Get with current events.

Totally rude. The bartender was a complete a$& Toni's then super nice to the people right behind us. He even was a Richard enough to check our ID, then not check the kids behind us. Not a welcoming place. Music is generic.

Very clean and well maintained. We came here on a Friday for a show and even at 8:30 it wasn't slammed. The bartenders were both very attentive and made sure each person that came in was greeted and made a cocktail or given a beer. Each time we returned to the bar during the show it was the same excellent service. There is only 1 bathroom and the door was locking people out with no one inside so at times there was an unnecessary line but again the bartenders would come over and make sure someone was actually inside or they would unlock it. The music side was great, intimate and the sound was killer. Love those smaller venues. All in all I loved this place and will be back.

A really solid bar. Drink prices are reasonable and the staff has been very nice and attentive each time I've gone in. It also is a great place to see a concert, I was actually blown away by how good it sounded in the back! Overall, a great place to go get a drink, see a show, and hangout with your buddies!

This place used to be rad. I am not a fan of the cut off front section. Worse, there's no food here anymore. And the bartender was rude and offered no other options (i.e. bringing in outside food, etc). Worse still, while the sound was decent, the sound man was an arrogant prick who talked down to the band onstage during their performance. Sadly, I won't be returning despite the fond memories and history of the old Sunset. Too bad.

After my evenin' at the Hazelwood, I was told by 'Tom 'the flavor tip' LastnameIcantremember' that I should head on over to the Sunset Tavern for what else? Trashy Trash night. I thought, 'Hey, it's Sunday night? Sure I have to make lunches.. help the kids w/ homework.. errr wait.. Hmm... wait a sec. I'm young, SEXXXY (that's right, that's 3- count 'em 3 X's) and single. Oh, and lonely. Fargo Mike Yamagita lonely.. Sooo.. Why the f' not?' Got gussied (what does that mean really.. and from whence did it come?) and hit it up somethin' fierce! Yes folks, the pompadore reared it's head that night. Sunset is not a place I frequent often since most nights, there's usually a metal or punk band. Don't get me wrong, I Love Live Music, just not always the Sunset variety. Lucky for me, Trashy Trash night brought forth a few mash up dj's, and an 'electric six'ish band, so i was more than happy there that night. I danced my ace off with some to some serious mash up and enjoyed my stiff stoli n' sodas. The metal band with the crazy ties and the hipster dude in front who kept grabbin' the lead singer's junk (he didn't mind one bit) kept me entertained. Cool crew, fun clientele.. and very VERY RED. RED like 'Cristopher Cross, Lady in Red, RED. Red like 'RED RUM! RED RUM'. Red like.. oh.. I dunno, tampon blood bubbles? Favoritest thing about the Sunset: The giant duct tape penis gracing the stage that night. Nice touch, guys.

Price List, Art on the Wall at Sunset rockabilly lass pin-up: $1,000 jimmy hendrix head: $1,000 psychedelic distorted woman face: $1,000 blues man: $1,000 twin sultries: $1,000 woman and her boob, angle 1: $1,000 big-headed mama: $1,000 woman and her boob, angle 2: $1,000 And to save you additional time and crowd navigation, I thought I'd let you know that the toothsome cherry-red wallpaper is not actually flavored.

There is ALWAYS something going on at the Sunset and they really deserve credit for that! It's a real living breathing venue! If you're lucky enough to see a band that you actually like here, it's magic! You can reach out and touch them... which is incidentally how I receive 33.5% of my Eczema... Dark reds, dimly lit, rotating art on the walls... I find no fault there! All that and you get to feel like you're at party in a cramped basement! What? That can be fun! You have to be in the mood for it... but it can be fun!

I have to sadly admit, I hadn't been here before going to my new friend Niffer's party. I loved the art, the space is just divey enough but with that too-cool-for-school attitude I require in a venue. Drinks were good, strong and to the point. What more can I say? I'd go back anytime to see a show, hang out or just be scene.

Did you hear about the fracas last Friday night at the Sunset Tavern? It wasn't me it was my twin! So let me just tell you right now, if you are planning a pub crawl in Ballard do not skip the Sunset. The bartenders are cool and the RED is a real mood setter. Chances are you will catch a good music show. Drink enough and even those band you think you don't like seem to catch fire... or it could be the RED taking you to the next level. Warning: Do not cause a fracas in here because everyone else in the bar will kick your ass to the curb. Take it from me Bambi Chan! HiYa! CHOPCHOP! P.S. I miss Big Wheel Bingo here.

Often I think to myself when I see negative reviews on Yelp: "If only the reviewer had given them another chance--perhaps it was an off-night, perhaps the server was frazzled." Tonight, I retract this sentiment in its entirety. When your experience is as miserable as what I experienced a the Sunset Tavern tonight, there is nothing so enticing that it could possibly convince you to try again. Let's start with the service. When I am one of three people sitting at the bar, I expect someone to take my drink order. If, furthermore, the bar is nearly empty on a Tuesday night, and there are two bartenders both of whom are chatting away, then my sympathy disappears entirely. Ten minutes should not elapse before you notice that I've been signaling you. Secondly, I wasn't expecting amazing pizza from a bar, but when your crust is more rigid than cardboard, I believe that's reason enough to feel disappointed. I'll let your imagination fill in the rest. I didn't leave the bar because of the food or service though, I left because of the music. Between bouts of wincing, the stranger sitting next to me at the bar commented that we were currently experiencing the worst sound check that he had ever heard. The music was both tortuous and intolerable. I left half-way through my meal specifically because the music was among the most horrible sounds I have ever witnessed. (If you knew me and my affinity for pizza, you would understand that there are few things on this earth that can draw me away from a warm slice of pizza, good or not--but this was one of them.) I fled from the Sunset Tavern. I can say without reservation that this was one of the worst eating or drinking experiences of my life. When in addition to this, I realize that I paid an eight dollar cover to enter, I can only say that nothing will ever persuade me to return.

If you get kinda turned around, walking around in the dark in Ballard looking for this place like I did, just follow your nose. The intoxicating, bready scent of freshly baked pizza led me to the Sunset's door. For a place that is called "Tavern", I woulda liked to see a little more passion put into the beer selection. While it wasn't totally terrible, there were only about 10 microbrews on tap to choose from. Though, the liquor looked well stocked. The decor was kitschy, old school amalgamated with new school hipster vibe. I love the red lighting and the red wallpapers. The stage setup was small, and we didn't stay for live music, but I may venture back to do so. All that delicious aroma in the air, coupled with a preview of the pies in the form of other diners' orders, definitely stirred my appetite. I grazed across the menu with munchie eyes, and noticed they had one lone dessert choice: Tiramisu. Go. Perfectly put together, not too sweet, which is just the way it should be, and just the way I like it. I woulda liked a little more mascarpone cream within the layers, but it's legit. A delicious Stumptown coffee flavor with a tiny hint of Meyer's dark rum, delicious cocoa powder laid out on top, blossoming with the coffee rum flavor. An ample slice, perfect for sharing? 6 bucks. And I bought an awesome beer Koozie as a souvenir of the nights' shenanigans.

Decent enough, however my beef with this place is the lack of seating. I have seen a few shows here, where it is pretty mellow music, and people are standing like it's a rock concert or something. LAME. I luckily live in walking distance but if I had to drive, I would also not like this place... you would have better luck finding a needle in a haystack. Redeeming factors of this place is that it is red, from carpet to ceiling, and the drinks are decent. Not a place I would frequent, but with the right person performing, I'd go again.

I will always encourage live music in Ballard. Since the remodel this place has hit on all cylinders. I actually love the front bar more than the music venue now, but the back area attracts great acts and is a solid environment for live music. They have been getting much better bands since he remodel. Plus the front bar is great now too.

Still one of my favorite music venues. I love the coziness of this little spot. I love that the stage is knee high so you can get as close as you want to the bands. I love their strong pours, their cool art displays, their friendly bartenders, and their awesome sound guys. I love that most shows cost well under $10, and I love the variety of stuff they have here. Also, my friends had their wedding reception at the Sunset and everything was perfect! Just as it is every time I see a rock show. The only thing that's lacking is some munchies - but they're not really needed. You can get your stamp, wander out to any of the many fine food places on Ballard Ave., and then wander right back in to rock it. I sincerely hope the Sunset NEVER goes away. I would be very, very, very sad.

The sound will surprise you. I'm not sure when they renovated, but the Sunset split into two with the main front bar and a back concert room. It's small, intimate, and the bass truly carries and sound is supergood. Not what you expect when you see it, but the Sunset delivers.

nice atmosphere but unethical management. I try and avoid this place. They asked my business for an equipment quote, we designed the system for them and next time I was there I found they purchased it from someone else. I guess they didn't feel we should get paid for our design... Don't trust them!

There's something quaint about seeing one of your favorite bands perform at the The Sunset. On one hand there is absolutely nothing special about the actual venue itself. Luckily being situated in Ballard is the best quality about the actual location. The concert area is separated from the outward facing bar. Not a giant fan of the two-room venue setup but whatever, I can dig it. Like I said if you happen to catch one of your absolute favorite bands here it's an awesome and intimate setting. I dislike coming here for shows when the place is absolutely packed though -- It gets very warm and tightly packed. Not a fan of being a sardine! On the other hand, the room acoustics aren't particularly great either compared to some other local venues. If you're seeing a favorite band here - 4.5 stars If you're seeing any other show here- 2.5 stars.

Bought tickets to a show here tonight, uber-ed 30 minutes to get here. Only to get denied because my girlfriend's italian drivers license was not an acceptable form of identification and a picture of her passport did not suffife. The law is the law and that is no issue, but the bouncer who was completely rude to us over this totally is. He offered no help in telling us how we could get refunded for the tickets, and was just overall rude. If your not going to allow two hardworking people into a show that they paid to go see, dont look down on them for not being american, who carries their passport with them anyways?

The following is a review of a concert at Sunset Tavern: I was recently in Seattle visiting my friend Kristy for a few days. During my time there, I made the most of the city's terrific indie music scene and went to three gigs. The first show we saw was at Sunset Tavern in Ballard. It was a really intimate and cozy venue (and locally owned). Just as when I saw Cass McCombs in London, the headlining act, Kaylee Cole, was overshadowed by the opening musician. Both were empowering female artists, yet Shenandoah Davis stole the show with her brilliant keyboard playing and absolutely beautiful voice. Very Regina Spektor-esque. Her music is carried largely by the strength of her vocals. During the show, I became a bit agitated by the noise of the crowd. While Cole was performing the audience was particularly loud, yet during Davis' set, they were a bit more settled down. After finishing, me and my friend had the opportunity to chat with Davis. She was very friendly, and keen on doing an interview for the WILD honey pie. During our conversation, it came out that she actually grew up where I went to college (Boulder, Colorado). What a strange coincidence! It was really great to interact with such a talented musician so soon after she had performed. Below is a song from her album We; Camera, which is available on iTunes. Head over to her MySpace to find out if she's coming to a town near you. Enjoy!

Enjoyable. Nice vibe and good music. But DON'T turn your back on your drink. They are running a staggeringly effective little clip joint in here. They'll swipe your full beverage RIGHT BEHIND YOU and make you buy another one. It happened to me, and upon my recounting the story to friends, I found out that it is indeed something that they are famous for. Not acceptable.

Black mondays rock!! $20 for a pizza, $10 for a salad. $15 for a pitcher of beer.

From the look of the awning, I was expecting a more rustic-themed interior. In all actuality, the Sunset has more of an Opium Disco Den feel. You know--red wallpaper with gold pattern, leather couches, star-shaped chandeliers and other such luxuries. Makes you feel a lot more exotic than you normally would. As far as a music venue, it's pretty tiny. Definitely standing room only, and not a lot of space for dancing. (Which reminds me: To the guy whose drink I knocked out of his hand while I was flailing wildly with my Halloween prop--Sorry!) But there's also nothing worse than being at a concert that seems sparse. If I'm not being jostled from all angles, I'm not having a good time. Drinks were tasty, service was quick and friendly, people watching was excellent. (Which also reminds me: Why can't people wear costumes every time they go out? Why wait for Halloween? I know that I, for one, have a better time when I'm dressed like a total weirdo--I think it's something our culture should embrace year-round.) Yet another Ballard establishment that I will frequent.