Waterwheel Lounge
Bar · Ballard ·
Dive bar with karaoke, bingo, trivia & outdoor games
Dive bar with karaoke, bingo, trivia & outdoor games
"Though this stretch of 15th Ave is rapidly 'improving', the Waterwheel Lounge seems firmly dedicated to representing the block's somewhat seedier past. If you like dark, authentic dives, complete with slightly sketchy bathrooms and torn vinyl stools – and who doesn't, really – this is your place. Regular live music, karaoke, and bingo nights keep things interesting. And during the warm months, their entire front parking lot transforms in to a beer-soaked astroturf wonderland, boasting outdoor ping-pong, a corn-hole set, and monkey balls." - Brooks Running Global Creative
"Founded in the ‘70s and proud of it, the Waterwheel has a groovy vibe, dim lighting, and a patio that makes this a great summertime dive. They also host karaoke and trivia regularly, and occasionally pull off stunts like “temperature priced” domestic drafts. Come while you still can: This bar is slated to close in 2026 when the building will be redeveloped." - Meg van Huygen
"Waterwheel Lounge feels like one big year-round dive bar party. When the weather’s gray and depressing, you can get in on some bingo or trivia, or sing “All By Myself” out of tune during karaoke night without judgment. When the sun’s out, the astroturf patio has ping pong, cornhole, and ladder golf—all things experts agree go really well with copious amounts of cheap beer." - aimee rizzo
"Sitting in a one-story building at 7034 15th Avenue Northwest, the Waterwheel Lounge—constructed in 1970 and housed here since 1974—feels like one of the last crunchy 1970s Seattle roadhouses on 15th Avenue. I watched rumors about its closure swirl since 2019, and now the bar is officially slated to close on January 10, 2026 after plans by developer Magedai Apartments (filed April 2023 and approved following administrative design review and public comment) to replace it with a five-story building with a ground-floor restaurant, 16 residential units, and parking for six vehicles were accepted. It's known for cheerful service, a powerful aroma of historic spilled beer, a grotty wood-paneled, 1970s rumpus-room aesthetic, seven nights a week of entertainment (karaoke, bingo, trivia, live music), one of the biggest, best patios in town, bells hung by early regulars, sketchy restrooms, and the rarity of an on-site parking lot in Ballard; although it hasn't served hot food in years, longtime patrons still rave about its killer fried chicken. Manager Natalie Wentworth keeps a Y2K-style countdown clock on the wall and says the bar will keep operating and booking events months in advance until the lease ends; she also laughs that moving into the new building's retail space isn't financially realistic and that they wouldn't trade the gritty, familiar space for a modern one—"Wayne's World" style—even if they could." - Meg van Huygen
"Waterwheel Lounge, Ballard by Brooks Running Global Creative. Though this stretch of 15th Ave is rapidly 'improving', the Waterwheel Lounge seems firmly dedicated to representing the block's somewhat seedier past. If you like dark, authentic dives, complete with slightly sketchy bathrooms and torn vinyl stools – and who doesn't, really –this is your place. Regular live music, karaoke, and bingo nights keep things interesting. And during the warm months, their entire front parking lot transforms in to a beer-soaked astroturf wonderland, boasting outdoor ping-pong, a corn-hole set, and monkey balls."