USSM Official Pre-and-post-game Meetup Bar Endorsement
Pioneer Square Saloon. 73 Yesler Way. I didn’t realize how much I’d come to value the comfortable simplicity of the Pioneer Square Saloon until I looked through my game notes and realized how often I was there. It kind of snuck up on me.
Two brief digressions:
1. I had some plans for the Drinking at Safeco feature this year that never came to fruition (Google Maps, updated write-ups… my reach exceeded my grasp). Sorry.
2. You used to be able to find me at the King Street Bar and Grill, but the last two years I’ve had increasingly poor service and ill times, so it dropped out.
Cons: the Saloon’s a little farther north. It doesn’t have a lot of TVs. There’s no kitchen.
So why go there?
The lack of proximity means it’s relatively calm, you don’t have to brawl for space, and it’s quiet enough that you can have a reasonable conversation. So it’s ideal for meeting friends, because you can get a table and talk to them.
They’ve got a bunch of good, cheap taps. I like the people who work there. I like the people who hang out there. The music’s been good every time I’ve been there, and I’m picky about my music.
While there’s no kitchen, but they’re cool about letting you bring in food, which works out well. If you want a meal, I’ve got another post coming about that.
The best alternative is probably the beer garden at Pyramid, because it’s so easy to find. You’re standing around in a parking lot, paying more, and the beers are often a little nasty, but meeting people from out-of-town or something is a cinch: “It’s across the street from the ballpark”. If they can’t find the park, you’ve got bigger problems than meeting them for beers.
Pioneer Square Saloon, folks. Check it out.
Also considered: Owl & Thistle (horrible service), other places on 1st, the Outback encampment just south, King Street, Tiki Bob’s, Sluggers, etc etc.
Next up: the pre-and-post-game meal endorsement.
If you’ve got a suggestion for a good meetup spot that is
– reasonably priced
– not overflowing with people
please, drop a comment.
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10 Responses to “USSM Official Pre-and-post-game Meetup Bar Endorsement”
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Do they serve Natty Ice? It’s all I drink.
It’s not a bar, but the Elliott Bay Book Company cafe actually IS a pretty reasonable place to meet up with people before or after a game, if you’re okay with drinking coffee/tea instead of beer. There’s always lots of space to sit and hang out, they have free wireless, and it’s “only” four blocks from Safeco, even though it’s more like half a mile…
Wear an Oakland hat to the Pyramid Beer Garden and you’ll fetch plenty of notable looks. It’s fun times.
I like to go to the Pike Pub and Brewery, 1st and University, at the south end of the Market.
I come in by bus from the Eastside, so I get off downtown instead at Pioneer Square. Meet up with friends and quaff a pint or two at the pub as part of happy hour. When I’m sufficiently happy I stroll down First Ave to the stadium (or if I’m feeling lazy, hop on a First Ave or Second Ave bus as far as Jackson). I grab a few concessions from the vendors along Occidental, then head into the stadium.
About the third or fourth inning I get another beer (thus limiting my exposure to the Safeco beer ripoff to one purchase).
The toughest adjustment to living in Japan for me has been going back to bars that allow smoking. I don’t know if I’m allergic or what, but Washington’s law has spoiled me.
I’ve just never liked Pike’s beers, unfortunately.
Is the Pyramid the two story place w. the sort of open kitchen that you can look right into form the second floor? I think that’s where I went when I came into town before a game (it was right across from the park.) The food there was excellent. Great burger.
I love the Pioneer Square Saloon.
I also like the New Orleans. The little bar generally doesn’t get very crowded and I like the food.
88 Keys (the Piano Bar) on 2nd and Jackson has the NFL package and lots of big plasmas. I am hoping that they will also subscribe to the MLB package.
No love for FX McCrory’s? It’s not really in the same bracket as the spit and sawdust places, but the service is good and they’ll shuck you a dozen oysters. The Guinness is okay too.
The Guinness used to be pretty good in the Owl and Thistle, but I haven’t been there in close to 8 years. It was pretty good in Fado too, that last time I went there, but that place is Oirish in a bad way.
I drink things other than Guinness – most things in fact – but the idea of oysters is making me thirsty.
No, no love for McCrory’s, and your experience with the service is a lot different than mine.
McCrory’s was under consideration for the “pre-and-post-game meal” category, but as you’ll see, loses there too.