When you’re done with work for the day or the week, how do you like to celebrate? If your answer involves a cocktail, good company, or a cozy atmosphere, Ballard nightlife has plenty to offer you.
Here are a few bars in the neighborhood that have earned reputations as happening places to indulge in happy hour or dance the night away.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
A long and generous seafood happy hour draws some serious crowds to this great waterfront oyster bar. Just a ten-minute walk from the Ballard apartment rentals at AMLI Mark24, The Walrus and the Carpenter is a great place for singles to mingle and seafood lovers to indulge. Happy hour is from 4 to 6 PM, Monday through Thursday.
The Sunset Tavern
Laid back vibes prevail at The Sunset, a bar and concert venue known for its cheap drinks and live music. Just around the corner from AMLI Mark24, The Sunset is a mainstay on the Ballard nightlife scene. If you have yet to visit this dive, check out the music listings for upcoming shows or hit up Betty’s Room for a drink just for the experience.
Ballard Station Public House
A historic location as the terminus of the Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern Railroad gives the Ballard Station Public House a storied air. The restaurant and bar may not be that old, but feels as if it could be. It’s easy to imagine, for instance, 19th-century train conductors and passengers disembarking before throwing back whiskeys and sipping soup in a wood-and-brick room.
Happy hour is every day, from 4 to 7 PM. Each day of the week is themed, with Margarita Mondays and Tuesday Trivia being especially popular. Ballard Station Public House is less than a block from AMLI Mark24.
Pie Bar Ballard
A few doors down from Ballard Station Public House, Pie Bar Ballard is a nice place to wind down after a night on the town. The dessert bar is clean, calm, and features an extensive dessert selection. The sweet-minded bartenders here also whip up pie-infused beverages, including pie-tinis and apple pie moscow mules. Enjoy a slice of pie and your nightcap drink before making the three-minute trek back to AMLI Mark24. Happy hour takes place daily from 4 to 6 PM.
BalMar
Excellent bar service, satisfying comfort food, and passionate DJs make BalMar a stalwart of Ballard nightlife. It’s a place to eat, drink, dance, and be merry. For many patrons, the ambience is what really sets this place apart. Beautiful wood floors, vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls, and flickering candles give this Ballard dance club its distinctive feel. From AMLI Mark24, BalMar is just a two-minute walk.
Like Capital Hill and Lake Union, Ballard’s nightlife scene is thriving. It also offers something for everyone. If you have yet to fully experience what the bars and dance clubs of Ballard have to offer, get a taste with a visit to one of these hot evening destinations.
What’s your favorite Ballard nightlife hotspot and why? Share in the comments.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst