No recent locations

Print View

Return to YellowBot!

Owl 'n Thistle Irish Pub & Restaurant

808 Post Ave

Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 621-7777
owlnthistle.com

Send to Phone (SMS)

Bookmark

Address Book

Recommend this place?

Rate this place!

↑

A class act

View tags & more!

Got something to say?

Be the first YellowBot user to review Owl 'n Thistle Irish Pub & Restaurant

Information from the business

brought to you by

Citysearch

What an evening at the Owl is like is very dependant on the day of the week that you visit. On weekends you will see a variety of bands from the Owl n' Thistle Band pumping out world class Irish music to the Town Pants from Canada. On weeknights, however, there is a wide variety of music styles represented and the crowd changes accordingly. From Guinness Beef Stew to Fish 'N Chips, we serve Traditional ... more

Posted by Citysearch on January 23, 2008

Business Description from the Web

brought to you by

wcities

This casual little Irish pub tucked away on narrow Post Avenue, on the fringe of Pioneer Square , clearly encourages its slightly clandestine atmosphere. It serves pub fare consisting of burgers and such, with nothing too Irish except the Guinness Beef Stew. The good beer selection includes Guinness, properly hand-pumped. On any given night, one is likely to hear live Celtic music or a poetry reading ... more

Posted by wcities on June 08, 2008

Tips About This Business

Know Before You Go

brought to you by

Citysearch

Want a seat for the band's set? Then get there early, as this place is no secret.

Posted by Citysearch on January 23, 2008

The Extras

brought to you by

Citysearch

The kitchen cranks out better than average bar food up until 10pm.

Posted by Citysearch on January 23, 2008

When To Go

brought to you by

Citysearch

Happy hour is 3pm to 7pm Monday through Friday.

Posted by Citysearch on January 23, 2008

Editorial Reviews from the web

brought to you by

Citysearch

The Scene This venerable Irish bar is a longtime favorite for live music in an intimate space. Though many musical styles are heard--from Bebop and Destruction to Ponticello--the emphasis is on upbeat folk like Pete Krebs. The main room has a floor-level stage so close to the bar that dancing practically transforms you into a member of the band, but make no mistake: The space for music is ... more

Posted by Citysearch on January 23, 2008, (Edited February 07, 2006)

brought to you by

thestranger

Let's try, for one moment, to be honest, and confess that an Irish pub is often the most pleasing place to get smashed. More to the point, it's also the best opportunity for ogling, or better yet fondling, attractive people of Irish descent while pretending that you're still young enough to indulge your lifelong fantasy of running away to Dublin to join the Pogues. Strap on the pennywhistle and patronize ... more

Posted by thestranger on January 26, 2008

Other Reviews from the web

Truth Be Told

brought to you by

Citysearch

After reading the reviews and frequenting the bar many times, I had yet to receive horrible service. That was until this past weekend.
After a horrible night (good music I will always state that) of just plain weirdness with the staff and management, my girlfriend and I decided to go grab a bite. After a perfect ending to a imperfect night, we headed home. While walking to our Condo on the hill, ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on February 18, 2008

A drunk disrespected us, called us names, attacked & threw my husband to the ground, ripped his shirt, I was unable to get my belongings & kicked out with no support from the employees.

brought to you by

Citysearch

My husband and I were attacked by "a regular" in this establishment last night. It was a Monday and our day off so we decided to go out to have a few shots and play some pool. We have been coming to the Owl and thistle for three years now. It's not the nicest place but the staff knows our names and they are nice to us. This guy at the bar starts calling me the b-word and just being really mean to ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on February 12, 2008

gritty local hangout

brought to you by

Citysearch

The thing you must understand about the Owl & Thistle is that this a dingy pub, NOT a swanky hotel lounge and patrons like it that way. They are not trying to impress you and your Mother-In-Law. No one will greet you at the door with a nosegay of pansies. The people who go here know how to navigate the scene. The music is the draw. Know what you are looking for and you will be rewarded. The crowd ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on January 07, 2008

Shameful

brought to you by

Citysearch

We took a chance and went there, even after reading the reviews on this site. We were optimistic but what a let down.
I will have to agree with everyone's impression of the staff for the most part. Being a bar owner myself, I would never allow the type of behaviors shown by the staff as were shown to my wife and I. The waitress, less than enthusiastic. I get having a drink after work, but to let your ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on December 28, 2007

if youre irish and you know it clap ur hands!

brought to you by

Citysearch

It's my very irish husband's birthday this weekend and I was searching through reviews to locate the perfect venue for our brewd, but honestly after reading all of these reviews, I am at a loss. O+T looks like a great venue for the fun we are antisipating.... but I am a little weary of the infamous Holly along with the other careless waitstaff. I am suprised that management hasn't taken any of ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on November 14, 2007

Great place for music, first place I think about whenenver I come to Seattle...

brought to you by

Citysearch

I've never had the food here before but everytime I've gone for music and drinks, have had an amazing time here. My sister and I were coming in from out of town and wanted to find a bar exactly like the Irish pub we are used to going to in Telluride and found a great match at this place. The music is always great and people in the bar have always been friendly to us, and it's not prententious at all ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on October 30, 2007

Why is this place rated so highly?

brought to you by

Citysearch

My friends and I decide to go in for drinks after work, and get some snaky foods. The bartendress was the biggest Meany I've ever encountered. Apparently if you aren't a man or look like one, you get horrible service. The food was good when we got it, but it took forever. And everyone seemed like it was a chore to take our orders. One of the girls with me was the one who suggested the place, within ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on October 12, 2007

Bad Energy

brought to you by

Citysearch

I would have to agree with the consensus so far. The staff is too concerned with the people they apparently know to pay attention to the general crowd. The front bar was very crowded. the wait staff seemed overwhelmed and in poor moods all around. The back bar, just a serious waste of time. Not to mention the man woman who pretty much took up residency and made even attempting to order a chore.I' ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on September 23, 2007

Favorite waitress in Seattle

brought to you by

Citysearch

I frequent the Owl-n-Thistle often, and always have a wonderful time. My favorite waitress Amy is always cheerful and always remembers my name. The Owl has great New England clam chowder and great Shepards Pie. My favorite Irish Pub in Seattle.

Posted by Citysearch user on September 19, 2007

Unbelievable . . . in a BAD way.

brought to you by

Citysearch

The worst experience I've had at a restaurant in years. My wife and I thought we would grab some happy hour food and drink before heading to The Triple Door (best venue in Seattle by the way) so we stopped by The Owl&Thistle. Big Mistake. At 5:20 we seated ourselves at a dirty table in the mostly empty pool room and began the wait. A waitress appeared bringing beers to the table next to us. The ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on September 16, 2007

Fantastic Service.

brought to you by

Citysearch

I've worked in the industry before, I know good service, and the service I get from the staff at the owl is awesome. Abbey knows how to make the best Black Velvet (turned me on to them actually). Anytime I've been in there it's been a great time. I like to go in during the days on Friday, Abbey knows how to have a good time while working and makes sure everyone is served promptly and with a fantastic ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on September 06, 2007

Never Again.

brought to you by

Citysearch

Horrible service. Lackadaisical staff. I spent most of the night listening to them talking back and forth about their own personal BS. The back bar was not crowded but you would think the girl working it was running a marathon. I was also very confused when as the night drew on, it seemed this Irish pub no where near Capitol Hill turned into a lesbian haven. If I want to see that type of action, I ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on September 02, 2007

Holly Haters

brought to you by

Citysearch

We've heard nothing but great things about O&T (except the "bitchiest waitress ever" review) so we decided to check it out. After getting nothing but attitude and resistance from our waitress, we check our bill for a name...HOLLY!!! She single-handedly ruined O&T for us forever, which is too bad because the venue has fantastic potential. Note to managment: get a new server!

Pros

+ Sheps Pie & ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on July 29, 2007

Awful

brought to you by

Citysearch

Awful food (unfortunately, I am learning that this is the norm in Seattle), boring enviroment, and beer that tasted as though the lines hadn't been cleaned for at least a year or two.

Pros

+ ?

Cons

- Awful food and drink

Posted by Citysearch user on June 02, 2007

Favorite place in Seattle: The Owl and Thistle!

brought to you by

Citysearch

This is my first post and I have to talk about my favorite irish pub the Owl and Thistle. I love the Owl and Thistle! I go there every Monday and Friday night after work and I love the atmosphere and the service that I get. I know many of the employees there and I think they are all nice and willing to go the extra mile to make you happy. I recently celebrated a birthday there and was treated like ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on March 10, 2007

The bitchiest waitress ever

brought to you by

Citysearch

We've gone to Owl and Thistle many times over the past year since we live nearby, usually with decent experiences. Love the bands, love the Shepherd's Pie. But tonight... oh my... tonight was something else. We went there at 6:20 p.m. and sat in the front room. It was relatively crowded, but not insane. We sat at an empty table. The waitress, Holly, according to what was printed on the bill, ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on February 16, 2007

Good bar, understaffed on weekends

brought to you by

Citysearch

I went to the Owl and Thistle for happy hour after work on a Friday. It was a pretty cool bar, but it was PACKED and there were only two waitresses for the whole place. Their service was good, but they weren't able to take our orders for 15 minutes after we sat down, and then when we finally got menus it took another 20 before we were able to place an order, and we were able to get beers semi-quickly ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on February 15, 2007

nwsource: venue details - owl 'n thistle irish pub & restaurant

brought to you by

nwsource

reat atmosphere, fun and free live music every night and cheap grub... more

Posted by nwsource user on January 26, 2007

Best Bar In Seattle!

brought to you by

Citysearch

This is the best bar in town! Saturdays yeild good live music, and a hopping crowd. The staff and owners are friendly and I always feel great after a weekend spent here!

Pros

+ Live Music, Wonderful staff, friendly faces

Posted by Citysearch user on August 22, 2006

great bar, lots of fun

brought to you by

Citysearch

this bar has been been have a fave of mine since i freshly turned 21. the owners, bartenders, and waitstaff are all great! great food & tons of fun!

Pros

+ everything is just wonderful

Posted by Citysearch user on June 25, 2006

The Owl 'N Thistle is Cozy 'N Warm

brought to you by

culturemob

Judging by the name alone I already liked the Owl 'N Thistle. It reminds me of all the pubs in the UK called 'Cock 'N Bull' or 'Cat 'N Fiddle' or 'Dog and Duck', all places where you can warm up with a thick beer and a plate of some sort of meat with gravy on it. The Owl 'N Thistle does not disappoint, it is cozy and comfortable from the entrance on Post Avenue to the warm goodbye of your server. ... more

Posted by Shilo Urban on April 23, 2006

The service

brought to you by

Citysearch

Wonderful food, wonderful music. Some of the worst service in Seattle. Order your next drinks when you get the first or it will be hours before you get more.

Posted by Citysearch user on October 27, 2004

brought to you by

10best

This bar is great for everyone who wants to have great fun and a laugh...really chilled out.

Posted by wryan90@yahoo.com on August 10, 2004

better than Kells!

brought to you by

Citysearch

Nice cozy place with no cover. great mix of live bands. check out the Vinyl Avengers on wed nights. Rockabilly featuring the lead singer of the Dusty 45's.
The servers are cute and smart and way overworked. Cut 'em a break and you'll fall in love. the bartenders are hot. Best fish and chips in Seattle. Same goes for the shepards pie.

Pros

+ free, good music, strong drinks, smart a@s,fun staff

Posted by Citysearch user on August 02, 2003

GREAT HUMMUS!

brought to you by

Citysearch

The 'Owl is one of the more popular places to hang out for downtownies when waiting for a bus/ferry. The happy hour is great, although the fish n chips have gone down hill some (Too much breading and they are not as big as they once were). The Hummus is wonderful, but they dont make enough to keep up with the demand and the last 2 times I've gone down there, I've gotten screwed! You'd think they ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on February 25, 2003

Get your drink on at the Owl N Thistle..

brought to you by

Citysearch

Great place for a laid back evening, especially when The Owl N Thistle Band is playing....... great service and atmosphere!

Pros

+ Owl N Thistle Band, Service, Atmosphere

Cons

- UW Frat guys, Crowded B-Rooms, parking

Posted by Citysearch user on October 05, 2002

Wet your whistle at the Owl n Thistle

brought to you by

Citysearch

Cool place to hang after work for a few pints before getting on a Washington State Ferry. Lots of regulars but always friendly to new faces and even tourist..... hum and the waitress's are pretty hot ;)

Good food menu and nice happy hour prices.

Pros

+ Inexpensive, Supper Employees

Posted by Citysearch user on August 16, 2002

Best Fish n' Chips EVER

brought to you by

Citysearch

The have the best fish n' chips I've had, period. The happy hour special is the best deal in town. The fries certainly hold their own as well. I'd give my left pinky if they opened a non-smoking section, but that's not going to happen. And, of course, the staff is extra nifty too. Only drawback is parking; be prepared to circle the block a few times if you don't want to pay.

Pros

+ Food, Price, ... more

Posted by Citysearch user on July 25, 2002

Just a great place

brought to you by

Citysearch

Great place to go out and meet people, and just have a great time.

Posted by Citysearch user on July 19, 2002

Luck of the Irish

brought to you by

Citysearch

One of my friends from England found this place. Great Irish pub with live music, a pool table, soccer games on the tube, and meat pie. Get there early on trivia night.

Posted by Citysearch user on June 02, 2002

IRISH EXCELLENCE IN SEATTLE

brought to you by

Citysearch

From the management to the employees - this wonderful establishment will make you feel welcome where others fail. The atmosphere - the drinks - the music and the food are everything one could hope for. There are "many" Irish "pubs" in the Seattle area - BUT there is only one OWL&THISTLE IRISH PUB.

Pros

+ Good Service, Excellent Drinks, Inexpensive rates

Cons

- parking

Posted by Citysearch user on May 29, 2002