Well, since it is clear from perusing the other thread that so many disagree that Fado is the best soccer bar in the U.S., I figured I would take the discussion into a more positive direction. Which is the best soccer bar in Seattle and why? In my opinion, factors to be included should include atmosphere during Sounders, U.S., European and other games, devotion to soccer over other sports and the ability to watch games there live. Feel free to disagree with my criteria, as well.
i don't know if it's the best, being rather small and all, but for my money, the summit pub is the shiiiiit.
Seriously? I have never been inside. I used to hang at the Ballard Playhouse a few buildings to the east. That small portion of 65th has a nice feel to it, and I still enjoy driving through there. When did they become a soccer bar?
I would like to know if there is a bar in Seattle that regularly shows league games that are NOT EPL. Seems like every "soccer" bar limits regular showings to (1) Sounders, (2) EPL, and maybe (3) Champions League/Europa. Would be nice to find a place that regularly shows other Euro or S.American leagues, but I realize the demand out here is for EPL. Even a bar that regularly shows non-Sounders MLS games would be interesting. I am a Sounders fan but am interested in keeping up with other teams too. If anyone knows of any please post.
Kells does Celtic games. http://www.kellsirish.com/seattle/index.php Not sure about other SPL games though.
Saint Andrews up by greenlake is pretty good. The food is actually good and i was there for MLS Semi-final LA vs Houston so they play at least important MLS games... Plus they are walking distance to my house and have Boundry Bay on tap. SOLD!
I know Cafe Presse also shows Ligue 1 and other non-English games. http://www.cafepresseseattle.com/pages/football.php I'm guessing Azzurri would show Italian games, but not 100 percent sure. By the way, would those posting bar names please give your reasons for why that is a good soccer bar? Thanks.
really? i went there for a sounder away game once, and had a hard time getting them to turn away from the sec college football game that was playing at the time. maybe they just don't support local soccer.
*shrug* They claim to do Celtic games and Sounders games. I've never been myself, but I have heard such things from generally reliable people.
i have been to AC only once, but there were 3 tvs watching 3 different games, and also 3 computers set up watching 3 other games. great place
I'll go with George & Dragon, if only because they're pretty much soccer specific. On the weekends they'll ususally show 2 EPL games at once throughout the day. Occasionally some La Liga and Seria A when the big boys are playing each other. But more importantly they make really good bloody mary's.
It's not the best soccer bar in Seattle. It's not even a soccer bar. But I'd like to give credit to a place that was always soccer friendly, at least it was when I was still living nearby 8 years ago: The College Inn in the U District. I'd regularly watch Champion's League games there between class with 5-10 others. They always had any national team games on. They didn't have FSC, so that was about it. But more importantly, the owners are/were big soccer fans. They'd drive up to Vancouver or down to Portland for USA games. They'd have soccer on rather than the M's, Hawks or whatever. Just a great bunch of guys and a good place to watch the game.
Why pick one? There are some great neighborhood bars for soccer all over Seattle. The Dray in Phinney Ridge/Ballard. St. Andrews in Green Lake. The University Inn in the U District. The G&D in Frellard. The Atlantic Crossing in Ravenna. And that's just north of the shipping canal...
That'd be cool - I'll have to head down there since I live in the U-District. Sounds like it. I'm going to have to head there, too, because Ligue 1 is my favorite foreign league. I just could never get into the EPL. True. As for me personally, I would like to find a place that I could make my home away from home, so to speak, for all U.S. and away Sounders games. A place that would be open for games like U.S. friendlies in Europe at 7 a.m. (such as the game against Slovakia this past November) or at 11:30 a.m. on a weekday (happens relatively often, including this coming March 3 against the Netherlands). A nice atmosphere for away Sounders games would be great too. I don't quite want the craziness and constant singing of an ECS bar, but I want a place where people are very much into and focused on the game. Oh and sound turned on for U.S. and Sounders games is a significant plus (doesn't have to be loud, but should be on at least). Given the need to find a place to watch all the U.S. games on a live basis no matter what time they are played, as well, Fado appears to be the one that fits the bill. But I am very curious if anywhere else would fit what I'm looking for. I'm still interested in what soccer bars in Seattle people like in general, but as for what I am personally looking for, that is it.