I wanted to really like this place as it had a dark, easy feel. Â We went on a weeknight for drinks (good idea) and dinner (bad idea). Â The drinks, The Guilty Conscience (vodka-cucumber) and Fish Hook (manhattan) were great! Â The calamari and mussels were also good! Â ...and then the burger arrived. Â I would have to say it was one of the worst burgers I have ever had. Â It was tasteless. Â It's hard to believe you can make such a bad burger, but they managed. Â Actually, it may be the beef used (HarrisRanchBeef) was tasteless. Â Either way: Bad Burger! Â The ribs were okay and the mixed baby greens salad was a yawn. Â Unfortunately, the service was also subpar. Â At moments they were attentive and other times clueless. Â Actually, our server was bad and the two guys around her seemed to try to cover for her. Â
We might go back for a drink - but not for dinner.
Went here to eat at 7:30 on a weeknight. Â It was pretty quiet and the decor is nice, which is literally the only good thing about this place. Â
I ordered the Skirt Steak. Â The waitress didn't ask how I wanted it cooked and ran away before I could tell her. Â It came with sides of fingerling potatoes (of which there were three) and swiss chard cooked with bacon a la collard greens. Â
Everything on my plate tasted the same: vaguely burnt garlic and grease. Â The swiss chard was disgusting, greasy, and fatty. Â Not the vinegary flavor of collard greens. Â The steak was pre-cut into strips that were cool when they arrived. Â Obviously pre-cooked. Â My boyfriend got the ribs, and said that coffee flavord barbeque sauce is a mistake. Â
The bartender also seemed more interested in flirting with a woman at the bar, refilling her wine constantly, and holding her hand than in filling drink orders. Â I watched the waitress make most of the drinks (pouring the end of a bottle of wine and the beginning of a new one to fill my order of a house red). Â
Not going to BalMar again.
I wish I could give this establishment negative stars. I have been here multiple times in the past, its crowded, service is slow and their bouncers are THE WORST. My most recent visit sparks this review and my desires to never return.. Not only will I ever go back but I hope they close their doors or their bouncers are fired. As we were walking down the stairs the bouncer yells at us, pushes and shoves while swearing at us to get off his stairs. (Hello sir, we are walking down, leave us alone is what I was thinking) We had no contact with the bouncer until this point, where he outlandishly began pushing us down the stairs and telling us to move. He then proceeded to push *a now mad customer* into the railing, throwing his thumb out of the socket. The bouncer then said " your kicked out" we were like really? We are kicked out, we were walking down the stairs, he should be fired and kicked out. We called the cops, they came and talked to the white, bald, tattooed, rude (should be fired) bouncer and he admitted to hearing the loud pop/injury to the customers thumb and shouldn't of acted the way he did. Not only was this completely un called for, but he can't treat customers like this. I consider everyone stay away from the bald, white, tattooed bouncer before he hurts you too or this place entirely. Get off your high "bouncer" horse and be polite or get fired. Â This establishment really needs to look into their security and reevaluate who they hire to protect their company.
Review Source:First of all, from a design standpoint, BalMar is easy on the eyes. Â Exposed brick and beams with straight and sleek lines everywhere and dark furniture. Â The aesthetic alone is what drew me in initially.
On a weekend night, the downstairs of BalMar is a dimly lit lounge with a collection of small but high tables and a long bar. Â Servers (and even bouncers) are fun and friendly and drinks are great. Â The upstairs is where you will find another bar, a DJ, and a dance floor full of overly-aggressive guys pumping their fists and copping feels off poor girls to the beat of boring top 40 and hip-hop.
We spent a lot of time getting drinks below but didn't stay long for the dancing. Â The minute my two friends got nearly pulled to the ground and felt up by a hammered guy, we figured it was time to go.
Long story short: Great place to grab a drink on the lower floor, but beware of the upper dance floor...
I wish I could give this place negative stars. Their food is fine. Their drinks are average. And their vibe attracts everything that has turned Ballard ave into just another place in Seattle for d-bags from across the Seattle metro area to come and drink and start fights. Don't believe me? You don't even have to go inside, just stand within a half-block of the corner this place resides on a Friday or Saturday night and wait. One of the few places in the area with genuine bouncers at work each night and it isn't enough to stop them from over-serving the idiots that flock here. Between this place and 4 or 5 others that are new in the last 3 or 4 Â years, Ballard ave has become just a bit more ugly.
Review Source:The BalMar is awesome, especially if you are a nonprofit seeking an event space for a fundraiser.
We held a happy hour event at the BalMar last Thursday, and it went really well. Susan met with us beforehand, told us that there was NO COST (!) to use their lovely upstairs (brick walls, high ceilings, a bar, bartenders, and DJ equipment) as long as we guaranteed a minimum number of guests attending. And they gave us happy hour prices all night!
The bartenders were great, and BalMar made it possible to have a fun fundraiser with minimal prep. Also, I highly recommend the caipirinhas :-)
Great upstairs for dancing, but always crowded at the bar. Cool lounge areas. I only give it 2 stars because one time the staff stole my clutch that I left on a table when I was dancing. I know they stole it because it had my iPhone in there and I was tracking it every day (don't judge me). The thief was charging my phone and leaving it at the bar. Â I would come in/call every day and tell them that I know it's there, the manager and bartenders were really nice about it, or at least pretended to care. Â It was really amusing (not really) watching the little blue dot go into the back alley to smoke and walk around the bar for a week. I finally brought my lap top in and the bartender helped track it down to the pizza place safe next door ( you can play a sound from your computer). Â The pizza staff told me that the manager was the only one with the key and they would be in the next morning. When I woke up the next day my phone moved 20 min north. I just about had it with these low-lifes but decided I would rather play investigator all day instead of going to work (bookkeeping). Â I picked up a friend for protection and iphone support, drove to the location, called the cops, waited outside in the pouring rain for 3 hours... and didn't end up with my phone. Â
In the mean time I had to replace my drivers license, credit cards, house keys, work keys, car key, and get a new phone.
A month later I got a facebook message that my clutch had been found aka, I reported my phone stolen and they locked it forever and it couldn't be used. Everything was in there even the $5 I had. Â
Other than that experience - the bar itself is fun and they have good happy hour. I always think it's funny when small bars charge cover. Â It's only $5 and if you are with some friends sometimes the guys just do $5 for the group (how sweet :|).
If you eat here you are being robbed. Â I've eaten here twice. Â The first time was when they first opened. Â I got the crab cakes... or should I say cake $15 dollars. Â It had pieces of shell in it. Â I complained and they comped me... Ok nice but for $15, one cake?
So fast forward to tonight. Â I tried them again and ordered their St. Louis style Ribs. Â I got 4 ribs for $14. Â I got 4 ribs and a rinky dink side of slaw which consisted of raisins, onion, and mayo. Â Honestly the serving could fit on one table spoon.
Let me delve into the ribs. Â Cooked till the meat was mush. Â The sauce tasted like ketchup, tapatio, and chili powder. Oh and did I mention I only got 4?
I've never been so insulted. Â Seriously? 4 ribs for $14, with hardly a side? Â Kicken Boot is just down the way and they'll give you a half rack with two big sides for the same price. Â Their ribs are cooked nicely and they give you a choice of some great sauces. Â Their Cornbread with whiskey honey butter is the shizzle. Â I can't believe BalMar is still in business. Â Must be enough douche bags that go there on the weekends.
Seriously. Â If you eat there you are being robbed of things more than just your money. Â DO NOT EAT THERE!
I am a fan of the BalMar of the past. I will say that they pour a good drink if you're a nice guy, normal guy. I think the bartenders can tell. Getting a Jameson on the rocks with a splash of X or no splash at all tends to be a well poured cocktail.
Downstairs: Generally "chill." Decent crowd. Not too many crazies.
Upstairs: Get there before 10:30p or so otherwise they charge cover (never used to). I think it technically might be 10:00p. Gets hot. Gets crowded. Music is hit or miss. Sometimes you hear a "good cut." Sometimes you think to yourself "wtf..."
People: I think 'the folk' from the Eastside like to come here.
At the end of the day it's Ballard. That generally says 'enough' but this place I think more so depends on the moons and planet alignments.
We had our annual Christmas party here....with about 100 people. Â I contacted the event coordinator (Sue) who made sure we were set up with the right type of space for our party. Â The event went great. Â Sue confirmed with me prior to the event and followed up post event. Â The staff/servers were great....putting up with alot of gym people who cannot hold their booze. Â :)
We had the backroom in the upstairs area and the high cocktail tables near the dance floor. Â The space worked great until it was opened up to the public (around 10:30 pm) and we were pretty partied out anyway. Â
I would recommend this venue for any large party gathering.
I waited 30 minutes to buy a drink at the beginning of the night. I then waited 45 minutes to pay my flipping tab.
I know, it's Saturday and the Ballard knuckleheads are out in full form monopolizing the bar while the chicas monopolize the dance floor but if you want to serve and want my money, then add another bartender to the mix.
Patrons can be sketchy. Service/bartenders are few.
We clearly entered some sort of alternate dimension on our first and only visit to BalMar. There were no popped collar high fivers, no too tipsy for their 5" heelers and not even a hint of a bouncer. Come to think of it, our group of 5 was probably about 80% of the patrons in the place... and it was a weekend night. Strange.
Maybe it was the light evening, but the bartenders were friendly, talkative and spot on with the drinks. After the rest of our group left, we managed to get invited to hang back for a round of Scotch with them on the house. I can't say that's ever happened to me. Oh and you know what else hasn't happened? The bartender calling his cabbie friend to drive over from Capitol Hill to personally chauffeur us home for the exorbitantly high cab fare of $8! The horror!!
I like BalMar... at least the BalMar we went to.
First off, the reason for friends and I to go to BalMar is to get our dance on--so we're always on the upper level. I've never stayed down stairs. Every time I've been to BalMar (which has been a good few times) it has been loud and crazy. I tend to get in about 2 minutes before they charge cover fees, which is convenient, and have always been able to snag a spot when we need one.
I've been to two birthday parties at the venue, in which they have the nice reserved area in the back behind the bathrooms which is nice and cozy.
I also had my bachelorette party here--thanks to my lady friends. It was quite a fun experience. Our waitress was amazing and so sweet. She even had a cupcake stand for all of our cupcake royale cupcakes! We had reserved a spot near the bar (of course) on the couches. The only sad thing about the night was that the bouncer wouldn't let my friends hang one of the bachelorette party games on the window (you can't really hang it on the walls), but that was understandable... it was a giant picture of a almost naked man, after all. And bouncer and waitress got me a drink or two :)
The only food I've tried here was the salmon--It was actually really good! I was delightfully surprised. None of the drinks stood out to me for all the times I've been there... for better or for worse.
Word of caution, though, you really have to want to be in a dance-club type of scene when going to the upstairs bar and dance floor at BalMar, because that's exactly what you'll get. But every time we've dropped by we have a delightful experience!
BalMar is the butthole of Ballard. Say that 10 times fast.
The "bouncer" outside makes people wait outside to make people who actually care think it's at capacity. It rarely is. I would know because I've been dragged here kicking and screaming by men who want to find a college age "date" to help with their "homework." Â
Twice we have been balantantly ignored at the bar. The bar isn't even 2 people deep, with 2 bartenders and a barback. It is completely unexcusable to have to wait with no eye contact to get a mixed drink and a beer for more than 5 minutes.. It's just not. The other time we just wanted to close out. But barely could.
The drinks are watered down and not cheap. The college mix of bros fruitless attempt at mating and girls attempting to walk down stairs in their new Steve Madden stilettos bring entertainment for a couple of stars, but unfortunately, this is BelMar's only saving grace.
If you are over 22 and looking for strong drinks, great service and good conversation, I'd suggest other places.
The club is split into 2 levels with the downstair being a lounge area and the upstairs is where the real action happens with the DJ and dance floor. The bar upstairs is pretty big and you can order right from the bar as I didn't see any table service with it being really crowded throughout the whole time we were there. I saw that you can reserve tables, but no one was sitting in them.
They serve a stiff drink as I had a shot of tequila and a chaser to match. The one shot could definitely give you a buzz as the shot was fairly big.
If you do come, be here before the real crowds that arrive later in the evening and you have to wait downstairs due to crowd control. There were lines downstairs and outside the club by the time we left on a Saturday night. Crazy busy.
This was the destination that we headed to after my friend's wedding. We had a roped off room on the second floor for two hours. After that time we were part of the regular club crowd. Apparently, the area we were hanging out in was $10 to get into. I found that out after we stepped out and then realized that we left an item behind. Fortunately, the bouncers were cool and didn't charge the dollars.
The bathrooms suck, unless you are doing blow. If you are, they are fine because there are a bunch of douchebags doing blow in there and they kind of suck. The drinks are weak and not worth the price you are paying for the glass you, apparently, have the privilege of holding, that is if you can get the waitress to attend to you.
The atmosphere is obnoxious and cancerous to conversation. The lighting is poor and the decor makes me think that somebody from Team Edward did the design.
Essentially this place is so poor that it spit out people at a rate that even douchebags couldn't replenish. Just ignore it and go to one of the places down the street where you are less likely to get roofied. Luckily, it is Ballard and there are any number of good bars a stone's throw away from this ridiculous excuse for a reason to charge you money.
Give it a pass, you'll thank yourself later as you watch the disoriented, cashless crowd spill from its clutches later in the evening. You will think, "Wow, I am glad I am not one of those people!"
Out of all of the places to go, we decided to come here on New Year's Eve. Â Not a great opportunity for an introduction to a swanky place, because it was exactly what I thought it would be: sweaty, packed, loud and unpleasantly crowded.
However, out of all of the chaos, our server was fantastic and attentive. Â The beer selection was decent, and the burger was very memorable: perfectly seasoned and hand-made, piled high with fixens and accompanied by crispy fries. Â I'm going back just for that dish alone, because I keep dreaming about it.
This place has a great atmosphere that's perfect for a gathering of friends.
This review is only for the late night drinks and dancing part of BalMar.
I came here for my birthday celebration after a few drinks at King's Hardware. It's just a few blocks down and on the corner of Ballard Ave NW.
I thought BalMar had a great layout and it was gorgeous! I love that there was a staircase up to another bar and dancing area. The music was great and people looked like they were having fun. The crowd seemed pretty diverse and different from the crowds in Belltown and Capitol Hill. It was definitely a nice change! The bartenders were friendly too and I just really liked the way the lounge looked because it felt classy and not trashy!
I went to Bal Mar a few weeks ago on a Friday night and it was so memorable and refreshing that I decided to sit on my little brown booty and write my very first Yelp review!
I live in Belltown and definitely enjoy a few of the restaurants, happy hours and the company of good friends but avoid the bar scene at all costs.  Douche city.  Anyhow, the crowd at Bal Mar seemed like they were in their 30s to 40s, which was perfect for me.  There's something for everyone with a bar/loungy scene downstairs and  DJ/dance floor upstairs playing a good mix of old and new.  It definitely felt like it was geared towards people in their 30s rather than 20s.
The crowd was a great mix of people. Â Good looking crowd! Â I was with a guy friend, a hot guy, and other males in the place did not seem to have any problem starting a conversation with me and also involving him in the conversation. Â Very impressive and hot! Â I probably just need to get out of Belltown more! Â Chatted with the bar manager and owner for a bit. Â It was nice to see that they were involved and seemed to care about the quality.
One of the girls we were with didn't know what to order so we asked the bartender to make a "vodka surprise". Â He was excited at the challenge and created a tasty cocktail for her!
The biggest surprise, I was hungry and asked one of the bartenders what was good. Â He suggested the salmon croquettes. Â Ok, they were PERFECTION down to the dill dipping sauce and I don't throw out "perfection" easily! Â I can't stop thinking about them. Â I didn't try any other food so I can't speak for it.
I'm excited to return and would love to check it out on a weekday for a more mellow vibe.
BalMar is a trendy cocktail lounge and upstairs on Friday and Saturday nights turns into a club.
Cocktail Lounge Review:
Food menu is just ok, not anything amazing. Happy Hour daily until 7pm offers cocktails for $6 and house wine for $5. The lounge area is a good starting place for drinks and appetizers prior to dancing the night away upstairs.
Upstairs Review:
BalMar has become one of my favorite clubs in Seattle and one of the few options in the Ballard area. Great spot for birthdays! TIp: Make sure you get upstairs prior to 11pm unless you want to wait in the line at the bottom of the stairs.
Favorite Cocktails: Peardon My French and Guilty Conscience
A group of friends went to BalMar after Aaron E's birthday dinner. We tried to get in before 10PM avoid cover.
Two floors: 1st floor is more like lounge and the 2nd floor is like a lounge with a dancing floor and DJ. The special cocktails on the menu were strong. I only had two and felt the buzz!
Good waitress service (came over for drinks as soon as the glass was empty)
Be aware: Don't get too drunk. Otherwise, they kick you out! (An experience from a friend)
Don't get me wrong, I'm a dive bar fan through and through, but once in a while I'll step out with the other half and a good place to that is the BalMar.
Rustic/modern interior, perfect lighting, eye-candy staff and tasty morsels make this place easy to miraculously lose more hours than first intended. Add a good conversationalist to your mix and you could easily close the place down.
Drinks are perfect and worth their higher than average prices. Comfort and ease of access are at every turn. I occasionally waited longer than I would have liked for a refill, but there were plenty of distractions so I didn't mind too much.
Even with my beloved Smoke Shop right next door, in the right company, BalMar pays off in spades.
It was my birthday last August and I wanted to celebrate somewhere chill and swanky, so I thought.. Bal Mar? I worked with them via e-mail to setup my RSVP for the booths across the bar upstairs and everything went smoothly. The 2 ladies I worked with were super friendly and responded within 24 hours.
The night of the actual celebration turned out to be a total upset. I had about 20-25 ppl in my party and we were given the most unfriendly and sloppiest waitress ever. She was incredibly hard to flag down, took forever with our food and drinks and.. She continuously spilled drinks all night.. One being on my friend. I didn't even hear an apology and there was no offer for compensation for anything.
It was about half an hour before closing and my friend was ready to close her tab. After waiting for awhile for the waitress, who never returned to check on us, she resorted to going to the bartender, who told her she had to go to the waitress. Ugh. My friend finally got the bill, checked it for accuracy and tipped the appropriate amount and we called it a night.
Three days later, she checks her online statement and sees that Bal Mar charged an extra $13 to her bill. WTH! She calls up Bal Mar and demands an explanation. They didn't give her a straight answer as to what happened, but assured her that a credit of the difference would be issued. Five days later, still no credit. She called and left messages and no one ever got back to her.. Hmm?
So, the atmosphere itself - the guy to girl ratio is slightly off, favoring a sausage fest filled with pretty white boy douche's. You have to pay $5 to go upstairs after 11pm, lame. On a happier note, the dj is good on both Friday and Saturday nights, playing a good mix of 90's and today's hits. The drinks are good and they have late happy hour.
The crowd here on a Friday, reeked of Axe Bodyspray, and desparation. I wasn't too phased by it, I kinda chose to ignore the douchey surroundings and just focus on the lovely ladies I was visiting with.
The dj was spinning mostly mid 90's Rap and R&B. If I closed my eyes, I was transported back to the days of my underage clubbing escapades, because the young unruly lady that was me would have freakin' loved it here.
The place was nice enough, but not really my style anymore. Redeeming factors? They had Fremont Brewing Harvest Ale on tap (which I shared with a friend), and they made my other friend some kinda Prohibition-y cocktail with lime, vermouth, and gin, that was so well made, it didn't even have the faintest taste of gin at all. I hate gin, and even i'd drink one.
My review feels like it leans more towards 3.5 stars but since I'm fairly particular about my dance music I'm rounding it down to 3 (still respectable though!).
I popped by with my partner in crime to crash in on some birthday shenanigans and was pleasantly surprised to find that the level of douchebaggery was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. While I didn't order a cocktail, my friend did and reported that it was respectable for the price (generally at places like this I stick to wines as they're the "safe" bet). On Saturday it appears that arriving before 11pm yields free entry to the dance floor upstairs (score) so we mosied up after quickly finishing a round at the bar.
Now, I've struggled to find a place in Seattle that plays decent hip-hop/dance music beyond "top 40 / trance that makes my head hurt", and I have to admit that BalMar is probably one of the better places I've stumbled upon (so far). That said, the bar isn't set terribly high in this city and the DJ did muck up a lot of the transitions from track to track, and flipped some really ... odd choices as well (I'm all for a little retro revival but I've got my limits y'know).
I will say he gets bonus points for A) being somewhat cute and B) being a good sport after I started playfully heckling his song choices and encouraging him to play more legitimate hip-hop (and, to his credit, he did amp up the jams after said heckling).
Would I could back to BalMar? Probably only if a friend had another party/celebration, but if I was in the neighborhood looking to get a little boogie in, there's a chance I might pop in (before cover charge starts!).
Insert some reference to some saying about if someone else said it better..
me: is everyone still at BalMar? I just parked
Ninja: I have no idea, I left an hour and some change ago
me: well shit, I'm sorry I missed seeing you on my bday
(pause for short walk from sweet parking spot)
me: I've never been here before, I'm not sure i like it.
Ninja: yeah, it's a doucheatorium.
Indeed, and certainly at 1am.
So, I stayed long enough for a quick drink. Service wasn't all that great. I sat at the bar and was ignored by both bartenders for a good 10 minutes while various folks mashed in between those of us sitting and were promptly served.
I'm sure Aaron's bday was fun, and if I was with mah-Yelp-douches I'm sure I would too...so outside a future "reserved couch" event in which I show up earlier, I don't see myself returning here.
Solid drinks equal solid ratings. On a particularly rainy night in Ballard I showed up too early to get into Majestic Bay for a movie. Having to waste 20 mins or so, I dashed across the street and found myself all warm and cozy in Bal Mar.
While my drink order wasn't taken too quickly, I did get good service and a lovely cocktail from the specialty menu. I hear the food is great too so I'll be back for more soon. I love the vibe here, the tall ceilings, and the dim lights. Looks like a great date spot!
Been here a few times before, but I was down in Ballard and looking for some food since I hadn't eaten all day.
I think I've found a new place for grilled cheese sandwiches!!! Â UM, YUM!!! Â The cheese (Big Ed's Farmhouse) was delicious and who would have thought that adding caramelized onions on a grilled cheese sandwich would taste SOOO good. Â The side salad was, just that, a side salad.
After looking at what they offered for wine, I decided to do something different. Â Not that their wine list wasn't good, but I was in the mood to be adventurous and I wasn't in the mood for a cocktail.
The bartender was great and gave me some advice about which bourbon to try. Â
Service in general was good.
Price was very reasonable.
They have an upstairs for either the normal patrons or can be rented out for private parties (attended a birthday party here once).
The dark lighting and the brick walls just makes the place!!
I so want to go back and try their White truffle aioli fries.
Truffle Fries FTW!! Â I can't get over how delicious they are! Â Perfectly fried, crisp coating and the truffle flavor is delicate but obvious. Â The garlic aoli is so creamy and the perfect accompaniment.
After missing out on the awesomeness of BalMar for the past few months, I was ecstatic to go back with some friends. It was a quiet, Wednesday night and we had a seat at the bar. Â The bartender/our server was very attentive and gave a good recommendation for a drink choice for my friend who couldn't drink. Â Sad for her. Â The "Clear Conscience" she received was tasty. Â The cucumber made it very crisp and refreshing and it had the perfect touch of sweetness. Â The Long Island I ordered was made perfectly. Â Boozy, citrusy and very tea tasting. Â After a few of those, my night was off to a good start.
In addition to the delicious Fries we had an order of the Mac and Cheese. Â It's by no means your typical Mac and Cheese.... it's oh so creamy and cheesy and has some great seasoning. Â It's a very cohesive, delicious dish and just might be the best Mac and Cheese. Â Epic win.
Besides the awesome drinks, delicious food and friendly service, BalMar has good prices going on. Â They have GREAT specials during Happy Hour on their food ($3 Fries and $5 Mac and Cheese) and their portions are huge.
Oh man, so we're sitting upstairs on one of the couches at BalMar and we're going "yeah, so we've heard this is a meat market but it doesn't seem that bad. Â Sure, there's the douchey table of frat guys and sure there's that orange girl in the unfortunate shorts over tights outfit but whatever - just like any other bar."
Then, this girl walks in. Â She's not totally hooched out - short skirt but I was wearing one too, she's not orange, and she seems sober enough. Â But then, she's waiting for her drink by the bar and she starts to dance! And I'm not talking about a little two-stepping to Beyonce, I'm talking arching her back, shimmying her hair in the face of one of the frat guys, playing with her jacket like she's going to take it off and twirl it over her head kind of dancing.
WOW. Â We were about ready to move on to our next stop anyway but once that happened and the frat guys started to eye each other up to decide who could get to the girl fastest we decided to ask for the check.
Ps: The grilled cheese is really good!
A nice casual bar with a medium crowd density. Â The environment is pretty laid back, and people seem to mind their own business here which is why I like this place. Â I occasionally drop by here, and have a Martini or two in order to wind down after a long day of job searching.
Another reason I like this place is because it is very diverse-friendly, and that's nice because in many other bars I stick out like a fly in soup. Right now I'm drinking a standard issue martini and having a small plate of nachos, and I'm enjoying it very much.
The service is great, and the hit to your wallet is small, so that is another reason why I recommend this place to anyone who visits this area of town.
I ended up in Ballard on a Saturday evening a while back, and we went searching for a happy hour that might still be going on it was almost 6:00 pm after all. Â As we walked past Bal Mar we saw the sign Happy Hour Daily from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Â We went in. Â Both food and drink specials, we thought we scored.
Their "Premium Well Spirits" were $4.00, I asked what their well vodka was, it was Smirnoff, now I'm a tiny bit of a vodka snob and to me Smirnoff is yuck so I went for a glass of red wine, it was OK for $5.00, a little weak for me I like BIG BOLD TASTY reds. Â The food was OK, I did like the fries but nothing else really impressed me but what did impress me was the fact they were constantly filling our water glasses, I don't think mine went empty once. Â The service on the other hand was not as impressive as our water person she was a bit snooty with us. Â I was like whatever and finished my wine, switched to a beer and than we all headed home for the evening.
If you're looking for a Saturday happy hour with food and drink specials in Ballard Bal Mar will work and it wasn't crowded so it could handle a group of six to eight people nicely.
Friday and Saturday nights are a big NO. A beautiful venue, dark, modern and yet still inviting. The bad news is that it goes fraty on the weekends as my fellow Yelpatonians have already so eloquently presented.
I find happy hour on a weekday here absolutely, and wholly, enjoyable. The mood of the place is exactly what you want after a hard days work. Clean, friendly, with fantastic appetizers. I consistently order the clams with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce! Freaking perfect every single time!
What really makes Balmar though, is just how cool the staff are. The wait-staff are friendly, security is smooth, and, the bartenders are polite and outgoing, There really seems to be a genuine camaraderie between the staff. How they maintain that positive attitude after their Fraterday nights shall forever remain  a mystery!
If you don't feel scared enough about reaching middle-age, make a visit to the Bal Mar and you will be...you.will.be...
The bar, which is done up to look like some indie low-key brew pub / pool lounge, is primarily inhabited by people who reached forty and promptly fell out of the dignity tree, hitting most of the branches on the way down.
Example 1: The graying man in his mid 50s hitting on the 20-something blonde. He looks snazzy in his red polo shirt and khakis. He leans nonchalantly on the wall, his mediocre beer belly slumping over his belt, which keeps his cell phone holstered like a six-shooter at his side. (FYI: Cell phone holsters are the business casual equivalent of a fanny pack.)
Example 2: The pack of high five-ing white guys gathered around the pool table. It was ridiculous 15 years ago when Almost Live did a sketch about it. Ridiculosity only increases with age.
Example 3: The drunken agro-alpha male past his prime still trying to be the supreme jock sports star... at the pool table... Every time he misses a shot, he shouts and slams the cue against the side of the table in frustration as if he is projecting his anger over other performance issues into the game.
Example 4: The man wearing the "What really happened at 9/11?" t-shirt and... no joke... sky blue pajama pants with bears on them! Do I look like I'm kidding!? He had BEAR LEGS!!! GET IT!? The government must've stolen the rest of his pants or something.
My friends and I sat with our weak drinks growing ever more depressed at the prospect that one day we might find the various choices we were witnessing to be reasonable. If you feel like hanging out with Business-Letch, Captain Agro, Agent Pajama Man the Conspiracy Theorist and the League of High-Fiving White Guys. The Bal Mar is the place for you. Otherwise, don't bother.
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