The Pauper in a Prince Town, Central Tavern thrives on being able to bring a certain "divey" feel to Kirkland's happy hour and night life This is the place where you'll find the after-work usuals, the bikers, the bar hoppers, and the MS squad. They keep em a little older in here.
There are a couple of pool tables for those that enjoy having a little cue-ball release with their beverage and a bar staff that tends to act like... a bar staff. Lots of energy very social in the town's dakr, dank, and oldest bar. There's a pizza joint nearby that will deliver and plenty of outside entertainment at night in the form of never-disappointing adolescence. Seriously, around 11ish, step outside, cop a squat, and just wait for it. The up-and-coming generation's overestimation in their youth is a sure thing in this part of town. Entertainment all around. If that's not your bag, throw your attention to the kind of jukebox that has more experience than Michelle Braun. Lots of songs. This, that, and the other songs.
There is a decent selection drinks from top to bottom shelf. Regardless, you'll get it strong and they'll keep it coming if you want it to.
Go if you like Cheers. And leaving with the bar scent attached to your clothes.
Don't go if you like disco lights. Or leaving with the scent you came in with.
I have lived in Seattle for over four years and finally made it over to Kirkland to actually hang out for a night. This bar was the first place I entered. Â The oldest bar in Kirkland is going to have its charm and what an obvious role for a bar to be frequented by bikers than one of the oldest in the pacifica northwest. Opening just before the repeal of prohibition, this bar delivers down to earth atmosphere and people along with friendly bartenders pouring strong drinks.
Review Source:It's a classic dive bar. Â Dark, smelly, small but with just enough room to be comfortable and strong drinks. Â You know what you're getting the moment you open the door. Â It's miles better than the other drinking options (e.g. the generic Irish pub place and Tiki) in Downtown Kirkland and you'll feel like a bona fied alcoholic when you leave the joint.
The staff is great.
Well our date night last night ended nicely at the Central Tavern. Great little Dive Bar...they had live music last night and it was fun and sometimes Funny to watch the people dance. Its a small little place but it felt like a welcome place to hang out. We will be going there again I am sure.
Review Source:I was always a bit hesitant of this 'Biker Bar' until my boyfriend talked it up so much. All i gotta say is, it's a dive bar that is more welcoming than it looks like from the outside. Strong drinks - and i mean STRONG;) Â a juke box (sometimes live music) & pool tables. Great casual hang out place!
Review Source:Central is an interesting place. The drinks are incredibly strong (but you do pay for it), and the pool tables take up the entire back half. Â I went there on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving (for the second time) and the front area was too crowded to stand because of the band and all the people, and the back area was squished because so many people were playing pool. Â I think it's a cool bar, just interestingly set up... And if you're not from the area, don't go here if you're under 30. Overall, cool decorations, great service, just not really my scene.
Review Source:So many good memories... and lack of memories............
As a quick summary;
People go to a bar to drink. I tend to be very good at this as I like to drink a lot. The Central is a killer place to drink!
Its a good spot to chill for a little while as you make the tour through K'land. Its not the place you want to get stuck in for too long though.
The two ladys behind the bar are great, just know what you want and don't be an ass and they'll love you like they do me and my friends.
This is always our first stop on our way to the bottom on Friday nights. We've been getting root beer / Jager shooters every week for over a year now.
We walk in and they just ask us how many haha!
Central Tavern is a flash back to earlier times probably about the mid 1970's. Â You can lose yourself in the dark walls, neon lights, live band and the crack of the break on the pool table. Â Today they call it a "dive" in years past it was a just a "neighborhood bar". Â Here you could find faces you knew, a drink worth paying for and secrets you held close to the vest. Â Nightly, after a dreary working day you were greeted with a gracious smiling face, friendly live band and a seat with your name on it. Â Maybe it was not an evening to remember but a time in your life you will never forget.
Review Source:Came to visit Seattle on a random weekend and spent every night at this bar. Â Of course our hotel was a few feet away, but loved hanging out here each and every night. Â Ordered about 27 shots throughout one night and Jen only charged me for a 1/3 of em. Â Best bang for the buck and some of the friendliest people here. Â Definitely check it out if you're in the area and definitely stick around for the cream cheese hot dog guy situated conveniently outside.
Review Source:Being a long time resident of Kirkland I remember the old days here before the invasion of the 20 something crowd. It was a real dive bar back then. They actually clean the toilets once a month now to attract Microsoft geeks.
The layout of this place is awful which is perfect because I'm use to awful. When there's a band playing you literally walk though the band to get to the bar. I once joined in on a song. I think the band that night was Miles from Chicago. Fun.
A pool table in the back near the stinky bathrooms. One night a girl got so pissed off at her inability to play pool that she crawled under the pool table and refused to come out. Finally her boyfriend said FU and walked out. She fell asleep.
I love this place. Â Seriously. Â One day they will tear it down, and that will be a very sad day for me, for Kirkland, and for all the other people who love this place.
Kirkland has plenty of posh bars, and "I just turned 21" bars, but this place is a great dive bar. Â Blues on Wed/Sun, a great mix of people inside, and excellent bartenders (Jen is a hoot, and makes a mean cosmo besides).
Halloween is excellent - they don't advertise, but every year people start showing up in costume, and by 10pm it's a party!
If you ever think Kirkland is nothing but nail bars and tanning salons, head down to the Central on Sunday night, and you'll see a different side of the city.
First off - just because I live in Los Angeles does not mean I rub elbows with the Olsen twins and Paris every weekend. I don't really go out and I am a dive bar girl. I've been to divier places...WAY divier places. (See Whisperz , Up Th' Hill, The Colorado, etc.)
The bartenders were high energy and fun and the bouncer was a doll. The people there varied but minded their own business. I'm not sure how to get on the "Cool People List" to play pool but it was painful to watch some of the half crouchers play.
I think throughout the night I heard the Eagles and Beyonce's Single Ladies. I dig diversity, no drama, and low maintenance. 5 stars.
My friends and I come in here when Tiki Joe's is overflowing.
We usually clear the place out by playing Madonna and Abba on the jukebox.
It started as a joke, but we actually timed it and cleared the whole bar out (20 ppl?) in about 3 minutes - I can't take all the credit, George Michael's "I want your sex" did it.
This bar is dark and as the previous reviewer mentioned its long and narrow like a bowling alley. Â I suppose its a good place for a group of friends - we came here last with a group that ranged in age from 23-63.
They do have live music on occasion but I have yet to identify a band or a genre playing that I recognize.
The booze here is booze. Â Nothing fancy but it does the trick!
Got here last hour before closing on a Friday. It's one of those bowling alley type bars (Long, Straight and narrow). There's absolutely nothing special about the decor. Maybe I was a little snookered, but the place seemed a bit too bright for it's own good.
Good mix of 30-40 somethings. Some bikers. MS geeks. Some soccer moms having a girls night out. Regulars. A few stragglers from some of the younger nearby bars (The Shark).
Service was quick. The vodka and cranberry was strong.
Amazingly, they were playing Rush on the jukebox. Something really obscure off Hemispheres. Cyngus X1 book 2! I decided right then and there that I dug this place. Hey I like Rush. Deal with it. :P No apologies. Where else would I hear something like that? Rest of the music was a mix of 70-90s rock, hair metal, funk, pop rock. Godblessem. No hip hop or rap at all. FINALLY.
I'm told they have bands on Wed and Sun (looks to be blues/funk) with no cover. Â I'm baffled (and curioius) as to where they'd fit them in to the back to play.
I'll believe I'll be making this my new local bar.
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Update: Jan 3, 2008
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Well I've been going here several months and I really love this place.
I think of it as a rock version of Cheers. I'm hoping that doesn't make me Norm. :P
Jen the bartender is the best in the city IMHO. Great sense of humor, super attentive, she always makes me feel welcome.
The Jukebox can only be described as eclectic. It's always great to hear You Should Be Dancing by the Bee Gees followed up by Master of Puppets by Metallica followed up by Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. Â Also, if they happened to be booked on Sun or Wed night, check out the funk band Miles from Chicago.
I love to hang out at closing and watch the drunken trainwrecks from Tiki and other bars. Good times. Ah the stories I could tell.
PS: the back pool table sucks. Use the front one only. ;)
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