Capitol Hill
Cheap beer, well drinks, tavern food and weekend brunch
Draft beer, shots and beers, weekend brunch
Our Take on Linda's Tavern
Linda's Tavern sits at 707 E Pine St in the heart of Capitol Hill's Pike-Pine corridor, open since February 1994. It was founded by Linda Derschang with Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman of Sub Pop Records, which ties it straight into Seattle's grunge history.
The pitch is simple. Cheap beer, a Western-themed room, a back patio, and a low-key crowd that has made it a neighborhood constant for three decades. It is the spot for an unfussy night out, and the wrong call for anyone after a polished cocktail program.
The history is real and worth knowing. Linda's is widely cited as the last place Kurt Cobain was seen before his death, and it has served everyone from Soundgarden to Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam over the years. KING 5 has called it the grunge Cheers, and the quirky Western decor has kept that low-key reputation intact.
It earns its dive-bar credentials honestly. Thrillist has named Linda's to its lists of the best dive bars in America and Seattle's best boozy brunches, per Wikipedia's roundup of its press. For more of the city, see our Seattle hidden gems guide, the best bars in Seattle, and the near-me dive bar finder.
The Move at Linda's Tavern
The Word on Capitol Hill
- KING 5 has profiled Linda's as the Capitol Hill bar celebrating the grunge Cheers for over three decades.
- Wikipedia notes Thrillist named it among the 21 best dive bars in America and Seattle's best boozy brunches.
- Regulars point newcomers to the back patio as the best seat, especially on a warm night.
Read the Room
- A grunge-history pilgrimage on Capitol Hill
- Cheap beer and a back patio
- Skip it if you want craft cocktails
When To Visit Linda's Tavern
Evenings are the heart of it, with the room filling after work and running late on the Pike-Pine corridor. The kitchen and bar keep going toward the 2am close.
Weekends add brunch, which is the calmer way to see the place. Warm afternoons on the back patio are the local secret.
Inside Linda's Tavern
Editorial by Priya Nair.