The Funhouse

After a lovely meal at the Space Needle, we wanted a place to continue getting our drink on. It being a Sunday evening & raining at that, we didn’t want to walk far. I was very hesitant about this place just based on looks alone, but agreed to check it out.
We walk in, see a $ 5 cover for music and turned right back around. No slight on this place, but we just wanted drinks, not a cover! Luckily the door guy waved us in anyway and waived the cover as long as we agreed to buy some drinks. Deal!
It was fairly hopping for, as I previously mentioned, a Sunday night with a few bands playing. It’s LOUD for sure but it’s clear it’s a good music scene for local bands.
The drink selection is pretty typical, with a few local drafts on tap. Plus they have jello shots where you sure don’t question if there’s liquor in there or not. Prices are all on point — with the exception of Guinness costing more than a Ninkasi? I ain’t arguing but Guinness is the most expensive beer? Weeeird.
There’s also a basketball court! We didn’t partake but that was a cool, unusual feature.

Quite possibly my favorite bar in Seattle. I really can’t say enough about this place. Basketball court, beer garden, awesome shows, pinball, amazing staff and just all around fun place. It is very sad that they are demolishing the building. A staple in Seattle music will be gone.

Drinking while confronting my fear of clowns? Check.
Good amount of space for a music show? Check.
Awesome laid back patio, picnic tables included? Check.
Alcoholic coffee? Splendid idea! If only the coffee hadn’t been crazy burnt.
I played the role of «merch girl» for my friend who has been on tour. The staff seemed nice and pretty cooperative with the show planner and performers.
The local riffraff, not as cool. Some drunk kids were obnoxiously making gestures at my friend on stage. Then there was the trashed lonely mess of a lady who was ranting to me conspiracy theories and «fuck capitalism, man» when all I was doing was just sitting and trying to sell stuff.
And a note to the bouncers! I mean, yes, you can be an angry guy. It helps, I know. But sheesh… drinking on the job with a scowl on your face? C’mon… buck up dudes.
Not a bad hangout, decent show location. I do confess I hope my friends aren’t booked there again.

Um, awesome. Great regulars, cheap stiff drinks and an excellent (though dirty) atmosphere. Hanging out here is much better than spending time at Seattle Center across the street.

This place is awesome! We had just spent the day at the EMP checking out the horror exhibit when one of our friends was pointing to the big clown head saying «we should check out what that is!» Curious, we all wandered over to find one of the coolest dive bars in Seattle. They had a special on mimosas, so I ordered one up for $ 4, plus they had JELLO SHOTS!!! Jello shots were $ 2.25, so I got two, one red and one green. Fuck yes! The place was covered in stickers, pinball machines, some old Halloween decorations and some decorations from what looked like a birthday party, and old gig posters of previous bands who had slayed the venue.
There was a small stage to the side, and a big olé’ BBQ out back where the men were roasting up a rack of ribs and veggie dogs, haha! This place was a community bar with all sorts of people from different walks of life. That’s what made it so fucking cool. There was also a sign by the bar that said «no racists, no homophobes, no assholes» which really should be posted at every bar worldwide. A couple people were even allowed to bring their dogs inside (they are allowed during the day when its slower apparently) so I got to see a big black lab play with a pitbull who just rolled on its back playfully for bellyrubs.
Do you have any idea how much I want to uproot this bar and bring it back to Vancouver? We have NOTHING like this. We don’t even have bars that have jello shots, nevermind a freaking BBQ where you can bring your own meat and slap it on the grill. The only sad part about the bar is that I think its going to move, may I suggest a move to Vancouver? Heehee. Please?

Was awesome!
A friend pointed it out as we were leaving the EMP, and I’m glad he did.
BBQ out back, puppies hanging around, jell-​o shots, cheap drinks, good people, and general rad.
Dusty halloween decorations and pinball tables.

Decently priced beer. All kinds of weird sh%t to look at inside. Bartender says they have a band there almost every night. Near the space needle. Bathroom is the size of a motel 6 shower… that’s SMALL for those of you who don’t know. Good happy hour. Decent atmosphere.
Not for the religious types!

What can I say… this place has always been a good time when I go. The workers might not be very friendly but whatever, I just get my drink from them and move on. They have good shows here and the back patio is great to hang out on.

from the outside i had no idea what this place was. i finally discovered it was a bar when i Unilocaled «bars» in my current location. once we got in my friends and i discovered that its just you’re average local bar in downtown seattle. they do have a basketball hoop and also some interesting decorations. and by interesting i mean sort of weird. slightly halloween-​ish.
we ordered a round of jello shots which are always fun. can never go wrong with that. they had some live performers that night which was entertaining to watch…
there’s nothing too special about this place. but its not completely horrible. it seemed to be a «go to» bar for locals…
.the drinks weren’t bad. they were «a-​ok». again very basic, average bar. not mediocre. not extravagant.

Well, you know I’m a rebel and once someone says «I’d turn back if were you» I go running right into the fire! We found a couple of other places we stopped into. One of the bartenders told us this was a scary place. I wondered just how bad it could it could be and since we stayed out almost all day, we finally got around to enjoying this place. It wasn’t packed or anything when we went in and almost everyone just at the bar. We did a drive by boozing– basically went in no tab chugged and ran but I did take a moment to drink in the atmosphere. It might be a little itimidating if you don’t like clowns, that the theme. I hate clowns myself but after a few it doesn’t matter.

Who doesn’t like a bar with sassy bartenders, a basketball court and good music? I love coming here and watching and playing basketball with ll the hipsters who secretly love sports and are wicked competitive. :) I’m really into this place and hope to see more shows and drink more whisky here.

KICKING OF THE ASS!
Drinks are strong, just like they all say.
Bands are fun, staff are nice (for nasty, dirty punk rockers) and the atmosphere inside and out on the patio is just what you need for a night of fun (house)
Go there, see a band, get yourself a drink or five and I’m sure you’ll feel like you’ve been hanging out with the cool kids.

Who’s house… funhouse!
Anywhere that puts up a basketball court gets 5 star in my book (easy tip for everyone). Classic dive bar.

Oh… the Funhouse.
Even when I’ve been here on ~really~ bad personal days I’ve ended up having a good time. The staff; especially Holly, know how to take care of you if all it amounts to is an extra strong drink and a genuine smile thrown your way.
With the scary clown on top, Halloween decorations plastered all over the place all year round, the fabulous outdoor patio, the great local (and loud) bands they have playing, cheap stiff drinks, band stickers stuck everywhere that keep you looking for a favorite, clean facilities, and one of the awesomest bartenders (Holly) around… you can’t go wrong!
I love it’s skuzzy-​punk-​rock-​faux-​divey-​bits to pieces!

When I think about great places for small shows of local music I usually think of this place within my first 5 choices. It’s tiny… I mean REALLY tiny! but that’s what makes it so totally awesome! My friends punk band played here a couple of nights ago and the stage barely fit two guitarists, a yeller, a bass player and drum set… it’s kind of what makes it so cool.
Nice patio with a basketball hoop to spend some time at if you’re waiting for the next band or you’re craving some nicotine.
Drinks… well stick with beer and ciders here (they have strongbow) and of course the ubiquitous jello shots of doom :)
Overall I do like this place and when my friends play there again I’ll be back for more!

I LOVE this joint.
Everytime i go here the staff is super nice and the shows are pretty kickin’. the drink pricey are pretty reasonable… and they have rainier in a bottle (i love those damn bottle cap picture puzzles)!!
I had a chance to see «the A-​frames» and «X”(old punk band from Australia)…super good… made the drummer from the A-​frames call my friend mike (he was supposed to come to the show and then bailed out… that’ll show ‘em!)…then we took shots of whiskey… ahh…good times.
AND…if it’s in between bands, not a night where bands play, or the bands just plain suck… you can shoot some hoops, whilst drinking your booze and smoking thoust (improv shakespear for ‘your’) cigarette out in the back patio/​beer garden.

My boyfriend and I had our first date here!
Great venue. Great drinks. Great staff. Great location.
Six months later we are still together. Thanks Funhouse.

Kind of a punk-​ish scene bar that has a love for black paint on the inside. We had a good time here — strong drinks, good bartenders, and a live band.
The basketball court is awesome, being a block away from the needle and everything.

I recently described the Funhouse as grungetastic because, well, it is.
I don’t find myself here often because the shows booked here aren’t really my scene. However, if you are into punk, metal or hard core, then the Funhouse may very well be YOUR scene. And it can be your scene for a pretty cheap cover fee (normally $ 5-​$ 10).
On my last visit, I stood behind the guy who ordered, «Just giving me something in a can.» I, on the other hand, ordered Jameson and ginger. The bartender looked at me and grabbed a tall glass and said, «I assume anyone drinking whiskey wants a double.» Alright, double it is.
The Funhouse looks like it was decorated by someone’s creepy, retired carnie uncle, but I suppose it could be endearing in a dive bar sort of way. The bathrooms though aren’t endearing. Cramped, dirty quarters — I’ll hold it.

This bar made a really fun Saturday night. I came from Vancouver for the weekend, met a lot of other people visiting who also decided this was the best place to be., met a few awesome people in the smoking patio, and started a ridiculous dance party just by being my obnoxious, highly enthused self. They also provided an excuse to not end up in the backseat of a Sedan headed 40 miles south curtesy of a drunk driver (who happens to know the staff very well and got us in for free). The bar lay out makes this place a top notch venue, with curtesy to every cause for being in here (drinking, smoking, boredom, basketball?). I saw the posters up at the door, and I always recognize Vancouver acts playing here of various talent and influence.
In summary, this bar is so fun you wont notice that youre covered in beer and sweat until its much too late. Or you wont mind that I am. Hurray.