Central Tavern

This place is a hole in the wall, neighborhood favorite. It’s divey but friendly and different from the rest of the Kirkland scene. Come for the Jell-​O shots, stay for the pool tables, leave when it becomes impossible to move around anywhere in here after 9 pm and you start smelling like the sweaty dude next to you.

Honest, friendly people. This is a good bar for people that don’t need much.

This not only my favorite place in Kirkland but is my favorite place on the west coast .It has a homie neighborhood feel. Diane has recently enlarge the place to accommodate bands on Wednesday and Sunday’s and for Sea hawks fan’s she threw up a giant 80 inch TV. Everyone working there are master mycologist with skills to pay the bills in the shot department. The staff are full of witty banter or the local gossip if needed. Very good place to hangout… great value and drink prices.

The Central Tavern is RAD RAD RAD! We came here on a Sat eve after dinner over at Bottle n Bull. We were in the mood for more drinks and some pool. Very chill vibe, friendly staff, fun jukebox, pull tabs, pool, one dart board, lots of tables, not horrid bathrooms and cheap tasty drinks. I really enjoyed wayyyyy too many whisky sours, and a very decent bloody marys. Def going to be a regular weekend hang out with the friends for a low key plain fun night.
Oh, no food, there was a hotdog man outside which I am assuming is their food?

This place is awesome. Its pretty divey, and it’s just right! We like to head down there and play pool about once every two weeks. The bartenders and door guys are always super funny, and make the atmosphere very laid back. It seems to be void of hipsters club types, so its’ super easy to have a down to earth conversation with anyone there. Theres a huge TV in the back so you can watch our beloved Seahawks play, and I’ve never had trouble finding a place to sit, even on busy weekends.
Stop outside and get some street meat from the hot dog dude!
Two thumbs up!

Worst Bartender I have ever met in my life!!! The guy is mentally deranged! From reading other Unilocal reviews, I see I am not the only guy who has had trouble with this moron! I go into the bar and see this bartender. The guy has slurred speech and it was hard to understand what he was saying. He asks me for ID then asks how my night is going. I told him it is going great, I just got carded and feel younger. I was making a joke. He then asks me where I am from, blah blah.
So, then this is where things go sour. He tells me that all he can give me is water. I am like water? I would like something bit stronger. He say, sorry you obviously have been drinking and are intoxicated. At this point, I start laughing, thinking he is joking. I came into bar without having a single thing to drink the whole night. I may have smelled like curry from the Indian food, but anyone could smell my breath and see I did not have even a beer. I told him looking him right in the eye that I am sober and said I just wanted to come have a beer and read on my tablet, which I had with me. He says sorry sir, you are drinking and you are not sober and I cannot serve you. At this point I kind of wanted to punch him in the face. I got a bit upset. It would have been one thing if I was getting plastered all night, came into the bar wobbling and smelling like a liquor bottle, but I was sober and just got done eating at Indian restaurant.
The guy, himself, looked like he was intoxicated and couldn’t even talk properly. So, I yelled back at him. You know what, «YOU ARE THE ONE WHO APPEARS INTOXICATED. YOU CANNOT EVEN MAKE PROPER SENTENCE AND HAVE SLURRED SPEECH». The guy I truly believe was high on something or just a complete mental case. I blew my top. I guess I didn’t like somebody calling me a drunk, considering I was totally sober. I am like, what’s wrong with me? I have never had anyone do this before. I then kind of flipped out on him and left the bar and he starts giving me more attitude. «You see, it’s good thing I didn’t serve you, look at what kind of attitude and anger you are giving me!» I am like, DUH, you just insulted and trashed a potential customer, who did nothing wrong at all, who was polite, kind and completely sober.
I went next door the Tiki Bar, where the friendly bartender gave me a drank with a smile and then offered me a second, which I said No to, because I had to drive home. I never go out and get drunk anymore. The Tiki Bar actually was a nice scene and I was happy overall that I didn’t waste my money at this crappy, dark and dingy bar, Central Tavern.
As I walking out the bar fuming, I started asking other people walking by what the guy’s problem was. It turned out that some other people where telling me not to stress, that the idiot bartender also did the same thing to them many times.
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO THIS PLACE. Any bartender should have half a brain to know when a person should be cut off from drinking. Telling some guy who has not had one drink, who is being polite, quiet and not doing anything wrong that he is drunk is worthy enough to really piss someone off badly. It turns out this nutjob has a reputation of doing this to many people.
Can they please fire this guy???

Fun place to grab a drink and play some pool. They have two pool tables. They are always taken on a Friday and Saturday night so get there early to get one. Older crowd for a Kirkland bar so its not as crazy as some other bars around. Overall a fun place to try.

It’s a cool vibe for a true dive bar. But it is clear that the staff and the local patrons do not like visitors. The regulars act like they own the bar, in the staff behind the bar are mostly of noxious and unwelcoming. We had one beer after stopping in after dinner and were having a good time and then the bartender told us we were cut off. We did not understand why, but apparently we were having too many laughs together and were not even drunk. Beers are overpriced for the type of bar it is and I wouldn’t recommend stopping in.

I feel like this bar through its existence says eff you capitalism, Central Tavern is here to stay! No I have to say that this bar does not fit Kirkland, I feel like there is this unspoken rule that every establishment must be only been around 5 years or younger, must be expensive, and must have a fancy atmosphere. This bar has none of that in a good way as its filled with red lighting, filth, and people that look like I can lose a fight too. But you know what, I thats why I love this place. Its very low key and a great place to spend alot of chill time in not working about your appearance or latest rich accomplishment.
GU APPROVED!

FIRE that younger, punk-​looking kid with the backwards hat before he gets your business shut down, lit on fire or gets himself hospitalized. He actually ran out of the bar and chased my group and I up the block just to insult us about the tip we left!!! His eyes were glossy, blood-​shot and his speech was slurred, clearly intoxicated on SOMETHING, we all noticed this earlier in the night. He was also acting like a punk to the other patrons throughout the night. We also saw him shove a person out of the way as he stormed back to the bar, and the bouncer basically jumped on the guy he shoved when he yelled «What the ***!?!» We used to like the Central, and two of the people in our group live across the street and routinely go there 2 – 3 times a week. Well, say goodbye to that, we have all vowed to never step foot in there again, we are way too mature for this kind of childish behavior. He’s lucky we’re mature 30+ adults, because any other group of younger, intoxicated individuals would’ve removed his skinny little limbs right there in the street, and where he confronted us, no one would’ve witnessed him getting pummeled. Just sayin’…that was a VERY dumb thing to do, kiddo. Consequences, learn about them.
THAT SAID, the older woman who has been there as long as I can remember (Jen?) is always nice and pleasant, but unfortunately it only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch. I haven’t been to this bar in over 6 years, and no matter how nice Jen was, this asshole soured up our whole experience. Completely unacceptable, and as a representative of your business, you can thank him for this 1 star review.

Rudest bartenders I have ever met, make sure you don’t order a drink that is below their high expertise or they will directly insult you and give you some shitty attitude. Oh, and not to mention they will practically throw the drink at you when you refuse to tip them. Go back to bartending school and learn something about hospitality!

Wow! First time here on Super Bowl Sunday and they have free food!!! Easy to feel comfortable here… big room in the back with huge TVs. Hidden detail: hooks underneath the tables for purses!!! Great service and nice pours. female friendly and clean.

I’ve been coming here for years. I’m not a regular by any means, but it’s one of my favorite spots to come and hang out in Kirkland.
They’ve got pool tables, live music, and really it’s just a great place to meet up and hang out.

I’m a fan! I have never been here before but have gone out in Kirkland many times. Odd? I was invited out to watch a friends band play so it helped draw a crowd into this establishment. The area was lively and even though it seemed like a cramped place, it accommodated a full band entertainment, fans, people playing pool, a long bar, and places to sit, dance, and rest your drink. Practically, a great layout for the space given.
The bartenders are very quick and efficient. It’s like they have many years of experience and are as what people say on here as no non-​sense. The only bad is that it is very easy for one of the regulars to just cut right in front of you as you are patiently waiting your turn to order a drink from them… and no, tips don’t matter or sway them (no non-​sense remember?)
Overall, a fun experience. Technically not a fair review of the entire place since I don’t know if they have food and I did not attend on a regular day but I think it’s a nice place one could be themselves in the vast range of bars in Kirkland. Thanks!

Still my go to spot when out in Kirkland. Jen, Sandy, Zak and Drea. Can’t beat it!

You go to the Central for the drinks and the no-​nonsense bartenders. Ask for Jen. Period.

We were out at this place very briefly at the beginning of the summer. We were hitting up local bars in the area with a big «Pub Crawl».
Another dive bar, but decent drinks at decent prices. Would definitely stop in again if I was in the area.

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.

Nobody reads reviews for dive bars… or do they?
Its a dive, check it out. Its a different experience for everyone, isn’t that the charm?

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;) a juke box (sometimes live music) & pool tables. Great casual hang out place!