The Bus Stop

Cute, charming, dark and decent prices on drinks. It’s always a nice place to grab a quick drink before raging out on the Hill and always fun to observe the wildlife in their natural habitat.

I’ve only been to The Bus Stop a few times, most of which have been Sundays, and this place is SO fun!
Still Drunk Sunday is hosted by the ever-​fabulous Artstar Charlatan, one of Seattle’s favorite Drag Queens. You can play 5 games of BINGO for $ 5! What a deal.
Good drinks
Fun times

I like this watering hole. It’s on the walk home and I will often stop by for the final drink of the evening.
UPDATE:
Oh why!!! Why did you have to resort to karaōke?!?

My friend and I came here by chance when we were waiting for a table at The Bowl. It’s a tiny hole in the wall… a dark one, so I kinda thought it might be a bit sinister. Like a speak easy that villains meet at in secret to plot devious plans of world domination… WRONGO.
Walked in, quick and friendly service (even with a smile), cheap drinks that were well made. and two strangers complimented me… I mean… this doesn’t have much to do with the actual bar, other then the fact that they were patrons. It was nice though… this place could really boost a gal’s self esteem.
the only down side is the bathroom… which was more like that of a punk bar… which i am used to, but didn’t expect.
I don’t normally give 5* ratings after only one visit, but I dig this place… funky bathroom or not. The bar tender took care when making our drinks and that should be noted.

Small dive-​y bar with an EXTREMELY friendly bartender– Mr. Paul White!
Friendly and cozy atmosphere… not too crowded. Great lighting and awesome music. The drinks are too pricey either. what more could you want?
They also have theme nights like karaōke and trivia neither of which I have been to but I’m sure it’s a blast.

Drinks are strong and cheaper than the average bar and until last night this place was one of my favorites.
But my opinion has been completely offset by the raging goth bitch who thought it was a good idea to cater to one stoned customer who was buying the cheapest beer as opposed to four costumers purchasing mixed drinks. When we questioned why we shouldn’t sit down at the table that the loner left in order to spend 10 minutes rolling a spliff outside, she stuck her demonic face into ours and growled «WHAT DID YOU SAY!?»
What kind of business are they running? I don’t know but if they have an ounce of interest in pleasing their costumers and making money they need to fire that banshee immediately. There was no need for her to play seat-​nazi for her fellow hipster; he wasn’t some invalid… We are all big boys and girls and can handle the rotation of available seats in a bar.

A favorite chill hang out shot on the hill. Plus the name’s pretty rad!
Drinks come quite strong here.

This bar was a pretty interesting new experience for me, as it is the first bar that I’ve ever truly HATED. It’s as if everything wrong about Capitol Hill was shoehorned into this one place.
Entirely style over substance. I liked the red lighting, but that was it. Overpriced drinks, poor beer selection with no option for pitchers, and the douchiest of douches for bartenders. The fact that it was tiny doesn’t help.
I’m also at a loss as to why they have a DJ. He’s not doing anything remotely impressive or interesting, and the music he was choosing was pretty generic ambient electronica. In a way, I’m jealous of this awesomely easy and pointless job this guy managed to hustle the owners into giving him. Stop trying to be hip and use an ipod.
And the hipsters. My god. Essentially, if you like this place, you’re admitting to the world that you really are only interested in trying to look cool. So, if you think your big, fake, black-​rimmed glasses go great with your neon green beanie, ride a fixed-​gear bike, and still have plenty of cash left in your trust fund, go here. In fact, stay here, and never, ever leave. It can be a hipster leper colony.

Been here twice for only a few, but definitely looking forward to going back for an evening.
Dark and romantic, better on Weeknights when it’s not completely packed.
Love that it’s SUPER close to home. Need to become more familiar for sure!

If you look up ‘hole in the wall’ in the dictionary, you might very well see a picture of the Bus Stop.
Came here to celebrate the birthday of the fabulous Clover A. and got to check out what the buzz was all about. OK, yes this place is *tiny* so if you’re inclined towards claustrophobia, you might want to try elsewhere. It’s dark and loud, perfect for after hours fun. I got trapped behind the table so never spoke directly to the bartender, but the staff seemed pretty cool and my rum & coke was delish!
The music was cool, but way too loud which is why I knocked off a star. I understand that bars are generally supposed to drown out all conversation, but when it crosses into headache-​inducing territory, it’s a bit much to put up with.
And the name is genius, as illustrated by other reviewers. My particular conversation went like this:
Me: So I’ll text you and you can pick me up at the Bus Stop.
Her: Um. ok, where is it?
Me: You know – at Olive & Denny.
Her: Why are you waiting at a bus stop anyway?
Me: Not *a* bus stop, THE Bus Stop. The bar.
Her: Ooooh, ok! Now I get it.

The drinks are heavenly, get to know Rodney (or the fine and flirtatious Nikki or the kick ass hottie Julia) and they will start to just make you new and exciting drinks that may not have a name, but like an expensive call girl, you can call them whatever and hell you want, and call you will, for more, more, MORE!
It’s one of my favorite places on the planet because the music, atmosphere and drinks are always good while the staff is always bad (as in naughty)
Try it, you’ll like it.

Happy Hour: $ 3 wells, $ 1.50 PBR drafts, $ 3 other drafts.
It’s a small bar with hilarious graffiti in the bathroom, concrete floors and walls, and of course, the odd name. It was quiet during Happy Hour, with the exception of my voice echoing off the walls.
The bartender was sweet and took good care of us, and I would definitely come back for a good pour and some noisy conversation. Glad I saw the review about bringing cash. With just 2 of us, we never could have made the minimum (without getting completely trashed).

What a cool little spot. I don’t get out much, at least to Capitol Hill. I’m about the most unhip hip person you’ll meet. So I hear lots about these cool little bars for a year or two before I ever set foot in them – if I ever set foot in them before they close, which many of them seem to. But anyway. The point is, I finally made it to the Bus Stop for a fellow Unilocaler’s birthday celebration. I was excited to finally join the ranks of the hip, belated as it may be.
Did I say it’s a cool little spot? Did I stress the word «little»? Well, I meant to. It’s a very modestly-​sized spot. But you know, it totally works for this spot and pumps up the intimate factor a bit. I don’t mean «intimate» as in «romantic,» as it’s too often misinterpreted. I mean «intimate» as in, «you’re going to overhear your neighbors’ conversation, and quite likely even join in on it before the night is over.» This is a good thing, in my opinion, in a town that’s so frequently noted for the insular and stand-​offish nature of its residents, accurately or not.
As far as its credentials as a bar go, it serves its purpose. It’s a bar. There is beer, liquor, and probably some wine. I don’t think there’ll be any awards awarded for its vast selection of anything, but by the same token, there’s plenty of selection unless you’re really emo. I mean picky.
The service was very pleasant, so far as I could tell. Courteous and prompt. Prices were about average, which is to say, «Too much,» but eff it, you’re at a bar. You better expect to spend around five dollars for a beer if you’re heading out, or else you have no business going out.
I liked the mural and the red lighting. These both lend to the intimate nature that I’ve mentioned previously.
I love that as small as the place is, there’s a miniscule DJ booth, and a DJ spinning tunes. This further elevates the experience there, by separating it from just another small, otherwise anonymous bar. Mainly, as far as I’m concerned, this means that with any luck, you won’t have to endure 80s tunes.
I look forward to the next excuse I have to get out of the West Seattle boondocks and come and play «Hip on the Hill.» I’ll make a point to stop by the Bus Stop on my tour.

I was soooo surprised about how much I enjoyed my time at The Bus Stop!
I have walked by dozens of times, but did not even think about heading inside until I decided to join Emily’s crazy birthday bar crawl. Maybe it was mostly about the company, but maybe not.
Definitely seems like a great place to grab some drinks with friends. Everyone seemed pretty chill and let one drunk fellow from our party take a picture of them at their table even though they had no clue as to who he was.
The bartender made me very happy because he ended up letting me close out at $ 9 even though he originally said the minimum was $ 10 for a card.
That $ 9 got a PBR for someone who bought my drink at the previous place (still don’t get why he wanted a PBR when he bought a tequila shot!) and a cosmo for me. That cosmo wasn’t killer, but it was rather delicious. I think next time I’ll bring cash and get a beer.
I am slightly envious of the people that say they live within walking distance! I don’t exactly want to live on the Hill, but I have yet to find a bar like this in Wallingford.

Stats on The Bus Stop:
Square footage: 300
DJ’s on a Saturday night: 1
Decibel level of music: 80 (ouch!)
Capacity of rain-​drenched bodies: 35 (give or take)
Humidity level: 97%
Friendly bartenders: 1
Wattage used in bathroom light: 10 (or less)
Cleanliness level of bathroom: undetermined (too dark to see)
*Unicorn statues*: 1 (plus 2 stars)
It’s probably better on a weeknight, when it’s not so loud and stifling. If it weren’t for that unicorn, spreading its joy to one and all, I would not have had such a good time.

I can see the Bus Stop from my home, but I’d yet to visit! WTF? A recent date presented the perfect opportunity to remedy that situation.
I think on the weekends it can get a little crazy here, but on a weeknight it was pretty mellow with only a few patrons. It was a perfect spot for a date – sexy, cozy, dimly lit, good music playing, yet quiet enough to hold a conversation. Plus I love the gorgeous mural adorning the wall.
They’ve got a full bar and a limited selection of beer. However, with Manny’s (one of my faves) and PBR on tap most everyone will find something tasty to wet their whistle. The Bus Stop is a great neighborhood hang out. I’ll be back.

Having never been to the Bus Stop when it’s less than 3 blocks from my house, I decided to finally make the trip over there last night. And what a good idea that was!
The bartender was pleasant, my drink was strong and cheap, and the general mood of the bar was pretty relaxed. I would venture to say that the Bus Stop is right between a dive bar and really nice bar. Super casual and perfect fit for the Capitol Hill scene. I especially love the red lighting.
I can see myself coming here again for a date or just a place to stop in with a friend or two to have a chat over a drink. It’s not too loud or too busy and their bathrooms are clean.

Yo, Bus Stop, I dig you.
You continue to lure me in with your cheap beer, laid back clientele and your hip but humble vibe. Oh, and free candy beats the hell out of free peanuts.
Turn the lights up a notch in the bathroom, so I can see what I’m getting myself into and you’ve got yourself five stars.

WOW! what a find! it’s like the baranof, but cooler, hipper, not smelly and with red lighting! their long island ice tea is comparable to the baranof pour as well as their other well drinks. (my vodka tonic was voooooooooodka, tonic: just a splash of tonic. really, a mist if you will.)
they have a $ 10 minimum on a card (or you get charged a fee) but trust me, i fyou spend 10 bux here, it will get your ass wasted. i ended up spending about 30 bux here… i ended up staying up till 4:30 am playing korean drinking games. that is what the bus stop does.
ALSO: there was a danika sighting! i saw her! tried to say hi, but i was drunk off my ass and i kept on missing my chance.

I never made it to the previous version of The Bus Stop, but I like this version. I stopped in here after a friend’s birthday party up in Everett a couple weeks ago (man, was I glad to get back to the Hill!) because we needed a quick drink.
It’s tiny for sure, and it was impossible for us to find somewhere to sit. The nice thing was that even as crowded as it was, there weren’t people running into me and bumping into me the entire time. It’s nice and dark, seems like good service, but we didn’t stay for too long because it was getting late. I plan on checking it out again soon — and maybe even try to get a seat this time!