Optimism Brewing Courtesy Stuart Mullenberg

Family Friendly Bars

Children play with toy blocks on a colorful mat in a fenced-off area inside a busy café. Adults watch over them or sit at tables enjoying food and drinks. The setting has a warm, wooden decor and large windows. Optimism Brewing Courtesy Stuart Mullenberg

Go ahead—relax with a pint (or a glass of wine) while the little ones play.  

The local brewery boom has given rise to a particularly Seattle phenomenon—the family-friendly taproom. At places like the highly respected Fremont Brewing (*1050 N 34th St), a box of toys keeps kids entertained while their parents sip IPA and barrel-aged oatmeal stout (the firepit and bowls of free pretzels are a hit with both parties).

In nearby Ballard, breweries like Stoup Brewing (*1108 NW 52nd St) and Reuben’s Brews (5010 14th Ave NW) are equally family-friendly and close to one another: a sort of pub crawl with strollers. On Capitol Hill, Optimism Brewing (*1158 Broadway Ave) even built a separate play area into its vast, light-filled quarters; kids can play with the dollhouse and mini construction vehicles while their parents enjoy a pint nearby.

Chuck’s Hop Shop (multiple locations), with two beery destinations in Greenwood and the Central District, offers dozens of beers on draft—but also scoops of ice cream, high chairs, and little niceties like changing tables in the bathrooms. Sometimes there are just as many kids as there are adults (and dogs, too).

*Visit Seattle Partner

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