Montana

This is a top-notch bar! Don’t let the signatures on every waking surface fool you. The drinks are exquisite and the atmosphere is always buzzy and lively. I used to go here in my young 20s and came back in my 40s and still felt like I belonged there. The batch cocktails are really great place to start. The patio is always hopping and it seems like on the weeknight we were there they had trivia. From what I can remember, you can bring in food from other places, but that could be wrong about that.

My friends and I visited a few hours ago (1:25 AM on 1/7/25), and the bartender, Cece (light skin, curly hair), was extremely rude. We ordered a double Malibu Orange, Tequila Soda, and Vodka Cranberry, and she snapped, “I’m not doing a double, I’ll do a single,” without any explanation. I ordered a Tito’s Sprite, and she gave me a tiny pour, 2 1/2 seconds—definitely not 2 oz. She did the same with my friends’ drinks. 20 minutes later, my friend asked for limes, lemons, and napkins, and she just said, “No.” When he asked if he had done something to upset her, she responded, “No, you’re projecting,” then went to security and mumbled something, clearly about us because they turned around to look at our group. Our drinks tasted like just soda water and Sprite. What a strange way to treat guests. She could’ve simply communicated that it was last call or that they were closing early, instead of being rude.

fernet on tap + pickle backs idk what else more you want, montana was such a fun experience w/ my besties. in town from AZ and staff was very welcoming

favorite bar in seattle, i don’t really drink but 1 dollar diet cokes, live music, excellent ambience, and deer hunt arcade game go so far, staff are also super cool and kind

Was recommended by a local while on my first visit to Seattle and per the many other reviews, tried the Moscow Mule! Amazing. Also had the Peach Bellini. Love that these were on tap as I’d never seen that before! Really enjoyed the vibe, graffiti and written notes all over the place and the people were kind and chill. I was comfortable coming here with my friend and would be comfortable going alone.

Montana continues to be one of my favorite bars on Capitol Hill. I love Rachel's Ginger Beer and Montana's RGB cocktails are lovely. There's also a lot of space and a big patio which is so fun. I also love the staff.

Christina Choi I have never had but an amazing time at Montanas. Please do not post someone's skin color or curly hair on a public Google post. The fact that ownership responded to your post without correcting your language is beyond me. I won't be coming back.

One of the coolest bars I've been anywhere... loved the vibes... felt very authentic Seattle except for the prices which I was pleasantly surprised about. All the staff was very cool, especially the doorman

Flew in to visit from Las Vegas one of the coolest bars because of the ambience. The food was amazing. The service was also amazing really friendly bartender made us feel very welcome. There is a little bit of a wait but they do have two locations and apparently the other location never has a wait overall good food and good vibes

This place is an absolute joke. The service? Terrible. The staff? Horrible doesn't even begin to describe it. If you're thinking about coming here for food or drinks, don't bother. The people serving you will treat you like you're less than human. It's honestly pathetic. Management needs to fire the entire staff before things spiral even more out of control. Trust me, avoid this place at all costs.

IDK what kind of ego trip the bartenders are on. They lack serious customer service and act holier than thou. Drinks are mid and the bar is kinda dirty. I asked for a drink that isn't that complicated and the bartender rolled their eyes like I was inconveniencing THEM. It wasn't busy, and I was the only person in line. Don't work in food/drink service if you're gonna be rude. Life is too short; LIGHTEN UP!

A Capitol Hill staple. I love you Montana for being the never changing grimey bar with kickass drinks on tap. Never ever change. So glad to see that Montana is surviving the pandemic and built out a larger front patio area for people to enjoy. Would be even better if they put some outdoor heaters but perhaps they're banking on patrons to continue to imbibe to keep warm. Nevertheless - nothing to complain; do get their cocktails on draft and do absolutely get pickle backs (and if you hate pickles - you just may be a monster).

This used to be my favorite bar in Seattle but my recent experience has hindered me from ever wanting to go back. I lived in cap hill from 2010-2017 and I used to frequent this bar often. Loved their cocktails on draft and pickle backs, bartenders were chill, and the crowd was always fun and laidback. However, I tried to go with a group last night (a Friday night) and the bouncer refused to let me in. The kicker is I was sober! There's been many times in the past when I came here more drunk than I was last night. Hell, I've lost my phone here 2 times in the past and every time I went back, someone handed it in to the bartender and I was able to get it back with ease and without judgement. But this recent time, the bouncer straight up said "I'm not letting you in" without looking at my ID. My whole group was let in except for me. The group I was with was all white men. I was the only non-white nonbinary person in the group. I can't help but assume the bouncer was just straight up racist. The experience was disheartening and I felt belittled. I was really looking forward to visiting my old haunts but now my excellent experiences at Montana are a thing of the past.

Title: A Disastrous Birthday Celebration Ruined by Montana Bar's False Accusations Rating: Let me start by saying that my recent experience at the Montana Bar was an absolute nightmare. Not only did they manage to ruin what should have been a joyous celebration for my sister's birthday, but they also displayed a shocking level of incompetence and negligence that left a lasting negative impression on everyone involved. The evening began with high hopes and excitement, as we gathered at the Montana Bar to commemorate my sister's special day. Little did we know that our happiness would be swiftly replaced by frustration and anger thanks to the bar's mishandling of the situation. From the moment we stepped foot inside, it was clear that something was amiss. Shortly after we arrived, a member of the bar's staff approached us with baseless allegations that my sister was intoxicated. To say that this accusation was completely unfounded would be an understatement. My sister had only consumed a single drink at that point, and her behavior was nothing short of normal for someone celebrating a birthday. Rather than treating us with respect and giving us the benefit of the doubt, the staff at the Montana Bar proceeded to treat my sister like a criminal. They were confrontational and dismissive, refusing to listen to our side of the story. Their unfounded accusations tarnished not only my sister's reputation but also the atmosphere of the entire celebration. As the situation escalated, it became apparent that the staff members lacked any semblance of professionalism or proper training. Their inability to handle the situation in a calm and fair manner was truly appalling. They failed to provide any evidence to support their claims, relying solely on their misguided judgment. This lack of evidence, combined with their belligerent attitude, left us feeling victimized and humiliated. To make matters worse, the Montana Bar refused to rectify their mistake even after realizing their error. They showed a complete disregard for customer satisfaction and failed to take responsibility for their false accusations. It was clear that they were more concerned with maintaining their own reputation than with providing a pleasant experience for their patrons. The aftermath of this incident has left a bitter taste in our mouths, and we will never be able to look back on my sister's birthday celebration without remembering the disgraceful treatment we endured at the Montana Bar. I implore anyone considering patronizing this establishment to think twice. Their unprofessionalism, baseless accusations, and refusal to rectify their mistakes make them unworthy of your time and money. In conclusion, the Montana Bar's mishandling of my sister's alleged intoxication on her birthday turned what should have been a memorable celebration into a distressing and disheartening experience. Their incompetence, lack of professionalism, and refusal to acknowledge their mistake were truly unforgivable. I strongly advise others to avoid this establishment at all costs if they value respect, fairness, and genuine hospitality.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I love dive bars and this one has the Seattle feel to it. They have good drinks, good sitting and good music. Best part it's open till midnight.

Great dive bar. A local favorite people have frequented for years. So glad to see it survived the Pandemic! Great service. Many drink options. Relaxing seating and space

Dude checking IDs at the door was on a weird power trip and refused to let me in before even checking my ID. Maybe if he took off the sunglasses he would've actually been able to take a look at my driver's license since it was dark outside. Side note: Not too sure why anyone would be in such a bad mood after a Mariners win, must not be from Seattle ‍

Cocktails are fairly pricey given the dive-y nature of the bar, but they did taste great!

This is a nice chill bar. The decor is eclectic with graffiti walls, signs and pictures of people everywhere. The bathroom also follows the wild decor. I didn't see a cocktail waitress. You go to the bar when you want a drink. I also did not see food being served. I recommend visiting this bar around 5pm to snag a corner seating. It quickly got busy by 6pm on a Friday night. I noticed after 6pm that a staff was checking ID by the door. Overall, I'm glad we found this place while we had an hour wait for the restaurant around the corner.

So there was a full Fremont brewing co. beer keg of in the men's bathroom....... So I thought it might be fun to make a conversation with the bartender, opening with "why is there a full beer keg in the mens restroom?". To which, he responds "that's where we store them." Then I said "yeah anybody could walk out with it, any strong person, you don't seriously store beer in the bathroom right?". The bartender looks at me for two seconds, says "okay", and walk away from me and I exclaim "you guys need to worry about that! Someone could take the whole thing!". I ask for a beer and am promptly denied service.. "no i don't want you're money, thanks bud, i don't condone stealing.." and this boy claims I was trying to steal even though I was simply making a joke... So much disrespect that I couldn't believe it. I went to go sit with my group of six guys afterwards and was befuddled by the whole exchange. Poor guy, he seems a bit deranged and I just hope he gets the help he needs. If you see a tall-ish white guy with long black hair and glasses, god bless him, just pray he gets the help he needs to be a sociable, halfway-decent human being because this is not how anyone that pays good money for a service deserves to be treated God bless you sir

My husband and I were with a group of friends at Montana last night. We were having a lovely time but my husband stepped outside for a minute to field a phone call. When he tried to come back in the bouncer (an older white man) literally said f&@$ you to his face 4 or 5 times. Needless to say we all left and will not be coming back. Too bad, love that spot and the servers but not while that prick is working the door.

Great photo booth but shitty employees. I've been there multiple times without issue until recent. Called me a slur and tried to take my id. Fuck you Montana

Always so fun coming out for a drink with pals here, very chill laid back vibe with great music and cool local scene aesthetics and outdoor seating

Say what! Been coming here a while. Dive bars are a whole new world to me and I just started coming/going to them recently. This maybe the diviest! But I love it! The neons! The drawings on the tables! And ginger beer on tap! Aka the Moscow mules on tap!! They said it all started here in Montana! You can buy a growler of Rachel's ginger beer here cheaper than at Rachel's ginger beer! But! The best thing I was introduced to: the picks backs! I know late to the game af! But! Who knew pickle juice with whiskey shots are a thing! I don't do any colored liquor but I do pickle backs here! Mainly for the spicy pickle juice! Summer here are crazy busy! Their outdoor patio is tiny but get crammed! Tuesday's here are my favorite! Pickle backs before karaoke across for street: it's a must! And all you need is 2 shots!!

I don't know when I first heard about this, but I knew picklebacks were something I had to check out. I don't really love whiskey, but its fabulous when you add some delicious pickle juice on the side. I've tried picklebacks at a few other places, but these are far superior. On my most recent visit I did find it a little spicier than usual. We usually just stop off here for a drink whenever we are in the neighborhood. I like the dark inside and the bar stools in the window. If its not too busy you might cozy up to the bar as well. I am always envious of the small patio area out front, but have never actually sat there. I like how they have the bouncer carry your drinks two feet across the sidewalk. This place is usually good for a bathroom stop as well. Service is friendly, but this is definitely not an upscale place. It can be a good distraction from some of the more crowded places on pike/pine.

One of the best cap hill bars i love they have a patio. Really nice staff who one time offered to help when a girl was bothering me. I went on a bad date there once. I thought i might be a lesbian. Im not a lesbian! Lmao Ill be back 4 sure

Montana is a nice divey-ish spot to grab a drink as you work your away around Cap Hill. Came here on a Friday night, had a lot of people but not overly crowded where you cant find a spot to have a few drinks. Its dark, not a whole lot of tables, but drinks and beers were affordable. $3 Rainier tallboys!!! You can drink outside in front too but be sure to tell the bouncer so he can "escort" you to the area. There's a photo booth but good luck if it's working, so try at your own risk. Montana will not reimburse you, there's a number you can call to try to get a refund. Other than that, I like this spot, would definitely come back again!

Their pickle backs.. are a thing... I think the whiskey shut down my liver for a day or so and I think the pickle juice they served was actually just ocean water from the bay. But the vibe was right and the staff was cool. Also a big fan of big buck hunter and the surrounding bars!

I walked in here with some friends randomly, and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised! A great place to have conversations as it's not too loud, the drinks are cheap, the happy hour Rainier pitchers are a great deal, and they got Fernet on tap. If you're into dive bars, you've come to the right place.

MT is a total dive bar in every sense of the word from the endless knife carvings in the booths, walls and ceiling with every profanity available along with random graffiti and celebrity names to the frat decor of bumper stickers, bad photos, black paint on everything and red lighting. If you're uptight or get offended easily, don't come in here. I don't drink so I don't go to bars. One of my friends suggested we go find a place to get a drink while waiting for our table for dinner, so we walked around and entered Montana. My boyfriend and I were carded the second we sat down. My friend wasn't carded but she looks her age. ;) Drinks are ordered at the bar - first for me - and the bartenders were polite but distant. $1.25 for my adventurous Coke. My friend reported when she returned with her cocktail that she asked where the name of the bar come from, and the woman bartender told her she's the owner and is originally from Whitefish, MT. Empty glasses were whisked away quickly by the same employee who carded us. I had another pic to post but can't due to the obscene word I didn't notice before I took the picture which would definitely be flagged.

Montana has been one of my Capitol Hill bars of choice for sometime. It's almost always dark and cozy. Almost intimate, if a dive bar can be that. The staff is always friendly and the drinks are normally strong for liquor drinks. Exactly what you want in that type of bar. Lots of graffiti to keep you entertained as a bonus. If you are a fan of pickle-backs, they sell their brine mix to go for those nights you want to keep the party going way later than the bar does ;) Moscow Mules are large and delicious for lovers of those. Limited outside seating as well for nice weather.

The bouncer here is horrible. Spent 5 minutes inspecting my REAL ID and wouldn't say a word to me. For context, im 22 and my ID is vertical. It doesn't expire until 2024 and is therefore still valid. He pulled out a whole magnifying glass.... Funniest part is, he let my friend in with an expired ID.

I used to love this bar until the bouncer rejected a completely valid ID. I didnt want to call the cops and have them verify but there makes no sense as to why he rejected it.

Awesome place to grab a beer, chill out and it's friends, and listen to some country music. They have some cocktails on tap as well. Don't forget to get your picture taken at the photo booth!!

Montana has a Capital Health a sec. Being a few blocks my house, I often end up there. The interior is dark and grungy in the way you would want a Seattle dive bar to be. The walls, tables, chairs and bathrooms are all written on. The service is pretty great and their cocktails are standard. My personal favorite is there a Moscow Mule on top which is served in a pint glass. Watch your quantities!

On a block with several great bars, this one stands out due to their unique cocktails. It gets busy pretty early but their outdoor patio space provides more opportunity to enjoy a delicious POG mule safely.

If you are looking for a Montana Mule this is your place. At late night it is full of locals, at 6:00 PM the customers are mostly folks waiting to dine at one of the many resturants in the area. You can also sit on the sidewalk platforms or at the large windows on Vine St and watch the world go by. This is your basic comfortable local pub.

I love Montana, and you should too. Whether you are here on your birthday masquerade and it is totally dead save for your friends or when it is packed to the gills on the anniversary party, complete with douchey DJ and weird crowd that seemingly cabbed straight from the most hellish places in Belltown, I love it. They have Moscow mules on tap. ON TAP! With Rachel's delicious, delicous ginger beer! Get one! Order me one, too! I think it is funny and stragely accurate that this place is categorized as both a dive bar and cocktail lounge. Bartenders are pretty cute, too.

I was out late on a "school" night earlier this week...REALLY late. I went to a concert in Seattle and the traffic going up was horrible. I had about two and a half hours before the show started and pretty much all of that time got wasted sitting in traffic due to rain and whatever whim came up to create traffic congestion. After the show I needed something to eat and drink. Drink as in something alcoholic. I was up late, might as well stop by a bar and get a drink. Montana was the closest one that I have been wanting to try and so I went in. The atmosphere is very dive bar vibe to it but it has a great charm. There are pictures all over the walls of people in photo booths, writing on the walls and other quirky eye candy. The bar here looks like it makes some really mean mixed drinks but I wanted a beer. From their tap list it was really cool because to keep a Montana theme going all of their beer on tap was from Montana! I had a great amber beer from a brewery in Big Sky country and was just enough to take the edge off of my anxiety for what surely would be a night of very little sleep.

The bouncer was very rude to me and my friend. Seemed to be profiling us and refused to let us in the bar.

California resident, visiting a dive bar called Montana, located in Washington- still can't get over how humorous this idea is. Stine H. and I were visiting Seattle and were looking for a great place to grab a drink after dinner, when we found this place down the street from our apartment! This place was amazing packed on a Friday night, divey, dark and blasting 90s hip-hop/rap. Such an interesting, mind-boddling place, it was awesome *refer back to my opening sentence... Wasn't sure what to get here and totally didn't check out the reviews here prior and went with my standard drink, when what I really should've done is do as the locals do in Seattle. I just got a Jameson on the rocks and for some tragic reason, it just didn't seem/taste the same as when I get it back home. So it's either I've been up in the atmosphere that it's dulled my sense or what I've concluded is that the ice must've been a bit funky then again, that was my bad call. The interior is awesome, everything decked out in Montana related items, raunchy photobooth pictures, dimly lit, small bar, 90s hip-hop/rap music blasting and their $4 photobooth. They do have a HH menu and was kind of surprised at their picklebacks and fernet branca on tap, thought that was an SF thing (I guess I'm mistaken). Pretty awesome, you can drink inside or outside so you can have a smoke. Stine and I sipped on our drinks, took some photos and finished them quickly to head on home to escape the chilly Seattle night air.

Let's get straight to the damn point. Head straight to the bar, have a shot of whiskey (house whiskey $5), a Pickle-Back. Yes. A pickle-back. Trust me, it's everything. The pickle juice erases every little taste of your shot and possibly meals that you had prior to coming here. Montana makes their own pickle juice and they even sell it for $6 in a glass jar! If I was living in Seattle, I'd for sure have one stored in my shelf. The pickle-back is something so amazing that I recommend putting this dive bar into your Seattle trip list. A Must-try.

Very negative experience. Don't go here unless you're desperate. Terrible food, rude servers and no redeeming qualities. Long waits and no dancing. The drinks were standard and at a high price. Servers and doorman confused me for other patrons and barred my entrance after stepping out to make a call.

Why are there full beer takes/ and co2 tanks in the bathroom... f$@$ gross....... doesn't seem sanitary at all... besides that cool vibe of the place... awesome bouncers, drink the can beer

This place is so awesome. 5 stars for amazing drinks, cool and friendly atmosphere, and overall just a great experience. Important stuff: - Cocktails on tap, range from $8-$9; tried two of them and they are delicious and quite strong - The infamous pickleback shots are delicious and only $6 for a shot of their yummy pickle juice and whiskey - Overall vibe of place is dark and divey with old school and new hip hop playing overhead - On a Saturday night at 8-10pm, there was enough seating in booths indoor, and the outdoor "pen" area got pretty packed - Guy at the door and bartenders were all nice and friendly :) Writing this review up while I sit here and sip on my pickleback shot :P lols is that weird that I'm sipping on my shot? Anywhoos, tried the Moscow Mules and these were really good and just an overall stable drink here. For $8, the drink was tasty and got me a nice buzz going, def enjoyed that. Next tried the watermelon cocktail on tap. Moscow Mule was also on tap. And my goodness, these drinks are so delicious!! Third drink was my pickleback shot combo with a shot of whiskey and a shot of so amazing pickle juice! Reviews were totes on point with these shots... If you love pickles... you're going to love this drink! It's spicy, sour, salty and just a delicious savory shot! Getting ready for my second one now! And for only $6? Amazing. Will definitely be back if I'm ever here in Seattle again. Totally recommend for all :) Montana, thanks for much for a lovely time!

It was a little quiet when we went there given it was a Sunday afternoon. The service was decent and drinks were good. My friend loves this place! Can't wait to go back again when this place is in full swing.

Love their Moscow mules! A bit pricey but worth it for Rachel's Ginger Beer. Other pros: dog friendly and can pick up a pizza next door and bring it in. A little outdoor seating but their bar back needs to bring the drinks across the sidewalk due to city law nonsense so I always feel bad about that. Fun drag Bingo on Tuesdays!!!!

We were walking along exploring and found this bar advertising $2 happy hour Olympia beer. We've never tried it, but we were looking for a local cheap beer. The public parklet patio is a nice place to chill.

Packed on a Friday night, you'll probably struggle to find a place to sit down unless you're lucky enough to find a group of drunk, bubbly Seattleites crawl out the door, leaving behind a table of empty glasses and night-long memories. I got a Moscow Mule, and it was pretty good! The line to get booze was quick and efficient, and I can't complain about no cover charges. I'll re-emphasize that this place can get really busy!

I LOVE Montana! Pros: + PICKLEBACKS PICKLEBACKS PICKLEBACKS!!!! + Fair priced well drinks + Moscow mules are made with RGB and are fantastic + Average tempered bartenders + Photobooth! + Atmosphere is great! Montana themed stuff on every wall, always something to look at Cons: + Would not recommend for large groups because it can fill up fast, lots of seating near the front, but dark/loud/dingy seating towards the back Overall, this is one of my favorite dives on The Hill. Non-pretentious, average to nice staff, good music, and lots of things to keep your eyes entertained.

My kinda place. Diveyy with gangster rap and hip hop. Packed with people but really fast service. The crowd of people were wonderfully nice. I loved it here. The walls are black and gross, but like a cool gross. There are tags and graffiti all over with some of the best sayings I have seen. Our table had a large tagging of the words "PUSSY FART" right above my friend's head. It was perfect. Only 2 bathrooms. For the whole bar... better not break that seal. By far the most idiotic thing that I have seen in a bar in my 10 years of going out... a stop sign and a chauffeur to take your drink to the smoking area. I know legal this and legal that, but damn, that shit is stupid! And that poor bouncer... being a bouncer is bad enough, but having to babysit a patio so no drunkies walk on city sidewalk with a drink. I hope they pay that man well. And he was nice, if you just read the sings ya jerks. He's just doing his job.

3 stars for outdoor drinking capabilities. I'm an appreciater of a great Moscow mule... This one did not meet the bar. Maybe I should have asked for vodka in mine, the mix was sweet like an overly sweetened tart lemonade which provided a fairly small buzz. My vodka red bull I had next elevated me appropriately thank god. They also serve in glasses vs the traditional copper mugs. If your raving about the world class mule, I would think the drinks would be served standard style. Something about the copper cold fusion that makes them amazing. Atmosphere was good. Bathtoom clean. Go somewhere else for your mule fix.

Grab yourself a pickle back and relax here. This place is casual and grungy. No false pretenses about this place what you see is what you expect. Enjoy the outdoor area with your friends or grab a dark corner to escape the crowds. I'm a huge fan of the reasonably priced drinks.

This was my favorite bar in Seattle before I even visited. For the past year I knew about Montana picklebacks and every time a friend was in town I would have them bring me back BOTTLES of this housemade pickle juice to Portland. Finally made a trip to Seattle and so glad that I did. The bar was great, loved the photobooth and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Also apprecaited that they had moscow mules on tap (made with housemade ginger beer). Mmmm.

I love this bar! The decor is quirky and all about Montana. I went here on a lark with some friends and it was a pleasant surprise. Montana's claim to fame is that they make their own ginger beer. And might I say, they live up to the hype. Best Moscow mules in town! Last time I went to Montana a random person walked up to us and said he was a starving artist who would make our portraits for a donation. So now we have a permanent memory of a great night! I would definitely go back! Its definitely a dive bar so don't go expecting sophistication. And don't use the bathroom unless you want an STD.

If the state Montana is as cool as this bar, I need to live there. Glad I found this place my only night in Seattle. Exactly what I wanted..good drinks, old school hip hop, chill vibe and fun. $5 whiskey w/house pickle back YUM $7 Moscow mule on tap Shooting arcade game! Photo booth! And to top off my night, I had to tell the girl next to me her hair was on fire from the candle and she was still so chill with flames on her head. Shows how cool the place and people are here.

Both the doorman and the bartender were very nice and professional. I stopped by with some Kedai Mekan from next door during happy hour and enjoyed a couple Moscow Mules. Not the best I've had but quick efficient service. My friend had the Thunderbird with blackstrap molasses and that was really good, if you like more unusual, strong flavors. I'm a little confused as to the interior. I thought this was a newer place, but it looks very old inside with a TON of graffiti scratched into the wood. Its a very unique look, just wondering if it is genuinely old or they did it up to look so. :) At this point 3 stars, but I'm sure by next time I'll give it 4. :)