The Pine Box
Seattle, Washington
In a city where drinkers know their Mosaic from their Motueka, The Pine Box has established itself as one of Seattle’s best beer bars.
What it is: Almost three dozen expertly curated taps appeal to drinkers of all stripes with options ranging from brut IPA to cask porter, authentic Belgian gueuze to grapefruit radler. Pacific Northwest favorites such as Chuckanut and Ecliptic are well represented at this Capitol Hill landmark but not to the exclusion of classics such as Veltins Pilsener or limited releases such as the latest from Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks. The kitchen is open until midnight (a rarity in Seattle) and serves a “big-ass chocolate-chunk cookie” topped with whiskey caramel sauce that begs for a nightcap.
Why it’s great: Bars come in all shapes and sizes, but there probably aren’t many others (any others?) where you’ll sit at a table built from reclaimed oak coffin cabinets. For many decades, this Beaux Arts building was in fact a funeral home, most famously providing services for Bruce Lee in 1973. If you like your Fremont Double IPA with a dash of history and a ghostly garnish, this is your place. The same is true if you have strong feelings about the inseparability of helles and beer gardens. —Ben Keene
Details
Hours: 3:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m., Monday–Friday; 11:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m., Saturday & Sunday
Address: 1600 Melrose Ave., Seattle, Washington
Web: pineboxbar.com