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Categories: Dive Bars, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Capitol HillMon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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The Canterbury is called a dive bar for some reason that I've never understood. It is a little dingy, but I have never felt concerned for my safety here. The likeliest reason is that the dark color scheme lends the place a seedier appearance than it actually earns, and its close proximity to more upscale places like Victory and Hopvine certainly don't help it in the appearance stakes.
There are pool tables, pinball machines, a sit down arcade machine/table, and an assortment of board games to pass the time with your booze. One negative is the terrible shuffleboard - I like my shuffleboard, and this one needs to be put out to pasture.
The Canterbury is also one of the few places I will order liquor from - the bartenders here are pretty generous with the pours, especially if it is during the week or if you're a regular. The food is your basic bar food, and if it's a little on the expensive side for what you get, you do get a lot of it. The nachos in particular will easily feed two people.
It's nothing special, but it's a good neighborhood bar and I've never had a problem with service or an attitude from the staff, which easily makes it a standout for a Capitol Hill bar.
I love the Canterbury- mainly because it's the only thing within walking distance. Decent drinks and food at reasonable prices. A decent amount of seating, games on two TVs, a jukebox, shuffleboard, pool, foosball, and even Scrabble!
Last week I heard someone with a British accent complain that the look and feel of the bar was "the least English" he'd ever experienced. It reminded me of why I hate tourists, and love the Canterbury.
A lot of the low star reviews complain that you have to be a 'regular' to get decent service. Actually, nobody really gets fast service, as it's the kind of place where you are expected to treat your bartender and waitress like a member of your community (which they are) and not your hired monkey helper (which they aren't).
If you're nice, the Canterbury loves you and you can love it back. If you're judgmental and a sourpuss- the Canterbury hates you.
Wow, I didn't even know this place was a dive bar. In comparison to NYC dive bars, this place is a giant step up. I guess to Seattle standards this is it.
The table feels like it hasn't been cleaned (grease or sticky). The place smells of mildew and a slight bit a of arse (?). The food isn't bad though. We had 2 basket of wings in 2 flavors (teriyaki and bbq) and fries. Fried golden brown.
Ah, I wasn't paying too much mind to the service because I was so tired from such a long day. I guess that's why my bud opted for everything at once because it was so hard to find her to get anything. She was either MIA or sitting in the booth behind us, chattin' up a friend/patron.
Like all dive bars, you have to come often so that you become a regular. This way, you become immune to the condition of the place and the staff will be less of a wench to you.
Great pub food, Mac & Jack on tap, good prices, a suit of armor-- what more could you want in a bar? :)
Try as I might, I could not fall in love with place. The server was great and incredibly friendly, but the beer selection was horribly unimpressive. The food is about the same quality you would expect from a Denny's, which isn't necessarily bad, but it is only for limited occasions.
Came here one night while bored and found out it was chess night. I ordered a drink from the bar and sat down to get schooled in the fine art of chess.
As Katie S. has pointed out, it makes for excellent people watching. On this particular night one very drunk man handed me $80 because he wanted to buy me a my boy a drink but had been cut off. It was very odd, but hey...free money, right?
The bartender was someone you dont want to piss off, but also pretty nice. The crowd was friendly and diverse.
I had to switch from a rum and coke to a more girly drink, because there was just a bit of coke with my rum and I dont like to breath fire.
Didnt get to sample any of the food, but I would like to go back and update my review when I do.
Along charming 15th Ave, tucked in among quiet coffee shops and laid back eateries, you will find Canterbury, a rough around the edges dive bar that is not only people friendly, but also pooch friendly.
The Canterbury has the potential to be Capitol Hill's Cheers bar. The regulars will nod at you when you enter and pat your dog. The kitchen serves up some good pub grub with standout nachos and chicken strips. Oh, and they serve milkshakes! C'mon.
In the winter, grab a table near the fireplace and sip on a specialty warm cocktail. In the summer, lounge on a bench near the large open window and share a pitcher of cold beer.
Nothing about this place screams classy, but no one there wants it to. Canterbury is a dive. It knows it and it's a-okay with that and so am I.
Looking for a place to grab a micro brew I walked into the Canterbury. Yikes! After being bumped into someone literally staggering out, the smell hit me. The bar was chopped up by a poorly constructed wall with hand written signs about adding a gratuity on check for large parties and another hand written sign about $10 minimum purchase on credit card purchases.
After wondering if there was a clean place to sit or if I would get a beer from a clean glass I decided to leave and go down the street to the Hop Vine.
Being in the restaurant industry for several years, the owners should realize that if you don't take care of what the guest can see, you certainly don't take care of what they can't. I can only imagine what your walk-in must look like.
I have two memorable experiences at the Canterbury. For what is inarguably that top class of dive bar that you are in the mood for when you don't feel like dealing with bullshit, that is impressive.
1. I had never been, and was dragged along to watch football (not my thing) with my brother and my cousin. We ordered a half plate of nachos and an order of fries and both were enormous and delicious. I'm not sure I can get high enough to polish off the full plate. I was drinking beer that night, and it's pretty typical generic Seattle-bar selection.
2. Obama's Inauguration. I got a mimosa that came in a pint glass, and followed that with two more. That was a good day.
It's a rare bar on the hill without any scene element to it, so it's nice for when you're not feeling that-kind-of-social. If that makes sense to you, you'll probably like the Canterbury. Great place to drink on a weekday night.
I used to love this place until blonde waitress showed up. She sucks. I tried to give her multiple chances to redeem herself, but she would rather talk to her pals than attend her four tables. Waiting 15 minutes for even a "hello"...or eye contact...pisses me off. I just want a drink and a burger! But nooooo....
Go to the self service side of the bar and save yourself the headache. The drinks are strong, which is one redeeming quality about this place.
Pfffttttt, Canterbury!!! We're through!!
The Cantebury is shitty. I gave it a shot, and then once more--both times it promised me only greasy food and finger smudged table tops, crappy service and sly remarks.
First time, I purchased two drinks at $8, and was charged with the tip already included in the bill. The bartender said that he had put the tip in as $2, but it amounted to $11 something, total.
He finally admitted his math was faulty, only by turning back abruptly to alter it again. But he never did apologize. Ok, I thought it was illegal to write the tip in, unless there is automatic gratuity.
O, yeah, that same night a female server mocked my laugh.
The second time I came through, I had one drink, was told I had to spend a $10 min. in order to pay w/ plastic. I searched for proper signage, but found a piece of cardboard noting wha the bartender had told me. Since I had planned to leave, I explained I wished I had been informed about the min. upfront. As stupid as it sounds to point out gestures and body language, I was pissed to say the least when the bartender just threw my card at the counter said I didn't have pay b/c he didn't have time to deal with the complaint. I couldn't leave w/o giving the employees some tips on service. The bouncer was like some brainwashed kid who couldn't even give me the name of his manager. So I just explained my situation to another bartender who I managed to pull aside. Of course, everyone understands the focus that is demanded in order to work behind the bar, but come on, when a server says that they have no time to hear out the complaints of a guest, then they are simply implying no sense of real service. It's bad for the community.
I would have liked to say it's The Shit, but it really isn't. If this place was ever considered democratic in way of its service, then I consider it no more; all people diserve better service than this.
One of the most depressing places I've ever had a beer. It would not be uncommon for someone to fall off a bar stool here. It's sad, really and I don't plan on ever returning.
Cheap. Big. Sometimes that's all you need.
I should learn my lesson and stop trying to order cocktails here... But the nighttime mimosa thing they have going on in the summer is pretty cool. And they can certainly pull off a stiff version of any drink that involves (insert liquor here) and (insert sparkling soft drink here).
To recap: Cheap. Big. And they have drinks. What, you want something else?
The Canterbury can be your greatest wish or your biggest nightmare depending on what types of bars you frequent. If you like Belltown or Pioneer Square I would suggest skipping this bar on a bar hop. You don't need to be or act or dress a certain way here. If you like oddly shaped partially run down bars, delectable greasy bar grub, shuffleboard, and dogs, this is your spot.
The Canterbury is not high class by any means. Its a bit dilapidated and I'm sure its hayday was thirty years ago. I mentioned it being oddly shaped because the bar is in the middle with walled off section on either side. You can dine in the two smaller seating areas or make your way to the spacious back area where the games are located. This is the kind of bar you come with friends to share a pitcher of cheap beer and laugh loud all night long.
Food here is good. Typical bar fare such as hamburgers, onion rings, nachos, and a mean grilled cheese. Breakfast is served but I have yet to try it.
Best part about this bar? You can bring your dog!
The waitstaff has always been relatively outgoing and attentive. I had my birthday party there and wasn't expecting everyone to show up so I called and mentioned the fiesta that was happening and probably about fifteen to twenty people would be there. As to whether that exact amount of bodies showed up I don't know but being in the small front area made it feel as if we were packed like sardines including dogs. The waiter worked to take orders and bring out our foods. I can commend him on his valiant effort to make sure we were taken care of. However, I didn't like his complaints to my mom about the number of people that had actually shown up. A packed bar on Capitol Hill on a Saturday night? That never happens! My party making money for your bar? Absolutely terrible.
The Canterbury is one of my most favorite bars in Seattle. Come as you are and bring your dog!
I could genuinely see me coming back to the Canterbury pretty often if I lived in Capitol Hill. Totally good beer, friendly (if a bit slow, but I was in a good mood and it didn't bother me one bit) service, and DOGS.
There were DOGS.
I ordered a Black Butte Porter because they had a sign up for it but what they brought me was a Maritime Nightwatch Dark Ale. They don't serve Black Butte anymore. The waiter explained that to me, waited for me to taste it, and asked if it was okay more than once. I liked that. I got turned on to a new beer that I absolutely loved with the option to return it if I didn't like it.
I'm glad I went. The party I went with was kind of packed and I appreciate the waiter's courage in braving so packed an area with so many small dogs to mistakenly step on.
Just another dive place on Capitol Hill. Wish I tried their famed Jager milkshakes (the thought kinda makes me barf though). Can't comment on their bar so this may be a little unfair of a review...
Seems like great drunk food, my friend and I only stopped by here because Coastal Cafe was packed. Brunch was mediocre but boy do they pile on your plate. You get bang for you buck in that way.
The menu isn't super specific so make sure you get everything you were promised. My friend was supposed to get toast and potatoes with her pancake breakfast, and when she double-checked on the toast/potatoes, the server said something about assuming that was too carby? If it's included, it's included... give us our carbs!
I would go back if I was drunk or needed to stuff my hangover.
The Canterbury is my favorite dive bar in Seattle because the place is big enough so that I don't feel crowded in, there are tons of games to play like shuffleboard, I think 4 pool tables, big buck hunter and some random arcade games, and for the most part the people are laid back and fun. I wish they had a better beer selection, you will only find the usual Seattle suspects here, and the menu consists mostly of fried items and other typical pub grub.
(3.5 Stars) Any time my waitress has more ink than the menu - I'm right where I need to be. It's OK that the place has a vague smell of urinal cake; the collection of cigarette art adorning the walls along with the used and abused (and sometimes broke-down) booths set in this British Pub sans anything British styled building makes up for it.
Admittedly we hit here late afternoon (it was a long pub-crawl day) and it wasn't packed, but those there gave the whole place a Real-People feel, filled with locals, all of which were happy and having a great day. I think we ordered that last round just so we could sit and people watch a little longer. Service was laid back, sometimes needing a little hunt-down to move things along, but otherwise right in line with the joint and I would have a hard time seeing the place without her.
I did actually learn something while I was here. I learned that there is actually a cheaper beer than PBR - Olympia offered for $1.75 a can.
I was taken here by some friends on my first night in Seattle. Jesse and I arrived first and waited for Matt and like 10 other people to arrive. So we scope a spot @ the bar and get some drinks while we wait. As we sat down, one of the male bartenders was yelling about something with some crazy attitude. like seriously yelling. So it turns out he was yelling at some drunk at the bar bc she was ordering a drink that apparently she was walking him through on how to make it. I guess he didn't take that too kindly and was huffing and puffing around the bar looking for the booze to make her the drink and was opening and slamming doors. Pretty aggressive. So yeah, I introduced myself to the bartender that told us what was going down, I think her name was Elle, and she apologized about his behavior. I'm pretty sure that bartender was just as smashed as the woman he was yelling at.
Shouting matches aside, Elle was really nice. I hope I spelled her name right. She chatted with us as we ordered some PBR tallboys and shots of whiskey. I was already kinda trashed since we had beers @ The Honey Hole before we got here. The rest of the night was kind of a blur. I vaguely remember meeting everyone & buying a few more shots and beers for random people I was with. Stayed long enough to get completely shitfaced but luckily I kept my composure and didn't have to be dragged out or anything. That's never happened to me and I hope it never does. Famous last words huh? All in all a good time. Decent priced booze. Great selection. Nice neighborhood, from what I remember. If i head back to Seattle, id def stop back in for a few rounds.
Some times I love this place, like when I'm drunk. The food is actually pretty good, espically breakfast. Sometimes the service is extremely slow once it took 1hr to get an omlette. If you can tolerate the fact that it is so extremely dirty and old it's worth a stop. Oh and watch out for the slippery bartenders who think you don't know what they are charging you. Example, I ordered one vodkacran $3.50, the next one was $5, and no it was not a happy hour deal the first one. Worth a stop still in my book.
The Canterbury is still a great pub after all these years. I remember my parents took me here when I was a boy and we had their homemade potato chips. Sadly those items are no longer on the menu. When the nice weather finally arrived last weekend I decided to take a stroll up to 15th, grab some lunch at the Canterbury and take a walk around nearby Volunteer Park.
The French Dip was very good--I ordered mine with swiss cheese and onions for $1 extra. It came with flavorful (not watery) au jus and some deliciously hot and crispy fries. They've got a decent selection of local brews on tap (as well as some cheap swill) and the prices are pretty reasonable.
I love the atmosphere here. It's a bit run-down but really does remind me of an olde English pub. The service was fast and friendly. Pay attention to the posted signs that indicate which sections have table service and which don't and you'll be good.
The friendliest door guy in town works at the Canterbury.
As of last night, this place also employs the worst waitress in Seattle, but I'm sure that won't last for long. As hopelessly bad as she was, I can't hold her stupidity against a place with such a good selection of booze, games, and medieval furniture.
Seriously though, all that really needs to be said is that my friends and I congregate here somewhat regularly, and none of us live anywhere near the hill. It's the only other place on 15th that I frequent aside from Remedy Teas, and there's a reason for that.
Canterbury - you still win!
Your ever-present cast of regulars never fails to delight, and $6 for what is essentially a double (even more like a triple!) drink is way more than reasonable.
I miss stumbling home from you on a regular basis.
*mwah*
The Canterbury still reigns as my very favorite dive bar, EVER.
Sure, the staff is surly. Sure, the…
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First restaurant that was still open in Capitol Hill that my friends and I found after coming in late one night from a visit to Portland. Loved the faux-pubby feel of the place. Really loved the beer and the fish 'n' chips. Hit the spot.
What happened to the heat? And the pinball? And the food?
Oh yeah, screw all that and drink. The pours are still heavy, the servers are awesome, and the door dude knows how to card quickly and politely, as well as knowing a wide variety of IDs, a lost art.
i'm usually here to grab a seat at one of the booths and get some food, rather than drinking. especially for the summer, i'm digging their milkshakes served in those huge silver cups with whip cream. the waittress told me they also do some weird milkshakes upon requests like jager milkshakes or blueberry vodka.
i love the fact that they serve breakfast all day. nice to go on a sunday day for brunch when i want to avoid other busy places. last time i was there they were advertising pitcher mimosas which i need to try.
this place is big with something for everyone which i love how they seperate the areas. they have the booths for those who want to sit down with their friends or if you want to be quiet and take advantage of the free wi-fi while drinking your beer. then there is the bar area in another section. then farther down is the pool area/ games area and more seating.
my neighborhood bar/eatery. i love coming here to satisfy eating at random hours of the day. it's… Read more »
Bundle up if you come in the winter. Only one of the tables had a space heater!
Anyways, Canterbury is still five stars. I mean, if I damn well feel like having pancakes, bacon and eggs with a humongous and nicely prepared martini for dinner, I can do that here!
Come here for a burger or fish and chips in a laid-back atmosphere. Love our waitress who always… Read more »
This is a great bar to stumble to on Capitol Hill when you don't feel like moving your car after trying to find a parking space near your home for 1 hour! The beer is cold and the people are friendly. I especially loved when the waitress who served us just looked at the drunk guy going though a wrong way through the bar, and just shooked her head in shame for the fellow.
I want to like the Canterbury sooooo much. I really do. But every time I go there, the service kills it for me.
I like the food. I like the beer selection. They have liquor. They have a large back room with plenty of games. But the service...
Every time I go I feel like I'm a nuisance. You're given one tiny window to order from and, god forbid, you stand elsewhere and try to order! (Everyone has a first time going to a place guys. Not everyone knows the rules of the house.)
The bartenders don't smile. They don't say thank you. Their pours are inconsistent, their prices are inconsistent. It's pretty ridiculous.
The last time I was there I was ordering for lots of people, spending a lot of money and tipping well. Not a smile. Not a nod. Not a thank you.
Cheer up guys.
First Time!
I have never been inside before, but my friend's didn't seem to have good memories.
Last night I was craving a burger. And I wanted to try somewhere new. We walked up to 15th and wondering up and down the street and decided to give Canterbury a try.
We were more than pleasantly surprised! I got a bacon Cheddar burger and it was delicious. Juicy and I ate almost every bite of it!
I got the dark night porter that was on tap and Tim got a Pale ale that was fruity and a little sparkly, kind of like a mango cider. Yum!
I did use the restroom to wash off my cheeseburger grease covered hands and there was no toilet paper in one stall :(
But my burger and beer was delicious! So 5 stars for the cook!
And they serve breakfast all day, can't go wrong with that, maybe I'll try it next time :)
Oh they also have pool tables that were not in use, so maybe I'll play if I come again!
My father is liberal with his reviews at the strangest times. He LOVED IT. He had a reuben sandwich (with fries and bleu cheese dressing), a jolly roger christmas ale, and a scotch. He loved the food. And loved the drinks, in fact he got so drunk we had to sit there for an hour or so extra so he could make the two block trek to my place (and of course he forgot his walker). He said it reminded him of London in the 1960s. He rambled on at the bartender, who actually was tolerant of it. So I give it five stars or him. As for me, Id give it 3.5 or 4, its close to my house, and warm, and has a decent BLT and good fries and ranch, and its way less$$ than coastal kitchen, so Ill be back many times I am sure.
Oh, and free pool before 4pm, so next time I won;t get my dad so drunk, and we may give it a try.
Though I was never a "regular," I've logged plenty of hours wasting Saturday afternoons here drinking Mirror Pond and playing pool.
After leaving Seattle in 2001 I went back five years later, and it was nice to see a drinking establishment in Capitol Hill that hadn't changed a bit. (I miss Eileen's!!!!)
It's dark. The English theme is kind of crazy -- you expect to see people wearing chain mail or something.
I never remember eating here, but if I were in the mood for bar food, I would definitely give it a try.
I LOVE the Canterbury; it is exactly what I want in a divey, friendly, neighborhood bar. The drinks are priced well, as is the food (which is surprisingly good), and the decor (sort of a British neo-renaissance feel) makes me feel like I should be wearing a sword, or possibly carrying a blunderbuss.
It's maybe not as clean as it could be, and the furniture has definitely seen better days, but that's kinda part of the charm. Like maybe it would be okay if a friendly bar-fight broke out, and afterward all parties would sit down and share a pitcher.
The place is almost always less than crowded, and I've only once had trouble finding a seat. While I'm not much of a pool player, they have several tables, as well as shuffleboard (which I have NO idea how to play).
About the only complaint I might actually have is that their evening food service is really inefficient on the rare occasions that there IS a crowd, since it requires that you hear a fellow on the far side of the room quietly mumble your name, elsewise someone almost inevitably steals your food. That being said, they're super good about replacing it, so as long as you're patient there's no real problem.
All in all, one of my favorite bars in Seattle!!
I disagree with the idea that this is not a dive bar.
There are strange dents in the wall of the game room and the bathroom looks like a set from one of the Saw movies. I also didn't see a single chair that was missing less than 25% of its upholstery. If other qualifiers are necessary for the Canterbury to become a "dive bar", I am shocked and awed.
This place is the distilled personification of what would happen if King Arthur's long-lost gay brother went on a month-long bender and forgot to close the windows during a dust storm. That said, it's still kind of awesome.
The fish and chips are pretty dang good (a half-order is MORE than enough) and the drinks are unethically strong. There's a lot of interesting characters to be found - both in the local "wildlife" and the giant moose head on the wall, complete with resplendent tinsel eyelashes and dangly mardi gras beads.
This would be a three-star review, but the server/tender that was handling our tabs during the Diplomacy game was totally awesome about fixing a mis-billing issue. I was expecting a bit of 'tude for bringing it up a good 30 minutes after I closed out and not catching it sooner, but the guy was super-helpful and fixed everything quickly without a lick of surliness. Good on ya.
I'm wondering if this building was made in 1385, because it sure wasn't working too well in terms of heat. I ended up wearing my gloves inside.
Aside from that, it's hella loud (between the patrons and the music) but I do have to give them credit for great food & drink.
Seattle's idea of a "dive bar" is pretty ridiculous. To most Seattle kids, a bar is a dive if they don't have an extensive tapas menu, play the latest acid jazz over a pristine sound system, or charge $15 for ridiculous flavored-vodka martinis. The Seattle crowd feels like they're "slumming" if there isn't a bathroom attendant.
The Canterbury isn't a "dive" -- you're not going to get knifed, no one's going to kick your ass for touching their Hog or looking at their bitch. You are going to meet some local characters who drink much, much more than you do on a much more frequent basis. The bartender will be very friendly, and pour incredibly strong drinks that are an amazing value. You and your friends who cluster in the back room to play board games will not only not be mocked by some Belltown Beauty in a miniskirt, you will be warmly encouraged and asked about what you're playing.
The atmosphere is great, the drinks are wicked strong, and the crowd (at least during the day) is laid back and serious about their drinking. Two thumbs up from the Bear.
The Canterbury definitely seems on a steady decline, which is too bad. The pinball tables are broken, the heat doesn't work, the food is nowhere near as good as I remember it being a few years ago.
But I will always love this place. It is a bit of a dive but not to the extreme. It's spacious so usually good for groups. They have pool tables, shuffleboard, pinball, and some video games.
The service is mixed - some of the servers are total rock stars, others, not so much. This is probably true anywhere but with one server I find it very noticeable :-)
Tweakers sellin' booze. Nice tats bra!
Been A-OK in my book for years! It was one of the first bars I went to when I moved here.
Yes, this place is a lil gross and well worn, but it is like my favorite sweater I want to wear when I'm feeling lazy. Dining room has a sad excuse for a fireplace left now but it still spits out 'some' heat.
I always dig the juke box and can't go wrong with a pitcher of beer and some of the best hot wings in the city.. Oh yes-- I have searched high and low for good hot wings and get my fix here.
I asked for a dive bar and boy did I get one! Stumbling here after 22 doors was a feat in itself but we did make it. After ordering and getting a couple of beers and throwing a couple dollars on the bar, I was reprimanded by the bartender for ordering 'on the wrong side of the bar'. A patron sitting at the bar told me he always leaves a smaller tip when reprimanded by a bartender so I snatched one of my dollars back in an act of rebellion. I quickly looked around for the 'right' side of the bar but didn't see one. Oh well. What I really liked about the place was there was a lot of small and larger places to hang out, a sofa here, an old chair there and also that there were people of all ages there. That makes me feel less old. One suggestion - ease up on the pine sol in the bathrooms kids. My eyeballs just about burned out of my sockets from the stench and I just don't need that when I'm that wasted. Thanks.
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Category: Dive Bars
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