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Mon-Thu. 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Looking for a nice quiet place for a drink and some conversation? Look no further.
If you're up for a night of partying, this is definitely not the place to go.
They don't do many things at the White Horse, but they do them well.
The bar is small, but if you get a seat, everyone is welcoming. I went twice and ended up helping one of the regulars with a crossword puzzle. Sure, it wasn't the wildest night of my life, but it's a good spot for a weeknight.
I currently live in San Francisco and when we read about the White Horse and it's ties back to SF (Black Horse Bar), we HAD to check it out. It's absolute perfection! I love the decor, comfy couches, inviting half door, the couple in the back playing cards and most of all it's unpretentious atmosphere! I have to admit, going to Pike Place Market during the afternoon mob scene made me quite doubtful of liking this bar so close to the tourist trap, but I couldn't be more wrong! The White Horse is such a great gem and everyone should check it out.
P.S. Only beer and wine served here with the occasional nightly cocktail special.
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This is a quaint place in Post Alley that has no words on their sign, just a white horse.
It's very cozy with a fireplace (even if it is faux) and plump chairs. There are books everywhere and the guy behind the counter was very friendly.
They only had 2 or 3 beers in real wood kegs to choose from, which adds to the quaintness of the place, but as a beer snob, i was not that impressed with the one I chose.
All in all though, I'd say the place is a gem. I'll definitely go back!
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What a cute little old school pub. The White Horse was the last stop of the night for myself and a few Yelpers after the downtown Elite event last summer (yes, I am that far behind in my reviews). Charming and cozy little space and we snagged 4 stools at the bar (it was a Wed or Thurs, judging by other reviews you may not have such luck on a weekend). No cocktails to be had here but the craft beers were enjoyed by all. And considering we were fairly loud and drunk and probably obnoxious, the kindly bartender remained friendly and low key. As noted by many others, the bathroom is odd and not so private. Not trendy, not snobby, not crazy, the White Horse is a chill and dare I say classy place to have a drink or two. I'd love to stop in again.
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Really cute, cozy, and chill. My husband and I did not stay too long since we noticed that they seemed to only serve beer and wine.
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White Horse is cool. It's very different than a lot of what you find in Seattle, especially downtown. My friend and I had been on an accidental crawl around the area, beginning with Pike brewery and continuing at some unremarkable places when we walked past this place.
Is that a bar? I said.
You know, I think it is. She said.
Should we go inside? I said.
I'm not sure. She said.
We were a little intimidated by how dark and quiet it seemed and did the walk-by a couple of times, knowing that the people inside could see us and would probably laugh at us if we went in. But we did anyway and damn if this place wasn't great.
We settled in a couple of armchairs off in a back corner, each with a heavy pour of $5 red. There were some people at the bar, chatting with the bartender, some people up by the front window reading (maybe they didn't see us walking past after all!) and a couple or two in their own corners.
I had just finished reading a feature on the international space station and being tipsy decided that right then was a great time to tell my friend all about all the interesting things I had learned. (Being so quiet, every other patron of the White Horse got to learn them too!)
If you're in Post Alley and feel like a quiet drink, this is the place. (And if someone is in the back talking about the mating habits of seahorses, it's probably me. Come over and say hello.)
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This place is soooo tiny, so get there early to get a seat if you don't enjoy standing with your beer. I liked the atmosphere, very trendy yet dark and like a cabin. My only qualm is the lack of non-alcoholic drinks. You're limited to fresh lemonade that is damn good, not overly sweetened. But I would like it if they at least had coffee or tea.
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Everyone in Seattle should at least check out White Horse, and I want to add this place to my "places to take my tourist friends" list. The Pike Place area has much to offer. Post Alley will give you seafood, Italian, Irish, French...but the best place to get your nightcap is White Horse Trading Company. No food so don't come hungry...come thirsty because the beer is imported from the United Kingdom. Also a yummy red and white wine...I've had the pinot grigio a few times and it was very good, and a generous pour. They also have a mead wine and a port which were delicious. If you live in Seattle, I would recommend trying out White Horse Trading Company. You won't find anyplace like it. For years, I walked by thinking it was a used bookstore, and I know I'm not the only one. Bring your out-of-town friends here...they will appreciate the experience.
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White Horse is special. It's not special in a "short bus" sort of way... it's much less ubiquitous and much more endearing. It's special like an adorable puppy which may or may not drool on your shoe and may or may have one weird eye which alternately makes it look extra-adorable or slightly unfortunate. Said puppy will also feed you delicious Tower of London mead and/or a Pimm's Cup, which may make you remember it as being more adorable after the fact.
I love you, White Horse. Even if you don't serve food. Even if you're tiny. Even if your bathroom doesn't have as much wall as I like my bathrooms to have. I love you for what you are. The memories of our time together are not necessarily "pristine" or "joyful", but they are without a doubt some of the most honestly pleasurable moments I have had in this town which still involved me wearing pants.
Sometimes I wish we could be together more often, but then I wonder if I'd just begin to pick out all your weird flaws or start to feel smothered in your tiny bookcase-laden heart. I will see you sometimes, White Horse, and I like it that way.
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Cozy, intimate, and laid-back. This isn't a place to get crazy on vodka Red Bulls. This is a wonderful spot for slowing your pace and sipping some superb mead. There are a couple small sections and of course there is the option to saddle up to the bar (resting on barrels) to drink and jest with the friendly bartenders.
Dark, but not too dark. Off the beaten path, but not too far. White Horse Trading Company has a more unique spirit than your average Joe's bar.
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It was like coming home.
There are cozy little seating areas and relaxing lighting, perfect for drying out after a walk in the Seattle rain. Hanging from the ceiling you will find vintage bird cages and random Irish eccentricities. On every table are cups of M&Ms, peanut and regular, which the extraordinarily tolerant and friendly bartenders will refresh upon request.
Have you ever had mead? Who knew, it's fermented honey? What about a stout little Pimm's cup? Certainly one of the most satisfying treats around.
Need to pee? Use their WC but don't forget to lock it behind you, I learned this the hard way so you don't have to.
Perfect as well for Seattle Yelpers after an event.
Tonight's event will go down in history for craziest scheme to look at bewbies, courtesy of the Dfens family.
And who should show up but Dawn R? The White Horse is like that, a place for people to run into old friends and prank new ones with feminine hygiene implements.
Yes, White Horse is a special place, one that will live in infamy.
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I was actually expecting them to have a bigger beer selection. The bartender basically made it sound like they only had a couple bottled beers and that was about it.
Aside from the lack of beer selection, the atmosphere was very pleasant. Definitely friendly and inviting; I think the clientele is mostly responsible for that, but they certainly create an atmosphere that is conducive to meeting new people and chatting amongst friends. However, it's incredibly small and gets pretty crowded, so don't expect to be able to sit anywhere if you come in a group larger than two or three people.
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There were many surprises in store for me here last night:
1. Apparently I have a twin walking around out there. The bartender may have known her name, but he said he liked me better. Take that, Wendy!
2. Sometimes less is more. A place doesn't have to have 1,000 different choices in order for you to find exactly what you're looking for.
3. I am not above peeing within earshot of the whole bar. (The bathroom here is slightly less than private.)
4. I am really, really, ridiculously good at chess. For a first-timer.
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This was our last stop of the night. These boys aren't particularly intimidating looking, so maybe it was just me that scares people away. We managed to get the front section of seats! All of us except 1 got a round or 2 of the brown ales (b/c the 1 was driving). It was a fun night. This place can get packed really quickly, it's so small!
Joe the bartender remembered me and when I was doing laundry this evening pulled out a card w/ his name on it. (I don't remember getting this, and I was only buzzin'!).
The staff is generally pretty nice, the atmosphere is really chill and I just wrote a review of it! Check it out!
This is where we rang in 2009, already a very memorable year.
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I really liked this place. We invaded this place after massive disappointment @ the lusty lady. … Read more »
It's nice to see a quiet place for a couple beers or ciders in the Post Alley. Between Kell's and Post, I was getting tired of the bar scene in Pike Place. The place seems like shout to places some of your forefathers may have visited. A quiet ale house with books and empty barrels lining the sides.
The bartenders here remind of something you would find in a much earlier day, where they where a nice shirt under an apron with a towel over one shoulder. Not saying that they all do that, but some do, and it fits.
The beers here are of a wide variety. They have some lagers and some darker ones, but the most tasty of all is the Crumpy's Apple Cider. If you only get one drink in Post Alley on a night out, then I strongly suggest you take your group of friends and enjoy this tasy, apply, and strong brew.
Luckily, this place seems to be able to avoid the usual overcrowded-ness of other nearby bars. So you should be able to at least find a place around the bar. Also, don't be afraid to share tables with new people, because the staff encourage this.
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I must admit that my memories of this place are not nearly as clear as some of my other reviews....however, I did quite enjoy this place!
Upon walking in and reading the menu, I selected a tasty beer and got comfy on the bar stool. The bartender was quite friendly and chatty all evening, despite all of the people present being quite drunk and invading his bar.
Service was continually good, the place was definitely cozy, and a place for fun times to be had. The front table that is really a door was fascinating and quite cool. The drinks may seem pricey, but you typically get an entire bottle, so why complain?
There were free M&Ms on the bar which was great. However, when I got hungrier than M&Ms could satisfy (and after watching the bartender get a pizza delivered), I convinced him to order me one too! It was cheap and quick and nice to have some food to nibble on late at night!
Oh and if you're a shy bathroom person, avoid this place. The potty is a single "stall" with not even a full door. However, with how loud we were no noises could be heard, but I imagine if it was a quiet night, things could get a bit awkward.....at least the toilet is around the corner so nobody can see your feet!
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A jovial crew were we, who burst through the White Horse doors to commandeer the nooks and the sofas within them.
Have ye thirst? Quench it with a glass of mead or Pimm's cup. $7 for a beer? Well it includes the entire liter-sized bottle! At least two pours' worth of English ale, making it a value nary a pub can trump.
The jovial crew proceeded to imbibe the delicious quaffs. The bartender kindly smiled at our obnoxious antics, which included an M&M fight (to be fair, WHTC provided the ammo) and lots of photographs, beside the usual din that follows this group through the valleys and fields of Seattle.
People thought this was:
This place is neat, and it gives me an opportunity to use the term "Anglophile," as in "This is a terrific place for Anglophiles." It has a sort of feel that seems like this is what it would be like to have been in a bar or pub a hundred years ago. You can come in from the chilled sea air and be surrounded by a pleasant, subdued crowd and sophisticated knick-knackery. I try to avoid being drawn into legs-crossed-at-the-knee "intelligent" conversations, but after a glass of mead (the only place I've ever had the opportunity to try it- fermented honey) this place could make them bearable.
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I just like the sound of the words Pimms Cup.. Forget that they're fantastically boozey and tasty here.
Say it with me: "Pimms Cup." It just screams "SOPHISTICATION!" doesn't it?!... much like I just did (Sorry, neighbors...).
Don't come for a wall of liquor. There isn't one, so you won't be impressed if that's what impresses you. Instead, come for the comfy library/ 1960s gentleman's club feel and the barley wine... or beer. Bring an open mind, some cash, and a willingness to wait for your drink in a crowded, cluttered yet inviting little room.. and you'll be a-okay!
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Hype.
This place is pure hype.
It's small, oddly decorated, and not half as cool as five bars all within walking distance.
After all the kind words, I expected some kind of magical little venue that smelled like the Ye'Ol Curiosity Shop and served drinks that made my mouth sing!
Nope.
The staff were friendly, I just felt sorry for them, because even on the busiest night, only 30 people can fit!
I just don't get it. Feel free to explain it to me. This review isn't written in stone.
People thought this was:
This pub has a really nice homely feel to it. Very welcoming, and you can actually read the book decors. The washcloset is so weird looking, but still very special. The pub only offers about 5 thing, including a cocktail and wine. I gotbyhe pale ale. And for 7 dollars, the bottle was pretty big. This place was definitely a great experience, and this is coming from a light drinker. :)
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I would give this place 5 stars, except that my wine was not the best, but the prices were right.
This place is awesome. It's on a cute little alley right by Pike's Place Market and everything about it is cozy, comfy, and awesome. My boyfriend and I shared a "love seat" that was comfortable and intimate without being entirely secluded. The walls had interesting pictures on the wall, and old HELP movie poster and a framed photo of a girl wearing only an apron. The water pipes were taped together and one had a bucket hanging from it to catch the drips.
The drinks were cheap and although they didn't have many options, they had enough for you to get something you liked. The bartender was nice and British and the music and clientele were mixed and random.
The whole vibe made me want to talk about deep dark sections or international policy. I would go back, and I will tell other people to check it out when they're in the area.
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A little girl new to a big city.
She looks for a place where she can have a few drinks and not get oggled or booze drenched.
Walking down a dark alley she is suddenly distracted by the unmistakable clanking of glass coming from the other side of a stable door, hidden as if prohibition had returned.
She has found her home. She has found The White Horse.
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Worth dealing with Pike Place tourists to sip yourself to a slow, joyful death. Highly recommend it!
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Honey and i stumbled upon this place accidentally ... walking the Seattle streets one balmy august night, looking for a cozy quaint place to grab a night cap before heading home.
THIS PLACE IS SO COOL!
we didn't even think it was a bar upon first glance - we felt like we were walking into someones private party because it was THAT quaint and cozy. There is an air about it that screams London. i love that. the bartender was super nice. everyone was chatting to everyone, it really truly felt like a comfortable neighborhood spot in the UK.
it was everything we were looking for that night, and more. i feel like I've come across a really special Seattle jewel. if you hate cute, quaint, cozy bars with personality, it may not be your thing. but at least give it a shot -- it will be worth it!
oh, and be sure to use the bathroom, or W/C -- sooo cool!
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Oh the Pimms Cup...
Sometimes, I wonder if it loves me as much as I love it.
I think Joe started making these in smaller glasses sometime last year as a result of my loving it perhaps a bit *too* much.
Don't think I didn't notice, Joe.
White Horse is a great place to grab a drink after work or settle in for an evening. Very cozy and comfy. I've always run into a great crowd of people whenever I get the chance to go. Very laid-back barkeeps and waitresses and have always felt welcome.
In short - LOVE IT!
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This was the first bar I went to when I moved to Seattle, and it was a great introductory experience. The prices were reasonable and the crowd/bar tenders were all very welcoming. I plan on going back.
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This is a great bar!
Some of their best drinks include a Pimm's Cup and Honey Mead. I can never decide which I want so I always have to order both.
The service is good and although they don't serve food they have a deal with a local pizzeria and they can order for you. (I don't remember the name of the pizza place but it's good).
It's a small bar with limited space and it never gets too loud that you feel like you're shouting. The decor is cozy and quaint, the drinks are good and the bathroom is... strange. But clean!
If I lived closer I'd definitely go here at least once a week. Instead I'm a solid 2 miles away and rarely feel up for the hike. It's a great bar though and it's location in Post Alley is very cute and cozy. All in all it's probably my favorite bar in the whole city.
Don't plan to go to this bar with more than 4 people because it's just too small for large groups. It's actually well suited for a date or a meet up with a few friends for a chat.
When I originally came to Seattle back in the winter, my knowledge of the local drinking scene was non existent, thought I'd try it considering everyone's good word; after leaving that night though my feelings were mixed.
The location was convenient being that I was staying at The Green Tortoise Hostel so that was a plus. Upon entering I realized the place is much smaller then I had imagined, small but do able because it wasn't too crowded.
Sitting down at the bar I stupidly asked for something local (as I usually do) but was met with a pretty rude bar tender who informed me of the limited selection that WHTC has to offer. Rude bartender struck again a few more time thru the night with very cocky remarks I overheard (to others) regarding small chat, almost to the point of making me feel bad for the other patrons.
Tasting the majority of their beer selection that night, I'd definitely recommend the meed or pims over the beer for sure, and it also promotes the atmosphere that I think they are going for. After a few more drink orders and having a nice conversation with another local patron (who was very helpful in a see-this do-this sort of way), I headed out. Overall, the beverage selection is great...the location is convenient to many other bars in the area... while its still small, it felt comfortable.. but if all their bartenders are as rude and unhelpful as this guy then I'll likely not be returning anytime soon.
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I'm not sure why this place has such a high rating. I mean, it's an ok place, but it's not exactly the "cozy" place I heard it was. Unless "cozy" really means "cramped and slightly uncomfortable."
The beers are great, and the cider is even better. The service was fine, neither super-friendly nor hostile. But I don't see myself hanging out there too often, since there's nowhere comfy to sit and chat--unless it's just a coincidence that I've only been there when people were making out and practically dry-humping on the sofas (EW), relegating us to the barrel-perched "table" where you have nowhere to put your legs.
And the bathroom situation is NOT COOL. So, make sure to go before you go.
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My brother took me here once on my birthday for a cider and some relaxation. It was such a nice treat I love going back. I really dug the atmosphere and my cider was delicious. I'm the type of girl who prefers old doors on barrels for tables. If you're not into huge, crushing crowds this is a nice place to go after a late dinner.
There was an unfortunate incident awhile ago where my brother's friend ended up puking on the barkeep. Considering what had just happened (ew!) the guy was apparently pretty cool about it. I'm not saying we should all act like complete schmucks there (again, ew!), but I know I respect them more for not acting like asses.
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Walking through the doors, I felt like I had stumbled upon a secret hangout in downtown Seattle. Very much unlike the neighboring bars, White Horse Trading Comapany is a small, cozy space tucked away in Post Alley. Book shelf lined walls, stuffed chairs, dim lights and a chess board make you feel like you're drinking a Pimm's Cup in your grandfather's den rather than in the heart of downtown Seattle. The small, space is perfect for coming with a special someone for a lager or settling down at a table of strangers-soon-to-be-friends.
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Read about this place when planning a business trip up to Seattle. Wanted to try it and didn't get a chance. Visited Seattle again and this time happened to run into by chance. We checked it out and had a great time just hanging out and trying their small collection of beer and ciders. Just a great place to hang out and let time pass. Ended up visiting 3 out of 4 days of visit.
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One of my Seattle hangout standbys. The chaps behind the bar are cheeky, the beer selection small and impeccable. An added bonus, they have the coolest bathroom in Seattle. Know before you go that this is often a quiet place, that's the point.
If you're lame, go to Kell's. If you know better, go to the White Horse.
PS: Can't wait to go to the sister bar in SFO.
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the clientele while i was here were the bourgie types that wore their sweaters around their shoulders and talked loudly about things that involved a lot of name/place dropping in an attempt to make themselves appear cultured.
other than that i really really liked this place. i liked the alley location. the books, pictures of dogs, and other random things provided lots of places for me to rest my eyes during lulls in the conversation. i went there wanting to have cider but i ended up having the pimm's cup which i thought was very good and strong. i appreciated the bartenders attention to detail and ability to comfortably converse with the people sitting at the bar even though they were boring as hell. also, the seating was comfortable. again, no line for the bathroom, ever.
this place is good for catching up with an old friend, a first date, or relaxing in a quiet place after a shitty day. not for groups of woo-hoo girls looking to get wasteyface.
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When you walk into the White Horse Trading Company all seems right in the world.
It's just that kind of place. The kind of place that actually makes you want to talk to other people (yes, it hurt to even type that) because anyone who sees the charm in this bar is my type of person.
The fact that the bar keep shared his chocolate birthday cake with me (thanks east coast friend for having the social skills to get me a piece of cake) definitely elevates the bar above and beyond its inherent charms.
The wine list is comprised of "red or white" and the beer selection is relatively limited but you should ignore all of that anyway and get one of their dry ciders. I haven't had a cider since a few bad experiences in college (I don't want to talk about it) but this cider is crisp, refreshing, and not at all syrupy sweet the way so many ciders seem to be.
Grab a seat at the bar if you're on your own, or bring a bunch of friends and snag a spot at the comfy couches and waste away an evening chatting.
Just be ware of the odd bathroom situation if you're the type to be bothered by such a thing. It's up a couple of stairs and beyond a gate in a room that feels uncomfortably close to the rest of the bar. I like to think of it as part of the charm.
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I'd say this is my Seattle bar favorite, but truthfully, this is my favorite place in the whole world to have a beer. It's tiny and unassuming and there's just something about the atmosphere that's just right. I've been dropping by whenever I'm in town for about six years now and I've never had a bad time. Hats off to Joe and Jake!
People thought this was:
My husband took me here as part of my birthday week celebration. It was really cozy and laid back. GREAT Happy hour prices. 4 dollars for a wine or beer. If you are someone who needs a selection this is not the place to go. The guy behind the bar told us they pretty much just sample a few kinds a month. But it was super cozy and a nice date place if you were going right after work or something. We were there around 4 - 5 ish on a monday and the place was pretty much empty. That is probably the time to go.
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This is a great little bar, little being the operative word here. If it wasn't for a fellow yelper I never would have known it existed I've walked by it many times on my way down Post Alley but never stopped in.
Besides being a great little bar it's also a very comfortable bar, you could lose all track of time sitting in there drinking talking with your girlfriends. Oh and the topics that come up let me tell you everything from hermaphrodite to second date masturbators to whiny needy loser ex-boyfriends to getting bendy with someone to Tasmania sheep farming to oh you get the pictures you can talk about anything in here.
The bartender is great he'll bring out another beer sit it in front of you and just wait for the head nod to open it and fill your glass oh and he'll also let you fondle his Kink's CD. Speaking of beer the drink selection here is limited you have 3 beers, 2 wines, 1 cider and a Pimms cup to pick from, there may have been one other thing on the menu but I'm not sure.
The "water closet" aka the bathroom is an adventure in peeing if you ask me. If you come here be sure to check it out.
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I wouldn't have reviewed this place had I not realized a buttload of other people already have and there's no way to keep this cute little bar a secret. Oh well.
I ended up at this bar because a dear friend of mine knows one of the bartenders and wanted to introduce us to each other (Hi Jake A.!)...He was good-looking and had a nice hat. I like hats. And he kept giving us chocolate. Oh, totally beside the point, got it.
The White Horse is tiny and most of the space is taken up by comfy furniture and books that aren't really for sale (unless you know the right people?). The beverage selection is small, but good. All in all it's a fantastic place to meet up with a few friends for a few drinks and some crazy conversation.
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Category: Pubs
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