The Monkey
5305 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 523-6457
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights: Tue, Fri, Sun
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: No
13 Reviews for The Monkey
The Monkey is HILARIOUS.
There are some creepsters there (i'm talking to you, bearded man that stared at me without blinking the entire time i sang Meatloaf at karaoke night), but the 1 dollar Olympia pints def. make up for it. People there are super nice and it's really laid back.
Monkey see, monkey do, pretty much the reason I wanted to check this place out is because I liked the name. NO SHAME IN THAT. I like monkeys, how could I not like a bar named after monkeys?
This place is as much fun as a barrel of monkeys, and that's a lot of fun. How many times can I use monkeys in this review? Stopped in on a Sunday night to find myself in the middle of a JEOPARDY game only to be followed by drunken KARAOKE. ON TOP OF THAT, there were $4 pitchers of PBR. I'm sold. Quit monkeying around.
Pretty busy on Sunday, very eclectic crowd but very approachable and friendly. Free pool, "costco" $1 dogs... good times. Heard that it's pretty open on the other nights of the week. I seem to remember that it was cash only... that could be a lie though bc I had plenty of $4 pitchers to forget that detail.
Monkeymonkeymonkey. (that's ten if you were counting)
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I used to come here all the ding dong time.... Then I moved. So don't think my cutbacks in visits is a bad thing. The place is Heaven. During the weekend there is live music (cheap too). They have a Taco Bar on Mondays, there is an awesome Jukebox (awesome if you like music that you can't really hear on KNDD or KCMU... I mean KEXP). Pool tables, darts, mega touch, dirty food, cool bartenders, and karoke. It's just a great, chill bar. I do ever so miss it. But when I'm in the U-District I try to hit it up as the kids on the street say. And one reason I forgot about... Cheap cheap beer and cheap stiff drinks.
By the way, you know if there's a monkey in it, it's automatically awesome (Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Cannonball Run II, thank you very much)
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I haven't been going as much as in my heavier party days, but for the dive of your life, the Monkey is THE BEST.
Total variety in regulars that are also long term friends meet there and they will include you if you're feeling social. People play nice and honest there, but take no bullshit.
Great ongoing-over-ten-year-over-the-top happy hour specials.
Great place to see bands that are getting going or established ones that just want to have a good time. They have also had many events that include donating money to important causes.
Lead fisted! No joke.
Inspirationally maniacal in the way that there actually is found objects decorating the walls. Not in that TGIF's kind of way though.
Nothing beats it, really. This is a reason to go to that part of the U-district if you seldom make it there, as it is an area with not a whole lot else to offer. But that only adds to the magic.
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Oh I love The Monkey Pub. This is pretty much the only bar I'll go to in the UD without reluctance.
We randomly end up being there for Karaoke and last night managed to be sloshed enough that the whole bar took over singing of Total Eclipse. This seems to be a running theme with my group, but it's too good of a time to question.
Sometimes it's a little full here and it can be difficult to find a spot big enough for a group, but if you get here early enough you can take over a corner or just weasel your way into a space as it seems like groups come and go here a lot.
There's plenty of crap on the walls to stare at and wonder about. I don't think I've ever had table service here, although I did almost have to leave because my mother had forgotten to bring her ID. Fortunately someone picked up on that she was in fact, my mother, and thus a bit older than me.
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Good times. I meet my loverly better half here. That in and of itself is enough for five stars in my book. But wait.. check out the jukebox, and taco night, and karaoke, and bands on the weekends, and... well, it's yer only choice besides Dante's.... but it's still the best dive bar in seattle... where you don't have to know how to fight, and can be a complete pussy, and still managed to get laid once in a while that is.
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I'm on a mission--to find a bar with Friday night karaoke for my birthday in two weeks. Not just any bar, mind you--someplace that won't be super-duper crowded (ha!) and that might even have enough space up front for people to dance if so inspired. (Not so hot on the "Let's all sit at our tables and watch the singer on stage" experience--ya gotta mix it up a little.)
Tonight, I checked out the Monkey in the hopes that this would be the place. Just 15 minutes walk from my house--would've been sweet! And the place looked friendly in a comfortably divey kind of way. Would love to go hang there sometime.
Unfortunately, the karaoke songbook--very thin. Too thin. Damn...
Consoled myself with a taco and horchata at the taco truck (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) on the way home. (Open 'til 2:30 on weekends!)
The search continues...
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The Quintessential neighborhood bar, great jukebox, pool, live music and now with wireless internet.
Daily Happy Hour
Live Music, Low Cover Charge
Greatest Jukebox
Yeah, we're in the U-district, but not a "college bar." The Monkey is a "come as you are" hang-out. Providing a friendly atmostphere where one can come to hang out and hear some great music, play some pool, and meet good folk, all at an afforable night out. Here's a sampling of what happens at the Monk:
Daily Happy Hour until 9pm, featuring $3 Wells, Micro's and free pool.
Sunday: Happy hour all nite long, free pool; Karaoke @ 10pm, hosted by the lovely Rhiannon.
Monday: Wells and Featured Micro $3 all night, Hot dawg and chilidawg nite!
Tuesday: Wellz and Featured Micro $3 all night!
Wednesday: $3 Wellz and $1 pints of PBR
Thursday: Happy hour 'til 9pm, $4 pitchers of PBR
Friday: Thank Gawd
Saturday: In house pool tournament, sign up @ 5pm. Live music @ 10pm!
This is my favorite bar! I've been going here since I moved to Seattle. The crowd here is family and everyone loves to meet new people and welcome them to the Monkey. Sunday is my favorite night because it's kareoke night and the bar has a great ole' time singin' till 1am.
There are also softball teams that play for the Monkey; Pounders, 86'ers and my favorite, Neighbor Kids. Season is over for this year but join us for 2006! Pick-up games are on-going year-round, Sundays at Dahl field, 2pm. Anyone can play so come over! I'll have TONS of photos and much, much more details once I get a chance to sit and focus!
Please drink responsively and always drive carefully!
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A total dive. It was awesome.
Ok, everyone I met in Seattle was all "you went out in the U-district? Um....why??" We had been on a plane for 6 hours, had checked into our hotel late on a Saturday night, and wanted to do what the kids do.
Turns out it was still UW spring break, so there was no one around. Oh well. So we ended up at the Monkey because it was 3 blocks from the hotel.
What a crazy little place. Some band from Portland was playing to a crowd of maybe 20 people. A few of those people had made weapons out of duct tape and were beating the crap out of each other. Hilarious.
Other pros:
- No cover
- The drinks were strong and cheap.
- No one was looking at anyone like they didn't belong there, ie the cutie-cute A+F clad fratboy on the stool near me was just chillin' and taking in the atmosphere along with the hipsters.
Too bad it's not on my current coast.
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What can I say? This is my absolute favorite place to go on a Sunday night. Came here on a fluke after the Rickshaw lost its novelty and we were looking for a better karaoke joint. Everyone I came into contact there was friendly and welcoming. Although this place is right in the middle of college central, you won't find loud, obnoxious frat guys here (leave that to Finn MacCool's). My friends and I have since become regulars and the bartenders and staff take the time to get to know everybody and make friends with them. Think "Cheers" without being too tacky. Drinks are delightfully cheap ($4 gets you pitcher of PBR or a cocktail on Sundays!) and strong. They just got in a brand new karaoke book (not to mention they still have the original books), and the hosts are super awesome. Erika is the sweetest bartender in Seattle! One extra plus is that once last call ends and you're good and liquored up, you can wander (or stumble) next door to Piccolo's pizza (open til 5am some nights) and have the best pizza you've ever eaten. Enjoy!
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Hands down the best place in Seattle to get drunk and make a fool of yourself. Okay, just kidding, don't do that. But the drinks are good, and the vibe is really friendly. The Monkey rules.
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Really awesome burgers and beer. This place is simple, fast, and good. Three things that are REALLY hard to find. Great after-work crowd also.
Monkey make strong drink. Monkey cheap. Monkey good.
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