Blue Moon Tavern – Seattle, Washington - Gastro Obscura
What's near me?

Gastro Obscura

Blue Moon Tavern

Seattle, Washington

This popular bar has been blurring the line between normal and edgy for more than 75 years. 

View all photos
User Submitted
User Submitted
Neon sign led entrance area from the street. Aty Trocious (Atlas Obscura User)
Local stylized booths and tables. Aty Trocious (Atlas Obscura User)
Pool room and lounge seating. Aty Trocious (Atlas Obscura User)
Blue Moon’s Neon Sign bobtiki (Atlas Obscura User)
497
1037
Top Places in Seattle
Seattle Underground
Seattle, Washington
Lake View Cemetery
Seattle, Washington
Bop Street Records
Seattle, Washington
 See All

Built in 1934 after the repeal of prohibition, the Blue Moon became popular because of its proximity to the nearby University of Washington Campus.

But that’s not why it’s stayed so popular.

Local laws prohibited the sale of alcohol within a mile of the school for years, making it an appealing respite for thirsty university students. From there its legend grew as an oasis for carousers and goodhearted rule breakers.

Eventually, the Blue Moon realized its true potential as a haven for counter-culture. Over the years it has been visited by the likes of Theodore Rothke, Tom Robbins, Jack Kerouac (allegedly), Allen Ginsburg, and Dylan Thomas.

Atlas Obscura Experiences

Tour of a Shoemaker's Workshop

Seattle, Washington
$25 per person
bars Unique Restaurants & Bars
Nearby
Scarecrow Video
0.34 miles
Burke Museum Ichthyology Collection
0.37 miles
Off the Rez Cafe
0.40 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Seattle, Washington

Scarecrow Video

Browse through roughly 130,000 titles in the world's largest independent video rental store.
Seattle, Washington

Burke Museum Ichthyology Collection

This remarkable collection devoted to the study of fish includes 1 million preserved specimens from all around the world.
Seattle, Washington

Off the Rez Cafe

Where else would a linchpin of post-colonial Native American cuisine anchor the menu but a museum?
Seattle, Washington

The Wall of Death

A "sinister, whimsical, tacky, and really orange" public art installation hidden under a Seattle bridge.
Related Places
London, England

The Champion

This 19th-century pub features stained-glass windows celebrating Victorian-era "champions."
Basingstoke, England

The Baverstock Arms

At this historic pub, you can sit back, sip, and watch a whole century go by.
West Hollywood, California

Rainbow Bar & Grill

An Italian restaurant became a rock-and-roll hangout and the lair of the "Hollywood vampires."
Tallinn, Estonia

KuKu Club

An underground nightclub helped spark a "Singing Revolution."
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
From Around the Web