There is a phenomenon that is working in our favor these days. Microbreweries are popping up all over the Puget Sound region and many are catering to both pets and kids. And while many of these places serve a full menu, a number of them are strictly breweries which means they actually encourage you to bring in your own food (pass the Goldfish crackers!). If you love craft beer, but thought your days of visiting brewhouses were over, we’ve handpicked 20 spots where you can grab a pint with your pint-sized peeps.
photo: Brad R. via Yelp
Elliott Bay Brewing Company
If you walk in the doors of Elliott Bay Brewing Company around dinnertime, there will be no doubt in your mind that this is where beer-loving parents come to enjoy a pint – and you’ll love that Elliott Bay is pretty noisy, so they won’t be hushing your little ones through the entire meal. Ask to sit upstairs or in one of the booths along the edge of the brewery. The kids’ menu is tasty and the adult fare is a step above typical brewery grub, so come hungry. And now with three locations, it’s easier than ever to make this your new Friday night hangout!
West Seattle
4720 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle, Wa 98116
206-932-8695
Lake City Way
12537 Lake City Way N.E.
Seattle, Wa 98125
206-365-2337
Burien
255 S.W. 152nd
Burien, Wa 98166
206-246-4211
Online: elliottbaybrewing.com
Hale’s Ales
Tucked between the Fremont and Ballard neighborhoods, Hale’s Ales is always full of families, even during happy hour (weekdays from 3 p.m.–6 p.m.). Besides the tasty beers, we love Hale’s because they use as many local companies on their menu as possible. The brewery at Hale’s Ales also has a delicious weekend breakfast, so you can replace a pint with a hot cup of Zoka coffee! And throughout the year, they host a number of kid-friendly shows inside the Palladium. Cheers to that!
4301 Leary Way N.W.
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-782-0737
Online: halesbrewery.com
photo: The Pike Brewing Company
The Pike Brewing Company
Located close to the Pike Place Market, The Pike Brewing Company boasts a great menu for both kids and adults (think a healthier take on the traditional pub food fare) and of course, plenty of ales, lagers and more both on tap and in bottles. They also host live music and frequent guest beer brewers to give talks and workshops on a variety of different beer making topics. Plus, there are all kinds of cool bicycles and pieces of history decorating the walls to keep little eyes engaged. What’s there not to like about this place?
1415 First Ave.
Seattle, Wa 98101
206-622-6044
Online: pikebrewing.com
Populuxe Brewing
A popular Ballard nanobrewery, Populuxe threw its hat into the local brewery ring in March of 2013. It was launched by two home brewers who mastered the art of making award-winning stouts and IPAs before going brick-and-mortar. Operating out of an off-the-main-drag warehouse that happens to have an excellent fenced-in patio, Populuxe offers picnic tables, an all-ages corn hole court, awesome pinball and arcade games from the Seattle Pinball Museum and lots of room for kids to roam. Food trucks, like The Grilled Cheese Experience, also serve bites during business hours, so you won’t have to leave the premises to feed the fam.
826 N.W. 49th St.
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-706-3400
Online: populuxebrewing.com
Snoqualime Brewery and Taproom
Nothing pairs better with great beer than great food. And you’re sure to find plenty of both at this family-friendly brewery and restaurant in Snoqualmie, which can often be found full of families and kiddos enjoying a pint or two of delicious ale and root beer. It’s also the perfect pit stop if you’re coming back from a hike on I-90 or after visiting Snoqualime Falls.
8032 Falls Ave. S.E.
Snoqualmie, Wa 98065
425-831-2357
Online: fallsbrew.com
photo: Stephanie C. via Yelp
Naked City Taphouse & Brewery
Hearing your kiddos giggle about going to a place called “Naked City” is priceless – trust us! But sadly for them, Naked City Taphouse and Brewery is not actually clothing optional (which you should probably reiterated with your literal four-year old!). Greenwood families love popping in here for dinner or weekend lunch – despite a somewhat limited kids’ menu, all of the options are very thoughtful, including many vegetarian choices. Beer-lovers will appreciate their huge list of local beers, besides those they brew themselves. And families living up north will appreciate their Camano Island location.
8564 Greenwood Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-838-6299
848 N. Sunrise Blvd. E101-102
Camano Island, Wa 98282
Online: drink.nakedcity.beer
Stoup Brewing
We fell in love with the distinctive NW Red ale pre-parenthood, but thankfully, this Ballard brewery with a killer patio is perfectly hospitable to tiny tikes. Try one of the beergeek-approved brews, and procure a snack from the Stoup-er snack machine—a clever vending machine stocked with chips, nuts and even a few soda options—or visit for dinner to take advantage of the daily changing visiting food truck (they stay longer hours on the weekends). Find a seat near the kiddie corner and your tyke can crawl across the butcher paper while you sip.
1108 N.W. 52nd St.
Seattle, Wa98107
206-457-5524
Online: stoupbrewing.com
Redhook Brewlab
The Redhook Brewery has moved its operations a number of times over the company’s 35 years. Today, it goes by the name of Redhook Brewlab and is now located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The brewery is a test ground to experiment and create new small-batch beers primarily for the pub, and to develop recipes that will eventually come to life on a wider scale in Washington and beyond. In addition to a variety of creative beers on tap, Redhook Brewlab offers a specially curated menu featuring ingredients from local Seattle purveyors. So pull up a chair, bust out the crayons for your mini-me and enjoy!
714 E. Pike St.
Seattle, Wa 98122
Online: redhook.com
photo: Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden
Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden
Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden has been described as industrial, but also intimate with its 18-foot long community tables. Though the place says that they are “kid-, dog-, cat-, ferret-, rabbit- and iguana-friendly,” parents are still encouraged to supervise their kids at all times. Open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., parents will enjoy the dozen or so taps and ciders on hand while the kiddies sip on complimentary (housemade) cherry soda. Everyone can snack on the house pretzels and apples, and although food is not served here, you can bring in your own.
1050 N. 34th St.
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-420-2407
Online: fremontbrewing.com
Optimism Brewing Company
The place you frequented the most in your 20s isn’t necessarily the kind of place that would welcome you with kids in tow. But Optimism Brewing Company—a sprawling Capitol Hill brewery inside a renovated old auto showroom—is the sort of place cool enough for the old you, but warm and welcoming to you (and your dogs and offspring) now. Optimism’s creative craft beers are characterized by tasting notes rather than names, so go for the adjectives that draw you. If you’re hungry, order delivery right to the beer hall, or pick up some grub from one of the rotating food trucks in the courtyard. Either way, enjoy yourself while your little ones are running amok in the dedicated (enclosed) play space or playing board games.
1158 Broadway
Seattle, Wa 98122
206-651-5429
Online: optimismbrewing.com
Maritime Pacific Brewing Company
If you’ve got a pirate fanatic in your family (big or little) then the Jolly Roger Taproom at the Maritime Pacific Brewing Company is going to be your new favorite spot for a pint. Check out the vintage pirate flags draping the beams overhead and the treasure map painted on the floor. But the real treasure here is the delicious beer, with over 14 different taps to choose from. They also have a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks for those little buccaneers who aren’t quite old enough for grog.
1111 N.W. Ballard Way
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-782-6181
Online: maritimebrewery.com
photo: Jennifer J. via Yelp
Urban Family Brewing Co.
This small, craft brewery located in the Magnolia neighborhood has an eclectic focus on creating beer that often changes with the wind. While you may not see the same beer every time you visit, you will experience the same devotion to innovation and quality ingredients. If beer isn’t your thing, you might like to try a local cider, a non-alcoholic ginger beer or kombucha. Soda and apple juice are available for the kids and the pretzels are free of charge.
4441 26th Ave. W.
Seattle, Wa 98199
206-946-8533
Online: urbanfamilybrewing.com
Schooner Exact Brewing Co.
This SoDo brewery is a rare breed: equal parts awesome happy hour drink destination and family-friendly restaurant with really decent food options. The weekend brunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) is particularly great—get your mini-me the breakfast sandwich from the kids’ menu, while you chow down the hop-seasoned pork belly Benedict. Toys, books and coloring options (plus an awesome little train table) make the wait for food easy. As for drinks, try the seasonal Evergreen IPA or Emerald ISA for a taste of locally sourced hops and grains.
3901 1st Ave. S.
Seattle, Wa 98134
206-432-9734
Online: schoonerexact.com
Middleton Brewing Co.
It’s no surprise that the folks at Middleton Brewing Company are kid-friendly. In addition to creating their own “normal” beer, they are also known to brew up batches of beer made from Trix breakfast cereal and other similar fare. Located in the International Marketplace in South Everett, Middleton serves up their own signature pizzas including the Pizza Monster (served with a brown ale marinara), the BBQ Supreme (with smoked porter BBQ sauce) and Beer Cheese Pizza (with beer cheese soup used as the sauce). They also serve a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups and nachos; and kids can wash it all down with a bottle of Jones Soda.
607 S.E. Everett Mall Way, 27-A
Everett, Wa 98208
425-280-9178
Online: middletonbrewing.net
photo: Crucible Brewing via Yelp
Crucible Brewing
You can use Crucible Brewing as a reward stop after a long bike ride on the Interurban Trail. (Hint: there’s even a bike rack stationed in front). The place is kid- and dog-friendly, so Fido can even come too. However, the best time to try them out is on the weekends when they are regularly visited by food trucks on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
909 S.E. Everett Mall Way
Everett, Wa 98208
425-374-7293
Online: cruciblebrewing.com
At Large Brewing Company
Located in North Everett, At Large features 12 rotating taps and hard cider. Indoor and outdoor seating is available with a fantastic view of the bay. And while they don’t serve food here, you can bring your own. They also offer games of corn hole and shuffleboard and sports are always playing on the big screen. Add in plenty of free parking and what’s not to love about this place?
At Large Brewing Company
2730 W. Marine View Dr.
Everett, Wa 98201
425-324-0039
Online: atlargebrewing.com
The Lazy Boy Tap Room
The Lazy Boy Tap Room is located directly inside of the brewery offering you a real beer experience. While watching the brewers in action, you can enjoy a selection of 10 different Lazy Boy beers on tap including seasonal beers and specialty beers that are only available at the Tap Room. While they don’t have a kitchen at the Taproom (they are lazy after all), they do offer snacks such as popcorn and you are welcome to bring your own food to enjoy with your beer.
715 100 St. S.E., Suite A-1
Everett, Wa 98208
425-423-7700
Online: lazyboybrewing.com
photo: Richie D. via Yelp
McMenamins
Based in Oregon, McMenamins brewery and restaurants have already made a pretty big impression in the greater Seattle area. Each location is family-friendly, serves up delicious pub-style food and comes with a welcoming homey atmosphere. Most locations brew their beer right on the spot and offer brewery tours. However, each place is unique and has its own quirks too, so check ’em all out.
McMenamins Mill Creek
13300 Bothell-Everett, Hwy., #304
Mill Creek, Wa 98012
425-316-9817
mcmenamins.com/mill-creek
McMenamins Anderson School
18607 Bothell Way N.E.
Bothell, Wa 98011
425-398-0122
mcmenamins.com/anderson-school
McMenamins Six Arms
300 E. Pike St.
Seattle, Wa 98122
206-223-1698
mcmenamins.com/six-arms
McMenamins Queen Anne
200 Roy St., #105
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-285-4722
mcmenamins.com/queen-anne
McMenamins Spar Café
114 4th Ave. E.
Olympia, Wa 98501
360-357-6444
mcmenamins.com/spar-cafe
Chuck’s Hop Shop
Chuck’s Hop Shop may not be a brewery, but it makes our list for three reasons: 1. Chuck’s stocks 1,000 different bottles of beer and offers several on draft; 2. Both the Greenwood and Central District beer shop/neighborhood gathering spaces are typically packed with as many kids as adults on the weekends; and 3. There are scoops of Full Tilt ice cream for dessert. There may not be a lot of room for strollers, but there’s plenty of space to grab a table, drink a pint of cider, tuck into fish and chips from a local food truck and lick lemon marshmallow ice cream cones with the kiddos.
656 N.W. 85th St.
Seattle, Wa 98117
206-297-6212
Online: chucks85th.com
2001 E. Union St.
Seattle, Wa 98122
206-538-0743
Online: chuckscd.wordpress.com
Finnriver Farm & Cidery
OK, so it’s not technically a brewery. But this cidery on the Olympic Peninsula is absolutely worth the drive from Seattle, even with the tiniest of tykes. First, they make some seriously amazing cider (the dry-hopped cider will even convince the most ardent cider critics). Second, the space itself is a destination: there’s a fully functioning farm, a tasting room and even family-friendly music concerts on summer Sundays. Go when you have a whole weekend day to kill—you’ll want to enjoy at your leisure.
124 Center Rd.
Chimacum, Wa 98325
360-732-4337
Online: finnriver.com
Want to try your hand at brewing beer yourself? Bob’s Homebrew Supply (2821 N.E. 55th St., Seattle) is a super kid-friendly store where you can pick up your supplies. On the weekends, it is filled with families and the owners are always pleased to see kids in the shop.
Did we miss your favorite kid-friendly brewery? Spill in the comments below!
—Jeffrey Totey, Chelsea Lin, Sara Billups & Katie Kavulla
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