Going out looks different than it used to. Here are some answers to the burning questions that arise when we frequent the bars we love.

How much should I tip if it’s just a beer?

The classic rule of tipping a dollar per opened bottle or poured draft still holds up if you’re at a dive bar (a real one, see below). But it’s not exactly generous in a market where a local IPA might run you $8. Our new reality of encountering POS systems at the bakery or dry cleaners is often annoying, but in a bar this tech makes it easy to tip a straight percentage, whatever your drink order.

If you appreciate the bar—and the bartender—and can afford it, 20 percent is the move. Yes, this can make for a hefty bar tab, especially since drinking in Seattle isn’t cheap in the first place. And while beer on draft seems like a simple matter of pulling a lever, it’s a drink most of us can’t make at home. Consider your gratuity an acknowledgment of the work it takes to keep those tap lines clean.

Is tiki canceled?

Tiki in its classic form contains a lot of offense, from mugs that caricature Maori figures to an abundance of scantily clad Polynesian women. In other words, it’s rife with problems, especially in a progressive city with close ties to Hawaii (and a significant population with Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander heritage).

But the movement—especially its early-aughts revival—contains elements that appeal to discerning bartenders, like tropical flavors, elaborately garnished drinks, or general themes of escapism. A modern crop of local tiki, er, tropical bars attempt to redirect the good parts and ditch the rest.

When Chris Elford and Anu Apte opened Navy Strength in Belltown, they agreed on some modern tiki principles: no iconography and no objectification of island cultures. “Instead of the idealized version of places,” says Elford, “we can take real inspiration from real places and real people, and carry that inspiration into drinks and service.” He and Apte tweaked a few decor elements along the way after feedback from Pacific Islander friends. Inside Passage on Capitol Hill swaps Polynesian motifs for Northwest themes, complete with a giant octopus writhing overhead. Who needs Brady Bunch–style tiki idols when you can drink from a mug shaped like an anglerfish? 

Can a new bar call itself a dive?

Not a self-respecting new bar. Dive status, like respect, retirement funds, or rippling abs, is something that must be earned. There’s no set metric for age, either. The guys behind Dim Lights and Stiff Drinks, a podcast about Seattle dive bars, are four seasons in and still debating the term’s definitive qualities. The biggest one, says cohost Jeromy Rew, is a rich history. Spots like the Eastlake Zoo or the Waterwheel Lounge that have lasted half a century or more? Unequivocal dives. But Linda’s Tavern opened in 1994 and earned its sticky-floored stripes with relative speed. It’s kind of a Velveteen Rabbit situation, but with pull tabs. 

Rew’s fellow host, Lou Olay has another criterion: “They haven’t followed any trends.” If a bar remodels to look more like a dive…it’s definitely not a dive. But what do we call bars that haven’t yet achieved dive status? Until the English language develops new vernacular to fill this woeful gap, the term neo-dive can suffice.

What are the best bars for dogs?

Canine owners might clamor for intel on which bars allow pets, but the official answer is: it’s complicated. Thanks to 2023 changes in public health guidelines, bars, taprooms, and restaurants can allow dogs on patios, as long as the business has submitted an “approved plan” to the health department. A highly informal survey indicates owners are less likely to jump through the paperwork hoops than they are to just look the other way, assuming everyone can be cool about it (especially the dogs). That is, until the health inspector comes by with an official warning.

Given all the gray area, it’s a good idea to call and check before you roll in with Sherlock Bones and his portable water bowl. You can also consult sites like bringfido.com or seek out an off-leash dog establishment that serves beer, like Growlerz in Columbia City.