4. Restaurants

Altstadt Bierhalle & Brathaus

209 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98108
  • (206) 602-6442
  • Store is closed

Altstadt Bierhalle & Brathaus Menu

  • Wurst
  • Beilagen
  • Platten
  • Tagesgerichte
  • Nachtische
  • Essen
  • Fassbier
  • Hauswein

Healthy Meal suggestions for Altstadt Bierhalle & Brathaus

  • Wurst
  • Beilagen
  • Platten
  • Tagesgerichte
  • Nachtische
  • Essen
  • Fassbier
  • Hauswein

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Liz L.

    Two words. Curried Sausage. Service was great, drinks were delicious and I have never had curried sausage before but now I'm sad that all sausage isn't presented to me in a wonderful curry sauce.

    (4)

  • Mike V.

    The beer was solid, like you'd expect, and the food was pretty good. The service was slow and rude. Came here after a Mariners game in the middle of the day and the place was practically empty. After our initial beer order we had to flag down the waiter to get anything else, and when we did he gave us a look like we were putting him out. One of our party had asked to order something he'd had on his last visit, and instead of helping him remember what he had our waiter tossed a menu at him and came back after a long wait. Sorry to bug you, next time we'll go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Cassie D.

    This place rocks!! We came here after an auction at Safeco Field and has some beer, brats, and pretzels. This is some of the best authentic German food I have ever had. They must sprinkle tiny flecks of sunshine dust and love into their mustard because it is the most amazing condiment that has ever been made. We got a Boot of beer ($32 for the beer we had), a Brat (can't remember which one but it came with sauerkraut which rocked my world), potatoes and two kinds of mustard. We also got the pretzels with fondue which also changed my life. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Dirk Z.

    I am so disappointed. Don't get me wrong. The atmosphere and music and all is pretty good but there are just too many things that are wrong. If you want to be an authentic German restaurant with good German food you have to do better. Fries cold and too salty. The Frankfurter Schnitzel herb source tasted like nothing. The Sauerkraut didn't look like much and tasted bad. After ordering Jaegerschnitzel they told us only 15 min later that they ran out of mushrooms. They had only one waiter for the whole floor on a Saturday night at 8 pm. The Radler out of the bottle was a can of beer. The Kölsch was good though. But I don't get why there is no Alt beer in an Altstadt restaurant. Hope they take this feedback and constructive criticism and change it up.

    (2)

  • Claire M.

    Solid after-work happy-hour locale for anyone who works in the Pioneer Square area. I've been with friends and coworkers several times this summer around 5 or 5:30 on a weeknight, and there's always room for a group of us at one of the long tables. I like that the front of the bar is open air, with a little patio - it makes it feel lighter on the inside, despite the fact that there are no windows toward the back. Happy Hour prices are good if not particularly great discounts - $2 off each liter/$1 off each half liter.

    (4)

  • Rebekah T.

    While in Seattle, I found this German bierhalle and we decided to stop in for a lunch time brew. We try to make the most of his work breaks while away on business for him and vacation for me. This place is beautiful. The design and use of wood is comfortable, sleek and very nice to hang out. We decided to hit the bar and order up a couple beers. My guy ordered the Bitburger in pint size (I didn't want to do the math in conversion), I ordered the Reisdorf Kolsch. I was given a nice frosty mug that was so cold that it froze my beer suds on top. Somewhat like a beer icy, complete winner. LOVED the place and the service. I would have rated it 5 stars, but feel that I will need to come back to try the food. GREAT Place!

    (4)

  • Jonie N.

    Disclaimer: review is for food only, no beer/drinks. I came here for lunch with my fiancé on a Sunday afternoon because we happened to park right outside (we were going to London Plane for flowers) and thought it looked interesting and beautiful inside. We thought we'd give it a try since we don't eat brats or German food often (actually, only when we're in Leavenworth, haha). We tried the bratwurst (pork and veal), $12 and the knackwurst (beef and garlic), $13. The bratwurst was juicy and well seasoned, and the knackwurst was a little more dense and dry. I'd stick with the bratwurst. Each sausage comes with fries, mustard seeds and two kinds of sauerkraut.. but the sausage is small while you get huge portions of everything else! We wish it was the other way around - more meat and less potatoes and cabbage. The food was good though, including the mountain of fries! just not really worth it for what you pay. I guess it was worth the try though, but we probably won't be back.

    (3)

  • John V.

    Came here to have pints with a friend of mine. The beer selection is really very good and in classic German fashion... LITERS!! I had a couple of finger foods off of the menu, that were tasty. I would certainly come here again... it's in a good location and the bar staff were super friendly.

    (4)

  • Seneca G.

    Stopped by after the Sounders match the other night and grabbed a table for a beer and a bite to eat. The draft beer selection is pretty good for German beers, not quite as extensive as some places around the city, but good enough that if you like traditional styles you can find something to suit your taste. The food was pretty good, we ordered the Knackwurst (beef & garlic) and the Entewurst (duck). They brought us the Bratwurst (pork & veal) instead of the knackwurst, but the service was so great that they said they'd give us the brat and cook up what we had ordered. Usually places just take it away, so kudos for them to offer it up. I'm glad we still got the knackwurst, though, because of the three sausages we tried it was the best flavor and the juiciest. The brat tasted like it had too many 'brewer' spices for my taste and the duck had a nice flavor but was pretty dry. I'd definitely go back and spilt the knackwurst and something off of their starter menu to make a full meal out of it. The real star here, though, was the excellent service. It's a beer hall, usually I don't expect too much. Maybe they refill your water, maybe they don't. Maybe they check-in about the food, maybe they don't. Well here at Alstadt, they did all of that and more. At one point a group came in and asked if we'd move to a smaller table. We were just about finished and said they could have it when we settled the tab. Our waiter asked us about their question and said that we could stay as long as we wanted and told the group that if they want the table they'll have to wait until we're done. It felt like the staff was really advocating to make sure we had the best experience possible, and in my book that goes a long way! Would come back if I'm in the area for a game and looking for something to eat, or just need a liter of good, German beer.

    (4)

  • Animesh H.

    Pretty solid pretzel and fries. Beer was plentiful and pretty good, lots of selection to go around. Didn't try anything else, but I'd definitely go with the pretzel if you come here.

    (4)

  • Toni Rose D.

    The ambiance was very warm and cozy. It was very trendy and a great bar to go to watch a game and be able to talk to people you're with. It was a bit pricey. The fried apple strudel was delicious, however. $7 and worth every penny, I think. This place is also a family place; I saw a kid there with his parents. You do get stamped on your right wrist when you come in. It's nothing great, but not too bad either.

    (3)

  • Zachary l.

    New to seattle not to german food, I have been all over Germany! Great beers in great sizes and stellar music!!! AMAZING and I mean F-ing amazing food. In a touristy spot but far from it, full of soul. Das boot, kraut, fast fun servers hell yeah I'll be back. See you folks soon!

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    Good beer and good food! Kasespaetzle was delicious. Please write down our orders if you can't remember it though - it was super disappointing to not receive a third of what we ordered. And no water refills really sucks.

    (3)

  • Jesse E.

    This place is great if you like sitting for 45 minutes in a nearly deserted bar and not even having a waitress (of the maybe 4 on duty) acknowledge you.

    (1)

  • Molly H.

    Love the new brunch!!! It's not your typical menu but some great savory and sweet options!!!

    (4)

  • Steve L.

    A quick yet perfect step into Bavaria. Atmosphere, food (try the schnitzel!), service and most of all the great selection of German beer all make this a worthwhile stop.

    (4)

  • Lauree C.

    This is a fun spot to check out a Hawks game if you like enthusiastic crowds but also a little space. The location is ideal for joining in the celebration after the C-Link field empties out onto the streets! The great thing about Altstadt is that they don't ram the place completely full on game days even though they could. They have a pretty strict one-in-one-out policy once the place fills which keeps the crowd at a great level where you can always see a screen. This means good service too and you don't have to shimmy your way through a packed room! However, because capacity is kept low, come early or you will be hanging out outside. Great beer selection that you can order in ridiculous sizes. Bring on the 2 liter! The brat dishes are filling and delicious. Everything you would expect from a German Bar.

    (4)

  • Kirk N.

    "Best pretzel in town." - My wife "Great cheese and charcuterie." - My homie "DAS BOOT!" - Me "Lucas is an invaluable asset to Altstadt." - Me We went for the Women's World Cup Final USA vs. JAPAN. It was pretty busy but everything was going just perfect. Until, some how my menu that I had feverishly been scribbling notes on about an up coming business venture with my previously mentioned friend disappeared from our table. I became kind of frantic. I asked to dig through their trash to look for it. They politely humored me. When I did not find it in the trash we started going from table to table looking at the menus. No one could find it. Lucas was our server and had been doing a stellar job serving us up to the point of this tragedy occurring. When all of the sudden I see Lucas with a big smile on his face, proudly carrying the menu I was so desperately searching for. I could not have been happier. Talk about going "ABOVE AND BEYOND" the call of duty with his service. What a professional! Altstadt is now my "GO TO" spot in Pioneer Square. BIG thanks to Lucas!

    (5)

  • Morgan R.

    Beer and bratwursts - many varieties Though a bit pricey, the brats are good, the atmosphere very pleasant and a little sophisticated, and the service is excellent. I had a standard bratwurst and an Anthem hard cider, my pal had a beer and a brat. We were both very happy with what arrived.

    (4)

  • Jen Y.

    I've been here before for beer and it was okay. But I came here for lunch a few months ago and it was ridiculously overpriced and I still left hungry. $17 for a lunch entree käsespätzle (with bacon) is a little pricey but hey, I wasn't paying and I like käsespätzle . Wrong! Turns out it was not actually a lunch entree but more like an appetizer. The side dish it came with was even larger than it. Which may have been more forgivable if it wasn't the worst käsespätzle I've had in the state. My lunch companions, who can eat me under the table, left even hungrier than I was. Thankfully Seattle has several other good options for German pubs if I really need to get my fix.

    (2)

  • Christian K.

    Not recommended for food. Schnitzel was overcooked. Spaetzle super small and too expensive. Great for just beers.

    (1)

  • Jim O.

    Great spot and beer selection. It's hot and cramped, but we drank outside. The bartender was on the unfriendly side. I get that you're busy dude, either suck it up or change jobs.

    (4)

  • Monique B.

    We enjoyed this place so much that we stopped in TWICE on our most recent visit to Seattle! They have a decent selection of German beers and you can order 1/3, 1/2, full & 2L servings of their on-tap menu. If you order the 2L you can opt to take home a souvenir boot, but alas, it's a plastic one - not glass. We enjoyed a couple of drinks and found our waitress to be very helpful in making selections. She asked what types of beers those unfamiliar with the German offerings liked and recommended based on similar taste profiles. The food that we ordered was decent. Both my companions had wurst platters, which were huge, and said that they were very tasty. I had the käsespätzle with bacon and found it to be both filling and delicious. My order came with a side of red cabbage salad, which was also very tasty, and which I was quite glad for after all those cheesy carbs! The bar itself is a very open space with lots of long tables, good for sharing when it's busy. On our second visit we made friends with some fellow Vancouver soccer fans and joined them at their table for much drunken toasting and sports-talk. I would definitely recommend this joint for a larger group event.

    (4)

  • Connor A.

    Beers and brats. The prices are a little steep but they have a good selection of German beers and a nice layout. Very spacious and the staff are nice.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    Only been here for drinks after a Sounders game- so I need to come back and try the food. The menu looks very good and meat heavy (German Beer Hall- go figure)- and it does look a little spendy ($15-$17 for sausage plates). I ordered a liter of Saison Dupont- one of my all time favorite beers. Not cheap at $22 for a liter- but where else can you get a liter of it at a time instead of the flimsy snifter type glasses that bars insist on serving good beer in these days?

    (4)

  • Maggie D.

    A disappointment! Food was mediocre and maybe verging on bad compared to Von traps/ Reinhaus. Service wasn't super fast but they were nice, and the food took at least 30 mins to get the first 2 HH dishes and another 15 for everything else.

    (2)

  • Rob J.

    Popped in to watch a bit of baseball. We sat at the bar, the bartender was friendly and the beers were well priced. Awesome atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Jeff H.

    So on a weekend trip to Seattle with my girlfriend, we stopped in here later in the evening on the way back to the hotel room. I was almost immediately put off by the bartender copping an attitude, telling me they were close to closing, and dictating what I ordered to drink. Not wanting to make a scene, I ordered another type of German lager, in a smaller amount. When served, we took our drinks over to a long wood table and benches and enjoyed. I have to say; the beer was fantastic. I loved every drop of it. And at one point, the bartender came over, asked how we were doing, and then said, "I'm sorry if I seemed abrupt. You ordered a beer with a very high BAC content, and I was afraid you wouldn't have time to finish it before we had to shut down. Come back tomorrow, and I'll serve whatever you want." So in retrospect, it was kind of uncool that he wanted to get out on time and limited my drink order, but on the other hand, I can understand why a guy wouldn't want someone hanging out for two or three hours after closing time, or argue over lost beer during closing time, when it's just a weekday night. So I intend to go back. Mostly because the beer was fabulous, but also, because I want to give the staff there a chance to make me feel welcome, after I imposed on them before at such a late hour.

    (4)

  • Maren H.

    There is something kinda fun, old westy funky about this place I just love the atmosphere. My friend and I stumbled upon this place and decided to stop in. We were only able to sample a pretzel (which was good) and we had beer and wine. Our bartender was funky and fun and so aware we never had to wait for another drink. It was great. I highly recommend this place, and plan to come back to sample some of the food that looked delicious!

    (4)

  • Steve C.

    A cool place to stop in Pioneer Square before a game. There is a good selection of beer, and kudos for having beer all the way from the midwest on tap. The kolsch was nice and cold, and served in a frosty mug. The inside feels open and airy but is still inviting. The staff are very friendly and engaging, full of personal stories and conversation starters. I will be back for sure to try the food.

    (4)

  • Taylor B.

    Not even 1 star. We ordered an IPA and they said they had something similar...they didn't it was some crappy beer. Then we ordered a Jameson and ginger, to which the server brought whiskey coke...then we go to the bar and find out they didn't have Jameson...if you don't have things don't tell customers you do. It's fine but it would be nice to be informed also since we had a group for a birthday and people from out of town here for the Mariners game. Ended up going to Pyramid instead.

    (1)

  • Deborah J.

    I really liked the atmosphere and space at Altstadt. We were lucky enough to snag a table after a Sounders game, but shortly thereafter a lot of people standing around. Large beer selection but a little pricey in my opinion. Service was friendly and decent for how busy it was. We didn't eat on this visit so I can't comment on the food.

    (4)

  • Rachel H.

    Now this is MY idea of a sport bar. Best place, hands down, to watch the World Cup. As a Pioneer Square gentrification fan, its taken me an surprisingly long while to get to Alstadt. I probably delayed due to the tepid Yelp reviews along with the news that Hitchcock impressario, Brendan McGill left his partnership here within months of opening. Based on the swirl of news, I had to wonder why after such anticipation, Alstadt had not lived up to expectations. But yesterday, our visit visit there, watching the Uruguay vs. Costa Rica match and enjoying a good sommer salad (light dill dressing, cabbage, apple and hazelnuts) a bratwurst and some spetzel, alongside some good beer in a fantastic space, I couldn't help but wonder why such a great spot isn't more crowded on a Saturday afternoon. Altstadt really offers a setting that's not easy to find right now in Seattle. First off, you get that German bierhouse feel with long hardwood tables, chandeliers and mounted jackalope. Alstadt manages to channel a relatively upscale sports bar with its flat screen TVs tuned to the World Cup or NBA playoffs. This is not your frat-type sport bar, but an urban and adult feeling sports bar, that was sorely needed in Seattle. The slightly thrilling thing is, this place is also family friendly. We had some very good food here: spetzel, a sommer salad (light dill dressing, cabbage, apple and toasted hazelnuts) and bratwurst and excellent fries alongside a good homemade sauerkraut. About my only gripe foodwise was pairing a nice sausage alongside good looking grainy-mustard that, for some reason was far too mild. I'd love to see them add some heat and zing to elevate the sauces here. The bread served with our meal was a classic brown German pumpernickel, but sadly it was a meh! The crust was far too tough. Still, the food is very good here, and roll in the atmosphere and very cordial host (we were served by the knowledgeable Lex Petras) I"m surprised this place is not more packed in. This is a great spot and reminds me of a classic bierhall you might come across in Prenzlauer Berg or Mitte, on a quiet tree lined street full of happy patrons. Prost!

    (4)

  • Jonelle T.

    Popped in here for happy hour a few weeks ago and had a great time! The place is reminiscent of Brave Horse, with large wood tables and benches for communal seating, which was perfect for our party of 10 or so. Awesome beer selection and my Radler was super refreshing. Will definitely be back. Tip: ask for the grapefruit Radler in a mug with a shot of tequila.

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    Wow! I walked in randomly while walking down the street looking for a good bar that had food and I got SERIOUSLY lucky! The atmosphere looked cool and there was a seat at the bar and that was enough to draw me in. I read the menu and had no clue what I was supposed to order so asked the bartender what to get and he said the pork belly was their specialty, so that's what I got. FANTASTIC! I kind of want to order another one, but I'm already going fat and my wife might not love me anymore of I do. It's a brick building with wood floors so it gets a little loud, but that's not necessarily a bad thing unless you bring the parentals and they are commies who don't drink/have fun. Needless to say, the next time I'm in Seattle I will find my way back here to eat again.

    (5)

  • Arthur K.

    A group of friends and I came here to check out the new spot. I got one of my favorite beers the Ayinger Celebrator which they had for about $7. I also got the curry wurst to accompany it. It was alright. I just went to Germany a few months before and developed an appreciation for it. I don't understand why curry ketchup is not more popular in the US, but I digress. To finish off our trip here, we ordered some dessert. Vanilla Bavarian creme was awesome. It had a great custard feel and amazing vanilla flavor. I highly recommend you get this here. The service was friendly and the food came out relatively quickly. I just don't know how well this place will do in Pioneer Square. It's a spot that belongs on Cap Hill. I'll stop by again to try some other items on the menu, but I wasn't to impressed with the curry wurst.

    (3)

  • Annie P.

    I LOVED this place. I ordered the cheese plate and the pretzel with mustard and fondue and everything was fantastic. I've ordered many a cheese plate in my day, but never one as huge as Altstadt's! For $15 I had 5 HUGE chunks of cheese, a spiced pear puree, and caraway crackers. I am a disgusting cheese-fueled monster, but even this was too much for me to finish. As for the pretzel, it was freshly made, soft and gooey, and the cheese sauce that accompanied it was some of the best I've tried. I loved it all.

    (4)

  • Laura A.

    Highly recommend. I organized a group booking for 26 people, and had to find a restaurant in Seattle that would accommodate such a group, plus allergy precautions. I organize a lot of events, and seldom get a restaurant that is willing to accommodate the above with ease. Megan the manager was a pleasure to deal with, and was very accommodating. Timely communication made the process very easy, as there was no time wasted trying to chase them up for unanswered emails. I would highly recommend using this restaurant for group bookings as they take the stress out of it. Thanks again, you guys made the event excellent.

    (5)

  • marie b.

    Stopped in for lunch. Was recommended by a local bartender. Started with a good Old Fashioned cocktail. The special was pork cutlet with fries, and both were super. I'm glad I split the dish, as it was a large portion. For dessert we split a tremendous apple strudel with whipped cream. Yum! Great place to go if you want a good beer,cocktail or German food.

    (4)

  • Patrick R.

    The beer and brats were good but watch the automatically added 18% gratuity. The service was slow desire it not being busy. Tips should be earned not entitled.

    (3)

  • Cate B.

    Nice bar with surprisingly good food. We weren't expecting much from bar food but everything was great! Try the kale salad and the apple strudel for sure. The french fries were perfectly crispy and salty. The beer selection was good and service was quick. We brought our baby (called ahead and they said it's all ages until 9pm) and he fit in fine. We were there during happy hour and there were some good specials and discounts on beer and wine. We'll be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Stef M.

    Stopped by tonight and enjoyed some beer and snacks. I tried a Staropramen lager, which went well with the currywurst, beer and brezel. So the first thing on the menu is wurst: sausage. You can get it as currywurst for like $1 extra, where it comes in a somewhat sweet curry sauce - if you're thinking "Indian food" curry sauce, think again - it's more like a curry gravy, and it's delicious. It's got little meaty bits in, which is great. Clearly not the canned curry ketchup most places would sell to you as currywurst. The wurst comes on a plate with a couple different types of mustard, crispy frites, a piece of volkornbrot (dense, seedy and thinly-sliced German rye bread) and some sauerkraut. You have your choice of classic or raw-fermented sauerkraut as well. You can see huge fermentation crocks lining the wall near the kitchen which seems to be where they're fermenting at least some of their sauerkraut, and it's REALLY good. So I would recommend that. One of the two mustards offered with the plate was good, the other one had big chunks of mustard seed in it - which I usually like - but tasted like mothballs (EW) so I avoided that. Not sure what the flavor is there, but it was not pleasant. Next section: sides! ("beilagen"): I tried the brezel (pretzel) and enjoyed it even though the outside was MUCH crunchier than any pretzel I've had in Germany or elsewhere. Perhaps it was left in the lye mixture too long, or the mixture is too strong? It was delicious otherwise, with a warm bready interior. It also comes with a great sweet-spicy mustard. The menu mentions that you get a "choice of mustard" with it, but we weren't offered a choice. Here in Seattle my favorite pretzel is at Bravehorse Tavern, and it still beats Altstadt's, in my opinion. But it's a close, and delicious, race. Draft beer list was good - I tried the Staropramen lager, Aktien landbier, and a glass of the house red, which was served a little bit warm but was still good. All the beers were served in eerily-appropriate glasses (not just the right shape - the right shape AND logo on the glass!) and were ice cold. Literally. One of our beers actually had crystals of ice floating around due to the frosted glass + cold beer. They need to offer a happy hour, it was pretty dead when we showed up around 5:30 on a Friday! I bet it will be a madhouse before Sounders and Seahwaks games, though. I was surprised by the large amount of unused space near the front of the place - there's a nice area that looks like it will be open in good weather with maybe a few tables on the sidewalk area, but there's just a bunch of open space there now. Kind of weird! So give it a try. Good beers, good German-style food, and really great raw sauerkraut. I'm a fan!

    (4)

  • Charles F.

    AVOID! had quite a miserable time here. bland food, - not quite sure what the connection was with Germany having lived there for 5 years. didnt have the beer we wanted - that was on tap - whatever - but above all the service, and reason i was moved to write this, was horrible. really horrible. slow and rude. felt really intimidated trying to get the waitresses' attention so we could settle the tab - patiently 15 minutes later after she gave us a dirty look and continued chatting up her man friend we got the bill through a different waiter. felt horrible not something you want before going to see the baseball.

    (1)

  • Natalie G.

    ***UPDATE*** Thanks for the comment, but I know all those beers the first 5-6 on the tap list did not have a type. Good to know it is from light to dark but that was never explained to me. Our waitress described one beer as a little darker than a lager she guessed. I wasn't sure what 100 grams was for the sausage a better description would have helped. Also when I asked for a specific beer and got another that wasn't quite what I wanted I shouldn't have got it in the first place. I know I can send it back but if that was my only option I had given up at that point. We have been to Germany twice I know my German beers and food... I was disappointed that this wasn't an awesome German restaurant. Oh Altstadt... I really really wanted to like you... The ambiance is cool, although a little small. Think lots of wood. Food was good not very much choice, and the sausage plates only included one sausage... on the menu it says 100g of sausage. That sounds like a decent amount right? At least two sausages I thought. Nope only one. On a plus side the kraut and fries were good! Now on to the beer menu. There are a lot of brands listed but not the type of beer, and our waitress is clueless. Please please add type of beer so we actually know what we are getting... It was nice they offered tasters of beer but that would have been unnecessary if the menu included what type of beer they had. For my second beer I asked for a hefenweizen what I received was not what I had asked for... very disappointed.

    (2)

  • Luchenzo D.

    WARNING: THIS PLACE IS USING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND THE METRIC SYSTEM TO TRICK YOU INTO OVERPAYING! More on that later. This is a great place to go if you like a boisterous atmosphere. It's a great, open layout with old, wood & brick tavern decor. Perfect for larger groups or simply being social. Service was friendly and efficient. For me, this is enough to return for a happy hour beer when I'm in the area someday. But this could never be a place I frequent. The food and drink are overpriced and the food is especially unsatisfying. The German/Bavarian beer selections are nice (shout out to Washington's own Alpine brewing for a delicious Marzen), and are served in delightfully fun, large glasses - you can even get a 2L boot! - but at $7 minimum and only $1 off at happy hour that's not exactly the price point I look at for session drinking. Guys, a .5L beer is only about 1oz. more than your average pint! Don't let the metric system fool you! And the wurst! 100g of sausage is less meat than a quarter pounder at McDonald's! And it doesn't even come with a bun! You have to pay $2 more if you want to add a mini BAGUETTE to your meal. If you asked me what type of bread is the least suited for holding a circular meat log, it's a stiff baguette. I think we can all agree here. Why not a pretzel bun? Pretzels buns are a huge fad right now and they come from this area of the world! You can get pretzel buns in the form of pork schnitzel sliders, which are found only on the happy hour menu. They are also small and $9, with no fries (sorry, frites). This leads to my final complaint: The happy hour menu provides no real value in the food options. It's decent food, but not too good to pass up. In summation: If you aren't as frugal as me, drink some beer here.

    (2)

  • David W.

    Worst German food I've ever eaten. Bland meats, dreadful "homemade" mustard, over cooked french fries, and stale tasteless pumpernickel bread. The sauerkraut was miserable with a questionable cole slaw on the other side of the plate. The service was worse. Ambience was loud, over priced with good though expensive German beer.

    (1)

  • Hannah Hall L.

    I am a beer fanatic and I love this place! It has a huge selection of German beers in a cool indoor ambience that is very German - huge family style wooden tables to share. I would suggest my favorite pilsner beer - the Bitburger. The staff is very friendly and it is a great spot to meet new friends. I am only a tourist but felt very welcomed here! I can recommend this place for a drink and for anyone that wants to have a German style atmosphere. I cannot recommend food since I didn't order any, but the menu looked authentic and I definitely plan on going back for some eats.

    (5)

  • Dan L.

    I only ordered one thing, DAS BOOT.

    (3)

  • Chris V.

    I came in for Happy Hour one night and sat at the bar since I wasn't getting waited on at one of the tables. The bartender was very friendly and helpful though. The food menu had a few items that looked interesting so I tried the Bierocks which I enjoyed and was impressed with the fact they make all their food in house from scratch. They make the best sweet mustard I've ever had including in Germany. The bratwurst on the menu with good and the sauerkraut was excellent. The beer selection is OK but with all the German restaurants now in Seattle, nothing special. I like that it's convenient for me in Pioneer Square. But the Rhein Haus on Capital Hill is much better and has my voter as a better place for a genuine German beer hall experience with a much nicer and more authentic interior.

    (3)

  • Nick H.

    Altstadt is the perfect place to stop before a Sounders game. It gets crowded, so just belly up to the bar, order your authentic imported German beer and find an out-of-the-way spot to enjoy your prefunc. I can't wait to come back and try their house-made sausages!

    (5)

  • Bryson S.

    Fantastic! The drinks and beer selections are great. The bartender had a great demeanor and never let our glasses get dry. We had just eaten, but the food I saw looked good. They make their own kraut and I want to comeback and literally have a sausagefest. TL:DR - great beer and great service. And the bartender is also really hot.

    (5)

  • Jared B.

    This review is bar only. Umlauts and consonants oh my. The beer menu is fairly large, which is great for people who like to explore a variety of flavors. Unfortunately Altstadt has neglected to give any information about the beers they serve other than name and price, which can make it hard to pick if you want to narrow it down and still look like you know what you are doing in front of a date. The happy hour selection was abysmal- two whole beers. The bartenders are knowledgeable about what they serve and are very friendly, and they also gave us glasses of water without asking for it, which me and my liver both were grateful for. The bar is a beerhall layout, a vauge european feel is pulled off without feeling pretentious, Altstadt is a great place to hang out and chat with strangers and friends alike.

    (4)

  • Hillarie S.

    Service is a bit slow, but they are not lacking in the looks dept. GREAT BEER, GREAT FOOD, no need to rush your meal if you can help it :) 2 dudes at the table ordered the bratwurst and knackwurst and LOVED IT and my and my sister split the schnitzel thing that was like Mac n cheese and that was INSANE. AHMAZING. LOVETHISPLACE.com

    (4)

  • PfionaB W.

    Maybe this is a good place to hang out with a bunch of people and drink, but to just go there for a meal, it's not very good. Certainly not authentic German food. It was pricey and skimpy and took way too long to be served. The wurst was very loose and gristley, not good quality. The sauerkraut was not pickled long enough and the beets not made traditionally. Don't come here expecting an authentic German experience. This is just a hipstered up pale version of what they think German food is.

    (2)

  • Tyler L.

    I prefer the beer and food selections as well as atmosphere of some of the beer halls in Capital Hill, but Altstadt is pretty good. The beer menu isn't huge, but there are some good German beers and a few harder to find ones on tap. Good marzen and wheat selection. Considering the city's propensity for hopped up beer, it's nice to have some malty selections here. Food was a bit pricey for the size. The atmosphere is fairly Teutonic, but a bit dark.

    (4)

  • Yang C.

    Went here to meet up with a friend, place was pretty empty given that it was Saturday night. Beer list is certainly extensive and wait staff was kind enough to point me in the right direction of a great beer. Prices are reasonable and atmosphere even though a bit quiet, was good. Wouldn't hesitate to go back in for a drink.

    (4)

  • Deb R.

    If you like cured and/or cased meats, this is your place people. Altstadt does wurst right- everything from the intensely yummy mustard that accompanies it to the extremely fresh and sharp bed of sauerkraut. Today I had a plate of cured meats that was fabulous included a piece of pheasant that was pretty much nirvana. A long and unpronounceable but excellent beer list accompanies, and I highly recommend the dry basque-style cider. Plus, its a lovely, low-key vibe to hang out in for lunch. Totally recommend.

    (4)

  • Tina H.

    Love love love this place! I lived in Germany for 3 years and I am always looking for restaurants were I can reminisce. The sauerkraut here is amazing!! They also have a great beer selection and delicious pretzels....plus it's super cute inside!

    (4)

  • Penny B.

    Great little hideaway with very accommodating staff, fabulous French fries, and a vegetarian option sausage that was pretty darn good!

    (5)

  • Erich K.

    I never would have noticed this place if I had not been walking by on foot one day, and if not for the "Bitburger" umbrella outside. Being born and raised in the Eifel region of Germany (a South-western area that has deep hunting traditions and where Bitburger beer is in no short supply), naturally, I couldn't help but wander in. What greeted me was one of the most traditional looking beer halls I have ever seen in the United States. Almost everything was made of wood, and there were only a handful of tables to the side, flanking one large long table in the center, filled with people and demanding a social atmosphere; something that Americans don't have very much, but Altstadt obviously knows exists in the Old Country. The beer list is impressive, and when I looked to see if I could get a 16oz Bitburger, I was absolutely delighted to find that I could buy it by the liter. Well, after getting an entire liter of beer served to my table, I was pretty much set for the evening, so I ordered some grub. The price/portion ratio of the food was a bit disappointing, as all you receive is a single wurst of your choosing on a bed of fries accompanied with sauerkraut. It was good and wholesome, but I would expect two sausages for the price. Not as traditionally laid out as I had expected upon walking in, but still delicious. Service was a bit slow, but both servers who tended to me were a delight and made my experience fun and comfortable. I can't bring myself to give this place any less than five stars, if anything for the beer and atmosphere. I would close my eyes and feel like I was back home during a fest of some sort, and it almost brought a tear to my eye. Nothing compares to the real deal German experience, but Altstadt comes pretty damn close.

    (5)

  • J L.

    The first time we came here, we were wandering around near Pioneer Square on a Monday night looking for something to do. We happened to walk by and spot their sandwich board which had Pork belly as their daily special which we could not pass up. The place is set up with picnic tables through out, two long-table benches, a full bar and large casks used as tables scattered through out for smaller groups. Very cozy! We shared the pork belly as we were on more of a drinking mission and it was delightful. So soft and juicy, it's one of the best we've ever had. It was accompanied by the delicious handmade dumplings, grainy mustard and braised cabbage. It was fantastic! The next time we were in town, we came in twice in one day! Before and after the Seahawks game and shared a pretzel and a bratwurst platter as they no longer had the pork belly. Both were wonderful. The beer is worth mentioning as their is quite the selection and almost everything is served in a chilled stein glass.

    (5)

  • Shannon R.

    Went here tonight with a couple friends and felt like I was in another country. The entire menu needs interpretation. My German's a little rusty. Farm to table. Friendly service. Some communal seating. The knack worst was dark on the outside and bright pink in the middle. All the sausages come with two kinds of kraut, two whole grain mustards, frites and a piece of dark nutty rye. Down a couple German beers before you start and the worst might just become the best you've ever had. Ich liebe dich Deutschland. Thanks for coming to Seattle!

    (4)

  • Erica L.

    We stopped in here while on a Bite of Seattle food tour, we sampled some of their house made soft pretzels with a couple different house made mustards on the side as well as a couple of beers. We were so impressed that after the food tour ended a few blocks away we went back to grab some more drinks and food! We sat outside, which was perfect as the Sounders game was just getting out and it was a prime people watching location. The inside is perfect for mingling or watching the game. Our fave plate that we got was the metzgerei teller, which is German for freaking delicious cured meats. I'm weird about the texture of fat on most meats, but the fat on this meat just melted in your mouth. I kind of want to gag typing that, but it was so good! The beer selection is fantastic, German imports and local brews. My husband loved that they had the 1L glasses. We ordered the bacon/apple jam-filled donuts but it was crazy busy (the post-game crowd had made its way in) and our waiter ended up forgetting. He felt bad about it and went back to get them but we told him not to worry about it. We'll definitely be back at some point to test them out!

    (4)

  • DeAnne E.

    I was looking for a fun experience but I didn't get that German beer hall type of excitement. Maybe it was because I was there during the work week. Nobody greeted me when I entered. I walked around aimlessly until I noticed menus on top of a barrel. The menu wasn't extensive but I still sat down. They sold out of an item I wanted so I settled for something else. I had the koscherwurst. The sauerkraut was bland. The mini wurst was tasty. The pommes frites were good. The rye bread was bland. I also had a soda. The total came to be a little over 16 bucks. It's pretty pricey for a quick lunch. I probably won't return since the First Hill Street Car will begin running in 2014 which will get me to Von Trapps.

    (2)

  • Timer T.

    Very tasty food, and great beer! The pork sausage was amazing- super juicy and flavorful. The pretzel seemed fresh baked- crispy on the outside, soft and inviting on the inside. And the house-made sauerkraut was very unique- nice crunchy texture, and not too sour.

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    This isn't going to be pretty... The Good: the place has that inviting feel of a beer hall, and feels like a bit of an oasis in Pioneer Square. Nice. The Bad: the food was disappointing at best. Some of the staples were good enough, while admittedly hard to screw up. The house made pretzel (only as big as the palm of my hand) and fresh kraut should be tasted, if only to accompany the feeling you want to have in this setting. But, we also ordered 3 different larger plates (3 different wursts) and they were barely edible. Maybe it was a bad day for the kitchen. Maybe. The Ugly: the two people managing the floor, a younger woman and a man, actually accused me and one of my dining companions of asking other people to move for us. And when we attempted to correct him, he told us, straight to our faces, that we were lying. Bold, strange business approach. Doubtful they'll ever have to "deal" with us again. Word of mouth lasts a really long time...

    (2)

  • James B.

    Good food .... Plenty of it! Good beer....even more if it! Beer isn't cheap! Wurst' are very good. Pretty loud on football Sunday's. Still a good experience. Just bring your wallet.

    (4)

  • Patrick H.

    I don't take writing a 1 star review lightly, but here goes. This place gives off the feeling of you, as a customer, just being an inconvenience. The service is terribly aloof and slow, our server clearly didn't care if we enjoyed our meal or not. The pork schnitzel was undercooked. Not really a big deal, it happens. It is a big deal though when you literally have to wave both hands in the air after ten minutes waiting to get the server to come over and take the food back to the kitchen. As a result of us being in a hurry, I asked for the knackwurst instead of the schnitzel as it would be ready more quickly. The bun it was served with was stale and tasteless. When the bill finally came they didn't adjust the price to the lower priced meal I actually ate. Don't go here. Good fries though.

    (1)

  • Jennie H.

    This place is only good if you don't want to have any fun or drink good beer... if you like both of those things then go elsewhere.

    (1)

  • RG B.

    Went with a group of 15 or so and got a long table which fit everyone. Food: Really good! Beer: Great! Waiter: Surly and aggressively unhelpful! Atmosphere: Exceptional! Despite the churlish server I highly recommend this place, particularly for beer lovers. "That's no shoe that's Das Boot!"

    (4)

  • Carl S.

    My second visit here. Very tasty meals and excellent beers. Oh, and friendly servers. I will be back.

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    I'm coming to learn more and more that I'm not a huge fan of German beers. They all tend to have similar flavor profiles, basically just pilsners of different shades. That said, some are terrible and some are pretty good. Altstadt has a good selection so they have both, but the problem is the staff either doesn't know much about what they have on tap, or was just disinterested when we were there. Even asking basic questions to try and figure out what to order was like pulling teeth with a disiniterested teen that you've kept after class to discuss the paper they forgot to turn in. Never even got to get anywhere close to a real conversation to figure out what to order. Everyone from the office basically ordered blindly, and as expected nobody was really that happy with what they got. The food is also really, really not good. The place looks/feels cool, a million times better than the sad bars that used to reside in that space.

    (2)

  • Susan C.

    Everytime I come to this restaurant I'm amazed that it has gotten better. They have perfected the sauerkraut, improved on the perfect mustard, and there's sausage and meat plate is by far the most innovative, rich and tasty I've ever had. It appears that Altstadt is making a German food lover out of the sports crowd and the man on the street as well.

    (5)

  • Ben W.

    The other day, my super-awesome brand new Ford cargo van broke down right on Washington and 1st, downtown, and I had to wait a very reasonable and short 3.5 hours for AAA to bring a tow. I got pretty familiar with this block. I needed lunch too, so win-win. The staff was friendly and I was greeted immediately, and practically had the menu read to me with personal paraphrased descriptions of every item. The service was excellent, and I mean excellent. I wasn't super hungry, so I got a pretzel. And a beer, because hey, it was noon. I had no idea when my tow would arrive since AAA is super awesome and flexible in that way, so I thought, "What a great opportunity to have a beer at noon." So this pretzel comes out. It's super puffy - when I ripped it apart, a little puff of steam came out, and my saliva glands began doing their good work. I noticed little (what looked like) salt piles from a mediterranean salt flat. It was as though saltwater had evaporated and left perfect little piles of natural salt that - get this - didn't fall off when I took a bite! They were conveniently located around the surface area of the pretzel, such that each bite had the optimal amount for appetite-whetting. And goodness gracious, what an unbelievably satisfying pretzel. Each bite was soft and yet supple, easy to bite through and yet offering the perfect amount of resistance to my eager choppers. Now, there's one detail I didn't mention: THE MUSTARD. Holy moly, the mustard was incredible. Spicy, sweet, extremely good. I'm a mustard lover, and I have anywhere from 7-10 mustards on my condiment shelf at any given time, from standard yellow mustard for when I'm feeling decidedly uncreative to Boetje's to Chineses hot mustard of one kind or another. I'm not a connoisseur, though, so please forgive the abject lack of proper mustard-tasting terminology. It was really, really, really, really good. The most fantastic thing about it was that they make all their pretzels and mustard BY HAND, IN HOUSE! It goes to show, the best things take a little extra care to create. Altstadt, however, surpasses even that expectation of quality food by delivering it with excellent service in a really cool spot. I even bought a t-shirt, and it's my new favorite, since it has one of those Jack-a-lopes on it (the rabbit with antlers) as a silhouette, which is their logo. Do yourself a favor, mustard and pretzel lovers, and give this place a go. But be warned: If you buy one pretzel, you'll want a beer, and as you drink that beer, you'll want more pretzel. I got out of there after having only 2 pretzels, but that's because my tow truck finally arrived - I believe that if not for that urgent demand, I may have had 3 or 4. It's the standard beer-and-pretzel conundrum, but in this case, it's especially hard to break the cycle...good luck to you, fellow Mustard lover!

    (5)

  • Jonas B.

    I live in Munich since a couple of years, so I have some experience of "the real thing", and this is not it. However, it's not an unreasonable version of it to appeal to American sensibilities. While personally I don't need Munich beers when I'm here, I find it somewhat surprising not to find a single one of the big seven: Augustiner, Löwenbräu, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Franziskaner, Hofbräu. The only Munich area beer is Ayinger and while it's a nice beer, that shouldn't be the only one. Of course there is much more to German beer than Munich, but overlooking it almost completely is just a bad idea. I had a Zwick'l. The menu wasn't very large even by German Bierstube standards, but I liked the sausage I had. I also liked the long tables, which made it easy to seat a large group like ours.

    (3)

  • Shawn B.

    Awesome beer in a trendy relaxed atmosphere. The beer selection is awesome. As a non frequent beer drinker I really enjoyed the wheat ale options. Our bartender was extremely friendly and made us really feel welcomed. This place needs beer nuts or almonds though, I was pretty drunk from one beer and a snack would have been great prior to my drive into cap hill Just realized they have a food menu- that's cool but some late night snacks would still be awesommmme

    (5)

  • M. C.

    We go here all the time! Great food and awesome bartenders. The place is beautiful inside with exposed brick and a fireplace. I love going for an ice cold Bitburger and a brat.

    (5)

  • Rouge N.

    Altstadt is by far the best German bar I've ever been to. Stopped in this weekend on my birthday to watch the Seahawks & enjoy some delicious German food. The knackwurst is probably my favorite, I've had it a few times and it never disappoints! It comes with fries which were perfectly seasoned, and nice & crispy. The sauerkraut was delicious (I ate it all) & I've never really been fond of sauerkraut. The mulled red wine is amazing, I'm pretty much addicted. It's definitely sweet but not too sweet. I had a couple glasses and didn't fell like I was overloaded with sugar (which usually happens when I drink mulled wine or sugary drinks). Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jane L.

    I stopped by for drinks Friday night on valentines day so it wasn't busy. I would definitely come back to this place for drinks. The guy there was very knowledgeable and made sure we got the drinks we wanted. I would recommend the Anthem if you're into ciders. I didn't get to try the food because the kitchen was closed by the time we got there. I like the big open space and they can definitely accommodate large groups.

    (4)

  • Geneva H.

    Popped in here before a Sounders game. Wasn't too crowded and servers were still friendly, not overwhelmed. I enjoyed by bretzel (pretzel to my American friends) and a tasty beer. Decor is sparse but clean, modern, and industrial. I may not become a regular but this may become my regular stop before games.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 12

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Altstadt Bierhalle & Brathaus

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