High Dive

This concert venue is very interesting, the main stage area is great, lots of room, the drinks were not so great for the price you get basically all ice which bothers me. We ended up going next door to have drinks while the opening band played. Not sure if I would come back to the venue for a concert.

Tiny little venue in the hart of Fremont this is your collage dive bar it was tons of fun I went to see Tokyo Idaho took some video loved the showcase can’t wait to see wiscon live the staff was friendly fun and the drinks are what you would expect to pay at a collage bar ()

On tour in a punk band. Roll in to the high dive with its cool rock n roll vibe. Band stickers everywhere etc.
Oh no, had to poop! Check out the bathroom. Same stickers and graffiti. Look at the toilet. CLEAN. As inviting as a toilet can be.
Immediate 5 star review.
You can’t put a value on a clean toilet when you’re on the road.

The bartender is cool, cute, and appropriately judgemental. She gives better shots to regulars, but who doesn’t?
The sound is good for shows.
The KJ is just awful. Her singing is okay, but her attitude is crazy crazy bad. Maybe it’s better for regulars, but maybe not. All I know is she’ll straight turn your mic down if you aren’t hitting the notes.
Parking is bad. Lighting is bad. The smoke machine needs to go away (far away). But they have a solid selection of taps, including a great cider. The bathroom seems to have one perpetually busted toilet, but at least it doesn’t smell.
$ 5 jamesons on Mondays, and they play adult cartoons til kareoke starts, so that’s neat. Solid rating 3.5 stars. There’s literally nothing special or that stands out at all. The literal height of mediocrity in almost every facet.
There’s about 50 others bars more worth going to all bordering the place; places with good food and better kareoke and better shows, and even better dives. But hey, if this is what you’re into, look for the super awesome sign of the chick diving.

This evening, a group of friends and I ventured out to «High Dive» to listen to the 80s cover band that was playing there. Upon entering the establishment, the doorman/​bouncer began to check IDs and take cash for cover (a cover that was changing back and forth from $ 8-​$ 10 with each person). When I proceeded up, I handed the gent my ID and a $ 20 bill for myself. He took both the ID and the $ 20 together. At the same time, some of my friends asked if they could check their coats. He said yes and handed them a couple of hangers (making sure to mention that tips were encouraged multiple times since the coat check was free). He then handed me my ID back and put my $ 20 with other cover he had in is hand. This is where I believe things took a turn for the less than thrilling.
After my friends handed the doorman/​bouncer their coats, I moved up to get the standard «re-​enter» stamp and my change. The doorman/​bouncer then asked to see my ID (which I thought was odd since he had it no longer than two minutes previously). Thinking maybe he wanted to double check it, I handed it to him, only to have him then ask me for cover. I explained to him that I originally handed him the $ 20 bill with my ID and that he had given me my ID back. He asked if I had been given change to which I replied that only my ID was returned. The doorman/​bouncer proceeds to tell me that he didn’t get any cash, which I immediately call out because I was stone cold sober and know he was lying. He looks at his cash box for a moment which was scattered on a stool next to him and says that he doesn’t know. Thankfully, one of my friends stepped in and paid for my cover (for which the doorman/​bouncer again provided two different cover prices like he couldn’t make up his mind).
I can fully understand being a bit overworked on a busy Saturday night or even getting distracted by a ton of things happening at once, but the sheer incompetence of this doorman/​bouncer was utterly amazing and left me anywhere from $ 10 – 12 lighter as a byproduct, which is not great since this was my first time going there. If an establishment is going to have a cover, then they should have someone who can multi-​task at the door, correctly/​consistently provide accurate information about said cover and can cleanly handle a cash box.
Outside of that incident, the place was a hot-​box with poor ventilation and the sound system they had for the band was «meh» at best due to the engineers failure to properly monitor sounds levels around the venue. There are better places out there to see bands play. If you go here, be wary of the questionable door staff.

Great staff and a great venue for live bands. Conveniently located in the heart of Fremont. We’ve been coming here for a few years and have always had a great time. Reasonable drink prices and a great good menu. Highly recommended.

A favorite for seeing shows. Bigger than you think, hard to find, ugly menu, decent bartenders, good dance floor, a fun joint

A fun place to watch karaōke on a Monday night. Cool blue colors make for a nice laid back vibe. Drinks a bit pricey. $ 8 for a shot of Jameson and a PBR is kinda high, but maybe I’ve been spoiled by New Orleans’ standards for drinking. Anyway… decent place to start a night.

High Dive is a solid music venue in Seattle.
Last time I was here several years ago I blacked out and this time I did not black out so that’s an improvement.
The bartenders are nice and the set up is intimate enough that even if you’re at the back of the bar you can still see and hear the band.
Their prices for drinks are kind of high. $ 11 for a Manhattan? Sure, the drink was fine. But for this venue I think anything over $ 10 for a cocktail is pushing it.
The women’s bathroom didn’t have a mirror. How am I supposed to check my situation when there’s no mirror? Oh that’s right– forward-​facing camera phone.
Service was good. The bartenders routinely came around to check on everyone to see if we needed anything. I’m a fan but the drink prices are high for this particular bar scene and they need a mirror in the bathroom.

A friend of mine played a gig here, and I loved the vibe. It’s a great venue, and if you ever want to get on the pulse of local Seattle music, this is the place to go. I love the place, and I am always stoked when a band I adore is booked here.

Cool venue for local bands. Decent service and pours — if you know an insider. Otherwise, you’re just another lemming following another lemming as you wait in a slow line for a fairly good pour.
As a band — and I don’t belong to one — the stage set up seems pretty ideal because you’re showcased the moment a patron walks into the space. Acoustics seemed pretty solid. I’d definitely come back.

fun place to get f##ked up at.
drinks are hard and always have some good music.

This review is for bands who want somewhere supportive to play.
High Dive books local bands. They support the up and coming Seattle music scene. Everyone I know who is in a band has played here.
Sometimes you play in front of 10 people… but you’ve got to start somewhere and it helps to have a place willing to give new bands a chance.
Thank you High Dive for supporting Seattle musicians. Keep up the great sound work, too, grumpy sound guy!

It was pretty slow on the Sunday night I first visited (before 7pm), but I could still see the potential with the large stage and a top notch bar. Their grilled cheese and tomato soup for $ 5 (HH) was amazing. I will be back to High Dive very soon as I feel there is something special going on here.

Place is okay — not exactly my scene, but we went to support my husband’s friend’s band that was playing. The crowd is generally a little more seasoned (30s-​40s age group). Some other notes:
– They have an awesome Ginger Beer. Get it! Super spicy/​gingery.
– Staff is very friendly. Don’t be intimitdated.
– There’s an ATM inside if you need cash for the door fee. Cover fee sucks.
Will probably end up there again some day. Will enjoy the ginger beer.

Underrated for the high quality, amazing food! I didn’t expect much over the typical bar fare, but this place has transcended that stereotype and they top it with the best Happy Hour in Seattle. I dare you to find a better deal than $ 5 plates generously heaped with quality gourmet food and greatly discounted generously poured drinks. It’s nice to sit feast and linger around a little extra time to listen to and watch the early bands.
If you can’t see past ripped, old bench seats and concrete flooring, go spend more money for a lesser experience and more glitz elsewhere.

When I went to this place, the staff was very surly and rude. But then I thought a little more about that. When I think an employee is rude, is the person merely reacting like I would to something annoying I’m doing? Hmmm…
Anyway, back to the High Dive. Some friends and I were here until close after leaving Oktoberfest, and from their attitude I gathered that the bartenders hated Oktoberfest, customers, and working. I am fairly certain I deserved all the free frowns and grumpiness, though. There was a lively crowd up front by the bar and plenty of dancing back by the stage. It is indeed a dive bar, and the size of the venue is perfect for regional and local bands. I’ll be back!

I went to High Dive for a Bass Drop affiliated show recently, and was pleasantly surprised by this establishment. As many other reviews say, this is indeed a skinny, intimate venue. When you walk in you will see a bare along the wall on the left, and seating on the right, while a stage lingers in the background with a smallish dance-​floor. While the sound and lighting isn’t spectacular on the stage, it was adequate.
The decorating (if that is something you actually pay attention to) was excellent, there was all sorts of eye candy to look at, read, and watch: Of note, the metal nude figurines suspended from the ceiling, the High Dive theme it’s self (I love pin-​up girls), and even the restrooms were plastered with posters or names of bands that had come through. There was a certain feeling of nostalgia about this bar/​venue that just rubs off on you and makes it somehow endearing.
The wait staff and service was great, even for a fairly busy Friday night. The drinks were made quickly, were potently strong, and I was even able to close out my tab quickly with no long wait, or fuss.
I have to say, that yes, I will be back the next chance I get, and maybe even purchase one of the High Dive t-​shorts available for sale!

I came here to watch my friend’s band perform.
The place isn’t big, but I liked that. It wasn’t super crowded or loud. I could hear my friends and they had a good area to stand and hear the band and then to sit as well. The stage seemed decent and there is a room for the band to the side.
The drinks here are pretty stiff. I couldn’t finish my greyhound. Really though, I could have gotten more juice if I felt like it. Even my boyfriend thought the jack and coke was strong. With that said, I would consider this a pro. I’d rather ask for more juice than keep buying alcohol right?!
This was not my scene, but not a bad venue.

During my visit to Seattle my cousin and her friends were going to see their friend’s band at this place in Freemont. I was looking forward to checking out the music scene so after a quick stop into the Ballroom we headed over to the High Dive.
I liked their signage for obvious reasons.

This place was easy to get into and get around in. Even when it got crowded it wasn’t too bad. I don’t know if it was the bands playing that night or the fact that I’m getting old but the crowd was a bit too young for me. I felt like I was at an undergrad party with a bunch of sorority chicks and frat broys (that’s not a typo. It’s a word I made up that encompasses bros and boys). They weren’t too annoying but one drunkard plopped down right next to me and insisted on trying to engage me with his rancid breath. I’m all for live music at bars, but if I’m going to be surrounded by a younger crowd I prefer all ages shows where the kids are better behaved.
I’m not saying I wouldn’t return to the High Dive, I would just do my due diligence to see what kind of fan base the bands I’m going to see draw in before going.