Jen Barnes, who owns the Ballard sports bar Rough & Tumble, is a fourth-generation Seattleite who grew up cheering on University of Washington sports. So, when the University of Washington women’s basketball team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 she celebrated.  

It also meant a boom to her business, the first women’s sports bar in Seattle. Sports fans and sports bars are right in the thick of March Madness.  

“We are super jazzed they made it for the first time in a while,” Barnes says.  

Photo by Jane G Photography

The Huskies’ tenure in the tournament was brief. They were ousted by Columbia University on Thursday 63-60 in a “First Four” game to kick off the tournament. Rough & Tumble will continue to show March Madness games through the finals.  

Barnes is doubling staffing during the NCAA Tournament and opening earlier than usual. Hours at Rough & Tumble will be updated on Instagram. 

“Now that all the (women’s basketball games) are all being (televised), that is a huge shift,” says Barnes, who will open Rough & Tumble as early as 9 a.m. on gamedays. 

Daniel Pagard, who runs St. Andrew’s Pub on Greenlake and the George & Dragon in Fremont, is preparing for the marathon that is March Madness. He says March Madness draws crowds similar to other major sporting events such as the World Cup and Premier League soccer. With the NCAA Tournament, crowds grow as the tournament progresses. This year, the finals are April 6 in Tampa for the women and April 7 in San Antonio for the men.  

St. Andrew’s is the home for local alumni from the University of Florida, whose men’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 this past weekend and one of the favorites to win the tournament. “Once you get to the Sweet 16 it is bigger,” Pagard says. “We definitely get them turning out.” 

Belltown Pizza will be serving their usual craft cocktails while NCAA Tournament games play on multiple flatscreen televisions.

Photo courtesy of Belltown Pizza

The first round is over, but many bars and restaurants will open early throughout the tournament. Check their websites and social media for updated hours of operation. Here are some of our favorites:

Both Buckley’s locations, Queen Anne and Belltown, will play games throughout the tournament. Check social media for updated hours of operation. 

Vindiktive Wings, which features the closest approximation of the original Buffalo Wings you can find in Seattle, will host a tournament of its own throughout March Madness to select the best chicken wings from eight selections based on sales at this Belltown bar. 

Restaurateur Leilani Wong has teamed up with ex-Seahawks Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor to open Legion Sports Bar. The name is a nod to the defensive backfield, dubbed the Legion of Boom, anchored by Sherman, Chancellor and Earl Thomas. The 25 big-screen televisions ensure every game will be on at this swanky sports bar in Lincoln Center in downtown Bellevue.

The three locations of Victor Tavern will show games throughout the tournament at all three locations: South Lake Union, Eastlake and Edmonds.  

 The Attic in Madison Park is a neighborhood institution serving locals since 1937. For sports fans seeking a healthy option, the falafel salad, new on the menu, checks that box.  

Capitol Hill institution Madison Pubpours pints, cocktails and wine, and will show games all tournament long. It was voted the 38th-best gay bar in the country by Logo TV.

Queen Anne Beerhall opens at 9 a.m. during March Madness.  

With more than 10,000 square feet of space and 24 taps, there’s ample room and beer choices at Rhein Haus on Capitol Hill. As for your choice of games, email to confirm it will be showing.

A craft cocktail bar in a sports bar, you ask? Belltown Pizza delivers polished cocktails, as well as a broad selection of beers and value-priced wines. As the name suggests, it serves pizzas, specifically, “New York style with Northwest Soul,” and other specialties from a broad menu, including vegetarian options.

The Dray in Phinney Ridge is the sort of unpretentious and cozy bar every neighborhood deserves. Come for the beer, stay for the pizza. The dozen rotating taps are thoughtfully curated. The dozen pizzas offered provide something for everyone. 

Rookies Sports Bar & Grill in Columbia City elevates pub food to new levels. This family-friendly neighborhood joint opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. on weekends.  

The food and spirits selection at Some Random Bar in Belltown is more thoughtful than the name suggests. The setting and service, as well as the beer bottle and can selections, are decidedly unpretentious.

Dino’s Pub in Renton, usually open at 10 a.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. weekends, will open early during the tournament. Check its social media for updated hours.  

Both locations of The Westy, West Seattle and Roosevelt, will feature NCAA Tournament games.

Photo courtesy of The Westy

Both locations of The Westy, the original West Seattle location and the Roosevelt outpost, will open earlier during the tournament. The Westy is 21 and over while the Roosevelt location is family-friendly. Grown-ups can choose from more than 120 whiskey selections. Check updated hours on Instagram.

Moss Bay Hall, open for slightly more than a year, has become a Kirkland favorite. Owned by Kirkland native Justin Andrews, who also co-owns Queen Anne Beerhall, it opens for all tournament games.