Balmar

Balmar Review

Balmar is one of Ballard's largest and most attractive bars—exposed-brick walls, hardwood floors, comfy cocoa-color couches and ottomans. The two-story space has areas to dine (serving a small-plates menu), drink, and shoot pool. It can be a bit of a fratty meat market on Saturday (it's definitely more New Ballard than Old Ballard), but other than that it's usually pretty mellow, and there's room enough to accommodate all the groups of friends and co-workers who enjoy having a slightly more upscale alternative to Ballard's neighborhood joints.