Support Us Button Widget

Bar for book-lovers coming soon to Ballard

The Ink Drinker aims to appease Seattle’s book-lovers with a tame drinking atmosphere + ways to connect to other bibliophiles.

A bottle of red wine from Spain stands amid two stacks of books and one book in the foreground that's open to display its pages with black lettered ink on white paper.

A good book and your beverage of choice — name a more iconic duo, we’ll wait.

Photo by SEAtoday staff

We’ll take this reading sesh on the rocks, please. Book-lovers and casual cocktail sippers, listen up — The Ink Drinker is turning over a new page in Ballard.

Opening this winter (with an exact date TBD), The Ink Drinker is a queer- + woman-owned bar that aims to craft drinks and an ideal environment for Seattle’s readers to kick back and crack open their current reads.

The bar is taking over the former site of Ballard Beer Company, which closed only a couple weeks ago. But in true Seattleite fashion, the brewery has been lending a hand in bringing together the vision for its next chapter.

Future patrons can expect a non-intrusive ambiance to set the vibe — no TVs + distracting screens, no blaring music, and definitely no “clangy” bar equipment.

“Reading isn’t just a hobby. It sustains me,” says Shelle, owner of The Ink Drinker. “I can’t wait to share this dream with you.”

More from SEAtoday
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
Including gifts for significant others, retirees, holiday parties, young people, and gifts that ship fast.
Grab your biggest buckets — these Seattle neighborhoods offer the best treats, no tricks needed.
Here’s the deal — the thrift and vintage shopping scene in Seattle has great finds. These are your must-see stops for a perfect haul.
There’s never been a better time to support locally owned-pharmacies.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Reach your local community with our help.
Consider these our Hollywood signs.
We’re highlighting the best kid-friendly activities that Seattle has to offer — complete with art classes, animal encounters, and outdoor fun.
When you find yourself suddenly with a free afternoon on a beautiful Seattle summer day, here are some quick ways to get outdoors and bask in our rarely seen sun.