6 Best Bars in Washington Wine Country, Washington

Grab a seat at the long copper bar or one of the café tables in this art-filled downtown lounge with tall brick walls and a well-curated list of mostly Washington wines. Pizza and well-prepared gastropub fare is served, and the reliably good house wines are a great deal. 

First-timers to this contemporary taproom on a lofty ridge 12 miles west of Yakima are usually as wowed by the mesmerizing mountain vistas as they are the lovingly crafted beers. The husband-and-wife proprietors are admitted hops admirers, and the IPA-forward beer selection reflects this penchant. On warm days have a seat on the family- and pet-friendly lawn and patio—there's often live music, and pub fare is served. 

This hip little downtown wine bar with live music every Friday showcases Gård Vintners' superb Columbia Valley and Walla Walla wines. Although it's open for tastings, most folks stop in for a glass or two and a bite to eat—there's a short list of tasty nibbles, including a fantastic warm molten chocolate lava cake. Rhône wines—including a well-balanced Reserve Syrah and a bright, unfiltered Viognier—are the main focus.

Arguably the most accomplished artisan beer maker in the Lower Valley, Varietal produces an extensive roster of both traditional and experimental brews—including a chocolatey English brown ale and a variety of hop-forward brews featuring different varieties of Yakima-grown hops. Enjoy your sipping at the counter, or head to the back to play some old-school arcade games. Food trucks are on hand most days. 

This unfussy brewpub on the northwest side of downtown has a pet-friendly patio and taproom with lumberjack-inspired decor (the owner is a former logger). It's one of the top craft brewers in the region, known especially for its refreshing blackberry wheat ale and heady Riggin Slinger Red Ale.