The 5 Point Cafe: Seattle’s Oldest Dive Bar and 24-Hour Diner

The 5 Point Cafe, located in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, is a historic diner and dive bar known for its hearty dishes and stiff drinks. Opened in 1929, the no-frills 24-hour cafe has survived prohibition, war, and politics.

Today, the cafe is one of the oldest family-operated restaurants in Seattle and the oldest bar in Belltown. It’s nothing like Bacco Cafe near Pike Place Market. Head over there if you want a nice brunch spot, but stay here if you want to experience a legendary Seattle dive.

As the menu states, everyone is welcome regardless of political, social, or religious views. But if you are easily offended by loud music and drunks, then chances are you will have a bad experience. With that said, the cafe is popular, so you can often expect a wait for a table.

Retro Diner Interior

What do you get when you cross a local dive bar with a hole-in-the-wall diner? You get The 5 Point Cafe. The dining room was grungy, dark, and cozy. The décor added to the appeal and unique quirkiness, serving as a perfect representation of Seattle’s grittier side.

At the center of the dining room was a bar with limited counter seating. The bar was the perfect spot for a drink at any hour of the day. Surrounding the bar were two dining sections, one with booths and one with tables.

If you are easily offended, then you might not like the surly signs, provocative stickers, racy photos, loud music, and bras hanging on the wall. As for me, I enjoyed the non-PC, edgy décor. It added to the ambiance and felt like a breath of fresh air in a city full of cookie-cutter bars.

If the weather is warm, you can grab a table on the small covered patio out front. The outdoor patio, located on Tilikum Place, is the perfect spot to people watch while enjoying your food and drinks.

The 5 Point Cafe Menu

The extensive menu featured an assortment of breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. You can view their full current offerings at the5pointcafe.com.

For breakfast, you had everything from Eggs Benedicts to huevos rancheros to pancakes. On the lunch and dinner menu, you had sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, and more.

Chicken and Biscuits with Chorizo Corn Gravy

First up was the Chicken and Biscuits, a classic dish with fried chicken strips served on top of buttermilk biscuits. I also had the choice of two eggs served any style, and I chose sunny side up.

The size of the crispy fried chicken strips surprised me. They were large enough that I felt I was getting my money’s worth. The breading was thick and crunchy, which I found a bit tough to cut through, but the chicken underneath remained moist and tender.

Poured over each chicken strip was a rich chorizo corn gravy. The thick gravy was smoky and salty, and I could taste rich chorizo in each bite. This was easily my favorite part of the dish.

On the bottom were buttermilk biscuits. These toasted biscuits were dense rather than fluffy, but their firm texture held up well to the heavy chicken and gravy.

Salmon Benedict

Being in the Pacific Northwest, I thought the Salmon Benedict was a great choice. This benedict featured English muffins topped with two poached eggs, Alaskan smoked salmon, and hollandaise sauce.

The two poached eggs exploded with yolk when I cut through them. The combination of rich, golden yolk and buttery, tangy hollandaise sauce was delicious.

Hidden underneath the eggs was a layer of tender yet chewy smoked Alaskan salmon. On its own, the salmon was very salty, but when mixed with the yolk and hollandaise, the buttery sauce balanced the flavors perfectly.

Service

The 5 Point Cafe is a dive bar at its core. Don’t expect a sugar-coated greeting; the service was no-nonsense and straight to the point. However, my server was friendly and gave great recommendations. If you are nice to your server, you will receive great service in return.

Conclusion

The 5 Point Cafe is a historic cafe and dive bar located in the heart of Seattle. It isn’t your typical brunch spot—it’s dark, grungy, and no-nonsense. But if you like hearty food, big portions, and a unique atmosphere, this is your spot.

While it’s not for everyone, it is a great spot in Seattle for food and drinks. For another local favorite nearby, be sure to read my review of Bacco Cafe.

Pros

• Hearty food and big portions
• Extensive menu available 24/7
• One of the best dive bar atmospheres in Seattle
• Unique and historic experience

Cons

• Expect a wait during peak hours
• Atmosphere may be offensive to some
• Chicken breading was slightly too thick/hard

Last Updated on February 5, 2026