Happy Hour: All Nations is a roomy venue for crowded soccer season

Happy Hour |

There's no bar-centric sporting event quite like The World Cup, which kicks off Friday in South Africa. The world's most popular sporting championship runs a month, with soccer games almost every day, early and late.

Die-hards have lined up at The George & Dragon Pub in Fremont at 3:30 a.m. for some of the live games that start around 4 a.m.

That spillover crowd, as well as many Italian Americans, will also likely hang across the street at the Azzurri Vino Bar, an Italian soccer bar.

The choices are endless. Taberna del Alabardero, a tapas bar in Belltown, will showcase games of the Spanish National Team. Nara restaurant in Shoreline plans to show games featuring the Korean team. A lot of Aussies will cheer at Kangaroo & Kiwi Pub in North Seattle.

Arguably, it's the most exciting time in the sports-bar scene, even if you're not a soccer fan. The people-watching is priceless. Men draped in their national flags, yelling and screaming. The George & Dragon remains the gold standard for soccer bars, but there are only so many fans you can sardine into that pub.

The All Nations Soccer Bar & Restaurant in North Seattle may be an alternative. It's new and large, maybe the largest soccer bar in the area. Two dining areas and a bar area, with two screen projectors and four televisions.

It looks like the United Nations headquarters out front, with 48 flags. The owner is Brazilian but tries to be diplomatic, stocking cheese, charcuterie, beers and spirits from around Europe and North America. Still typical bar food, though. The baked paprika-rub chicken wings were spicy, but you'll still wish the skin was deep-fried crispy. The mini pizzas called "pizzettas"? A bit doughy, but good enough to fortify you between rounds of beer. Top them with sausage, Alpino salami, capicola or smoked chicken. There is an all-you-can-eat pizza deal on Fridays.

All Nations has never hosted a World Cup before, and I've never seen it packed. Don't know if the service will be efficient when the orders come fast and often.

(Note: Many soccer and European bars will show all games live, even 4:30 a.m. games, but call to double-check. Most will also show replays of the early-morning games during happy hour.)

All Nations Soccer Bar & Restaurant, 930 N. 130th St., at the intersection with Aurora Avenue North, offers happy hour 4:30-7:30 p.m. daily with snacks $2.50-$9 and cocktails $4.50-$5. All-you-can-eat pizza is $16 on Fridays between 5-9 p.m. (206-365-5165 or www.allnationssoccerbar.com.)

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com